“I’m the man who’s keeping your wife’s skeleton in the closet. the only one who knows that she ordered someone to räpë Romina. You don’t believe me? You’re an idïøt. I may not have finished college but at least I’m smarter than you. She’s the one who had your ex-girlfriend räpëd. You got that?”
Carlos was excited that his former coworker had accepted his offer to service their company cars and even made a down payment. When Cassie got home, her mother asked her about the movie they had watched and she told her that they had enjoyed it because she hadn’t gone out with her uncle Neil for a while now. “Is that the only reason you had fun?” Romina teased. “And was it really just the two of you?”
Mina eyed Kristoff’s jacket. “Tope lent me his jacket because it was cold in the theatre,” Cassie explained. “I was hoping to wash it before I gave it back since I wore it during the entire movie.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying Kristoff’s company. But please try to remember my advice to take things slow. There’s time for everything.”
Cassie was downcast. “But someone’s hurting because of us.”
“Who?”
“Marga. She actually admitted that she also likes Tope. And I know she’s trying to keep us apart. She even tagged along earlier too.”
“Don’t worry, Cassie. There will come a day when you will no longer have to put up with Marga. Your worlds won’t collide anymore. We’ll both be better off living totally separate lives.”
“I know, but it’s just sad that this happened to our family. Right before daddy died, I know he wanted our family to get along but his wish never came true.”
Kulas walked into the Cartolome shop to find Carlos and the workers celebrating. He asked who’s birthday it was and Carlos showed him the cheque, saying that the company he had worked for before moving to Taiwan had signed a contract with them. “There’s more, dad,” Gino added. “That’s just a down payment. They signed a two year contract.”
“This is what I was telling you, Carlos,” Kulas said. “I knew the repair shop will be a success.”
“That’s right, dad. You are my lucky charm, so we will celebrate tonight. We’ll buy anything you want.”
Marga was sobbing in her room and recalling the moments she had had with Kristoff and the day he had told her that Cassie was the girl he liked. She started throwing things away in a fit. Nanny Esther came in and asked if she wanted to talk but bratty daughter ranted and told her to go to Cassie instead. She opened the door and asked her to leave. “Fine, Marga,” Esther said. “But I’m always here if you need someone to talk to.”
Mini-Daniela cried some more after kicking out Esther. Back at the Cartolome shop, Jessa tried sweet-talking Kulas into gambling again. Kulas was worried about losing and Jessa told him that he had a good technique, adding that he now had a lot of money as well.
Kulas was reluctant. “Jessa…”
“Half of it will be fine,” Jessa cut in. “You guys are saving up to buy equipments for the shop, right? I’m sure your son will be really happy.”
Myrna eyed them from where she stood. At Camila, Romina asked Bonita about Hector and she told her that he was probably at his station, lazying around like always. Mina told Bonita to take the week’s production report to her office while she went to have a talk with Hector. A moment later, Romina spied Hector as he talked to Daniela on phone, asking that they meet up. Later, Daniela met up with Hector, worried about Romina’s threat to take back her entire fortune once she was acquitted. “That cannot happen, Hector. She doesn’t have the right. That money is mine.”
Hector casually wrapped his hands around Daniela’s neck. “That won’t happen. I promise you that. I will give you what you want. All of your father’s wealth will end up in your hands alone.”
Daniela stared at Hector with that sad, puppy-looking eyes, unknown that Romina was secretly watching the show nearby. Romina snapped a photo of Daniela, who had Hector’s hands still around her neck. Kulas went back to the Cartolome autoshop with some shopping bags. Carlos asked what he had bought this time and Kulas told him that there had been a sale.
“Dad, did you deposit our earnings yesterday?” Carlos asked.
Kulas hesitated. “Oh, yeah. I went to the bank for that.”
Carlos then had a phone call. “What do you want, Romina?”
“Let’s meet up, Carlos. We need to talk.”
“We’ve got nothing to talk about.”
“I want to show you some evidence.”
“What evidence? Is this about Daniela again? Can you please stop harassing her?”
“Don’t worry, Carlos. I promise this is going to be the last time I’ll bother you.”
“Fine. Where should we meet?”
Back at the rendezvous point, Daniela told Hector that they couldn’t let Romina be acquitted and Hector offered to get rid of the judge. “Don’t be stüpïd, Hector,” Danny girl grumbled. “I’m not a mürdërer. We just need to persuade her into believing that Romina is lying, that she paid the messenger to retract his statement.”
“Okay. I’ll handle it to ensure nothing goes wrong.”
Bonita and Neil worried about how Daniela would react if she found out that Romina went to meet up with Carlos. Mina told them that since Daniela didn’t want to talk, then she was going to use Carlos to expose her secrets. “Especially since I don’t have enough evidence to prove Daniela and Hector committed a crime,” Mina said.
“Is that why you want to use Carlos instead?” Bonita asked worriedly.
“Daniela’s weakness is her family. Once Daniela realizes we’re onto her family, she will grow even more desperate. Careless from the stress. And that is when I’ll strike.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Romina,” Bernard cautioned.
“I’m just exploring my options, Bernard. If I can’t make Alvin tell the truth, I will use Carlos to break Daniela.”
A little girl was throwing a tantrum at the diner, demanding that her mother buy her some ice cream. Marga came over and offered the girl some ice cream as she kept on making a scene, much to Kristoff’s surprise.
“Miss, I’m sorry but I can’t pay for that,” the mother said.
“Don’t worry, ma’am. It’s on me.”
“Thank you,” mother and daughter chorused.
“No problem.”
Marga walked away as the mother fished out her phone to make a video. Cassie looked on as Marga exchanged smiles with Kristoff. Kulas was worried about Carlos going to meet Romina for evidence she claimed she had against Daniela. Jessa asked him to relax. She noticed the shopping bags and Kulas told her that he had bought those for her to show his appreciation since she was his lucky charm.
“I knew you’d have fun,” Jessa said. “The shop doesn’t look too busy. Want to go back there? Your winning streak might continue.”
“Good idea.”
“That’s what I like about you.”
“Let’s go.”
Myrna came in just then. “Where are you two going?”
“Why do you care?” Kulas spat. “You keep badmouthing Jessa, thinking I wouldn’t hear about it. Know your place in this family – you’re just our maid.”
Cassie served a father and daughter their order. As she stared at them sadly, she flashed back to the moments she had had with her dad; the times he had taken care of her after her hangover, the meals they shared where she stole some crabs from his plate. A voiceover by Robert : “No matter what other people say, you will always be my daughter. Whatever happens, I want you to know that nothing will change. And I will always want the best for you.”
Kristoff came over. “Cassie. Is something wrong?”
“No. I just miss daddy. Tope… you think he would have allowed you to court me at our age?”
“I hope he would. Besides, uncle Robert really liked me. Didn’t he?”
“I’d give anything to be able to talk to daddy again.”
“What about your biological father, Mr. Vin?”
“I will never treat him as my father, Tope.”
Kristoff sighed. “What about Roxanne?”
“Roxanne had nothing to do with what happened. I would like to know what it feels like to have a sister.”
“Because aunt Daniela never let you experience it?”
“I tried reaching out to her before. I reached out to Marga too, but they don’t want anything to do with me.”
Sir Wacky came out excitedly and told Marga that the mother of the girl she had helped earlier uploaded a video, telling everyone about what she had done.
“She was asking for ice cream after we had lunch,” said the mother in the video. “But we’ve been on a tight budget ever since my husband was diagnosed with cancer. A waitress approached us and gave my kid ice cream. It was just a simple act of kindness, but for me and my daughter, it was the best thing that happened to us in a while. Thank you, our ice cream princess.”
Cassie glanced at Kristoff as Marga started bragging about how things like these happened on her vlogs.
“Thank you,” Sir Wacky said. “Because of you, this diner got featured, ice cream princess.”
Marga turned and smirked at Cassie. Romina met up with Carlos and showed him the photo she had taken of Daniela and Hector in a compromising position. Carlos didn’t take the bait. “Is this the evidence you were talking about? What does this prove? Are you trying to ruin her reputation?”
Mina smirked. “I don’t need to ruin something that has long been tarnished, Carlos. What do you think the reason is that they had to meet in private? Just the two of them.”
“Pictures can easily be manipulated nowadays. You think I’d believe you?”
“You’re right. Everything can easily be manipulated. Like what your wife did to the company to make sure Hector would become a part of it.”
Carlos looked confused. “What you talking about?”
“Didn’t Daniela tell you? Hector and Alvin are now working in Camila, and Daniela herself made sure that they’d get hired even if their backgrounds were questionable. Even Robert had them investigated. Carlos, it’s one of two things – either they’re doing something illegal, or your wife is having an affair.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Løvë is just blind, Carlos. Not stüpïd. It is up to you whether you want to believe me or not.” Mina got up and offered him a tissue. “You might need this to wipe the tears from your eyes.”
Daniela was busy working on some documets at Camila when Carlos barged in and demanded to know whether she had really hired Hector to work in the company.
“Who told you that?” Daniela asked.
“Answered my questions, Daniela. Were you the one who hired him?”
“Yes. Hector’s working here now but why is it a big deal? You knew he was asking for my help.”
“Didn’t I tell you I didn’t want him hanging around you? But you still did this behind my back.”
“What are trying to say? I was just helping a man out.”
“Since when do you help others, or get concerned about someone unrelated to you?”
“Carlos, I don’t wanna fight.”
“I already caught you two entering a motel.”
Danny girl took offense and got a little physical. “How dare you?”
Carlos stormed off. Back at the diner, Kristoff video-called Roxanne and asked for her house address since Cassie wanted to see her. Roxy started making excuses but Kristoff was quiet persistent. Roxy was worried after the call. She tried calling her father but he didn’t pick up. Later that night, Kristoff gave Jepoy an address and asked him to drop them off there before going home.
“Where are we going?” Cassie asked.
Kristoff smiled. “You’ll see.”
Roxanne had boarded a bus and was on her way back to Manila. When her father still didn’t pick up her calls, she called her uncle instead and he answered on the first ring. “Roxanne. What’s up?”
“Uncle Alvin, Cassie’s on the way to the house right now.”
“What the…what for?”
“She’s going to visit me. Please tell pappa I’m on my way there too.”
Daniela arrived home and started bickering with Romina about what she had told Carlos earlier. “You knew how he’d react once he found out. I think you told him about it on purpose.”
“And so what if I did?” Mina taunted. “What are you going to do?”
“So you admit it. You are out to ruin my marriage. Still can’t accept that he chose me? You can’t accept that he married me, not you?”
Romina laughed. “Oh my gosh. You and Carlos are really made for each other. You both think exactly alike. Hang on a second.” Mina grabbed a glass of water from the table. “Why don’t you have the sandwich I made? After all, you like collecting all my leftovers, right?”
Daniela raised her hand to släp Romina but Mina beat her to it and quickly poured the glass of water on her. “How dare you,” Danny girl hissed.
“And that too.”
“I will not allow you to ruin my relationship with Carlos.”
Mina smiled. “I don’t need your permission, Daniela. And you can’t stop me.” Mina batted her eyes at Daniela and stalked off.
Carlos was drinking over Daniela and Hector’s relationship, thinking that his wife was cheating on him. Jude disagreed with him while Gino suggested that he have a talk with Hector to clear things up. Marga arrived home and tried to show her mother the video of herself which had gone viral. Daniela however left without bothering to take a look, saying that she was in a hurry. Romina came over. “Marga, are you okay?”
Marga gave Mina a look and walked away. Back at the Bartolome house, Gino and Jude discussed Carlos’ suspicions about his wife. Myrna was worried that Kulas hadn’t come home yet. She asked her sons whether they knew where their father had gone with Jessa and they told her not to worry about him so much.
“We don’t know Jessa that well,” Myrna pointed out. “We can’t just trust her completely.”
“What are you worried about?” Jude asked. “What could Miss Jessa do to dad?”
Cassie and Kristoff arrived at the Mangubat residence. Alvin asked what they were doing there and Kristoff told him they were there to see Roxanne. “She went out somewhere,” Alvin claimed.
“Where did she go?” Cassie asked.
“She just left. I’m not sure why.”
Carlos arrived just then, gloriously drunk, yelling and calling out Hector to come and face him.
“Carlos, my brother isn’t here,” Alvin said.
“Tell that bästärd to come out and face me. I demand to know the truth. Hector!”
Alvin shoved back Carlos as he tried going into the house. “I said he’s not here.”
“Stay out of this!” Carlos engaged in a fistfight with Alvin and Jepoy tried to hold him back.
Roxanna arrived just then. “Uncle Alvin,” she called out, much to Cassie’s surprise. Roxy came between them. “Uncle Alvin. That’s enough. Stop.”
“Tell me the truth,” Carlos demanded as Jepoy held him steady. “What is his relationship with my wife?”
“Please just leave,” Roxy said to Carlos. “Uncle Alvin.”
“Carlos, that’s enough,” Cassie admonished. She stared at Roxy in confusion for a while before leaving with the others. At the mansion, Marga left the dining table as Romina and Nanny Esther came over. Mina asked Esther about Carlos and Daniela and she told her that they hadn’t arrived home yet.
“I really feel sorry for Marga,” Esther said. “She always seems to be alone. The other day, I saw her crying in her room. I don’t think Daniela knows what’s happening to her daughter.”
“We all have our own priorities, nanny.”
“But parents should always prioritize their kids. That’s why you’re so focused on Cassie. Especially now that Marga’s being affected with your situation by Daniela.”
“Nanny, that goes for Cassie too.”
“But we’re always there for Cassie when she needs us. But Marga…she has no one to guide her. If only she’d trust me and let me get close to her.”
Daniela called Gino and asked about Carlos. Gino told her that Carlos wasn’t at the house, adding that he had suggested that he have a talk with that Hector guy. Danny girl hanged up, agitated. “Savannah, we have to go. Come on. Hurry.”
“Where are we going?” Savvy asked.
“I think Carlos went to confront Hector.”
“I knew it. Those two brothers bring nothing but trouble.”
Daniela then had another phone call. “Cassie, what do you want?”
“We’re with Carlos,” Cassie said. “He’s really drunk.”
“What? Where are you? Why are you with Carlos?”
Romina caught Marga sneaking out of the mansion and asked where she was going at such an unholy hour. Marga told her it was none of her business. Marga ranted as Mina tried talking some sense into her. “But you do live in my house,” Mina pointed out.
“You mean grandpa’s house,”Marga shot. “There’s a big difference, aunt Romina.”
“Do your parents know about this?”
“They don’t care. So why should you?” Bratty daughter bitçhëd some more and stormed off as Mina tried stopping her.
Carlos was throwing up when Daniela and her lapdog arrived in the Mangubat neighborhood. “What happened?” Danny girl asked. “Where did you go?”
“Uncle Carlos went to Mr. Vin’s house,” Cassie explained. “Then he suddenly went berserk.”
“He and Alvin had a fight,” Jepoy added as Carlos went to throw up some more.
“This is a disaster,” Savannah cut in, much to Daniela’s displeasure.
“He was looking for Mr. Hector,” Cassie added. “He was really angry.”
Hector arrived home and asked his daughter what she was doing there. He then noticed Alvin’s wounds. “Who did that to you? Tell me so I can k!ll him.”
Alvin hesitated. “It was Marga’s father,” Roxy revealed.
“He was asking about the truth,” Alvin spoke up. “I’m guessing Daniela told him.”
Kulas arrived home with Jessa, bitter that he had lost a lot of money gambling. Myrna overheard and came over to tell Jessa not to make Kulas like her.
“Stay out of this, Mryna,” Kulas warned. “What will Jessa turn me into? You talk like you know Jessa so well. Tell me, do you know her?”
“I’m just concerned about you.”
“I don’t need your concern. Get me something to eat.”
Marga was ranting about how her parents didn’t even look for her when a goon wielding a kñifë hijacked her and robbed her of her jewelry and her bag. After the goon ran off with his newfound treasure, Marga sunk to her knees and broke down. The next morning, Daniela tucked a sleeping Carlos into bed, wondering out loud what she was going to do with him. A phone call came in. “Hello. Who’s this?”
“Can I speak to Mrs. Daniela Bartolome?” asked the officer.
“Speaking. Who’s this?”
“Your daughter is in the precinct, ma’am.”
“What happened? Is my daughter alright?”
In the living room, Jepoy recounted to Romina how Carlos had beat up Alvin last night. Romina sighed. “So that’s why I felt really uneasy yesterday. Wherever Alvin and Hector are, trouble will always follow. I’m glad nothing bad happened to you, dear.”
“I’m sorry, ma,” Cassie said.
“You don’t have to apologize for anything. You were not the one who started this. But please promise me that you’ll never go there again. If you really want to be with Roxanne, just ask her to come here.”
Cassie flashed back to last night’s incident. “When Roxanne saw what was happening, she called Mr. Alvin ‘uncle’ instead of ‘pappa’.”
Romina looked on in confusion. Daniela arrived at the police station and scolded her daughter. Marga told her about how she had been robbed and been afraid for her life. “I was worried sick,” Danny girl said. “You have a driver and a bodyguard. This wouldn’t have happened if you took care of yourself.”
“Do you want to know why? After the incident at the diner, you and daddy promised to make it up to me. But you just ignore me even more.”
“Marga, your dad and I are going through something right now.”
“And I’m not? I lost everything. I have to live with Cassie. Kristoff’s courting Cassie now and I’m so heartbroken. I wanted someone to comfort me but you and daddy weren’t there. You left me all alone.”
“Marga, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you liked him.”
“Of course you didn’t…like how you didn’t know my good deed went viral. You don’t know anything about me because you don’t care about anything except your hatred for aunt Romina.”
Carlos finally woke up from his slumber and asked a maid where Daniela was. She told him that Daniela had rushed out earlier without telling anyone where she was going. Carlos tried calling her on phone but it didn’t go through. Cassie was cleaning a table at the diner when she received a notification on her phone. She smiled at the flower Kristoff had just sent her. Kristoff came over and offered her a real flower. “Glad I made you smile.”
“Tope…”
“I figured that you were still bothered by what happened last night. I guess I was right.”
“I just can’t forget what Roxanne said.”
“Why don’t you just meet up with her and ask her why she called Mr. Vin ‘uncle’?”
“But how will I know if she answers me with the truth?”
“Then tell me. What’s on your mind?”
“I don’t want to jump to conclusions, Tope. I just want to know if Roxanne is really my sister or not.”
Sir Wacky came over. “Are you ready? We’re reopening now.”
“Yes, sir,” Cassie replied.
“Where’s Marga? She’s late.”
“She isn’t here yet, Sir Wacky.”
“Is she coming to work today?”
Marga was sobbing silently in her room. She wiped her face clean and vlogged to her ‘Baby Dragons’, trivializing how she had been robbed. “I will not bore you with the details. My point is, life is full of surprises. So many things can happen to us. You should really appreciate the people who truly løvë you.” Marga faked a smile. “And for me… that’s you, my Baby Dragons. I’ll throw a party tomorrow. You’re all invited.” Mini-Daniela went back to her depressed state after recording.
Hector blocked Carlos with his car by the roadside and pounced on him. “You bästärd.”
Carlos threw a few punches of his own. “What’s your problem?
Hector recovered quickly and got the upper hand like before. He cornered Carlos and held him in position. “My brother didn’t do anything to you. You want to know our secret? You want to know the truth? Here – I’m the man who’s keeping your wife’s skeleton in the closet. I’m the only one who knows that she ordered someone to räpë Romina.”
Carlos was dumbfounded. “Daniela had Romina räpëd?”
“Yes.”
“You lying bästärd.” Carlos shoved Hector away and went at him again. Hector gained the upper hand again after taking a few punches. He pinned Carlos to the car again. “You don’t believe me? You’re an idïøt. I may not have finished college but at least I’m smarter than you. Why do you think she meets up with me? Why can’t she say no to me?”
Carlos tried breaking free of Hector’s grip, all to no avail. “Let go of me!”
“Because I know her secret, pretty boy! She’s the one who had your ex-girlfriend räpëd. You got that?” Hector released Carlos. “Now that you know the truth, stop being so jealous. Because if you hurt my brother again, I’ll give you something to be jealous of.”
A maid from the mansion passed by in a bus and saw what was going on. “Don’t worry,” Hector barked. “Nothing’s going on between me and Daniela. She just has a rotten attitude.”
“Damn it,” Carlos said as Hector drove off.
In the living room, Romina was having a talk with Nanny Esther, Neil and Jepoy about whether or not Roxanne was pretending to be Alvin’s daughter. “Why would she pretend to be Alvin’s daughter?” Esther asked.
“Why would Alvin choose to lie?” Neil added. “Especially to Cassie.”
“I don’t think it matters,” Mina cut in. “We haven’t proven anything yet. Whether or not Roxanne is his daughter, Alvin is still the man who räpëd me so Cassie is his daughter.”
Carlos came in just then, disoriented. After he went into his room, Romina asked a maid about what had happened to Carlos and she told him that she had seen him outside fighting with Cassie’s uncle. Carlos was drinking and pondering over what Hector had said to him.
He had a series of flashbacks, the first being the time he had ran into Daniela at Camila when he was in a relationship with Romina. In another flashback, Daniela threw herself at Carlos but Carlos rejected. “Stop it. Romina and I are getting married.”
“But you aren’t married yet,” Danny girl argued. “Carlos, I løvë you more than Romina does.”
Carlos then flashed back to how Daniela had announced that she would be helping Romina with the wedding. “I’m organizing a bachelorette party for you. It’s a gift.”
The hospital :
“Romina. What happened?” Carlos asked.
“I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was here in the hospital. I was räpëd,” Mina sobbed.
The precinct:
“Based on the medical findings, there was penetration,” an officer said, much to Carlos’ displeasure.
Outside the precinct:
“You should have been careful, Romina,” Carlos admonished.
“Are you blaming me?” Mina sobbed.
“If I was there, then none of this would have happened. I feel so worthless.”
Present : Daniela came into the room and brought dinner for Carlos. She placed the serving tray on the table. “Did you cook that?” Carlos asked.
“Yeah,” Danny girl replied. “Want me to join you?”
“Did you put your secret ingredient in it?”
Daniela looked confused. “What?”
“Your secret ingredient,” Carlos repeated. “The one you use to manipulate us all. What is it exactly? A sleeping pill? A løvë potion?”
“Carlos, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t?”
Silence. “You don’t?!” Carlos grabbed Daniela. “Tell me, Daniela. Is it true? Did you have Romina räpëd?” It was Danny girl’s turn to be shocked. She stared up fearfully at her not-so clueless husband, her heart beating so hard, all the while panting heavily like a big trapped, cornered dog.
