Chapter 7 - A Larger Scheme

“Brice wasn’t working alone.”

Parang dagundong sa pandinig. Tahimik ang kwarto, pero parang sumabog ang hangin sa loob ng opisina ni Gabriel matapos marinig ang tawag mula sa isang international number. Hawak-hawak niya ang cellphone, nakakunot ang noo habang nakikinig sa boses sa kabilang linya.

“Interpol? Are you saying this is bigger than just a personal vendetta?” tanong ni Gabriel, malamig ang boses.

“This isn’t just about the assault. Your wife was targeted as part of a larger scheme to compromise your corporation.”

Napapitlag si Gabriel. Wife.

Bihira niyang marinig iyon sa publiko. Pero sa linya ng international intelligence, hindi na lihim ang kasal nila ni China.

“We’re sending someone to Manila. Don’t trust anyone—not even inside your own company.”

The next morning…

“Good morning, Sir,” bati ng mga staff ni Gabriel pagpasok niya sa Buenavista Corp main tower. Suot niya ang itim na suit, at tila wala sa mood makipag-kwentuhan.

“Where’s Paulina?” tanong niya.

“Nasa executive floor po—nag-aayos ng contracts para sa Italy expansion.”

Tumango si Gabriel. Pero sa loob-loob niya, may kirot na.

Paulina Buenavista..

His trusted right hand.

And possibly, the traitor in disguise.

Samanta ,saa condo ni China....

Tahimik siyang nakaupo habang pinapanood ang ulat sa TV.

“Buenavista Corp CEO Gabriel Buenavista has declined to comment on the criminal charges against a former professor linked to his executive assistant. Rumors of a deeper corporate plot are beginning to surface.”

Napakapit siya sa throw pillow. Hindi pa man sila lumalabas bilang mag-asawa, damang-dama niya na siya ang sentro ng lahat.

“Ako ang kahinaan niya.”

Biglang kumatok. May guard sa pinto.

“Ma’am, may padala po para sa inyo.”

Binuksan niya ang package. May laman itong isang USB at isang sulat na nakasulat lang:

“You deserve the truth.”

---

China inserted the USB.

A series of videos loaded. Hidden recordings.

One showed Paulina talking to an unknown man in an airport lounge.

On a certain footage showed something na ikinagulat niya,natutop niya ng palad ang kanyang bibig sa napanood...

Paulina: caught on the video saying “He’s too distracted with her. The girl is the perfect blindspot. We move while he’s in love.”

Napasinghap si China.

“I trusted her. Gabriel trusts her.”

Another clip showed a bank transaction. Offshore accounts. Payments connected to Brice… and Paulina..

Hindi niya alam kung anong mas masakit—ang panlilinlang, o ang katotohanang siya ang ginawang pa-in.

Samantala sa opisina…

“Paulina, join me in the conference room,” utos ni Gabriel..

Ngumiti si Paulina. “Of course.”

Pagpasok nila, sinarado ni Gabriel ang pinto. Pinaikot niya ang laptop, pinatugtog ang isa sa mga video mula sa USB.

Tila nanigas si Paulina.. “What is this—? That’s not me.”

“Don’t lie to me,” mariing tugon ni Gabriel. “I trusted you with everything. And you sold us out.”

Tahimik si Paulina. Pero may mapait na ngiti. “What are you going to do now? Tell your wife? Oh wait—nobody knows you’re even married.”

Kinuyom ni Gabriel ang kamao.

“You’ve just declared war.”

Gabing iyon.

Nagkita sina Gabriel at China sa isang safehouse. Wala na silang tiwala sa sarili nilang bahay.

“Paulina betrayed us,” ani Gabriel

“I know,” sagot ni China.. “I saw the video.”

Nagkatitigan sila. Parehong pagod. Parehong sugatan.

“But Gabriel,” bulong ni China, “kung kaya nilang pasukin ang kumpanya mo, paano pa ako?”

Lumapit si Gabriel. Hinawakan siya sa pisngi.

“You’re not my weakness, China.. You’re the reason I’m still standing.”

Tumulo ang luha niya.

“You deserve a husband who can protect you in the light, not just in the dark.”

“Then let’s bring the marriage into the light.”

---

A decision was made.

Kinabukasan, sa gitna ng press conference tungkol sa bagong international security protocols ng Buenavista Corp...

“Before we proceed,” ani Gabriel sa harap ng daan-daang cameras, “I have something to announce.”

Nagkagulo ang press.

“I am married. Secretly, yes. But out of protection, not shame.”

The world went silent.

“My wife is China Asuncion- Buenavista.. And anyone who dares threaten her… threatens me.”

---

Social media exploded.

🚨 #BuenavistaMarriageRevealed

🚨 #SecretWifeExposed

🚨 #ChinaAsuncionBuenavista

Sa condo, halos hindi makahinga si China habang pinapanood ang live feed.

“Ginawa mo ‘to…”

Napangiti siya. Sa wakas, hindi na siya kailangang itago.

Pero kasabay ng pagyakap ng mundo, dumating din ang mga halimaw sa dilim.

Samantala,sa gitna ng kanilang pakikipaglaban para harapin ang lahat. Ay may matang nakasubaybay sa kanila sa kalayuan somewhere in Europe…

Isang lalaking naka-shades at trench coat ang nakatayo sa harap ng monitor.

“So… the Buenavista heir has revealed his queen.”

May sumagot mula sa likod.

“Do we proceed, boss?”

“Activate Plan C. The wife will fall. Then the empire.”

Back in Manila, that night…

While Gabriel and China finally shared a peaceful moment in the balcony—first real peace they had in weeks—a black van parked silently across the street.

Inside, a sniper started assembling his weapon.