Chapter 19

Andrea's POV It's better to have nobody, than to have someone who's half there or doesn't want to be there. It's better to feel alone than to be with someone and still feel alone or feel like you'd rather be alone. Being alone doesn't mean you have to be miserable. In fact, independence is attractive. It means that you are capable of taking care of yourself and not relying on anyone else for validation. It's better to depend on no one than to depend on someone who always ends up disappointing you or failing to meet your expectations. Don't depend too much on anyone in this world. Even your shadow leaves you when you're in darkness. It's better to not have anyone to care about, than to care about someone who enjoys hurting you and causing you pain. It's better to not be close with anyone, than to feel attached to someone you feel so distant at the same time. It's better to be sad by yourself, than to be with someone who always make you even more miserable. It's better to know what you want on your own, than to be with someone else who does nothing but confuse you and make you doubt things. It's better to be happy with yourself, than to place your happiness in someone who takes it for granted. It's better to it's better to love yourself than to love someone else who doesn't love you just as much or not at all. Everything will be okay, and you will be alright. Just continue life and live it to the fullest. "Ms. Steinfields ..." I blinked and released his picture. I quickly turned to my secretary and took the picture that had fallen. I quickly pocketed it and stood up straight. Zella is staring at the ground, where the picture fell earlier. Damn, did he see that? Hopefully not. No one knows my past here in America except Seymour and Roxanne. Or I can also include Darlyn. "Zella." I called him and he immediately turned to me. Zella is a Fil-Am and she knows how to speak in Filipino too. I want a Filipino secretary and I don't want a foreigner that's why I hired her. But almost everyone who works at SCC is American. I raised an eyebrow at him and he faked a cough. It's my rest day today and I don't know the reason why she's here. About work, maybe. Ugh, I thought I can rest my whole being today but looks like I can't. While he was still not answering I kept the guns I had used in an attache case. As well as the knives I used I kept as well. "Uhm, Mam. DLC sent a letter and a contract. They want a partnership ..." He said so I stopped what I was doing. I smiled. I'm saying yes and this day will come. I turned to Zella. "DLC?" I pretended to ask in surprise even though I already had an idea what it was. "De Leon Corporation, Mam." He bent down so I bit my lower lip so hard to stop grinning. I knew it. I cleared my throat. "Did you read the contract?" I have a serious question. He immediately nodded and handed me an envelope so I took it and opened it. "They have a big offer, Mam. One billion." I almost laughed. One billion? They will give less than half of my wealth. Well, let's see. I read the contract and they offered one billion. He already has that signature. Woah, I didn"t expect him to have one hundred percent corporate management. But this is not surprising because five years have passed. I read their letter and it stated that some members of their board of directors as well as him, the CEO, would be coming here to America for the proposal they would show me. I sighed and shook. It just seems like everything will be easier for me. Destiny really suits me. I put the papers back in the envelope and handed them to Zella. He looked surprised but he immediately took it and bowed. "Tell them that we will go to the Philippines ourselves for their proposal." I said that surprised Zella. He looked up at me as his eyes widened. Oh, I knew it. Because I never returned to the Philippines for five years and if anyone offers us a company from the Philippines, I just tear up the paperwork. "But ... But Mam-" I smiled at her. "It's okay, Zella. You're right, they have a big offer so we need to grab it. It's better than going to someone else, isn't it?" "But Mam ... I know you don't want to go to the Philippines. They can come here ..." he said modestly. "No. I missed Philippines already. Besides, you have your chance to visit your family there. Didn't you like it then?" Fill it up. His face lit up. In the four years that he has been my secretary, he has never been able to return to the Philippines because my schedule is busy and I need assistance. "Really, Mom?" There was hope in her voice so I smiled. I admire her, she manages to be away from her family to give them money, their needs. The OFWs are really impressive. "Yes." I smiled in response. "Oh! Thank you, Mam. All right, I'll call the DLC right away. Shall I book a flight or you'll just use your private plane?" He asked excitedly. I laughed a little. "We'll use my private plane, it's a hassle when we board a normal plane. Maybe someone will recognize me as the owner of SCC. Uhm, maybe we'll go home to the Philippines ... next week. That's right, next week is Monday. " "Okay, Mom. Do you need anything else?" He asked with a smile. I shook. "Nothing. By the way, do I have a meeting scheduled today or paper works that need to be worked on?" "Nothing, Mam. I'm clearing your schedule because it's your rest day today. But tomorrow you have a lot of paperwork and a meeting ..." he replied so I gasped. I breathed a sigh of relief because I was only going to one meeting. This month, I attend three to five meetings a day. "Oh, all right. You go back to the company, maybe that's what's going on there." "Yes, Mom." He bowed again before walking away. I smiled sparingly and sat down on a bench. I get water in my gym bag and drink. I also spent a few hours here at the shooting range and I really enjoy it. When the wind blew hard I grabbed my hair and placed it on my right shoulder. My hair is no longer curly like it used to be because I decided to straighten my hair. Change for the better, I guess. Someone covered my eyes so I smiled. I thought he's busy today? "You don't have to do that, Seymour ..." I said laughing. Laughing Seymour removed his hands from my eyes. He sat down next to me and I saw he was still in corporate attire. "What are you doing here?" I raised an eyebrow question. "It's ugly ..." he said laughing and put his arm around me. My head automatically leaned on his shoulder. "Don't tell me, you ran away from your older brother again?" Kunot when I asked. His older brother is here now to check the status of their company managed by Seymour. This is a crazy case, he doesn't want to face his older brother. I don't know here. "Wow! Great! How did you know?" He asked curiously so I immediately walked away from him and then I punched him! "Say it! You, you know, you're still not getting better. What will your older brother say about that?" I asked angrily and stared at him. He sniffed and grinned as well. "Yiiii, you're just concerned about me ..." he stabbed my side with his index finger so I slowly laughed. I'm tickled! "Hahaha! What! Hahaha! Stop that!" He laughed and stopped as well. Grabe! I couldn"t breathe there! "By the way, I'm a surprise to you so I'm here ..." he raised his eyebrow even lower so I rubbed his face. Sagwa! Not so much with him. My forehead wrinkled. "What's that again?" I will ask. He pointed with his snout so I turned around. "MOMMY!" Flashback Roxanne and I are now in LA. By the mercy of god we got here nh safely. Here we are now staying at Ate"s mansion. I can't imagine that she can own this kind of house. I keep thinking about how rich he is. To this day I still think of my son. I hope he forgives me for leaving me with him. Because I was so cowardly, because I escaped the problem I left him alone there. And Seymour? He said that he would follow us the other day and that their company would be transferred to him here in America. I am currently thinking now of what I can do. Ate told me never to do anything. Roxanne and I went somewhere so I was left here alone with so many maids and bodyguards around. I stood up and noticed that the sofa did not fit. I picked up a single sofa and decided to move it when they arrived Ate. "Oh my God! Rigella Andrea, what are you doing ?!" Ate said so I immediately let go of the single sofa I made. "I'm just fixing it, Ate ..." I'll excuse myself. The problem for me is that I'm not used to doing nothing. "What you're doing can be with you! Are you okay? Don't you feel anything else?" Ate touched both my shoulders and examined me from head to toe. My forehead furrowed. "I'm fine, Ate. Then, what's wrong? I'll just move your sofa ..." I said in surprise. Her face was immediately covered with astonishment and she stared at me for a moment before turning to Roxanne who was now bent over. "Haven't you told her yet?" Ate asked her. Roxanne took a deep breath. "Not yet. I want you to tell her yourself since you're the one who planned that ..." Roxanne stared and averted her eyes. "What are you saying? I don't understand you ..." I said confused. Sister Rina looked at Roxanne again before sighing. "I'll leave you first ..." Roxanne said and my sister left us here in the living room. I looked at Ate and there was sadness on her mats. "You're still pregnant, Rigella. Your baby is safe and you never had a miscarriage. I ordered the doctor to take care of you to say that your child died ..." she said almost in a whisper. I think the floor fell because of what I heard. My forehead furrowed. I never had a miscarriage? I looked up and at the same time my tears flowed. Tears again? When will the day come when I won't cry anymore? "Are you kidding me, sister? Pwes, if yes, please! Don't expect me oh!" I said crying. Ate held my arm and even she was crying. "I'm ... I'm sorry, Andrea! I didn't really want that to happen. I didn't mean to lie to you. I just did that because I know that it may trigger you to hate your husband! I want to stay away you want him so you don't get hurt so I did that ... please, believe your sister ... " I removed his hand from my arm. "Ate! I almost died then because Mom and Dad died, then my son also died! But no, that's not true because he's still in my stomach! He's still alive!" I sobbed and touched my stomach. He is alive. My baby is alive. "I'm ... I'm sorry ..." "I'm sorry you can't bring back what happened, Ate!" I sob promise. "Look, you can't blame me, you're my brother! I don't want to hurt you so I did that. Please, understand me. I don't want to lose another member of our family. Please ... understand sister ... understand I ... "She cried in a pleading voice. I could no longer control myself and my palm landed on his cheek. "It hurts, sister! I thought, I've lost a child but all the while he's still alive in my stomach? Everything was wasted
tears and pain I suffered! " "I'm sorry ..." I was caught on both my knees and bowed. My baby is alive! And in an unexpected event, I ran closer to my sister and ... I hugged him. "Thank you, sis... thank you ..." I whispered at her ear. End of Flashback