Federico Caballero Contribution

I secretly sent Lena Parker, my husband Dominic Caballero's mistress, away to Sicara. I'm defying his authority as the Don of Coastwick, New Hudson. That very night, he abducts my parents and younger brother, using their lives to force me to reveal Lena's whereabouts. Dominic pushes his phone in front of me. On the screen, I see my family tied to chairs, the timer of the bombs ticking down. 00:59:59 00:59:58 He sits across from me and taps his fingers softly against the table, like he's closing a business deal. "Alyssa, you have 59 minutes," Dominic says in a calm, almost gentle voice. "Where's Lena?" I freeze, my throat tightening as if strangled. I can't get a word out. This is the third time he's pressed me. The first time, he asked where Lena had gone, but I stayed silent. The second time, he grabbed my chin and said in a low voice, "Alyssa, don't play games." Now, for the third time, he's threatening my family's lives. "Dominic…" I call out, my voice trembling. "They're my family. They're the most important people to me." He chuckles. "Is that so? Then why didn't you think about how important Lena is to me when you sent her away?" I stare at him, feeling how utterly absurd it all is. Important? He told me before that other women were just playthings. Once he got bored, he'd dump them. He swore I was the only one he loved. But now, for Lena, he's willing to kill my family.

⚠️SPG⚠️ Lumaki ang tibo na si Roxine Caballero, na matatag at subok na ng panahon. Osto anyos pa lang kasi siya noon nang iwan sila ng kanyang ama, at hindi na ito muling nagpakita pa, kaya labis siyang nagtanim ng sama ng loob rito. Nang ma-ospital ang kan’yang ina dahil sa isang car accident, na-comatose ito, at walang may alam kung magigising pa ba ito. Malaki na ang nagagastos ni Rox sa ospital, pero nais niya pa ring madugtungan pa ang buhay ng kan’yang ina. Kaya ginagawa niya ang lahat para kumita ng pera, kahit kumapit pa siya sa patalim. Isang gabi sa isang private port, tahimik siyang nagmamatyag sa pagdating ng bagong shipment. Nag-aabang siya doon para magnakaw ng imported products, at binibenta niya ‘to sa malaking halaga. Pero tila malas kay Rox ang gabing iyun dahil naka-enkwentro niya si Darcos Ruggieri, isang Italo-Filipino billionaire businessman, at mafia boss. Nadaig siya ni Darcos, at akmang papatayin na sana, pero isang tauhan ng binata ang biglang dumating at pumigil rito. Pinadampot siya ni Darcos, at dinala sa mansiyon nito. Doon nalaman ng dalaga na matagal na pa lang patay ang tatay niya, at matalik nitong kaibigan si Darcos. Nais ni Rox na tumulong sa paghahanap sa pumatay sa tatay niya, pero hindi siya pinayagan ni Darcos. Nangako ang binata sa kanyang best friend na aalagaan niya ang mag-ina nito, at poprotektahan dahil may gusto ring pumatay sa mga ito. Sa umpisa ay para silang mga aso't pusa, kung mag-away, dahil sa pareho silang mga siga, at palaban. Ngunit sa huli ay pinalambot rin ng pag-ibig ang kanilang mga puso.