Tourney of Beguiling (North Series #2: Fausea)

Chapter 28

warning: mention of sensitive topic.

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I never knew that getting back the house and the fish farm would make me feel so empty.

Over a year ago, I could not wait to end my marriage and bought these properties back. I had pictured it out that it would be the beginning of my luck. I'd be happy.

Pero parang kabaliktaran naman ang nangyari. I wanted to transfer back the ownership pero wala na akong contact pa kay Rhyno. Patuloy ako sa pagbisita sa kanilang hacienda ngunit natigil lang noong isang araw dahil umuwi si Madame Marquissa.

Natatakot akong magpunta dahil baka nakauwi na din si Lolo Isidro at nandoon din ang ibang kamag-anak.

Sa mata ng lahat, I am a heartless woman who aborted her child.

"Ito si Domenico Robles, he supervised the fish farm. He will tell you everything that you need." The lawyer said nang dumalaw ito at tuluyan nang ibinigay sa akin ang titulo.

Natawa ang may katandaang lalake. "Mang Domeng nalang. Ikinagagalak kitang makilala Mrs. Villarojo."

I smiled at the old man and talked further with the lawyer.

Nang matapos ay iginiya ko ito sa labas kasama si Mang Domeng. Most of our house helps before were still here. Ang dami ding renovation ang ginawa. Rhyno really said the truth that it was under renovation before. What about the fish farm?

"Sa isang taon po ay mas lumawak pa ang farm. Binili ni Mr. Villarojo ang mga katabing lupa at nagpahukay ng fish ponds. Sa nagdaang buwan ay maganda ang ani." Kwento ni Mang Domeng habang tinatahak namin ang lambak. "Matalinong bata iyon. Noong binili niya ito ay lugmok na. Mahirap ibangon dahil El nino pero nakaya niya. Si Ser Rhyno din po ang mismong nagmomonitor ng operasyon dito ma'am."

I am so awed while looking at the wide lands na inilaki ng fish farm. Tila dagat na ang aking nakikita. Some workers are using boats to feed the fishes.

Nakangiti si Mang Domeng habang tinatanaw namin ang libo-libong hectarya ng fish farm. "Ang lawak na 'no, ma'am? Dati Tilapia at Bangus lang ang inaalagaan dito. Ngayon ay may shrimps, carps, at salmon. Mr. Villarojo wants to extend to aquaculture fish farming. Balak pa niyang palawakin ito at i-connect sa property nila doon sa tabing dagat upang makapagbreed ng tuna at pompano."

I gasped. This is too much. Ang dami nang ibinago ng fish farm mula noong mga magulang ko pa ang nagma-manage. Parang hindi ko matatanggap ito. This version of the farm is triple times greater than before. Si Rhyno ang nagpalago at nagpalawak tapos ibibigay lang niya sa akin ng ganon lang?

Ipinakilala niya ako sa mga trabahor. Ang iba ay bagong mukha ngunit may namamataan din akong dating empleyado ngunit wala na doon ang isip ko. As soon as I got home, tinawagan ko kaagad ang abogado.

"Yes, Ms. Dizon?"

Saglit akong natigilan. I never knew that calling me by my maiden name would sound so foreign, like it is not me because I was used to being called Mrs. Villarojo.

"Attorney, is there any way possible to contact Rhyno?" I asked.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Pero sa secretary po ako nakikipag-usap."

I bit my lower lip. I already contacted Maddie but she doesn't know a thing. Either Rosa or the male secretary, pero wala naman akong contact sakanila and I doubt that they will disclose any information about their boss.

"If that's case, please do tell that I could not accept the fish farm. Okay na po ako sa mansion."

Natahimik saglit ito. "Pero-"