“The guy you saw me with earlier. Is the person I used against Romina. Do you remember the time she got rãpëd ? I planned that. And that guy was the one I hired to do it. I will never let them find out the truth.”
Marga asked her grandpa why he was leaving, and Robert told her that he was just going to attend a conference in Australia, and he had decided to take Romina and Cassie along.
“Vacation?” Marga asked, still doubtful. “Is it really a vacation?”
“Marga.”
“If it’s just a vacation, then why are you talking about Cassie’s studies? And it’s the middle of the school year, grandpa. Why don’t you wait until summer break?”
Robert was silent.
“This isn’t just a vacation, is it?” Marga went on. “What will happen to me when you leave? What will happen to our family?”
The head of maintenance told Alvin that he had to fill out his application and if he did well in his job, then they could make him a regular worker. Alvin watched Cassie as she talked and laughed with her friends.
Daniela met up with Alvin and gave him a huge sum of money so he would stop bothering her. Alvin asked her to relax for now since it would he a while before she saw him again. Daniela had a phone call.
“Oh perfect,” Alvin mocked. “I think your husband’s already looking for you.”
Daniela picked up her phone and answered. “Carlos? What is it?”
“Where are you?” Carlos asked.
“Um…ah…at the office. Why?”
Alvin smiled at Daniela, impressed with her skills of deception. Daniela gave him a look.
Carlos was at the front desk of Camila. The receptionist told him that Daniela wasn’t there. Carlos mentioned that he had spoken with her before he had left home and she had told him that she was at work. The receptionist told him that she had already tried calling but no one was answering at her desk.
Bonita noticed him standing there, and she came over. “Carlos? What are you doing here?”
Carlos turned to her. “Well, Daniela left the house early,” he began. He had some files in his hand. “She forgot these so I decided to bring them here because they might be important, but the receptionist said she isn’t here.”
“I haven’t seen her yet,” Bonita said. “Maybe she’s running other errands.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“I can leave them in her office if you want.”
“No, it’s ok. I’ll just wait for her.”
“Okay.”
At Maxwell, Cassie told her friends that she didn’t know what to believe anymore because if her parents weren’t hiding anything from her, then they didn’t need to go to Australia. Fatima asked her not to think that way because maybe her parents really wanted to go on a vacation with her, especially since she recently had a misunderstanding with her dad.
“Maybe they just wanted to spend time and bond with you,” Fatima stated.
“Fatima, if it’s just a vacation, we can wait until the end of the school year,” Cassie pointed out. “But based on what dad said earlier, we’ll be leaving immediately.”
“Well, it wouldn’t be a surprise,” LJ commented. “Considering your situation.”
“LJ, stop that. You’re only making things worse,” Fatima admonished.
“But what if it’s not the only reason?” LJ asked. “What if they’re planning on staying there for good? Maxwell has a campus there and as far as I know, we can transfer there if we really need to.”
“LJ, you’re not helping.”
“I won’t allow it,” Cassie declared. “And if that’s really what dad’s planning, they just gave me an even bigger reason to find out what really happened. If I need to intensify my investigation, then I will. I won’t allow us to leave until I know what the truth really is.”
Daniela was smiling happily to herself on the drive to the office. Savannah asked why she seemed so happy and what she had been doing at the restaurant earlier.
“I just got rid of an annoying pest that always comes back to bother me,” Daniela grumbled. “Now, I can focus on taking out Romina and her bãstârd daughter. Everything is going back to how it should be, Savannah. And I have every reason to be happy.”
At Camila, Carlos ran into Romina at reception and he explained that he had brought Daniela some files she had forgotten at home.
“You should have left it at the reception desk,” Mina said, walking away.
“Am also waiting for Daniela,” Carlos added.
Mina stopped.
“And am not in a hurry anyway,” Carlos added.
“Okay.”
“How is Cassie doing?”
Mina seemed confused. “Why do you ask?”
“It’s not that I want to meddle, but don’t you think she needs to know the truth?”
“Thanks for your concern but it’s our decision to make as parents, not anyone else’s.”
“Am sorry.”
Daniela arrived with Savannah and Mina excused herself. Carlos asked his wife where she had gone since she had said earlier that she was at the office.
“I just met up with Savannah,” Daniela said.
“Yeah, you know, for chitchat,” Savannah added.
Carlos gave Daniela the files. “You forgot this so I brought it here. Anyway, I have to go to work.” Carlos kissed her and left.
Daniela silently stared at Savannah.
At the gambling den, Hector asked his brother how the application had gone, and Alvin told him that he had help from someone and now he had gotten the job at Maxwell.
“It’s really great that you took care of my documents,” Alvin said. “They had no clue that I had a police record.”
“Alvin, you do know money makes the world go round, right?”
“But I can’t pay you back yet, Hector.”
“Am I asking you to repay me now? Remember that I invested in you, so your plan better work. Or else, you’ll get it from me.”
“Am sure it will work.”
Daniela barged into Romina’s office. “Oh, Romina, you never listen,” she began. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from my husband?”
“You’re the one who never listens, Daniela,” Mina countered. “Am getting tired of telling you that there’s nothing going on between me and Carlos.”
“And you really expect me to believe that, when everytime I turn my back, you two are always together.”
“Believe whatever you want. I don’t even need to explain anything to you in the first place.”
“Why were you talking to him?”
“He was looking for you. I happened to run into him, so he asked me. But wait, where did you go earlier?”
“That’s none of your business,” Danny girl snapped. “A piece of advice Romina, before you start messing around in someone else’s husband’s business, why don’t you focus on your own child? Cassie keeps asking around about what happened to you.”
Mina glared at Daniela.
“How do you think she’ll react when she learns all your dirty little secrets?” Danny girl mocked.
“Get out of my office.”
A cleaner came in. “Excuse me, ma’am, am here to change the trash bag,” he said.
Daniela turned to him. “Oh dear, you’ll need an even bigger trash bag.” She eyed Romina. “For the trash in this office.”
Mina looked on angrily as Daniela left. Neil couldn’t understand why Robert and Romina had decided to leave the country all of a sudden. Gino mentioned that he would have also done the same thing if he was in their situation and he had wanted to keep the truth from Cassie.
“At least no one will bother Cassie there,” Gino said. “And your family would not have to worry about my dad.”
“But none of this would happen if they just told the truth,” Neil complained.
“Well, it’s really difficult to tell the truth, especially in a situation like this. They have to think about what other people would say. And Cassie would be really affected when she knows the truth.”
“I understand. But I have the feeling that they would be staying there for good.”
“Wouldn’t that be for the best since nobody knows them there? They’ll have a fresh start, a place where no one can judge them.”
Neil eyed Gino suspiciously. “Are we still taking about my niece or something else?”
“What else?” Gino asked nervously. “Who’s problem would we be talking about?”
“I don’t know. You tell me. That sounded way too personal.”
“Are you crazy? What’s personal? Am just helping you out here.”
Kristoff found Marga and asked if she had seen Cassie. As if on cue, Marga began with her usual ranting, saying that it was all Cassie’s fault and none of this would be happening if not for her.
Kristoff was confused. He sat by her. “What are you talking about?” he asked.
“I learned that grandpa’s moving to Australia with Cassie and her mom,” Marga began.
Kristoff was more surprised than ever.
“I think they’re leaving before Cassie even finishes this school year,” Marga added.
“Is that final?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that Cassie’s behind grandpa’s sudden decision. I hate that girl. She keeps taking everything from me. And now, I’ll lose grandpa too, all because of her.”
Kristoff was looking around as if he had lost something. “Do you know where Cassie is?” he asked again.
“Who cares where she is? And if I were you, I would stay away from her. You’ll just get caught up in her issues. You’ll just get dragged. Besides, there’s nothing you can do anyway. I think grandpa’s decision really is final.”
Robert sat at the waiting area of Maxwell. Alvin slid into a seat nearby and stared at him. Cassie arrived and greeted her father. She asked what he was doing there and Robert told her that he had had a meeting with the principal regarding their trip to Australia.
Cassie was taken by surprise. “Ah… mamma told me that you would discuss it with her again.”
“We did. Your mom and I already talked about it.”
“Do we really have to go?”
“It’s your lunch break, right?” Robert asked, ignoring her question. “I ordered your favorite zucchini. Let’s wait for it. It’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Cassie stared at her father in confusion. “Dad, aren’t you even going to ask me if I really want to go abroad?”
“Cassie, we really have to go. We already made plans and arrangements. It’s final.”
Cassie looked hurt. “‘It’s final, Cassie, and you can’t do anything about it’, is that what you want to tell me, dad?”
“It’s not like that,” Robert said. “Please try to understand.”
“Understand? How?” Cassie was on the brink of tears. “You made a decision without considering what I want. Are you doing this because am asking around?”
Robert was silent.
“Dad, do you really think that I don’t deserve to know the truth?” Cassie cried.
“Why does it seem so hard for you to understand?”
“How can I understand something if you won’t help me understand, dad? You used to be the person who understood me the most. You were always supportive of the things I wanted to do. But now you’ve become stricter than mamma. And totally irrational.”
“Cassie, please know that all I want is what’s best for you. And I hope we can go back to the way things were.”
Cassie was sobbing now. “How can we do that when you’ve changed so much more than I did? I already miss the daddy I used to have.”
Robert took her hand. “Am sorry.”
“I’ll just have lunch at the canteen, dad.” Cassie stood up and walked away.
A guy brought some document to Alvin, telling him that everything was set and he could start work tomorrow. Alvin thanked him and eyed Robert who was still seated at the waiting area.
Cassie was silently crying by herself at a table. Alvin came up and offered her a handkerchief, asking if she was alright. Cassie declined the offer and told him that she was fine before hurrying away. Alvin stared after her.
Daniela came to pick up her daughter from school. She noticed the long face she wore and asked if something had happened.
“Cassie happened,” Marga barked.
“What? What is it now?” Daniela asked. “What did she do this time?”
“She existed. That’s what she did.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I had a talk with grandpa earlier, mommy,” Marga began. “And they’re leaving for Australia. There’s a big chance that they’ll stay there for good. And it’s all because of Cassie.”
“What?”
“Why does she always have to take everything from me? And now, grandpa’s going to live far away because of her. She doesn’t even have the right to do that. Because she’s not a Mondragon.”
Danny girl was speechless. The screws were starting to turn in her head.
At the gambling den, Hector asked his brother how his plan had gone so far. Alvin told him that Cassie was difficult and it would be harder than he had thought.
Hector gave him a look. “Difficult? Alvin, think of her as a stray cat. Once you feed it, it will keep coming back. Sometimes it will make a fuss, but it will know who you are.”
“Am waiting for an opportunity, Hector. I saw her talking to her adopted father earlier. She’s already asking about her identity, so they ended up arguing. When I see her again, I will tell her the truth.”
Hector couldn’t believe it. “Are you stüpïd ?” he barked. “If you do that, they’ll just send you to prison again.”
“I just need to gain Cassie’s trust. I want to win her over.”
“Alvin, you better be careful with your plan. You can’t mess it up.”
The Mondragons were having dinner at the dining table. The mood was depressing; Cassie was sulking silently, and she hadn’t touched her food yet. Neil was also toying with his food.
“Romina, I think I have indigestion,” Neil joked. “From the atmosphere.”
Mina turned to Cassie and asked if she wanted to eat anything else.
“It’s okay, mamma,” Cassie said. “I don’t think I have an appetite to eat tonight.”
“Okay. Just tell us if you want something.”
“Romina, don’t force her if she doesn’t want to eat,” Robert grumbled.
Cassie gave her father a look. “So I have a choice when it comes to food?”
“Cassie,” Mina admonished.
“Am okay. I just want to sleep now.”
Mina held her back as she tried getting up to leave. “Cassie, wait. Apologize to your father. Even if you are upset, you should not talk to us that way. That is not how we raised you, Cassie.”
“Am sorry, dad,” Cassie murmured.
Mina turned to her husband. “Robert?”
“Forget about it,” Robert said.
Mina was fed up with their attitudes. “That’s it. After school tomorrow, the three of us are going out.”
Cassie was taken by surprise. “What?”
“Yes,” Mina declared. “We will go out so we can discuss all our issues. Not like this. You should stop ignoring each other as if you’re complete strangers.”
“Romina…” Robert began.
“Robert, our family’s going through something,” Mina said, cutting him off. “We need to fix this before our family breaks apart.”
“Okay mamma,” Cassie agreed. “I’ll go upstairs now.” Cassie left and Esther went after her.
“Robert, you promised,” Mina pointed out. “You said you’d fix this.”
Marga was ranting during dinner at the Bartolome house, asking why Cassie needed a vacation in Australia and why they hadn’t taken her instead. “And why was she given an opportunity to transfer there? She’s not even grandpa’s real daughter.”
Carlos gave her a look. “Marga.”
“But that’s the truth, daddy,” Marga went on. She turned to her mother. “Do something about it, mommy. She doesn’t deserve it.”
“Alright,” Daniela said. “Let’s see if…”
“Daniela,” Carlos cut in. “Marga, I don’t want to hear that from you again.”
“But it’s the truth, daddy.”
“Legally, she’s your grandpa’s daughter. He treated her like his own daughter from the start. It doesn’t matter if she’s an illegitimate Mondragon or not. We don’t have the right to say that Cassie doesn’t deserve the privileges she has.”
“Well, she doesn’t,” Marga insisted. “We’re not even related to her.”
Carlos gave her a look. “Marga, can you stop being so envious of what Cassie has? Aren’t you happy with what we have? You shouldn’t meddle with things between Cassie and your grandpa. Don’t make things worse.”
Finally, Marga’s abominable mouth remained shut. But her mind did not. “That’s exactly what I want dad,” she thought to herself. “For Cassie and grandpa’s relationship to be ruined. That way, she won’t be able to outshine me.”
Alvin had began work at Maxwell. He Cassie as she was going to submit some books at the faculty room.
Alvin came over to her. “Excuse me, I hope I didn’t startle you again.”
“It’s fine.”
“You see, am new here and it’s my first time in Manila,” Alvin claimed. “I want to be familiar with the students here. I just wanted to apologize. I think I scared you again. Am so sorry.”
Cassie gave him a smile. “Don’t worry, sir. It’s fine. No problem.”
“Am Vin by the way.”
“Am Cassie.”
Alvin offered to help her with the books she was carrying and Cassie told him that she could manage on her own. After Cassie walked away, Alvin noticed something on the floor and he picked it up. It was Cassie’s student ID. Alvin whistled to himself happily.
At Camila, Robert had a meeting with the board and told them about his trip abroad. He apologized for the suddenness of it and announced that he would be appointing an acting president, much to Romina’s surprise.
A board member asked if he had someone in mind. Daniela was smiling to herself happily, thinking her father was going to pick her for the enviable position.
“Well…,” Robert began.
“If I may,” Danny girl interrupted. “I’d like to volunteer for the position. After all, wouldn’t it be better to keep the company’s operations under our family’s supervision?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Robert said. “Actually, it’s ideal.”
Daniela was smiling again.
“But…we need someone with experience,” Robert added. “Unfortunately, you still don’t have that experience, Daniela. I was actually thinking of…” Robert gestured.
“Mrs. Galvez. You’ve been with us for the longest time, and you know the ins and outs of this company. You have proven your worth, so I believe you’ll be the best person to take over that position.”
Mrs. Galvez glanced at Daniela who had suddenly turned mute. “Am so honoured,” she said to Robert. “Thank you.”
Robert asked if anyone had any comments and a woman said that she agreed with his decision, adding that she would have nominated Mina as the acting president if she wasn’t leaving as well. Robert put it to a vote and majority of the board raised their hands in support of his decision.
Mrs. Galvez thanked Robert and promised not to let him down. At Maxwell, Cassie was frantically going through her locker. Fatima asked her to hurry up since their teacher was already in a bad mood. Cassie told her that she couldn’t find her ID.
“Maybe it’s in your bag,” Fatima said. “Check later.”
“Okay.” Cassie locked her locker and went away with Fatima and LJ. A second later, someone put a note into Cassie’s locker.
Marga found Alvin at the hallway and she demanded to know what he was doing there. Alvin told her that he was a janitor and he was about to clean up when she came in.
“You really think I believe that?” Marga asked. “There’s a right time for cleaning, and you can’t clean the place if the students’ belongings are here. You’re not supposed to be here at this time. It’s not allowed.”
Alvin sighed. “Am sorry. I didn’t know.”
Marga gave him a look. “Really? Go.”
Alvin walked away, giving Marga a backward glance. Marga complained to head of maintenance that one of the janitors had been there when it wasn’t time for any cleaning. “What if something goes missing?” she said.
“Do you know his name?” the man asked.
“No, but he said he was new here. He’s big, tall, has a beard and a moustache.”
“Oh, Vin? He’s new here. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him.”
“You better.”
Romina confronted Robert after the meeting, and asked why they needed an acting president since she thought they were just going on a vacation.
“I just want to make sure that everything’s in order,” Robert said. “So I can focus on fixing our family.”
Mina looked doubtful. “Are we still going?” she asked. “You know Cassie’s against it, right?”
“Romina, we have to do this if we want to fix our problems. We have to go.”
Mina sighed. “Okay.”
“Thank you for understanding, and your support.”
“I know this is all for the good of our family. But I have one condition.”
“Yes?”
“The minute Cassie doesn’t like it in Australia, we’re coming home. Whether you two patch things up or not by then, we’re coming home.”
“Romina…”
“That’s my only condition.”
Robert was silent for a while. “Alright,” he said. “Okay.
Mina hugged him. At Maxwell, Cassie went back to her locker at the hallway and found a strange note inside. Cassie’s eyes were wide with shock. Fatima came over and asked if something was wrong.
Cassie showed her the note. “Someone put this in my locker,” she said. “And am sure I know what it’s referring to.”
Later on, LJ mentioned that Marga could be the one who had put the note in Cassie’s locker. Fatima however didn’t think so.
“Knowing her, she would have told the whole school about something this big,” Fatima said. “She’d even do a vlog – a premiere, preview and an after show discussion.”
“But Fatima, she’s the only one who knows am looking for answers,” Cassie argued.
“That’s not enough proof.”
“But now we’re convinced that you’re right about your parents hiding something from you,” LJ said. “The letter proves it.”
“Cassie, is there anyone else you can ask?” Fatima suggested. “There must be someone else who knows about what happened before.”
Cassie thought for a second. “There is.”
“Who?” Fatima and LJ chorused.
“It’s Carlos.”
The head of maintenance scolded Alvin for hearing complaints about him on his first day. He asked if he didn’t have a copy of the time they were supposed to work. Alvin apologized, saying that the schedule had slipped his mind.
“That’s why I told you to study it carefully,” the man said. “You could get blamed if a student loses something. Good thing a student reported about it.”
Alvin had a flashback of his run-in with Marga at the school gate and how she had insulted him. He then recalled what had happened at the hallway earlier.
“So I was right, dad,” Daniela said to Robert in his office. “Cassie’s the reason why you decided to go on a vacation.”
“Yeah. I have to do what I have to do. My family’s breaking apart, and you know I’ll do all I can to fix our issues.”
“I actually think it’s a great idea.”
Robert gave Daniela a look.
Daniela smiled. “Don’t act so surprised, dad. For once, I want to live in peace. I know that as long as Cassie’s here, she’ll keep asking questions. And you’ll keep suspecting me. I already learned my lesson. Don’t worry. I have no plans in sharing what I know.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Daniela ran into Mrs. Galvez on her way out, and she told her that she had been looking for her.
“Is this about the acting president position?” Mrs. Galvez asked.
“Oh, you know me too well,” Daniela sang. “You said it yourself that am the best person for that position.”
“Daniela, I understand and agree with you. But it’s your father who said that you’re not ready for that position yet. You don’t have to worry.
“I don’t plan on taking this position from you. Let me just warm the seat until your dad finally realizes that you’re ready for this position. Am on your side, Daniela. You know that.”
“Of course I do.”
Marga was having trouble boarding a taxi after school. Robert arrived and she waved him over excitedly. Robert asked why she was still there and Marga told him that she was taking public transport today. She then asked why he was there.
“Oh, am picking up Cassie because we’re going out for dinner,” Robert replied.
“Cassie? She already left, grandpa.”
Robert consulted his wristwatch. “No, no, no, no. She knows am here picking her up. Are you sure?”
“She went out of the classroom as soon as classes ended, and I heard her telling her friend that she’ll do everything to avoid going to Australia. If you want, I can have dinner with you instead,” she added excitedly.
“Sure,” Robert agreed with a smile.
Alvin watched silently as Robert left with Marga. Carlos found Cassie outside their house and asked what she was doing there. Cassie said she wanted to talk to him and Carlos asked what it was about. Cassie then told him that she wanted to know what really happened before she was born.
Romina was at a restaurant when she had a phone call, and she picked up. “Hello? Carlos, what is it?”
“You need to come to the house, Romina,” Carlos said.
“Come to the house? What for?”
“Cassie’s here. She’s asking what really happened before.”
“I am sorry Carlos,” Cassie apologized back at the Bartolome house. “But I just don’t know who else to ask.”
“Where’s this coming from, Cassie? Your parents already spoke to you, right? They already explained everything.”
Cassie went through her bag. She took out the note she had found in her locker and handed it to Carlos. “Someone put this paper in my locker,” she explained. “I just want to know the truth, Carlos. Everytime I ask mamma and daddy about it, they don’t give me a clear answer.
“Daddy and I even fought because of it. And now they want us to suddenly leave for Australia. I feel like they are hiding something from me.”
Romina arrived at the Bartolome house. She met Carlos outside and she asked why Cassie had suddenly come there.
“I don’t know either but she’s asking about the past again,” Carlos replied.
“I hope you didn’t say anything. It should come from me and Robert.”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything. But what’s bothering me is that she received a letter at school.”
“Huh?”
“It said that, ‘you’re closer to the truth’.”
“Who sent it to her?”
“I don’t know. Romina, Cassie’s so confused. And your situation at home is not helping too.”
Mina gave him a look.
“Cassie has told me about that. I don’t mean to intrude but, please take it easy on Cassie. If we adults are having a hard time with this, then imagine a teenager.”
Cassie came out just then and Mina asked her to go and get her things. “Let’s go home. Your father’s been waiting for you.”
Carlos turned to Cassie and apologized. He asked her to tell her parents about what had happened at school. Cassie went in to get her things and Mina thanked Carlos for his help.
Robert was with Marga at the mansion when he had a call from Mina. She informed him that she was with Cassie. Robert asked where Cassie had gone and Mina told him that it was better if they talked about it at home. Esther came to remind Robert about the documents the traveling agency would need to secure the flight tickets.
“Okay. I’ll tell Romina about it, and she’ll give it to you later.”
Daniela met up with Alvin, pretty upset. “You told me you’d stay away,” Danny girl began. “I just paid you, right?”
“Just relax, Mrs, Daniela,” Alvin said. “Am not here to ask for money.”
“Then what the hell do you want?”
“I just wanna make sure that Cassie’s my daughter. I saw another teenage girl with Mr. Robert. Long hair, and looked really cute too. How many kids are there in your family?”
“Why? Where did you see them?”
Alvin smiled mischievously. “I followed them.”
Daniela grabbed Alvin. Unknown to them, Savannah was watching secretly, a look of shock on her face. From where she stood, it looked like Daniela and Alvin were fondling and ki$$ing each other.
“Don’t you even think about dragging my daughter into this,” Danny girl threatened, glaring at Alvin. “Because the moment you do, I’ll show you who is more evil between the two of us.”
Alvin just smiled in response. Back at the mansion, Marga came down from the stairs and Robert asked where she had gone. Marga told him that she just went to get a glass of water. She bid her grandpa goodbye and left.
Daniela met up with Savannah, her lapdog. Savannah was staring at Daniela so intensely.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Danny girl asked. “Is dirt on my face?”
Savannah just kept staring at her.
“Stop it, Savannah.”
“Is there something you’re not telling me, Danny girl?” Savannah asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, lately it’s like you’ve been ranting more and more about Romina. Mistresses can’t stand other mistresses, right? So…”
“So am not getting your point.”
“I didn’t wanna be blunt but since you don’t get it, earlier…I saw you… with a man. Are you cheating on your husband?”
“Where did you see me and who is this man you’re referring to?”
“So it’s true then.”
“Who did you see, Savannah?”
“I don’t know who. But I think I’ve seen him before.”
“Do you think someone else saw us?”
“You are out of your mind, Danny girl. I don’t know if someone saw the two of you. If you wanted to have a nice little moment together, then you shouldn’t have seen…”
“Savannah, it’s not what you think,” Daniela cut in.
“Right. That’s what they always say once they’re caught in the act. Am your friend, Danny. So am telling you now to stop it. Am a firm believer of love and marriage.”
Daniela scoffed. “Savannah, you really don’t understand. Am not seeing anyone. Am loyal to Carlos. Am not cheating on him.”
“Then who’s that guy you were with? You better tell me now, Danny girl. Or else, I won’t stop until you tell me the truth.”
Daniela stared back defiantly.
“Is it something illegal?” Savannah went on. “That guy isn’t even your type. Are you that desperate? Danny, that guy isn’t even your type.”
“The guy you saw me with earlier,” Daniela began. “Is the person I used against Romina.”
“Used? I don’t understand.”
“Do you remember the time she got raped? I planned that. And that guy you saw. Was the one I hired to do it.”
Savannah almost had a heart attack. Literally. She took a sip of her juice nervously to calm herself down. “Wait. What?”
“You need to promise me that no one else will find out.”
Savannah took another sip of her juice. “Wait, wait, wait. Hold on now. Give me time to process everything you just said, Danny girl. Honestly, it would have been easier for me to accept that he’s just your lôvër. Are you sure he’s not your lôvër?”
Danny girl gave her a look.
“It’s okay,” Savannah went on. “From now on, he is. It’s okay. He is your lover.”
“Savannah, stop it,” Daniela barked. “Am serious. You have to promise me. No one else can know.”
“My goodness Danny girl,” Savannah breathed. “Just be glad that you’re my best friend. Okay. I promise. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you. Thank you Savvi.”
Romina arrived home with Cassie. Robert was waiting at the living room, sitting in the couch, a drink in his hand. Cassie had her head down. She sat by her father and Mina followed suit. Robert placed his drink on the glass table. “I want to hear your side of the story,” he said. “Where did you go?”
“Robert, maybe we should let Cassie rest for now,” Mina suggested.
“Romina, we have to talk about this,” Robert insisted. “Am trying to make an effort here to fix everything. Cassie, I’ve done my part. Now it’s your turn to do yours. Where did you go?”
Cassie glanced at her mother. “I went to Carlos’ house,” she finally said.
Keeping his anger on check, Robert got up and grabbed his drink. Daniela and Savannah were still at the rendezvous place. “But Danny, how could you do such a thing?” Savannah asked.
Daniela gave her a look. “I lövê Carlos. And it was the only way I could think of back then to make him mine. And now that he is my husband, I don’t regret what I did.”
“You kept it as a secret for such a long time, Danny. From me. From everyone. But why did I see that man approaching you?”
Daniela sighed. “Long story,” she said. “Am worried about him revealing himself. I could lose a lot of things, Savannah – dad, Carlos, the family I worked so hard to build could be ruined. But I will not let that happen. I will never let them find out the truth.”
