Napahilot ako sa aking sentido habang naghihintay sa sagot ni Flavio. "You're all in that condo yet she escaped? What the hell are you doing?"

I threw myself on the couch while staring at the stairs, waiting for Chaos's presence.

He crisply cursed on the other line. "I'm sorry. We're all occupied. But don't worry, we got her back. Mabuti at nakita agad ni Emil at nasundan. We're outside the building of Chaos's condo earlier. Inabangan agad namin sa labas."

I don't know if what he said will help or soothe anything. Nangyari na at wala nang magagawa pa. I slowly massaged the bridge of my nose while my phone's still in my ear. 

Marahas akong nagpakawala ng hangin bago nakapagdesisyon. "I'll visit later. We'll release her one of these days," I declared. Like what I should.

Sandali siyang natigilan sa kabilang linya. "What? Are you done on what you're supposed to do?"

I heard footsteps nearing. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakitang pababa na si Chaos. Kunot ang noo habang nasa phone pa rin ang mga mata. 

"No. But still, we'll let her go," I replied before ending the call as Chaos is nearing. 

I shifted and rose while waiting for Chaos. 

I thought we'd talk about what happened earlier but I was wrong. Maybe because another issue came up.

Nang nagtama ang aming mga mata ay nasa harapan ko na siya. "Did you..." He paused a bit, seems hesitating. "Perhaps tell Hazaiah to hold a press conference?" 

I blinked. "Huh?"

He tightly shut his eyes closed and clenched his jaw. He opened the television instead. 

At bumuka ang aking mga labi ng makita ang bumungad sa akin. 

"I am pregnant and Chaos Zaldivars is the father. Rieselle Serrano pushed me to do this publicly as she denied me when I talked to her privately. She said no one would believe me. And she told me she may believe and allow Chaos to father the child when my pregnancy was... publicized."

"M–maybe she meant she won't believe me until the public knows that I'm pregnant. Maybe she meant... t–they can dispose me because no one knows except..." She cried and her last words muffled. Nanginginig ang boses at para bang kawawang kawawa. That's when Chaos shut the television. 

I— what the hell! This wench! I didn't say those!

I sarcastically blew an air. I was about to burst out when I realized Chaos is with me. 

I shook my head while my lips were pressed. "I didn't tell her those. I just..." I trailed off and bit the side of my cheeks. 

I don't know if Chaos will still believe me but...

"I told her she should have a press conference." I let out a deep breath. Thinking of any other alibi because I can't tell him that I suggested Hazaiah to announce it publicly to taint the Zaldivar's reputation. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't know she'll actually do it. I told her that sarcastically because I'm—" I paused a bit. "I'm annoyed at what she's saying."

"I'm sorry." I lowered my head as my blood's boiling at that woman. How dare her turn my words against me!

"I'm not the father of her child, if she's really pregnant." He sighed as his voice was raspy. 

"I know—" My words were cutter when his phone started ringing. Agad niyang sinagot iyon at hindi na umalis sa aking harapan. 

He's staring at me as he answered the phone. Unti-unting kumunot ang noo niya. "What?" His voice roared followed by low curses. He ended the call and slipped his phone in his pocket. 

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin. I hesitantly walked near him. "Is there a problem?"

"Don't mind it—" Umiling siya at marahas na bumuntong hininga. "I need to fix something. I'll be back," he muttered before giving me a quick kiss in my lips.

I thought he'll leave after the kiss but remained standing in front of me, staring. An unreadable emotion is visible in his eyes. 

I tilted my head when I started feeling uncomfortable in his stares. I don't know why. Maybe because I thought he'll know what I'm thinking if he kept staring. 

I cleared my throat. "Chaos?" 

He blinked. "The media will surely flock on you. Stay here if you don't have any important appointments. Call me if you have and I'll drive you there, huh?"

But as stubborn as I am, I went out without informing him. Of course I can't inform him, especially that I'll go to Flavio's condo. And like what Chaos said, the media is waiting for me, all eager to get my statement at Hazaiah's press conference. 

Reason why I wore a disguise and didn't use the car I'm usually using. I took a cab instead.

Si Flavio ang sumalubong sa akin nang dumating ako sa condo niya. None of my father's men aren't here, well except for Flavio. 

"What happened? How the fuck did she escaped?"

"I wasn't in the condo when it happened while Emil went out to smoke," he answered as he walked beside me.

I raised my brow and faced him. "And the others?" 

"Asleep."

I laughed with no humor. "Fucking asleep," I flatly cursed. "You expect me to believe that? Like what? A coincidence that all of you were—"

He growled. "Come on, Marcia. If you think I'll betray you, you should think again. I can betray your father but not you."

I raised my brow and smirked. "You're one of his trusted men. Dad will surely kill you when he hears you saying that."

He let out a low chuckle. "He's in his room. He won't hear me."

Natatawa akong napailing. "How is he anyway?"

"Let's just go see him?" He gestured the way towards the room where my father is in. "He misses you already, I supposed."

"I visited him the last time," I said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"And that was a week ago." He knowingly looked at me. "You know your father."

Of course I do. 

I pushed the door of my father's room, expecting him to be asleep and weak in his bed but I saw otherwise. 

I frowned when I saw Nathaniel Quijano, my father sitting at the edge of his bed. He looks fine but not as fine as before. He's still thin but seems like he's recovering. Bringing him to the hospital surely helps.

I glanced at Flavio. "You didn't tell me he's this alright." I emphasized the word 'this' but he shrugged at me. 

Tuluyan akong pumasok sa silid at ganoon din si Flavio na sumunod sa akin.

"Marcia," Dad called akmang tatayo siya sa kinauupuan kahit na para bang alam niya na hindi niya kaya. 

"Dad!" 

He almost fell on the ground when his legs wavered. Mabuti na lamang at agad namin siyang nadaluhan ni Flavio.

"You should rest and save your strength." My voice curled at the last word as Dad sat again in his bed. 

While I remained standing in front of him and Flavio's beside me. 

"I should leave you both," Flavio muttered.

I turned my head to his direction. "Have you settled all his hospital bills. His medications?"

"All done." 

I smiled and nodded. "Alright. Thank you."

But his lips parted like he heard something unusual and seemed amused by it.

That's when I realized I smiled like a fine lady every time I'm with the Zaldivars. And I fucking said thanks.

I shrugged. In some months that I went out as a Serrano, I got used to it.

I raised my brow at him. "Forget it. Leave." 

Natatawa pa siya habang umiiling nang lumabas ng kwarto ni Dad. 

I sighed after facing my father the moment Flavio left. I carefully scanned his whole body and I saw him grin when he caught me from what I'm doing.

"I'm alright, Marcia," he muttered, stopping me from surveying him.

I tsked and grimaced while rolling my eyes. "You should take care of yourself and don't die. Don't you dare leave me alone this early or else Mom will surely be mad at you." 

I loudly smirked remembering my Mom's joke back then. "Babangon si Mommy sa libingan niya kung... maaga kang mamamatay."

My father shook his head at me while he tugged the corner of his lips to smirked back even though his eyes were still screaming longing, of course, for my mother. I can't blame him though and even I, can't accept what happened because it was so sudden!

Her death is Timothea and Abacus Zaldivar's sole fault. No one can change my mind from blaming them for my mother's death.

I sat beside Dad and looked at him over my shoulder. "But seriously... don't leave me this early."

"I won't because I still probably need to give you some preaching first."

"What are you..." My eyes narrowed as I slowly faced him. "Talking about?" 

"I heard you entangled yourself with the Zaldivars again. Marrying a Zaldivar this time?" He tilted his head. Nahihiwagaan niya akong tinignan. "Who among them?" 

Napakurap ako sa diretsong tanong niya. I, as much as possible, tried to hide everything from my father's eyes yet as I thought of it, it seems impossible.

"Who told you that? Flavio?" I asked in a suggestive voice with my brow raised.

"Definitely not that boy, you obviously snatched his loyalty away from me."

I smirked at his remark.

"Then who?"

He eyed me like it was ridiculous for me to ask who. He weaved a dry chuckle. "Have you forgot? I have men aside from Flavio and their loyalty is still mine."

"Let's get back to the Zaldivars, who are you marrying?" He strained the last word with a bit of mockery in his tone. "The eldest I supposed? Miss Serrano's fiance?" He demanded with his menacing tone of voice.

He knows everything, I guess.

"Chaos Zaldivar. Not the eldest."

Humalakhak siya na para bang may nakakatawa. 

"Did someone... perhaps bashed your head in the wall reason why your ideas are getting wacky." He tilted his head with a ghost of smirk on his lips. 

My eyes enlarged as my mouth hung open. "Dad!"

Nawala ang pagbibiro sa ekspresyon niya at seryoso akong hinarap. "Do not entangle yourself with the Serranos. Stop what you're doing and forget everything about the Serranos. Cut your ties with the Zaldivars as well."

I tilted my head, confused as it seems the Serranos got his attention more than the Zaldivars. As far as I remember, Serrano doesn't have anything to do with us so why is he...

"What's wrong with the Serranos?" I asked with a brief tilt of my head.

"Stop whatever you're doing that involves them," he said, there's no vestige of humor showing on his face.

My eyes turned into slits while staring at him. "You're aware that their only daughter looks so much like me. Even the name..." I wondered while remembering Rieselle Serrano's full name.

"If I didn't know that she's a Serrano, I would have thought that she's my twin and you sold her to them. Or... the Serranos sold me to... you and Mom." My last words slowly became muffled when I saw the expression in Dad's eyes.

Natigilan siya. My father turned pale for a few seconds.

I chuckled heartily at my father's reaction. He looks like I've said something... "I was kidding though."

I am a Quijano while Rieselle is a Serrano. Quijano and Serrano, although both have the same ending sounds, were entirely different in many ways than one. Serrano is a family friend of the Zaldivars while Quijano is... well, definitely not.

"Just stop whatever you're doing. Let Miss Serrano go and if you must, hide."

My lips parted in amusement. "Woah, I didn't expect to hear that, especially coming from a syndicate leader," biro ko. Though it was true and I would really hide after all these. He doesn't have to instruct me.

"Oh, believe me you'll become one soon, dearest." 

I exhaled sarcastically. "Not in this lifetime, Dad. I'm busy with—" 

"You boutique," he completed. "How is it doing?"

He suddenly asked, my eyes narrowed at suspicion. "My boutique is doing fine and will surely do good the next few months so don't you dare meddle with it again."

Like what he did the last time, he almost ruined my boutique's reputation! The Estelle is the only thing I have. I value my boutique more than anything else. Reason why this is the only topic we argue about every time.

"Why don't you manage our company instead if you don't want the underground organization?"

"Flavio's handling it," I stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"He'll handle the organization because you don't want it. You go with our company."

"It's near bankruptcy anyway. Why bother?"

"It is..." He firmly started. "Still our family's company."

I heaved a deep sigh, tired of the sudden turns of our conversation. In the end I just gave him a vague answer for him to be at least in peace. I left after our conversation ended.

Still occupied with my father's words, I went towards the room where the Serrano heiress is in.

I opened the door and my forehead furrowed when no one approached me. 

But a cry from a familiar voice made my eyes turn in a certain direction. "Marcia!" 

My lips parted as I saw Rieselle tied in a chair, unable to move. What the hell did they do to her?

I blinked, dismissing my thoughts while I walked near her. "It's been a while, Rieselle.
__________