"Camilla Maureanne," he called using his voice that's full of authority.

I was rooted in my place. The only thing I can hear is the raging beat of my heart after Dasher called me using my real name.

"Camilla, listen first."

I shut my eyes closed as I felt heat on it because of tears when I heard Dasher calling my name again. With my lips parted, I slowly turned my body to face them.

My eyes immediately found him. He's reaching for his cane that's resting at the side of the table. And when he did, he tightly gripped it as he forced hisself to stand.

I tried to suppress the tears peeking at my eyes when I met his indifferent stares.

I opened my mouth to speak. "H-how did you--" With my trembling voice, I didn't get a chance to finish my words when Mirae butt in.

"Camilla Maureanne Rozelli, Ysmael Rozelli's daughter next to the bitch Callista Maureen. Live in States for twenty-five years since her mother gave birth, staying at the Philippines since last year." I heard her smirked. "You think you can fool us?"

My heart hammered as she started reciting informations about me. And the way she gritted her teeth as she mustered my father's name, seems like Dad also did something horrible concerning her.

She's a part of Cosmos isn't she? That confirmed all my hunch. Bakit ngayon ko lang naisip iyon. She's the one who decided to hide Dasher. Maybe she planned everything. Ang palabasin na patay si Dasher at itago siya. She also threatened to kill me without even batting an eye. She's a part of that organization, that's what I'm sure of. Hindi ko lang kung ano ang katayuan niya sa Cosmos.

I glanced at her and saw her raising her brow while a mocking expression is plastered on her face.

Ngayon ay nakatayo na rin sila ni Creed ngunit nanatili sila sa tapat ng kanilang kinauupuan.

"We knew everything the moment you applied as my nurse," Dasher said using his casual baritone voice.

My mouth parted when I felt my body froze. My knees are wobbling already but I forced my self to stand still.

I bit my lower lip and remember how Dasher treated me, especially on how he did when Mirae introduced me as his nurse.

He knew? That I'm the daughter of the man who did it to him? The man who almost killed him? Is that why he's cold and distant when it comes to me? Why he doesn't want anything even a single help from me?

But we're okay the passed few days?

"Did your father sent you here?" Creed asked with his steely voice.

Agad ko siyang inilingan dahil hindi naman talaga. Walang alam si Daddy sa kung ano man ang ginagawa ko. But at this moment, I know Ate told Dad everything already.

"I-I mean no harm," I stammered. "I won't--"

Naputol ang aking mga salita nang marinig ko si Mirae. "You think we'll believe that? After telling your sister you will kill the Universe?" Nanunudyong sambit niya na nakapagpabilog ng aking mga mata.

They heard? Narinig niya ba lahat? Did they hacked my phone or what?

I was busy thinking how did she know when she chuckled with no humor and uttered something that caught my attention. "You think you can? Why don't you try? Go on, kill me."

My eyes immediately widened as her words sunk in my mind. I felt like my breathing were suspended for a split second.

"Milady," mariing saway ni Dasher.

"Fuck." It was a low but crisp curse from Creed.

Did Mirae just told me she's the Universe? Hindi si Dasher?

"I won't kill anyone," I whispered while still dumbfounded of what I just heard from Mirae.

And when I found Dasher's eyes, I can't help but shook my head. "D-Dasher, I mean no harm. W-wala akong balak na masama," I murmured in an almost begging tone. As if it'll convinced him.

I want him to believe me because that's that truth. I don't care if Mirae and Creed won't trust me and assumed I'm lying. I only want Dasher's trust. I only want him to believe me! That I won't hurt him!

He nodded his head as he shifted his body towards my direction. Ngayon ay nakatalikod na siya kay Creed at Mirae. The corner of his pressed lips rose for a split second. Sa sobrang bilis ay para bang isa iyong ilusyon.

I nibbled my lower lip when I felt the tears on my eyes. Tila nawala ang bigat sa aking dibdib dahil doon.

"Tell us why did you applied as a nurse. Did you know even before that, that I'm alive?"

"Dasher! Don't tell me you'll fall in that woman's lies!" Mirae warned.

"Milady," Dasher glanced at Mirae. "I'll handle this."

"I-I won't lie." My lips quivered as I shook my head. "I'm not lying--"

"Oh, come on! The moment you stepped in my office with that fake name in your resume, you're already fooling us," she stated with a matter-of-fact tone. A mocking grin is still in her lips.

I lowered my head after realizing she's right. Paano nga nila akong paniniwalaan kung una pa lang ay nagsisinungaling na ako.

But they won't hire me if she knew that I'm a Rozelli--

She hired me! Iba man ang pangalan ngunit una pa lang ay alam na nilang anak ako ni Dad. Why did she even hired me? Is she planning something against Dad?

She started her litany again but mind's focused on thinking why did she hired me.

Ilang malabong sagutan pa sa pagitan ng tatlong nasa aking harapan ang aking narinig bago bumalik sa kanila ang aking atensyon.

"Mirae, let's leave them for awhile and let them talk."

Napaangat ako ng tingin nang marinig si Creed.

Napapantastikuhang nilingon ni Mirae ang katabi. "What?"

"Walang patutunguhan ang paguusap niyong dalawa. You're scaring her," Creed concluded while tilting his head.

"She should be!" Mirae's eyes widened a fraction. "After what her father did, she have the guts to apply as Dasher's nurse?"

"Let Dasher talk to her," pinal na sambit ni Creed. He motioned the way for Mirae even if she's didn't agree.

"Creed." Mirae called with her brows furrowed. Salungat pa rin sa suhestiyon ni Creed.

"Go on, Milady. I'll talk to Camilla."

Mirae's frown turned to Dasher. I can see hesitation in her eyes. Akmang magsasalita pa ulit si Dasher ngunit agad na iyong pinutol ni Mirae.

"Alright. Alright! We'll be in the living room," paalam nito kay Dasher bago ako matalim na tinignan. She kept glaring at me. At kung hindi pa siya muling ayain ni Creed ay mukhang walang balak na alisin ang kanyang matatalim na titig sa akin.

I watched them leave the dining room. At nang mawala ang dalawa sa aking paningin ay tila nakahinga ako ng maluwag. I felt like the chaos in my insides calmed down.

I was nibbling my lower lip as my eyes landed at Dasher. Galing din ang kanyang mga mata sa direksyon kung saan nagtungo sila Mirae.

And when our eyes met, I immediately felt like I have to explain. "I'm not planning to harm you, Dasher. D-Dad didn't send me here to spy on you either." I repeatedly shook my head. "Wala akong balak na masama."

"Let's seat first," kaswal na sambit niya. He angled his head, pointing the chairs where we're seating earlier.

I blinked twice but still do what he wants. He even pulled the chair I used a while ago using his one hand. Inilahad niya sa akin iyon bago siya muling bumaling sa kabisera at doon umupo.

I was staring at him as we settled down, waiting for whatever he'll say. But my mouth seems can't wait any longer. The words I didn't expect came out of my lips. "A-are you mad at me?"

Igting ng panga ang una niyang sinagot sa akin. "I'm not," mariing tugon niya. "But to your father, I am, Camilla." Slowly, he emphasized every words that even I can feel how enraged he is to my Dad.

My lips trembled to form a faint tight smile. I understand.

"I can't be mad at you. Why would I be when I know you mean no harm," he concluded like he was so sure of it. "You have every chance you needed to hurt me, you can poison the food I'll eat, you can kill me while I'm asleep, you can do anything against me when I still can't walk, but you didn't."

"You lied about your name but that's it. You didn't do anything to harm me. I know you won't." His lips tugged into a smile. "I should have known the moment you helped me when I'm helpless."

I harshly bit my lower lip as I tried to fought back tears but I failed. After hearing his words and seeing him warmly smiled at me, like my father didn't tried to kill him, my eyes swam with tears and no one can stop it.

"I'm sorry." That's the only words I can say in between my sobs.

"I just want you to tell me why did you applied as my nurse. What's your intention? That's what I need to know," marahang sambit niya.

Doon ako natigilan at matamang napatitig sa kanya. I can't find the right words as my mind went blank. But after a few minutes, I finally knew where to start.

"I-I know you're alive. I heard Mirae talking to her grandfather. She's asking him to make sure you're safe and let the others think you're dead," I started while remembering what happened that day, at the rooftop.

"Reason why when I heard Mirae's looking for a nurse, I grabbed the chance and apply. I was thinking why would see needs one then you came in my mind..." I trailed off.

"That maybe, the nurse is for you." Pag-amin ko.

He tilted his head. There's a ghost of smile in his lips, maybe to make me comfortable and spill out everything. "You didn't answer the reason why did you applied?"

Why did I even applied? Iyon din ang tanong ko sa sarili. Dahil ba nakokonsensya ako dahil sa ginawa ni Daddy? Or because Dasher saved me? Or I was-- I actually don't know.

Nananantya kong tinignan si Dasher. "W-would you believe if I say..." I nibbled my bottom lip before I continued. "I d-don't know? I felt like I want to--" I stopped as I shook my head. "I don't know," I shifted my eyes to avoid his gaze.

How can I fully explain when even I didn't know why?

"But swear, I did tell dad that you're alive. Walang alam si Dad-- though that was before." The last part became a whisper.

Marahas akong napalingon kay Dasher matapos maalala ang kaninang napagusapan namin ni Ate. I'm sure she already told dad that Dasher is alive.

"Ysmael knew it already," he repeated.

With my eyes widening a fraction, I shifted on my seat. "The delivery man earlier is p-part of Dad's organization. K-kailangan mo ng umalis. I mean, I'm sure right now, Dad already know that you're alive--"

Naputol ang aking mga salita nang makita ang paglabas ng ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. I caught a glint of amusement in his eyes.

I tilted my head, dumbfounded at his reaction. "Why?"

"Calm down, will you?"

He's asking me that after I told him Dad already knew he's alive? I cannot!

"I know you knew Cosmos," he started. "Mirae and Creed's already here. Some of our members' here too. No one can kill me here, if that's what you're worrying about."

They're that ready? How did they even know--

"You know that the delivery man is a member of Rozelli," I stated.

Reason why after seeing that there's nothing in the package, he immediately called someone whom I guess is Mirae, the Universe of Cosmos. Then just a few hours after the people whom I thought the owners of those villas suddenly came.

He hummed as he leaned forward. His hands clasped over the table. "I just can't understand why the sender addressed the package to Miss Rozelli."

"It was Ate Callista's plan. I... lied to her. That's why, maybe she's pissed at me."

Iyon lang naman ang rason na naiisip ko para gawin niya iyon. Pero hindi niya ba naisip na maaari akong mapahamak sa ginawa niya?

I watched Dasher as his forehead creased. He tilted his head, maybe didn't expect that Ate can do it. I mean, we both know the package can put me in danger. What if Mirae killed me?

I was also wondering, hindi ba naisip ni Ate na paano kung mahuli ako? If I am really in Cosmos' lair and they learned that there's a daughter's enemy inside, I'll surely die. Dahil alam kong ganoon ang gagawin nila Daddy kung malalaman nilang may nakapasok na kalaban sa teritoryo nila.

Akmang magsasalita pa si Dasher nang pareho naming marinig ang boses na tumatawag sa pangalan niya.

I turned my gaze on the kitchen. "Ako na," sambit ko nang matantong nanggagaling ang tawag sa pinto malapit sa kitchen.

I didn't let him answer as I immediately stride towards the door. Habang papalapit ay nahihimigan ko ang boses ng nasa labas.

And when I opened the door, I confirmed what I'm thinking. "Aislinn."

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