CHAPTER 231

RAFAEL'S POV By afternoon, handa na ang lahat sa hospital rooftop. Soft lights surrounded the entire area. White flowers lined the pathway, habang may eleganteng dinner table na nakaharap sa city skyline. Sa gitna ay isang magandang floral arch. At sa likod nito, may maliit na sign. OUR FOREVER STARTS HERE. Matagal ko iyong tinitigan. I imagined Winona standing there, smiling and happy. Hindi natatakot. Hindi nag-aalala tungkol sa rumors. Hindi iniisip kung ano na naman ang susunod na problema. Just happy. Iyon ang gusto ko para sa kanya. Ang tanging problema? Kailangan ko siyang dalhin dito nang hindi niya nalalaman ang plano. “I'll tell her the doctor wants her to get some fresh air,” sabi ko. Tumingin sa akin si Sage. “That's terrible.” “Why?” “You look guilty even when you're telling the truth.” “I don't look guilty.” Everyone stared at me. Napabuntong-hininga ako. “Fine.” Tumawa si Maximus. “This is going to be fun.” That evening, everything wa

CHAPTER 232

RAFAEL'S POV For several seconds, I simply stared at the woman in front of me. Winona was still wearing her hospital pajamas. Her hair was slightly messy, and one hand was holding the dextrose stand as she stood beneath the warm lights and surrounded by flowers. She wasn't wearing an elegant gown. She wasn't wearing expensive jewelry. She didn't even have makeup on. But to me… she had never looked more beautiful. She was crying and smiling at the same time, the diamond necklace sparkling on her neck. “I love you too, Rafael.” Pakiwari ko sasabog ang puso ko ng mga sandaling iyon. Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit, yung yakap na ayaw ko na siyang pakawalan pa. She laughed softly against my chest. “You're squeezing me too hard.” “I'm just making sure you're real.” Bahagya siyang lumayo at tumingin sa akin. “Real?” “I've been waiting for this moment, mula pa noong pinagplanuhan ko ang gabing ito, hindi na ako makatulog sa sobrang excitement” Masuyo kong pinunasan an

CHAPTER 233

WINONA’S POV “Finally, I’m going home next week,” masaya kong sabi habang nakaupo sa hospital bed. I could hardly believe it. After everything that happened, finally, makakauwi na rin ako. Kinuha ni Rafael ang kamay ko at marahang pinisil iyon. “Yes. Finally, you’re okay now.” Napangiti ako. Sa nakalipas na mga araw, halos hindi na siya umalis sa tabi ko. Mas madalas ko pa siyang makita sa hospital kaysa sa opisina niya. There were mornings when I would wake up and find him sitting beside my bed, laptop open, attending a meeting while holding my hand with his other hand. Minsan, madaling-araw na pero gising pa rin siya. “Rafael, you should go home,” ilang beses ko nang sinasabi. At palagi lang siyang umiiling. “I’m fine here.” “You have a company.” “I have people who can manage it.” “You're the CEO.” “And you're my priority.” Simple lang niyang sinasabi iyon, but every time he did, my heart would melt. He remembered everything, my medicines, my meals, the

CHAPTER 234

WINONA'S POV “Make a wish!” masayang sabi ko. Nagkatinginan ang kambal bago sabay na pumikit. Tahimik silang humiling habang kumikislap ang limang kandila sa ibabaw ng napakalaking birthday cake. Sa paligid namin, nakangiti ang buong pamilya at ang kanilang mga kaibigan. Then, at the same time, they blew the candles. “Happy birthday!” Napuno ng palakpakan at tawanan ang buong ballroom. “Yay!” masayang sigaw ni Bea. Agad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ni Brix at tumalon sa tuwa. “Five years old na tayo!” “I'm older now,” seryosong sabi ni Brix. Napatawa ako. “Pareho kayong five years old.” “No,” pagtutol ni Brix. “I'm five and a half.” “Five and a half?” ulit ko. Tumango siya. “Yes. Because I'm older than Bea.” “By three minutes!” singit ni Bea. “Still older.” “That's not fair!” Nagtawanan ang lahat. Kumuha ako ng kutsilyo para simulan ang paghiwa sa cake, pero bago ko pa maituloy, mabilis na sumubo si Bea ng icing gamit ang daliri. “Bea!” Tumawa

CHAPTER 235

WINONA'S POV Hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta nang sabihin ni Rafael na may gusto siyang ipakita sa akin. Nasa backseat namin sina Brix at Bea, parehong excited habang nagtatanong nang paulit-ulit. “Where are we going, Daddy?” “Secret.” “Is it another surprise?” tanong ni Bea. “Maybe.” Napanguso siya. “Daddy, you always say maybe.” Tumawa si Brix. “Because he doesn't want to tell you.” Napailing ako habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa. “Hayaan ninyo ang Daddy ninyo. Darating din tayo.” Maya-maya, bumagal ang sasakyan. Nang makita ko ang gusali sa labas ng bintana, biglang nanikip ang dibdib ko. I knew this place. The Stravezki Hotel. Dito nagsimula ang lahat. Five years ago, isang gabi lang ang pinagsaluhan namin ni Rafael. Isang gabing hindi ko kailanman inakalang magiging simula ng buhay ko bilang isang ina. Napatingin ako sa kanya. “You brought us here?” Tumango siya. “I thought we needed to come back.” Huminga ako nang malalim. “W

CHAPTER 236

RAFAEL'S POVKinabukasan, natanggap ko ang final update mula sa abogado ko. I read the message twice before slowly placing my phone on the table.For months, Jonathan had tried to destroy my family. He manipulated people. He helped spread the blind items that dragged Winona and the twins into the public eye. And when that wasn't enough, he went even further. He arranged their kidnapping.But now… It was over.The evidence gathered by the police was enough to establish his involvement. Ang mga testimonya ng mga nahuling kidnappers, mga narekober na komunikasyon, mga financial records, and digital evidence all pointed back to him.Jonathan Reyes would face charges for kidnapping, conspiracy, and other offenses connected to the entire scheme. Wala na siyang mapagtataguan.And strangely… I didn't feel the satisfaction I thought I would.Ang naramdaman ko lang ay relief.“I want to see him.”Napatingin sa akin ang abogado ko.“Are you sure, Mr. Villarreal?”“Yes.”Gusto kong makita ang lal