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5 DAYS AGO

NOLAN THREW HIM A CONFUSED LOOK and eventually shook his head to get rid of it. "Are you sure about this?"

Inaasahan na niya ang reaksyon nito dahil kilala nito ang taong pinapaimbistigahan niya. Atty. Nolan Esguerra is his dad's half-pinoy lawyer. Nasa Pilipinas ito ngayon dahil katatapos lang ng probation process ng last will ng ama niya. The process would have been done a long time ago if it weren't to Gillian's contestations.

Desidido siyang tumango. "As a matter of fact, I couldn't think of any person other than her. I can't trust her anymore after she took advantage of my state and tricked me to sign those papers just to sell our house in Washington. Kung hindi dahil sa tulong ni Charles, I would have been in my death bed even before I called you about my sister." Ang tinutukoy niya ay ang nakababatang kapatid na doktor ni Nolan na naging estudyante ng ama niya sa UCLA. He had been consulting him for a while, ito rin ang nagbibigay ng mga medical books sa kanya na pinag-aaralan niya.

"What do you mean?" His lips firmed.

"Charles didn't tell you about my undermined medication?"

"Charles and I haven't seen each other since last year. I'm sorry to hear that but if that's the case, you and your sister need protection." Tumango siya.

"And I want to get my rights back as well as our assets now." Pagpapatuloy niya. He just has to prove that he is well now and capable of handling their properties so that he's aunt's guardianship won't be necessary anymore.

He's done drowning himself with his grief and emotions. Hindi na niya ito hahayaan na manipulahin ang lahat. Nitong nakaraan lang niya nalaman na iniwanan ni Gilberto ng trust fund si Maribel na maari lang nitong gamitin pagkatapos ng pag-aaral nito. Sinong nakakaalam kung ano at magkano ang laman ng trust fund na iyon upang manganib ang buhay ng dalaga?

He won't be silenced anymore. He needs to protect her.

"Aside from your safeties and rights, I know what you really wanna get from this investigation."

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa.

"If you really think she's the "mind" behind all of this, let go of that little faith you have in your aunt. It will only hurt you if this investigation will prove you right."

NABAON sa isipan ni Gabriel ang huling sinabi ni Nolan sa kanya hanggang sa nawala na sa paningin niya ang sasakyan nito sa driveway ng mansyon. That man knows how to read minds, or maybe he was just to transparent.

Ironically, aminado siyang ayaw niyang pag-isipan ng masama ang tiyahin, and at the end of this, a part of him hopes that his gut feeling is wrong. Na ibang tao ang may pakana.

She's still his aunt. Kadugo at kapamilya niya.

But their family was known to be rich and dangerous in town long before his grandparents were still alive. Baka nagbabalat-kayo lang ito sa tuwing kaharap niya ito, she might be more dangerous than his grandparents were.

"Charles, hindi ba alam ni Nolan na nandito ka sa Pilipinas?"

He heard him sighed on the other line. "Hindi Gab, kailangan ba niyang malaman?"

"He is your brother. Your family has the decency to know your whereabouts."

"You sound exactly like Dr. Delcampo. Let me be Gabby boy." Kumunot ang noo niya. He hated to be called that way. It reminded him of his reckless and careless self back then. Iyon kasi ang tawag sa kanya ng mga kabarkada niya.

"Treasure and love your family while they're still alive."

Tumawa ito. "Why so serious? See me at 7. May kailangan tayong pag-usapan."

Lumabas siya ng study upang hanapin si Maribel. Umiling ang dalawang matanda nang tanungin niya kung nakita ba ng mga ito ang dalaga. Bigla siyang kinabahan sa pag-aalalang tuluyan itong napahamak ulit kahit na alam niyang lumalabas ito ng mansyon na hindi nagpapa-alam. Hinayaan niya ito for his peace of mind. He drove her away for a reason, ngunit ngayon parang pinagsisisihan na niya ang ginawa. And to his concern, she's usually at home at this hour subalit wala parin ito.

Napagdesisyonan nila ni Rolando na hanapin ito sa labas. Charles can wait.

Sa kusina lumabas si Rolando habang siya ay sa entrada ng mansyon. Palabas na siya nang nagkasalubong sila ni Maribel.

He hid his relief at the back of his furrow eyes brows. Madumi ang suot nitong maong at blusa. There were stalks on her long silky hair and yet she still looks beautiful. Her bushy dreamy eyes widened as a sign of shock.

"Saan ka pupunta?" It was her style whenever she's being caught, asking him questions when he's the one supposedly asking her.

"Saan ka nagpunta?" Bara niya. He intently stared at her waiting for her to answer him.

"Diyan lang sa tabi tabi." Pasimpleng sagot nito na para bang may tinatago sabay ayos sa maduming blusa at maong na suot.

Hindi niya napigilan ang kamay na hawakan ang buhok nito at kunin ang sagabal na talahib. Tiningnan niya ang talahib. Pumunta ba ito sa talahiban? He'll find out if she's keeping something from him.

"You know you're still not safe goofing around the forest. Hindi mo alam kung gaano kadelikado ang kagubataan sa Santa Barbara, Maribel. Gusto mo ba muling madukot?"

Nalukot sa galit ang magandang mukha nito. "Sa tingin mo ba ipapahamak ko ang sarili ko?!" She stormed inside the mansion. Tinanaw niya ito hanggang sa tuluyan itong umakyat sa hagdanan.

"I'm sorry." Pabulong na wika niya. Alam niyang kasalanan niya, kung kontrolado lang niya ang damdamin niya para rito, hindi sana niya ito iiwasan. Kung napipigilan lang niya ang pinupukaw nitong apoy sa tuwing nagkakadikit ang mga balat nila, hindi sana siya mandidiri sa sarili. Showing her animosity that drove her away was his only way to deal with his forbidden feelings towards her.