Ruthless Beauty

Prologue

Prologue

Everybody said that my life is a page ripped straight from a fairytale book.

I was born lucky to have a powerful father who runs one of the biggest haciendas in La Union, a tycoon who is a monster in business but a loving father in house.

I thought that when parents are so busy in their businesses and work, they forgot about their children.

Well, certainly not my Papa.

Kung anong tipid ng ngiti niya kapag nasa trabaho ay ganun naman kalawak ang kaniyang ngisi kapag nakikita niya ako pagkarating niya sa bahay. He's strong yet gentle. Strict yet understanding.

And my Mama is the most graceful and elegant woman I've ever known. She's a ballerina when she was young and her face appeared in so many fashion campaigns during her youthful days. Papa is so smitten by her and I can tell why. She's soft-spoken, fluent in many languages, and an intelligent woman. Not to mention that she's really beautiful, too. She's the only brown-haired beauty in our house. Namana ko kay Papa ang itim na itim kong buhok. Mama's hair is brown and floats like loose curls, while mine is a dark mess.

Just simply looking at my mother makes me feel so little about myself. She's so pretty and talented and smart while I'm just... me.

Kung anong ikinatalento at ikinatalino ng mga magulang ko ay siya namang ikinatahimik ko. Mama is a social butterfly while I, on the other hand, is just plain Jane. Every time she hosts dinner parties in our mansion, I would stay in the corner, awkwardly chewing French bread and sipping juice while I watch her get adored by many.

Alam kong marami ang disappointed sa akin. The De la Rua couple is a majestic, powerful duo and they gave birth to a disappointment like me. Walang talento. Hindi kagandahan. I'm not even good in socializing and I am constantly drowning in my insecurities.

"Mama, will I ever be beautiful and talented like you?"

"Of course, Anna." My mom would always tell me in her soft, elegant voice. "You'll be just as beautiful and talented like your Mama. Maybe even more."

While her words consoled me at nights when I highly doubted myself, I still couldn't control my thoughts and my mind.

My parents can dress me in the most expensive haute couture clothes and I still wouldn't be beautiful as them. I will never be beautiful as them.

"You look beautiful tonight, princess." Papa complimented me when he stepped inside the room and saw me wearing a beige fairy dress by Paolo Sebastian. Mama specifically picked it for me, to suit my young body while the color makes me look more mature.

"Really?"

Sinulyapan ko ang sarili sa salamin. I look nowhere near my mother. My hair is coiffed and I got my diamond earrings on. I even wore a pair of nude heels tonight to compliment the dress my mother efforted so much to find.

"Yes." Papa crouched a bit to kiss my forehead. Napangiti ako. "I am sure that the young men in the party will be head over heels for you."

I hesitated but then nodded. I accepted someone's compliment for the first time. Mama said that part of being beautiful is believing in yourself that you are divine and ethereal. I like how she's able to accept compliments gracefully.

"If you start believing that you are beautiful, then the people surrounding you will also see you as a goddess, too." Si Mama sa tuwing nalulungkot ako kapag ikinukumpara ko ang sarili ko sa mga anak ng business associates ni Papa.

I mean, who wouldn't be insecure when you're surrounded with tall, elegant girls who wears champagne slip dresses and high heels and looks very mature in their dark makeup? Samantalang ako ay nagmimistulang bata.