“Boss, you’re calling me.”
“Yes, there will be a gathering of all investors, there will be a bidding on an artwork painted by children, I bought it from them and I want investors to buy it for a large amount so that I can give it back to them and get a scholarship.” Said Roel.
“That’s a good idea, boss. You can still help the kids.”
“So that’s it! Just know first what you are going to do. They should go as a couple and tell Gilbert that he will also invite Robert. I will give you four invitations, one of you, and then the other three.” Said Roel.
“Boss, how are their children?”
“Ah! By the way, I’ll add two. You just have to take action.”
“All right boss, when will the bidding boss event be held?” Mr. Relloso asked.
“In the coming Friday. You know what to do first.”
Roel was on his way home when he forgot to buy something to take to their house. He wanted to eat beefsteak so instead of ordering his housemate to buy condiments, he just went to the market. Even though Roel is rich, he still can’t forget what his life was like in the province.
Lots of people in the market. He was busy shopping. When he was with a woman, the beautiful meat cow he chose was also the one the woman chose.
“It’s a kilo of sister,” they said together.
The two of them looked at each other. They were both shocked when the woman saw what was in front of her and she could not speak.
“I look at you. Your face is familiar to me.”
“Ha?! How do you know me? I only see you now.” Roel replied.
“I’m not mistaken, you look like something!” said the woman.
“Sister, that’s just an illusion. Ah! Please put me first, because I’m in a hurry.” Roel said.
The woman was just silent. She wondered, trying to figure out who that man was. When her memory returned, Roel was gone. She asked the saleswoman where her man was, and the saleswoman said he had left.
Roel left quickly. He remembers the woman, but he just pretends he doesn’t know. He knew the woman in his past.
Lora was on her way home from outside, carrying her purchases. She looked for Lira, but she was not at home. She was carrying her son. Where are that mother and the child?
She was busy cooking for their lunch, but the two hadn’t yet. She was worried about where the mother and daughter were.
She couldn’t be bothered anymore, so she called Robin to see if Lira had texted him where they were going.
Robin replied, not that they were alarmed where the two of them were. They called his phone, but it was turned off. Where are those two now? Lora whispered to herself.
She also called Franco to see if Lira and her grandson were with them, but Franco said they were not with them.
She also called Naneth, maybe texting her to go to them. Naneth also did not receive a message. Naneth was also worried about her cousin and niece. So even before their meeting was over, she said goodbye and left to look for Lira and her son.
“Excuse me, sir Gio. Can I leave first? It’s just important. I’ll be right back.”
“But our meeting is not over yet.”
“Please, sir, family matters. I can’t just sit here.”
“Why Naneth?! What happened to your family?” Sir Amer asked her.
“I don’t have time. Go ahead.”
“Wait Naneth! Please tell us.” Naneth turned and spoke.
“My cousin and her son are missing,” Naneth replied.
“Who?!” Gio and Amer asked at the same time. Kyla and Dominic didn’t ask because they already knew. They just kept quiet.
“Ah! Lira,” Naneth left at once, walking fast.
“Lira?!” Amer said in astonishment. “Is that the Lira I saw Robin went to the province?”
No one answered Amer. They were just quiet.
“Kyla, aren’t you and Naneth friends? Did she mention Lira to you?”
“Ha!.. eh! Yes, I have known for a long time that Lira and Naneth are cousins. Naneth’s father and Lira’s father are brothers.” Kyla nodded.
“Oh! Why did you just say that?” Amer replied.
“I’m sorry. Naneth is personal. She doesn’t want to involve her relatives in anything.”
“Haist! Poor Naneth.”
“Why sir Amer?!” Dominic asked in astonishment.
“Nothing, because Naneth is a very kind child,” Amer replied.
“You said she is a very independent woman. She can now be called “The Secret of the Fierce Ex-Wife.” Kyla answered emphatically.
“Why did you say that, Kyla?” Gio asked.
When Kyla started telling stories, she was the type of friend who couldn’t keep a secret because she could tell others what Naneth was telling her. Gio, Amer, and Dominic were listening. They were the only five in the meeting, but Naneth had left, so there were only four of them.
“Because, sir, Naneth and I first met at a resto-bar. She is very depressed. She drank heavily until she got into a fight with a woman named Abigail. That’s Dominic’s cousin. She still doesn’t want me to help her. But I felt sorry for her. They were taken to the precinct because of what happened, but they were released.”
“Oh! The strangeness of your meeting.” Said Dominic.
“Yeah! They had a problem with her husband, which is Robin. She told me they had a fight and hurt her. She wants to have freedom because since they got married she has only been at home. He didn’t want to rely solely on what his wife had given him. She doesn’t love Robin. She was just forced.” Kyla’s story.
“Oh! Why did she continue to marry Robin?” Amer asked.
“Let’s say it’s because of her great need. She was separated from her relatives for several years for a secret reason that she could not tell me.”
“Oh! Naneth is very mysterious. What is her secret?” Dominic replied.
Gio was just listening. He didn’t react to what Kyla was saying.
“Then Kyla, what else?” Dominic asked curiously.
“Until we became best friends. She wanted to have a job, but sir Amer was looking for staff for our mission. I saw Naneth’s courage and determination, so I tried to get her into my job. At first, she refused, but maybe because of her toxic relationship with Robin, she accepted the offer.” Kyla explained.
“You mentioned to me, Kyla, that Robin and Naneth only got married on a contract. Why? Dominic asked.
“Contract?! Meaning that the only thing between Robin and Naneth is paper and no love?” Amer asked in shock.
“Yes, because Robin has a proposal to Naneth that each of them has benefits. It’s just that Naneth loses, and she gets nothing because she doesn’t want to mess with Robin’s life anymore,” Kyla replied.
“What do you say benefits, Kyla?”
“Robin is just using Naneth to get his wealth from his father because it states Mr. Tan last will say he needs to get married and have a child. ”
“Oh! That’s terrible.” Amer replied.
“But Naneth and Robin were just married, and they had no children. It means he still can’t get his inheritance.” Gio replied. Finally, Gio reacted.
“Yes, it seems like that. Naneth isn’t really after Robin’s money. All she wants is to forget and get away from her past, which to this day is still a puzzle to me. Naneth is a secretive person, but she is a brave ex-wife, so I admire her.” Kyla replied.
“I agree with that when we first met Naneth. When Kyla introduced her to me, I could see in her eyes the secret of her personality. She had a grudge that she couldn’t tell other people because maybe she was afraid that people would judge her. But she is brave! She could handle everything. Hopefully, one day, she will find a man who will truly love her.” Amer’s long answer.
Dominic and Kyla looked at Gio.
“Oh! Why are you two looking at me?”
“Ah! Nothing bro! Maybe you’re interested in applying to Naneth. Haha!” laughed Dominic.
“Haha, yes sir!” Kyla had a second demotion.
“You are crazy. All right, go back to work.” Gio replied.
They returned to their respective offices. Gio was worried about Naneth, so he called her.
“Hello, Naneth! How are you? Where are you now?
“Oh! Gio, I’m still looking for Lira. Auntie Lora texted me. In case I don’t know where to look for her. Hopefully, not after today, I will see them. What a pity for her and her child.” Naneth replied.
“Is that so? Be careful! Let me know what happened.” Gio said.
“Yes, all right, thank you. I’m going down because I’m still driving.”
~~~~~
Lira was so tired that she was carrying her child, she finally reached the address she was carrying. She saw huge houses, very high gates, and vast land. She never thought she would see such a big house. At the gate, there is a car entering. That stopped with her faithfulness.
“Excuse me, miss, what do you need?” the driver asked her.
“Ah! Is this Robin’s parents’ house?” Lira replied.
The shield of the car opened, and a man answered.
“Yes, this is my son’s house. Why? What do you need?” Robin’s father’s rude answer.
“Ah! Sorry for the inconvenience. I am Lira, and my son is Larrymon.” Lira replied.
The man did not answer. He rang the driver to let them in.
A few hours later, Lira and her son were still outside the gate. The man doesn’t even let them in.
Another car arrived, the person inside lowering her shield.
“Lira?!” call the woman.
“Naneth?!” Lira replied.
“Why are you just outside? Don’t the people who are inside let you in?
“Robin’s dad saw me, but he wouldn’t let me in.”
“Is that so? Come on board so that your child doesn’t get drunk.” Said Naneth.
But a car came. It was Robin’s car.
“Lira!, Robin called Lira. Lira turned around. Robin immediately goes downstairs.
“What are you and baby doing here? Has your mom been looking for you before?
“What else! Your baby and I didn’t go to see you. You don’t go to the province anymore.” Lira replied.
They didn’t know that their conversation was monitored on CCTV and Robin’s parents could see that. Robin’s father ordered the guard to let them into the house with Naneth.
“Good afternoon, sir, sir. Gilbert said you can all come inside.” Said the guard.
Naneth was nervous. She knew something bad was going to happen. She knew Robin’s father. She had already seen her get angry. How could she protect her cousin and her nephew?
“Why?” Robin replied.
“I don’t know, sir.” The answer of the guard. The guard opened the gate.
Their main house is still far, so Lira and her son boarded Naneth’s car. Robin came in first, followed by Naneth, because she was the first to leave.
“Naneth, what does Robin’s dad need from us?”
“I don’t know, Lira, just don’t answer him because he has a bad habit.” Naneth’s warning.
“That’s why you broke up with Robin.”
“The main reason is different, but that is also one reason,” Naneth replied.
They are coming down. Lira has already seen the beautiful house of the Tan family. Robin’s family is very rich. First time getting to that house.
They entered the house. Lira saw that Robin’s parents were sitting there and Gilbert looked sharply at Lira. She was nervous. Mr. Tan’s eyes seemed to burn with anger.
Robin approached next to her parents while Naneth and Lira were in the opposite seat while the baby cried. The child is crying because maybe it is getting hot. Naneth noticed that Robin’s dad seemed annoyed, so she took the baby and carried her. She knew Lira was as tired because she had traveled to Manila early. The child was still crying. She took Lira’s milk to drink, and the child settled down. She was just hungry, so she was crying.
What will happen when they talk?