"Really? Then go upstairs, Apollo hasn't eaten since yesterday. I don't know if that guy was planning to starve himself to death after he failed at leaping from the second floor of the hotel."My eyes widened as I turned to him, taken aback."What?"He chuckled."Just messing around. There's food in the kitchen. Take it up to him. He's not receiving any guests, but if it's you, maybe he'll agree," he laughed and winked at me.My whole face blushed furiously and I felt like I might combust from embarrassment. I nervously bit my lower lip and headed to the kitchen. There, I found a tray with food and tea, so I promptly picked it up and made my way to the guest room where he was resting.

I turned my gaze away from the trio and took another sip of beer. Even before I could respond to Via's questions, my cell phone suddenly rang, and all our attention shifted to the table where it was lying. My heart raced when I saw the number on the screen."Oh, that might be the answer," Elena said, already having pressed the answer button and pointing at me."There it is," Riley whispered.Irritation prickled in my mind, and I hastily grabbed my phone, giving them a sharp look. Via just smiled.Darn it! They won't give me a break until I'm overwhelmed.I stared at my phone for a moment before finally rising and moving a little further from the three of them. I put it to my ear, but all I could hear was his heavy breathing. I wasn't sure whether I should speak or not."Hey…"I shuddered when I heard his hoarse voice on the other end. I bit my lower lip and glanced at the city lights. I didn't even know what to say. Darn it!"Where are you? I'm already in Manila," he said, sighing hea

"Are you sure you'll be okay? I'll let you talk to him first if you want, I'll wait for you here," he said, his eyes fixed on me with a mix of concern and curiosity.I flinched, briefly catching Abraham and Hector in a conversation from the corner of my eye. Hector's unwavering stare sent a shiver down my spine, compelling me to avert my gaze."It's okay, sir. We will talk later," I replied, mustering as much composure as I could.Earlier, I had been forced into an uneasy encounter with Hector, who seemed ready to unleash his wrath at any moment. Luckily, Abraham's attempted jest saved the day – although it was a joke he couldn't handle, bringing about unnecessary tension!"Stop calling me sir, Anastacia. I'm your mother's brother, hija. You can call me uncle," Hec

"Why now? Why'd you come back? Where's my granddaughter?"Her questions struck me, drawing my focus to her, my heart racing. Fear melted away, replaced by a fierce resolve."She's not your granddaughter. Don't burden her with the resentment you harbor for me," I asserted firmly, seizing Matthew's attention, his gaze sharp."Your tongue's as cutting as ever, Ana. Is it because you've missed the taste of my fist all these years?" His angry tone alarmed me, prompting me to stand."I didn't return because of you. I avoided going home straight for that very reason. I want no part of you. So why are you here?" Anger surged within me, boiling over.Amid the crash from Elena's room where Via and Riley were, Mama rose abruptly, fixing me with a piercing stare, striking at my core."Ungrateful selfish brat! Just heard about your dad's legacy and now you're acting high and mighty? What's there to be proud of?"Her words stunned me, realization dawning. Ulysses was right. They know about my inher

I gazed up at the towering building before me. Blinking as I faced the dazzling sunlight, I felt a surge of nerves as I glanced back at the building's entrance. Adjusting my corporate attire, I let out a heavy sigh before finally stepping into the lobby.This was the place Ulysses directed me to, the company where I could encounter my grandfather: the Alcantara Estate. My mind was in disarray as I entered without a concrete plan.I simply wanted to see them, to have them see me, hoping for some assistance. Ulysses mentioned their desire to meet me for quite some time, but they had been cautious since Papa's passing, considering the seriousness of our family's adversaries. I struggled to grasp the reason behind everything."Miss, I'm looking for—" I began but stopped short, sensing the woman's intense scrutiny.