Defending Mr. Billionaire (Sandoval Trilogy #1) | COMPLETED

Chapter 44

Atty. Christine Villeza

"I can't leave her that time, Christine."

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad palayo nang marinig kong sabihin 'yon ni Sandoval. Lumingon ako sa kaniya't pinunasan ang natitirang luha ko. "Malamang. Fiancé mo eh. Gago ka na lang kung iwan mo 'yon." pabalang kong sagot.

Hindi niya ako pinakinggan at nagpatuloy lang sa pagsasalita habang nakatitig sa lamesa. "She tried to kill herself six times by cutting her wrist, Christine. I can't leave her. I must protect her life at all cost."

Bahagya akong natigilan sa huli niyang sinabi. Umagos ang mga luha mula sa kaniyang mga mata kaya mas mabilis ko nang mabasa ang emosyon niya ngayon. Susubukan kong makinig sa kaniya kaya kinuha ko ang upuan sa tapat niya't umupo nang malayo sa kaniya.

"Even before we were arranged to be married, she's already depressed because of her half-brother----!"

"Half-brother?" I halted. Napatingin siya sa akin at bahagyang tumango. "You mean, John Tyler? Yung binaril at namatay?"

"Nope. His other half-brother from another third party."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa kaniyang sinabi. "Another half-brother aside from John Tyler? What's his name?"

"I d-don't know." Tumungo itong muli at tumitig sa lamesa para lang maiwasan ang mga matatalim kong tingin. "It was forbidden to mention his name so only few can remember it. And even if they remember, they won't give a damn on telling who's this. Kahit noong nag-imbestiga ako, wala akong nakuha. But it doesn't matter anyway. As long as it won't affect me and Charisse in the long run, I won't give him a damn."

Mukha namang hindi siya nagsisinungaling dahil nagagawa na niyang tingnan ako nang diretso sa mata. Bahagya akong tumango-tango at ipinatuloy ang istorya niya. "Back to your relationship with Charisse."

"She's depressed, but I don't know the main reason. All I know is that it is because of his other half-brother and nothing else. I helped her cope up from her depression. . . but she went too far." Nakita kong may tumulong luha sa kaniyang mga mata at mapait na ngumiti. "Natulungan ko siya noong una, pero hindi ko kinaya hanggang dulo."

Huminga ako ng malalim at bahagyang tumingala para pigilan ang luhang nagbabadyang bumagsak mula sa mga mata mo. "What is keeping you from helping and loving her to the fullest, Sandoval?"

I glanced at him and looked down. Smiling in the void with his teary-eyed, he looked at me at once and said, "Not 'what' but 'who'. It's you. Because I love you, Christine."

Nanginig ang mga kamay ko kaya itinago ko ito sa ilalim ng aking bag na nakapatong sa mga hita ko. Diretso ko siyang tiningnan at ngumiti nang mapait. I failed to prevent my tears from falling, but I still go and speak anyway. "So, is it me who made her more depressed, Sandoval?"

He chuckled bitterly and intently looked at me. "Neither the two of us made her more depressed, Christine. Her jealousy. But of course, I'm also at fault. Minahal kita kahit may itinakda nang ipakakasal sa'kin eh."

Huminga ako nang malalim at sinamaan siya ng tingin. "So, mali na mahalin ako, Sandoval?"

He nervously laughed and rested his back on his seat. "No, no, you get me wrong, Christine----!"

"Sinasabi mo bang mali na naman ako, Sandoval?" Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata at inayos ang pagkakaupo ko.

He heaved a heavy sigh and smiled. "No, it's my fault, okay? I made her situation at worst so I deserved to be a battered partner." The smile in his face fade away as his facade changed.