What's Your Order Mr. Billionaire

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Nanginginig ang kaliwang kamay ko nang pulutin ko sa sahig ang nahulog kong mobile phone. The words from Leon bring a thud to my heart. Hindi pa iyon agad rumihistro sa utak ko.

"This can't be. You are lying," halos pabulong kong sabi sa kanya.

"I'm telling you the truth. Jacques was kidnapped when your family was killed. Dalawang taon siyang pinaghahahanap ng mga tauhan nina Auntie Thylane. She never announced it to the media because it would jeopardize all of their businesses."

Napaupo ako sa sofa sa sobrang panghihina. Niyakap ko ang dilaw na throw pillow, umaasang makaaamot ako roon ng suporta.

Umiling ako ng maraming beses. No! This can't be, nagbibiro lang si Leon! Jacques was healthy when I saw him. Pumayat lang siya ngunit maayos pa rin naman ang anyo niya.

"He was so thin when Clytius and Deukalíōn finally found him tightly tied up in a dessert building somewhere in Santander, Cebu. Halos hindi na siya makilala dahil mukha siyang pinaglaruan ng mga taong kumuha sa kanya. Nakakasulasok ang amoy at nagmukhang taong-grasa, punit-punit ang suot at napakaraming latay ng likod niya."

"N-no!" My voice trembled as tears began to fall from my eyes. Maraming beses akong umiling habang sapo ko ang dibdib ko dahil nagsisimula iyong sumakit. I couldn't imagine his suffering. Para akong mamatay habang iniisip ko ang mga nangyari sa kanya. 

"The tattoos on his back are proofs of his suffering."

My heart ached so much that I am gasping for breath.

"But he survived! Napagaling siya habang ipinapahanap ka niya noong malaman niyang pinirmahan ni Auntie Thylane ang inihain mong divorce papers."

Mas lalo akong nanlumo sa narinig ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Sinapo ko ang ulo at bahagyang hinilot ang sentido ko. "S-she what?" 

"Did he not tell you that it was his mother who manipulated the divorce papers? Binayaran niya ang mga abogado nila kasama na ang abogado mo."

That was too much information. Pumipintig-pintig na ang sentido ko sa sakit. Jacques was trying to tell me about that pero sarado na noon ang utak ko. I was hungry for my freedom the last time I saw him. I even told him that I didn't love him anymore.

"G-ganoon ba niya ako kaayaw para sa anak niya?" pumiyok ang boses ko.

"No, she did that because she wanted to protect you."

"Protect?!" I laughed in disbelief.

"Listen, Jen. Auntie Thylane maybe didn't like you before, but she won't do something to hurt you. She only did that so their rivals wouldn't hurt you. You see? You were never hurt all of these years because you are not a part of the Almerino's anymore."

"Hindi ko naiintindihan, Leon!" I marched inside my room and pulled out my luggage.