Chapter 2 — The Heiress in Shadows

“Camera three, ready!”

Mabilis na kumilos ang mga crew.

Pero si Seraphina Celestine Alaric — graceful, calm, perfect posture — parang walang naririnig.

Her voice, when the red light blinked on, was warm and precise.

“Good evening. This is Celestine Alaric, bringing you tonight’s top stories…”

Sa harap ng camera, flawless siya.

Pero sa likod ng lens, iba ang mundo nya.

Pagkatapos ng segment, agad niyang narinig ang pabulong ng isa sa mga junior reporters.

“Akala mo kung sino. Kung hindi lang siya Alaric, matagal nang tinanggal ‘yan.”

Isang PA ang sumabay, habang tumatango:

“Adopted lang naman ‘yan, pero feel na feel. Parang siya may-ari ng network.”

Pinilit niyang huwag pansinin.

Ngumiti siya sa salamin habang inaayos ang buhok.
Keep smiling, Celestine. You were raised to survive whispers.

Pero kahit anong galing niya sa camera, kahit anong ratings ng show niya, she could feel it — the invisible wall.

She wasn’t one of them.

Even here, in the company her family owned.

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After the shoot, lumabas siya ng building. She just needed air.

The rain had stopped, but the ground still shimmered.

Nakasandal siya sa kotse habang nagte-text sa assistant niya nang may biglang bumangga sa kanya — 

Tumalsik ang coffee cup niya sa sahig.

“Seriously?” sabi niya, sabay tingin sa lalaki — tall, moreno, naka-itim, at mukhang mayaman in a quietly dangerous way.

“You should watch where you’re going.”

“I could say the same thing,” malamig na sagot ng lalaki, bahagyang nag-angat ng kilay.

“But judging by that cup, I’d say you’re more dangerous than I am.”

She frowned. “Excuse me?”

Ngumiti lang siya — hindi ‘yung friendly smile, kundi ‘yung tipong sinadya para mainis ka.

“Spilling coffee in front of a building’s entrance? How… professional.”

Napatitig si Celestine. The audacity.

“And you are?”

“Someone who doesn’t like caffeine on his shoes,”

sagot nito, sabay punas sa mamahaling leather shoes niya na tinamaan ng kape.

“Next time, Miss Anchor, try to look ahead, not at your phone.”

“How did you—?”

Naputol ang tanong niya nang mapansin niyang kilala pala siya nito.

“You’re on TV every night. Hard not to recognize you.”

Lumingon ito sa kotse niya — a sleek black Bentley na may tinted windows — bago ngumiti ulit, this time mas may halong sarcasm.

“Fame looks… exhausting.”

Celestine crossed her arms.

“And arrogance looks pathetic. You might want to work on that.”

“Noted,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets.

“Have a good evening, Miss Alaric.”

Tinalikuran siya ng lalaki at pumasok sa kotse.

Pero bago tuluyang umalis, bumaba ang tinted window.

“By the way,” sabi nito habang bahagyang nakangiti,

“next time, you might want to hold on tighter. You spill too easily.”

Sabay andar ng sasakyan.

Celestine blinked, half-shocked, half-annoyed.

“Rude,” bulong niya, sabay yuko para pulutin ang baso.

“Who even talks like that?”

Hindi niya alam, pero habang siya’y galit, sa kabilang dulo ng syudad,

nakaupo si Lysander Evander Vale sa loob ng kanyang limousine, hawak ang maliit na brown stain sa kamay — at ngumingiti.

“Feisty. Finally, someone interesting.”

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Pagdating ni Celestine sa Alaric Manor, gabi na. Tahimik ang buong bahay pero hindi mapayapa — ‘yung tahimik na parang may bagyong paparating.

Basa pa ang blazer niya sa ulan nang dumiretso siya sa foyer. Hindi pa man siya nakakababa ng heels, narinig na niya ang boses ni Lady Lucienne mula sa grand staircase.

“Look who finally decided to come home.”

Tumingin siya pataas — nandoon si Lucienne, elegant as ever, nakasuot ng silk robe, may hawak na wine glass. Sa likod nito, si Callista, nakaupo sa hagdan, nakangisi habang nagpe-paint ng kuko.

“I had a late broadcast,” mahinahong sagot ni Celestine. “May breaking news.”

Lucienne chuckled softly — 

“Of course. Anything for your precious career, hm? You do realize this isn’t your house to come and go as you please?”

“I wasn’t aware there were visiting hours,” Sagot ni Celestine

“Oh, darling,” sabat ni Callista, hindi man lang tumingin sa kanya,

“we just thought maybe you’d finally moved out.

I mean, the staff were wondering if they should keep your room or turn it into a storage closet.”

Tinignan lang sila ni Celestine. Pinili niyang hindi sumagot.

lumapit si Lucienne, marahang umiikot sa kanya na parang leon sa paligid ng biktima.

“You’ve grown quite bold lately,” sabi ni Lucienne, boses malamig pero pino.

“Beatrix spoiled you.

She made you believe you belong here, when in truth…”

Tumingin ito diretso sa mata ni Celestine.

“…you’re just a guest in this family.

Don’t mistake our pity for love.”

Ramdam ni Celestine ang kirot sa dibdib

“If I’m a guest, then maybe you should start treating me like one — with respect.”

Tumawa si Callista, maikli at mapanukso.

“Wow, Ate, calm down. You’re dripping attitude — and rainwater.” tinignan niya ito taas-baba

Lucienne leaned closer, halos magdikit na ang mukha nila.

“I suggest you fix your tone, Miss Alaric.

Your father has enough problems with the company — he doesn’t need a scandalous little anchor embarrassing the family name.”

Celestine clenched her jaw, kinuha ang bag niya, at tumingin sa kanila pareho.

“Funny,” sabi niya, mahinahon pero matalim,

“because the only ones embarrassing this family are standing right in front of me.”

Napatigil si Lucienne at Callista, sabay sabay na tumigas ang mga ngiti nila.

Celestine turned, umakyat ng hagdan — mabigat ang bawat hakbang nito

Pagpasok niya sa kwarto, isinara niya ang pinto, huminga nang malalim, at doon lang niya hinayaan bumagsak ang mga luha.

Sa loob ng tahimik na kwarto, kinuha niya ang envelope na iniwan ni Attorney Valera.

Pinagmasdan niya ulit ang nakasulat na mga salita:
“To my granddaughter — my only true heir.”

Hinaplos niya ito ng dahan-dahan,

sabay bulong, halos hindi marinig:

“If only you were here, Lola.

You’re the only one who ever made me feel I mattered.”