Campus Hunter (Hunter Series #1)

Chapter 64: Under the Moonlight

Steven Kurt

"Thank you for allowing me to speak with you," pormal na saad ko. He smiled but there was no trace of emotion in his blue eyes.

Umupo ako sa tapat ng lamesa niya. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na makapasok ako sa opisina ng Hamilton Corporation. Bakas ang pagiging moderno ng lugar dahil halos lahat ng muwebles ay tila naka-program. Walang duda na sila ang supplier ng mga gamit sa Intelligent Academy.

"What do you want?" Malumanay subalit malamig ang kanyang boses.

I took a deep breath because I was quite nervous. This is the first time I've had a serious conversation with her father. "Mr. Adler Hamilton, Stella has been missing for half a year. I'd like to know if there's any news about her?"

Pumikit siya nang itanong ko ito. Naiintindihan ko dahil alam kong higit na nasasaktan ang isang magulang. Dumilat siya at ang matang walang emosyon kanina ay punong-puno ng pag-aalala. "I haven't seen the shadows of my children since I woke up in a hospital at New York. I have no idea where Zander is."

Kalahating taon kong hindi nakikita ni isa sa Phoenix members. I went to Japan last month pero hanggang gate lang ako ng Tadashi Mansion. Alam kong ako sinisisi nila sa pagkahulog ni Stella pero hindi naman tama na hindi sila makipag-usap. Mapapabilis sana ang paghahanap kung magpapakita sila sa amin.

Huminga ng malalim si Mr. Hamilton at tumingin sa larawan na nasa lamesa. "I was relieved when I found out that Zander was still alive, but I was devastated when Stella disappeared without a trace; don't I deserve a complete family?" his voice was filled with agony.

Napansin ko ang pagkuyom ng kamay niya na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa. "I know Zander despises me because I have another child. Brandon was my son to a prostitute when I was a young man. I gave a lot of money to keep the woman from getting pregnant but I didn't expect her not to take pills. I was a happy go lucky bachelor at the time but I changed when I met Stephanie. We got married and we decided to keep it a secret from them. "

Tumingin siya sa akin ng seryoso. "General Leonardo Villaflor is one of my confidants. I had no idea he was married to the prostitute with whom I was having an affair. Kaya malaki ang galit sa akin ni Toti - ni Antony Villaflor. Toti blames me but he didn't know that Leonardo doesn't love Lei Miller.  But I'm not sure what's going on in Leonardo's head dahil bigla niyang binalikan ang babae hanggang sa nabuo si Margarita."

I'm not sure why he revealed their darkest secret. Hindi kami close para i-open ito subalit tila nasagot niya ang mga tanong ko noong lumaban sa amin sina Toti at Brandon.

"So don't make the same mistakes I did. Hindi porket gwapo tayo ay titira na lang tayo ng kung sino-sinong babae. Kaya kung nasaan man si Ella sana huwag kang bumitaw, sana panghawakan mo ang pagmamahal mo sa kanya."

Tuwid ko siyang tinignan na walang halong pagbibiro sa aking mga mata. "I love your daughter so much and I'm willing to do anything just to find her."

Nasilayan ko ang biglaang pagngisi niya. "Then let's make a deal, Steven."

"Then what is it?"

May kinuha siya sa drawer at inilapag ito sa tapat ko. Kinuha ko agad ang larawan dahil pamilyar sa akin ang lugar.

"That's Isla Astralias. I heard Zander was there. Find him and tell him what I said so he can forgive me, and work together to find Stella."

"What do I get in return?"

"If Stella is still alive. I'll let you marry my daughter."

Tumango ako sa kanya. May kinuha siya muli sa drawer at inabot ito sa akin. "You might need this golden dagger. Nalaman ko na kay Stella ito. Natagpuan 'yan malapit sa dalampasigan."