#1

SEVEN YEARS LATER

​"The President is here! Everyone, be respectful for the first appearance of the new President!" This was the shout of one of the President's staff.

​This President was none other than Brent De Guzman. Everyone admired him. He was smart, handsome, with a sharp nose and expressive eyes. However, he had a cold heart.

​"Good day, Sir!" the employees shouted together after he got out of his car. Everyone gave him a warm welcome.

​Brent stayed silent. He coldly walked past them until he finally went inside his company.

​• • • • •

​Bella was walking in a hurry to go to her father. She needed help for her child, whose illness had now become severe. After a few minutes, she arrived at their house.

​"I didn't expect you to come back, sis," her stepsister greeted her rudely.

​"Ahm, Gina, where is Dad? I just have something to tell him. Can you please tell him that I am here?" Bella asked in a gentle voice.

​"I'm very sorry, sis. Because he doesn't want to see you anymore. Besides, Dad is not here, he is in America with Mom. He is happy right now, so if possible, please don't disturb them yet," she replied with a smile. But deep inside, she was annoyed with Bella because of her return.

​"What do you mean? I need Dad right now. Gina, please help me speak to him. I know he is mad at me. But I have no one else to turn to except Dad," Bella begged.

​"What do you think of me, stupid??? Bella, he left here a long time ago. That means Dad has already forgotten about you too. Can you just leave! You won't get anything here anyway!" she shouted repeatedly, acting like a real daughter.

​"Please, Gina, please..." Bella said as tears fell from her eyes.

​"Argh! Sh*t! Right at this time! Bella, I have somewhere important to go! Can you please stop with your drama. I already said Dad is not here! Don't be so persistent!"

​"Gina, why are you talking to me like that? Did I do something wrong to you before? Gina, I am still your sister, please don't treat me like this."

​"Damn you, Bella! You left us a long time ago! And you have no right to come back!" Bella was hurt deeply by the words spoken by the sister she loved. She never expected that Gina would be like this to her. Bella was about to speak again, but Gina interrupted her.

​"Guards! Get this woman out of here! A smelly piece of trash! Please take her out, hurry up!" Bella's heart was almost broken. She shook her head while trying hard to hold back the tears that wanted to fall from her eyes.

​Later on, she was shocked when the guards dragged her away. Bella felt like she was not a Monteverde anymore. She felt like she had no place in her own house.

​"Annoying! I still have to go to my fiancé, Brent, and then that woman had to disturb me! Argh!" Gina shouted in total annoyance.

​Bella heard this and could barely believe hearing her husband's name. She tried to break free from the men, but because of their large size, she could not. Until they finally threw her outside of their house. She tried to go back inside, but they blocked and pushed her.

​In Bella's mind was her only son, who was now in the hospital because of his severe illness.

​"Why is it like this? I know I made a mistake before. But do I need to be punished like this? I didn't want anything else except to love and be happy. I want my child to live long because through him, I remember my most beloved Brent," Bella said while walking in a quiet place.

​Moments later, her eyes caught sight of an old man.

​"You old man! Why are you here? You smell so bad! Get away from the front of my store! You are so dirty, I am sure you are the reason why I have no sales today! You are an unlucky old man!" a storekeeper shouted while kicking the old man.

​Bella immediately went close and stopped the man.

​"Hey, don't be like that! Even if he is a beggar, he still has a heart. He is still a human being and needs to be respected!" she defended him while blocking the man so the old man would not get kicked again.

​"Hey! Woman, it is none of your business what I do! If he is your relative, take him and get out of here! You are bad luck in my life!" he added, turning his back on them.

​Bella helped the old man stand up and wiped his body.

​"I am sorry, Grandpa. Some people are really like that. I am sorry if you were treated badly."

​"Child, I did nothing wrong. Thank you very much, child." He gave a sweet smile to Bella.

​"Child, what is your name?" he asked gently.

​"It's Bella, Bella Monteverde."

​"Do you have a husband?" Bella almost smiled at this. She did not expect this old man to ask so quickly.

​"Ahm, Grandpa, I have a husband. But we haven't been together for a long time." Bella's voice became sad.

​"If so, that's very great!" Grandpa suddenly shouted.

​"Huh? Why is that?" Bella asked in confusion.

​"Because you are just like my son, Bre—" Bella's cellphone rang, so the old man could not finish what he was going to say.

​"Just a moment, Grandpa, I will just answer this," she excused herself properly. The old man smiled while waiting for Bella. It seemed that the old man was interested in Bella.

​"Grandpa, I have to go now. My child needs me at the hospital. Also, please accept this money so you have something to buy food with in case you get hungry," Bella said while handing over the money. After that, she quickly ran away.

​The old man managed to shout to call her, but Bella could no longer hear it.

​"It doesn't matter, I know we will meet again. Child, you are the one I want to marry my son," the old man mentioned last, while holding Bella's ID that fell after she ran away.