"TAKE a seat," untag ko nang makita na ng aking mata ang panauhing sinubukan ang pasensya ko nitong nakaraang araw. "How's the traffic in the metro? Loving it?"

I gestured my hand to a nearby maid and immediately poured a Martini into a glass. She, then, placed another cup on the table near where Rolando sat. I smiled at him but all he throws at me were severe stares.

We are both wearing formal attire. I am wearing a backless gown that has a long slit on the helm of the dress. I was crossing my legs and my leg are visibly showing. Since we are at a bar placed on top of a building, I have a fur coat with me. The December breeze in the Philippines was no joke. I put my hair in a ponytail style with a few strands of hair falling on my face. Partnering it with diamond earrings and a set of pearl necklaces, people would think that I'm a celebrity.

Rolando, on the other hand, is wearing a usual three-piece suit. Dishelved hair and an attitude that he wants to get away here as fast as he could.

"You have an errand to do? You seemed to want to end this conversation you initially set." I asked while sipping the martini.

"She's alone, waiting for me." He only replied.

The left side of my lips moved upward, "Reason, why you want me to just go there in your lair, is because my sister doesn't want to be here either."

"Adrianna's still at large, what do you expect me to do? I can't even afford to lose sight of her. Can we just... make this fast?"

I chuckled but the bitterness in it is visible. "Strike two, tell me what to do next for the third time and I'll make you feel where you should place yourself." I spat every word like there was an acid that could kill him.

True enough, I saw the reaction that I wanted. The reaction that I have always been fond of seeing. Men... coiled in fear by a woman like me.

"I don't owe you any favor to disrespect me, Rolando. You will owe me a favor tonight. You may look so powerful out there, and I made you look like you were above me from the meeting we had with Don Alfonso and my parents but one more strike, and I'll strip you from your role."

"You don't have the power to do that," he tried to rebut but I only gave him an innocent smile.

"Don't I? You sure?"

Natigilan si Rolando and I saw how he sighed deeply. "My apologies... Hara."

"You are lucky that I have to be present in an event in this building so we can make this quick," I replied because I also prefer not to waste any more time. Ang dami ko pang gagawin! "What's your plan? And what help do you need from me."

Rolando gave another sigh before he replied. "Adrianna has access to one of our gadgets that allows her to be completely off the grid."

"That device?" I reconfirmed.

He nodded, "We've had Genesis punish the culprit who gave her the device but the fact that she has it, makes this chasing difficult for everyone."

"Our IT team can do the debugging of that device, unless..."

"It needs approval from the Hara assigned to our advanced technologies."

I sighed. "And since I got involved in this mess, you need me to connect with that Hara to get the approval?"

"I am willing to do anything just to track that woman! If you need a partnership of Joaquin as compensation, I am more than willing to give it." Rolando said agitatedly.

I sipped my liquor once again before replying. "How's my sister? Is she coping well?"

Rolando frowned at my sudden shift of topic. "She's still in a rage, confused, and scared."

"Tell her to meet us sooner. Her parents want to speak with her too so—"

"H-Hara! The approval..."

"— she needs to be in our mansion this weekend."

"Come on! That's not what I asked for from you! I can handle just fine—"

My patience snapped, I released my whip and tangled it to his neck by throwing it at him. When the edge of the whip locked on Rolando's neck... I pulled it with force and he fell flat on top of the table in front.

Naalarma ang mga guards ni Rolando sa ginawa ko at akmang tutulungan ang kanilang Lakan nang harangan sila ng mga guards na naka-assign sa'kin na galing sa Genesis.

May dinukot ako sa dala kong purse and flicked on Rolando who was coughing because of how tight the whip coiled in his neck. He saw what I threw at him and I stood up, preparing to leave.

"That's just the tip of the ice of your punishment. Interrupt me again, and it will be your neck with a slit."

Binigay ko ang purse sa babaeng guard na nasa tabi ko at nagsimula nang maglakad. Before I left the VIP room, I stopped and looked again at Rolando. "Use that to track Adrianna. Once you have her, let me know. I'll be the one to impose judgment on her. Torture her and you'll experience the same torture you plan on doing. I get to decide what to do with her. And... don't forget my message to my sister."

Ang nakakapagtaka, he didn't bring up about Gabgab, about their son. Should I assume that he doesn't know that he doesn't believe that he has a son? Hindi pa ba sinasabi ni Helena ang tungkol sa bata?

But it answered my question when I saw my sister in our mansion the next day. They are both hugging each other while Helena is murmuring her apologies.

"Why are you saying sorry, my dear? It is our fault that this incident happened. And we are sorry once that we failed to protect you... again. So hush, Helena. Don't cry, please?"

Helena is shaking her head. "No, I am really sorry for everything, Mother."

I sighed upon seeing Helena in this state. What she's feeling right now is so awful. It was beyond repair for someone who's experiencing triggers on her mental health. She has every right to be frustrated and to feel enraged. My fist clenched. Hindi man kami close ni Helena, she's still my sister. How dare they use her against us and fed false information about what happened to her?

"W-where's Gab? My son, Mom? Where is he?" Rinig nilang tanong ni Helena. She even roamed her eyes around and our eyes met.

I remained my face stoic and impassive. As much as I want to smile at least for a bit, I just can't.

"Let's talk first..." I saw Mom and Dad give me a warning sign. I sighed. "... this won't be long,"

I was sipping my wine while looking at the vast land that the Fontanilla owns. Lahat nang naabot ng aming paningin ay pag-aaari nina Dad and Mom. I felt Helena behind me as soon as she arrives at our patio.

"How are you coping?" I immediately asked, still not facing her.

"Honestly, I don't know." She shortly replied.

"Is he treating you well?" I asked— talking about Rolando.

"You can only imagine how amazing he still is," Helena replied and I felt a calm tone on it. I smiled very quickly then removed it before facing her.

Helena is now sitting on one of the chairs while still looking at the ground. Nasa lupa ba ang mukha ko? Well, I guess she's shy. A trained Assassin like her whose sole purpose is to kill me because of what they have fed her really knows how to be shy. That's... odd. Where's the strong Helena that I've seen?

"You are unusually, quiet," I commented while leaning on the patio's wall.

"I d-don't know what to say,"

"Unti-unti na bang napasok sa utak mo ang katotohanan?" I straightforwardly asked.

"Sort of,"

I rolled my eyes, she really has a blood of a Fontanilla... she will never apologize!

"Give it time, you were fed by false information. Believing in something that you shouldn't be." I advised.

"Are you hurt?" she asked which made me shocked for a while.

"I'm... fine," because that's true. She might be asking about the wounds that I received from our encounter. "I'm used to it,"

"I... k-know I've done something that was not so nice—"

"Cut it, Helena." Nagulat siya sa'kin nang putulin ko ang sasabihin niya. "Don't push yourself too hard, I can wait." Then, I gave her a half-smile.

Helena also gave me one but it's obvious that she's relieved since the redness on her face has disappeared.

"About Gabgab—"

"I k-know," ako naman ang natigilan dahil sa pagputol niya sa sasabihin ko tungkol sa anak niya. "It still hurts to see that he treats you more as his mother but I know for a fact that I am not mentally stable to be a mother. He's smart enough to realize that I abandoned him to Troy and had resented me so much."

I saw how her emotion engulfed her reaction, she was on the verge of crying. She's in pain. A mother's pain. And I can't help myself but be hurt as well.

"It would take time, I plan on recovering first. Sasama ako kay Rolando for this to be done."

As expected of him.

"Isa lang sana ang hihilingin ko while I'm still healing, little sis?"

Wow, maka-little Sis?

Hindi ko tinago sa kanya ang pag-ikot ng mata ko but I asked. "What is it?"

"C-can you help me make him feel that I love him so so much?" a pain gripped my heart upon hearing her tearful request. "I'll be back stronger than ever, I spoke to Troy already and I told him that I'm not going to take him away from him in terms of legal terms. I gave up my rights to my son so I know that I don't have the right to demand to take it back."

"How about Rolando? You might have given up yours but Rolando's not."

"Napag-usapan na rin namin iyon. He's furious, yes. But I'll try my best to reign him. I told him that we both needed to be ready." Helena explained.

I sighed inwardly because that was only my concern. Rolando's a pushy type of person so I anticipate that he'll raise hell just to get the custody of his biological son.

"Kailan ang alis mo? Did you tell this Mom and Dad? How about the company?" sunod sunod kong tanong pa rito.

I was curious when Helena smiled at me genuinely. "Now, I see why Dad also has treated you as his Princess."

I rolled my eyes and looked away. Medyo uminit rin ang pisngi ko dahil sa sinabi nitong babaeng 'to.

"I told Dad and Mom about it last night before coming here. Of course, they are against it."

"They should come along with you," I commented.

"They are actually, for Mom's safety as per Dad." I nodded because that was the right choice. While Adrianna's at large, stepmom's safety is not guaranteed either.

"And about the company, I'll let our Bunso handle it if he wants to. I am not in a state where I can handle it. I still have a lot of things to catch up and of course... I still need to focus on my healing. It's not going to be easy so I won't handle anything." Helena answered my question about her succession as the Heiress.

"I'll help Trav, focus on yourself and your own family," I advised. Ba't parang ako pa yung mas matanda sa'ming dalawa.

"Thank you, Selena."

I was startled by her sudden gratefulness. "P-para saan?"

"Your situation wasn't any easier, considering you weren't biologically related to Mom. Yet, you embraced her as your own and cared for her. You guided Travis as his older sister and supported Dad too. You took on the role that should have been mine – looking after the family. For that, thank you for being the strongest sister."

"No, I am not,"

"What?"

"I am not the strongest, Helena." I placed my wine glass on the table and sat in front of her. I held her hands and closed it with mine.

"You are the strongest person in our family, I should recognize that. Even when you were in the dark about being alive, you hung on. Despite the lies thrown your way, you didn't crumble. Instead, you channeled that negativity into a drive to keep living. Maybe the source of your motivation wasn't ideal, but the fact that it pushed you to survive speaks volumes. In my perspective, that makes you the strongest Fontanilla. Keep that in mind."

Helena cried her heart out. And witnessing her crying like this... 'di ko pala kaya. She's still my sister... the eldest who suffered more than anyone. I pulled her into a hug and she immediately hugged back.

"You're back now... Ate. We'll protect you this time,"

Pinipigilan ko ang sariling umiyak dahil sa mga pagkakataong ito she needs someone to lean on. She needs all the support that she didn't get before.

While caressing my sister's back, I saw Gabgab behind my Stepmom who's crying now on the shoulders of our father. Dad looked at me with awe and nodded. It's his way of saying his thanks. Of course, anything for them. I looked back at Gabgab, he was handling his toy and hiding behind stepmom but his expression... he looks sad while looking at Helena.

I smiled upon knowing that a son's love for his parents is still stronger than anything else. Gabgab will accept Helena soon. Tama ang kapatid niya, she needed her own time to heal before she tries to win her son's back. And I'll help as much as I can.

"H-Helena! W-Why are you crying? Are you hurt? Did she hurt you?"

I rolled my eyes at Rolando while Helena was chuckling upon hearing the concerned voice of Rolando who really went running towards us when he saw my sister crying.

"Really? I'll hurt her, Rolando? Iyon talaga agad ang inisip mo?" I asked while giving an incredulous look. Siraulong 'to! Panira ng moment!

"I'm fine, you are so silly! Why she would hurt me?"

"Ayusin mo sagot," pinanlakihan ko pa ng mata ang lalaking 'to.

"T-that's not what I meant. I am just worried," Rolando said while looking and checking Helena.

This lovesick fool.

Iniwan ko na sila when Dad came. Gustong pumunta rin ni Mommy but Gabgab's behind her. "Let me," untag ko kay Mommy.

Mommy held my hands and hugged me. "T-thank you for understanding your sister,"

I caressed her back kasi iiyak na naman 'to. "No worries, Mom. And huwag ka nang umiyak! She'll get better. Sige na, ako nang bahala kay Gabgab."

Gabgab asked me na buhatin siya when he opened wide his arms. "Of course, baby."

Nang buhatin ko ito ay napansin ko ang pagtingin tingin nito sa kanila. "Gusto mong pumunta ro'n?" I asked him kahit na alam ko na ang sagot. Tinago niya ang kanyang mukha sa aking leeg tapos ay yinakap ako ng mahigpit.

"I am hurt, but... she suffers more. Am I a bad kid? She left me, I am mad... still mad at her. B-but... why am I feeling hurt even more upon seeing her hurting the most?"

'Di na napigilan ng luha ko ang pagbagsak when he's saying it habang nakatago ang mukha nito sa aking leeg. I felt my shoulder wet as well. Damn, he's crying.

Gustuhin ko man siyang aluin but I don't have the right to say anything further. Ang kaya ko lang na gawin sa ngayon ay iparamdam sa kanya na hindi niya ito kasalanan.

"Sshh, you are not a bad kid, okay? Don't ever think that. You'll understand her in time, but for now, if you still don't want to open up to her, don't push yourself okay? She understands."

I only felt his nod then eventually, I felt him relax... fell asleep.

It was an hour after I tackled Gabgab to his bed when I decided to leave him there. Troy sent me a message that he'll be here anytime soon as he wants to see the kid. Though, I told him that Rolando is here just in case.

And my hunch didn't fail me.

"I AM HIS FATHER! And I'll take my son!" rinig kong atungal ni Rolando sa kabisera ng aming bahay. The atmosphere was so intense that even the guards are of Rolando are ready to take their guns from the side pockets.

Mom was not here, so she must be resting now but Father was here and he was trying to stop the two men from engaging a combat.

"I am his father now, I adopted him legally so you have no rights in doing so!" pag-alma naman ni Troy kay Rolando habang matalim rin ang tingin rito. His eyes are livid, any moment he'll burst in anger.

"I'll take this to the court! I'll make sure to get him back one way or another!"

"Ang ingay niyo naman, magiging yung bata sa ingay niyo." Irita kong wika sa kanila at sabay sabay pang napatingin sa'kin.

Nagulat ako nang mabilis na nakalapit sa 'kin si Troy. Halata sa mukha nito ang takot at pangamba. "Where's our child? I think we need to move somewhere else." Pabulong ang pagkakawika nito.

"He might plan on kidnapping my son, I need to make preparations." Untag pa ng binata tapos ay biglang kinuha ang cellphone nito at nagsimulang may tawagin.

Kaagad ko naman hinawakan ang kamay nito at giniya ang mukha nitong puno ng pangamba paharap sa 'kin. "I promised you, Rolando won't do that. Ako na ang kakausap sa kanya. No need for us to leave."

"N-No, we can't be certain and we can't be complacent. I know for sure that he'll do his best to get Gabgab away from us and I won't allow it." Troy replied while gritting his teeth.

Inalo ko muli ito dahil at pinakalma. "Relax, Troy. Again, I won't let that happen. Okay? I have Rolando's leash so he won't do that. I promise you. Can you trust me on this?"

"Selena, anak. Puntahan ko lang ang Mom mo. Can I trust you to handle this issue from here? No bloodbath." Wika ng aking ama na ngitian ko lang at tinanguan.

"Selena!" parehas na untag ng dalawang lalaking 'to. Bakas rin sa mukha ni Helena na nahihirapang kumbinsihin si Rolando na kumalma muna.

"Alam niyo kayong dalawa, ang sakit niyo sa ulo."

"Hindi mo kasi alam ang pakiramdam ng mawalan ng karapatan sa sarili mong dugo at anak, Selena. So, don't give that attitude and help me get back the custody of my son!" Rolando demanded at me.

"What did you say?" I asked him darkly because I didn't like the accusation and his outburst at me. And his disrespect almost made me want to kill him right where he was standing. Kung hindi lang siguro ako biglang hinawakan ni Troy sa braso ay paniguradong hawak ko na ang leeg ng lalaking 'to.

Rolando stopped from he wants to say because he finally realized that he went overboard. Kita ko sa kamao nito ang pagpipigil na magsabi muli ng malalalim na paratang laban sa akin.

"S-Selena, please." It was Helena who spoke. Not sure what it meant at first, mas lalo sanang iinit ang ulo ko dahil ang inakala ko sa sinabi nito ay gawin ko ang gusto ni Rolando. Mabuti na lamang at nakapag-usap na kaming dalawa kanina na hindi niya planong pilitin ang sarili muna sa bata.

I sighed deeply and tried to put my emotion back to normal. Upon ensuring that I am back to normal. I opened my eyes and looked sharply at Rolando.

"Alam kong hindi mo kasalanan na wala kang alam na mayroon kang anak sa kapatid ko dahil sa sitwasyong kinasungkutan ninyong dalawa but it didn't give you a right to demand something that was legally bound. Gabriel's adoption was legal and it went accordingly to the law so for you to demand for Troy to just give the custody back ng ganoong kadali, you must be delusional that I will let that happen."

"Selena, don't test me." Rolando's bravery is really impressive.

Hindi ko napigilan na ipakita ang ngisi ko sa kanya. "Test you? Your existence itself was least of my concern so why would I test you?"

"I am his biological father!" he tried in insisting.

"We are aware, asshole! Now, do it lawfully. If you really want to get Gabgab, fight for it! Troy fought for his welfare, and all the sacrifices that he needed to take to ensure that he gives what was best for him show how really loves his son. Anong kasalanan ni Troy sa pagiging clueless mo na may anak ka for you to demand the custody ng gano'n gano'n lang?"

"You really want this way?" Rolando asked while hissing.

"Troy," tawag ko kay Troy na nasa tabi ko lang. Ayokong ako ang mag-decide sa gagawin ng dalawang 'to.

"I'll fight for my son if you really want to take this to the court, then so be it," Troy announced.

Rolando's mood became more sour. "I'll make sure to win in any way necessary,"

I went near Rolando, pinigilan pa ako ni Troy but I insisted. Gusto kong si Rolando lang ang makakarinig nito.

I leaned on his ear and said darkly, "As your punishment for disrespecting me, anything related to Gabriel, I'll be stripping your power as Lakan to use Genesis' resources. Asshole."

X A V I E R J O H N F O R D