"I should be the one asking you that," Balik nito sa tanong ni Hoax. Inilibot ni Thomas Devaughne ang kanyang tingin.

"What is he doing here, Mirae? Ang usapan ay Cosmos lang ang pupunta rito," Lolo Thomas muttered. So he knew that Mirae's part of the Cosmos?

"I think I can trust them so it's okay." I frowned at Mirae's answer. So he knew why we're here.

"Lo, why are you here?" Paguulit ni Vynz sa kaninang tinanong ni Hoax.

Hindi pa nakakasagot ay nagpaalam na si Mirae. "I'll just go upstairs. I'll tell all of you later."

"He's on the first room." Lolo Thomas informed and I frowned. Who's upstairs?

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Mirae na ngayon ay paakyat na sa ikalawang palapag ng mansyon. This past few days, she's weird.

Agad nawala iyon sa aking isip nang marinig ang boses ni Creed.

"What is Thomas Devaughne doing here, Theo?"

Si Vynz naman naroon na sa harap ni Lolo Thomas. They kept asking questions but I got preoccupied thinking about Mirae's actions. She didn't even go to Dasher's last day of viewing. Ayaw niyang pumunta na lalo kong ipinagtaka.

I was staring at the mansion's second floor when I saw a familiar built seating on the wheelchair while Mirae's pushing it.

My knees wobbled as I felt my lips parted. Kung hindi ako naalalayan ni Hoax ay maaaring bumagsak ako sa sahig. My hands flew on my mouth while looking at them. Naginit ang gilid ng aking mga mata dahil sa nakita.

Dahil sa aking reaksyon ay napabaling ang lahat sa direksyong aking tinitignan.

Namayani ang katahimikan sa buong mansyon ng mga Lozano.

I saw Callum from the side of my eyes gestured a sign of the cross. Ngunit hindi roon tumuon ang aking pansin. I'm still looking at the man seating on the wheelchair as I bit my lower lip to suppress a sob coming out of my mouth.

Si Creed ang unang nakabawi sa pagkagulat at umakyat ito para tulungan si Mirae. Sumunod din si Ryder at Archer para tumulong ibaba ang wheelchair.

I even saw Archer whispered something on Mirae.

Nang makababa sila ay hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili.

"Dash!" I called as I walked near him. Mahigpit ko siyang niyakap, hindi alintana na nakaupo siya sa wheelchair. My tears rolled down my cheeks when I felt him hugged me back. "You're alive! You're alive," I whispered between the sobs coming out of my mouth.

"I am, Sweetie," He whispered as he caressed my hair. My tears became uncontrollable. Dasher keeps caressing my back to calm me down but I can't calm down.

"You're alive," I sobbed.

"Hmm, you're husband's stares will kill me," Biro niya ngunit hindi ko magawang matawa roon. I mean, I'm glad he's alive but how come-

Lumayo sa kanya at napaluhod sa kanyang paanan kaya naman bahagya na kaming magkapantay. "Y-your alive! Paano? I mean, I was there w-when you-" Hindi ko maituloy ang sasabihin.

"Milady planned everything," He answered.

I blinked as my lips parted a bit.

Napatayo ako at bumaling kay Mirae. "I knew it! That's why you're acting weird. You didn't even went to his wake! Pumunta ka lang noong unang araw at kahapon ay sinabi mo na may mas importante kang gagawin!" Sambit ni Archer na napagtagpi tagpi ang lahat. Hindi lang ako ang nakapansin ng ikinikilos ni Mirae.

"Hindi siya titigilan ng Rozelli at sa sitwasyon niya ay hindi niya kayang protektahan ang sarili. Baka matuluyan lang siya kung hindi ko ginawa 'yon," Mirae muttered.

Bakit naman iyon gagawin ni Rozelli kay Dasher? Wala siyang ibang dahilan para gawin iyon. Maliban na lang kung nalaman ni Rozelli na parte si Dasher ng Cosmos.

"Does Tita and Tito know?" Creed asked. Tita Mella's devastated about Dasher's death. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya kapag nalaman niya ang totoo.

Mirae shook her head. "I'll tell them pero hindi pa ngayon." I don't know if I'll agree to her or not. Masakit para kila Tita ang nangyari. Ngunit alam namin pare-parehas na magpupumilit silang puntahan si Dasher kung malalaman nila ang totoo. Kapag nangyari iyon ay maaaring malaman ng Rozelli na buhay pa si Dash.

"Rozelli knows that Ferron is an underboss of Cosmos, bakit si Alterio lang ang habol ng Rozelli?" Hoax voice out my question.

"He pretended that he's the Universe and Rozelli wants the Universe dead," Simpleng sagot ni Mirae. Rozelli thought Dasher's the Universe. How did he even come up with that idea.

"Kung hindi ko ginawa iyon ay-" Mirae cutted Dasher's words.

"Yeah, kung hindi mo ginawa iyon ay ako ang nasa sitwasyon mo." She rolled her eyes. Para bang alam na niya kung ano ang rason ni Dash. "Walang ideya ang mga Rozelli na ako ang Universe."

"They're desperate! Nalaman ng Devaughne na ikaw ang Universe kaya hindi malabo na malaman din ng Rozelli iyon!" Dasher's tone rose up a bit because of frustration.

Pinalis ko ang aking mga luha nang maramdaman ang kamay ni Hoax na nakaalalay sa aking likod.

"You think I would let them?" Giit ulit ni Mirae kaya naman muli akong napatingin sa kanya.

I saw Vynz leaned near her ear and whispered something.

Napahilot sa sentido si Dasher. "Kung ibabalik ang oras ay hindi ako magdadalawang isip na muling gawin ang ginawa ko." He's indeed determined to make Mirae safe even if it means losing his own life.

Ilang minuto pang nagtalo and dalawa. Natigil lang ito dahil sa pagbaba ni Maureen. Agad na kumunot ang noo ni Dasher. I saw Dash turned to Mirae. Their eyes met, para bang naguusap ang dalawa gamit ang kanilang mga mata. Sa huli ay patagong tumango si Dasher at muling bumaling kay Mirae.

"She's Maureen Lazaro, your private nurse," Pagpapakilala ni Mirae nang makalapit sa amin si Maureen. Napailing na lamang ako. Delikado ang pinaplano niya.

I'm watching Maureen's reaction but her face became unreadable.

"Maureen, this is Dasher. Take care of him," Mirae smiled.

Hindi man lang siya nagulat nang makita si Dash na ipinagtaka ko. Its either she doesn't have any idea about his death or she knew that Dasher is alive.

Nanatili kami sa living room ng ilang oras bago namin muling hinatid si Dasher sa second floor. Naiwan ang Cosmos sa loob ng kwarto niya. We talked about Maureen, and Mirae's plans.

Matapos ay lumabas na sila Arch at Mirae. Kami na lang ni Dasher at Creed ang naiwan sa loob ng silid.

After hearing Mirae's words, I want to say she must be insane. Maureen seems harmless but still, she's a criminal's daughter, though we're criminals too. Who knows, maybe she's planning something. She even changed her name and pretend to be a nurse.

"You sure you agreed about her plan?" I asked Dasher after a deafening silence between the three of us. I'm seating at the side of his bed, Creed's on the sofa while Dasher's on his wheelchair.

"Hmm." A smile crept in his face when he nodded.

"I can come with you to make sure you're safe," I insisted. I'm bothered about him leaving in the same roof with Maureen. I mean, in Dasher's state, he can't walk. Wala siyang magagawa kung may plano man si Maureen.

Nahihiwagaan siyang napatingin sa akin. "Your husband will surely kill me this time," He chuckled.

"Seriously, I can handle that woman," He assured, he even gave me a smirk.

"How's your legs?" Creed asked.

The side of his lips rose. He shrugged. "Can't feel them."

I almost rolled his eyes when I heard his nonchalant tone. You can't fool me Dasher, I know what you're feeling. But I prefer you not walking than dead.

The next day, I woke up because of a familiar voice calling my name. It took me several seconds to finally adjust my eyesight.

"We need to leave, Hon. Ferron has an emergency."

What Hoax said made my senses alive. "What happened?"

Agad akong napabalikwas ng bangon at napatitig kay Hoax. Last night was a long one. Mirae and Vynz suddenly got married. Matapos magpropose ni Vynz kagabi ay nagpakasal agad ang dalawa.

"His daughter was shot," Pirming sambit niya.

Namilog ang aking mga mata. What happened to Crizzette?

Agad akong bumangon upang puntahan si Creed. Hoax's following me as I hurriedly went down on the first floor of the mansion. I can hear the sound I'm making in every steps I made.

Sa baba ay naabutan ko ang aming mga kasama. They're already well dressed and looks like was about to leave. Mukhang ako na lamang ang hinihintay.

Mirae's talking to someone on her phone. My eyes darted at Creed who's near the entrance of the mansion, walking while looking at nowhere with his clenched jaw. Matapos ang ilang habang ay bumaling siya sa salungat na direksyon. Ilang ulit niyang ginawa iyon na para bang wala sa sarili. He's also looking at his phone as if he's waiting for something.

"I'll take the helicopter with me." Everyone turned to Creed's direction when he spoke.

Mirae put her phone down as he nodded at Creed. "Alright. Susunod na lang kami. We'll be there a few hours after you arrived."

Matapos ang kumpirmasyon ni Mirae ay agad na kumilos si Creed.

Everything went fast that day. Ilang oras matapos umalis ni Creed ay nakaalis na rin kami.

I picked up my bag when I heard my phone ringing.

I immediately answered the call when I saw my Mom calling. "Mommy," Bungad ko.

"Can you visit us?" I frowned when I heard her voice. Its a bit shaky.

I was about to go to the hospital to check Crizzette but it seems like Mommy needs me right now. "Alright, I'll be there in a while. Miss you, Mommy."

"I miss you too, S-Sweetie," Her voice trembled.

"Are you crying?" Marahang sambit ko. I walked towards my car as I started the engine. I glanced on the passenger's seat and a smile formed on my lips when I saw the envelope, containing our already signed divorce papers lying on it.

"No, why would I cry?" I can imagine her frowning.

A smile formed on my lips. "Maybe you miss me so much?" I hope it's really her reason.

I chuckled when she groaned. Pinatay ko ang tawag matapos niyang magpaalam.

I maneuvered my car towards our house. I can already see our subdivision after a few minutes driving. Nang matanaw ko ang aming bahay ay kumunot ang aking noo nang makita ang dalawang kotseng nakaparada sa tapat noon.

I turned the engine off and I went out of the car. Napapangiwi ako sa ingay na ginawa ng aking paa sa aking bawat paghakbang habang papasok sa aming bahay. My heart pounded as I heard familiar voices from the inside.

"You are not my son!" The voice echoed on the whole mansion. Bago pa may makasagot galing sa loob ay agad na akong pumasok. I looked around and saw Tita Amira, Clyde's mother and Tito Julius, his stepfather with my parents. Clyde's at the center while grasping an envelope.

Si Mommy lang ang lumingon sa akin matapos kong makapasok. Akmang lalakad siya sa akin nang magsalita si Kuya. "I know, you're not my father!"

"Clyde!" Tita Amira shouted. "You're our son," She muttered. Her voice's almost pleading.

The side of his lips rose. "You're not my mother either," He whispered and my lips parted a bit.

I frowned at him. "Kuya-"

"Julius is my father," Malamig na sambit ni Kuya habang mariin ang titig kay Daddy.

"You're my son, Clyde." Napalabi ako sa sinambit ni Tito. He accepted Clyde, samantalang si Dad na totoong ama ni Kuya ay hindi siya matanggap.

"Let's go home, you're my son," Aya ni Tito.

"You're really my father, even after the DNA test." Clyde handed the envelope to Tito Julius. Napamaang ako sa simabit niya. Agad na binuksan ni Tito ang ibinigay ni Clyde. I was watching Tito's reaction when Kuya spoke.

"And Hestia Dela Vega's my biological mother," Mariing sambit niya habang diretso ang tingin kay Tito. Someone gasped, I don't know if it's Mommy or Tita Amira. I turned to my Dad and saw his jaw clenching. Yukom ang mga palad.

"W-what are you talking about? You're my son, Clyde."

Kuya turned to Tita Amira. Nahihiwagaan siyang napatingin kay Tita. "Don't dent it. I heard you, Mama! I am Julius and Hestia's son. And this man," He pointed my Dad and smirked. Matapos ay napailing. "You fooled your wife, didn't you?" My chest tightened as I gasped for air. Napako ako sa aking kinatatayuan at hindi malaman kung paniniwalaan ba ang mga naririnig.

"What are you talking about?" Mabagal ngunit mariing sambit ni Daddy. I opened my mouth and tried to speak but nothing came out of it. Napatingin ako kay Tito. He's now looking at Clyde with his bloodshot eyes while the papers' still in his hands.

"You said their son died. Pinalabas mong patay ang anak nila! While you sent me to an orphanage. But Mama saw you. Kinuha niya 'ko at pinalabas na anak niyong dalawa." He sarcastically looked at Tita. "Am I right, Mama?"

I turned to Mommy and saw her hand flew on her face, suppressing the sob coming out of it. Tears are now flowing down her cheeks.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sa sarili at nilapitan si Tito. Kinuha ko ang mga papeles na hawak niya at inisa isa iyon.

My jaw dropped as my tears rolled down my cheeks. On the first one is Tito and Clyde's DNA test. It came out positive. Ang pangalawa naman ay kay Mommy at kay Clyde. Napalabi ako nang makitang ganoon din ang resulta noon.

I sarcastically turned to my parents and asked. "Am I your daughter?"

"What kind of question is that? You're our daughter, Astrid," Daddy answered.

What the hell was that? Kuya's not my Dad's son but my mother. Dad leaving Clyde in an orphanage was a desperate move. While my Mom, did she cheat on Dad?

I smirked as I shook my head in disappointment. I turned my back on them and walked out the room.

Agad kong pinalis ang luha ng bumabagsak sa aking pisngi.

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