CHAPTER 4

SAMANTALA, sa kabilang dako, biglang nagising si Caden mula sa bangungot. Malalim ang pahinga niya, butil-butil ang pawis sa noo at habol-habol ang hininga.

That same dream again.

The same darkness, the same cold water pulling her under while he stood there—helpless, watching her sink. He could hear her faint gasps, see the panic in her eyes, and yet his body refused to move.

Every time, it felt real. The icy water, the choking silence, her trembling hands reaching out to him. And every time, he failed to save her. He would wake up drenched in sweat, his heart pounding, guilt pressing down on his chest like a weight he couldn’t escape.

He didn’t understand why that dream kept coming back. But deep down, he knew somewhere in his past, he had let her drown. Not in water, but in pain he never dared to face.

Naiinis siyang napakamot ng ulo, sabay tayo at lumapit sa floor-to-ceiling window ng condo niya sa BGC. Napakalakas pa rin ng ulan sa labas, bahagya nang natatabunan ang city lights sa buong Bonifacio Global City.

Naglakad siya papunta sa mini bar, kinuha ang bote ng whiskey, at nilagok nang dire-diretso. Mainit iyon sa lalamunan pero wala pa ring epekto, hindi pa rin nawawala ‘yung kaba at guilt na bumabagabag sa kanya.

He didn’t know what exactly went wrong, only that uneasy feeling gnawing at him, whispering that something must have happened. There was no proof, no clear sign, just that sharp tension in his chest that refused to fade.

Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was guilt. But whatever it was, he hoped it wouldn’t spiral into something that could ruin him. Not now. Not when his name, his reputation, and everything he’d worked for were finally steady.

He exhaled slowly, forcing his expression to remain calm as he checked his phone again, notifications, messages, headlines. All looked normal, but deep down, he knew better. In his world, peace was always the silence before another storm...

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Meanwhile, habang nasa St. Luke's Medical Hospital ay naka-wheelchair si Talia habang tinutulak ng nurse papasok sa operating room. Malamig, nakakasilaw ang ilaw, at amoy disinfectant sa paligid. Sa tabi niya, nakalatag ang mga bakal na kagamitan sa operasyon.

Tiningnan siya ng doctor, seryoso ang mukha. “Mrs. Montclair, there’s still some remaining fetal tissue inside your uterus. We need to remove it to prevent infection. But there’s a problem—you’re allergic to most types of anesthesia. That means I can’t put you to sleep for this procedure.”

Natigilan si Talia. Nanlamig ang buong katawan niya na para bang nilunod siya ng takot. Ibig sabihin, kailangan niyang tiisin ang buong sakit ng procedure nang gising at walang anesthesia.

Nanginginig siya, hindi lang sa lamig kundi sa takot. Pinipigilan niyang umiyak habang mahigpit na nakapikit, habang nakahiga sa malamig na operating bed. At nang ipasok ng doctor ang malamig na instrumento, halos mapasigaw siya sa tindi ng sakit.

“Ah—!”

Napakapit siya sa gilid ng kama, nanginginig habang namumuo ang butil-butil na pawis sa noo. Masakit. Napakasakit. Parang dinudurog ang laman-loob niya ng mga sandaling iyon. Parang bawat galaw ay parang pinipilas siya sa gitna. Tumulo ang mga luha niya kahit pilit niyang pinigilan, at kasabay niyon ay humalo rin ang pawis niya sa noo.

Kinagat ni Talia ang labi niya nang mariin hanggang sa maramdaman niyang sumugat iyon. Nalasahan pa niya ang malansang likido sa kanyang labi parang patuloy na tinitiis ang walang kasinsakit na pakiramdam.

She wanted to remember that pain. She needed to. Because only through the pain could she recognize the face of the person who did this to her. She had to remember what it felt like... to lose a child, to be shattered beyond repair. And whoever killed her baby… she would never forgive. Not in this lifetime.

The pain in her womb came in waves, relentless, merciless. Each second felt like her insides were being wrung dry, as if her body itself was mourning. Her vision blurred, the room spinning, every breath turning into a plea. Until finally… her strength gave out. And everything went dark.

---

Sa kabilang banda, sa loob ng Montclair Empire, nakaupo si Caden Montclair sa office niya, hawak ang phone habang padarag na nagta-type.

Kanina pa niya tinatawagan si Talia pero laging “cannot be reached.”

Napakunot ang noo niya, halatang inis.

“Seriously?” bulong niya, sabay bagsak ng phone sa mesa.

Ngayon pa talaga ito hindi matawagan? Sa mismong araw ng divorce signing nila? “Anong drama na naman 'to, Talia?”

But no matter how much he tried to brush it off, something inside him wouldn’t settle. From the moment he woke up, there was this strange tension in his chest, a gut feeling that something was off. He couldn’t explain it, but it followed him like a shadow, creeping in between every breath, every thought.

“Caden, chill,” bulong niya sa sarili, pero hindi rin siya mapalagay.

Napailing na lang siya, pinilit i-dismiss ang kaba sa dibdib. “It’s nothing. I know her game. She’s probably just trying to get my sympathy, trying to drag this divorce out for as long as she can,” mahinang sabi niya habang nakatanaw sa bintana ng opisina, tanaw ang city skyline.

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Sa labas ng operating room, mabagal ang takbo ng oras. Paikot-ikot lang si Bea sa labas ng operating room hahang kinakagat ang kuko. Paminsan-minsan ay titingin siya sa orasan, tapos sa mga nurse na dumadaan, sabay buntong-hininga.

Ilang sandali pa, bumukas ang pinto.

Lumabas ang nurse na nagtutulak ng stretcher at doon nakita niyang nakahiga si Talia, mahimbing na natutulog, maputla, at may bakas pa ng luha sa pisngi. Pati labi niya, may maliliit na sugat na marahil ay dahil sa pagkakakagat.

“Doc, how is she?” tanong ni Bea sa doktor sabay takbo palapit.

Tinanggal ng doktor ang mask at huminga nang malalim saka bumaling sa kan'ya. “The operation was successful, but the patient’s physical condition remains fragile. At this stage, adequate rest and close monitoring are essential. If her recovery is neglected, there’s a possibility that future conception may become difficult.”

Nasapo ni Bea ang sariling dibdib. Parang nabasag ‘yung puso niyang naririnig ‘yung mga salitang ‘yon.

Habang pinagmamasdan niya si Talia, hindi niya mapigilang isipin kung paano ang isang babaeng gano’n kabait ay napasama sa isang tulad ni Caden Montclair.

“Hayop ka talaga, Caden! 'Di kita mapapatawad!” usal ni Bea sa isipan habang nakatingin sa walang malay na kaibigan.