Sold to a Billionaire

Chapter 32

“Any news from Lee, Jacques?”

“Wala. Wala pa akong natatanggap na tawag mula sa kanya. I can't even track her for pete's sake! It's been almost a month and I am fuckingly worried about her! I've been contacting her for God knows how many times but to no avail, I couldn't contact her! Huwag naman sanang may mangyaring masama sa kanya! Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kapag nagkataon.”

Hindi na ako nagsalita at mataman na lamang itong tiningnan. His eyes were surrounded by dark circles at ang buhok nito ay kulang nalang maging pugad ng ibon. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkaka-upo at nagpaalam na aalis na muna.

It's been almost a month now since she was taken away by Ryan Romualdo and the Vondagi's. If something really bad happened to her, to them, ay hindi ako magdadalawang isip na patayin sila!

Naglakad ako papuntang kotse at agad na sumakay. I am heading to Miss Schartz’s house, after that incident that had happened in their house ay hindi pa ako nakakabalik doon upang kausapin ito nang matino.

Iñiego was discharged the other day and he is now good. I parked my car when I arrived,  I let out a big sigh before I went out of my car. Naglakad ako papuntang gate at agad na nag-door bell. It's sunday today kaya alam kong nandito si Miss Schartz.

“T-Travois,” saad nito nang makita niya ako. “Pasok ka.” Binuksan nito ang gate at agad akong pumasok. I followed her inside and sat at the sofa as she motioned me to sit.

“Miss Schartz,”

“Saglit lang, ikukuha na muna kita nang maiinom at makakain” Aniya at agad na dumiretso sa kusina. Sinundan ko lamang ito nang tingin papuntang kusina at mayamaya pa ay may dala na itong baso ng juice at sandwich.

Pinasadahan ko nang tingin si Miss Schartz at mababakasan sa mukha nito na wala itong maayos na pahinga. Mugto ang mga mata at nangingitim ang ilalim ng mga mata halatang hindi nakakatulog ng maayos.

“May balita na ba? Did Ryan and Antonia contact you?” Tanong ko sa kanya. Nagbabasakali na may bagong lead kami.

Jacques couldn't track Lee, marahil ay nahuli ito ng mga tauhan ng mga Vondagi o ni Ryan. But knowing Lee, alam kong hindi ito magpapahuli sa kung sinong kalaban. Pero hindi ako mapalagay lalo na at nakikita ko ang lagay ni Jacques na hindi mapakali dahil hindi nito ma-contact si Lee ma siyang inutusan nya na pumasok sa lugar na iyon.

“Hindi pa. Mula noong nagpunta sila dito sa bahay ay hindi na muli pa na nagparamdam sila. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko sa sobrang takot.” Sagot nito at agad pinahid ang luhang tumulo mula sa kanyang mga mata.

“Bakit?” Wala sa sariling tanong ko. Tiningnan lamang ako nito at agad na napayuko, marahil ay nauunawaan nito kung ano ang ibig kong sabihin.

“I saw her at the hospital being wheeled in a stretcher that day. I was informed that my daughter was immediately brought at the hospital due to a car accident, but sadly, she was pronounced dead upon arrival. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari kay Louise that day at duguan siya. While I was busy processing my daughter's paper, hindi ko mapigilan na puntahan si Louise. Hindi na iba ang batang iyon, I treated her as my own when I was with the Maideportes, doon ko lang nalaman na nabangga ang kotseng minamaneho niya sa isang ten wheeler truck.”

Nakatingin lamang ako sa kanya habang nakikinig at naghihintay sa susunod na sasabihin niya. Sinabi na rin ni Cattleya ang tungkol dito pero hindi katulad ni Miss Schartz na sobrang detalyado. At habang nakikinig ako ay parang pinipiga ang puso ko.

“Pagkatapos na mailibing ng anak ko, I talked to my husband about Louise. I told him to took her in once she regain her consciousness, at first he disagree pero napapayag ko rin ito. Bago umalis ng bansa ang asawa ko ay nagkamalay si Louise. And then we found out that she had an amnesia. The doctor said that she needed an operation for her to live. There was a clot in her brain at kailangan na matanggal ito as soon as possible or else she'll die. The clot was successfully removed and I was very thankful that day for your father that time.”

Sandali akong natigilan dahil sa huling mga salita na binigkas ni Miss Schartz. Dad helped her that time? All this time ay may alam si Dad kung nasaan si Louise. But why? Why he didn't tell us?

Ang alam ko lang ay si Dad ang Doctor ni Louise, noon ko lang din ito nalaman noong tinawagan niya ako para humingi ng tulong kaya dali-dali akong pumunta dito sa kanila but then I saw her lying at the floor unconsciously when I arrived, I rushed her to the hospital, doon lang din sinabi ni Dad ang tungkol sa sitwasyon niya. Though I had a feeling that she's suffering from an amnesia and my guts were right.

When I first saw her at the hotel, akala ko ay pinaglalaruan niya lamang ako. I was mad at her dahil umalis ito ng walang paalam at iniwan kami, but when I saw her that day at the hotel, wala akong ibang maramdam kung hindi ang pangungulila ko sa kanya. I was shocked when she denied that she’s Louise and I thought she just want to get rid of me o kaya ay layuan ako dahil sa mga pinagsasabi nito sa akin. But when Cattleya introduced her to us as Katelyn, I felt a pang of pain. Pero kahit na sabihin man nila siya si Katelyn, alam kong siya pa rin si Louise, ang babaeng mahal na mahal ko.

“I know that you're confuse, but please don't put the blame on your father, Joaquin. It was all my fault. It was all my idea to keep it a secret. I'm sorry. I couldn't just accept the fact that my daughter's gone forever.” Umiiyak na tugon nito sa akin.

Napa-iling na lamang ako sa lahat ng narinig ko mula sa kanya. I wanted to put the blame on her but I know to myself that I couldn't just put the blame on her because I knew to myself that I am partly to be blame.