CHAPTER 20“MY businesses are doing a great job lately, Mom,” Mckenzie Del Rio told his mother.Kakauwi lang nito kaya hindi maiwasang isipin ni Bria na baka may family reunion talaga ang mga Del Rio. Ang alam niya, uuwi na rin si Ma’am Mallory bukas o sa mga susunod na araw.Napahinga siya nang malalim. She had no idea what exactly would happen, but she couldn’t feel at ease knowing that the Del Rio siblings will all be in the main mansion soon.Napapadasal na lang talaga siya nang taimtim na hindi siya mapagdiskitahan. She knows every one of them becase of her past with Sir Magnus. She could say that they aren’t that nice people. Dalahira man siya pero alam niyang good judge of character naman siya, ‘no!“Oh, really? It’s doing great lately?” Nakangiting nag-angat ng tingin si Mrs. Del Rio, “why did you ask me yesterday to talk to Tanya, then? About a potential investment in that great company of yours?”Tanya is Mrs. Prado. That good soul who saved her last time from the supposed

CHAPTER 22“SHE’S still quiet, Dad,” Magnus told his father as they both looked at Sabria sitting on the sofa in the home office.Nakasiksik lang ito sa dulo ng sofa habang yakap ang mga tuhod nito. Her eyes were lifeless. Tumigil na ito sa pag-iyak pero nang buhat-buhat niya ito kanina ay tila wala nang katapusan ang mga luha at hikbi nito.It seems to him that she had a panic attack. She also wouldn’t stop calling her mom. Her body shook and she was frail weak in his arms.“What happened, Magnus?” seryosong tanong ng kaniyang ama.He turned serious, too. “I just saw her crying hard near the fountain. She was panicking and shaking, Dad. She kept on calling Auntie Eleanor.” His father sighed and had a look of sympathy. “Poor child.”“Dad, what really happened ten years ago?” his voice was hoarse.He didn’t want to admit it to himself at first, but Magnus knew that what happened might’ve influenced Sabria to come up with a decision to call off their wedding.Oo, alam niyang suntok sa

“BIYANG, umamin ka nga. Tumakas ka ba kagabi?"Tila huminto sa paghinga si Bria. Pero pilit niyang pinakalma ang sarili para makaisip siya ng magandang idadahilan sa marites na si Madonna a.k.a kontrabidang Lavinia.“Nakita kitang lumabas sa kuwarto. ‘Wag ka na magkaila,” dagdag pa nito.Sumimsim muna siya sa kape bago kunwaring kumunot ang noo. “Ha? Hindi, teh, ah. Ang himbing nga ng tulog ko kagabi, eh.”“Weh?” paghihinala pa nito, “umamin ka na. Tayo-tayo lang naman ang nandito. ‘Di ba, Lengleng?”Nagkibit-balikat naman si brutal na co-worker. “Ewan ko sa inyo. Wala ‘kong kinalaman d’yan, ah.”Thankful din talaga siya minsan na madaling mabahag ang buntot nitong si Lengleng at ayaw nadadawit sa gulo. Naliligtas siya nito nang hindi nito alam.Lord, salamat dahil kahit na lagi akong lamog kapag kasama ko si Lengleng, eh may innocent wisdom naman siya para iligtas ang katawang-lupa ko sa mga masasamang-loob. Napadasal tuloy siya ulit sa kaniyang isip kahit na katatapos lang nilang m

CHAPTER 26“SINAKRIPISYO ko ang sarili ko, kahit hindi kita minahal gaya ng inaakala mo,” Bria stated with conviction.A tear fell from Laurent’s eye. Her heart clenched in pain. She was on the verge of crying hard but she controlled her emotions.Kung mga sagot lang naman sa mga tanong nito ang gusto nito... kaya niya namang magsalita.Kaya niyang gumawa ng maraming dahilan... ‘wag lang nitong... malaman ang totoo.Laurent scoffed. “So you only acted like a nice and genuine woman just to get to my good side?” Ngumiti siya nang tipid. “Gano’n na nga.” Suminghap ito at napasuklay sa buhok nito. Laurent paced back and forth, maybe trying to process all that she just confessed. Huminga siya nang malalim at nagpahid ng luha. To say that pain was only the one hurting his chest was an understatement. Sinasalakay ng kung ano-anong emosyon ang sistema niya pero pilit siyang nagpakatatag.Para ito kay Laurent. She repeatedly said in her mind.“Are you lying to me?” mayamaya’y mariin nitong

CHAPTER 28“SHE'S with Lance Cheong,” Magnus said in a serious voice as he recalled what happened that night in the Paradise Superclub, “I thought I was just seeing things, but I saw her diamond tattoo on her back shaped like a coat of arms with petals of lilies surrounding it. Then it had like a ribbon lace in the middle and written on it was the word ‘Dahlia’. I’m not sure if I was accurate about my judgment but Pistol seemed to agree that it’s really the founding member, Dahlia.” Tumango sa kaniya si Pistol. “Siya talaga ‘yon. Pero kung nandoon siya, baka target niya rin ang sindikato na in-assign sa ‘tin ni Serina?”“Serina wouldn’t ask Dahlia to handle such a small mission. Besides, Dahlia have already renounced her position ten years ago. She’s basically an outcast of the org now. So if you happen to see her, just turn a blind eye,” Bullet advised which Magnus couldn’t believe.Parang kanina lang ay nagpi-preach ito ng tungkol sa kabutihan ng mga kababaihan, hindi ba? Bakit bigl