But we are no longer considered a family. A family for me, comprises with parents and children shared care and love. Apart from that, Norman and I already had our divorce papers signed and sealed, my heart couldn't feel any love for him. He doesn't deserve to be loved and cared for unconditionally by me after everything I have witnessed. I love Noah because he is my son; however, I only consider his father as it is to us. Nothing more. Nothing less. And I don't care if hurt his pride, so I added "You like Uncle Justine, remember? He could be your father too. Don't bother Norman because he is now the mayor of the city. More people needed him." "Would Uncle Justine be fine with it?" Noah finally agreed, his gentle voice speaks it as clearly as day. "Can you invite him for me?" "Of course, honey." I eagerly caressed his head. "Uncle Justine would be delighted to hear it. I'll call him on our way to school and let you talk to him, okay?" "But would Dad be fine wi
No! What the hell is going on? What am I doing here? It was supposed to be Justine who found me after the collision. But what is Norman doing here? "Noah?" I softly breathed out his name after glancing at him from the car, bursting into tears, and his lips were trembling. "I'm taking you to the hospital," Norman uttered before he scooped me with his hands. I was about to dodge his filthy hands but my body was too weak to do it. Norman carried and brought me to the car with all his security guards, tailing us, and scanning the area with their eyes sharp like an observant eagle. Until we reached the nearest hospital. I refused to get admitted but Norman insisted. He and Noah were worried that I lost consciousness almost an hour earlier. "What are you doing here? How did you know that we are here?" Norman's loud voice echoed in my ears behind the wall across from me. "I'm here to see Yvanna." Upon hearing Justine's worried voice, I lifted half of my body and w
Everyone also let go of their gazes and focused on what lies ahead of us. "Alright, I know you are already aware that for the time being, I will be your professor. Please, turn your book to page..." In the middle of our professor's discussion, the thought of something bad happened to Tanner because of Norman started to bother me. Tens of 'what-ifs' kept on hunting me when I also had my participation in whatever happened to him. He went to join me in the club because I had a problem that I didn't know how to express in words, and he was the only person I could talk to at that time. If something bad happens to him, it's on me. I brought it upon himself. What if Norman ordered his men to beat him up to death? What if he was admitted to the hospital and was on the verge of death, yet here I am, sitting, doing nothing? After all my classes, I went straight home to confront Norman. But I got a call from him in the middle of my trip back to the mansion. "You got to be
Norman was caught by surprise as we exchanged glances, this not, no longer from the rearview mirror but face to face. He wasn't aware I still used Justine as my second option even if he already come with us to our son's family day. "Focus on the road, Norman." I demanded before I shifted my stares through the window next to me. "we might not be able to reach the family day but to the hospital again." Our intensified conversation stopped since then. The truth is, I was also getting worried about Jusine. I couldn't get a hold of him since this morning. No -- since three days ago -- the same night when he was dragged out of the office. Tanner already reached out to me but Justine didn't. Even though I knew he was doing fine through Mr. Emilio's words, that he had been working in his office for the past three days, it was not enough for me to confirm it. As soon as we reached the main entrance of the school, twenty of Norman's security guards immediately greeted us, an
I hate Norman would say such heavenly words knowing he is the devil himself. What else could I say? A lot of parents are looking at us, waiting for Norman to let his guard down. "Don't worry, honey," I happily seconded Norman's fatherly's piece of advice. Then I dropped onto my knees to join his father next to him. "For the next games, your dad and I will not let them win, okay?" "Of course, baby. It was only the first game." Norman agreed. "That's how movies work. The hero always fails at first but in the end, they always win, do you know what I meant?" Indeed the two are a father and son. Just like the horror movie we watched that night. The protagonist of the movie was beaten up to death a few times but he stood still despite falling onto the ground a few times. That's life. That's how it works. So for the next game is the parents. I looked into the crowd and searched for Tanner and his daughter. His lovely daughter is Noah's crush, but neither of the two wa
As soon as I got out of the toilet room, I removed the hells from my feet so I could run comfortably. But I put them back the second I started seeing employees coming in and out of the hallways with me. Those who managed to recognize me as Norman's wife greeted me with a smile and bent half of their bodies until I finally reached Justine's desk. But he did not arrive yet. So I dropped my butt on the chair next to his desk and put the heels back on my feet. While waiting for him, I could not help but think about what I discovered earlier. A part of me wanted to do something about it -- to correct or get her arrested -- but I didn't know which side I was going to take. Would it be Norman who provided me with everything I needed in the meantime or the woman who shared the same thought as mine - to see this shopping mall getting bankrupt? What's the point of defending the mall's reputation if those people who managed it were nothing but evils? I dreamed of see
In the middle of my journey back to the mansion, my tears couldn't stop pouring. I wanted to cry out - to scream Norman's name. Curse him to get struck by lightning in the middle of the daylight. Why? Why would he go that far threatening everyone to me? I didn't do anything to him - he and his entire evil family did to me. They ruined my life. Now that I want to forget everything they did and move on with a new life, they won't let me. "Please, speed up the car, Mister," I begged the cab driver who kept on stealing a glimpse at me from the rearview mirror. Imagine my surprise when the cab driver recognized me when he defensively replied, "I'm so sorry, Mrs. dela Vega, but this is the fastest we could take. I am simply following the required speed limit." he awkwardly smiled at me and bowed his head. Leaving with no other choice, I learned to be patient. I have to. But as soon as I stepped out of the cab, I sprinted to the main house at the speed of light, ignoring
What I witnessed the other day in the mall, specifically in the toilet room got me to realize one thing; their management sucks and needs to be redeveloped or reorganized. All the employees didn't do wrong. Stealing their products behind their knowledge. It was Mauricia who gave them no other choice. I felt pity for that woman who needed to steal in order to save her dying daughter. Mauricia did not even consider offering her a permanent position when he already worked seven years in the company. I mean, who does that? "Excuse me?" Mauricia blurted his objection. My objection engraved long curve lines on her broad forehead. "Who the hell are you to reject my proposal, huh? You were seated in your position for what? Three days?" Mauricia scoffed shortly as she drummed her fingers on the surface of the table as if she were gathering her next words. "I have been with that shopping mall for as far as you can imagine, and you dare question my decision? Who the hell are