Last two chapters then Wakas.
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I buzzed the doorbell of the condo unit in front of me. The door opened and behind it is a woman in his early fifties.

"Ano ang sadya mo, hija?"

"I'm Lavinia, Armando Amherst's granddaughter. I hope Lolo already informed you about what I want?"

Tumango ang ginang bago nilakihan ang bukas ng pinto para ako ay makapasok.

Inilibot ko ang tingin sa kabuuan ng unit. Mabuti at binigyan ni Lolo ng maayos na tutuluyan ang bata.

Iginiya niya ako patungo sa isang silid. Siguro ay naroon si Cerise. "Ako si Lumeng. Mabuti naman sinabi na sa iyo ni Armando ang totoo. Ako ang naaawa sa bata tuwing naghahanap siya ng mga magulang." I don't know that Lolo is that heartless. Hinayaan niya na lumaki ang bata na walang magulang para lang sa kagustuhan niya.

"Hindi ko pa malalaman na may itinatagong bata si Lolo kung hindi pa humingi ng tulong sa akin ang mga magulang ni Cerise."

Lumeng stopped walking as she turned to me. "Ano ang ibig mong sabihin? Hindi ikaw ang ina ni Cerise?"

Napatigil din ako at nagtatakang lumingon sa kanya. I frowned. Paanong magiging ako? "No. Her mother is Cerys Fuentabella."

"Cerise is not an Amherst?" Sambit nito sa mababa at puno ng pagtatakang boses.

"She's not an Amherst. What are you talking about?"

Mataman ako nitong tinitigan bago napailing sa sarili. "Wala. Halika, naroon siya sa kanyang silid."

Tumango ako at sinundan siya. Isinawalang bahala ko na ang kaninang sinasabi niya.

We entered Cerise's room and saw a little girl in her yellow ruffled dress. She's seating on the chair in front of a study table while reading her book.

Agad na nakuha ang atensyon ng bata dahil sa pagpasok namin.

"Nay Lumeng!" Lumeng walked towards the kid and started caressing her hair.

Cerise smiled when our eyes met. Agad ko namang sinuklian ang kanyang ngiti.

"Nay, is she my mother?" Inosenteng tanong nito kay Nanay Lumeng. I saw how her eyes sparkled when she asked that. I smiled but it didn't reached my eyes when I saw hope in Cerise's eyes while waiting for Nanay Lumeng's answer.

"H-hindi, apo." Bumagsak ang balikat ng bata dahil sa narinig. She pouted her lips as she smiled widely but I know behind that smile there's sadness.

"Who is she po?"

Lumapit ako sa kanila at lumuhod upang magpantay kami ni Cerise. "I'm Lavinia, you can call me Tita Vinia. Do you wanna meet your parents?"

Her eyes suddenly lit up. "Yes! I want to meet them. Ang tagal ko na pong hinihintay na makilala sila. Naalala ko po noong family day sa school si Nanay Lumeng ang kasama ko. Gusto ko po ng mommy at daddy! Parang sa mga classmates ko po."

"Alright, we'll go to your parents."

"Talaga po?"

Her eyes widened when she saw me nodded my head. She bit her lower lip as her eyes started tearing up. Tinakpan nito ang mukha gamit ang dalawang kamay at hindi na napigilang humagulgol.

I pulled her as I hugged her. I hushed her and started caressing her back.

Hindi ko maiwasang hindi magalit kay Lolo. Look what he have done? How could he? Ilang taon ang ninakaw niya hindi lang kay Cerise, pati na rin sa mga magulang nito. Para lang sa ano? Para malaman kung sino ang Universe ng Cosmos? Ano bang mapapala ni Lolo kung malaman niya kung sino iyon? Wala naman.

I ended the call and started the engine of my car after calling Cerys. I told her to meet me at my office with Lance. Nilinggon ko si Cerise sa aking tabi at ngumiti naman ito sa akin. Kanina ay ilang minuto itong umiiyak bago tuluyang tumigil.

I maneuvered the car and asked. "Do you want something to eat?"

She slowly shook kar head. "Wala po. I want to meet my parents, iyon lang po ang gusto ko ngayon."

I smile slowly formed in my lips. "We'll meet your parents."

"Nanay Lumeng's always telling me that my parents are always busy. That's why they're not with me. Tita Vinia, do you think they love me?" Sandali akong napatingin sa inosenteng mga mata nito.

"Of course, they love you. They are your parents."

"Then are they that busy? Para hindi hindi magpakita sa akin ng ilang taon?" I heard her sighed. "I grew up without them. I grew up with only Nanay Lumeng beside me. Kahit minsan naiisip ko na hindi nila 'ko mahal, I'm still longing for them."

I felt my chest tightened. Sa murang edad nito ay nagawa niyang pasikipin ang aking dibdib sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga salita.

I genuinely smiled at her. "They love you. Someday you'll understand why you grew up without them." I want to tell Cerise the truth. That my Lolo hide her to blackmail her mother. Ngunit ayokong pangunahan ang mga magulang niya. Its their decision if they'll tell the truth or what.

We entered my family's company while I'm holding Cerise's hand. Binabati ako ng mga empleyadong nakakasalubong namin at tipid na ngiti naman ang isinusukli ko sa mga ito.

We rode the elevator and I immediately saw my secretary on her table when we reached the floor where my office is located. She immediately rose up when I met her. I saw Sheena gazed at the little kid beside me as she gave Cerise a smile before turning to me.

"Good morning, Ma'am. Ms. Fuentabella and Mr. Puego's already waiting inside your office." Napataas ang aking kilay matapos marinig ang sinabi niya. That fast?

I nodded at her and walked towards the entrance of my office while still holding Cerise's hand.

The door opened and I saw Cerys and Lance seating at the couch on the lounge area of my office.

I immediately met Cerys' eyes. Agad namang bumaba ang tingin niya kay Cerise na nasa aking gilid. Cerys rose up and gasped. Nanggigilid na ang mga luha nito habang titig na titig kay Cerise. Lance held Cerys' back like he's supporting her while staring at Cerise.

Binalingan ko si Cerise na hindi ko namalayan na nasa akin na ang atensyon. She's looking at me with her eyes full of confusions. Hinarap ko siya at lumuhod sa harap niya upang magkapantay kami.

"You said you want to meet your parents?"

Cerise repeatedly nodded her head and a smile slowly formed in my lips.

I rose up and walked near Cerys and Lance with Cerise. "Cerise, meet your parents."

I saw Lance's bloodshot eyes as I heard Cerys sobbed.

Hinarap ni Cerys ang anak at hindi na nito napigilan ang sarili na hindi yakapin si Cerise. Mula sa kinatatayuan ay narinig ko ang paghikbi ni Cerise. Dinaluhan na rin ni Lance ang mag-ina.

I felt my chest tightened while looking at them. Mapait akong napangiti bago nagdesisyon na hayaan na muna silang tatlo.

I walked towards the other side of my office near my table and sat down on my swivel chair as I scan the documents in my table.

I keep on signing documents while waiting for the three.

Hindi ko na namalayan ang mabilis na paglipas ng oras. Nagangat ako ng tingin nang tumapat sa akin si Cerys.

I saw Lance standing beside her while carrying Cerise who's now asleep, I think, and sobbing.

"Thank you and I'm sorry for what I did." It was Lance. Bahagya pang napakunot ang aking noo dahil sa kanyang sinabi ngunit sa huli ay nakuha ko kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"No need to say sorry, just take care of your daughter," I muttered.

"I'll surely will." Lance nodded as he smiled. "Salamat." Paguulit nito. "Kung hindi dahil sa'yo, hindi ko makikita ang anak ko."

"Si Lolo ang naglayo sa inyo ng anak niyo, dapat lang na ako ang magbalik sa kanya."

"We'll go ahead, Cerise's already asleep because of crying. I'm sure she wants to talk to you." Lance caressed Cerise's back while Cerys' still standing beside him.

I nodded and heard Cerys talking to Lance, saying that she'll talk to me, kaya naman pinapauna na niya ang dalawa.

Cerys turned to me after Lance left with his daughter. Bakas pa rin sa mukha nito ang pamumula ng ilong at pisngi dahil sa pagiyak.

"I don't know how to thank you for bringing my daughter back." Cerys started.

"Like what I've told Lance, just take care of your daughter," I muttered as I stopped signing documents.

Cerys nodded as she smiled and sighed. "I'm sorry for all the things that I did to ruin your relationship with Creed."

My brow arched as I smirked. "You should be, you know I doubted Creed because of you." Pabirong sambit ko na mukhang sineryoso ni Cerys. Though it's true but I don't have hidden grudges on her.

"I-I'm sorry, I was desperate to get Creed's attention." Puno ng sinseridad na sambit niya.

I slowly shook my head. "You shouldn't be sorry for wanting something. Be sorry for all the wrong things that you did to get what you want," I smiled and continued. "Just forget about it. I already forgave you before you apologized." Its been years. Wala naman akong mapapala kung patuloy kong kamumuhian si Cerys.

"Creed and your daughter is very lucky to have you." A smile formed in Cerys' lips. Sinuklian ko iyon ng isang ngiti ngunit alam ko na hindi iyon umabot sa aking mga mata.

"You know you're lucky because your daughter is alive. Even though she isn't with you for years, you have a chance to be with her." Wala sa sariling nasabi ko iyon.

Cerys frowned. "Why, how about your daughter? I mean, may nangyari ba?"

"She's dead the moment I gave birth."

I saw Cerys was taken aback after hearing my words. Her eyes slowly widened as it glistened with pain. "I'm sorry, h-hindi ko alam."

I gave her a smile and she bit her lower lip. "Ilang taon na ang lumipas pero pakiramdam ko ay kahapon lang nangyari ang lahat." I pointed my chest using my forefinger. "Nandito pa rin 'yong sakit." I don't know why I'm having this kind of talk with Cerys. Para bang kusa na lamang na lumabas ang mga salitang iyon.

The intercom buzzed and I my secretary's voice. "Ma'am, Mirae Lozano of Lozano Empire is outside. She doesn't have an appointment with you but she have something important to say as per her. Papapasukin ko ba or I'll schedule her an appointment?"

Bahagya akong natigilan sa sinabi ni Shane. "I'm still talking to Cerys. Let her in after our talk." I spoke in the intercom.

"A-aalis na rin ako. Just let Mirae in."

Napabaling ako kay Cerys, matapos ay napatango. "Alright, let her in."

"Right away, Ma'am."

"I'll go ahead." Paalam ni Cerys matapos ko siyang balingan.

"Alright, always take care of Cerise. And can I visit her sometimes?"

A smile formed in her lips as she nodded. "Sure. I'll go ahead."

Tumalikod na ito sa akin at nagsimulang maglakad paalis ngunit agad din itong huminto at lumingon sa akin. "Everything will be alright," Cerys muttered.

I nodded. "Of course."

Tuluyan ng umalis si Cerys at ilang sandali lang ay muling bumukas ang pinto ng aking opisina at bumungad sa akin ang aking kapatid.

Wearing a midnight blue Gucci jumpsuit, Mirae sashayed towards my table while holding a brown and white envelope in her hand.

"Hey, Sistah!" Bati niya sa akin.

"Why are you here? Miss me?" I raised my brow up on her as I smirked.

Agad namang napangiwi si Mirae bago umirap sa akin. "I have news for you. A good and a bad. Anong gusto mong unahin ko?" She impatiently asked as she raised her brow up on me. What news is she talking about?

"Alright, tell me the bad news first."

"Good choice. I went to the hospital where you gave birth of your daughter and look what I've found."

I frowned when she handed me the brown envelope she's holding. Nagtatakang napatingin ako roon bago tuluyang iyong kinuha. "What's this?"

She raised her brow up on me. "Just open it."

I rolled my eyes before I turned to the brown envelope and started opening it.

Maraming papel ang nasa loob noon at mayroon ding mga litrato. I picked up the pictures and based from it, I can tell that it's from a CCTV footage inside the hospital.

Inisa-isa ko ang mga litrato at sa bawat paglipat ko ay lalong napapakunot ang aking noo.

Namukhaan ko ang dalawang taong laman ng mga litratong iyon. The first picture is my Lolo talking with the familiar woman in his surgical scrub.

"That woman is your obstetrician gynecologist." Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Mirae at napagtanto kung bakit pamilyar ang doktora na iyon.

Marami pa ang naroon ngunit katulad lang ng naunang litrato, si Lolo at ang doktorang iyon lang ang laman noon ngunit kuha iyon sa magkakaibang araw. Ang iba naman ay hindi ko na tinuunan ng pansin.

Itinabi ko ang mga litrato at muling bumaling sa envelope na ibinigay ni Mirae.

Inilabas ko ang mga papel na naroon at naiwan ang isang itim na flash drive.

Kinuha ko iyon at ipinakita kay Mirae. "What's this?"

"The CCTV footages where those pictures came from." Prenteng sambit nito. She even sat down on the chair in front of my table.

Inisa-isa ko ang mga papel at habang ginagawa ko iyon ay may nabubuo ng konklusyon sa aking isip ngunit ayaw kong pangunahan si Mirae. "Anong ibig sabihin ng mga ito?"

"That means Armando Amherst have something to do on what happened to your daughter."

I shifted on my seat as I looked at her. I felt my eyes slowly tearing up. "Did he planned it all? Na mamatay ang anak ko?" My lips trembled as I speak. "And why did you suddenly go to that hospital? Bakit bigla mong naisip na pumunta roon at kunin ang mga ito?" Ibinagsak ko ang mga papel sa kanyang harapan.

She raised her brow up on me. "Because of this." She handed me the other envelope that she's holding. Agad ko iyong kinuha at binuksan.

Immediately saw my name with a familiar name beside it. Agad dumako ang aking tingin sa bandang baba ng papel. It says ninety nine point nine percent match.

I can feel my whole body trembling as I turned to Mirae and frowned. "What the hell is this?"

"Maybe that's a DNA test." She sarcastically muttered while raising her brow up on me.

My eyes narrowed while nonchalantly looking at her. "I'm not stupid, of course I know."

"You know naman pala, bakit tinatanong mo pa?" She answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Fuck it, Mirae." I softly muttered as I rolled my eyes on her. "What's this?" I asked for the second time even though I already know the answer. It's just that, how?

"A DNA test saying that you're ninety nine point nine percent match with Crizzette." She raised her brow up on me as she continues. "I'll elaborate for you to understand it, Crizzy is your daughter."

I want to tell her that I'm not stupid so I understand. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out of it. I felt my tears rolling down my cheeks as my whole body trembled.

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