Red String of Fate [PUBLISHED by Bookware]

Chapter 4: Old Scars

"How's Lee Ann?" Alexander asked suddenly. "Binilhan ko syang pasalubong."  

"Ano na namang kabaklaan yan, Alex?" 

"Pasalubong lang, kabaklaan na?" Alexander replied as Nickolai smiled. 

"She's holding up rather well." He answered. 

"Si Lia?" Alexander couldn't help but ask and Nickolai threw a lazy glance in his direction.  

"Still a scheming bitch whose mother is still as loud and ill-mannered as I remember her to be." He answered and Alexander chuckled. "Bakit mo tinatanong, namiss mo?" 

"Loko, hindi. May nakilala akong babae." 

"Babae na naman." 

"Nick, pag ikaw may nakilalang lalaki at gusto mong magkwento sa akin I won't judge you." Alexander announced with a guffaw and Nickolai turned his head to look at his laughing brother. 

"Tarantado." He mumbled making his younger brother laugh louder. 

They were all seated around the ornate, wood dining table with Alexa to her father's right side while Lee Ann sat across her. Clarissa was throwing daggers at Alexa because she had planned on sitting where she sat. Lia as usual looked bored sitting beside Lee Ann.  

"Ako mismo ang sasama sayo sa opisina para ipakilala ka sa mga empleyado natin, Lianna." Leandro Carbonel voiced looking proudly at his daughter. Alex wanted to protest. Ayaw nyang ipakilala sya bilang tagapagmana. Ayaw nyang makisali sa buhay ng ama nya. But she held her tongue. Matindi man pagdaramdam nya sa Daddy nya, di naman sya bastos para salungatin ito kahit meron nang sakit. Pag magaling ka na, aalis ako agad. She thought.  

"Kung yan po ang gusto ninyo, Dad." She replied. She looked at Lee Ann who wasn't eating but instead pushing her food around her plate.  

"Is something wrong with your food, Lee Ann?" Lia asked with fake concern and Clarissa smiled approvingly. 

"Oo nga, Lee Ann honey. Ayaw mo ba ang pagkain mo?" She piped in and Lee Ann sighed.  

"Is something bothering you, love?" Atty. Carbonel asked his normally bubbly daughter although he had to admit, Lee Ann usually kept quiet when either Lia or Clarissa was around.  

"Ayokong dito tumira si Ate Lia at Tita Clarissa, Daddy." The teenager replied and instantly Clarissa stood up as she threw her table napkin at Lee Ann. Alexa looked at her in surprise as Lee Ann bowed her head.  

"Walang galang na bata!" She shrieked. "Ang bastos mong bata ka, di ka ba marunong gumalang?!" 

"Clarissa!" Atty. Carbonel yelled. 

"Bakit, Leandro? Sa tingin mo di ako nasasaktan na binabastos ako nitong anak mo? She should know her place!"  

"You should know your place." Alexa calmly said as she crossed her arms across her chest to stare at the older woman. "I don't remember you owning this house and I don't remember you being married to my father."  

"Sinong nagbigay sayo ng karapatan para bastusin si Mama?" Lia asked glaring at Alexa. 

"Kung sino man ang nagbigay ng karapatan sa ina mong bastusin ang kapatid ko." Alexa replied returning Lia's glower.  

"That's enough." Atty. Carbonel said massaging his chest. "Marco, pahinging tubig." He told his nurse and Alexa instantly calmed down. 

"Ako na ang kukuha, Dad." She said as she stood up and sat back down when her father's nurse came bearing a pitcher of water. 

"Salamat, Marco." Atty. Carbonel said before he wiped his mouth with the table napkin. "Tama na ang away. Ano ba kayo, kayo-kayo na nga lang di nyo pa maiwasang magbangayan."