Admiring You From Afar (The Cold Masks Has Fallen: Book 1)

Chapter Thirty Nine: Heir of Snake Bearers

"You really think I am a fool to let Zoe Ramirez get what's mine?"- Winston Amir Ophiuchus
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"Anong klaseng insekto ang pumasok diyan sa tenga mo na gumapang sa utak mo at pumasok ka ng walang paalam sa opisina ng tito mo?!" nagulat ang magpipinsan sa sigaw ni Jade.

Hindi makasagot si Knox at Theo sa galit ng kanilang mga ina.

"At ikaw! Hinayaan mo lang na ganun ang gawin ng pinsan mo?!"

"I already scolded Knox ma" Theo reasoned out.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ang dalawang ginang.

"Tumaas kayo dun sa office ni Nathaniel. Kakausapin kayo ng mga papa at mga tito niyo" sabi ni Jade habang turo turo ang hagdanan.

The two cousins silently walk upstairs towards Nathaniel's office.

Napahawak sa noo si Esmeralda sa konsumisyon sa kanyang anak at pamangkin.

"Yang mga batang yan, magagaling. Pero matitigas ang ulo"

Nagkatinginan na lang ang ibang magpipinsan. Tila naguguluhan sa nangyayari.

"Anong nangyari?" tanong ni Quintin.

"Aba malay ko" pabalang na sagot ni Marius.
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"Fred, wag mo nang pagalitan yang anak mo. Jade is enough" nahinto ang magkakapatid na abogado ng may kumatok sa pintuan ng opisina ni Nathaniel.

"Bakit kasama mo pinsan mo?" striktong tugon ni Nathaniel sa dalawa.

"Let's go Knox" striktong sabi ni Fredrick sa kanyang anak at lumabas silang lahat upang iwan ang mag-ama sa opisina ni Nathaniel.

"Well? Have a seat" naupo si Theo sa harap ng kanyang ama.

"State the Section Two, Article 280 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, Mr. Salvatori" napabuntong hininga si Theo sa sinabi ni Nathaniel.

"Section Two, Article 280 or qualified trespass to dwelling states that any private person shall enter the dwelling of another against the latter's will shall be punished by arresto mayor and a fine not exceeding 1,000 pesos" Nathaniel raised his eyebrows.

"The whole article Mr. Salvatori"

"If the offense be committed by means of violence or intimidation, the penalty shall be prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods and a fine not exceeding 1,000 pesos. The provisions of this article shall not be applicable to any person who shall enter another's dwelling for the purpose of preventing some serious harm to himself, the occupants of the dwelling or a third person, nor shall it be applicable to any person who shall enter a dwelling for the purpose of rendering some service to humanity or justice, nor to anyone who shall enter cafes, taverns, inn and other public houses, while the same are open" binitawan ni Nathaniel ang hawak hawak na papel at tumingin ng diretso kay Theo.

"Magpasalamat kayo at nagbubulagbulagan ako sa ginawa niyo ni Knox. Paano kung hindi ako ang may kanya ng office na ito?" panenermon ni Nathaniel sa kanyang panganay na anak.

Magsasalitang muli si Theo ng bigla siyang tanungin muli ni Nathaniel.

"State the Article 364 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines"

"Article 364 or intriguing against honor states that the penalty of arresto menor or fine not exceeding 200 pesos shall be imposed for any intrigue which has for its principal purpose to blemish the honor or reputation of a person. Intriguing against honor is any scheme or plot designed to blemish the reputation of a person by means which consist bf some trickery. It is akin to slander by deed, in that the offender does not avail directly of written or spoken words, pictures or caricatures to ridicule his victim but of some ingenious, crafty and secret plot, producing the same effect"