Semua Bab A Crippled Wife in a Cold Marriage: Bab 201 - Bab 210

Kate remained silent. Hinayaan lang niyang mag-record ang tablet. She was just waiting for the day when the truth behind that "volunteering" act finally comes out. Gusto niyang makita kung gaano kasakit ang sampal ng katotohanan sa mukha ni Vincent.“Naalala ko pa, sabi ni Lola noon... ’yung volunteer daw na girl, medyo payat. Siya raw ang nagpupunas sa kanya, nagpapakain, at nagbubuhat sa kanya tuwing may check-up. She was such a sweet and kind girl. At si Mitch... hanggang ngayon, ganoon pa rin siya kabait.”Biglang huminto si Vincent, as if realizing na may kausap pala siya. Idinilat niya ang kanyang mga mata at tumitig ng diretso kay Kate. “Ikaw? Ako lang ang naghugas ng paa mo, 'di ba?”Oo, ginawa nga ‘yun ni Vincent noon. But that was back when she was still recovering from her accident. Masyado nang matagal ang panahong ‘yun—too long ago for Kate, who preferred to bury those painful memories for good.“Wala ka man lang bang sasabihin?” Vincent cupped her cheek and forced her to

“Sabi mo...” Kate was still amused by the joke, looking at him with a wide smile. “Sabi mo alagaan ng mabuti ni Norman si Mitch dahil gustong-gusto mo siya, pero kailangan mo pa ring panindigan ang kasal natin sa buhay na ito.”“‘Yun lang?” Vincent stared at her, trying to read her expression.“Oo, ‘yun lang. Bakit, may iba ka pa bang sinabi? Are you hiding something?” Kate laughed while looking straight at him.His eyes flickered for a second, catching him off guard. “Wala... wala naman. Huwag mo na nga akong istorbohin, nanonood ako ng variety show.” She brushed his hand away without a second thought.“Hindi ka galit?” He closely studied her face, searching for any hidden sign of anger behind that bright smile.“Bakit naman ako magagalit? Sobrang nakakatawa kaya nitong pinapanood ko.” Pagkasabi nun, she burst into laughter again, completely unfazed.Pero hindi rin nagtagal ang panonood niya, dahil bigla siyang hinila ni Vincent at niyakap ng mahigpit. He held the back of her head, pr

“Vincent! Vincent, nandito ako! Vincent, save me!” Mitch screamed at the top of her lungs.“Mitch! It’s okay! Don’t panic, don’t be scared, nandito na ako! Vincent is here!” His voice turned urgent and filled with panic.Not long after, Vincent’s figure appeared at the entrance of the 11th floor. Basang-basa ng pawis ang mga damit niya, at ang dati ay maayos niyang buhok ay nagulo na at nakadikit sa noo niya dahil sa pawis.The first thing he did upon arriving was fix his eyes on Mitch. “Mitch, how are you? Are you hurt anywhere?”Mitch just cried and shook her head while sobbing. Vincent clearly let out a sigh of relief, then turned fiercely to the man in gray. “You better make sure you don't harm a single hair on her head!”Natawa ang naka-gray. “Very interesting.”“Huwag kang mag-alala, negosyo lang ito. Ihanda mo ang pera at madali kaming kausap,” sabi ng naka-yellow.Biglang hinatak ng naka-gray si Mitch pataas, at idiniin niya ang isang matalim na kutsilyo sa mismong leeg nito.

Ngayong ligtas na siya, doon lang talaga pumasok ang labis na takot at trauma. Nang tanungin siya ni Frank, she could only nod silently habang ang mga kamay niya ay patuloy pa ring nanginginig. Ang kanyang mga pulso kung saan siya hinawakan nang mahigpit ni Frank kanina para iligtas ay nagka-pasa at namumula nang husto, at nararamdaman pa rin niya ang kaunting kuryente ng sakit.“Paano mo nalamang nandoon ako?” Kate asked, filled with confusion.Panahon pala ngayon ng harvest ng mga prutas sa farm na gusto ni Mama. Kahit hindi naman ganoon kamahal ang mga prutas na ito, paboritong-paborito kasi ito ng nanay ni Frank. Given their family's immense wealth, madali lang naman nilang mabili ang kahit anong gustuhin nito. But Frank wanted to show his love as a son, kaya taon-taon talaga siyang pumupunta mismo sa farm para pumitas ng pinaka sariwang prutas para sa kanyang ina.Kaya naman, kagabi pa lang ay bumiyahe na siya. He harvested the best batch past midnight, arrived back in the city

At that time, Frank was already preparing to leave for the airport. Pumunta lang siya sa kwarto ni Kate para magpaalam at mag-iwan ng kaunting cash, dahil alam niyang wala itong dalang kahit ano at mahihirapang kumilos mag-isa.Nang dumating si Vincent, si Frank ang nagbukas ng pinto.The first thing Vincent saw upon stepping inside the room was Kate sitting by the edge of the bed in her bathrobe, habang may nakapatong na bundle ng cash sa ibabaw ng nightstand.“Bakit ka nandito?!” Vincent’s eyes instantly filled with pure hostility habang nakatingin kay Frank.Frank let out a cold, mocking laugh. “At bakit hindi ako nandito? Should I be standing next to another woman instead, telling her that she was my choice?”Vincent’s face instantly changed, looking completely shaken. Agad niyang binaling ang tingin kay Kate, pero sinalubong lang siya nito ng isang malamig at walang emosyong tingin.“Frank,” mariing sabi ni Vincent habang nagtatagis ang mga bagang. “Kailangan mong malaman ang limi