Life is like a maze, full of different obstacles and requires a great deal of strength to survive. That is one thing that the four years old Desire Almonte learned from her father. He is a very busy man but he always finds time to bond with her. But today she received a very bad news from her grandfather saying that her father died due to an illness. Her mother died after giving birth to her and now her father left her at such a very young age. Tears started to fall from her beautiful emerald green eyes as she reminisces her past memories with him.
"Hush now my princess, your father hates to see you cry," her grandpa comforted her. He sits beside her and tried to wipe her tears using his bare hands.
"But grandpa if he does not want to see me like this, he shouldn't have left me," the poor little girl cried. Her grandpa carried her in his arms and kissed her forehead.
"Princess, if he only had a choice I'm pretty sure that he would choose to stay with us. But unfortunately we can't decide on how long we get to stay in this world," her grandpa explained. She looked at him with full curiosity.
"Who gets to decide on our fate then?" the little girl asked curiously.
Her grandpa chuckled before he speaks, "God is the owner of our lives. He will decide on when he will take it away from us."
The little girl suddenly felt sad after hearing what her grandfather told her.
"I'm scared grandpa," she said as more tears fall from her eyes.
"Scared of what?"
"I'm scared that God would take you away from me as well. You're the only one I have now." Her grandpa smiled and hugged her tight.
"I will never leave you my princess. You will never be left alone in this world," he promised that made the poor little girl smile.
"Am I going to live with you now grandpa?"
"Yes sweetheart, infact your nanny already packed your things for you," her grandpa answered.
"Are we going to take my nanny with us? I will miss her grandpa. I want her to come with us," she sobbed. Her grandpa caressed her cheeks and gave her a warm smile.
"Of course sweetheart, she will be living with us in my mansion. We will leave after your father's burial."
"Thank you, thank you grandpa!" She kisses her grandpa's cheeks, and that made the old man happy. He made a promise to his only son and he does not want to disappoint him. As long as he's alive he will fulfill that promise. He will make his granddaughter happy and give her everything she desires.
After his son's burial, Giovanni and his granddaughter together with their servants rode on their private plain back to Manila. He knows that it would be hard for her granddaughter to leave her home. But it's the only way he could look after her and for her not to feel being alone.
"Welcome to your new home Desire!" Giovanni Almonte announced as soon as they arrive in his mansion in Manila. His granddaughter was fascinated with the view she's seeing right now.
They are in the middle of a wide garden with beautiful landscapes and a water fountain in the middle. Infront of them is a big mansion with a castle like features. There were maids and butlers waiting for them as well. Some were taking her things and bringing it inside the mansion.
"Wow! Is this really your place grandpa?" she asked in disbelief. Her grandpa just nod as an answer.
"You are so rich grandpa! Come nanny let's have a tour on our new home!" She hurriedly run inside the mansion while giggling.
"Go after her," Giovanni instructed his granddaughter's nanny. He can't help but smile seeing his grandchild happy despite the tragedy they have been through.
"Sir, we already prepared the lunch you requested earlier," one of his maids told him.
"Thank you Yasemin, I'm sure my granddaughter would love to try the food you prepared for us."
"It will be an honor sir," the maid politely answered while bowing down her head.
Giovanni entered his mansion and all the maids and butlers bowed their heads as a sign of respect.
"Daddy you're home!" A little boy who's probably 3 years older than Desire run towards his direction.
"How's my little warrior?" he asked the little boy and carried him in his arms. The little boy giggled and kissed his cheeks.
"Daddy, my nanny and I had so much fun earlier. We played a lot of toys and watched different kinds of movies," he answered with a big smile on his face.
"Well, that's good to hear. We could watch those movies and play together tomorrow," Giovanni said that made the little boy's smile grow bigger.
"Really daddy?"
"Yes my little warrior, daddy will spend time with you tomorrow," he promised his son. The child is not really his son but he treats him like his own flesh and blood. One of his maids got pregnant but died while giving birth. So he had to keep the child and adopt him in a legal way.
"Grandpa who is he?" little Desire who have just finished running around asked her grandpa when she saw him carrying another child in his arms.
"Who is she daddy? And why is she calling you grandpa?" the little boy asked as well. Giovanni puts him down and motioned them both to sit on the couch. The two children followed him and then he started to explain things to them.
"Desire, my beautiful granddaughter I want you to meet my son, your uncle Chase," he stated. Desire stared at Chase as if observing him.
"But grandpa, daddy told me that he is your only son. How come you have another son now?"she asked curiously.
Chase glared at her but Desire glared at him as well. Giovanni noticed it and heaved a deep sigh.
"Listen carefully, you are both precious to me. And I want the two of you to get along well with each other. I don't want to see you fighting, did you understand?"
"Yes grandpa," / "Yes daddy," the kids answered in unison.
"Good! And as for your question sweetheart," He turned to face Desire. "He is not really my son by blood but I already considered him as one. So respect and love him because he is your uncle," he continued. Desire just nod as an answer.
"And as for you my little warrior, Desire is your older brother's daughter. And from now on she will be living with us," he explained to Chase as well.
"Where is my brother daddy? Why did he leave his daughter with you?"
Desire suddenly felt sad because of her uncle's question. She remembered her dad and her longing for him.
"He's gone now, and he needs us to look after his daughter. Will you do that for him son?"
"I will daddy, from now on I will treat her as my little sister." Giovanni smiled because of his son's answer. After their small talk they went to the dining area to have lunch.
"This food is personally prepared by Yasemin, how was it?" Giovanni asked his granddaughter who's currently enjoying her food.
"It's good grandpa!" Desire answered while munching some food in her mouth.
She is sitting beside Chase while her grandpa is sitting opposite to them.Giovanni smiled and turned around to look at Yasemin who's standing behind him.
"See? I told you she will like it!" he said that made Yasemin proud. She's smiling from ear to ear.
"Here, try this one Desire," Chase said while putting some chicken calderata on Desire's plate.
"Thank you uncle Chase," Desire answered shyly.
"You don't have to be shy, we are a family here," Chase told her. Desire slightly nod and gave him a sweet smile. Giovanni smiled upon seeing how the two kids get along very well.
"How I wish you will be like this until you both grow up!" he wished.
"We will daddy, I will promise to be a good uncle to her," Chase promised that made his father happy.
After eating lunch Chase went back to his room. His nanny is with him and fixing his bed.
"Nanny, I will finally have a playmate now!" Chase excitedly said. His nanny frowned and went closer to him.
"Listen carefully Chase, she is not a playmate nor a friend to you. She is your enemy," his nanny explained that made him curious."How could you say that nanny? She is my brother's daughter!" "Yes she is! And that is absolutely the reason why she is your enemy," she reasoned out. "She will slowly take everything away from you, including your daddy." "No! I don't want that to happen!" Chase shouted angrily. "Then you have to get rid of her before she stole everything from you," she whispered like a devil. "You're right nanny, I will never let her have everything!" he said with full determination. "And I will be with you every step of the way. Together we will kick that girl away from her." Then they both laugh with their idea.
*Desire's Pov;* Two days passed since we arrive here in my grandfather's mansion but still I'm missing my old home. I'm missing my father and my friends who usually come to play with me. "Why are you sad?" nanny asked when she saw me staring over my room's window. "Did you remember your father again?" I nod as an answer and tears started to fall from my eyes. She hugged me tight and kisses the top of my head. It's her way to calm me. "Thank you nanny," I whispered. I'm really grateful I have her. I may no
(After 16 years) *Desire's POV;* "Doctor Almonte a patient needs you!" A nurse ran towards my direction while I'm having a sip of coffee in my office. She's panting and I could see how nervous she is right now. "Calm down, take deep breathes and relax. I will attend to that patient right away," I told her. She sits on the couch and started to breathe in and out just like what I told her. I put on my white coat and grabbed my stethoscope. Then I hurriedly run towards the direction of the emergency room. I could see my fellow doctors and some nurses running as well. We have a lot of patients for today and we must attend to all o
*Third Person's POV* Giovanni went home with a smile on his wrinkled face. He managed to close the deal with one of his billionaire clients. He had been working hard for that deal for the past three weeks and now he finally managed to close it. One more successful business partnership with a big client and the future of his company will be secured. "Congratulations on closing the deal dad," Chase congratulated him as soon as they stepped out of their cars. "Thanks son, I just hope we could do the same thing with Kevin Villafuerte. I've been dying to have a business partnership with him but he keeps on declining my business proposals," the old man answered. Chase's face suddenly turned mad upon hearing what his father told
*Desire's POV* After almost three hours drive, we finally reached the place where we will conduct our medical mission. We were greeted by smiley faces and polite people. The place is a slightly crowded area, with houses made of nipa and surrounded with different kinds of trees. Children were busy playing with mud while their parents patiently wait for us to finish setting up our tent. "Doctor, we prepared some food for you and your team." A man in his mid 60's approached me with a smile on his wrinkled face. He's probably the leader of this neighborhood. "Thank you for your generosity," I thanked him with a smile on my face. He smiled at me as well. I can't help but admire these people fo
*Third Person's POV* It was already dusk when Desire and her team decided to go home after their successful medical mission. They are all very happy that they were able to help the people of that small village. Desire is smiling from ear to ear as she watch the people carrying the foods and medicines they gave them. "I guess everyone will have a nice dinner doc," Patricia mumbled with a smile on her face. They are all very tired but just by seeing the smile on the people's faces, their tiredness wear off. "You're right Pat. We did a good job for today. I'm very much grateful to all of you. This medical mission will not be possible without your help," Desire said with sincerity. "We are also thankful to you doc for letting us participate in t
*Desire's POV* I woke up to the smell of ethanol and was greeted by completely white surroundings. What happened last night came flashing in my mind. I was stabbed! I checked my stomach, and saw a bandage in there, indicating that what happened last night wasn't a dream. I was really stabbed after doing the medical mission! I tried to stand up but my wound feels like it's burning every time I tried to move. Gosh! I still have some patients to attend to! I can't be here laying in bed while my patients are waiting for me! The door swung open to reveal my grandfather's worried face. He's with my nanny who's obviously worried as well. I felt sorry for making them worry. &nb
*Third Person's Pov* "I told you to kill her! But all you did was stab her!" Chase shouted angrily at his men as soon as he arrived in their hideout. The goons just bowed down their heads because of fear. "Chase, calm down bro!" Louie stopped him from possibly breaking their men's heads because of rage. "Calm down? When the person that I want dead is still in the hospital, breathing! You expect me to calm down?" Chase shouted angrily. He slamed his hands hard on the table causing for his men to tremble in fear. "Boss don't worry we will do our job better next time. We will kill her," the leader of the goons promised while lowering his gaze. "No! I have a better plan. For now, I think I have to eliminate her grandfather first!" Louie's eyes widened after hearing his friend's words. "You will kill your dad?" It's really hard for him to believe that Chase would actually plan to kill someone just for the sake of money. The Chase he once knew when they were still young was friendly
*Desire's POV* They say everyone is meant to leave this world. Everyone would eventually die and leave for good. But I didn't expect it to happen so soon to my grandpa. He's the only family I have! We can't hide the fact that losing our loved ones is like a part of our heart had died as well. And that's exactly what I'm feeling right now. I curled up to my bed and hugged myself tightly. A week full of sorrows and misery had passed. After my grandfather's burial I filed an indefinite leave. And for these past few days I've been spending my life mourning for his death. Nanny Ysang tried to comfort me, but I told her that I want to be alone and I don't wish to be comforted by anyone. Patricia calls every night but I chose to ignore her calls. All I want to do is to stay in bed and cry all night. I know that I promised my grandpa that I will help uncle Chase in running our business. But I just don't have the strength to do it right now."Desire, sweety can I come in?" nanny