“I’m not the same old Romina you think you know. Because you will pay for everything you put me and Cassie through. Trust me, I’m just getting started. Still feeling brave, Daniela? Cat got your tongue or what? You can’t squirm your way out of this one.”
Daniela had a meeting with the board members in the conference room. She branded Romina as the enemy, a criminal and a mürdërer and tried to con them into electing her as the new CEO. A board member told her that it was a difficult decision to make which couldn’t be taken lightly.
Daniela ranted on about how she was the rightful heir to the company because she was a true-blooded Mondragon. Romina barged in. “You all look so surprised. Are you forgetting that I am still the vice president of this company?”
“The nerve,” Daniela said. “Did your time in jail erase all traces of shame?”
“Look who’s talking.” Mina faced off with Daniela. “Me, shämelëss? There’s only one woman here who can claim that title. And yet, you’re claiming things that was never yours. Now tell me, which one of us is shämelëss?”
Daniela tried to släp Mina but she parried her hand and put a threatening fist inches away from her face. “There’s nothing you can do to send me back to jail,” Mina declared. “But don’t worry. I know how to repay favors.”
Bernard came in with some officers and Daniela asked what was going on. “You defied the court’s protection order,” Mina stated. “You shouldn’t have hurt my daughter. Arrest her.”
“Don’t you dare lay your hands on me,” Danny girl hissed as the officers advanced. “You’ve made a big mistake. You’ll pay for this, Romina.”
“You’re right. The biggest mistake I made was thinking you could change, but your horns got sharper everyday. Take her away.”
Daniela grabbed her stuff and left with the officers and Mina addressed the board. “You all know who the rightful head of this company is. Robert and I strengthened Camila, but now that he’s gone, I will continue what he started.”
Roxy asked her father whether there was any update about Cassie yet since she felt guilty for what she had done. Hector told her that she almost cost them everything. “I also want to apologize to Cassie,” Roxy said.
“Use your head,” Hector admonished. “You’ll only make matters worse. Don’t get involved. If someone finds out that you and Marga were responsible for what happened, it would be a big problem.”
Back in the conference room at Camila, Mrs. Galvez asked Romina whether it was part of her plan to take over Camila. Mina told her that she was there for the welfare of their employees. “I’m ready to hand over to the rightful person, if it ever comes to that, but that’s not Daniela.”
“So what’s going to happen to Daniela now?” Mrs. Galvez asked.
“Don’t worry about Daniela. If she really is innocent, then she has no need to be afraid. But if she’s not, then we all know the outcome. Still, I’ll give legal support to her. We have many lawyers in this company.”
“You’d do that?” a board member asked.
“Yes,” Bernard confirmed. “Something this board failed to do for Romina.”
“I know about how you all tried to fire a loyal person from this company,” Mina added. “Someone Robert trusted, Mr. Bernard. From now on, no one will be fired without due process. I will right everything Daniela made wrong.”
In Romina’s office, Bernard told her that all her assets and accounts were still frozen so he had asked HR not to deposit her salary into her account so she and her daughter could use it for the mean time. “Thank you, Bernard,” Mina said. “I just don’t know how to repay you for all you’ve done for us.”
“I’m just repaying the favor. You and Robert treated me like family. Your new place is ready. I’ve already had all your things delivered so you can head home as soon as you’re done here.”
“Thanks again.”
Daniela barged in and started ranting. “Nice try, Romina. There’s only one criminal in this room and we all know who it is.”
Mina got up from her seat. “Welcome back then,” she said, accompanying her words with a släp.
Daniela tried to grab Mina’s nameplate to use as a wëäpon but Mina subdued her and brandished a pen in her face. “Let me go or I’ll sue you,” Danny girl barked.
“You think I’m scared of you? I’m not the same old Romina you think you know.” Mina shoved Danny girl away.
“This is not over, Romina.”
“Far from it, Daniela. Because you will pay for everything you put me and Cassie through. Trust me, I’m just getting started.”
Marga arrived from school later that night to find her mother beside herself and making a scene, saying that she wouldn’t let Romina humiliate her again. Marga asked what had happened and Daniela told her that Romina had had her arrested for what had happened to Cassie. “Mommy, I’m sorry,” Marga wailed. “It was my fault.”
“No, Marga, it wasn’t your fault,” Danny girl said. “They are to blame. This wouldn’t have happened if they had just stayed the hell out of our lives.”
At the hospital, Cassie told Esther that she was sorry they were leaving. Esther said there was no need to apologize because she understood. “Naana,” Cassie sobbed. “I promise I’ll visit you. I’ll look for a time when Daniela’s not at home. Why don’t you come with us? I’ll talk to mamma. I’m sure she’ll be okay with it.”
“I don’t know if you’ll understand, Cassie. I can’t leave Daniela. I don’t want to give up on her. I’m still hoping that someday she’ll return to her old self.”
Romina came in just then. “I won’t force you to come live with us,” she said to Esther. “And I won’t try to change your mind about how you still see Daniela. But if you ever do change your mind, please don’t hesitate to come live with us. Our door will always be open to you.”
“Thank you,” Esther sobbed as she fell into a group hug with mother and daughter.
Bernard drove Romina and her family to the old Andrada house at Navotas. Kristoff asked Cassie whether she would be fine there since the place was nothing like the mansion. Cassie told him that she would be fine because all that mattered was that she was with her family. Romina joined her daughter. “Why are the lights off? Is Neil already asleep? Come on. Let’s go in. I have so many stories to tell you about this house.”
Mina ushered her daughter into the house as Bernard and his son followed. The lights suddenly came on. Neil, Bonita, Jepoy, and a few of her neighbors surprised them and gave them a warm welcome, and Mina thanked them for the gesture. “We even cleaned the rooms,” Jepoy said.
“I guess I made the right decision by returning here. You have no idea how happy I am to be back at where I grew up, where everyone treats me like family.”
“We’ve known you since you were young,” an older woman said. “That’s why we don’t believe the accusations against you.”
“You helped us when we were down with luck,” another said. “This is our chance to return the favor.”
“The kids here are excited to meet you,” Jepoy said to Cassie.
Cassie smiled. “Really? I’m excited to meet them too.”
“This house brings back so many memories. We’re fortunate no one rented this house while we were gone,” Neil commented. “It’s like this house was destined for us. It’s like mom is watching over us wherever she is.”
Mina smiled back at her brother. “This is the place, Neil, where I’ll get back on my feet. The place where I started.”
As Romina and her loved ones grouped to feast on the meal that had been prepared, the miserable one-eyed-old man watched from outside in annoyance. Alvin told his brother not to worry so much because he had already put Daniela in her place. Hector told him that his daughter meant everything to him and he’d k!ll anyone who tried to use his little girl.
“You’d k!ll Daniela?” Alvin asked in disbelief.
“The problem is, I can’t. Romina already got out of jail. We have to be much careful now. Daniela’s lucky we need her.”
“What do we do now?”
“We cannot let Romina figure out that we’re behind everything, so let’s put her back in jail.”
Back at the Andrada house, Romina told Bernard, Neil and Bonita that she wouldn’t let Daniela take control of the company even if her mother had founded it. Bernard and Neil warned her that she could lose her position since most of the board were on Daniela’s side. “My colleagues are starting to worry,” Neil said. “They fear they won’t get their jobs back, as long as Daniela is on top of everything.”
“Don’t worry,” Mina said. “I will sort this out.”
“Please think this through,” Bernard admonished. “If you tarnish Daniela and the company’s reputation, you’ll end up damaging Robert’s name.”
“Don’t worry,” Mina assured. “I’ll make sure Daniela gets the worse side of the deal.”
“This will get messy,” Bonita said.
“I’m ready for that,” Mina declared. “Daniela is the one who brought this on herself, when she hurt me and Cassie. People who come from nothing get stronger, in the face of adversity.”
Romina went to the labour department with Neil and Bonita. Later at Camila, Mrs. Galvez was confused to see most of the employees filling out. A moment later, Romina stood outside the factory and she confronted Daniela with the workers she had fired. Romina gave her a notice. “The labour department demands that you reinstate the workers you terminated.”
Daniela tore up the paper and threatened to shove it down the throats of the workers. “Still resisting,” Mina taunted. “Let’s see what the board will say when they find out that you’re the reason the company will be closed down.”
A labour officer came over as Daniela was making empty threats. “I saw what you did, Mrs. Bartolome. You have a lot of explaining to do.”
“Ma’am, don’t tell me you’re tolerating this kind of insubordination,” Danny girl said. “The person leading them is a criminal. As far as I’m concerned, willful disobedience is a valid ground for the dismissal of an employee.”
“But from what I’ve learned, it was wrongful termination. Everyone you fired said that you were only motivated by a personal vendetta. The way you fired them was questionable. You didn’t even give them a chance to explain themselves.”
“Still feeling brave, Daniela?” Mina teased. “Maybe you want the company to close down because of your irresponsibility. Cat got your tongue or what? You can’t squirm your way out of this one.”
Mrs. Galvez suggested that they take the matter to the conference room to settle it and Bernard agreed. Danny girl grabbed Mina’s hand. “Is this your way of getting back at me? Ruining the company?”
Mina shook her off and returned the favor. “I do care about this company. That’s why I’m doing this. The company’s success depends on the workers, whose rights you recklessly threw away.”
“Let go of me.”
“Don’t you dare touch me again, Daniela.”
In the conference room, the labour officer mentioned that Daniela had terminated the workers without valid reason. Danny girl said the workers couldn’t do their jobs properly and Bernard told her that she had gone about it the wrong way. Mina added that the company wouldn’t be growing if the workers weren’t doing their jobs properly. “What you’re doing is inhumane,” Mina said. “And what’s worse, you’re getting the employees involved in your personal grudge towards me.”
“Oh stop playing the hero,” Danny girl said. “I stand by my decision. You still want them back even though they’re inefficient? We don’t do charity.”
A board member supported Daniela and disagreed with Bernard. And so did another. Mina told them that the people standing outside were the reason the company was still standing. “I’m sure that’s why production has stopped,” Mina said. “With this, Daniela, you can already see how important they are.”
Mrs. Galvez advised Daniela to let go of the situation so it didn’t get any worse and she reluctantly agreed. “Thanks for your cooperation,” said the labour officer. “But you’ll need to pay them their salaries until they’re reinstated.”
Marga was ordering the maids around, even to the point of making one of them put a shoe on her feet when Esther came into the room and asked whether she had forgotten how to wear them herself. Bratty daughter started bïtçhiñg and Esther asked the maids to excuse them. Esther tried talking some sense into her but she took offense and started bïtçhiñg all the more when she mentioned Cassie’s name
“I only want what’s best for you,” Esther admonished. “Now put on your shoes or you’ll be late for school.”
At Maxwell, Fatima asked Cassie whether they had really moved to Navotas. Cassie told her that it was so and even though it was much simpler as compared to the mansion, her life was much more peaceful now and she could now spend some time with the kids they used to teach there.
Fatima warned her that Marga would probably try to humiliate her with it and Cassie told her that she had nothing to be ashamed of. Lo and behold, Marga came over and started with her nøñsënse, even to the point of labelling Cassie and the people at Navotas as trash, and spraying perfume in her face.
“You used to teach the kids there,” Cassie pointed out. “And now you’re calling them trash? Does that mean you were only kind to them just so you could get good grades? Tell me, Marga. Did you just use them to make yourself look good?”
“Don’t you dare put words in my mouth. You’re only saying that to make me look bad.”
“I don’t have to do that, Marga. You are always capable of ruining your reputation on your own. That was too much perfume. The smell’s giving me a headache.”
LJ joined the girls. “What’s going on here?”
“Nothing,” Cassie replied. “I’m just reminding Marga that today is the day when the plastics and recyclables would be collected. I’m just worried the garbage man might pick her up by mistake.”
Cassie left with her friends as Nadya and Nica looked amused with Marga’s humiliation. Alvin and Roxy went to the mansion to look for Cassie and Esther told them that she didn’t live there anymore. Meanwhile, Daniela was telling Savannah that she would make sure the workers she had been forced to reinstate left the company on their own.
“How are you going to do that?” Savvi asked. “Romina is backing them. Your stepmother was your father’s legal wife, and no matter what you do, she still has major shares in the company.”
“That’s why I’m doing everything I can to drag her out of this company. If she isn’t going to rot in jail, I have to do everything to kick her and her daughter out of my life.”
Savvi gave Daniela a look.
“What?” Danny girl said.
“Really? Cassie too? You are not sisters just on paper.”
“Lower your voice. Don’t you trust me?”
“Of course I do. All I’m saying is, focus on one problem at a time. First, fix your problems in the office.”
“That will be easy. I’ll let them cling on to their little tiny spaces in the company. And you know what they say about tiny spaces – they can be very suffocating. I just need to push the right button.”
Romina came over with Bonita and Neil. “Going down, Daniela?”
“This isn’t over,” Danny girl said. “Enjoy your little victory.”
“You’re right. I’m only getting started. I haven’t gotten my revenge on you yet for making me suffer in prison. And for all the pain you caused my daughter.”
“What you gonna do?” Daniela jabbed a finger at Mina. “I dare you.”
Romina grabbed and twisted Daniela’s finger, subduing the other as well. “Don’t test my patience.”
“What you gonna do? Have me k!lled too like what you did to my father?”
“If anyone could do that, it’s you.” Mina shoved Daniela away and eyed her and her bratty lapdog as she went into the elevator with Neil and Bonita.
Alvin arrived at the gate to Maxwell with Roxy, trying to convince her to apologize to Cassie. Roxy was worried about how Marga would react and Alvin told her to focus on getting on Cassie’s good side since she thought they were sisters. Cassie came out a moment later. “We came to see you because…” Roxy hesitated.
“You know the accident where you fell down the stairs?” Alvin began. “Roxanne wants to tell you something about it.”
“I just want to apologize,” Roxy said. “… because I was the reason it happened.”
Cassie was dumbfounded as Alvin told her not to get mad at her ‘sister’. “Marga told me to do it,” Roxy added. “Marga planned for you to slip. We never thought things would end up that way, Cassie.”
“I’m really sorry about this,” Alvin claimed. “I’m only doing this because I’m your father. You and Roxanne are sisters, right? You shouldn’t be fighting. We’ve come to apologize to you.”
Marga came out just then and Cassie demanded that she admit what she had done. “You’re the reason I fell down the stairs. Are you really that nasty? How could you risk my life like that? Don’t you think I’ve been through enough?”
Marga played dumb and started walking away. Cassie grabbed her by her hair. “Don’t you walk out on me.”
“Did you see what she did?” Marga said as Kristoff came over. “She’s crazy.”
“Admit it, Marga,” Alvin said. “You’re the reason Cassie got hurt.”
Marga kept on denying and bïtçhiñg. “Cassie, ignore her,” Kristoff cut in. “Marga, please stop.”
“Try me, Marga,” Cassie dared. “If you hurt me or insult my mother again…”
“Are you going to k!ll me? Like mother like daughter.”
Cassie fumed silently as Marga walked away. At Primarosa, Carlos’s boss asked him to turn over the Camila account to Reyes, a coworker. Carlos asked whether he had done something wrong and his boss told him he was one of the candidates due for a promotion. “It’s between you and Castro.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I just made a recommendation. It’s still for the upper management to decide. But if you want to seal it, join us this weekend.”
“Where to?”
“We’re playing golf with the executives. They want to talk to you about Camila. This will be a good opportunity for this company. I heard your wife has a high position now, and the executives insist that you come this weekend.”
“I don’t play golf. And I don’t like using my connection as leverage just to get promoted. I don’t want to use my wife just to get ahead.”
“Think about it carefully, Carlos. This type of opportunity is very rare.”
The workers who had been reinstated thanked Romina for fighting for them. Mina told them that there was no need to because they had also done their part. “You do care about them,” Bernard commented after everyone had left.
“I see them as family,” Mina said. “Robert also treated them like family too, that’s why it’s my duty to help them. Besides, everything Daniela did was wrong.”
“You know Daniela. I’m sure she’s planning something. She tried to woo the board while you were gone. She wants to be the new CEO.”
“She isn’t even CEO and she’s already violating policies.”
“That’s what I’m worried about too. She’s ruining this company.”
“I won’t allow that to happen. Camila is Robert’s legacy. I need to find a way to stop her before it’s too late.”
Carlos brought his family some groceries as they were having dinner with Jessa. Kulas complained that it wasn’t enough and Carlos told him that he would bring more later. Kulas then asked whether they were treating and paying him well at work and Carlos announced that he was being considered for promotion, and he would do his best to get it so people didn’t say that he was relying on Daniela.
“You’re the one with money now,” Kulas bitçhëd. “While Romina is dirt-poor. She’s actually living in her old house now.”
“They moved back here?” Carlos asked, confused.
“Yeah. Serves her right. Let’s just celebrate your promotion. You’re a big shot now.”
“Alright, dad. Let’s buy a few drinks.”
Cassie told Alvin that he didn’t have to walk her home and he should have accompanied Roxanne instead. Alvin said he just wanted to talk to her. He asked her how she was doing there and Cassie said she was okay because she was with her mom and her uncle. “Thanks for walking me home,” Cassie said, walking away.
“Hey, are you all alone? I can stay for a while.”
“Thanks. Mr. Alvin. Take care now.”
“I’m sorry about your sister. I hope you can forgive her. She sometimes gets on my nerves too. But I ignore it because I want to make it up to her and to you too.”
“I hope you understand why mamma kept me away from you. It’s not easy for us to accept what happened.”
“You have nothing to do with what happened between your mom and me. I want to be a father to you. I’ll be there for you and protect you, especially from that Marga. I’m glad you fought back.”
Romina arrived and hurried over to her daughter. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I just wanna be with my kid,” Alvin replied.
“She will never be your daughter. Her father is Robert.”
“But Robert’s gone, and she really is my kid.”
“How dare you say that? How can you even come here after everything you’ve done? Leave now, or I’ll drag you out of here myself. You still won’t leave?” Mina grabbed a stick and brandished it in her hand. Alvin left as some neighbors noticed the scene and asked whether he was bothering them.
Daniela arrived home and her bratty daughter complained to her that Cassie had pulled her hair and told lies about her infront of everyone. “She even brought her räpïst father. I was so scared, mom.”
Daniela called out to the driver and ordered him to get the car ready. “I’m going to teach that Cassie a lesson. I’ll make sure she regrets what she did to you.”
Back at Kulas’ house, Myrna asked Jessa how long she was planning to stay since she had been there since morning. “What’s your problem?” Jessa asked. “It’s not like I’m here for you.”
“So you’re here for Kulas?”
“Yes. It’s his house, not yours. He’s the only one who can make me leave.”
Kulas came in just then and asked whether there was a problem. Jessa told him that they had just been talking. She then started flirting with him. Back at the Andrada house, Cassie told her mother that Alvin had just offered to see her home and waited for her at Maxwell. “He went to your school?” Mina asked in surprise. “How many times has this happened?”
“This is the first time in a while,” Cassie replied. “He was with Roxanne. Roxanne told me Marga was the reason I fell down the stairs. Roxanne said Marga told her to do it.”
Mina sighed. “But it’s not right for people to hurt others for fun. If Marga’s mother can’t teach her right from wrong, then I guess I will.”
“Ma, I can handle Marga. Besides, Mr. Vin backed me up when Marga and I fought.”
“Cassie, do you know how painful it is to remember what that man did to me? Tell me. Have you forgiven him?”
“No, ma. I can never forgive Mr. Vin for what he did to you.”
“But why did you let him see you home?”
“Because I want to help you. Do you know what I learned from his conversation between Daniela and his brother? They’re behind your arrest, ma.”
“You don’t have to do that for me. This is my fight. I don’t want you to get involved.”
Daniela arrived outside the Andrada house with her bratty daughter and started yelling for Romina to come out. Jude arrived on the scene and Daniela told him to stay out of it. “Where’s your daughter?” Daniela asked when Mina came out.
“So you just came here to cause trouble,” Mina stated. “Do you want to know how your daughter pushed my daughter down the stairs?”
Gino arrived home and told his family that Daniela was at Romina’s. Back outside the Andrada house, Daniela was denying and insisting that it was an accident. She went on with her verbal abuse as Cassie came out. “Her mother’s a criminal, and her father, a drug pusher. The blood of a criminal runs through Cassie’s veins.”
Romina glared at Danny girl in contempt. “What did you say?”
