I sashayed towards the Devaughne's building. Dito ako dinala ng aking mga paa matapos ang nangyari sa mansyon. I can't imagine how messed my family is right now.

I stood in front of the elevator. Ilang segundo lang ay bumukas iyon. I was about to enter when I saw a familiar woman walking out of it, wearing almost the same jumpsuit I'm wearing. She has a black sleeved, wide leg jumpsuit. I have the same but I'm wearing beige.

Bumakas ang galit sa kanyang mga mata ngunit agad din iyong nawala. She gave me a smirk when our eyes met.

She went out of the elevator as she faced me. Marahan akong napailing at akmang papasok na sa lift nang haklitin niya ang aking braso kaya naman muli akong napaharap sa kanya. I have no time for her shits.

I raised my brow up on her. "What do you want this time, Mia?"

"I just want to ask something." She shifted as she slightly leaned on me. "Did you signed it already?" Tumikhim siya. "The divorce papers?" She smirked, maybe when she saw a glint of shock registered on my face.

What the hell? Wala akong pinagsabihan sa kung ano man ang napagusapan namin ni Hoax. Even my friends but I know they have an idea on what's going on between us.

Something came on my mind. Agad kong pinalis iyon. I hope I'm wrong.

I tilted my head. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"You know, just sign it. I'm even willing to file it myself. So I can marry Hoax after your divorce," Marahan at nangungumbinsing sambit niya.

"You're hopeless." A smirk formed on my lips. "We'll start a new after our divorce, that means-"

"That means he'll marry me. Did he tell you he'll marry you?"

I pressed my lips into a thin line when I felt it trembled. Hoax told me we'll start a new. Am I wrong? I conclude we'll start it together.

"You really did believe him?" Mapanuyang sambit niya. "And I think you got the wrong idea."

I raised my brow up on her. "I have no time for this." Nilagpasan ko siya at desididong umalis ngunit agad akong natigilan nang marinig ko ang kanyang mga salita.

"He proposed, by the way." I stilled as my lips parted. I looked back and saw her holding the ring she's wearing. Napako ang tingin ko roon nang makitang pamilyar iyon. Mapait akong napangiti nang may matanto. I'm assuming things all along? I uttered a soft curse.

Her ring looks like the exact engagement ring on Hoax's glove compartment.

"Good for you then." Napalabi ako at mapait na nagpatuloy. "Don't worry about the divorce papers, I'll file it myself." My lips tugged in a smirk. "Consider that as a wedding gift."

Agad ko siyang tinalikuran at lumabas ng gusaling iyon.

Dumiretso ako sa aking sasakyan. Marahas kong binuksan iyon at agad na pumasok. I saw the divorce papers on the passenger's seat. Mapait akong napangiti nang makita iyon. I held the steering wheel as I put my head on it.

Mariin akong napapikit nang maalala ang mga sinabi ni Mia.

You fool! How dare you believe his words again? Ilang beses ka ng niloko, hindi ka pa nadala.

Marahas kong hinampas ang manibela. Binuhay ko ang makina at pinasibad ang aking kotse palayo sa gusaling iyon.

Matapos ang ilang minuto ay natagpuan ko ang aking sarili sa labas ng opisina ni Archer. I don't know if he's here, I hope he is.

I grasped the envelope on my hand. Ang isang kamay naman ay nagtipa sa aking phone. I started dialling Archer's number. He answered after a few rings.

"Swee-"

"Are you at the law firm?" I asked.

"Paalis na-" Parehas kaming natigilan nang bumukas ang pinto ng kanyang opisina.

Bumungad sa akin si Archer na mukhang paalis na nga.

He ended the call as he faced me. Pinapasok niya ako sa kanyang opisina.

"May gagawin ka?" I asked when he closed the door.

"I was about to go to the company. I'll visit Crizzette after," He answered as he leaned on his table.

"Can you help me?" Hindi pa siya nakakasagot ay muli na akong nagpatuloy. "I need my divorce processed as soon as possible."

Kumunot ang aking noo nang ngumisi siya. "Can't wait to marry Devaughne again?"

I coldly shook my head. "There's no wedding."

Archer's jaw fell opened as he intently look at me. "Wha-"

"I thought we're okay. He told me we'll start a new. I a-assumed." I bit my lower lip when my voice trembled.

"Gago talaga 'yang magkapatid na Devaughne," He whispered under his breath.

"He gave Mia an engagement ring. I saw it, Arch, I know that's from Hoax."

Archer blinked. "What ring? Can you describe it? I'll find it. Maybe that woman's fooling you."

Archer told me to give him time. He'll find it and figure out if it's really from Hoax or it was just a copy of it.

I went back to my condo after that talk. I can't visit Crizzette while I'm in this state.

I heard the buzzed of my door after a few minutes. Agad kong binuksan iyon at tumambad sa akin ang bulto ni Archer.

Hinayaan ko siyang makapasok. Dumiretso siya sa sofa at umupo roon. I sat beside him and faced him. I raised my brow up on him, lowkey asking him if he found out.

"Wanna drive around?"

I heaved a deep sighed. "I don't want anything, I want to know the truth. Did he gave her that?"

Ipinakita niya sa akin ang kanyang phone. It was that engagement ring. "Ito ba 'yon?"

I nodded my head and shifted on my seat.

"There's only three copy of this ring. One is from England, Prince Alexander Piccasi Drakov. He gave it to his fiancee, Elizabeth Vonovich. Second is a certain Attorney Cristela Megalo from Rome." Sandali siyang huminto. He pressed his lips together. I saw a glint of hesitation in his eyes.

"The third owner is Hoax," Mapait na sambit ko.

He heaved a deep sighed and nodded. "Third is from here in the Philippines, your husband, Engineer Hoax Octavius Devaughne."

Mariin akong napapikit at napayuko. Bumuhos ang mga luhang kanina at pilit kong pinipigilan. I buried my face in my hands. Archer's just sitting beside me while watching me.

I heard him heaved a deep sighed as he tried to calm me down.

We heard the buzzed of my door. He looked at me. "Are you expecting someone?"

I slightly shook my head. Si Archer na ang tumayo upang buksan ang pinto.

Nagangat ako ng ulo para makita kung sino ang nasa labas. My eyes grew larger when I saw Archer holding Hoax on his collar. I took my phone while looking at them. Napatayo na ako at lumapit sa dalawa.

"Arch!" I shrieked when he punched Hoax directly at the face.

I walked near them. Sinubukan kong paglayuin ang dalawa ngunit agad na nakaganti si Hoax.

"Fuck!" I cursed when Archer's fist landed on Hoax's face again.

Akmang gaganti si Hoax ngunit agad akong tumayo sa gitna nila, kaya naman hindi itinuloy ni Hoax ang pagsuntok kay Archer ngunit matalim ang mga titig nito.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Hoax muttered using his cold tone.

Pinigilan ko ang sarili na mapasinghap nang mapangasar na ngumisi si Archer. Matapos ay agad na pumasok sa aking condo.

Napakurap ako nang kami na lamang ni Hoax ang naiwan sa labas.

"What did he do? Why are you crying." Napalingon ako kay Hoax nang abutin niya ang aking braso. Agad akong umigkas upang makawala sa kanyang hawak.

"You don't have to pretend. I already filed the divorce," Malamig na sambit ko.

His lips parted as he frowned. "What?"

I pressed my lips in a thin line as the side of it rose. "You don't have to lie to make me sign it."

Kunot noo niya akong tinitigan. "Hon, what are you talking about?" Marahang sambit niya.

I tightly shut my eyes off as I heaved a deep sighed, as if it'll calm me down. Ramdam ko ang pagagos ng aking luha sa aking pisngi. "Pipirma naman ako, sana sinabi mo na lang 'yung totoo," Paliit nang paliit ang aking boses ngunit alam kong sapat iyon upang marinig.

He tilted his head as he shifted. He tried to reached me but I immediately stepped backward. "Hindi ako magsisinungaling sa'yo."

I drew an audible, sarcastic breath. "Right, hindi ka nagsinungaling. I assumed, sorry," I muttered as I let my tears freely fall down my cheeks. Hindi ko na alintana na nasa harap ko siya.

"Strid," He called. I tightly shut my eyes off when I heard his voice, almost pleading. "I don't know what you're talking about, Hon. Don't cry," Marahang sambit niya.

"I hate you!" I shrieked. My chest heaved up and down as my knees wobbled. Tuluyan akong nahawakan ni Hoax dahil doon. Inalalayan niya ako ngunit agad akong lumayo.

"Enlighten me, Hon. What did I do?"

I raised my brow up on him. Nahihiwagaan akong napatingin sa kanya. "I filed the divorce myself, so why don't you figure it out yourself," I cleared my throat. "Anyway, you don't have to. I know you knew what I'm talking about," Sambit ko at tuluyan siyang nilagpasan.

I heard him calling my name but I ignored it. I rode the lift and pushed the penthouse button. Bago pa tuluyang sumara iyon ay narinig ko ang pamilyar na boses ni Archer.

"Fuck you, Devaughne!" Bahagya akong napangiwi nang marinig iyon.

I sighed as I arrived at the penthouse.

"Astrid," Nagangat ako nang tingin nang marinig ang boses ni Mirae. "You okay?" She frowned. "Hoax asked me for your whereabouts a while ago. Hindi ka raw sumasagot sa mga tawag niya." I unconsciously looked at my phone and saw a lot of missed calls from Hoax. May mga mensahe rin na hindi na ako nagabalang buksan pa para basahin.

I walked towards the couch and sat on it. Si Mirae naman ay matamang sumunod sa akin.

"Did he told you already? You two fought because of that?"

My eyes darted at her, I know she can see my eyes full of confusions. "What is it?"

She raised her brow up on me. "Their sister is alive."

My lips parted as I intently looked at her. Matapos ay napakunot ang aking noo. "Aleesha's alive? H-how come? I mean..." Binaril siya ni Mirae. I know her, kapag ginusto ni Mirae na pumatay ay nasisiguro ko na papatayin niya talaga.

"I don't know either. I'm glad to know she's alive but still, we're not sure if it's true," She shrugged.

"How did you know she's alive?"

"Someone sent Vynz a message saying Aleesha is alive and don't look for her, with her photos attached on it. I don't know but I'm sure the sender also sent Hoax the same message," She bit her lower lip. "I thought you fought because of-" She stopped and shook her head. "You two seems okay back then. Akala ko nga ay magpapakasal ulit kayo."

"Its not about Aleesha." Hindi naman siguro namin pagaawayan ang dahil lang buhay ang kapatid niya. I mean, if she's really alive. "And I'm not getting married. Ewan ko kay Hoax, pero ako, hindi."

Her lips parted. Matapos ay napatikhim. "That fucker," She whispered. Para bang sa sarili lang iyon sinabi ngunit

My phone suddenly started ringing. Wala akong balak sagutin iyon ngunit nahagip ng aking paningin ang pangalan ni Clyde.

"I'll just answer this."

Agad naman akong tinanguan ni Mirae.

Tumayo ako ay bahagyang lumayo kay Mirae. Matapos ay agad kong sinagot ang tawag ni Kuya.

"Cel," Bungad niya. There's something in his voice.

"Kuya-" Bahagya akong natigilan at naisip ang kaninang nangyari sa bahay. I chuckled. "Yeah, you're still my brother."

"Where are you? Can you come here? We're still at your house."

"How are you?" I asked, ignoring what he said.

"I'm fine, Cel. Go home, I said."

I heaved a deep sighed as a small smile formed on my lips because of his words.

"Totoo ba?" I asked. "Na anak ka ni Mommy at hindi ni Dad? That Daddy really sent you to an orphanage?"

I heard him hummed from the phone. "That's why you need to go home. Tita--Mom's mad at your Dad. She wants a divorce."

Napamaang ako at hindi na napigilan ang sarili na hindi mapasinghap.

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