“If you do that to my daughter again, I swear you’ll regret it. Cassie’s a good daughter. You’ve done nothing but cause trouble. You’re nothing but a parasite who depends on others. Don’t you hurt my daughter ever again. Because if it’s for Cassie, I’m always ready to face you.”
Daniela came into Robert’s office and apologized for Marga accidentally telling Cassie the truth about her identity, adding that it wouldn’t have happened had the girls not been kidñäpped. Robert told her that it had already happened and there was nothing he could do about it.
“You’re not mad?” Danny girl asked.
“Of course I am. Not at Marga but at you. You lied to me. Am just glad that Cassie still sees me the same way even though she now knows that she’s a product of räpë.”
Daniela was surprised. “Romina told her everything?”
“Yes. We have nothing to hide from Cassie anymore. She knows the whole truth now.”
Daniela met up with Savannah. She was worried that she could end up in jail since Cassie now knew everything and would probably start asking about her real father. She suspected that Alvin had a hand in the kidñappiñg and she feared that he could bring her down once he gained Robert’s trust.
Carlos was planning on throwing a simple birthday party for Marga. He went to withdraw some money and he was shocked to find that the account was almost empty. He later confronted his wife at home and asked why they had that money left in their account.
“Carlos…”
“What did you do with the money, Daniela? And tell me the truth!”
“You know I am handling a lot of projects for the company,” Danny girl claimed. “I had to use some of the money for emergencies. I haven’t finished filing the reimbursement. What are you trying to accuse me of?”
Alvin came to the mansion to check up on how Cassie was doing. Mina told him to come around next time since Cassie was already resting in bed. She thanked him for saving Robert’s life and asked whether he wasn’t upset with him. Alvin said that he was only disappointed and he didn’t hold any grudge against Robert even though he had made him lose his job.
Mina offered to help him get back his job at Maxwell. Marga was afraid when her mother turned off the lights so she could go to sleep. Daniela assured her that she was safe and she wasn’t going to leave her.
“I will make whoever did this to you pay, Marga,” she thought to herself. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Romina was being haunted by her past and the things Hector had said to her earlier. She woke up with a start, frantic, telling Robert that she had dreamt about the guy who had räpëd her and that the kidñäpper knew what had happened to her. “What if the kidñäpper was the one who räpëd me?” she said. “What will I do?”
Robert comforted her with a hug. “It’s not true,” Robert said. “It’s just a dream.”
Robert and Romina went to the police station the next morning. An officer informed them that they had already released the graphic sketch. He advised that the girls undergo therapy because of what had happened to them. Later on, Cassie and Marga both went through a therapy session together.
The therapist advised them not to keep everything to themselves but to confide in people they trusted and were comfortable with.Hector was upset when he saw the graphic sketch of one of his men in a newspaper. He planned on silencing him. Alvin told him that he had already gotten back his job at Maxwell and he would go after Daniela next.
Romina dropped off Cassie at school and asked the bodyguard assigned to her to take care of her. When Cassie entered the school, Kristoff ran up to her and gave her a bear hug. Cassie was overwhelmed. “Tope…”
“I don’t know what I’ll do if something happened to you,” Kristoff said.
“You surprised me.”
“I’m just so happy you’re safe.”
“There’s nothing to worry about anymore.”
There goes another bear hug from Kristoff. “I can’t afford to lose you in my life. You’re just too darn special.”
LJ and Fatima came up. They told her that they had missed her and they had been worried about her. LJ asked if it was true that she and Marga had been kidñäpped. Cassie asked how she had known about it and Kristoff mentioned that his dad had told him about it. LJ joked that it was probably true considering the bodyguards.
“Are you okay?” Fatima asked. “Did they hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” Cassie said. “Thank you guys.”
“No problem,” Kristoff said.
LJ glanced at Fatima. “What are you thanking us for?”
“For worrying about me. You’re still here even though I avoided you two before my birthday.”
“Oh, that’s nothing,” Fatima said. “You’re our first best friend here in Maxwell, Cassie. So even if you push us away a hundred times, we will always be here for you.”
“We will never ever get mad at you, Cassie,” LJ added. “We’re friends for life. You’re always there for us even if we don’t ask for help.”
Cassie smiled and thanked them before being pulled into a group hug. Marga arrived at Maxwell with a bodyguard of her own. Nadya and Nica said that it was too much despite what she had gone through. Marga told them it had been his grandpa’s decision since he was worried that something could happen to her again. She ran into Cassie and her friends.
Cassie asked how she was doing and Marga just gave her a look and went off with the Mean Squad. A moment later, Marga went to check the student ranking and found that she was in 2nd place while Cassie was 1st. Nadya commented that it was worse than being kidñäpped. Marga spotted Cassie walking nearby with some books. She deliberately went over and shouldered her and the books fell. Alvin watched nearby.
“Why did you do that?” Cassie asked.
“Because I wanted to,” Marga replied, back to her rotten attitude. She kicked the books that had fallen. “Why, do you have a problem with that?”
“What’s going on with you?”
“Did you hit your head? Do you have amnesia? Have you forgotten who you really are?”
Cassie was taken by surprise. “I haven’t, Marga.”
“So you should know your place, Cassie. And that is beneath me. Don’t go against me if you don’t want anybody to know that you aren’t really grandpa’s daughter. Got it?”
Silence.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Marga added. She kicked Cassie’s books again and walked away. Cassie bent down to pick up her books. Alvin looked angry from where he stood. Hector’s words were still ringing in Romina’s mind. She didn’t even notice when her husband entered her office. Robert asked whether she was still thinking about the dream she had last night. Much to Robert’s surprise, Mina told him that she was thinking of reopening her räpë case.
Robert tried convincing her against it but Mina was determined to go ahead with it. Later on, Bernard told Robert that he didn’t understand why he was against Romina’s decision since she could finally get the justice she deserved, that’s if only the kidñäppers knew something about her räpë.
Robert argued that it wouldn’t be good for their peace of mind and their family’s safety. Meanwhile, Daniela told Savannah that she didn’t think Romina had any plans of pursuing the räpë case.
“Romina has lost a lot because of this,” Bernard said back in Robert’s office. “She lost her mother and she lost everyone’s respect for her. That’s not something you can easily forget.”
Marga was alone in the classroom when Kristoff came in. She asked whether he wasn’t going to ask about how she was doing. Kristoff gave her a look. “What was that about, Marga? What you told Cassie earlier. What’s your problem with her? The two of you almost died, and yet here you are again, bullying Cassie.”
“As always,” Marga grumbled. “Cassie’s the victim and I am the villain. She was the reason why I was kidñäpped. That’s why I have every right to be mad at her.”
Cassie walked around campus with Fatima and LJ. Fatima asked Cassie whether she didn’t feel awkward with having bodyguards, and she said that it was for her safety. LJ mentioned that it was a good thing considering what had happened to her. “I’m glad that uncle Robert let you come back to school,” LJ added.
“I know,” Cassie said. “And even though I already know the truth, daddy still wants to protect me.”
Marga was still ranting back in the classroom, asking why Kristoff always chose to side with Cassie. Kristoff told her that it wasn’t about who he wanted to be friends with. “After what happened, I thought you’d be nicer to her,” he added. “You’re both my friends. And you know Cassie and I have been friends for a long time.”
“Well, we don’t always get what we want,” Marga barked. “If we did, Cassie would have disappeared by now. You have no right to judge me because you have no idea what I’ve been through because of her.”
Alvin asked Cassie to extend his gratitude to her father for giving back his job to him. Cassie said they were the ones who had to be thankful since he had helped rescue her and Marga. Alvin then told her that he had seen what Marga had done to her earlier. “You shouldn’t let her do that to you,” Alvin stated.
“It’s better for me to know my place,” Cassie said.
“What do you mean?”
Cassie bowed her head down in shameful silence. “You and I are friends, right? I would never judge you. You can tell me anything.”
“I finally know the truth,” Cassie said reluctantly. “I’m not daddy’s real daughter. I’m not a Mondragon. I don’t want to cause problems for our family that’s why I’d rather ignore everything that Marga’s doing.”
“Don’t mind her. What’s important is that your dad treats you like his daughter.”
“That’s why I don’t want to give him any problems, out of respect for him.”
“If you were my daughter, I wouldn’t allow anyone to bully you.”
Cassie forced a smile. Daniela told Savannah that Carlos was starting to ask about the withdrawals she had made from their account, adding that that was where she had gotten the money to pay Alvin to keep his mouth shut. “I need to find a way to justify the withdrawals,” Danny girl said.
“Now that Cassie knows the truth, you can ask for your father’s help,” Savannah suggested. “If you tell him that you’re using the money for Marga’s birthday, I am sure he’ll hand it to you right away.”
Back at Maxwell, Cassie asked Alvin how his daughter was. Alvin told her that he had already found her but her mother didn’t want him to see her. He added that there was nothing he could do about it since he had made a lot of mistakes in the past. “Don’t worry Mr. Vin,” Cassie said. “I’m sure if they see that you’ve changed, they’ll treat you differently too. I believe that when your daughter sees you, she’ll be very happy for sure because you’re a good person.”
Romina went to the police station to ask for updates on her case. She asked Jude whether they had gathered any new information. Jude told her that no new evidence had been submitted so far. “You need a suspect and enough evidence before you can finally file a case,” Jude said to her. “If you want, we can pull out the files so you can see them.”
Romina smiled nervously. “Al-alright.”
The Mondragons had dinner at the mansion. Despite Cassie’s reluctance, Robert insisted on throwing another birthday party for her. Cassie then told her father that she would be okay with a simple birthday celebration. “Cassie, it’s your sixteenth birthday,” Robert disagreed. “After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to be called and treated like a princess.”
Danny girl stormed in. “If there’s anyone who deserves to be treated like a princess, it’s Marga. We know that between her and Cassie, Marga is the real Mondragon.”
Robert asked her to stop but Daniela just went on with her verbal abuse, saying that Marga deserved it more because she was actually his blood relative. “I said stop it,” Robert repeated. “After everything that happened, I can’t believe you’re starting another issue.”
“I’m doing this for my daughter,” Daniela went on. “I’m not trying to cause problems. I’m just claiming what’s rightfully ours.”
Romina had heard enough. “Daniela, you don’t need to disrespect my daughter,” she warned.
“Romina, let me handle this,” Robert admonished.
“No, Robert.” Mina faced off with Danny girl. “I won’t allow her to barge into our home and disrespect my daughter just like that. I don’t care if you want to ask for money from your father but please don’t use my daughter as an excuse to get what you want.” Cassie went to her mother and pleaded with her to stop.
“I’m just speaking the truth,” Daniela mocked. “Even your daughter knows I’m right. I’m entitled to my father’s money because I’m his real daughter. Right, Cassie?”
Robert stood up from his seat. “Daniela, you better go.”
“Dad…”
“Don’t test my patience, Daniela. I can’t believe you’ll go this low.”
“I’d do anything for my daughter, dad. And I’ll make sure that she gets everything that she rightfully deserves.”
“Leave now.”
“Daddy please,” Cassie cut in much to her mother’s displeasure. “Daniela’s right. If we’re going to have a party, it should be Marga’s.”
Robert turned to stare at his daughter in disbelief. “Am thankful that you want to give me a grand party,” Cassie went on. “But Marga deserves it more, because you’re related by blood.”
“Cassie, don’t say that,” Robert admonished. “You’re my daughter. That won’t change. And whatever I’m giving you, you deserve it.”
“I know that daddy… but throw a party for Marga instead. That way, we don’t have any problems.”
Robert gave Daniela a look. Carlos met up with Savannah and asked her about the things Daniela was up to since she had redrawn a lot of money from their account. Savannah said she didn’t really know anything about it and Carlos told her that he was sure Daniela was hiding something from him.
“If you have problems with her, fix it with her,” Savannah suggested.
“That’s what I’ll do,” Carlos stated and Savannah looked on nervously.
Romina followed Daniela out of the mansion. “If you do that to my daughter again,” she began. “I swear you’ll regret it.”
“Are you threatening me?” Daniela asked.
“You know I don’t have to. I’m just reminding you who you’re going against.”
“You really think I’d be afraid of you?”
Mina smiled. “You don’t know me. Insult my daughter again and I won’t think twice about fighting you.”
“I’m just taking what my daughter deserves.”
“Listen, Cassie never stole anything from you. I worked hard for everything she has now. Whatever Robert gives her, it’s his choice because Cassie’s a good daughter. Unlike you. You’ve done nothing but cause trouble. You’re nothing but a parasite who depends on others.”
“You have no right to talk to me like that.”
“I actually do because your father married me, so legally speaking, which of us is more entitled to what you’re claiming to? Don’t you hurt my daughter ever again. Because if it’s for Cassie, I’m always ready to face you.”
Cassie was crying by the poolside, Daniela’s words ringing painfully in her head. Robert came up and asked why she was crying. “I’m not crying, dad,” Cassie said. “I’m just rubbing my eyes a little.”
“Cassie, I don’t understand why you agreed with Daniela. What’s the reason?”
“I just feel guilty,” Cassie sobbed. “You had another fight with Daniela because of me. She is your real daughter, that’s why if you’re going to prepare for a grand birthday celebration, it should be Marga’s.”
Robert shook his head in disbelief. “Because she’s the one who’s blood related to you,” Cassie went on. “I don’t want to cause any fights. After everything you’ve done for me, I shouldn’t ask anything more from you. You always treated me like one of your own. It’s enough that you løvë me and take good care of me. Even if am not yours.”
Robert pulled her into a hug as she kept on crying. “No matter what other people say, Cassie, you will always be my daughter. Nothing will change and I will always want what’s best for you. Don’t cry, okay?”
Daniela arrived home all smiles and excited. She announced to Marga that Robert would take care of her birthday party expenses and Marga was excited. She went to vlog about it to her ‘Baby dragons’. Robert dropped off Cassie at school the next day. As he asked whether she was okay, Marga barged into their conversation, taking the attention all for herself. She showed her appreciation for her upcoming birthday party.
“So how many guests can I invite?” Marga asked.
“There’s no limit,” Robert said. “Invite as many as you want. You too Cassie.”
Marga gave Cassie a look. Cassie looked surprised. “What?”
“Grandpa, why is she inviting anyone?” Marga asked. “Isn’t her party already over?”
“It’s going to be a double celebration,” Robert revealed. “Is that okay with you?”
Marga faked excitement. “Of course grandpa. The more, the merrier.”
“Okay. I’m glad.”
Marga stormed into the house after school was over. She ranted on and on, asking why she had to share her birthday celebration with Cassie when she was the real Mondragon and they weren’t on the same level. Daniela told her to let it go but Marga went on talking nøñsënse.
“This is your grandpa’s decision,” Daniela pointed out. “If we want to be on his good side, then we shouldn’t go against him.”
“It’s unfair!”
“Just be patient, Marga. Now that Cassie knows the truth, all we need to do is to just put her in her place. It’ll be easier for us to make her do what we want because she knows who she really is.”
“For how long, mommy? I can’t take it anymore. She should have been out of our lives a long time ago. Grandpa’s still treating Cassie like a princess”
“Just be patient, Marga. In no time, you’ll be the only princess in your grandpa’s life. And I will make sure that happens very soon.”
