CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
ANG MANSYON ng Altaraza ay halos hindi naglalayo sa mansyon ng pamilya nila na ngayon ay nakapangalan na kay Brooke. He bought the multi-million mansion on the first month of their marriage.
Napatunayan niya na sumusunod nga talaga sa napag-usapan ang binata. Nakakalungkot lang isipin na nagtapos kaagad ang maganda nilang pagsasamahan.
"Kaya pala biglaan ang pag-alis mo, Icah." Si Karen na malaki na ang tiyan. Nasa malawak na sala sila, tahimik na nag-uusap. "Ikaw nalang talaga siguro ang hinihintay ni Tita Brianna para magising na siya."
"I hope so. Isa pa, gusto ko rin na nando'n ako kapag nagising na siya. Wala na rin naman akong gagawin dito sa Pinas."
"Wala na talaga kayo ni Brooke?"
Humapdi ang puso niya nang marinig ang pangalan ng lalaki. She told her friend what happened to her and Brooke, Karen was shocked at the news. Kahit sino naman siguro ay mabibigla sa naging sitwasyon nila ni Brooke.
"I don't know? We still married. And the fact that I'm carrying his child making our situation more complicated. Naguguluhan na ako, Karen."
Her friend caress her back to comfort her. "Naniniwala ako na maaayos din ang lahat, Icah. We need Tita Brianna's statement about this. At baka may maling impormasyon lang na nalakap ang mga tauhan ni Don Armando."
"His people did the investigation twice, and the result was the same, that Brooke mother is my mom."
"Feeling ko may mali! Hindi kayo magkapatid!" Nanindigan ang kaibigan. Na-stress na rin yata kagaya niya.
"I better go." She stood up and help her friend to do the same. Ayaw niya itong madamay sa stress niya.
Karen stare at her warily. "Balitaan mo ako, ha?"
"Oo naman." Bahagya niya itong niyakap, tapos ay napangiti nang bumaba ang tingin niya sa malaki nitong tiyan. Ilang buwan nalang ay lolobo na rin ang tiyan niya. She would raise their child alone, without Brooke on their lives. How sad.
"Mag-iingat ka, Gelicah."
"I will." She kissed her friend cheek and bid a goodbye.
IT WAS early in the morning when she arrived in the Hospital. Bettina was surprised with her sudden arrival. Sinadya niya talaga itong sorpresahin, hindi niya ipinaalam ang pag-alis niya sa Pinas.
"I thought your arrival was next week?" Bettina said after they short hug.
"I planned to surprise you and mommy." Icah walked towards her mother who's laying in bed. "Hi mom, I'm here..." She held her hand and brought it to her chest.
Ang emosyon niya dahil sa nangyayari sa buhay niya ay parang hindi niya yata maililihim pa lalo at kasama niya ang ina. It feels like anytime soon, she will burst out all her emotions inside her chest.
"Kailan ka pa dumating, hija?" Bettina asked, she was in balcony, kinuha ang dalawang tasa.
It seems like Bettina was having a breakfast when she arrived, but with who? There are two cups of coffee and two plates with breads, bacon and egg.
"Are you with someone, Tita?"
"Huh? Ah," Bettina forced a smile. "Y-yes, a friend of mine visited early in the morning today."
"Nasaan na siya?"
May iba pa palang bumibisita sa Hospital bukod sa kanya. Its quite surprising though, knowing that her mother isn't a friendly type of a woman, Bettina is her only friend.
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Territorial Men 3: Brooke Montero (Published Under LIB BARE)
General FictionOne of the richest man in Asia, Brooke Montero is clearly needed only one thing... A woman who will marry him. They will get married and he will get his inheritance from his grandfather. It was a simple deal, but the beautiful woman he chose made it...
