THIRD POV
“Don Martin has arrived!”“Respect for Don Martin!”“Don Martin, the patient is awake.”Martin stopped in front of Doctor Aragon.“How is she?” he asked, glancing at the woman in the bed.“As you can see, Don Martin, after five years, the patient has woken up. But she hasn't spoken. She seems stunned, as if there's no life in her. It’s because of the severe trauma she experienced,” the doctor explained to Martin.He nodded and returned his gaze to the woman, who remained in a state of shock. “Alright, let me handle her. You can leave now.”The doctor nodded and bowed before leaving.Martin looked around before entering the room and closing the door. Then he faced her. “That’s enough,” he said to the woman, who immediately turned to face him.“How long will I be here, Martin?” she asked. “I need to get out of here because Mateo needs me.”He gave her a serious look before sighing. “You can leave. But for now, you need to pretend because we still don’t know who is trying to kill you.” He walked closer to the window, looking out at the people in the garden and taking in some fresh air.He was silent for a moment, his hands behind him. “Don’t you remember anything?” he asked after a while.The woman shook her head, sadness in her eyes. “Mateo is looking for me. I must see my husband.”Martin turned to face her, irritated. “Do you remember anything before the accident?”“No! Why? Are you doubting me?” she asked. “I told you I remember nothing!”He sighed, remembering what had happened three years ago. Martin had been the first to notice when the woman seemed to wake up from her comatose state, so he had planned to keep her in the hospital to ensure her safety.When she woke up, she immediately mentioned her husband's name and seemed to have no recollection of what had happened before the incident.“I want to get out of here, Martin. I don’t want to stay in the hospital,” she begged.Martin shook his head. “You can’t leave until you remember something,” Martin said, causing her eyes to widen.“W-what? Martin! It’s hard to remember!” she exclaimed.He looked at the woman, who suddenly fell silent. “You have nothing to look back on.”She paused, looking at him with confusion. She frowned and said, “W-what, are you talking about? He is my husband. I’m going back to him!”He sighed and sat in front of her. “You are not his wife; the paper you both signed is not legal, so your marriage is void,” Martin explained, surprising her even more.“N-no!” She shook her head, unable to believe what she had heard. “That’s not true! You’re lying!” she shouted at Martin.“While you were unconscious, I investigated Mateo Villalobos and discovered that your marriage was fake. And he is now happily married to model Chloe Cain.”Her eyes widened at the shocking news. Tears suddenly fell from her eyes. “I-I don’t believe you!” she said, throwing her pillow at him. “You’re lying!” she cried. Martin approached her and tried to hug her, but she struggled. “You’re lying! You’re lying.” she yelled as she punched his chest.He clenched his fist before taking out an injection and quickly injecting it into her neck. She immediately lost consciousness in his arms.He wiped her tears away as he laid her back down on the bed.“Just be patient, and you’ll get out of here soon. And we will destroy the people who hurt you,” Martin said, gently stroking the woman's hair and staring at her face. “We will make them pay for everything they did to you, Ana. And I promise, no one will hurt you again,” he added, kissing her on the forehead.He stood up, adjusting her pillow. He hid the injection in his pocket and exited the room.Martin walked out of the hospital, followed by his staff. When they reached the parking lot, his bodyguard immediately opened the backseat door of his car.“Let's go,” he said, looking out the window. His driver nodded and started the car’s engine, driving away from the hospital. Suddenly, he remembered something. He took out his cell phone from his pocket and called someone.“President!” someone answered his call on the other line.“Call Villalobos Enterprise’s CEO and tell them I need to see him.”“Yes, sir.”He hung up the phone and looked at his staff. “What did you find out about the case? Do you have any information?” he asked.One of his employees pulled out a folder and placed it in front of him.“Someone tampered with the brakes of her car, causing the accident,” his staff informed him politely.He nodded.“Keep seeking evidence and information. Continue the investigation without anyone knowing,” he said.His staff nodded in response.“Alexis, let’s go to the Royale,” he said to his driver, who nodded and took him to the Royale, where many business executives were gambling.Martin smiled as he returned to the Royale and saw that his important guest was there.ANA’s POV“Is she dead, Aunt?”“Of course! My men removed the brakes of her car. So, I’m sure she won’t be a problem with our plans. And you, Chloe, darling, are my son's new wife-to-be.”“I love it, Auntie,” Chloe said. “I’ve been sick of pretending to be nice to her for a long time!”Who are you? Where am I?“Master, there is a woman!”“What?!”“She looks exactly like the woman in the painting!”“Oh, take her!”What is Martin doing here? What happened to me?“The patient is currently in a coma, Don Martin. She was severely injured when she fell off the cliff. We’ll have to wait for her to regain consciousness.”“Damn it, do whatever it takes to keep her alive!”“Yes, Don Martin.”Is my life over?“You can’t die, Ana! You will take revenge on those who hurt you, and you haven’t even discovered the secret of your true identity.”I sat down, holding my chest. What is this? Is it a nightmare? But why does it feel so real?I shook my head. I don’t remember how I ended up in this situation. Why am I in the hospital, and why hasn’t my husband visited me?W-wait… I remember what Martin said.No! That’s not true! He was lying. Mateo and I are truly married. I remember signing a marriage contract, so I know it’s not fake.Right! Martin was just deceiving me.When I heard footsteps approaching my room, I adjusted my position and pretended to still be unconscious.Others can’t know that I woke up a long time ago from my coma. Martin might get angry with me if I confront him, and he might not let me leave the hospital.“Is she still unconscious?”“Yes. I feel sorry for her.”“True,” the woman replied. “I also heard that the information about her being in a coma for five years is confidential.”“Yes, that’s what I know. Only the doctor and us can enter this room to take care of her,”“What happened to her?” the nurse asked curiously.“Shhh! Don’t ask. Even though she's unconscious, she can still hear us. Don Martin might find out that we're talking about the patient. We might lose our jobs.”“I'm just curious!”“Me too. But we’re just here to work, so let’s not interfere in their lives.”I heard the two nurses talking. Later, they helped me to the bathroom for a shower.After bathing me, they helped me back to bed, dressing me and combing and drying my hair.“She’s gorgeous. Her beauty is enviable.”“Absolutely. She’s even prettier than that model… what’s her name again?”“Chloe Cain,” the woman said. “I don’t like her.”Chloe? I know her. She’s my best friend, and I know she wouldn’t betray me. I’m sure she couldn’t have done what Martin accused her of, marrying my husband. I know what Martin told me is not true because I know Chloe. She can’t betray me.“Okay, we’re done here! Please get some rest, Miss Ana,” the nurse smiled, helping me lie back down on the bed.“Let’s go eat! Our shift is over!”“Let’s go!”I heard them walk towards the door. Before they finally left, they turned off the light and closed the door completely.I waited a few more minutes to ensure they were gone and no one entered the room.After a while, I took a deep breath and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. I put on the slippers that Martin had left here. Before getting up and walking around the room, I sighed again.I’m bored, and I want to breathe some fresh air. I paused for a moment, smiling as I thought about what I wanted to do.I’ll go see Mateo!Yes! I’ll go tell my husband that I’m still alive.I took Martin’s bag and searched for a jacket and some money. I can’t wait to see my husband.Mateo, wait for me.We left the hacienda and headed straight to Martin’s estate. Many people waved at us with big smiles on their faces. The gate was opened for us, and Martin's staff immediately bowed as the car entered. Alexis parked the car in front of the mansion. As we got out, our guests greeted us with excitement. “Welcome back, Max, Rio, Martin, and Ana!” Even Martin’s workers greeted us as we returned. I chuckled and hugged our friends, and Martin also greeted them, though his irritation with Paris was still evident. Paris, have a family, but she was still as noisy as ever. “Oh, they are all grown up!” She approached the children and hugged them. “Do they understand English?” I nodded, but I couldn’t help but laugh as they seemed puzzled by Paris. Paris’s child approached me, so I gave her some chocolates. Our children greeted their uncles and aunts by bowing, as they must have seen Martino do to their father. I noticed a young girl approaching Maximo. “Hi!” she greeted my son, blushing.
8 YEARS LATER… “We’re here…” I lifted my sleeping mask and squinted at the sunlight. “Oh,” I chuckled softly, feeling old especially with my three piglet-like kids in tow. “¿Dónde estamos, papá? (Where are we, dad?)” asked my middle child, Isaac Montecillo, the most mischievous of the three. “Ya estamos en Filipinas. ¿Estabas durmiendo otra vez, Isaac, cuando hablamos de venir aquí? (We’re already in the Philippines. Were you sleeping again, Isaac, when we talked about coming here?)” my eldest, Maximo Julian Montecillo, asked without much enthusiasm, engrossed in his book as usual. He takes after his father. Even his looks are a spitting image of him. Annoying! Wouldn’t it be better if he took after me, since he was the first one out? Martin's genes are strong! “¡Oye, no estoy durmiendo! ¿Y por qué vuelves a entrometerte en la conversación? ¡Solo lee tu libro! (Hey, I’m not sleeping! And why are you butting in the conversation again? Just read your book!)” They glared at each o
“First-degree attempted murder of Ana Bernardino, Mrs. Chloe Villalobos is found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment…” I closed my eyes and smiled when I heard those words. I tightly held Martin’s hand as we listened to the final verdict. Furthermore, I glanced at Chloe’s parents and saw them crying while embracing her. I then looked behind me where Mateo was seated. Even with a hat and a mask, I recognized his posture. He glanced at me but quickly looked away. I sighed and turned to Martin, giving him a smile. “And for Mrs. Caridad Villalobos, the charges are mounting: first-degree murder of Stella Montes, Tasing, Don Ignacio Montes, and Don Martinez, first-degree attempted murder of Ms. Ana Bernardino, and reckless imprudence. She is found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.” The crowd erupted in cheers as they continued to support my father in court upon hearing the verdict for Caridad. I smiled through tears, feeling the long-awaited justice finally
There was chaos in San Alfonso when a fire broke out in the entire town. Martin held on to his waist as he watched the Villalobos mansion burn, worrying about Ana. “Damn it!” he shouted and kicked the rock in front of him. The firefighters, police, and his cousin arrived. “You!” he immediately grabbed Tyron’s collar, who raised his hands. “Is this Ana’s plan? I know you’ve been secretly meeting for a plan! Damn you!” Tyron blocked his arm, thinking Martin was going to hit him. “Bro, this is not her plan, believe me. But she changed her mind quickly! She just ordered my men to burn Don Ignacio’s house and all the Villalobos' properties. This was not part of her plan, but I feel like she also wants everything to end. I apologize for keeping it from you because I’m more loyal to Ana, he-he,” Martin nudged Tyron, who stepped back but grinned. “They’re not here for Ana but for Caridad and Chloe,” they both turned to the police. “Mrs. Caridad Villalobos and Mrs. Chloe Villalobos, you
“I am sure you will be pleased with my projects if you elect me as the mayor of this town.” The crowd applauded in agreement with the projects, except for the demolition of my parents' mansion. Levi was about to step down from the stage when a video suddenly appeared. His eyes widened, and the crowd whispered as the video showed the former chief who handled my father’s case. (“I was ordered to arrest Don Ignacio for a crime he didn’t commit. Don Ignacio is innocent and is actually kind to people, always helping the poor.”) (“Who ordered you to arrest Don Ignacio?”) (“I-I-It was Don Levi… He also ordered us to beat Don Ignacio while in prison and make it look like he committed suicide to hide the truth… I hope Don Ignacio forgives me for betraying him, the one who appointed me as the chief of police.”) The whispers grew louder as Caridad panicked. I was stunned by the video, clenching my fists. (“Why is Don Ignacio being blamed for a crime he didn't commit?”) (“To prevent him
I was just staring at myself in the mirror while everyone around me was busy. I can’t wait to see them all embarrassed by what I’m about to do. “You’re gorgeous,” I smiled when I saw Uncle Max behind me. “Am I?” he grinned and nodded at me. He lowered his head to align our faces as he put his hand on my shoulder. “Te pareces a tu mamá (You look just like your mom)" he said as we looked at our reflection in the mirror. “¿En realidad? ¿Me parezco a ella? (Really? Do I look like her?)” I smiled and turned to him. “Oh, I am actually studying how to speak Spanish to be able to communicate with you,” I added and looked back at the mirror. He ran his hand through my hair. “hasta luego (See you later)” and kissed me on the cheek, so I just smiled and nodded at him. A few minutes passed before I was left alone in my room. I stood up to look at the gown I would be wearing. This night is special for the town of San Alfonso because it is the thirty-fourth anniversary of Levi and Caridad and