Chapter 1

Tessa's POV

I jumped when I heard the loud honking of a car outside the large gate. I quickly dropped the broom and dustpan I was holding and hurried towards the window.

"It's Senyorito Darius!" I exclaimed, a wide smile on my face.

I wanted to jump for joy when I saw the gray car entering the gate of Altagrasia Mansion. Mamang Olga was the one who opened the gate because she was also excited to welcome Senyorito Darius.

To be honest, out of all of Don Enrico's children, Senyorito Darius and Ate Isabella were Mamang Olga's favorites. Ate Isabella was already abroad, and Senyorito Darius rarely visited. But since his birthday was coming up, he came home to Hacienda Altagrasia to celebrate his 30th birthday there.

I quickly left the large and spacious living room to greet the senyorito. The smile on my face wouldn't fade because finally, after months, I would see his handsome face again.

"Darius! Son! How are you?"

"Manang, I missed you!"

"I missed you too, son!"

My longing heart was filled with joy when I heard Mamang Olga and Senyorito Darius greeting each other. I had been longing to hear Senyorito's baritone and captivating voice for so long!

As I stepped out of the mansion's large door, the intense joy and wide smile on my face quickly disappeared. The joy I felt gradually faded when I saw the woman standing beside Senyorito Darius.

After all this time, this was the first time I had seen Senyorito with someone. She was beautiful, tall, with porcelain skin and a gentle face. Even her clothes were very sophisticated.

I felt small when my eyes fell on myself. I was only wearing a maid's uniform, I wasn't very tall, I had brown skin, and compared to the woman with him, I was nothing.

"Who is this with you, hijo?"

Before Senyorito Darius could answer Mamang's question, Don Enrico emerged from the mansion's large door with his wife, Donya Magda.

"Darius."

"Pa!" Senyorito Darius approached Don Enrico and hugged him with a smile. He didn't even acknowledge Donya Magda, which we all noticed.

After what happened to Master Daryl and even Donya Magda's son, Anika, Hacienda Altagrasia had changed a lot. One of those changes was Senyorito Darius. He avoided coming home to the hacienda, and if he was here, he was clearly avoiding the donya.

I couldn't blame Senyorito Darius. It was common knowledge throughout Hacienda Altagrasia that Donya Magda had betrayed the Altagrasia father and son—Don Enrico and Master Daryl. In fact, Master Daryl died without them making amends.

"Is this Martha?"

Senyorito Darius approached the woman with him and put his arm around her, smiling. "Yes, pa."

My heart ached a little when I saw Senyorito's smile as he put his arm around the woman named Martha.

Martha approached Don Enrico and kissed his hand, even Donya Magda's.

"It's a pleasure to be here, tito. I've been wanting to visit here for a long time. Darius is just so busy with work that this is the first time we've been able to come."

"It's alright, the important thing is that you're here for my son's birthday celebration."

I was even more disheartened when I noticed that Don Enrico seemed to like Martha. He seemed to approve of her for Senyorito Darius.

I bit my lip at what I heard. They weren't a couple, were they? Yes, Martha was beautiful, but Senyorito Darius wouldn't like her. Senyorito was aloof with women and didn't like those who were too pretentious.

I nodded at my thought. I hoped that Senyorito Darius hadn't found a girlfriend yet. I had waited for his return for so long. Maybe now, I could finally confess my true feelings to him.

"By the way, Manang Olga, this is Martha, my girlfriend."

The world crumbled around me when I heard those words from Senyorito. My heart pounded, and I looked back and forth between Senyorito Darius and Martha, gasping for breath.

Even Mamang Olga was stunned and looked at me. She knew that I had secretly loved Senyorito Darius for a long time.

I thought nothing could hurt more than what I had just learned, but Don Enrico's next words completely shattered my heart.

"On the night of your birthday, I will also announce to everyone your upcoming wedding!"