Two weeks later... It was clear to Lucian that his life would never be the same after he left Italy and handed over control of the Profaci Empire to his younger brother. To the best of his ability, he became whatever his father had dreamed for him. But he won't repeat his past mistakes; he'll stay with Georgina forever. Now that they don't have to worry about the Triad, they can take revenge for their daughter. France is roughly an hour and a half away from Italy. His friends were eager to join them, but he knew they had other commitments. Pumayag lang ang mga ito na magpaiwan kung isasama niya ang iba nilang tauhan. With Georgina and Nikita around, daig pa niya ang may dalawampung katao kaya hindi s'ya nag-aalala. He is not fully healed yet and Georgina wanted to put the trip off, but he put his foot down. Gusto na niyang matapos ang lahat para makapagsimula na sila ng panibago. Remembering the past pained him and he will never get over losing his daughter. Mawawala ba ng tuluyan a
The mattress has been delivered and the men replaced the old one. Tatawagin sana ni Lucian ang isang kasambahay para ayusin ang kama at lagyan ng bagong kobre pero pinigil s'ya ni Georgina. "Let's do it together," sabi nito sa kaniya. Sa bahay nila ay silang dalawa ang gumagawa ng lahat. They do not have a maid because they like to do things together. She saw Georgina locked the door as he took the sheets out from the cabinet. Fitted sheet pa lang ang nailalagay nila nang lumundag ito sa kama na parang bata. "What on Earth are you doing, Ruthie?" natatawa niyang tanong sa asawa. At their age, they know better not to jump on the mattress because it would ruin it. "Just testing how strong this new bed is." Sa huling paglundag ay umupo ang asawa niya sa gitna ng kama at hingal na hingal. Hinila niya ng paa nito hanggang mapahiga. "What are you doing?" She asked while biting her bottom lip. Itinukod niya ang magkabilang siko sa kama at naging maingat s'ya para hindi maibigay kay Georg
Before he could approach Keira, she already got up and left the place. She looked frail and thin. Ang akala niya ay bumalik na ito sa Amerika pagkatapos ng bakasyon nito sa Italy."You know that pregnant woman?" tanong ni Georgina sa kaniya. He nodded. "Nabuntis mo?" Pinisil niya ang ilong ni Georgina bilang lambing, saka hinalikan sa pagitan ng mga kilay na halos magdikit na sa iritasyon."You and your ridiculous thoughts. Her name is Keira and Lorenzo went out with her a few times. Hindi ko s'ya nabuntis at hindi ko alam kung sino ang ama ng anak niya." Relief flooded Georgina's beautiful face. Paano pa kaya ang asawa niya kapag nagbuntis uli sa baby nila? He is expecting the worst ngayon pa lang. Siguradong maghahanap ng mga prutas na wala sa bansa o kaya naman ay hindi napapanahon. "Akala ko—" Ngumuso ang asawa niya. At bago pa ito nakapagsalita uli ay inabot niya ang mga labi nito. He kissed her to his heart's content. If she didn't tap his shoulder, hindi s'ya titigil. Hininga
You can never tell who will be your ally and who will betray you in this world. Some of them have been there for less time, but their allegiance has always been with you. Some of your closest allies may have sold their souls to the devil and turned against you despite their long history of loyalty. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit nagawa ito ng isang taong pinagkatiwalaan ng kaniyang ama sa napakahabang panahon. Itinuring nila itong pamilya. At alam niyang ibinigay ng kaniyang ama ang lahat at maraming beses itong pinaboran. "Why?" tanong niya kay Aurelio. Nasa isang silid sila kasama nila si Lorenzo. Nakaupo si Aurelio sa isang silya at nasa pagitan nila ang isang maliit na mesa. The old man just shrugged his shoulders. He is clearly not willing to talk at this time. Wala itong piring o tali sa paa at kamay. Kung titingnan ay para lamang itong nasa meeting. Maayos ang bihis at walang sugat sa kahit anong parte ng katawan o mukha. Si Lorenzo ang nagsabi sa kaniya na pinasundan it
BERLIN, July 2013 The new Hennessey Venom GT rushed to the finish line, sending waves of heat through the air. She had wire wheels that glowed with a thousand pinpoints of light, chrome fins that glinted in the heat, and dark blue paint that gleamed in the sunlight. "Chi è quello?" tanong ni Lucian kay Roberto, a fellow half-Italian. Kaklase niya ito sa Engineering sa Stanford University. They graduated last month and Don Lucio, his father, attended the ceremony but immediately left using their private plane. Kasama siya dapat nito pauwi sa Italy pero may mga kailangan pa siyang ayusin. Humingi siya ng kaunti pang oras sa ama. Halata ang disgusto nito pero pumayag din. And now Lucian and his friends are in Berlin— enjoying a street race. It's illegal, of course. It has been an issue in Cologne as well but it's still being held away from crowded urban areas."George Dela Garza. I've seen her race a few times." Kumunot ang noo ni Lucian. "Did you just say her?" "Yes. George is shor
TORONTO, January 2016You can be sure that someone, somewhere will tell you that you're wasting your time and talent, that you're doomed to fail, that others have tried and failed before you, that the mistakes you keep making are portents of your own impending failure, that you lack the courage to even try, that your upbringing doesn't match your aspirations, that your personality doesn't mesh with your mission, that the task is too difficult.That someone in Lucian's life is his father. Time and time again, Don Lucio would remind him that his place is not in those glass revolving doors, confined in those four walls. But Lucian loves his job. He loves designing and understanding the rigidity, strength and stability of anything he sees.But most importantly, he loves Georgina. Loving her is choosing not to join his father's organization. Sa mata ng mga tao, isang Structural Engineer si Lucian."Have you done the calculation for the East Canyon Suspension Bridge?" Lucian's thoughts were
NORMANDY, February 2016Secrecy and deceit. They eat at one's spirit like a malignant tumour. They devour the good and leave nothing but ruin in their wake."Does he know where you are right now?" tanong ni Nikita kay Georgina."I told him I have a conference in France and will be back after a couple of days. So, yes. He knows where I am." She does have an advertising agency. It's legit. But her business in France is different.Maaga silang nagising ni Nikita habang si Camille at Krista ay mahimbing pa ang tulog sa kwarto ng mga ito. They are at the Vanguard Triad Main office in Normandy. Kapag sa Pilipinas sila ipinatawag ay sa Calvados sila pumupunta.When she visits here, it's as if time has stopped in Normandy. The structure they are in is a brick one with a steep roof, large arched windows on the upper floors, and sturdy balustrades on the porches. It's well-proportioned and symmetrical.Don't be misled by the structure's age. It is tightly guarded by armed men and women who have
TORONTOThe depth of your love for someone and the impact they have on you personally have nothing to do with how long you have known them.Lucian was already asleep by the time Georgina came home. Saglit siyang nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na pagmasdan ang lalaking mahal niya at hindi na siya makahintay na matapos ang serbisyo niya. The amount of money she saved overseas is enough to last for ten generations. Georgina doesn't need to work if she doesn't want to. Pwede niyang ituon ang oras at panahon sa pagpapamilya.Nang kumirot ang balakang niya ay hindi niya napigilan ang mapangiwi. Trouble found her during her trip to Ukraine where the Hope Diamond is currently being kept. Every six months, the gems gets moved to a different country, at naroon ito ngayon. Alam niyang parating ang mga ito at sadyang hinihintay niya. They were able to get past the security at the back because she purposely left it open. She wants to send a message to whoever sent these men. "Vy znayete parol'?" The me