Chained Destiny (Book 1 of 3)

Chapter 28: Finale

IT WAS a bright and sunny morning, malamig ang simoy ng hangin sa dock. Sa harap niya ay naroon ang yate ng binigay sa kanya ni Adison. The yacht was decorated with lilies, may naririnig siya musika galing sa violin, laughter was in the air. Sumampa siya sa yate at nakita ang wedding venue ni Siggy, maraming bisita. Nagsasalita na ang officiate ng kasal, nasa unahan na si Siggy katabi ang bride nito. 

Sa front seat ay nakita niya si Adison, there's a bittersweet smile on her face as she started to take a step, ngunit parang sinimento ang kanyang mga paa. She cannot move an inch! Sa harap niya ay unti-unting nawawala ang mga tao, even Siggy, even Adison! Ang maaraw na umaga ay agad na napalitan ng malakas ng ulan, it was getting dark. Ang yate ay nagsimulang umuga pero hindi pa rin siya makaalis sa kinatatayuan. 

Then there's a huge wave in front of her which swallowed her whole! Hinila siya ng pwera paibaba ng tubig, pinilit niya umahon ngunit nakakadena ang kanyang mga kamay at paa. Filthy hands started to touch her body-violating, feasting every inch of her. She cried for help but her voice never find its way out of her mouth. Walang nagawa si Destiny kundi lumuha, nobody will save her...

Habol ang hininga na nagmulat si Destiny, she was soaked in her own sweat. Kinapa niya ang kabilang side ng kama ngunit wala roon si Adison. According to her sidetable clock ay alas-dose lang ng madaling araw. Inabot pa siya ng ilang minuto bago pakalmahin ang sarili. She tried going back to sleep pero gising na gising ang diwa niya. Sa halip na pilitin ang sarili na matulog ay dumiretso siya sa banyo at naligo, she felt dirty. Nang makapagbihis ay pumunta siya sa kusina, may nakahain na egg sandwich sa lamesa ang isang note.

Need to go back to London. Emergency. Talk to you soon.

She crumpled the note and threw it on the trash, pati ang pagkaing nakahain ay tinapon rin niya. Bakit ba nagbubukas pa siya ng pinto just to hurt others? Nagawa na niya kay Siggy at maaring masaktan rin niya si Adison. It's time to stop, close the fucking door. Bumalik siya sa kwarto para magpalit, she chose a red body-hugging dress na hanggang hita ang haba, gave herself a good makeup and drove to Acropolis. She went on the usual security check at pagsuot ng maskara bago pumasok. She was welcomed by sultry music and lustful air.

Binigyan siya ni Zeus ng alak and was escorted to her private suite. Naroon na si Vanna at Laude, ready to please her, she just need to say the magic words. "Play," utos niya sa mga ito nang makaupo siya sa sofa. Habang nagmimilagro ang dalawa ay kinuha niya ang cellphone at tinawagan ang kanyang psychologist. Hindi pa man ito nakakapag-hello ay inunahan na niya ito.

"You're fired," tiim niyang sabi.

"What are you saying Destiny? Alam nating pareho ang agreement ninyo ni Siggy-" tutol ng doktora. Why would she forced herself to undergo a therapy? Dahil ba sa ibinigay na kondisyon ni Siggy? Hell no! She's Destiny Lauchengco and she will do whatever the fuck she wants.

"I know at hindi ako tanga. Twenty million pesos or I will destroy your life." Hinding-hindi niya ito bibigyan ng pagkakataon na buksan ang sarili niya. Everything can be bought by money at iyon ang gagawin niya. Her power and influence can destroy a person, heck even a president! Ramdam niya ang takot ng kausap sa kabilang linya pero hindi pa rin ito sumasagot. "Higher? Fifty million pesos plus my house in Singapore. Have your new life there, pwede kitang ipasok sa isang ospital doon or you can open your own practice. Still second choice, I will destroy your life."

She poured herself another drink.

"D-Destiny, don't do this..." nanginginig sagot ng babae.

"You have two options, doctor," she sipped her coffee.

"S-Singapore..."

Ngumiti si Destiny. "Best choice. Pack your things, you and your child will be flying to Singapore tonight." Tinapos na niya ang tawag at nag-ring ang cellphone niya, si Adison ang tumatawag. She let her phone rang while she's watching Vanna and Laude pleasuring each other hanggang sa matapos angpagri-ring. May nag-pop na message mula kay Adison ngunit hindi niya ito binasa.

"Gerry Riviera," bigla niyang naalala ang matandang board member. It's time to the old man a taste of his own medicine. She took a marij*ana joint from her purse and lit it. Humithit-buga muna siya bago i-dial ang phone number ng taong gusto niyang makausap.

"H-hello? Destiny?" Nanginginig ang boses ito, medyo paos pa at halatang galing sa pag-iyak.

"Fernanda..." bati niya rito. "Divorce Gerry."

"Huh? Alam mong hindi p-puwede." Humagulgol ang ginang. She's married to Gerry for thirty years. Isang barangay beauty queen si Fernanda at disi-otso lang ito nang makilala si Gerry who was thirty-two that time at isa itong judge sa paligsahan. How did she get ahold of this information? Pinaiimbestigahan niya ang lahat ng taong papasok sa buhay niya, both personal and business wise. Fernanda and Gerry got married three months after the contest kung saan nanalo ang babae.

Young and stupid as she were, she signed a prenuptial agreement without knowing the whole contents of it. Walang trabaho ang babae because Gerry provided everything. She bore him five children at sa mga panahong iyon ay puro pambababae ang ginawa ni Gerry. The poor woman don't understand anything related to business or even working because Gerry won't let her finish studies. Pinaulana ng lalaki ang asawa ng lahat ng materyal na bagay and he ingrained to Fernanda's mind that she cannot live without him.

"Divorce him and I will buy his shares from all companies that he invested with at mapupunta iyon lahat sa'yo. You will have your own assistant who will teach whatever you need to grow those money." She can feel herself getting high.

"P-pero..."

"Ilan na ang kabit ni Gerry? How about his children from different women?" Panunudyo pa niya rito. Isang malakas na palahaw ang narinig niya sa kabilang linya. She knew that this woman had enough ngunit hindi lang makalaya. Isang matagumpay na ngiti ang lumabas sa kanyang mga labi nang humingi ito ng abogado.

As she walk out of the club and headed to her car, she can feel her protective walls getting higher, thicker, and stronger, not even thousands of wrecking ball can destroy it. Sumakay siya at humarurot palayo, until she heard a police siren. Tumabi siya sa gilid ng highway at kumuha ng makapal na lilibuhin sa secret compartment sa dashboard. She is the power. She is the influence. She is the wealth. She is the grandios. She is Destiny Lauchengco.