LOGINHer hand instinctively moved to her pocket, but her phone wasn’t there. She froze before remembering she had left it on the table at the restaurant. A wave of helplessness washed over her she couldn’t contact Erica or Thirdie, and no one could reach her. Her breathing became uneven as she tried to calm herself.Don’t panic… don’t panic… Her trembling fingers moved to her neck, finding the necklace Thirdie had given her. She held it tightly against her chest as if it could steady her heart. For the first time, fear truly crept in. She missed him. She didn’t want to cry, but tears still filled her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away. Someone will notice… they have to notice… Time passed slowly, each minute feeling like hours, until suddenly footsteps echoed outside.Her body stiffened as the sound grew closer, slow and heavy, making her heart pound loudly in her chest. The door creaked open, and light spilled into the room as a man stepped inside.Kathalina’s eyes widened it was t
After they entered the room, Leonel gently helped Erica lie down on the bed. He could see how shaken she was her eyes were red, her hands still trembling. He understood her fear. Kathalina wasn’t just anyone. She was Erica’s best friend.“Stay here, honey. I’ll get you some water,” Leonel said softly after settling her on the bed.But before he could stand, Erica quickly grabbed his hand, holding it tightly.“Leonel… do you think Thirdie can really find her?” she asked, her voice weak and full of worry.Leonel sat back down beside her and pulled her into a gentle hug. “Absolutely,” he said with quiet confidence. “You don’t know that man well enough. He’ll tear Davao apart if he has to, just to find his wife.”He let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood.Erica looked at him, a bit surprised. “Really, hon?” she asked, a small hint of hope in her voice.Leonel nodded and gently brushed her hair. “Hmm… so don’t worry too much. He’ll do everything to bring her back.”Then he look
Thirdie’s private jet touched down on the landing area of the exclusive hotel in Davao. The engines hummed to silence as he leaned back, exhaustion heavy in his bones. He hadn’t checked his phone all morning. He’d wanted to surprise Kathalina, but the moment he landed, Steve’s urgent call had shattered the calm.He looked forward and saw Jeff in the front seat, eyes wide and nervous. The man didn’t know who had called, but seeing Thirdie’s expression, he understood that it was bad news.Even the pilot, seated at the front with Jeff, felt the sudden shift in the air. The tension inside the jet turned heavy, almost suffocating. He didn’t know what had happened, but seeing Thirdie’s expression, cold, sharp, and dangerous, was enough to make him uneasy.Jeff sat stiffly beside him, not daring to speak. Both of them could feel it clearly.Something was wrong.And whatever it was… it had pushed their boss to a level they had never seen before.“The team assigned to protect Kathalina… who’s
Outside the restaurant, hidden in the quiet shadows across the street, a man lowered his phone after making a call. His voice had been calm, almost casual, as he delivered the message. “She’s already secured,” he reported. “The men have her.”Thousands of miles away, in a high-rise office in Dubai, Harold leaned back in his chair, a slow smile forming on his lips. The city lights reflected against the glass walls behind him, but his attention was fixed on the report he had just received.“Good,” he murmured, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest.“Very good.” His eyes darkened with satisfaction. “Let’s see what you’ll do now, Thirdie…” Harold muttered with a smirk, leaning back in his chair. He didn’t believe Thirdie would stay still after this.Back in Davao, time passed slowly at first.At the restaurant table, Erica glanced toward the hallway again, her brows slightly furrowed.“She’s taking a bit long,” she said softly.Steve looked up from his seat. “Maybe the line’s long?”
The employees were still confused, their thoughts in complete chaos after everything that had happened. No one dared to speak. The tension in the room was still heavy, and everyone quietly watched what would happen next.Steve casually took a sip of his coffee before handing the other cup to Kathalina. “Here, your coffee, ma’am,” he said in a relaxed tone. Kathalina accepted it with a calm expression. “Thank you, Steve,” she replied softly.Steve then glanced around the room and asked, “So… who caused the problem?”No one answered.The employees lowered their heads, afraid to get involved. Seeing this, Leon stepped forward. “It was Alysa and the branch manager, Raol,” he said. “But it’s already handled.” Erica nodded slightly, her face calm. “Oh… that foolish Alysa again,” she said. “And her lover the branch manager.” There was no surprise in her voice, only disappointment.“Anyway, good job handling it, Leon,” she added. Leon nodded and gave a small smile to her cousin.Erica then
Everyone gasped.Alysa stared at Raol in disbelief, her trembling hand slowly rising to her cheek. The sharp sting of the slap burned against her skin, but the pain in her chest was far worse. Ever since their relationship began, Raol had always spoiled her, giving her everything she wanted. Never, not even once, did she imagine that the man who treated her like a queen would raise his hand against her.“Raol… you… you hit me?” she cried, her voice breaking into pieces.Tears filled her eyes as she looked around, hoping desperately for someone to speak, to defend her, to say something. But all she saw were shocked faces. Employees and guests passing by stood frozen, their silence louder than any words. No one moved. No one dared.Her humiliation was complete.Raol, breathing heavily, his face twisted with anger and panic, suddenly grabbed her arm roughly and began dragging her toward the exit. His grip was tight, almost painful, as if he was trying to pull her away from the consequenc
After their eyes briefly met, Kathalina was the first to look away. Her gaze dropped to her plate, as though the untouched food there could shield her from the storm building quietly inside her chest. She forced her fingers to stay steady around her fork, though she could feel the heat of his stare
Agnes froze the moment she saw Pia standing beside Kathalina.Her throat went dry. For years after Kathalina’s disappearance, she had tried everything little gift, careful smiles, forced cheerfulness to get closer to Pia. She offered to help in the kitchen, to run errands, even to sit with her in t
After finishing their meal, Pia and Kathalina stepped into the lively rhythm of the mall. The hum of voices, the glow of bright lights, the polished floor gleaming under their feet all contrasted so strongly with the quiet of the restaurant they had just left.Pia slipped her arm through Kathalina’s
The mall opened into a wide stretch of sunlight where the crowd flowed in all directions. Vendors lined the walkways outside, their stalls bright with colors paintings leaned on low easels, trays of woven bracelets glittered in the afternoon light, and the sweet smell of roasted chestnuts drifted f







