THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE BABYSITS ME (R18+)

Chapter Forty-Eight

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

ADAM MEADOWS

The anger surging through me was almost unbearable as Rogel drove us to our house. I could feel it deep in my bones, my entire body trembling with rage. Right now, I felt like I could explode at any moment.

"Sigurado ka na ba sa gagawin mo?" tanong ni Rogel, his voice steady but filled with concern. Hindi na siya pumapasok sa Crystal Empire, nag-resign na siya kaya kasama ko siya ngayon sa mga lakad ko. Hindi na niya kailangan pang manatili pa ro'n, lalo na ngayong alam na namin kung sino talaga ang mastermind.

Tumango ako habang humigpit ang pagkakasara ng kamao kong nasa ilalim ng baba ko, habang nakatukod ang aking siko sa salamin ng bintana ng sasakyan sa tabi ko. "Ilang taon kong hinintay 'to, Rogel. T*ngina. Kung alam ko lang na abot-kamay ko lang ang taong nasa likod ng pagkawala ng mga magulang ko, noon pa—noon pa sana kumilos na 'ko."

Rogel was silent, his eyes on the road, but I could feel his support and worry. He had been with me through every step of this journey, and he understood the weight of what I was about to do. The thought of finally confronting the mastermind filled me with a mix of anticipation and dread.

"No more waiting," I muttered, more to myself than to Rogel. "It's time to end this, at hinding-hindi ako magdadalawang-isip." Umiling ako. "Hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na tapusin ang buhay ng taong nag-utos na tapusin ang mga magulang ko."

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

Pagdating sa bahay, agad kaming pumasok sa loob. Nauuna ako kay Rogel. Paakyat na sana ako sa hagdan pero natigilan ako nang may marinig na humihikbi at nanggagaling ang tunog sa kusina.

I quickly pulled my gun from behind my back and sprinted toward the source of the crying, recognizing the sound immediately. It was Fritzie. When Rogel and I reached the kitchen, an unexpected scene greeted us.

Cassandra—who had taken on the role of our mother—was sprawled on the floor, her body covered in blood, a knife lodged in her side. She was still conscious, her eyes locked on Fritzie, who was crouched in a corner. Doon siya nakasiksik, umiiyak, nanginginig ang buong katawan at may bahid ng dugo ang mga kamay.

"Fritzie!" Agad akong tumakbo sa kaniya at hinila siya patayo. Her whole body was so weak and shaky that I had to support her against my own to keep her from collapsing. Rogel was standing beside us, vigilant and scanning the area.

"What happened?" I asked her, my voice thick with concern. Even though, deep down, all I wanted was to turn my gun on the woman lying on the floor and end her life once and for all. Pero hindi ko magawa ngayon dahil mas nag-aalala ako sa kapatid ko.

Fritzie looked up at me, her eyes swollen and brimming with tears. Slowly, she raised her trembling hands to cup my jaw. "K-Kuya..." Nanginginig ang boses niya. "H-Huwag mo nang dumihan ang... ang kamay mo. A-Ako na ang gagawa no'n para sa 'yo. P-Para sa... mga magulang natin."

"You... you knew?" I felt my eyebrows knit together as I stared at her. Tears continued to stream down her face, and the pain was written all over her expression. Glancing at Cassandra, alam kong buhay pa siya dahil kita ko pa ang paghinga niya. Her eyes slightly open and turned toward us. But I saw no trace of remorse in her face.

"O-Oo." Binalik ko ang tingin sa kapatid ko. "Kailan ko lang... nalaman. Alam kong gusto mong maghiganti dahil aksidente kong nabasa ang mga palitan n'yo ng email ni Daddy noong nasa Australia pa kami. But back then... I didn't know the full truth, that Mom—" she stopped herself, shaking her head as if she couldn't bring herself to call Cassandra her mother anymore, "that it was Cassandra who gave the order. Nito ko lang nalaman. Iyon ang dahilan kaya... kaya nagyaya akong umuwi rito. G-Gusto kong sabihin sa 'yo agad na alam ko na kung sino ang nag-utos na patayin ang mga magulang natin, pero hindi ako makahanap ng tiyempo. I couldn't even text or call you to let you know because..." she looked over at Cassandra, "...she was monitoring me. I don't know what she did to my phone, but somehow, she knew who I was talking to, who I was texting, and what was in those conversations. That's why I couldn't warn you sooner."