“She knows how much I hate the stinking smell in this factory. If that woman thinks she can drag me to hell, she’s wrong, cause I am gonna bring hell directly to her. You just watch. I’ll stuff her inside these sardines cans one of these days. And I will do it with my bare hands.”
Mina asked Robert if Cassie was still mad at her. Robert told her that Cassie wasn’t mad, but just a little upset. He added that their daughter was at that stage of exploring and experimenting to know who she really was. Mina told Robert that Cassie was going at it the wrong way, even keeping secrets and talking back at her.
“How will I be able to protect her if I don’t know what’s happening to her?” Mina worried. “She started acting this way when she became friends with Marga,” Mina pointed. “She’s not a good influence on Cassie.”
The Mondragons and Bartolomes had breakfast. Robert announced that Daniela would now report to him at work and he would take care of her training. Danny girl was glad to hear that. Robert warned her that he would be strict as always and Daniela said she was fine with that because she had to learn from the best if she wanted to be the best.
“It’s good you don’t have any problems with that,” Robert said to her.
“Not at all, dad. I also want to learn more about the company. If there’s anyone who knows the ins and outs of the company, it would be you. Right Romina?”
Mina forced a smile. “Of course.”
Robert took Daniela to the factory, and Daniela complained, saying that he already knew that she didn’t like the smell there.
“Daniela, inhale, smell it,” Robert said. “That’s the smell of Camila’s success. You’ll get used to it after a while.” He added that she needed to know how the entire system worked. Danny girl was suffering silently as her father went on to explain more. “Am assigning you here,” Robert announced.
Danny girl was horrified. “Dad, wait, are you joking?”
“No am not. If you really want to learn how to manage this company, then you need to understand the meaning of teamwork. If one of these processes fail, the entire production will suffer as a result.”
“Okay.” Danny girl forced a smile.
Back at the mansion, Marga waited outside, ready for school. Nanny Esther came up and advised that she should properly seek permission next time before going out. Marga asked if she was blaming her for what had happened last night.
“Not at all. All I am saying is…”
“And who are you to lecture me anyway?” Marga asked. “You’re not even part of the family.”
Mina walked in on the scene. She asked Esther to leave so she would handle the matter. “Marga, please don’t talk to Esther that way,” Mina pleaded.
“Well, I wouldn’t have if she didn’t blame me for what happened.”
“No one’s trying to blame you,” Mina said. “We just don’t want it to happen again.” Kulas was approaching from behind. “We raised Cassie differently, so we’re surprised that she sneaked out with you.”
“So it was Cassie who sneaked out?” Kulas asked, announcing his presence. “Then why are you scolding my granddaughter?”
Mina turned around to face the misërãble one-eyed-old man. “Mr. Kulas…”
“Romina, I know this is your house, but that doesn’t give you the right to lecture Marga. Your daughter is to blame, so leave Marga, okay?” he added with a crooked smile.
Back at the factory, Robert taught Daniela how to pack the sardines into the cans. Danny girl was still suffering from the horrible smell. Robert instructed her to also pack a can with sardines. Some workers gossiped nearby.
“Isn’t that Mrs. Daniela with Mr. Robert?” one said.
“Isn’t she allergic to the factory?” another asked.
“She’s looking to spread her terror.”
“That’s enough. Let’s get back to work before someone catches us and we get into trouble,” Jepoy warned them.
Cassie and Marga arrived at Maxwell. Kristoff came up to them and looked them from head to toe, smiling. He asked Cassie if she had gotten into trouble last night. Cassie glanced at Marga, and told Kristoff that she and her mother were still not talking. Kristoff said he was sorry, and Cassie told him not to worry because it wasn’t his fault.
“I was the one who sneaked out,” Cassie added. She glanced at Marga accusingly. “And mama got even angrier because of what I was wearing last night.”
“Why did you have to wear that?” Kristoff asked.
“So this is my fault?” Marga asked. “I made the effort to give you a makeover so you wouldn’t look so old fashioned, and you’re blaming me?”
“Marga, am not blaming you,” Cassie said. “I like what you did. Am just telling Tope.”
“Well it sounds like you’re blaming me, just like your maid who scolded me. Aren’t you the one who didn’t ask for permission? Why am I the bad guy here? That’s so unfair.”
Marga sat with the Mean Squad at a table. Nadya asked if she was okay, and Marga said she was pissed off because people in her grandpa’s house couldn’t mind their own business. “It’s just so annoying.” Marga said. “They actually think am a bad influence on Cassie.”
“So, what’s your plan?” Nadya asked. “Are you going to let them do that to you?”
“Nadya, that’ll never happen.” Marga replied.
“So what’s your plan?” Nica also asked.
“I just want to finish school and make a name for myself,” Marga told them. “That’s why I really need to win the Maxwell Prime award. That way, I can prove to everyone that they’re wrong about me.” The Mean Squad smiled in appreciation.
Cassie and Fatima went to check the result on the leaderboard. Marga was now in 1st place, Cassie was 2nd while Kristoff was still 3rd.
“Marga’s ahead of you,” Fatima commented. “But it’s okay, you’re in second place. You can still catch up. This is the toughest ‘Dragon War’ between you two.”
“Dragon War?” Cassie seemed confused. “Who’d you hear that from?”
“From our classmates,” Fatima explained. “Everytime you and Marga compete, they call it a ‘Dragon War’.”
Cassie didn’t want people to think she was really competing with Marga. Fatima told Cassie that was the truth because they were competing with each other, and when it came to Maxwell Prime, they were the main competitors.
“You want to win, right?” Fatima asked. Cassie seemed to be considering the idea. Meanwhile, Marga had drawn closer to them now, listening in on their conversation.
“I was thinking…if I study in the UK, I’ll have more freedom. Mama won’t be there to keep an eye on me. It will be a whole new experience.”
“If that’s what you really want, then win,” Fatima said with a smile. Cassie smiled back. But Marga wasn’t smiling from where she stood. She looked angry. And vengeful.
At the factory, Daniela talked to Savannah on the phone, complaining about the things her father had made her do. Danny girl told her that she was sure Mina was the one who had given him the idea and pushed him to do it. “She knows how much I hate the stinking smell in this factory,” she added. “She just wants me to suffer.”
“Then just quit,” Savannah said.
“That easily? And just let her win? No way. I will not quit. Mondragons are not quitters. You just watch. I’ll stuff her inside these sardines cans one of these days. And I will do it with my bare hands.”
Jepoy came over to tell Daniela that Robert was looking for her. Daniela got back to her phone after he left. “Hell is calling,” she said.
“They better prepare for your homecoming,” Savannah said over the phone.
“You have a point,” Daniela said to her. “If that woman thinks she can drag me to hell, she’s wrong, cause I am gonna bring hell directly to her.”
Back at Maxwell, Cassie stopped LJ and pleaded with her not to avoid her. LJ said she knew Cassie didn’t want to be friends with her anymore, and that was why she had been avoiding her. Marga stood behind a wall, listening. Cassie told LJ it wasn’t true, and that all she wanted was for her to apologize to Marga.
“Marga and I are being blamed for what you did to the wall,” Cassie said.
Still standing behind the wall, Marga was shocked. She came out and LJ ran off. Marga confronted Cassie. “So you knew it was that witch’s fault?” Marga looked hurt.
“Marga, let me explain.”
Marga was crying now. “Explain what, Cassie? That you covered up for her, even when you knew that I will be punished?”
“Marga, it’s not like that,” Cassie pleaded.
“You always tell me that we’re family but you can’t even stand by it.” Marga tried to walk away.
Cassie stopped her. “Marga, please. Let’s talk about this calmly.”
“You made me believe that our family is important. But you’re nothing but a liar.” Marga stormed off while LJ watched from a distance.
Mina arrived home and found Carlos in the living room. Carlos mentioned that she had come home early today and Mina told him that she still felt uneasy about what had happened between her and Cassie last night.
“It’s so difficult to raise kids these days,” Mina said. “It used to be so simple. Back then we always followed our parent’s rules and guidance because we knew they were right, but now, you have to make so much effort to convince your kids that your rules are for their good.”
“Times have changed I guess,” Carlos commented. ”
“We’re getting pretty old, right? Now we’re preoccupied with our children.” Mina said, smiling.
Carlos smiled back. “You’re right.”
Kulas called Daniela on phone and asked her if she knew what Mina had done to Marga.
“What dad? What did she do?”
Back at the Mansion, Mina and Carlos were still talking about their childhood. Carlos mentioned how Jepoy used to hit on Bonita. Mina playfully told him not to bring up that matter in front of Bonita or she would knock him out. They both laughed at the joke. Daniela came storming in, calling out Mina’s name. She slapped Mina and demanded to know why she had scolded her daughter when she had warned her not to.
“Daniela, what’s happening to you?” Carlos jumped in.
“You should ask yourself that,” Daniela shot back. “Here you are, flirting with that woman after what she did to your daughter. How dare you?!”
“You have nothing to be jealous about, we were just talking,” Carlos explained.
“I didn’t do anything wrong to Marga,” Mina said.
“Liar! I told you to leave my daughter alone. Whatever she does, whether it’s right or wrong, you have no right to scold her because she’s not your daughter!”
“I have the right to speak up!” Mina shot back. “Because my daughter’s getting involved.”
Just then, Robert and the girls arrived from school and went to their respective mothers’ side. Robert asked the girls to go up to their room.
“No, dad,” Daniela said. “Do you really want to know what’s going on? Do you wanna know why am fighting with your perfect little wife?”
“Daniela, that’s enough!” Mina yelled.
“Your wife has been flirting with my husband!” Both Carlos and Robert asked her to stop, but Danny girl wouldn’t listen. Mina told Robert that it wasn’t true.
“Isn’t it, Romina?” Danny girl went on. “Weren’t you trying to rekindle old flames?” Robert left with Mina and Cassie while Daniela continued her ranting, shouting after them. “You’re bored of my dad, so now you’re after my husband! Do you wanna take my husband too?!”
“Daddy, is that true?” Marga asked.
At the rented house, a guy, who collected bets, told Kulas that a woman had been looking for him at his old place. Kulas thought it was the landlady, but the guy told Kulas that the woman had been very beautiful, suggesting that she could have been a former girlfriend of his.
Back at the mansion, Mina asked Robert to believe her because she could never do what Daniela was accusing her of. Robert told her she didn’t need to explain because maybe Daniela had been surprised to see her talking to Carlos. “She knows how angry you are at him, remember?” Robert added.
Mina said she didn’t want to hold on to the past anymore for the sake of their families. “Robert, he did hurt me. But you loved me, and that’s all that matters to me now.”
“Love, I think it’s best that you avoid talking to Carlos. That way, Daniela wouldn’t get angry. This is temporary anyway. Is that all right?”
Mina sighed and nodded. “Thank you for your understanding.”
“Are you happy now?!” Carlos asked. “You caused a scene for no reason! And in front of the girls too.”
“You’re the one who should be ashamed! You’re taking advantage of the fact that you can’t walk so you two can be alone together.”
“Daniela, it’s called being polite. It’s not what you think, especially since we’re all living in their house.”
“That’s why I can’t let that woman take my family too,” Daniela said.
“If you don’t stop that right now, you will tear this family apart,” Carlos warned. “And it will be your fault it that happens. Don’t you trust me?”
“I do. So I’ll forgive you this time, Carlos. But don’t give me a reason to be jealous again, because you know me…I get crazy when am mad.”
In the living room, Esther and Neil tried comforting Cassie, telling her not to be so worried about her parents.
“You know how Daniela is. She actually breathes fire when she’s mad,” Neil added. Mina was approaching unnoticed.
“But is it really true that mama and Carlos were in a relationship?” Cassie asked.
“Yes, sweetheart,” Mina answered, announcing her presence. She came over to Cassie while Neil and Esther gave them some privacy. “It’s true. Carlos and I were in a relationship. But that was a long time a go before I married your father, and Carlos married Daniela.”
Cassie asked why she hadn’t told her and Marga and Mina said it was all in the past, and both of their families were happy now. “I lövê you and your dad very much. I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you.”
Cassie smiled. “I know that mama. Are you still mad at me?”
Mina smiled back. “Am not mad. It was your actions that upset me.”
Robert walked into Cassie and Marga’s room. He had brought Marga some food. He told her that he knew she had been surprised by what she had heard, adding that it was all in the past and it wouldn’t change anything now.
“That’s not what mommy said earlier,” Marga said to her. “She said that she caught Aunt Romina and daddy flirting.”
Robert told Marga that her mother was very emotional and short-tempered and he was used to her usual outbursts.
“So they’re not in a relationship?” Marga asked.
Robert tried cracking a joke to cheer her up. Marga told him that she didn’t want their families to be torn apart, and Robert assured her that he wouldn’t let that happen.
Later that night, Cassie and Marga were in bed. Cassie apologized for not telling her about what LJ had done. Marga said it couldn’t erase the fact that she had been punished because of LJ.
“You’re at the top of the Maxwell Prime leaderboard,” Cassie mentioned. “So is it possible to just forget about what happened?”
“If that’s what you want.”
Marga was going to the kitchen when she found her mother standing by the door. She went over and asked whether she was still thinking about what had happened earlier. Daniela apologized and Marga said it was fine because her grandpa had explained things to her.
“Really? What did he say?”
“He said that what you said about aunt Romina and daddy isn’t true. He’s right, isn’t he?”
Danny girl sighed. “Maybe not anymore.”
Marga seemed confused. “What do you mean?”
“They may not be in a relationship now, but your daddy…was Romina’s ex-boyfriend.”
“But who was daddy’s girlfriend first?”
“Me, of course. I told you before that your dad and I were classmates in college, but then we broke up because I went to study abroad.” Marga nodded. “That’s when Romina became his girlfriend.”
“But you and daddy ended up together.”
“Of course. Because we were truly destined for one another. And when I came back to the Philippines, Romina tried to come between us, but she didn’t succeed, because your daddy chose me.”
“That’s good to hear mommy. That you are daddy’s first love.”
Danny girl put on her k!ller face. “So dear, as much as possible, do not trust Cassie. Cassie’s just like her mother. She will try to take everything away from you.”
“I know that mommy,” Marga said. “I just found out that all this time, Cassie actually knew who vandalized the wall in Maxwell.”
“And she didn’t tell anyone?”
“No. She protected that freaky girl over me. I actually thought we were friends.”
In the morning, Robert served Daniela with a notice, and Marga pleaded with him not to make them leave the mansion because she didn’t want to be poor again. Robert told her not to worry because he would make sure their new house was better than the last. Marga said she still wanted to stay at the mansion so she could spend some time with him and Cassie.
“Don’t you want to be with me?” Marga asked.
“I want that too, but…”
“Grandpa please. Don’t make us leave just like that. Please.”
“Marga it’s okay.” Daniela turned to Robert. “We’re leaving dad, but before we do, I want you to think twice about what kind of woman you’ve brought into the place we once called home.”
“Romina is a respectable woman,” Robert said to her.”
Daniela stood up. ” It’s okay, Marga. We are leaving, because we now know that that woman is more important than his granddaughter. Let’s go” Danny girl dragged Marga along.
“No… I don’t want to go,” Marga was saying.
“Daniela stop,” Robert suddenly said. “You don’t have to leave now… but if you do that again, you know what that will mean for us.” Marga thanked her grandpa, and hugged him while Danny girl watched solemnly.
Marga and the Mean Squad sat at the cafeteria. Marga told them she hadn’t been able to get enough sleep last night because she had been working on the choreography for the dance troupe. Nadya mentioned that the selecting committee were finishing up the points to be awarded for the students’ club activities.
“That’s why am getting ready for that,” Marga said. “I’m staring some club activities.”
“Oh…so that’s why Cassie’s got an event today too,” Maureen commented.
“What event?” Marga asked, surprised.
“The art club has a month long exhibit,” Maureen explained. “I am sure that will get them a lot of points for the award.”
“Cassie isn’t backing down Marga. Do you want us to do something?” Nadya asked.
“Yes. But not to Cassie.”
“Then who?” Nica asked.
Marga gave them a signal and they turned to see LJ sitting at a table at the corner. LJ saw them staring and she ran off.
“The freak?” Nadya asked.
“Yeah. Don’t you know she vandalized the Maxwell wall during the houseparty?” The Mean Squad were surprised. They asked how she had found out and Marga told them that Cassie had seen LJ and kept it from her. “As if anyone can keep a secret from Margaret Mondragon-Bartolome.”
“That sneaky w!tch,” Nadya said. “Did you tell the principal?”
“That’s not enough. I suffered so much because of her. Now I want to give credit where credit is due.”
“So… what do you want us to do?” Maureen asked. “Make her paint the wall?”
“Not just the wall, but her whole life. First, I’ll talk to the principal about what she did…I will make her suffer even more for humiliating me. I will make her life a living hell as long as she she stays here in Maxwell. ”
“And how about Cassie?” Nadya asked. “You’ll get even with her too, right?”
“Of course,” Marga said with a shrug. “She’s next. She’s just proved to me who is more important to her here and clearly, it’s not me.”
Cassie met up with LJ in a deserted part of the school. LJ asked why they were there and Cassie told her she already knew what it was about. LJ told Cassie that she couldn’t go to the principal because the first time she got into Maxwell, she was very glad because everyone had been her friend and had been kind to her.
“But in just a snap, everything changed. Do you know what I’ve been through? It’s been so hard… how it feels for everyone to despise you because of one incident? And it’s all because of Marga, and only because we wore the same dress. She torments me for so long because of something so stüpïd.”
“I can’t blame you for what you did to Marga,” Cassie said. “No student should go through what you did. But LJ, you can’t make something right by doing something wrong in return.
“You’re very smart. You know the difference between right and wrong… You’re still angry, but I believe in you, that you’ll do what’s right. Always remember that am here for you, no matter what happens.”
LJ went to the principal’s office to confess to the vandalizing. The principal told her she admired her courage to admit what she had done, but she had to talk to her parents because her classmates had been punished unfairly because of her. LJ said she understood and the principal told her that she would now add the points she had deducted from Cassie and Marga for the Maxwell Prime.
Marga and the Mean Squad confronted Fatima. Marga grabbed Fatima’s bag and some of her books. “Tell me, where’s your freaky w!tch of a friend?” she asked.
Fatima asked her to give her back her belongings and Nadya warned her to tell them where LJ was or else they would come after her next. Fatima asked what Marga wanted from LJ.
“I want her to pay for what she did to me,” Marga said. “She’ll go with me to the principal’s office to admit what she did. But if she’s not here, then maybe I’ll just talk to the principal myself.”
“Well, you don’t have to do that,” Fatima said. “LJ already went to the principal’s office, to confess what she did,” Fatima added with a satisfied smile, leaving Marga shocked.
Cassie was at the art club exhibit when LJ came in. Cassie told her not to feel uneasy because the people there wouldn’t treat her the way Marga and her squad did. LJ apologized to Cassie, saying that she felt ashamed and she had been blinded by her anger at Marga.
“I didn’t think that revenging against her was wrong,” LJ said. “You got involved too. Sorry for being too scared to admit that I was wrong. I’ve really learned my lesson now, and it’s because of you. Because you didn’t give up on me, I just told the principal everything.”
Cassie took her hand. “That’s great LJ.”
LJ was surprised at her reaction. “You’re amazing Cassie. Even after everything I did to you, that’s all you have to say? Why aren’t you pushing me away? Why aren’t you trying to get even with me?”
“What good will that do, LJ? In the end, both of us got hurt anyway. If I get even with you, then we’ll just keep on hurting each other.” Cassie said. “You may have made a bad decision but that doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. You’re still my friend who’s weird, but in a good way,” she added jokingly. “You owe someone else an apology too.”
Marga and the Mean Squad came in. “Awww, how touching,” Marga mocked. LJ went to stand behind Cassie protectively. Marga walked up to them. “Cassie, you’re such a saint. You still talk to the people who let you take the fall for their mistakes.”
Cassie told Marga to stop bringing up the past because it was over now. “And LJ has something to tell you,” she added.
“I’m sorry… Marga,” LJ said.
“I’m sorry too,” Cassie added. “Sorry for not telling you the truth right away.”
Marga told Cassie to stop because she had already hurt her feelings, adding that the world would be a better place if apologies could solve everything. “People need to pay for the mistakes they make,” Marga said. She eyed LJ. “No one crosses me and gets away with it.”
Kulas and his sons had dinner at the rented house. Kulas asked if they had girlfriends, explaining that a neighbor had told him that a woman had been looking for him at their house. Jude joked that it could be an admirer of his and Kulas said he had stopped thinking about that kind of thing after their mother had left him.
“Not everyone is like that,” Jude told him. “There are some people who don’t cheat on their lovers.”
“What makes you say that?” Kulas was serious now. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
“I don’t, dad. You know my motto. ‘Country above self’.” Kulas gave him a high-five.
Gino said the woman could be their mother. Jude asked if he would forgive her if she came back to him, and Kulas said that he would never forgive her. He left the table without eating, saying that he had lost his appetite.
At Maxwell, LJ ran into Marga and the Mean Squad. Marga angrily kicked LJ in the leg and LJ asked her to leave her alone since she had already confessed to the principal. Marga told her that she would would make her suffer more.
“I’m already suspended. What more do you want?” LJ asked.
“I want you out of Maxwell.”
” No. My parents want me to graduate here,” LJ said. “You can’t make me leave this school.”
“If that’s what you want, then get ready for my rëveñge after your suspension. I will make sure you regret coming back here to the point that you’ll beg to be expelled.”
Mina arrived home from work. Carlos stopped her and apologized for what had happened last night. Mina said she didn’t want trouble so they should just forget about it, adding that Robert had been right in saying that they had to start avoiding each other.
Kulas came in with Gino and Jude. Carlos asked why Jude was wet and he told him that he had fallen into the pool. Much to Mina and Carlos’ horror, Gino suggested that they go swimming in the pool.
“Carlos, let your brothers have some fun,” Kulas said. “Am sure Romina wouldn’t mind.”
“Just tell miss Esther so she can help you out with anything,” Mina said.
“Can’t you do it, Romina?”
“I’m sorry Mr. Kulas. I have business that I need to take care of,” Mina said. “How about this; next time you decide to come by, tell us in advance so we can prepare everything you need.” Kulas was pissed. “Go ahead and swim. I need to go.”
Mina walked away while Kulas told his sons to go ahead and enjoy themselves. During lunch break, Cassie invited Marga to eat together but she snubbed her and went to join the Mean Squad at another table.
At Camila, Mina congratulated her team for finishing up the presentation for the new marketing strategy, which they would be able to present it to the board tomorrow. Danny girl came in, asking what was going on. Mina dismissed everyone.
“You’re having a meeting without informing me?” Daniela asked.
“You’re assigned to the factory now, Daniela. You don’t need to attend the meeting. It’s all your fault because of the failed proposal, now we have to come up with a new proposal to present to the board.”
“Are you trying to piss me off?”
Mina stood up. “I should ask you the same thing…I have to put up with you at home, but here at work, I won’t let any mistake go unpunished.”
“So you really are getting back at me.”
“Am not pathetic like you. Please go back to work.”
Daniela stopped Mina as she was walking out and apologized for what had happened, saying that she had acted out because she was stressed about her family and what they were going through. Mina was surprised. She told Danny girl not to explain but make sure that it didn’t happen again.
Danny girl smiled mischievously after Mina left the conference room. Back at the mansion, Gino and Jude were enjoying the pool while Kulas complained to Carlos about Mina’s behavior earlier. “You saw how she acted like she owned the pool,” Kulas said.
“Dad, how many times do I have to tell you? She’s married to Mr. Robert so this is her house.”
“This is yours and Daniela’s house too. It’s not just Romina’s. No wonder she pushes you around.”
“Dad, did you talk to Daniela yesterday?” Carlos asked.
“Yes. I told her that I caught Romina scolding Marga.”
“So it’s your fault. You’re the reason we had a fight last night.”
“My fault?”
“Dad, there was a huge fight last night, all because of what you said to Daniela.”
“I just told her the truth. I caught Romina scolding Marga when I came to visit. Should I have kept my mouth shut? She was mistreating Marga.”
Carlos told Kulas that he didn’t know the whole story and he was just making things hard for them, knowing how quick-tempered Daniela was.
Kulas took offense. “Am not making things hard for anyone!”
“That’s exactly what you’re doing,” Carlos shot back.
Kulas turned to Gino and Jude. “Hey you two, we’re done here. Get out of the pool. We need to leave, before I end up hitting your brother.” While Gino and Jude got out of the pool, Kulas grabbed food from a nearby table and started eating it on his way out.
