Nicole's mind is a mess, she took a taxi to go to her parent's house. She doesn't know how and where to start to make all the things that happened in the hotel clearly. She's also a victim, but no one believes it. She herself can't explain how she got into Steven's room. Particularly, the thing that happened between them.
Her heart wants to explode now because of the stirred emotions. She's the biggest loser, actually, because she lost her virginity that way. To make matters worse, the person who took her first was not her husband nor boyfriend.
She buried her face in her palms. She's thankful because the driver was kind. He even lent her a jacket when he noticed she was getting cold.
"We're already here, Ma'am." The driver said to his passenger when they arrived at the address she gave.
"Thank you." She handed the money to the driver and did not make the change.
After getting out of the car, she entered the gate of their house with heavy steps. She thought she would be able to rest her mind for a moment after entering. But another damage to her life was waiting for her.
"You're so shameless!" Rox angrily rushed at her daughter and pulled her hair which was already messy.
"It hurts, Mom! What's my fault…"
"You still have to ask?!" Rox slapped her hard on the cheek.
Her resentful eyes met her mother's angry eyes. She already has a hunch as to why she is mad. Instead of taking pity on her appearance, she only became angrier.
"How could you do that to Danica? Merciful heaven! She did nothing bad to you for you to ruin her dream and steal the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with!" Rox's voice trembled with anger.
Nicole's mouth was closed as she stepped back to distance herself from her mother. "Am I really your daughter, Mom?"
Rox could not move and she stared at her. "Why would you suddenly ask me that? Are you really insane now? And who do you think is your mother beside me?"
"You always judge me like that. You wouldn't even listen to my side before you hurt me and give me your judgment." Resentful, she talked back.
"Don't change the subject!" Rox scolded her. Until now, the pain that Danica feels is still playing in her mind.
Danica called her earlier and she was crying. When she told her everything, she felt sorry for her and was mad at her daughter.
"I don't know either," she replied with her head bowed to her mother.
"You're a useless daughter and friend! Get out of here and don't you dare come back until the relationship you broke is fixed!"
Nervously, Nicole followed her mother into her room. She couldn’t stop her as she carelessly removed her clothes from the cabinet and threw them on the floor. She could do nothing but cry and put her clothes in the small suitcase.
"Remember, you can't set foot in this household again until your broken friendship with Danica is repaired!" Rox yelled at her.
Nicole quickly changed clothes in front of her mother and left the room without any words. Her father who's standing in the middle of the living room was silent, but disappointment was also on his face. Tears welled up in her eyes as she left their home. She doesn't know where to go now.
"Where are you going now, Ma'am?" the man who was driving the taxi asked politely.
Nicole was surprised when the car stopped in front of her. She recognized it, thus she was a little relieved.
"Come in, young lady." Smiling, the gentleman invited her. Earlier, when he picked her up from the hotel, he knew she needed help. She didn't speak, but he can feel that she's tormented.
"Thank you!" she no longer bothered to hide her true feelings. When she got into the car, she started to cry.
Kanor understands what the lady is going through. He just drove the car slowly and waited for her to open up to make herself feel better.
Nicole spent a few more minutes before continuing to calm herself. Somehow, God has not abandoned her. There are still people who care about her even though they don't know her.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked the man who is probably older. She estimated that he was the age of his father—forty-eight.
"I see my daughter in you." Kanor replied sadly to the lady. He introduced himself and so did she.
"Where is she now?" he asked the gentleman curiously. She was curious because he looked sad when he mentioned his daughter.
“She’s gone,” a tear ran down his face as he remembered his daughter who died two years ago.
"I'm sorry." She suddenly felt sorry for him. She felt that he loves his daughter very much and suddenly she felt jealous. Her father also loved her, but she did not feel his support for her.
"I neglected my daughter and she made friends with some addicts. Because of my negligence, she became addicted to drugs and became a victim of gang rape."
Nicole burst into tears again out of pity for the man. She felt his remorse and he's blaming himself for losing his daughter too early.
"Do you have a place to stay?" Kanor changed the subject.
Nicole shook her head sadly. She didn't want to stay with someone who knows her and Danica because surely, like her mother, she would be judged by them as well. She did not want to add to the heaviness in her chest.
"You can stay at my place, don't worry because I have a maid in the house."
The man seemed trustworthy, so Nicole goes with him. He took her to Quezon City and she was surprised to see his house. She did not think that the man was an owner of taxis. It was just his hobby to travel sometimes with one of the taxis he owns. She's lucky and she was his passenger that day. She understood his motive of wanting to help. He did not want her to be like his daughter who had passed away.
"From now on, consider my house your home. I have another child, but he is staying in another country."
"I'm really grateful to you! You're a great help to me!" Because of so much joy, she hugged him.
Kanor considered Nicole his own daughter and his maid welcomed her well. He considered everyone in the house a part of his family.
"Have you found her yet?" Danica asked her people a few hours later. She asked them to find Nicole, she didn't expect her parents to banish her because of what she had complained to them. She cannot be lost because she may get pregnant.
"She's not in the places you told us to go to, Ma'am." The man replied to Danica from the other line.
"So annoying!" She threw the cell phone on the bed because they have no good news. She also asked them to contact Nicole's cell phone, but it could not be reached.
At the Scouts' mansion, the siblings get into a fight because Steven is stubborn and refused to fix his relationship with Danica.
"What kind of fuss is this?" Madame Asuncion reprimanded her two grandchildren when she saw them arguing.
"Grandma!" Rita approached her grandmother for help. It's been two days since the incident at the hotel. And until now, Danica has not gone out of her house and her brother is not even taking any action.
Steven sighed because his sister is being annoying. It is not in his vocabulary to appease a woman just because of a misunderstanding. He didn't have time to explain what really happened. It's enough that they knew he was drugged so something happened that night. Steven quickly dismissed it in his mind when he recalled the woman who he had slept with.
"Grandma, please talk to brother. You know how much important Danica is to me. She's my savior and I can't bear to see her hurt and my brother is the reason." Rita pleads with her grandmother.
The madam sighed as she shook her head. She already knew what had happened at the hotel. But she did not feel sorry for Danica. To this day, she still doubts her identity, thus she did not agree with Rita's wish to marry her brother off to that woman.
"Call your friend, tell her I need to talk to her." Asuncion orders her granddaughter.
Rita frowned at her grandmother's reply. Even as an elderly, she still possesses a cold heart. Fortunately, she did not inherit it.
"Brother?!" She called her brother angrily when he turned away.
"I have a meeting to attend." Steven said emotionlessly and kissed his grandmother's forehead before continuing to leave.
Rita turned around to follow her grandmother's order reluctantly.
"Have you eaten?" Rita asked her friend when she answered her call.
"I'm doing fine."
She sighed when she heard Danica's lifeless voice. "I'll tell the driver to pick you up. Grandma wants to have lunch with you."
Danica frowned when she heard the old woman's name. She knew that Rita just worded her grandmother's order to talk to her better.
"But if you're still not ready to face other people…"
"Maybe I'd better deal with it all so I don't feel sad anymore."
Rita smiled even though the person she was talking to couldn't see it. She was happy because somehow Danica can move on and follow her advice. She understood her if she thought that woman might get pregnant and use that to own her brother.
When Danica arrived at the mansion, she politely greeted the old woman. And she was right in her suspicion when she ordered her to follow her to her office which was also inside their house.
Rita gave Danica an apologetic smile when their eyes met.
Danica quickly followed the madam for fear that she would get angry if she moves slow.
"I'm not going to beat around the bush. I heard about what happened at the hotel and I want to know what your plans are now?"
Danica didn't budge at the old woman's intimidating stare. She answered her confidently and did not take her eyes off her eyes. She knew that she wanted to read her true thoughts.
"The agreement goes on. Not a friend of mine can break my love for Steven."
"What if your friend gets pregnant earlier than you? As far as I know, my grandson used no protection when he touched that woman."
"You probably won't let your grandson go to a deceitful woman, will you?" she replied challengingly.
"Huh! You're smart and you know how to compete with the opponent. I won't take back the first agreement. But don't expect me to let my great-grandchild grow up to be a bastard with that woman if it ever happens."
The truth is that Asuncion has already started to find out the background of the woman. Their clan is small. Little did everyone know that the blood of their men was strange. They are not sexually active if they are not compatible with their partner. That is why she thought that Danica should get pregnant before she could allow her to belong to her family. She needs to make sure there is an heir for the next generation of their clan.
"I understand." Danica grinned her teeth.
"Good! You can leave."
Danica bowed her head first before turning her back to the old woman. She is so frustrated on the inside because all her plans are put in jeopardy.
More than a month passed and Nicole's life has become quiet. She became the secretary of Kanor who she now calls Father. He also stopped driving the taxi because he had already accomplished his mission, to save someone whose life is almost ruined. She was that person, and he also considered her as his daughter. She kept nothing secret from him except who she slept with."You look pale, haven't you had breakfast?" Kanor asked Nicole worriedly.Nicole was unable to answer the gentleman because she felt cold in her hands and feet. She was sweating even though it wasn't hot."I should bring you to the hospital to have your condition checked."When Kanor approached her, Nicole suddenly felt nauseous. She didn't like the perfume he used even though she's been smelling it even before. Covering her own mouth, she ran into the bathroom.Kanor watched her with a worried expression. He was sure why she was acting like that. His wife was like that when she became pregnant with their first child.
"I KNOW you're looking for my friend." Danica's voice sounded both calm and angry as she talked to Steven.Steven stared at his girlfriend intently. Somehow, he felt a conscience for her as her boyfriend. She did nothing but love him and his sister. He didn't have time for her too, and now she even finds out that he is looking for that woman.He felt guilty, she stayed by his side despite what happened between him and her best friend. She was right, he was searching for Nicole. He just wanted to make sure she didn’t get pregnant. If she gets pregnant, he will not be able to allow the child to be a bastard and grow up without knowing him as the father."I know you didn't like what happened between you two because she confessed to me." Danica referred to Nicole."Where is she?" Steven asked quickly. According to his assistant, the woman has not entered the company since the day something happened between them."She didn't want to let me know and her parents had kicked her out of their h
A bitter smile flashed on Nicole's lips upon hearing the conversation between her parents and Danica. She, then, laughed out loud, which surprised Soledad. She thought she was losing her mind."Are you like that with your own child?" Nicole asked Soledad sarcastically."I don't have children so don't ask me." Soledad replied, annoyed.Nicole laughed at her again. "That's why you and Danica got along. Maybe you also stole someone else's child so you lost your job?" she continued to tease the lady.Nicole feels anger and dissapointment to her parents. They did not even worry about her, or even for their future grandchild. They do not value her feelings. They pity Danica more than they worry about her and didn’t think she might need them as well in her current situation.Instead of getting angry, Soledad smiled teasingly at the pitiful woman. She was offended by what she said, but she would not fight back. Danica strictly instructed not to hurt her because it might cause harm to the baby
"WHAT the hell? You're really old and you've become forgetful!" Gardo scorned. "Why don't you just shut your mouth and help me find it?" Soledad glared at him and looked around for the cell phone. She can't remember where she placed it because she was panicking earlier. "Look for it later, use this!" Gardo handed his cellphone to his companion. Nicole kept her eyes closed, but she knew that Soledad was taking a video of her. "Please, take good care of my children. I know I won't last longer…" Soledad quickly cut off the video recording before Nicole could say everything she wanted. "But I hope you let my three children live." Nicole continued to plead with the two while crying. But she got no response from them. "I'll take the child, you don't know how to drive anyway. Find your phone and call Ma'am Danica to let her know that the child is not well." Gardo hurriedly took the baby from Soledad. After Gardo left, Soledad left Nicole without a care. She felt a tingling sensation in
Danica hurriedly got changed and called Gardo again when she remembered something."The babies, how are they?" Danica asked as she prepared to leave."The baby is in the incubator, Ma'am. The other one is being taken care of by Soledad. Both of them are girls." Gardo replied to her."Why didn't she answer my call last night?" Danica was still intrigued by this."Oh, Ma'am. Please be patient, Soledad is already old, that's why she is prone to nervousness. She was panicking last night and can't remember where her phone was placed. Plus, she chased after Nicole, so she didn't have time to think of calling you."Danica believed Gardo's story. Soledad allegedly became confident that Nicole could no longer stand because she was so weak after giving birth. She used the bathroom and after that, Nicole was gone. Danica smirked, she admired Nicole's courage. She was able to fight until her last breath."After you bury her, clean the house there. I'm giving you that house. Also, expect someone w
"They're heartless!" Kanor gritted his teeth when he heard the news from Tony. He instructed him to find out what Nicole's real family is doing."All they know is that it was Nicole's ash that they sprinkled into the sea. A powerful person must be behind all this, Sir. I saw Mr. Steven Scout and his grandmother.""If that's it, it's just right to hide Nicole from them. Whoever is the real culprit in what happened to her, only she can tell." Kanor's feelings were replaced by sadness when his attention returned to the sleeping young lady. Her skin color has returned to normal. But she hasn't woken up since they found her."I heard the woman with Mr. Scout is called Danica." Tony continued the story.Kanor's eyes narrowed and his fists clenched when he heard the name of the person Nicole last mentioned. "Don't leave my children in Danica's hands.""Children?" Kanor said softly, remembering the last word she said when they were talking on the cell phone."Maybe the child that Danica was c
"I'M so happy for you!" Rita ran to Danica and hugged her tightly."Thank you!" Danica tearfully hugged her back. Then, she looked at the old woman and thanked her."From now on, you can call me, Grandma." Although she was not smiling, Danica could feel her sincerity."Yehey! Will I have a baby brother when you and Mommy are married, Daddy?" Daniela asked innocently.Danica and Rita slowly lose their smile when they heard what the child had asked Steven.Daniela confusedly looks at her father when he cleared his throat. When her father acts like that, she knew that he didn't want to answer her question. She exchanged gazes with her mother, she was glaring at her. She quickly squeezed herself in her father's arms and hid her face there. She gets scared when her mother gets mad at her. She hurts her and tells her she will give her to someone else if she wasn't obedient. She couldn't complain to her great-grandmother and father because she did not want them to fight with her mother.Eve
"WHERE did you go, honey?" Nicole asked her son worriedly while hugging him tight."I'm sorry for making you worry so much, Mommy." He hugged his mother back. He had always felt that his mother was afraid of something and did not want to lose sight of him, especially when they were in a public place."Promise me you won't do it again. You're not familiar with this place, so you should ask Mommy first if you're going or doing anything."His mother's tone and face were so serious, thus he did not say anything. He raised his right hand and nodded as a promise to her. But his other hand was hidden behind his back and was doing a cross finger. He smiled at his mother to erase any doubt in her mind. Even when he was young, he could quickly remember everything in a place. He is not the type of child who will cry and be scared when lost in a crowded place.Smiling, she led his son back to the baggage area and their bag was already there. When they left the airport, Kanor was there waiting for