Chapter 9

It was with years of training that I managed to smile in front the murderess who killed my family. Only people with class can execute natural graciousness and cool confidence in trying times like this.

My insides were shaking with so much anger and resentment, my mind exploding with possibilities of how to avenge my families. And my heart is pounding really hard, reminding me that I still have to be a human after all.

I stared at her eyes. Those dark, evil orbs that tempted my father. Any man who stares at her for more than a few seconds would surely get lost in that beaut.

"You're saying that she's sick?"

Tinanggal ko ang tingin mula sa imahe ni Valerie nang mapansing kanina pa ako nakatitig sa mga mata niya. It was an old photo of her in black and white.

"Cardiomyopathy." Atty. de Guzman rubbed the bridges of his nose. Tinanggal niya ang suot na reading glasses at inilapag ito. I am sitting in front of him, with my hands shaking as I hungrily scanned the printed data. "Dalawang beses na siyang inatake. Unfortunately, she needs heart transplant soon. Her own heart cannot function properly anymore."

"Isn't it because of all the poison she's kept inside?" I scoffed sarcastically. I tossed the papers back at the coffee table. Atty. de Guzman's wife, Aya, came back with a tray of coffee.

"She's been diagnosed two years ago. Hanggang ngayon ay naghahanap pa rin sila ng donor."

"Who would want to donate to that witch? Kahit pa mapalitan niya ang puso niya, mananatili pa rin siyang sakim!" I clenched my fists. "No pure heart could ever change that woman!"

"Savia." Marahan na saway sa akin ni Atty. de Guzman. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. When he said that he wanted to talk to me, I wasn't expecting to hear that Valerie suffers from a fatal heart disease. "She sold the hacienda three years ago."

"She did what?!"

"I'm sorry. Ngayon ko lang din nalaman. Maybe to finance her hospital bills. Iba na ang may-ari ng hacienda ngayon."

Nanginginig na ako sa sobrang galit at dismaya. I reached for the coffee and took a sip in an attempt to calm myself.

"S-Sinong may-ari ng hacienda ngayon, attorney?" bulong ko.

"I'm yet to find that out. Apparently, it's been a private property and the workers are too afraid to disclose the name of their new owner. I'm still working on it."

"If she's suffering from a heart disease for almost three years, how is she even alive? Inuubos ba niya ang pera niya sa pagpapagamot?"

"Sa tingin ko rin. She's not seen in many parties and showings recently. Usap-usapan na rin ang tungkol sa kalusugan niya."

I wanted to laugh out loud and cursed at her health but that's not the revenge I had in mind. In fact, it made me feel so doomed that Valerie is slipping into a disease. It made things more complicated.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure." I murmured, my head starting to ache. I'm going to La Union this weekend and my plans are suddenly ruined with the news that Valerie is sick. "It's not going to be fair if I hold myself just because she's sick."

"You don't have to hold back," Atty. de Guzman said, a small smile playing in her lips.

"I don't want to be a murderess either."

She chuckled and took a sip of her coffee. "Just as I thought. You're just like your mother."

Brows knitted together, I clasped my temple with my hand and tried to think of a plausible solution. The revenge I had in mind right now is not possible.

"Oo nga pala, Anna. Kung itutuloy mo ang pagpunta sa La Union, baka kailanganin mo ito."

I opened my eyes and stared at the brown envelope in front of me. Inabot ko ito mula kay attorney at tiningnan ang mga papel sa loob. Kumunot ang noo ko.

"It's the evidence I gathered for the arson case. Valerie's call history, her appearance at San Carlos, Negros Occidental, days before the incident and the contact details of the witness whenever you need him. Oh, and she also called my husband a week before she went to Negros, just to confirm if you're the sole heiress of the hacienda and the mansion if something happens to Simone and Anastasia."

My heart pounded violently as I scanned the papers. I saw stolen pictures of her, the call log history, and the witness she's been talking about.

"She hired three men to set up the fire in the mansion. Maybe she thinks that you're inside when she set it on fire. Luckily, you were out."

Namuo ang mga luha sa mata ko. I couldn't forget that night, either. I lost my mother, grandmother, and grandfather in a single fire incident. If Barin wasn't brave enough to jump, I must lost him, too.

"Kinausap ko na si Salvador. He's ready to testify anytime you need him."

I blinked back the tears and with shaking hands, placed the papers inside. Ibinalik ko ito sa coffee table. I placed my hands neatly in my lap and stared at it in silence.

"Savia?"

"I think I need to call my cousin. She's a doctor." I murmured.

"What are you thinking?"

"That I can't back away just like this..." I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried not to cry. I am so close to realizing justice for my grandparents and my mother's death! Hindi dapat ako nagpapadala sa mga emosyon ko. "I'm pushing the plan, attorney. Only that I'm bringing a doctor with me so if anything happens, someone can aid to her. But I'll make sure to keep her alive so she can spend the rest of her life wishing she's dead..."

"Savannah..."

"Ang mama ko..." my lips trembled with the sobs I'm pushing at the back of my throat. "She's been nothing but a wonderful woman. She didn't deserve a death so tragic, attorney. Nabubuhay nalang ako ngayon para ipaghiganti sila."

"Don't say that. You still have to live after all of this. Don't worry. This is just a phase in your life. You can get through this. You still have Barin to take care and your career is thriving. And you have... Blake."

At the mention of his name, I lifted my head and stared at him. Atty. de Guzman gave me an unapologetic smile.

"Sorry to intrude, but I've seen how he's been chasing after you, Anna. He clearly loves you. I'm not sure why you're holding yourself back."

Napailing ako. "I don't have time for this, attorney."

"You sure do." He shot back coolly. "You're cutting out the beauty of life and your own pleasures, thinking you're only living for the day of your revenge, Anna. That's not healthy at all."

Hindi ako sumagot. I felt like a child being scolded by her parents! Instead, I lowered my head to stare at the floor.

"Blake is struggling. He doesn't know what to give a woman who is capable of doing anything. He has no idea what to please you or to offer. But he's been by your side all along."

Sumimangot lang ako, pero tumatatak sa isipan ko ang mga sinasabi ni attorney.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Anna. Or on him... If anyone deserves happiness, it's you."

I blinked once, and I was back again staring at those hateful eyes. She pursed her lips, staring at me. Valerie looks elegant as ever. I assume she spent half the money she stole in aesthetic clinics. She looks 20 years younger in her navy blue satin dress and white fur.

"Buhay ka..." hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya. She's seizing me up and down as if to confirm that I'm really alive.

I smiled sweetly at her. "Of course, I'm alive. You can't kill a heiress that easy, Valerie. Don't humor me."

She clutched her chest dramatically. Now that a lot of people are staring at her, she's being conscious of her words.

"Oh, Anna! Alam mo ba kung gaano kami nag-alala sa iyo? Pinahanap ka namin—"

"Enough with your drama!" I said through gritted teeth. Sumiklab kaagad ang galit sa puso ko at kumalat ang hapdi sa dibdib. I clenched my jaw and signaled Valentina for the envelope. She quietly handed it to me.

"What do you... what do you want?"

I slammed the envelope in her table, earning a few audible gasps from the audience. With my eyes blaring with fierce determination, I stared straight into her eyes.

"Didn't I say I have a surprise for you? Why don't you open this? Hmm?"

Valerie looked nervous. Nagdadalawang isip pa siya kung susundin niya ako. She swallowed and stared at the envelope. Then she picked it up and open it with trembling fingers.

Surprise, guilt, and anger came flashing into her eyes all at once as soon as she saw the contents. Mabilis niyang ibinalik ang mga papel sa loob ng envelope at tinitigan ako nang masama.

"What do you want me to do with this garbage?"

I ignored her and went to the nearest tray to pour myself a cup of tea. Tahimik ang lahat. Ang tanging naririnig lang ay ang paggalaw ko habang nagtitimpla ng tsaa.

"Are you done looking at it?"

"This is hilarious! I could never do something like this!"

"Why not?" I asked, staring at her over the rim of my teacup as I took a sip. "You wanted to kill me as soon as you found out that I'm the heiress. You are so greedy with money that you ended up killing my mother and grandparents as well."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. She started to speak, but lost her will.

"You are a con woman. Am I right, Kierra Sarriet?" my lips twisted in a cruel smile as I revealed her real name. "You've killed all your husbands before for money. Ilang beses ka na bang nagpalit ng pangalan? Your last victim is an old business man. You killed him in his deathbed! You couldn't wait to get your hands on his money because his children are lawyers and you're afraid to get caught!"

"Shut up!"

"You tempted my father into having an affair with you as soon as you heard that he's the richest man in town! Wala kang pakialam Kierra, na nakakasira ka na ng pamilya. You had your eyes on his money and nothing else!"

"How can you spout such nonsense? Simone and I loved each other! Hindi totoo yan!"

"Really?" I scoffed sarcastically. "Kaya ba pangalan ni Mama ang tinatawag niya noong nasa ospital siya? Kaya ba halos hindi ka nagpapakita noong mga panahong hirap na hirap na si Papa?"

Hindi kaagad siya nakasagot. I calmed myself by drinking tea again. As much as I wanted to shout at her, curse at her, I wouldn't stoop that low. Mama wouldn't do it this way.

"H-Hindi ko alam kung anong pinagsasabi mo! What are you doing here anyway? This is an invitation-only party!"

I pulled out the red invitation card from my purse and waved it at her face. Nginitian ko siya nang matamis, saka inilapag ito sa table.

"I don't gatecrash parties, Valerie. That's not my style." I said, leaning closer to her.

She took a deep breath and glanced around nervously. People are already staring and murmuring under their breaths.

"Na-renovate pala ang mansion," I commented, eyeing at the new wallpaper and some brand new furniture placed around. Even chairs and some paintings have been replaced. "I appreciate your effort. Too bad you have to leave this mansion as soon as possible."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm already 23. That means the mansion and the hacienda belongs to me," my lips pursed when I remembered something. "Oo nga pala, binenta mo ang hacienda nang hindi nagpapaalam sa akin para sa pagpapagamot mo. Do you know the charges that you'll be facing once I'm done with you, Valerie?"

"You can't do this to me, Anna..." she said in gritted teeth. "You're just a child!"

"I am all but a child, Valerie. Stop playing games with me already. I'm sick of you and your burning desire to kill me and bathe in our money. Pagkatapos maubos ng perang ninakaw mo, anong gagawin mo? Maghahanap ka na naman ng ibang asawa?"

"You brat!"

"Anna..."

I turned and saw Kathleen. She's staring at me with wide eyes full of shock and a bit of happiness. I smiled sadly at her. At some point, I owe her my life. But it doesn't mean I will back down at her mother.

"Anyway, moving on..." I waved my manicured hands and set my teacup. "You'll be facing an arson case along with other charges we will file against you. I'll make sure that you'll be stripped off our family name because you don't deserve it. Oh, and I need you to vacate the mansion in two days time. Am I clear?"

"What the hell are you talking about!" she shouted with so much anger. Her grip at her wineglass tightened, as if she's tempted to throw it at me.

"Tsk. Tsk. You shouldn't be too mad, Valerie. Paano nalang ang puso mo?"

"Anna, please." Kathleen pleaded. Nilapitan niya ang ina. "May sakit si Mama. Hindi niya makakaya na mapunta sa kulungan."

"Anong kulungan?! Hindi ako mapupunta sa kulungan! I'd rather die than go to prison!"

"Mama!" Kathleen's voice is strained with sorrow. Kitang-kita ko sa mga mata niya kung gaano siya kapagod. Wala na rin siyang pakialam na pinagtitinginan sila ngayon ng mga tao. All I could see right now is a loyal daughter who's getting tired of her mother's wicked ways. "Tama na po..."

"This can't be! I will face you in court! Hindi mo basta-bastang makukuha sa akin ang mansion! How dare you come back here!"

"And how dare you ruin my family..." I said through unshed tears. I refuse to cry in front of her despite my overwhelming emotions. I saw a shadow moved in the crowd. Then I made eye contact with Atty. de Guzman. His calm expression is encouraging me that he has my back. I turned and saw Blake, Valentina, Enzo, and Salvador staring at me. Barin stood by me. Humugot ako ng isang malalim na hininga. They're all here for me. They're all protecting me. These are the same people I can rely on despite everything that's happened.

"You will rot in jail and you will rot in hell!" my lips were trembling from so much anger. "I will make sure of it!"

Valerie stepped forward and tried to reach me but she suddenly collapsed on the ground, clutching her chest.

"Mama!" Kathleen panicked, kneeling to the ground and attending to her unconscious mother.

I reached for the cup of tea and took a sip while everyone is panicking.

Then, glancing at Valentina, I gave her a nod.

"Excuse me, I'm a doctor." She said and the people surrounding Valerie stepped away. hindi ko na pinanuod kung ano ang ginawa ni Valentina. I stepped out of the crowd and pulled my phone. Then I dialed 911.

"Hello, this is 911—"

"We have an emergency here. A 40-year old woman is having a cardiac arrest." I said without hesitation and gave them the address.

After making the call, I went outside to breathe. Doon pa nagsimulang tumulo ang mga luha ko. I glanced at the starless sky and silently sobbed.

Mama, Papa, I did it... I realized justice for your deaths. Sana po ay maging payapa na kayong dalawa.