LOGINNAGPAALAM si Alessia kay Yaya Glo na aalis siya ng bahay. Runchu picked her up as soon as she was outside the subdivision’s vicinity.
“How’s Wei?” Tanong niya sa bodyguard ng kaibigan.
“Not good. We couldn't contact you last night, even Zhan. Something happened.”
Biglang nakaramdam ng kaba si Alessia. But she kept her composure. “How about Xiao?”
“She is missing,” ani Runchu habang naka
GINANAP sa pinakamagarang hotel ng mga Gaudencio ang engagement party nina Varo at Kaori. Sinadya ni Varo na hindi tumutol na maging engrande iyon para na rin mas marami siyang makahalubilo.From an outsider's point of view, Varo looked like a man in love. Panay ang ngiti nito sa mga bisitang naroon. Only Yuen knew, he’d been scheming in silence.“Wow! Ang daming bisita! Himala, pumayag ka?” bulalas ni Yuen habang inililibot ang mga mata sa napakaraming bisita.“Fuqin insisted on it. Why not?” Balewalang nagkibit ng balikat si Varo.Nakadaupang palad kasi nila ang ilang kilalang celebrity pati na rin ang mga bigating negosyante sa business world. At s’yempre, hindi mawawala ang mga kilalang personalidad sa kanilang organisasyon.Nakatayo sa hindi kalayuan si Kaori at ito ang abalang bumabati sa mga bisita. Halatang-halata sa mukha nito kung gaano ito kasaya. Habang si Varo ay sinisikap na habaan ang pasensya dahil para sa kanya, ang engagement na iyon ay paghahanda sa mas malaking pla
“BOSS, I’ve secured an invitation to the Pillars Convention,” excited na wika ni Yuen habang hawak ang isang pulang envelope na may nakasulat na chinese characters. Inilapag nito ang envelop sa mesa ni Varo na kasalukuyang abala sa files na binabasa habang nakaupo ito sa wheel chair.Ang Pillars Convention na tinutukoy nito ay ang pagsasama-sama ng mga haligi ng organisasyon para sa taunang pagtitipon. It was a huge gathering for the Triad and the host for this year is the Chan Clan.“Are you sure Aramis won’t mess this up?” Tiningan ni Varo si Yuen na wari ay tinatantiya ang ibinalita nito.Yuen made a full recovery three years ago, and Varo trained him so he became his trusted secretary and driver. Ito lang ang tanging taong mapagkakatiwalaan niya lalo na at alam din nito ang kanyang totoong pagkatao.Varo had been hesitating to let Yuen enter the underworld, but they could not escape such a path since they were both born in it. Sa paraan din na ito mapoprotektahan niya ang matalik
3 YEARS LATERHUMINGI ng isang buwang bakasyon si Hyacinth para makauwi siya ng South Korea. Pinayagan naman siya ni Paul Chan dahil siya ang madalas nitong kasama at naatasang magbantay rito. She also deserved a break.The old man’s health was declining. The last three years was tedious for everyone, until the organization was slowly becoming stable since Alessia had found a way to secure an alliance with the Russian Bratva.‘I believe in you, Ali,’ ani Hyacinth sa isip habang naroon siya sa balkonahe ng kanyang bahay sa Seoul.Nalaman kasi niyang engaged na si Ali sa isang bratva prince at hindi magtatagal ay kasal na ng dalawa. She was genuinely happy for her sister, Alessia deserved all the happiness in the world after all she had been through.Ngayong palala nang palala ang lagay ni Paul Chan, siguradong si Ali ang magmamana ng posisyon nito. She was Alessia Chan after all, the triad princess.Ali had been helping her as she was hellbent on tracking the remains of all the persons
NAGKAROON ng pribadong meeting sina Paul Chan at Ernest Zhao. Naroon sina Hyacinth at Wei para magsilbing bantay, kapwa sila nakasuot ng face mask para itago ang kanilang pagkakakilanlan. Napapagitnaan nila si Paul habang nasa harapan nila si Ernest.Hyacinth remembered Ernest Zhao attended her wedding with Varo before. Tiyak na makikilala siya nito kapag tinanggal niya ang takip sa mukha.“Do you really need to bring two of your best assassins to guard you?” kalmadong sambit ni Ernest.“I don’t trust traitors. Better be safe than sorry,” Paul scoffed.Umasta namang hindi apektado si Ernest sa pasaring ni Paul. Pero damang-dama ang tensyon sa paligid. Naroon sila sa isang pribadong golf course na pag-aari ng mga Wu. Isa rin sa mga haligi ng organisasyon. It was a neutral ground for Paul and Ernest to negotiate.Nagbuga ng hangin si Ernest. “Since the mafia is trying to undermine us, I’d rather choose to strengthen our organization than let it fall for to those outsiders.”“Really?” ti
HINDI umalis si Kaori sa tabi ni Varo mula nang sabihin ng doktor na stable na ang lagay nito. Kaya lang, walang makapagsasabi kung kailan ito magigising. But as if on cue, nakita ni Kaori na unti-unting nagmulat ng mata si Varo.Impossible! Did she just witness a miracle?“Varo… you’re awake!”Varo was just staring blankly to the ceiling. Kitang-kita ni Kaori ang munting luhang kumawala sa mata nito.Tinawag niya ito sa pangalan nang ilang ulit, pero wala itong anumang reaksyon. Kaya agad niyang tinawag ang private doctor nito para tingnan ang lagay nito.It was not long when Varo’s adoptive father, Felipe Gaudencio, came along with his bodyguards. Natataranta itong lumapit kay Kaori.“Tell me, what happened to my son? Is it true that he nearly died of cardiac arrest?” Felipe asked. “But why? He’s healthy, athletic, and—”“Don’t worry, Mr. Gaudencio, according to his doctor, he’s stable now. He also regained his consciousness a while ago.”Nagbuga ng hangin ang matanda. “Hay, salamat
WALANG inaksayang sandali si Hyacinth nang makabalik siya sa Chan Estate. She immediately looked for Paul Chan. Naroon ito sa loob ng study nito.Paul Chan only gave her a furtive glance. “You’re back.”Hyacinth bowed down to the Dragon Head. “I’ve retrieved the ledger, Uncle.”Tumango ang matanda. “Good. Where is it?”Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit at ibinigay rito ang pulang ledger. “Everything is in there.”Ngumiti nang makahulugan si Paul. “Great! I know I can always count on you, Cinth.”Tipid na ngumiti si Hyacinth. “I’m just doing my job.”Binuklat ni Paul ang ledger, ilang beses itong mariing napailing nang makita ang nilalaman niyon.“As expected, the Lao Clan are traitors… so are the other main families.” Paul scoffed and closed the ledger.Lihim na napalunok si Hyacinth. “What’s th
HINDI nagpahalata si Hyacinth na apektado siya mula sa tawag na natanggap galing kay Wei. Sa harap ni Varo, lagi lang siyang nakangiti na para bang walang inaalala.“Will it be fine with you if we stay at my mom’s ancestral house while waiting for dad’s arrival?” untag ni Varo habang kapwa sila nas
SINULIT nina Varo at Hyacinth ang buong araw para mamasyal sa buong syudad. She had fun before Varo decided they’d fly back to the Philippines the next day to meet his biological father in the next few days. They learned that the Lao Patriarch was in Italy for a business meeting. Varo insisted on
KINABUKASAN naalimpungatan si Hyacinth at nakita niyang natutulog si Varo sa tabi niya habang hawak ang kanyang kamay. He refused to leave her, as he was worried that Aramis’ men would come.Alam ni Hyacinth na malabong mangyaring masaling sila nang mga oras na iyon dahil tiniyak ni Ren ang kanilan
“I THOUGHT I was careful enough to escape your ears…” Nakagat ni Hyacinth ang pang-ibabang labi. She was so engrossed in hitting Aramis that she almost forgot a possible onlooker. “Shush.” Ren gestured his hand to keep her mouth shut. Napatango si Hyacinth at naiintindihan niya ang ibig nitong







