“What did you say?” She raised her voice when she couldn’t believe what the solicitor had read from her father’s last will and testament. There’s no way, it was legal what her father asked of her, to claim her rightful inheritance. She was the only daughter for god sake!
“You heard me, hija. It was written on the last will, here, take a look.”
“But that was ridiculous! How could I find a man at this rate?” She yelled, while completely losing her calm even if Paloma was there when the solicitor informed her that she could only touch her inheritance once she has a child before her age exceeded the dates in a calendar. Two months ago, she just turned thirty, which means that she only has ten months left to comply with her father’s wishes! But no matter how she thinks about it, it was totally absurd and crazy!
Last week, they laid her father’s body into his final resting place. Gregory Reyes was still young at sixty-five but there was a complication in his heart that caused his death.
Her father doted on her so she found it impossible that the old man would force her to do something not to her liking – unless someone bullied him! In fact, he allowed her to do everything she wishes, and not even once that he questioned her choice of avoiding men or falling in love. Her eyes were shooting daggers at her stepmother who was sitting across.
Daniella visually remembered how her Aunt Erlinda has lost her mind when the man she loved betrayed her and she committed suicide because of that. Besides, she couldn’t forget how her mother became wild and violent towards her when Gregory couldn’t reciprocate her love.
Since high school, Daniella promised herself that she would never fall in love, or let any man become too close to her. Daniella believed that men were capable of tricking any woman and she refused to become a victim of love.
To hell with her father’s money! She could be fine without her inheritance, but there was something, or rather someone, whom she wouldn’t want to have it all. Her stepmother, Paloma, was coyly sitting in a chair opposite to hers, listening to her outburst. The bitch must be happy that in ten months, she would have everything that belonged to her family. Over her dead body! She couldn’t allow Paloma to win… never!
Paloma smirked when Daniella couldn’t remain seated because of her temper. She had lived with the girl for twenty years and yet, she still couldn’t consider her a mother. When Daniella glared at her, Paloma glared back, and their seething eyes went to an all-out of war. She tried her best to win Daniella’s heart, but Gregory’s daughter was too stubborn to accept her, so, Paloma had no choice but to fight. In Gregory’s eyes, they were just equal, but Daniella believed differently.
“So, how many months do you have left?” Paloma teased Daniella as soon as the solicitor was gone.
“Why do you care? Ah, you must be excited to get everything! But…I won’t let you.” She said and exited gracefully from her father’s library where the will was read.
Paloma followed her and tried to catch up with the little monster. “Common Ella, when you look like that, who would be interested in you?” She eyed the woman from head to toe, insulted her appearance, and she witnessed how Daniella gritted her teeth and clenched her fist.
How dare she look down on her! Yes, she favored men’s clothing over women’s but inside, she was still a hundred percent woman, and she would know how to seduce a man…definitely. “Want to bet?”
“Sure. Winner takes all,” Paloma answered confidently.
Daniella agreed to Paloma’s terms, but when she was inside the safety of her room, she started to worry. What if she would fail? She paced back and forth to look for answers on how she could win this war against her evil stepmother and every second counted!
But she was hot-blooded and determined to win…by any means possible! Her father had trained her not to back down from any challenges in life and he was wise to instill that into her brain.
The will stated that she must present an heir before she turned thirty-one years old and the solicitor didn’t mention her getting married. Surely, she could think of a way how to get herself with a child, right?
Daniella retrieved her notepad and pen and started to write on qualities that she wanted in a man. First of all, he must be educated and extremely attractive as she wouldn’t want her child to look ugly.
After an hour, her list was complete. But she noticed that the list contained more physical attributes rather than qualities or attitudes. Overall, she wanted someone who’s a knockout and someone who’s good in bed as she was willing to do it just once. The man need not be rich. He only has to look good with a body to die for. She laughed as she imagined facing her ideal man and shivered at the thought that she would be lost by staring into his eyes.
She could try searching online, but there were a lot of scammers in online dating and she could just be wasting her time. Her last option was to venture into the wide world in order to find him. But where would she go?
She listed down all the places in Cebu that were packed with tourists, and the first on her list was Bantayan Island. She has read a lot of good reviews about the island and she wanted to see it for herself.
She lived in the town of Oslob, and lately, their town has become famous because of the whale sharks or butanding and she estimated that her distance to the famous island was at least a 10-hour drive on a private car. Then another island made it on her list – Malapascua Island. Well, Daniella preferred the islands as they have a romantic setting most of the time. Actually, there’s still another island and it’s just nearby. Sumilon Island could be accessed by boat from Oslob but she could put it on the last of her list.
She was not fond of going out, and she seldom went on vacation as she was too focused on her work. Being the one who managed her father’s estate, it was also tiring and time-consuming.
Daniella wanted to revisit a childhood memory when her parents took her to Disneyland and Universal Studios. She included the overseas tourist destination on her list. Or maybe she would enjoy it first before she’s going to ruin herself. At that moment, she decided to book her flight bound for Hong Kong. She had to do it without the help of her secretary as she didn’t want anyone, especially her wicked stepmother to find out where she was going.
EDITING THE CONTENTS...MODIFICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING FEBRUARY 2023 AS EDITORS ARE ON VACATION.
After their stint in Bohol where they rescued Alexander’s girlfriend from her sexually crazed uncle, Samuel convinced Marcus to try working as a detective for the agency owned by one of his friends, Ortega. Although Marcus was a good-for-nothing bastard in his younger years, he was a licensed criminologist who topped the board exam back then. When he came to live with Samuel in Cebu, Marcus decided to keep himself in shape, to look formidable enough, and to learn self-defense. He was hungry for revenge, and Samuel helped him to train. It wasn’t known by everyone but Samuel has worked with covert operations before. “So, what do you think? Will you join Ortega’s team?” Samuel wanted to confirm if Marcus was interested in the job. “But how about the farm?” He asked. For years that he has been in Hacienda Velasquez, the farm has become a part of him. “Don’t worry about it. Just do it as a sideline,” Samuel added. Being a true detective didn’t mean that Marcus had to rep
Her last overseas trip happened when she was only ten years old and her mother was still alive. But it wasn’t a pleasant experience for Daniella. Her parents wanted to celebrate her birthday at Disneyland, but all day long, they just quarreled, and she ended up staying in her room…crying and disappointed. Now, she wanted to replace that memory with something good or even funny. Who knew what was in store for her? From the airport, she took a taxi to her hotel, then she checked in, and paid the room‘s security deposit. A minute later, she strolled towards the elevator that would take her to the nineteenth floor where her room was located. She was not fond of elevators after watching a lot of Asian horror movies where a ghost or supernatural beings showed themselves in the lift. She tried to calm herself down when there were a lot of guests in the elevator. She listened to their conversations and was glad that there were Filipinos too. But on the fifteenth floor, everyone exited
Daniella was just supposed to take pleasure in her trip to HK but when she came to know Mr. Blue Eyes, she had to revise her plan. She had a brilliant idea of how Marcus Madrigal would become useful to her. Anyway, the man was a flirt and he liked to dally, so he wouldn’t mind being used that way. She believed that everyone has a price, and whatever it takes, she would do anything to have him. “Hmmm, Marcus suits you. You look like a gladiator from the past and I like your eyes. They are blue and soulful,” she declared without holding back any reservation that a proper woman should possess. Marcus was not surprised at her bluntness. Well, he would be shocked if she pretended to be someone she was not. “You’re blunt and honest…and I like it,” he replied, but the woman’s ingenious way of speaking alarmed him. “I know. So, I assumed that we are friends now.” She said after their handshake. “If you need a friend while you are in HK, call me.” She gave him her calling card and sm
Marcus was disoriented when he woke up in a strange room. He tried to get up but he couldn’t move.What was wrong with him?He looked around but all he could see was the white ceiling and the chandelier. On his left, he could see something white, and it was the same on his right side.A pet cone?Marcus was horrified to realize that someone had the nerve to put a pet cone on him. “Look here,” Daniella showed Marcus the photos that she took earlier and couldn’t stop laughing at his dreadful appearance. She knew she was being a bully to Marcus but he started it first.With the shrink wrap all over his body, he looked like a fresh spring roll or even a mummy. Of course, the pet cone looked cute on dogs, but for Marcus, he was not cute but funny to look at.“Dani! What did you do to me?”Marcus shouted as soon as he found out what she did to his body that he looked like a mummy, wrapped in white and couldn’t move. Then he remembered that moment when something hard hit him.“What do you
Daniella scolded herself for welcoming the sensation of his manhood rubbing into her clitoris. She shouldn’t be enjoying giving herself to a man she just met. She shouldn’t find some pleasure in doing it with him because he wasn’t her boyfriend. While she was on top of his body, he adjusted their position, and then he guided his erection to penetrate her. It didn’t go through and his eyes were bewildered. Wait, did he expect her to be a promiscuous type of woman? Did he assume she already lost her maidenhead to another man? Well, she couldn’t blame him, tough. Her actions caused him to believe the worst about her. “Are you making fun of me now?” she asked when she caught him smirking. What the hell was she thinking? Marcus silently laughed when he realized that she was not an experienced lover. Judging from her movement, she’s an amateur or even a first-timer. He knew she was frustrated when he heard her curse loudly. Then, she continued to rub herself unto his erection and he wa
“Look who’s here!” Paloma greeted her stepdaughter when she met with Daniella on her way to the kitchen. “None of your business,” she answered. Daniella ignored her stepmother and continued to walk to her bedroom. She just arrived from her long journey and she was dead tired. She wanted to sleep! It was around three o’clock in the afternoon when she woke up from her deep sleep. She was starving so she proceeds to the kitchen to grab something to eat, but lost her appetite upon seeing the evil witch! “We have to talk, Ella,” Paloma said. Daniella raised her eyebrows at Paloma before she pulled her chair to sit down. “As far as I’m concerned, we have nothing to talk about.” She refused to call her Mama or Mother. She hated Paloma ever since she joined her family. “Common, Ella. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Do you still remember what was written on Greg’s last will?” It wasn’t her intention to irritate Daniella but her indifference forced her to be a wicked stepm
Samuel rolled out laughing when Marcus told him what happened in HK. It was simply unbelievable but his friend was not a liar. “Now, you are into comedy!” How could he believe that a woman was able to subdue Marcus’ strength, and what more, she violated his body? “You’re kidding, Marcus.” “Why should I make fun of myself, Sam?” Marcus asked his friend who couldn’t stop laughing at his misfortune in HK. “Common Marcus, why would you make it a big deal? You didn’t do anything wrong to your client. It was the opposite!” Samuel convinced his friend not to get too worked about the incident. “For me, you are very lucky, my friend. I saw her file and she was beautiful!” Then, he laughed, while Marcus scowled at him. “She could become pregnant!” He yelled. When it happened, he was not able to wear any protection and the woman didn’t allow him to withdraw himself before spilling his seed inside her womb. When Marcus mentioned the possibility that Daniella could become pregnant, S
The idea of marriage was jaw-dropping but when Marcus suggested the abortion, it was even more shocking that she almost jump from her seat and attack him. Daniella was amused at Paloma’s reaction because her stepmother who always looked regal and proper cursed at Marcus. “How dare you!” Paloma shouted at the man who was comfortably sitting on their sofa. She was fuming with anger when the bastard suggested aborting Daniella’s pregnancy when he could have said no to her proposed marriage. “I’m not yet ready to become a father, Dani.” He understood their outburst but what about him? He was forced to do it, and now they wanted him to marry her? It was a double kill, and he couldn’t allow it to happen. “My child is going to be fine without you, Marcus. Just leave now before my mother will shoot you with her shotgun,” she threatened him but the man didn’t budge from his seat and wasn’t afraid to look them in the eyes. “You will let him leave? Ella, are you out of your min