CHAPTER 1 THE NEW FAMILY

Ang sabi nila, ang 18th birthday ang pinakamasayang yugto sa buhay ng isang babae. It’s the transition from being a girl to becoming a woman. Para kay Grace Fiona Caliz, it was supposed to be perfect. Ang mansyon nila ay puno ng tawanan, mamahaling dekorasyon, at mga bisitang kumikinang sa ilalim ng mga chandelier.

“Happy birthday, my princess.” nakangiting bati ng kanyang ama na si Gabriel habang iniaboy ang isang maliit na box na may lamang diamond necklace. “You look exactly like your mother.”

Grace smiled, her heart full of warmth. Perfect ang lahat. Ang tanging kulang na lang ay ang kanyang ina na si Fiona, na kasalukuyang on the way na galing sa isang business trip para makaabot sa mismong party.

But then, the music stopped.

Isang tawag ang nagpabago sa lahat. In an instant, ang masayang selebrasyon ay napalitan ng mga hiyaw at tunog ng ambulansya. Her mother car was hit by a truck. Hindi nakaligtas ang kanyang ina. Sa isang iglap, ang 18th birthday ni Grace na dapat ay puno ng katuwaan ay naging isang madilim na bangungot.

Sa araw ng libing, tila nakikiramay ang langit dahil sa walang tigil na pagbuhos ng ulan. Grace stood there, numb and broken. Sa tabi niya, nakita niya ang best friend ng kanyang ina na si Teresa. Humahagulgol ito, tila mas masakit pa ang nararamdaman kaysa sa pamilya nila.

“Huwag kang mag-alala, Grace. I’m here for you and your father.” bulong ni Teresa habang yakap siya. At that time, Grace felt grateful. Akala niya, isang tunay na kaibigan ang nagaalaga sa kanila.

Pero makalipas ang dalawang buwan, unti-unting nagbago ang ihip ng hangin. Her father, who used to be the pillar of their home, became a ghost of his former self. Madalas itong umuwi nang lasing, lunod sa lungkot dahil sa pagkawala ni Fiona. At sa bawat gabing umuuwi itong pagewang-gewang, laging nasa tabi niya si Teresa para alalayan siya.

One evening, her father called for a dinner meeting. Akala ni Grace ay babalik na sila sa normal, pero may pasabog ang kanyang ama.

“Grace, Teresa and I are getting married.” he announced, avoiding her gaze.

Grace felt a sting in her chest, pero dahil mahal niya ang ama at ayaw niyang makita itong nagdurusa, pinilit niyang ngumiti. Kung ito ang magpapabalik ng saya sa mga mata ni Papa, tatanggapin ko, saisip niya.

Matapos ang kasal, doon na lumabas ang tunay na kulay ng lahat. The moment her father stepped out of the house for business trips, ang dating maawain at mabait na si Teresa ay nagiging isang halimaw. Kasama nito ang anak niyang si Hailey, na agad na itinuring ang sarili bilang bagong prinsesa ng mansyon.

“Grace, what are you doing standing there? Linisin mo tong kalat ni Hailey!” bulyaw ni Teresa habang tinuturo ang natapon na juice sa carpet.

“But Tita I mean, Madam, may klase pa ako”

Slap! Isang malakas na sampal ang nagpatahimik kay Grace. “Wala akong pakialam sa klase mo. You are nothing but a burden in this house now.”

Kapag wala ang kanyang ama, ang buhay ni Grace ay naging impyerno. Pinagagawa sa kanya ang lahat ng gawaing bahay at madalas siyang pagmalupitan ng dalawa. Pero ang pinakamahirap sa lahat ay ang pagiging manipulatibo ni Hailey.

Tuwing dumarating ang ama ni Grace, biglang magbabago ang eksena.

“Dad! Look at what Grace did to my arm!” iyak ni Hailey habang pinapakita ang isang maliit na galos na siya rin naman ang gumawa. “I was just trying to help her with her studies, pero itinulak niya ako!”

“Grace! Is this true?!” galit na sigaw ng kanyang ama.

Grace tried to speak, her voice trembling. “No, Papa, hindi totoo ’yan. Sila ang..."

“Enough! Magsorry ka sa kapatid mo!”

Grace looked at Teresa, who was standing behind her father, wearing a fake innocent and wicked smile. Doon niya narealize she was no longer the princess of the house. She was a prisoner of the people who stole her mother place.

2 months later

Habang naglilinis si Grace, sinadya siyang harangin ni Hailey.

“You know, Grace, kahit anong linis mo, you’ll always be trash compared to me.” pang iinsulto ni Hailey. Kinuha nito ang isang mamahaling plorera paborito ng ina ni Grace at binitawan ito sa harap niya. Crash.

“Bakit mo ginawa yon?!” mangiyak-ngiyak na tanong ni Grace.

Narinig nila ang pagbukas ng pinto. It was Don Gabriel.

“Dad! Help!” biglang iyak ni Hailey, she even pinched her own arm to make it red. “I was just trying to talk to Grace, pero bigla siyang nagtantrums! She broke tita Fiona vase and she even pushed me!”

"Bakit ba palaging mung inaaway ang Kapatid mo ah!?" He said, he didn't even look at the pain in Grace eyes.

Grace tried to speak, her voice trembling. “No, Papa, hindi totoo ’yan. She’s lying! Siya ang nagbasag.”

“Enough! I don’t want to hear your excuses anymore!. Go to the basement now! and Hindi ka lalabas hanggang di ka mag apologies sa Kapatid mo!" galit nitong Sabi sa anak niya.

Ang bawat luhang pumatak sa sahig ng mansyong iyon ay hindi na luha ng pighati kundi luha ng pagkamuhi. Unti-unti, ang bawat sampal at bawat pang aapi ay nagiging pundasyon ng isang galit na balang araw ay susunog sa lahat ng mga nanakit sa kanya.

Grace Fiona Caliz was dying inside, her spirit being crushed by the cruelty of her new family. But in the shadows of her broken heart, something much colder and sharper was beginning to take her place. She looked at Hailey and Teresa one last time before whispering a forced apology, her eyes burning with a silent, deadly promise "Enjoy your time now, because I will take back everything you stole."

Tatlong araw ang lumipas bago siya pinayagang lumabas. Her skin was pale, and her eyes had dark circles, but she stood tall. Pag-akyat niya, naabutan niya ang pamilya na naghahapunan. The scene looked like a picture.perfect family from a magazine. Teresa was cutting a steak for Don Gabriel, and Hailey was laughing about some designer bags she wanted to buy.

"Oh, look who’s finally decided to join us." nakakairitang bati ni Hailey habang humihigop ng wine. "Did you learn your lesson, Grace? Or do you need another staycation in the basement?"

Grace didn't answer. She sat at the far end of the table, her plate empty. Hindi siya tiningnan ng kanyang ama. Don Gabriel was too busy listening to Teresa plans for the upcoming charity gala.

"Gabriel, darling." malambing na sabi ni Teresa "I think Hailey should wear the heirloom emerald set for the gala. Since she's the new face of the Caliz family, she needs to look the part. Right, Grace?"

Grace stay calm down kahit Galit ito. The emerald set was a gift from her maternal grandfather to her mother. It wasn't just jewelry, it was a piece of her mother soul.

"That belongs to my mother." Grace said, her voice low but steady. "It’s not for sale, and it’s certainly not for Hailey to wear."

Tumigil sa pagkain si Don Gabriel at sa wakas ay tumingin sa anak. Pero walang pagmamahal sa mga mata nito puro pagkadismaya. "Grace, it’s just jewelry. Why do you have to be so difficult? Hailey is your sister now. What’s hers is yours, and what’s yours is hers."

"No, Papa. You gave them my room. You gave them your heart and everything. Pero hindi ko hahayaang pati ang alaala ni Mama ay bastusin nila." Matapang na sagot ni Grace.

Galit na hinampas ni Don Gabriel ang lamesa. "Enough! You will give the emeralds to Teresa tomorrow morning. Kung hindi, huwag ka nang umasang makakatapak pa sa university. I will cut your tuition, Grace. Subukan mo ako."

Natahimik ang buong silid. Hailey smirked, mouthed the word Loser, and went back to her meal. Teresa, on the other hand, reached out to hold Don Gabriel hand, acting like the peacemaker.

"Gabriel, don't be too hard on her. She's just... sentimental." Teresa said, but her eyes were mocking Grace.