Kung hindi natuloy ang inihandang sampal sa akin ni Uncle Kurt kanina ay si Tita Chi ang nagsakatuparan noon. I touched the side of my face where her slap had landed, the sting spreading through my cheek. Everyone remained silent, their shock palpable. I could hardly hear anything but the sound of my own breath and the gasps echoing in the room.

Kagaya ng sabi ni Uncle Roy ay ibinalik niya nga ako sa bahay ng aking mga magulang. But my parents weren't the only one there, si Tita Chi ay naroon rin kasama pa ang ilang mga pinsan ko na pawang tahimik at naghihintay lamang ng mga susunod na mangyayari.

"Chiara!" Ang matigas na tinig ni Uncle Roy ang pumuno sa buong kabahayan. Mabilis niyang hinila si Tita Chi palayo sa akin.

I looked around and saw my parents standing in one corner. Nakita ko ang naluluhang mga mata ni Mommy na nakatingin sa akin, Dad didn't even dare look at me. Ang buong atensyon nito ay na kay Mommy.

Tita Chi stood her ground, her eyes blazing with fury. "Someone had to knock some sense into her. She's been acting like a spoiled brat, causing all this trouble for the family."

Lumingon ako sa paligid at inayos ang aking tayo, gustuhin ko mang magsalita ay hindi ko naman mahanap ang aking tinig. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng hiya nang mapansing halos lahat pala talaga sila ay naroon, even Kourtney was there. Sandali kaming nagkatinginan, tears clouded her eyes, she quickly looked away. Kourtney used to be my best friend, pero kahit sa kaniya ay lumayo ako.

"You felt so ashamed of being a De Salvo, thinking yourself superior to everyone in this room," sabi niya, hindi natitinag ang tayo sa aking harapan. Hindi pinapansin ang paulit-ulit na pagpapahinahon sa kaniya ni Uncle Roy, nanatili sa akin ang kaniyang buong atensyon. "And yet, look where it has brought you, Caice. Back to us. Bakit nga ba? Eh, kami pa rin naman ang pamilya mo."

"Chi," muling tawag ni Uncle Roy sa kaniya. Si Uncle Kurt naman ay tahimik na tinungo ang bar, hindi na ako nito muling binalingan pa ng tingin matapos ang sagutan namin kanina bago kami dumiretso dito. "Walang hindi nadadaan sa mahinahong usapan. Calm down, darling."

Hindi muling nagpatinag si Tita Chi, kinuha niya ang braso mula sa hawak ni Uncle Roy at mas nilapitan pa ako.

"Ano bang gusto mong patunayan, Caice? Na kaya mong mabuhay ng wala ang mga magulang mo? Didn't you prove that already? Hindi ka pa ba tapos magmalaki? Did you really have to drag our family again into another scandal?" Tita Chi continued, ang mga mata niya'y sinusuri ang buong pagkatao ko na para bang nababasa niya ang tinatakbo ng aking isipan. "Ni hindi pa tayo tapos sa nangyari kay Zach, Caice. Susundan mo na agad! Are you really that selfish?"

"I wasn't dragging anyone into anything, Tita Chi—"

"Sure, you weren't!" Sarkastikong putol niya sa anumang sinasabi ko, para bang sa paningin niya ay kaming dalawa lang ang tao roon dahil sa akin lang siya pirming nakatingin. "Melinda DiLaurentis was in the De Salvo Tower, Caice. She made a fucking scene in the building. My building."

Napasinghap ako sa kaniyang sinabi. Hindi ko alam iyon. Pero paano ko nga naman malalaman? I never tried accessing any social media platforms. Ayaw ko. Alam ko naman na isa ako sa madalas na napapag-usapan nitong mga nakaraan dahil nga sa pagkakadawit ko kay Silas. But I never thought that Melinda would go this far as to make a scene in the De Salvo Tower.

"Hindi mo alam?" Tumaas ang kaniyang kilay, bahagyang umatras at lumapit sa center table may kung anong kinuha.

Wala ni isa ang nagsalita, lahat ay tagamasid lamang.

"Hinanap niya si Nicole, right in the middle of her exhibit, asking your mother to make you quit fucking her husband!" Tita Chi didn't think twice, throwing her phone in my face, it hit my cheek but that wasn't my concern.

"Chiara!" Si Uncle Roy ulit iyon, ito lang naman ang may lakas ng loob na mamagitan. Lahat ay tila ayaw nang pakialaman si Tita Chi sa kung paano niya ako kakaharapin.

Nanginginig kong sinalo ang cellphone at binasa ang nasa screen. My palms suddenly felt cold as I saw an article about it.

Oh, God.

Parang gusto ko na lang matunaw sa labis na kahihiyan. Naroon nakasaad ang kung paano sinugod ni Melinda si Mommy during one of her exhibits. She made a scene kaya mas lalo pang pinag-usapan ang relasyon ko kay Silas, ang pagiging kabit ko, kaysa sa kahit na ano pang gawa ni Mommy.

Mabilis kong nilingon si Mom. She was calm and collected, but tears glistened in her eyes. It broke my heart to realize how much pain and shame I had caused her. Totoong matapos kong malaman ang lahat ng katotohanan tungkol kay Dad ay nagalit ako ng husto, I had even directed my anger toward her, distancing myself from her. But that didn't mean I stopped caring. I loved my mother more than anything.

"Get your life in order," muling inagaw sa akin ni Tita Chi ang cellphone. Ang mga mata ay galit pa rin akong sinusuri. "No one's going to do that for you, Cara Venice."

Icen, who had been standing quietly by the corner, walked up to me. Marahan ako nitong hinawakan sa braso upang tignan kung ayos lang ba ako. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, though the sting from Tita Chi's words and the slap earlier still lingered. "I'm fine," I whispered, though it felt more like I was trying to convince myself than him.

Bumalik ang tingin sa akin ni Tita Chi. Hindi pa siya tapos, hindi pa kami tapos.

"Do you even understand why we're acting like this?" huminahon na ang kaniyang tinig ngunit hindi pa rin nawawala ang galit. "Do you know who Silas DiLaurentis is?"

I clenched my fists, my heart pounding with frustration. "Of course, I know who he is," I shot back. "But that doesn't mean I need to be treated like a child. I can handle myself, Tita Chi. Alam ko ang ginagawa ko!"

"Alam mo ba talaga?" Puno ng duda niyang tanong, lumipat ang tingin kay Reid at Lance na nasa kabilang bahagi ng silid at parehong tahimik lamang na nakamasid. Bago pa ako makasagot ay muli niya akong nilingon. "You think you can handle yourself, huh? You have no idea what you're dealing with. Silas DiLaurentis is dangerous."

"I'm not a naive little girl anymore. I know what I'm doing." Tahimik kong ulit, pilit na pinanlalabanan ang nanunukat niyang mga mata. Hindi nakatakas sa akin ang pag-ingos ni Uncle Kurt bago muling magsalin ng whiskey sa basong hawak.

"Hayaan niyo na, Chiara. Baka nga alam niya ang ginagawa niya. Ayaw niya sa ama niya dahil masamang tao nga raw si Vince," nakatalikod man ito sa aming lahat at nasa maliit na bar ang atensyon ay tuloy pa rin siya sa pagsasalita. "But she's willing to fight and stand by her decision to live with a capomandamento."

I froze. What did he just call Silas? A capomandamento? My mind raced as Tita Chiara studied my reaction for a second before shaking her head. Para bang nababasa na niya ang pagkabigla ko, nakumpirmang lalo na wala talaga akong alam kay Silas.

"You didn't know, did you?" she said softly, almost pityingly. "Your Silas DiLaurentis is the head of one of the biggest cartels in Italy."

"No," I whispered, feeling a cold chill run down my spine. "That can't be true."

Totoong surface level lang ang mga bagay na alam ko kay Silas at hindi ko na tinangka pang mag-usisa, wala naman ring dahilan. But to know that he was what they said he was... I didn't know what to feel about that. Ano nga iyong sabi ni Rye? His father was a monster. Ito ba iyon? Ito ba ang ibig niyang sabihin doon?

"It's true," Tita Chiara confirmed, pinitik niya ang kaniyang mga daliri at agad na lumapit si Lance, handing her the envelope na kanina pa nito hawak. Iniabot niya iyon sa akin. "He's not just some businessman. He's involved in things you can't even imagine."

Sa nanginginig na kamay ay inabot ko iyon, kung hindi lang ako hawak ni Icen ay baka bigla na lang akong magupo mula sa aking pagkakatayo. I forced myself to open it and look inside.

The first document was emblazoned with the logo of the FBI, its header reading "Silas DiLaurentis: Case File." My eyes widened as I scanned the summary, detailing connections to organized crime, money laundering, and smuggling operations. There were photographs, surveillance images of Silas meeting with known criminals, exchanging briefcases in dimly lit parking lots.

I flipped to the next set of papers, marked with the Pentagon Defense insignia. It contained detailed accounts of illicit transactions, linking Silas to various drug cartels and illegal arms trades. My heart sank as I recognized his face in several more photos, shaking hands with dangerous men in shadowy alleyways and seedy bars.

Then, a thick stack of documents with the CIA's seal caught my eye. These were reports on international operations, tracing Silas's activities across borders—from Europe to South America, and even into parts of Asia. There were maps with routes highlighted in red, illustrating the extensive reach of his syndicate. I saw reports of violent confrontations, assassinations ordered by his cartel, and political bribes to maintain his empire's low profile.

"He's working alongside Dario DiMarco," sabi ni Lance habang pinapanuod akong isa-isang tutukan ang mga nasa loob ng envelope. "Matagal na namin silang iniimbestigahan, Caice. Pen Def is very careful, sa ngayon ay wala pa silang hawak dito sa Pilipinas. Pero hindi malabong pati dito ay dalhin nila ang mga underground business nila."

Pentagon Defense detailed how Silas had managed to infiltrate legitimate businesses, using them as fronts for his criminal activities. Halos lahat ng naroon ay ang mga sikat na restaurant niya sa buong Europe. There were accounts of coercion, blackmail, and corruption, implicating local politicians and law enforcement officers. Kahit sa Asia ay meron, Thailand at India ang hawak nila.

The sheer volume of evidence was overwhelming. Each file painted a more horrifying picture than the last, showing the global scale of Silas's operations. Despite his clean public persona, he was deeply entrenched in a world of crime that stretched far beyond Italy. The meticulous nature of his dealings made it incredibly difficult for any single law enforcement agency to take him down.

Bigla ay naisip ko si Rye. Alam niya ang lahat ng ito. And he was only nine, for crying out loud! Gusto kong manlumo at maawa sa klase ng buhay na ibinigay kay Rye ng mga magulang niya. He had a narcissist for a mother and a mafia boss for a dad.

I sifted through the documents, feeling my stomach churn with each new revelation. The meticulous records, coded transactions, and cryptic communications made it clear just how careful and cunning Silas was. This wasn't just a man running a business empire—he was the puppet master of a vast, insidious network of organized crime.

"How... how could this be?" Iyon na lamang ang tanong na lumabas mula sa aking bibig.

Sure, hindi ko lubos na kilala si Silas pero hindi ko naman inaasahan na ganito ang mga itinatago niya. He seemed like a normal person. Sa ilang linggo kong paninirahan sa kanila, sa ilang beses kong naging saksi tuwing pipiliin at susubukan niyang maging mabuting ama. Hindi ko ito inaasahan.

"It's been going on for years," Uncle Roy said gently, stepping closer. "Silas is a master of maintaining a low profile. Outside of Italy, he operates almost invisibly, which is why it's taken so long for Pen Def to piece everything together."

I looked up, meeting Tita Chiara's eyes. There was no satisfaction in her expression, just a grim determination. She had wanted me to see the truth, no matter how shocking it was.

"Ngayon mo sabihin sa amin Caice na alam mo ang ginagawa mo," wala akong mabatid na kahit anong lambot sa kaniyang tinig. "You may think you're in control, but Silas is far more dangerous than you realize. He's not someone you can just walk away from. Habang kaya ka pa naming kunin at ilayo sa kanila ay gagawin namin. You can hate us all you want, hindi ko lang mapapayagan na umabot sa puntong maging ikaw ay gamitin niya sa mga ganitong klaseng gawain."

I opened my mouth, wanting to tell them that they shouldn't worry because there was nothing going on between me and Silas—not the kind they were suggesting anyway. But the words caught in my throat. I thought of Rye. His bright eyes, his innocent smile, and how much he depended on me. Could I truly say there was nothing between me and Silas when Rye was involved? Could I really assure my family that I was safe when I wasn't even sure what I had gotten myself into?

The documents I had just read swirled in my mind. Silas's connections, his reach, and the danger he posed weren't just abstract concepts anymore—they were real and immediate. And I was in the middle of it all.

I felt a lump in my throat as I thought about Rye. He was just a kid, caught in the web of his father's dealings. How could I leave him behind? How could I protect him from the world that Silas was a part of? The thought of Rye being used or harmed because of his father's actions terrified me.

Ngayon ko naiintindihan kung bakit tadtad ng bodyguards ang bawat sulok ng mansyon, kahit saan pumunta ang mag-ama ay palaging may nakasunod. It wasn't just for Melinda, proteksyon iyon laban sa kung sino man ang magtatangka.

My family was right to be worried. They were right to be angry. The stakes were higher than I had realized, and the consequences far more severe.

"I... I didn't know," I finally whispered. Totoong palaisipan sa akin ang sinabi ni Rye noon. Pero ni sa hinagap ay hindi ko naisip na ganito iyon kalala. "I didn't know it was this bad."

"That's why we're here, Caice. To help you see the truth and to protect you." Tita Chiara said, kumalma na ang kaniyang tinig ngunit madilim pa rin ang pagkakatingin sa akin. "We don't want to control your life, honey. Believe me, iyan ang pinakahuling gusto kong mangyari. But we can't stand by and let you be a pawn in Silas's game. Hindi malabong doon na nga papunta."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put any of you through this." Nanghihina kong ibinalik ang mga papel sa loob ng envelope at inabot iyon kay Lance. "Maraming salamat sa pagpapaalam ng mga bagay na ito sa akin, Tita Chi. Ngayon, nakikiusap akong bigyan niyo ako ng kalayaan magdesisyon."

My mind raced with thoughts of what to do next. All I could think of was Rye. My family needed to trust me. They had to. And I had to protect Rye, to make sure he was safe from both his parents.

"I need to go back and get my things,"

"What for?" Uncle Kurt asked sharply. "Your things can be replaced. Your life can't."

I shook my head, standing my ground. "Those are my things, Uncle Kurt. I'm the only one who can tell which are replaceable and which aren't. If Silas and his men were going to hurt me, he would've done it a long time ago. I need to go back."

Uncle Kurt's expression hardened. "Anak ka bang talaga ni Vince? Bakit parang sa akin ka nagmana ng katigasan ng ulo?"

Sa kabila ng lahat ay hindi ko napigilan ang pagsilay ng malungkot na ngiti sa aking mga labi dahil sa sinabi nito. "This is my life, Uncle Kurt. I need to see this through."

Tita Chiara sighed, glancing at Uncle Red who remained silent but attentive. "I need people who can come with Caice invisibly, just to make sure she's safe,"

Uncle Red didn't say a word, but his eyes flickered to Lance and Reid, both of whom worked for Pentagon Defense. They were experts in covert operations, skilled in keeping a low profile while providing crucial support.

I wanted to tell them not to bother, to insist that I could handle things on my own. But deep down, I knew that I couldn't predict what might happen. Lalo pa't ngayon na alam ko na kung ano talaga si Silas.

Uncle Kurt's expression softened slightly, his earlier harshness giving way to a reluctant understanding. "Balikan mo ang mga gamit mo at umalis ka rin agad. No heroics, Caice. Reid and Lance would stay in the background, understood?"

I nodded, grateful for his reluctant acquiescence.

Breaking the tense silence, my father finally spoke. Ito ang unang beses na narinig ko siyang magsalita simula nang dumating kami. Hindi niya ako binalingan ng tingin, ang mga kapatid niya lang.

"Excuse us," he said gruffly. "Nicole needs to take her medications."

Tita Chi nodded, her stern expression softening as she turned to my mother. "Feel better, Nicole,"

Medications? Bigla akong naligalig ng salitang iyon. Bakit? Anong meron kay Mommy? Why was she taking medications? I watched as my parents headed upstairs, my mother giving me a faint, reassuring smile before she turned away. Parang alam niyang mag-aalala ako sa narinig.

I turned to Icen. "What's going on? Is Mom sick?"

Kailanman ay wala namang sinabi sa akin si Icen na ganoon. Kung may sakit si Mommy hindi ba't dapat ay sinabi na nito iyon sa akin?

Icen remained silent, his eyes avoiding mine. The room's atmosphere grew heavier with unspoken words. One by one, the others excused themselves, leaving the room until only Kourtney, Icen, and I remained. Ang iba ay umuwi na, ang iba naman, gaya nina Tita Chi, ay sa library nagtuloy. May mga kailangan pa sigurong pag-usapan.

Inasahan kong aalis rin si Kourtney ngunit naupo pa ito sa pang-isahang couch. Hindi matalim ang pagkakatitig niya sa akin pero naroon ang panunuri. I didn't take offense dahil ganoon naman siya sa lahat.

"Tita Nicole has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer," Kourtney said, her tone devoid of emotion.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. That wasn't true, was it? Mabilis kong binalingan si Icen ng nag-aakusang tingin. Kailan pa? Bakit hindi niya sinabi sa akin?

"Totoo ba?" Halos wala ng tinig na lumabas sa akin nang tanungin ko si Icen.

He didn't say anything. He just nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded, my voice trembling. "How could you keep this from me?"

Icen's expression was pained as he finally met my eyes. "It was Mom's decision," he said quietly. "She didn't want you to know because she didn't want your relationship with her to be defined by her illness. She wanted you to speak to her out of genuine concern, not out of obligation or pity."

Guilt washed over me, a heavy, suffocating weight. I clenched my fists, trying to keep my composure. I should have been there for her. I should have known. Ngayon ay naiintindihan ko na kung bakit ganoon na lang ang galit sa akin ni Tita Chi kanina. Kung bakit hindi siya nangingiming saktan ako, because I deserved that. Kulang pa nga.

"I was so wrapped up in my own problems, I didn't see what was happening right in front of me." I whispered, more to myself than to anyone else.

Icen stepped closer, his expression earnest. "You couldn't have known, Caice."

But I should've known! Para akong pinasabugan ng sunud-sunod na bomba ngayong gabi. Galit ako sa mga magulang ko sa lahat ng ginawa nila, but I never wanted them to suffer this way. Kahit si Dad pa!

"What kind of treatment is she getting?" I asked, trying to regain some sense of control.

"She's started on chemotherapy," Kourtney explained. "They caught it early, so her chances are good. But it's still a long road ahead."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. "I need to talk to her," I said firmly. "I need to let her know that I'm here for her."

"Of course," Kourtney said. "But give her some time to rest tonight. She needs it."

Pinunasan agad ni Icen ang nangingilid kong mga luha tapos ay sandaling binalingan si Kourtney. "Kayong dalawa... Marami rin kayong dapat pag-usapan."

I looked at Kourtney, who was just staring at me, her expression unreadable. After all the bombs that had showered me tonight, I felt so helpless. I couldn't hold back anymore. I ran towards her, not caring if she was guarded or what. I needed a hug, from her.

Kung noon ay may malaking harang na nakabara sa pagitan namin at hinahayaan ko iyong manaig, ngayon ay wala na akong pakialam. I felt as though my whole world was collapsing again, and I needed Kourtney.

Kourtney stiffened as I wrapped my arms around her, but I didn't let go. I buried my face in her shoulder, my tears soaking into her shirt. "I'm so sorry," I whispered between sobs. "I'm so sorry for cutting you off, for pushing you away."

For a moment, she remained rigid, as if unsure of how to respond. But then, slowly, her arms came around me, hesitant at first, then more firmly.

"I hate you..." she said softly, her voice breaking just a little. "I hate that I can't really hate you..."

I held on tighter, feeling the weight of my guilt and regret pressing down on me. "I should have been here. I should have been here for Mom, for you."

Alam kong sa mga panahong lumayo ako sa kaniya, sa kanila, maraming pinagdaanan si Kourtney na dapat ay naroon ako. But I was too fucking selfish to only care about my own feelings. Uncle Kurt was right to call me ingrate.

"I know you've been dealing with a lot," Kourtney replied, her tone soothing.

I nodded, pulling back slightly to look at her. Her eyes were softer now, the usual sharpness replaced with a hint of vulnerability. "I missed you,"

Kourtney smiled faintly, a rare and precious sight. "I missed you too, Caice."

And then, my mind wandered back to the car ride earlier, to what Uncle Roy had mentioned. I hesitated, not wanting to reopen fresh wounds, but I needed to know.

"Kourtney," I began cautiously, "is Uncle Kurt okay? I mean, really okay?"

Kourtney's face crumpled, and she burst into tears, hugging me tightly. "Oh, Caice," she sobbed, her words muffled against my shoulder. "Dad... he's been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. It's not severe yet, but it's serious. The doctors are monitoring him closely."

I felt a lump form in my throat, my heart breaking for both of us. "I'm so sorry," I whispered, hugging her back just as tightly. "I didn't know."

Fuck. Lahat na lang hindi ko alam!

For years, I hated everything about being a De Salvo. The name carried a weight I couldn't bear, a legacy built on power, control, and an unyielding adherence to tradition. To me, it represented everything I wanted to escape—an identity I couldn't fully embrace because of the shadows it cast on my soul. Lalo kapag naiisip ko ang lahat ng ginawa ni Dad.

Dad embodied the very essence of what it meant to be a De Salvo—strong, unyielding, and often intimidating. Entitled even. Lahat ay kaya nitong gawin. Walang pakialam sa tama at mali.

Leaving wasn't easy, but it felt necessary. I distanced myself from the family, renounced my ties, and tried to build a life on my terms. It was liberating at first, a breath of fresh air after years of feeling trapped. But the further I ran, the more I realized how deeply the De Salvo blood ran in my veins. No matter how much I tried to deny it, I couldn't escape my roots.

Ironically, it was the very qualities I despised that helped me survive and navigate the challenges I faced on my own. The De Salvo name, with all its complexities, had endowed me with a toughness I couldn't simply discard. I began to see glimpses of my father in myself—his fierce protectiveness, his unwavering resolve.

Kahit gaano ako kagalit.

Kahit gaano ko kaayaw.

Mahal ko ang pamilya ko.