Chapter 23

When I entered the mansion, I noticed Martin sitting on the sofa in a robe, holding a wineglass.

“What happened?” he asked. I just grinned and shrugged.

“Nothing. There’s just a bug wandering around, so don’t worry,” I replied with a smile. He raised an eyebrow and looked outside the mansion.

“Oh, your ex-husband?”

I winced when he mentioned my ex-husband. I sighed and shook my head.

“Oh, please. I get chills just thinking about my ex-husband,” I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes at him.

He grinned at me and sipped his drink. “Oh, by the way, you’ll come with me tomorrow,” he said. I paused and raised my eyebrows.

“Where?” I asked. He tilted his head and I noticed the lift of his lips.

“The municipal hall.”

My eyes widened and I grinned at his words. “Are you sure?” I asked excitedly. I didn’t expect that I would be able to go to the municipal hall earlier than planned.

He nodded. “Hmm…” and he stood up and approached me. “Let’s start the plan,” he said with a smirk, and he caressed my cheek, causing me to pause, but I just brushed his hand away.

“Whatever! I’m so tired, so let me rest,” I smiled and ran upstairs to my room. As I entered the room, I leaned against the door and held on to my chest.

What the f–ck! Why are my cheeks getting hot because of what he did? I shook my head. It can’t be. I need to do what I want.

I just screamed in frustration and jumped on the bed. “You’re so annoying, Martin! I hate you.”

THE NEXT DAY, I woke up to the sunlight hitting my skin. I rubbed my eyes and stretched because I was still sleepy.

“Good morning.”

My eyes widened, and I suddenly sat up in bed to find out whose voice it was because maybe I might just be dreaming. But I realized that it was Martin who greeted me in the morning.

“Martin…” I whispered and ruffled my hair because he was bothering me so early in the morning.

He raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you expect to see me today?” he asked. I looked at him with disdain because I really didn’t expect

him to be the one waking me up.

“I’m still sleepy,” I said, but he pulled me up to get out of bed.

“You have 5 minutes to shower and get dressed. Otherwise, I will leave you,” he said seriously. My eyes widened, and I got up and grabbed my towel.

He’s not excited, huh? TSK.

He tilted his head and grinned before leaving my room. Damn it. I hurried into the bathroom and went through my routine because I would rather not be left behind. Thereafter, I got dressed and fixed myself because I would rather not look foolish when we went to the municipality.

Afterward, I took my sling bag and left my room. I ran down the stairs because I’m sure Martin was getting impatient.

Alexis greeted me and helped me get into the car. As soon as I got in, Martin handed me a folder. I frowned as I looked at the contents of the folder.

“This contains the allies of Levy Villalobos. They are all on Levy’s side. There are influential people in the business industry.” he said while reading the newspaper. “All of their illegal businesses are also included.”

I nodded as I read the important information he gathered, and I also noticed that I have met some of them. And some of them want to negotiate with me.

“The financial statements of each company are also there. You should read them and find out what you can do with them.”

I furrowed my brow as I read their information. Their work was no joke either.

“They are always in the black market.”

I stopped and furrowed my brow even more. Black market? That sounded familiar. I had noticed that in some information that Lucas had given me before I came back here from Korea.

“Does everyone here in San Alfonso own something?” I asked. It wouldn’t be surprising if they were all on the black market because I’m sure they are all part of the same organization.

He nodded at me and put on his glasses, which made him look handsome in my eyes, so I looked away and focused on the information he was giving me.

“They don’t just have properties in San Alfonso, they also have some in Manila. They are all part of the same organization, which is why most of their businesses are almost illegal, that’s how they get rich. They are dangerous people,” Martin said seriously as he folded his newspaper and looked at me. “You also need to be careful with them because it’s difficult to be their enemy,” he added.

I leaned back and closed the folder. I put my hand on my lips and smirked, even though I knew they weren’t really my target because I wasn’t concerned about what they were doing. My only target is the Villalobos family. I also want to bury them in the ground and make them suffer like they did to me.

I can use them against—

“You can use them against Levy…”

I nodded, but I remembered something. “Did you really elect Levy to a high position? He will become even more arrogant and make the people his slaves,” I said with a furrowed brow.

Because when he is in a high position, things will only get worse. He might even involve Monticello if it happens—

“Why not?”

I stopped thinking and looked at him, surprised to see a smirk on his lips. I furrowed my brow, but my eyes widened as I felt something about him.

“Do you have a plan?!” I shouted, pointing at him.

He adjusted his glasses and crossed his arms. “I could also nominate you for a high position, to be your opponent in the next election,” he said. I was stunned and leaned back again. His idea could also work, but…

“I just like his title as mayor, Martin. He’s too ambitious, so while he’s still happy with your announcement, that’s when I’ll bring him down.” I looked at him and grinned. “I’ll take everything he has, so he can feel how it is to lose in a battle.” I smirked and ran my fingers through my hair. “I can’t wait to see them suffer,” I whispered as I looked at my hand and placed it on the window sill.

“They used to belittle me, Martin. They also drove me away several times and even tried to take my life, but I was blind and deaf because of my love for Mateo,” I closed my hand. “And now, I am no longer weak. I will prove to them who they are up against. Who the real king is.” I smiled and looked at my folded hands. “And I will use these hands to make them kneel before me. And boom!” I laughed as tears fell, but I stopped when Martin held my face and turned me towards him.

“That’s why I’m here. I will help you with your revenge,” he said and caressed my cheek. “Together, we will bring them down for what Levy did in the past.”

I was taken aback and frowned, but he just shook his head and avoided eye contact before releasing my face. I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but I didn’t ask him anymore because it seemed like his mood had changed.

When we arrived at the municipality, Alexis helped me out of the car and I looked up at the municipality of San Alfonso.

“How did Don Martinez manage to lead this town for a long time?” I asked Martin, who was beside me, in a daze.

Don Martinez Monticello is the best mayor San Alfonso has ever had. I heard that he achieved a lot to improve and improve the town.

Because I noticed during my few days of staying here that there are still many people who support the Monticello family, many are still supporters of Martin’s family, so some were disappointed to learn that Martin will not enter politics.

“That’s why I admire him,” he said. I looked at him, smiling, before he entered, so I followed him inside.

“Good morning, Don Martin and Lady Ana!”

I just nodded at them and smiled before we went up to where the meeting will be held. As we entered their conference room, I noticed that the Villalobos, including Chloe and Mateo, were here. It looks like Chloe has gotten over what happened to her. I raised an eyebrow but also smiled at them.

“Good morning, Don Martin, and same to you, Lady Ana,” greeted Levy’s party members. I nodded and sat down next to Martin.

“So, we’re all complete now! Let’s start!”

They began discussing the upcoming election. I just picked at my nails because I wasn’t interested in what they were saying. I was more interested in the two people in front of me, so I glanced at Chloe and noticed that she was looking at me with disdain because of what happened last night. Furthermore, I also glanced at Mateo, who looked like he hadn’t slept because he looked disheveled now.

I rested my elbow on the table and crossed my fingers while looking at them. Chloe got even more annoyed and rolled her eyes at me. It seems like she’s not in a good mood right now.

“Thank you, Don Martin, for electing Don Levy as the governor of San Alfonso.”

I looked at the person thanking Martin and raised my eyebrows because I know him.

He is President Desilva. I read the information that Martin gave me. He has an illegal business in Manila, and he plans to expand his business here in San Alfonso, which Martin does not want, so we are finding a way to remove them all from this town.

“Thank you for sponsoring the next campaign.”

Mr. Lee. He’s half-Korean and half-Filipino. We met him at an event in Korea, where he was interested in investing in the company I built.

“Oh, not me,” Martin said, interrupting them. I secretly grinned because it wasn’t Martin’s money that was used for the campaign, but my own hard-earned money to achieve the revenge I desired.

“H-huh? You’re just joking, Don Martin, right?”

Martin grinned and crossed his arms. “I’m not the sponsor of Don Levy’s campaign.”

Their eyes widened, and they all looked at each other, seemingly trying to figure out who their sponsor was. I leaned back in my seat as it seemed that the upcoming event was becoming interesting.

“He’s right. Because Lady Ana is my sponsor for my campaign, right, Lady Ana?” I turned to Levy, who was smiling and staring at me. We just exchanged glances, but he was the first to give in, so I was even more delighted.

“Oh, yes. It’s me. Because I want to

support my former father-in-law,” I said with a smile. They all stopped, and I noticed that Levy’s expression seemed to change. That’s right, Levy, show everyone your true colors.

They gasped in surprise, and they all looked at me.

“Father-in-law? You mean…” I nodded at them because it seemed like they already knew who I was. “You’re still alive? How come?”

I grinned and rubbed my arm. “Is it astounding that I’m still alive?” I asked with a laugh. They shook their heads and laughed too, but you could tell that their laughter and smiles were fake. I sighed and took a deep breath.

“Before I continue with the sponsorship, I want to reopen the case from 5 years ago. The case of Ana Bernardino,” I said seriously. I looked at each of them, and it seemed like their expressions had changed, but my gaze stopped at Caridad and Chloe, who couldn’t sit still in their seats.

“Mrs. Caridad,” She jumped in surprise and looked back at me. “I could probably reopen my case from back then, right?” I asked her with a smile. She averted her gaze, but you could feel her annoyance.

I couldn’t help but feel happy with their reactions now.

“What’s with your case back then, Ana? Why didn’t I know that there was an investigation into the accident?”

I stopped and looked at Mateo, who had a furrowed brow because he was confused about what was happening. He doesn’t know? How does he won’t know? Is he playing with me?

“M-Mateo, d-don't listen to her non—”

“Shut up. I’m not talking to you.”

Chloe fell silent and clenched her fist, so I grinned widely because it looked like she was embarrassed because of Mateo. I shook my head and clenched my fist because it felt like they were making a fool out of me.

“Is it really just an accident for you what happened to me, Mateo? Aren’t you curious how I ended up at the arch of San Alfonso?” I asked, furrowing my brow.

I remembered that our village, where we lived, was close to the entrance of San Alfonso. Furthermore, I also remembered that Mateo once brought me to San Alfonso. Because I was so angry at Mateo and Chloe, I didn’t even know where I ended up, as if I wasn't concerned about the place I was going to because of the anger I felt.

I just noticed that my vehicle lost its brakes, so I turned the steering wheel to stop the vehicle, but I ended up hitting a ditch that wasn’t too deep. I even remember that my car was smoking, so I quickly crawled out of the vehicle and threw my blazer before walking out of the ditch, and that's where Martin saved me…