“Your daughter’s a liar! Your perfect little princess is not perfect anymore. Your beloved daughter is a little rebel. And she has a secret account online that she’s been hiding from you two.”
At Camila, Mina and Daniela presented their proposal to the board and they were met with a warm reception. A board member congratulated Mina on the impressive presentation and Mina told her that it was a team effort. Robert then suggested that they set a date for the launch of the project and everyone else agreed.
“You girls just made me so proud,” Robert said to Mina and Daniela after the board members had left. “Congratulations. And congratulations,” he said, giving each of them a ki$$. Danny girl batted her eyes mischievously.
At Maxwell, Kristoff joined Cassie at the cafeteria and asked where Fatima was. Cassie told him that Fatima would be joining them soon. Marga sat at another table with the Mean Squad. Cassie pointed them out, saying that she couldn’t understand why Marga would still be friends with the girls after what had happened.
Kristoff told her that he couldn’t blame Marga if she was still hanging out with them. “They’ve been friends for a long time,” he added. “It’s not easy to end a friendship just like that, you know?”
“Am just worried about Marga. I want to do something to keep her away from those mean friends who say bad things about her behind her back.”
“Well, I know that Marga doesn’t like other people telling her what to do,” Kristoff said. “She’s had enough of that in her life.”
“Seems like you’re close to Marga now, huh?” Cassie asked.
“We just talk from time to time,” Kristoff replied. “The best thing we can do for her is to be here when she needs us.”
Cassie saw Marga leaving her table. Since Fatima had still not shown up, she told Kristoff that she was going to look for her. However, Cassie hid behind a pillar and listened in to the conversation of the Mean Squad.
“I can’t wait to kick Marga out of our group,” Nadya was saying. “I can’t stand her anymore.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something, Nadya,” Nica added while Cassie listened and stared.
That night, Cassie told her father that she was worried about Marga because her friends were saying really nasty things about her openly. Marga was coming into the room when she heard them talking. She stopped and listened.
“Were they also the ones who posted Marga’s photos in Novatas?” Robert asked.
“Yes,” Cassie admitted.
“It was them?” Robert sounded incredulous.
“That’s why am really worried.”
“Why didn’t Marga mention anything to us?”
“Because there’s nothing to worry about, grandpa,” Marga said, walking into the room.
“I just want to know the truth,” Robert said to her. “What did they really do to you?”
“Grandpa, it was…it was just a prank. Do you think I’ll let anyone bully me?” Robert turned to stare at Cassie. Marga gave Cassie an angry look. She then changed her facial expression when Robert turned to glance at her.
“Why would Marga hide that she’s being bullied at school?” Mina asked after she had come out of the bathroom. She joined her husband in bed.
“I don’t really know,” Robert replied. “I knew she wasn’t telling the truth earlier. So it’s better that I check with the school and find out what really happened.”
“I know you’re just worried about Marga, but shouldn’t Daniela and Carlos be the ones sorting this out?” Mina asked. “Daniela might get mad at you again for meddling in their affairs.”
“Marga’s my granddaughter,” Robert pointed out. “And I won’t let anyone bully her like that. Not when I can do something about it.”
“I understand, but I think it’s better if you discuss this with Daniela first,” Mina suggested. “You know who your daughter is. If something really did happen to Marga, am sure Daniela wouldn’t let that slip so easily. That’s why you should talk to Daniela and Carlos first, and let them decide what they want to do about it.”
Robert told Mina that he still couldn’t understand why Marga didn’t tell them what had happened. Mina said she also felt the same way. “Maybe she thinks that she can handle the situation,” Mina said.
Marga was pretty pissed off. She asked Cassie why she was meddling in her life. “I don’t care if you’re bored with your life, just get the hell away from me,” she hissed.
“I just wanted to help you, Marga.”
“Then stop. I don’t need your help because it’s only making things worse. And please stop saying you did this for me because am sure this is part of your ‘good girl act’ to win people over.”
“That’s not true, Marga,” Cassie said, staring back at her.
Back in Robert and Mina’s room, Robert asked Mina if Cassie would have also kept it a secret if the same thing had happened to her.
“No. Not Cassie,” Mina replied. “She will always tell me everything that is going on with her.”
Back in Cassie and Marga’s room, Cassie told Marga that she was genuinely worried about her and she had done that because she really cared for her.
“Well, I don’t need your care,” Marga spat. “Much less your pity. So please stop meddling with my life or else I will ruin yours,” Marga threatened. Cassie stared back at her in disbelief.
Cassie hurried to catch up with Marga at school. “Marga…”
“Get lost, Cassie.”
“Marga, please, let’s talk.”
“I said get lost!” Marga yelled. Without another word, Cassie walked away silently.
Kristoff came up and sat beside her. “Another dragon war?”
“Don’t tell me you also want to be updated with our fights,” Marga said.
“It’s only because I don’t see you two getting along,” Kristoff said. “If you wanna talk about it, am here. But if not, am fine with it.”
Marga sighed. “Well, your friend Cassie likes to meddle in other people’s business. She just pretends to be a good girl in front of grandpa at my expense.”
“Cassie doesn’t seem like that,” Kristoff pointed out. “She’s just looking out for you. What happened anyway?”
“She told grandpa about what happened between me and Nadya.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“Kristoff, am not a weakling to let other people fight my battles. And what do you think will happen if grandpa suddenly comes here? Much worse, how about if my mom does? Things will only get worse, Kristoff.”
“Cassie means well, Marga. Don’t you like it when someone looks after you? Care about you for your own good? You don’t have to fight your battles all on your own.”
“That’s just how I was raised.” Marga admitted.
“I know,” Kristoff said. “But think about it, alright? Anyway, I have training today. I’ll see you around.”
“You called for me, dad?” Daniela asked, walking into her father’s office. “Are you checking up on me?”
“No, no. Am not,”
Danny girl told her father not to worry because she wouldn’t waste the chance he had given her. “What is it? Spill it out, dad.”
“I…I wanted to talk to you, but it’s not about work,” Robert began. “It’s about Marga.”
“Why dad? Did something happen to Marga?”
“Well, it’s about what happened to her in school. Cassie told me that it was Marga’s classmates who spread pictures of her living in Novatas.”
Danny was dumbfounded. “Am starting to get worried. Maybe Marga needs us to step in and help out. If you need any help, just let me know. I’ll leave the decision to you and your husband.”
“You’re starting to sound like a caring father, dad.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to her. I’ll find out what’s going on. Besides, Marga’s your granddaughter. She’s a Mondragon. And Mondragons don’t break easily.”
Back in school, Marga had a talk with her dance troupe, telling them that they needed to come up with something new and exciting this year. The Mean Squad was among them. Marga suggested that they do a dance clinic.
“So you want us to teach?” one of them asked.
“We don’t have to be the ones to teach them,” Marga replied. “We’ll be able to attract more participants if we hire the best dance cruise here in the country for the dance clinic. We can also hire celebrity dancers. I have a lot of connections for that.”
Somewhere in the field, Cassie sat with her art club members. One of them asked if they were really going to sell their paintings, worried that no one might buy from them.
“How will we know if we don’t try,” Cassie asked. “If we ourselves are not confident that we will succeed in this, it will eventually reflect in our artworks. I believe in our abilities. This is our passion. If we put our heart into it, we can achieve great things. So guys, are you with me?” she asked with her usual smile.
Nica told Marga and the rest of the squad that she was excited because she was sure a lot of people would attend the dance clinic. “Especially when they hear we’ve got celebrity dancers,” she added. Marga smiled.
“But did you hear what Cassie’s group is planning?” Nadya asked.
“Yeah. Some kind of exhibit,” Marga said. “That’s why am not worried. Her ideas are super boring.”
“They’re collaborating with the music club, and they’re also holding a mini-concert,” Nadya revealed.
“And so? The music club is not popular,” Marga pointed out.
“Am just saying, Marga. Cassie’s an achiever too. She would not go down without a fight.”
“Nadya, considering our plans, it wouldn’t even be a fight. It’s just going to be a massacre, and they are the victims. I can’t wait,” she added with a sigh.
That night, Marga was about to ask Naana Esther something when Cassie walked into the living room. She left without a word.
“You had another fight with ‘dragon monster 2.0′, right?” Neil asked.
“Neil…” Esther signalled to him to stop.
“She’s still mad at me because I told daddy,” Cassie said.
“Don’t mind her, Cassie,” Neil said. “Just like a gift, it’s the thought that counts.”
A while later, Cassie was in bed, reading when Marga came in. She was all dressed up and when she noticed that Cassie was studying, she deliberately turned up some music to distract her.
Cassie glanced at her. “Marga, can you please turn the volume down? I really can’t concentrate.” No response. “Marga… Marga!”
“What?”
“Can you turn down the volume a bit? Am just finishing my homework.”
“I see. And since this is your room, I have to do what you say.”
“Marga, that’s not what am saying.”
“Cut the crap, Cassie. Why don’t you say it straight to my face that you want me to leave your room? That’s your point, right?” Cassie stared. “And since this is your room, I have no choice.” She got up to leave.
“Where are you going?” Cassie asked.
“You don’t need to know where am going,” Marga shot at her. “If I want to leave, I’ll leave.” Cassie grabbed her stuff and hurried after her.
At Camila, Mina prepped up for the upcoming launch of the project, reading her speech out loud to herself. Bonita came into her office, saying that she was touched by her speech. Mina told her to stop because she was already feeling anxious about the pre-launch.
“You have nothing to worry about because your ideas are brilliant,” Bonita said.
“Because I have an amazing team,” Mina said to her.
“Including Daniela?” Bonita made a face.
“Of course,” Mina said and Bonita frowned. “She’s part of this project, and she accomplished all of her tasks. She made a big contribution to the project.”
Bonita shrugged. “You have a point. Am just here to tell you that we are already there. We’re waiting for the big shot clients to arrive.”
At the Camilahat Project launch, a board member said that Robert didn’t have to worry about the company’s future anymore, and he could finally retire. Daniela told him that she still had a lot to learn from her dad and Romina.
“We couldn’t have done it without Romina and her leadership,” she added. Mina and Robert took the guests to their table.
Back at the mansion, Marga called her mother on phone, telling her that she was going out because she couldn’t stand Cassie.
“Where are going?” Daniela asked.
“Somewhere. As long as it is far away from Cassie,” Marga said. She looked up to see Cassie descending from the stairs, all dressed up. “Oh, great, she’s following me again. She’s so annoying,” Marga ranted.
“Okay, I’ll call you back, just make sure you don’t let her out of your sight. And let her follow you.”
“But mommy…”
“Just do what I say, Marga.”
“Fine,” Marga said with a sigh. She made for the door and Cassie hurried after her.
Back at the Camilahat Project launch, Danny girl told Mina that she had spoken to Marga who had told her that Cassie was going out.
Mina seemed surprised. “Cassie wouldn’t do that,” she said.
“But that’s what Marga said,” Danny girl went on. “Look Romina, I think you should go check on Cassie. Go to her. I can cover for you.”
“Okay. I’ll just call her.” Mina left to call Cassie while Danny girl gloated, smiling to herself triumphantly.
Cassie caught up with Marga and asked her to wait. Marga told her not to touch her, asking why she kept following her. “You said you wanted me to leave, right?”
“Marga, I didn’t say anything like that.”
“But that’s how you made me feel.”
“Marga please, let’s go home.”
“If you want to go home, go home on your own,” Marga shot at her. Her mother called her on phone and she answered, walking away from Cassie.
Cassie also had a phone call from her mother but she was distracted with Marga’s sudden disappearance. Meanwhile, Marga stood behind a wall, talking to her mother on phone. Danny girl asked where Cassie was and Marga said she could still see her because she was still following her.
“Good. Let her tag along,” Danny girl said. “And don’t come home yet.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Just trust me, Marga. Do what I ask.”
“Fine.”
At Kulas’ house, Myrna was about to make a phone call when a knock sounded at the door. She got all jumpy and hurriedly hid her phone before going to open the door. Carlos stood at the door. “Oh son, come in.”
Carlos shrugged off Myrna’s hand and entered, asking where his father was. Myrna told him that Kulas had gone out but would be back soon. She asked Carlos to take a seat.
“It’s fine,” Carlos said. “Am just here to give you this.” He handed her an envelope. “I loaned that from my insurance. You can use that. I’ll give you more once I find a job.”
“You don’t have to do this, son,” Myrna said.
“Just take it before I change my mind,” Carlos shot at her.
“Thank you so much, son. Am sorry… you’re now burdened because of me. I wouldn’t bother if I didn’t need it badly.”
“Just focus on the treatment so that all of this would end. I’ll be leaving now.” Carlos made for the door.
“Um, son…” Carlos stopped. “I know you’re still mad at me. But believe me, I came back for you. If your father didn’t keep you from me…”
Carlos turned to face Myrna.
“Son, when I left, I realized that I couldn’t live without my family. I searched for you, but you had already moved out. I don’t know if you’ll believe me but…I looked for you. I just didn’t know where Kulas took you.”
Mina and Robert were being driven home. Mina called Cassie several times but there was still no answer. Robert told her not to worry. “She couldn’t have gotten far. She might even be home by now,” he said.
“But she’s not answering her phone,” Mina pointed out. “Even Marga’s not answering too.”
“It’s okay.”
“Robert, why is this happening,” Mina cried. “What did I do? Did I miss something? Where did I go wrong? She was not like this before.”
“You did everything. It’s not your fault at all, Romina. Maybe she had a good reason for doing this,” Robert reasoned.
“No matter what the reason is, she shouldn’t have done this.”
“You should talk to her. But don’t give in to your anger. Make things clear with her. Am sure everything will be fine.”
Cassie found Marga and suggested that they go home. Marga wouldn’t listen, pissed that Cassie was still following her. She went into a restaurant and found the Mean Squad there. Nadya’s uncle, Bryan, who was also there with a friend invited them to join them.
At the Camilahat Project launch, the audience gave a warm reception to the project video shown on a screen. As the MC called for Mina, the Vice President of Operations to give her speech, Neil who sat among the audience with Bonita was surprised to see Daniela take the stand instead. Bonita explained to him that Daniela was covering for Mina.
“I apologize because Romina could not say this tonight,” Daniela began. “But as the daughter of the President, and the successor of Camila Sardines, I would like to welcome you all…the video you just watched is the fruit of my hard work, all inspired by my mother’s original vision for the company.”
Neil and Bonita didn’t seem pleased with her speech.
“…I would like to share with you how happy I am,” Danny girl went on. “After so many years of mismanagement and detours, I have restored Camila Sardines to it’s former glory…one food, one nation, the original Camila Sardines.”
Danny girl smiled to herself as the audience clapped. Back at the restaurant, Bryan asked Marga if she wanted some vodka. Marga said she would just have some juice.
“So… you four…just because of a misunderstanding?” Bryan asked.
“No, that’s not just a misunderstanding,” Marga corrected. “They said bad things about me, so I can even sue them if I wanted to.”
“Then do it,” Nadya challenged, annoyed. “So we’ll finally know the truth.”
Cassie had a phone call from her mother. “Marga, let’s go home. Mama’s calling me,” she said worriedly. “I bet they’re worried about us.”
“So what? You’ll tell her again what I did? Go on Cassie, that’s what you’re good at, right?” Marga took a sip of her juice while Cassie let her phone ring over and over again without answering.
“Marga, can we please go now?” Cassie asked after a while.
“Jeez, chill,” Marga said.
“Cassie, you’re too much,” Nadya commented. “Are you Cinderella or something?”
Bryan’s friend, who was drunk now, bumped into a guy. “You wasted my drink,” he accused.
“Are you crazy? You bumped into me,” the other guy countered.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Bryan’s friend said, pushing the other guy. In response, the guy punched him in the face and Bryan went to join the fight.
Cassie, Marga and the Mean Squad were scared to death. Nadya, Nica and Maureen ran off and Marga made the mistake of trying to stop the fight. Bryan shoved her aside and she fell, hitting her head hard on the table. Cassie tried to revive her but she was unresponsive. Frantic, she fished out her phone and made a call.
“Mama,” she cried. “Mama, something happened to Marga. We need to rush her to the hospital.”
Back at the Camilahat Project launch, Mrs. Galvez congratulated Daniela on a job well done.
“Thank you Mrs. Galvez. I hope you all got the message,” Danny girl said.
“Of course,” Mrs. Galvez and some other co-workers who stood by responded.
“We thought it would have been better if you had joined the company years a go.”
“Let’s not dwell on the past,” Daniela said. “We should focus on the present.”
“Well, that would be hard, especially without Robert and Romina,” the other woman said. “By the way, where are they?”
“Oh, there was a family emergency. Their daughter’s going through a bit of a difficult phase, getting rebellious.”
“You mean Cassie? That’s odd. I watched that kid grow up…and I know her as a very nice kid. She’s not the type to get rebellious.”
“Ah, but you know kids nowadays are different,” Danny girl said. “Besides, dad and Romina have been really busy at work that’s why… you know the kids now…they are needy.”
Carlos sat silently at his father’s place. Myrna pleaded with him to say something and Carlos asked what she wanted him to say.
“I didn’t tell you the truth for you to get mad at your father,” Myrna said.
“Why would I get mad?” Carlos asked. “I understand why he took us away from you, because you were the one who abandoned us.”
“And I regret doing that, son. If I could turn back time, I will, just for me not to lose you.”
Carlos’ phone rang, and he answered it. “Hello, Mr. Robert?…Okay, am on my way there. I’ll call Daniela.” Ignoring Myrna’s pleas to hell him what was wrong, Carlos hurried out.
Robert and Mina were at the hospital with Cassie. “How’s my granddaughter?” Robert asked.
“It’s a good thing she was only unconscious for a short while. And she has no visible cuts on her head,” the doctor replied. “But just to be sure, we will conduct a series of tests to check if she’s suffering from internal bleeding and bruises on her head.”
“Can I see my granddaughter now?” Robert asked. He left with the doctor to see Marga.
“Mama, what’s going on? Will Marga be okay?” Cassie asked.
Mina turned to face her daughter. “What’s happening to you, Cassie?” she asked. “Why did this happen to Marga? And why did you sneak out?”
“Sneak out?” Cassie looked confused.
“What’s going on with you, Cassie? How many times must you make me and your dad worry?”
“But I didn’t sneak out, mommie.”
“No. I tried keeping calm in the past, Cassie, but not this time, because someone got hurt because of you. And you will be responsible for this.”
“Am telling the truth, ma. I just followed Marga.”
“Then why did Daniela tell me you snuck out?” Mina asked.
“That’s not true, ma. Why would I do that?” Mina was silent now, finally understanding the situation.
Daniela and Carlos entered the room, asking where Marga was. Mina told them that she was getting a CT scan.
“What did you do to Marga?” Danny girl demanded, shaking Cassie violently.
Mina forced her to release her hold on Cassie. “Don’t touch her, Daniela,” she warned, standing protectively in front her daughter.
“Are you really defending your stubborn daughter?” Daniela asked.
“Stubborn? You are the stubborn one. You’re the one who made things up. Did you think we wouldn’t know the truth? Cassie didn’t sneak out, you just made that up.”
“Your daughter’s a liar!” Danny girl spat, giving Mina a dirty slãp.
Without a single word, Mina returned the favour, rewarding Danny girl with a stinging slãp of her own.
“Hey, stop it, you two,” Carlos said, standing between them like a referee.
“I really didn’t sneak out Daniela. Who told you that I snuck out?” Cassie asked. “It was Marga who went out, Daniela,” Cassie added as her father came back into the room. “I was worried about her so I followed her. She joined Nadya and her friends. They’re the reason she got hurt.”
“Go on, Cassie, save yourself. So that’s what you really are. All along I thought I was helping you out.”
“Can we just talk about this when we’ve all calmed down?” Carlos asked. He turned to his wife. “Let’s put this off until Marga’s okay.”
“No,” Danny girl refused. “We’re not dragging our daughter into this. She’s the victim here.”
“Daniela, I want to know the truth,” Robert said.
“You want to know the truth, dad? Your perfect little princess is not perfect anymore,” Danny girl said. “Your beloved daughter is a little rebel. See for yourself.”
Daniela showed them a photo she had taken of Cassie with those tattooed guys at the recent street art event. “And she has a secret account online that she’s been hiding from you two.” Cassie was horrified. “See that, Romina?” Mina was left speechless.
“That’s enough,” Carlos jumped in.
“Enough of this,” Robert added. “We better go home now.” Cassie stared at her dearest sister in disbelief for her betrayal. She looked like she was about to cry. “Let’s go,” Robert added as he followed Mina and Cassie out the door. “This is enough.” Carlos was left staring at Danny girl.
Mina was with Cassie in her room. “So you have a secret account?” Mina asked her.
Cassie stared in silence, her eyes wide with fear. (Cat got your tongue?)
“Who were those with you?”
“Ma, let me explain.”
“Those pictures in your secret account that Daniela showed us, were you with them last night, Cassie? Are they influencing you? That’s why you’re acting this way?”
“They had nothing to do with this, ma,” Cassie replied. “Am the one who wanted to do that.”
“What’s going on with you, Cassie? Did I do something wrong? Why are you rebelling against us?”
“Am not rebelling against you, ma,” Cassie said. ” I didn’t really want to disobey you.”
“Cassie, you have a choice.”
“But you don’t understand me,” Cassie cried.
“I really don’t. Not anymore. I don’t even know if I should still believe you. Am very disappointed in you, Cassie. From now on, you’re grounded.”
Cassie was at a loss for words. “… until when?”
“Until your debut, if that’s what it takes for you to learn your lesson.” Mina wiped tears from her eyes and left. Cassie sobbed silently.
Carlos and Daniela had gone to see Marga at the hospital. Carlos was glad that Marga’s test result were good, and there wasn’t any complications. “I would just wait for the discharge papers, then we can go home.”
“Thank you, daddy,” Marga said. Carlos then left to settle everything downstairs.
“Don’t worry, baby, I’ll make sure whoever’s responsible pays,” Danny girl said to Marga.
“No, just… don’t do anything, mommy, if you don’t want me to tell them the truth.”
“Margaret.” Danny girl was surprised.
“Isn’t it true, mommy? This wouldn’t have happened to me if you didn’t ask me to do it.”
“Baby, am sorry. I didn’t know it would end up like this.”
“What’s done is done, mommy.”
“Don’t worry,” Danny girl assured. “This will be the last time we do this. Because we’re about to win. We’ll finally get what’s rightfully ours.”
The next morning, Marga arrived back at the mansion with her parents. She greeted her grandpa and he asked how she was feeling.
“I’m okay,” Marga said.
“That’s good,” Robert said with a smile.
“Let’s go Marga,” Daniela said.
“Hold on,” Cassie jumped in. “Can I talk to Marga for a second?”
“Cassie… you can talk to her some other time,” Carlos said.
Robert turned to her daughter. “It’s okay. Just let her rest,” he suggested.
“No, dad, I want to talk to Marga now,” Cassie insisted. She stood in front of Marga now. “I just want to tell everyone…that I did not sneak out last night.”
“Move on, cassie, we already had that conversation,” Danny girl said annoyingly.
“But my mom doesn’t believe me because of what you did.” Mina asked her to stop but Cassie wouldn’t listen. “Marga, please, tell them, you were the one who sneaked out.”
Marga glanced at Mina, and then her parents. She turned back to face her aunt. “It was you who sneaked out, Cassie. I just followed you.” Dumbfounded, Cassie glanced at her parents.
At an undisclosed location, Myrna met up with the young woman who had come to Kulas’ house/shop for repairs. “We have money now,” Myrna said, smiling and giving her the envelope Carlos had given her for her supposed cancer treatment.
The woman took the envelope, took out the money and then smiled. Back at the mansion, Cassie confronted Marga, who was busy listening to some music, a headphone in her ears. She demanded to know why she had lied to everyone.
“I didn’t lie to them,” Marga replied, taking off her headphone. “I just told them the truth. You didn’t ask for their permission, right? So…you sneaked out.”
“Marga, that’s not what I want you to say. I want you to tell them what really happened.”
“Sorry, not sorry. It’s because you did not explain clearly.”
“Mom is really mad at me, Marga. You have to help me on this.”
“No can do. I might even be seen as a liar if I do that.” Marga put on her headphone, mocking and Cassie sighed in frustration.
In the living room, Mina stood near the glass window, staring outside. Danny girl came up to her, mocking and asking if she had daughter problems.
“Don’t worry. I read online that rebellion is normal among teenagers these days,” Danny girl mocked.
“Not Cassie,” Mina shot back at her. “We did everything we could to raise her well. We loved her and taught her right from wrong. Robert and I did not fail on that, Daniela.”
“Perhaps it’s in the genes.” Danny girl laughed. “Am just kidding…am not referring to you. Am talking about that mystery guy. Cassie’s father.”
“Please don’t start,” Mina warned. “Am not in the mood to argue with you.”
“Romina, am just making you laugh.”
“Well, it’s not funny.”
“Let me give you a piece of advice, Romina. Just focus on Cassie. With what’s been happening to her, maybe it’s just the beginning.”
In her room, Cassie sat painting, hitting the board with the paintbrush in frustration. Robert came in and watched her for a while.
“I can sense anger,” Robert said.
Cassie turned. “Daddy.”
“Are you upset with me and your mother?” Robert asked.
“Am not. I can never be angry with you and mama.”
“Then who?”
“It’s Marga. She lied, daddy. And she doesn’t want to take back what she said.”
“What’s really going on? Your mother and I kept calling you the whole night, but you didn’t pick up.”
“I knew she would get upset if she found out that I left the house,” Cassie replied. “I thought I’d be able to convince Marga to come back.”
“See what happened? Your mother only got more upset. And Marga got hurt.”
“Am sorry, daddy.”
Robert sighed. “Okay. Listen to me, Cassie. Next time, no matter what happens, tell the truth, because anger fades away. But once you lose our trust, it would be hard for you to earn it back.”
“But daddy, you believe me, right?” Cassie asked. “That I didn’t do anything wrong?”
“Honestly, yes, I believe you.” Robert embraced and comforted her. “No matter what happens, I’ll always be on your side.”
Later that night, Robert asked Daniela how Marga was doing. Daniela told him that she was resting.
“Good thing nothing bad happened to her,” Robert said.
“But Cassie better stay away from her,” Danny girl threatened. “If anything happens to Marga because of Cassie, there’s no telling what I might do.”
“I think we should keep Cassie and Marga far apart.”
“What?” Danny girl looked surprised.
“Daniela, they’re not getting along,” Robert added. “Things would just get worse as long as they live together. I think it would be better if… you moved out.”
At Maxwell, Marga complained and ranted to Kristoff about Cassie, saying that she would never cover for Cassie after she had messed up, adding that she was the one who had gotten hurt.
“Instead of ranting, talk to her so you can stop the fighting,” Kristoff suggested.
“Fighting? Kristoff I am not fighting with Cassie. Am just doing this for myself.”
“You’re family, Marga. You can’t keep fighting.”
“Yes, we can. Auntie Romina and mommy have been like that.”
“How far will you go?” Kristoff asked. “Are you really willing to turn on your family?”
“Unfortunately, family doesn’t matter to us anymore.”
Cassie sat at a table with Fatima and LJ. “That Marga is really unbelievable,” Fatima said. “She’s so ungrateful. You helped her out and she turned her back on you.”
“You made the right decision, Cassie,” LJ added. “Forget that she’s your niece. It seems like it doesn’t even matter to her.”
“It’s because when Cassie saw Marga’s ‘good girl act’, she believed right away. You’re too kind to her.” Fatima added.
“But am not going to trust her again, Fatima,” Cassie said. “If I’ve learned anything from our relationship, it’s that Marga would do anything to win, even if it’s wrong. She’ll do everything just to bring me down, whether we get along or not. So it’s better if I don’t trust her again.”
