4.1

Chapter 4.1

Aslan had been standing with his arms crossed in front of the car for a long time. The back section was already open. Alexa's luggage was on display, but it was outshone by the beautiful woman he had been staring at since earlier.

What does he call this hard shaft inside his pants? Boner. Yes. He'd had it since he glanced at those round, firm mounds, tightly pressing against her wet shirt.

It was probably wrong to be with that woman. He couldn't resist, though, and stood by his word that it was none of his business.

Even though Donna had been relentlessly playing with his manhood earlier, it softened when it was inside the woman's warm mouth. His mind was preoccupied with a woman in the middle of the street, with a storm raging, and no vehicle to take her.

How could he calm down like that? He remembered Geron and Caroline.

Fuck.

He had thought that his duty towards their daughter had ended when Alexa chose to part ways with him. But it wasn't over yet.

He remembered the couple who took him in, their kindness, how they had changed his fate, and now he was driving an expensive car.

He lives in a city of his own. All of that was because of Caroline. And it's true that Hacienda Escobar belongs to Alexa's ancestors.

Is it really wrong for him to own it now, instead of being the only legitimate grandson of the late Don Renato Escobar?

But no one dared say he was a thief or a usurper. People were delighted that he replaced Geronimo because, like a natural haciendero, he made the lives of his people prosperous and better.

He was famous throughout the province and known in every corner of the world. He is the face of Hacienda Escobar, and he made it the only living paradise on Earth.

He suddenly snapped back to his senses when he heard the sound of metal clanging, followed by the scream of an elderly man running.

"Senyorito!" A worker repeatedly shouted, causing him to frown and look toward the mansion gate.

It was quite far, but due to the clarity of his vision, he saw Tibursio running, covered with a large plastic sheet.

Jesus. What is the old man doing? Is he related to Alexa, who isn't being affected by the storm?

A carabao entered the property, pulling a wooden cart with wheels.

He greeted them before they could get closer.

"What are you doing here? The storm is so strong!" he asked quickly.

"Mariska is about to give birth!"

"What?" he exclaimed, scratching his head roughly.

The timing couldn't have been worse for Mariska. Just when the floodwaters were rising and the storm was raging, she was about to give birth! How was he supposed to take her to the doctor? He had rushed the drive to Apalit and back so he wouldn't be caught by the impending landfall.

He wouldn't be able to get a doctor because the bridge was surely flooded.

"We won't be able to find a doctor," he told them.

"You," Tibursio said to him.

He shook his head.

No. He would never deliver a horse or anything else. He didn't want to lose any more pets.

Since his childhood, his animals had been his family because his stepfather was cruel, and his mother never defended him.

Baron, also known as Balbon, had deprived him of the right to study. He was just a driver for the children of his father's first wife. He was his mother's legitimate child, but he was neglected.

At that age, when Caroline took him in, he had only finished his first year.

He was also too ashamed to enroll again because when he tried to enroll as a second-year high school student, he became the target of bullies. They called him "big egg."

They said he looked like a kapre in class. That was his experience in school. Whenever he would go home, he would be beaten because there was no cooked rice. There were no fried camote and sardines because his mother hadn’t returned from working as a helper.

He secretly cried because he couldn't fight back, he couldn't stand up for himself.

He ran to his beloved animals.

He was fortunate that the Alternative Learning System was already available; Caroline had arranged everything for him to be enrolled when the couple took him in. He was able to enter college right away, and because of his natural intelligence, his talents really shone, especially when he took up Veterinary Medicine.

He graduated, but when he assisted with the delivery of a horse—one he had brought with him when he arrived at the hacienda—he lost it. That horse, Mariska, was his pet's offspring, and he couldn’t bring himself to deliver it because he couldn’t bear to lose another beloved animal.

"Senyorito, we know you don't have to say it, but… Mariska is in an even worse situation. This is her first foal," Tibursio said. "We’ll wait for you at the ranch. Be careful, Senyorito, the storm is getting stronger."

They turned away, and he was left stunned as he too turned around.

He walked slowly to the car, soaking wet from the rain.

Carrying Alexa's luggage, he walked back to the mansion. He wondered if he should go to the ranch. He was sure he couldn’t bring the doctor with him.

What would he do? As far as supplies went, he was ready, including the medications for Mariska, which the doctor had immediately asked him to buy.

They were expecting her to give birth next week, not this week. Why did the timing have to be so wrong?

He entered the house, drenched from the rain. He overheard gossip and laughter coming from the kitchen.

"She's so beautiful. Back then, she already looked like a goddess, and now she’s even more stunning. She really looks like the princess of the hacienda. I bet the women here are all jealous of the return of Señora Caroline’s daughter," Lorna was chattering to everyone.

He heard the others agree with her.

No wonder these people treat Alexa like a real princess. Nothing had changed in the way the hacienda workers viewed the spoiled daughter of the couple who had adopted her.

He headed straight upstairs to deliver the princess’s clothes.

On his way up, Mang Kiko was coming down.

"She’s in her room, like when she was still a young girl. I’ll make her some fresh chocolate, the natural cacao we have. You’ve been gone so long, Aslan," the butler said to him.

"The Tibors arrived. Mariska’s about to give birth, and there’s no doctor," Aslan replied, and Mang Kiko momentarily raised an eyebrow at him.

Aslan sighed. He was so confused and agitated.

"You can do this. Rather than letting your pet suffer, help her. Remember, Aslan, you’re not to blame for the loss of your horse before. It was just its time. Don’t blame your abilities as a doctor for the loss of one of your animals. Just like humans, they all have their time. Maybe it’s time to return to your duty to them," Kiko said, his voice encouraging Aslan to believe in himself.

He remained silent and continued upstairs. His steps felt heavy as he reached Alexa’s room.

Without knocking, he turned the door’s handle and pushed it open.

"Aaaay! Rapist!" The young woman screamed as she faced a vanity mirror.

"Fuck!"

He didn’t bother to turn around; instead, he shot her a sharp look.

"Rude! Get out!" she screamed, hurriedly adjusting her robe.

How could she be so stupid to pull down the top of her dress while applying lotion?

Where did she even get the lotion?

His question was answered when he saw her body bag. There, he saw her cosmetics and other items.

"Here’s your luggage. Next time, lock the door. Don’t scream ‘rapist’ when you haven’t even been touched," he said sternly, earning a glare from her.

He walked further into the room to place her luggage in front of the closet. She didn’t have a walk-in closet. This was the only room without one because she had been afraid of it. She thought a ghost would emerge from the walk-in closet’s door, so her father had it removed.

He saw how Alexa backed away, as if she were being attacked.

"Who are you fooling, Alexa? You've had a boyfriend for three years, so stop acting like there's anything hidden about you," Aslan said.

"You're such a pain!" was her response after he turned his back on her.

He glanced back as he reached the door of her room, but she acted like she was about to throw something at him, so he quickly stepped out and slammed the door shut.

Aslan heard the object hit the door he had just closed. He was still so lucky, despite everything.

He went straight to his room to take a shower and think about what he should do.

Damn it. Why was he overthinking? By the time he finished deciding, Mariska might already have given birth.

It shouldn't take this long. His horse needed him badly. Kiko was right. It was more pitiful to leave her suffering during labor when he could do something about it.

He hurried his movements.

Once done, he went back to his adopted sister’s room and turned the handle, but the door was locked.

"Alexa!" He called out, then knocked.

When the door opened, her frowning face greeted him.

She crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows lazily.

"I’m going to the ranch."

"So?" she snapped. "Even if you live there, I don’t care."

"Is that what they taught you in medical school? Sharpening your tongue for snark?"

He saw her face flush with anger.

"And you? Did your business course teach you how to steal?"

"I took Vet," he grinned, though it was true he had also taken a business course. It was his front-degree, but in his heart, being a veterinarian was what truly mattered.

He turned his back before the spoiled brat could say anything else.

"Go with Mang Kiko if you get scared. You're alone here. Who knows what you'll hear, and your scream might cause the whole hacienda to wake up."

"W-What?" She stammered, "W-What will I hear?"

He walked straight to the stairs, ignoring the girl who was clearly frightened by his warning.

That’s what she gets for being so sarcastic. A ghost was all Alexa had to fear, and he knew it all too well.