Clash Of Crowns I: Shadows Of Love And Sacrifices.

XLI || Don't messed with Lazzaro's

Please note: This story may contain errors and grammatical mistakes. Your understanding and patience are appreciated as this is a work in progress.

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MAXINE'S POV

The flight to Luxembourg felt like an eternity. My mind was racing the entire time, heart heavy with worry for my mother.

I kept replaying Kuya Enzo’s words in my head "Mom’s been shot. She’s in critical condition." The words felt like knives, each one digging deeper than the last.

Pag ka lapag na pag ka lapag ng private plane na sinasakyan ko meron na agad naka abang na butler sa ibaba ng hagdan at mabilis na dinala ako sa sasakyan.

Hindi na ko nag aksaya pa ng oras at inutusan itong mag madali, papunta sa Lazzaro's Empire Hospital.

Pag ka rating namin ay hindi ko na siya hinintay na pag buksan ako, agad ko nang binuksan ang pinto at patakbong pumasok sa loob nang hospital, halos lahat nang nakakakilala sakin ay yumuyuko, pero wala sa kanila ang attention ko, agad kong nakita sila kuya enzo at ate parcia na nag hihintay sakin sa lobby.

Halos manlambot ako sa itsura nila, ang layo nila sa kilala kong kuya enzo at ate parcia, si kuya na laging seryoso at walang mababakas na takot ay nakikitaan ko ng takot sa mga mata niya, si ate parcia na laging prim and proper ay nawala narin at napalitan ito nang may balisang expression.

Unang naka pansin sakin si kuya enzo at agad itong tumayo at lumapit sakin.

“Max,” mahinang tawag niya sakin “She’s still in surgery.”

“How long has it been?” I asked.

“A couple of hours,” sagot ni ate parcia. “The doctors said they’re doing everything they can.”

I nodded, my jaw clenched. “Any updates on who did this?”

Kuya enzo shook his head. “Not yet. Security footage is being reviewed, but nothing concrete has come up so far.”

Of course. It couldn’t be that easy. Nothing ever was.

I sat down heavily in the chair next to Kuya enzo, running a hand through my hair as I tried to calm the rage bubbling up inside me. “This wasn’t random,” I said, more to myself than to them. “Someone wanted to send a message.”

Nakita ko ang pag iiba ng aura ni ate at ganun rin si kuya at nag agree ito sa sinabi ko. “That’s what I’ve been thinking too. But who? And why now?” he said.

“That’s what we need to figure out,” I replied, my mind already working. “Hindi lang sila basta baguhan, alam nila ang galaw ni mom, kahit ang oras ng pag labas nito sa hospital, paniguradong matagal na silang nag mamanman" saad ko sakanila.

“We need to think about the Philippines. All the trouble stirring there… Dad’s enemies. Could they have reached this far?” turan naman ni ate havang serysong naka sandal sa pader sa tapat namin ni kuya.

“It’s possible,” Kuya Enzo said, rubbing his temples. “But it doesn’t make sense. Why target Mom here in Luxembourg? Why not go after one of us?”

“Because it’s personal,” I said, the realization dawning on me. “Dahil alam nilang si mom lang ang makakapag trigger sating lahat, kilala tayo nang tao na to personally. Alam niyang pag si mom na ang ginalaw nila sasabog tayong pare-pareho....In short taking her out sends a message to Dad, and to all of us.”

Ate Parcia frowned, but I could tell she was thinking the same thing. “So we retaliate. We show them that we’re not to be messed with.”

I nodded, but my mind was already moving past the immediate reaction. Retaliation was inevitable, but it wasn’t going to solve the bigger problem. “We need to be smart about this. Right now, we don’t even know who’s behind it.”

"Sa sobrang dami nating kaaway sa iba't ibang panig ng mundo, hindi ko narin alam kung sino" right tama si ate ang dami naming kaaway...

“Exactly,” I said. “That’s why we need to be sure. We can’t just go in blind.”

Kuya Enzo leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Dad’s already given instructions. Once Mom’s out of surgery, we’re heading back to the Philippines. He wants us all there.”

Hindi na ko nagulat sa gustong mangyari ni dad, mas okay rin na mag kakasama kami sa isang bansa.

“When do we leave?” pilit na kalmang tanong ko kay kuya.

“As soon as Mom’s stable enough to travel,” he answered. “We’ll used dad's plane, para mas mabilis tayo makarating sa pilipinas”

“We’ll make them pay,” malamig na turan ni ate parcia, “Whoever did this, they’ll regret it.”

I didn’t doubt it. The Lazzaro family didn’t forgive, and we didn’t forget. But something about this attack felt different.

It's calculated. Whoever was behind this had a plan, and we were only seeing the beginning.

“I’ll start looking into Mom’s business contacts here,” I said. “See if there’s anything unusual, anyone who might have had reason to target her.”

Tinanguan naman ako ni kuya enzo means na pumapayag siya. “I’ve already started doing the same. We’ll compare notes once we’ve got something concrete.” saad ni ate parcia at umupo sa tabi ko.

"We should also consider the possibility that this is tied to something bigger. Whoever did this might not be done.” turan ni ate parcia.

Alam namin pare-pareho na umpisa pa lang to, at kilala namin ang mga nakakalaban ng pamilya namin, hindi sila umaatake ng isahan lang paniguradong may kasunod pa ito.

Before I could respond, the doors to the surgery wing swung open, and a doctor approached us. We all stood, tense and waiting.

“She’s stable,” the doctor said, his voice calm but tired. “The surgery was successful, but she’s not out of the woods yet. Kailangan niyang gumising because the next 24 hours are critical.”

Nakahingan naman ako ng maluwag dahil dito, pero hindi parin maalis sakin ang mag alala lalo pa at walang kasiguraduhan kung magigising si mom within 24 hours.

“When can we see her?” Kuya enzo asked.

“Not for a few more hours,” the doctor replied. “She’s in recovery now. We’ll let you know when you can visit.”

I nodded, feeling a knot of tension in my chest loosen slightly. She was alive. That was all that mattered for now.

“We’ll be here,” I said.

Umalis na ang doctor at binalingan ko sila kuya at ate na pareho na ulit seryoso.

“I’m going to find out who did this,”determinadong saad ko. “And when I do, they’re going to wish they’d never been born.” at sisiguraduhin ko yon....

This wasn’t just about our mother anymore. It was about all of us. And whoever thought they could take on the Lazzaros was about to learn just how wrong they were.

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