CHAPTER 3: Joined

"Smile, Ferriza!" Stormie giggled. 

I tried to form a smile before the camera flashes on my face. Stormi has a good attitude towards me or it's natural to her. She's close to everyone here. 

I was standing next to Ryler with his father and brother for a photo taking.   I've wanted to be a not so rich now p being so rich like Maravilla's was tiring. I have to roam a round to greet the visitors. 

"Why are you not inviting them?" I pointed Ryler's friends when his father walk away. 

"They're busy," he answered and talk someone who called him. 

I just sat in our table. This wedding was so stressful for me because media is everywhere as well as the flash of camera, I'm not actress nor a famous one, but yeah, I fake married Ryler. 

"Hello, everyone. I'm pleased that you spent your time with my son's especial event in his life, to their life as a couple." Sir. Guztavo chuckled at the stage. 

I heaved out a sigh, if the fake wedding of Stormi and Ryler happened with these people and media, it would be a chaotic for their family and I'm crap if that happens. 

"My father will announce Ryler as the newest CEO of our company. Thanks to you," Waller said, stood up beside me. 

"You have girlfriend why you'd still let your brother to be a CEO? It will be your grand day..." I replied in a small voice. 

"Because that's how we love each other as a siblings, love." I held my chest when Ryler was now beside me, answered my question for Waller.

"CEO is never been my thing, I hate big responsibilities," then Waller left us. 

I muted myself when Ryler close his body to mine while listening to his father in the stage. I would rather choose to sell meat in the market than belongings myself here. I missed my mother so much.

"I'm coming, mom," I said to myself. 

"So, I know Ryler is waiting too much for this to be announce. I want to have my rest now from working in one of the biggest company here in South East Asia, so that, I will take over my position to my son... Giz Ryler Maravilla," his father announced as everyone gave him a clap. I saw how he showed his teeth, smiling because of the announcement. "Come here... together with your secretary and wife." 

I looked at the stage. Oh, is he giving me work there too? I heard a big clap from everyone before Ryler offered his hands for me to stands up and walk with him in the stage. He even put his hand right in me. 

"Congratulations to our newly wed," the host said. 

Ryler held the mic. "I love you, dad! And thank you everyone for coming here to witnessed our vows for each other. How lucky I am for this day, huh." 

I hope I could have divorce paper after this. Ryler got what he wanted due to this wedding happened. Everyone danced as Ryler dance with me too just for show. 

"Congrats, Ryle... I'm so proud of you. Give uncle Guz a child now." Stormi chucled while she was dancing with someone beside us. 

As if I will let him to have score in my vagina. While everyone were busy, Ryler's friends was just walking around with their mysterious look. What do I expect with them? They are Ryler's friends.  

"Ryler?" I whispered, we had an eye to eye while the romantic music played. 

"Hm?" he answered slowdown, his lips was close to my neck. 

"May I see my mother now?" 

I guess he was back on his gist when he distant his lips. He stood up straight and loosen up his hand on to my waist, waiting for his answer because I couldn't resist not to see mom for a week. 

"Sure. But promise to us, you will keep our secret and where you have been," he said. 

I was nervous but I nodded like a cute puppy. He signalled Zareb that we will heading out now so Zareb called the others.

"A media was still outside of the exit door," Amora said as her eyes landed on me icily.

"Ask them to come inside to eat, they  are surely tired," Ryler said with authorative.

"Darn, another waste of time for your fake wife, Ryler." Amora rolled her eyes on me. 

"Watch your words, Amora." Ryler walked first and left me behind him. 

I didn't ask them to do it in the first place anyways. We waited them inside of the van. I saw Zareb coming first so I laid down my head as if I'm sleeping. I don't belong here but I don't want a chaos to anyone. 

I have my peaceful life if only I didn't accept Chloe's offer. 

"Good work. Where is Hercules?" 

"He went there first, Ryler," Marimo answered. 

I can't understand their topic so I still laid my head down. My heart was racing so fast, maybe because I was too excited to see mom. Through my head, I was gathering my words to say in front of her. 

"I know you're awake, Ferriza. We are here," Ryler said. I heard the car door opens and became quiet. 

"Thanks. I hope my mom won't be mad if I knock to our door." I formed a smile, my heart was still beating so fast. 

Everytime I looked to our house, it push me to strive so we can painted our house like a new one. They were holding a gun as if they have an enemy here. 

"Why they're handling their gun?" I asked. "Mama will be surely confuse if she will see them handing a gun," I litany. 

"Just come inside, Ferriza. We are all tired, please," the vexations was evidence. 

They can leave me here alone to give me some time. Fortunately our door was open so it means my mom is still awake. Oh, too late. 

"Rissalyn Pastrana," I read. It's the name of my mother, I just like reading her name everytime I'm coming inside of our house. "Mom!" I called excitedly, didn't mind albeit Ryler is sitting to our tattered sofa. 

I called her once again but no one is answering. I can't hear her gently voice, no one is going outside from our room. I started to think negatively, maybe she's having a peaceful sleep so I went near to our bedroom. 

"Mom!" I screamed loudly at the same time my tears begun to fall like  a stream to my mom who's bathing her own blood. 

I took a deep breath before I take a look when I heard a footsteps coming. Ryler was standing beside me while his friends are around to us. They were not shock seeing my mom. 

Stood up, leveling him but our height is huge different. "Y... you, all of you!" I pointed them all, bursting my anger. "Did you do this to my mom? S... she's lifeless, she's showering her own blood," I cried and bend down again. 

She has bruises from the knife, her face has sere blood. She was covered by her cream-white comforter yet it became red due to blood that lost. 

"Amora, call someone to assist the fune--"

I shut his mouth off. "I don't need your help, Ryler. I can do this on my own! Stop making a force decision to my life!" 

"Leave us alone. Zareb, check all the cctv's around here and the rest, go back to our headquarters," Ryler commanded, had a tired voice. 

"How about you? You're now a CEO, you don't need to help her out," Amora butt in. 

"Just leave, Amora. We will talk tomorrow," his voice like a threatened.

My sobs was only be heard because of our silence. It's never my dream, 1 early for my mother. I closed my eyes as my tears was tearing down non-stop. 

"Is this your way to revenge?" I'm not looking at him, I see anger. 

"Did I kill her, Ferriza? Why would I kill the innocent people? Why would I kill a mother?" he asked stern and he showed me a painful look. "We kill but innocent is the exception."

I laughed, bursting out the pain i've been feeling through it but it wasn't enough. It would never be enough, killing my beautiful mom won't have a peaceful life by now. 

I stared at him. If it's not him, then who? 

"But, if you didn't let me stay on your side I would be able to protect my mom!" I odium.

"Are you?" he asked fiercely at me. "Yet, you accepted Chloe's offer. You entered my world, Ferriza. You just search my name but not who really I am." 

Is it Chloe? l walk out to search something inside of our home, something an evidence that could help to find who's the killer. 

"If you are finding something, there's a letter here," Ryler spoke. "Give your mom a peaceful funeral, Ferriza. An ambulance will come in any minute." 

He helped me out to call the ambulance and the funeral. I wanted to call my best friend but it is not the right time. Ryler is right, I should've priority my mom first. 

Seeing my mom clean while laying on the bier makes me smile yet more painful. I didn't had a chance to talk Lucy, my best friend because I can't see her to their house. They were asking me, but everytime I answered them it kills me, it hard to say that my mother is death. 

"Mom, how are you there?" A months since I buried her here. Her name was engraved, Rissalyn Pastrana. I don't know when is her death. "I blame myself, mom. I'm not able to protect you, I let myself to be fooled by money. 

Marimo drove me at the headquarters. I stayed there, I can't lived to our house, it's tough. They had a big help to me, I appreciates them. 

"Thanks, Mar." I smiled and went inside. 

I directly head to my room and immediately change my outfit into fitted black and had an cover in case I hurt myself. I'm practicing my kicks and how to use knives, I've been doing this since I buried mom to escape the sadness. 

"Ryler has arrived!" Zareb loudly says. 

They stopped to greet Ryler but I remained focus. I just saw him walking near through the big mirror. 

"Are you serious in your actions?" Ryler asked while removing his coat. 

"I do." 

"I thought you don't want to be like us?" his face was serious.

"That was before, Ryler. I am now a part of Noxious Gizmo. And now we have missions, it is to find who killed my mother. We will kill those people who killed innocent with no mercy."