Semua Bab Maid for the Billionaire (Tagalog): Bab 91 - Bab 100

“Okay, baby girl, say ‘cheese!’” sigaw ni Mama habang nakatutok ang phone sa amin ni Elle.“Cheeeese!” sabay ngiti ni Elle, her two front teeth peeking like tiny pearls. Suot niya ‘yung lavender tulle dress na pinili niya mismo. May glitter pa sa cheeks niya, kasi sabi niya gusto niya daw maging fairy princess for the day.“Ang cute talaga ng apo ko,” bulong ni Mama habang inaayos ang flower crown sa ulo ni Elle.Tumango ako, proud but teary-eyed. Hindi ko alam kung birthday ba talaga ni Elle o ako ‘yung naiiyak.Tatlong taon na.Tatlong taon mula nang ipanganak ko siya. Tatlong taon ng gabi-gabing pagod, ng takot, ng pagmamahal. Tatlong taon ng pagbabago sa buhay ko. Sa amin.“Love,” tawag ni Kalix habang nilalagay ‘yung huling topper sa minimalist two-tiered cake. “Help me with the loot bags?”Tumango ako. We decided to keep the party simple—just close friends and family, sa garden ng condo roof deck. May pastel balloons, long wooden table with neutral linen, and little white chairs

“Yung brushwork niya—grabe, sobrang messageured pero hindi heavy. Galing.” I mutteredI sipped my wine slowly as I admired one of the large canvases displayed at the center of Galeria Perla, a modern art museum tucked in a quiet corner of Vel Mora. The place was cool, quiet, and smelled faintly of paint and eucalyptus. It was refreshing to finally breathe, away from the noise of legal mess, threats, and all the questions I still didn’t have answers to.Tonight wasn’t about me. Wala akong exhibit. Wala akong kailangang i-present. I was just here as a guest—an anonymous face in a sea of creatives. A student from Ford University had invited me, and I figured… why not?“Excuse me,” a server passed by, offering another round of wine. I nodded, took one, and continued walking.Each piece I passed told a different story—some haunting, some hopeful. I liked the solitude. Nakakapanibago, pero magaan. I was reaching the last row of mixed-media works when I felt it.A strange chill.Hindi ko ala

“Anong sabi mo?”I stood there, holding the edge of the kitchen counter like it was the only thing keeping me from falling over.Kalix met my eyes—calm, calculated, and infuriatingly steady. “Dexter was blackmailed. I had to move his family. Secretly.”“Secretly,” I echoed, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Kasi ‘yun na naman ang alam mong gawin, ‘di ba? Magdesisyon mag-isa. Maglihim.”“I wasn’t trying to lie—”“But you did,” I snapped. “You made a decision behind my back. About someone I trusted. Someone na naging parte ng buhay natin, Kalix. Sa pamilya natin.”He inhaled, as if steadying himself. “I didn’t want to involve you unless it was safe.”“Safe?” I stepped closer, eyes burning. “Do you even hear yourself? We’re supposed to be partners! Mag-asawa tayo, hindi mo ako tauhan!”“Hindi kita tauhan,” he said firmly. “That’s exactly why I didn’t want you anywhere near it.”“So I’m what? Just the fragile wife you need to protect? Pero ‘pag kailangan na ng totoong desisyon, you go sol

“Congratulations, Naya Zyle Feliciano-Alcantara, Master of Fine Arts with Distinction!”Halos mapatid ‘yung hininga ko nang marinig ko ‘yon. Ang lakas ng palakpakan, pero sa dami ng tunog, isa lang ang boses na nagmarka.“Mamaaaa!”Tumayo si Elle mula sa upuan niya sa unahan, naka-mini cream dress at pink na headband, sabay talon-talon habang pumapalakpak. Halos makawala siya sa pagkakakandong ni Kalix. Hawak-hawak niya ‘yung maliit niyang bouquet na parang siya pa ‘yung graduate.Nasa unahan sila—Kalix in his usual sleek black suit, but with softer eyes. Eyes that followed me every step I took on that stage. Saka ko lang napansin na pinipigilan niya ‘yung luha niya habang ngumiti siya sa’kin. Proud na proud.After everything… we made it.Pagkababa ko ng stage, sinalubong agad ako ni Elle at halos masubsob ako sa yakap niya. “Mama, I saw you! Ang ganda mo, promise! Sabi ko sa mga tao, ikaw ‘yung best mama ever!”Natawa ako kahit nangingilid pa ‘yung luha sa mata ko. “Ikaw talaga.”“He

Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal na akong nakaupo rito.Sa bench sa labas ng ER, nanginginig ang mga daliri ko pero parang hindi ko maramdaman. Wala akong pakialam kung malamig ba o kung nagkakatinginan na ‘yung ibang tao sa paligid. Tahimik ang mundo ko, kahit na naririnig ko ‘yung ambulansya sa background, ‘yung tawag ng mga nurse, ‘yung iyak ng batang hindi ko kilala sa kabilang corridor.Basta ako—nakatingin lang sa pintuang puti. Nakatingin, pero wala ring nakikita.Nasa mga palad ko pa rin ang dugo ni Nadine.Tuyo na, nangingitim. May bahid pa sa kuko ko, sa pulso ko. Ang puti ng suot kong bestida, pero ngayon, may halong pula. At kahit ilang ulit ko nang pinunasan, parang nandun pa rin ‘yung bigat. ‘Yung lagkit. ‘Yung biglang panginginig ng tuhod ko nang maramdaman ko na ang katawan niya ay lumalamig habang yakap ko.Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako huling huminga ng maayos.“It wasn’t an accident… Leslie… the twins…”Boses niya, paulit-ulit sa utak ko. Tinig na mahina pero matali