Rage Against The Heart (Valdemar Series #3)

Kabanata 38

38 – Downfall

I wasn't able to go to the firm the next three days. The atmosphere in our house feels so different after that night. Atlas became too busy in his office talking to some people. Kaninang umaga ay umalis pa siya at pumunta sa kompaniya ngunit wala siyang kahit anong sinabi tungkol doon. He didn't explain anything to me. Umalis siya at hindi pa bumabalik hanggang ngayon. Ang tanging sinabi niya lang ay mayroon siyang dapat tapusin. I don't know what that was.

Nag-aalala ako sa kaniya dahil alam kong sobra ang pinagdadaanan niya ngayon, lalo na sa pamilya niya. Hindi madali ang nangyayaring ito sa kaniya dahil ang lahat ay damay. We haven't really talk much about what happened and I think I should ask him about things when he get home.

All of the people who works in the firm knows about me now. Laman na iyon ng rumors at mga articles na kumakalat sa social media. Jared was shocked when he called me last night. Kevin knew long before because Luigi always open up to him. I didn't answer any of Willow's messages because I already know what she'll say.

Bumuntong-hininga ako saka kinuha ang cellphone ko nang tumunog. I shut my eyes when I saw Terry calling.

"Terry.."

"Ally, what did you do?"

She sounded disappointed and worried. Wala naman akong ibang pagpipilian kung hindi aminin na dahil alam naman na ng lahat. And Terry would understand.

"They know about us now." I admit.

"Malaking problema ito! Esperanza Valdemar is furious! She's running after the case, siya pa ang pumupunta mismo sa korte!"

"Hindi ako takot. Hindi ako natatakot."

Mariin akong umiling. Then run after it. Napatunayan ko ang totoo sa korte noon kahit ang kampo nila ang nanalo. At kaya ko ulit gawin iyon sa ikalawang pagkakataon, kaya kong ipagtanggol ang ina ko sa kahit saang korte sa mundo.

"And what is your husband doing?"

"He said everything will be fine. Ang sabi niya ay huwag akong mag-alala. He won't let nanay be in jail again."

"Ally, your husband stepped down from the company! Bumaba siya bilang CEO!"

I frowned. "Ano?"

"Ngayon niyo kailangan ng mas lalong kapangyarihan! Bakit siya bumaba?" She asked. "It's in the news!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko kasabay ng pagwawala ng dibdib ko. Agad kong kinuha ang remote saka binuksan ang T.V. I changed the channel and found the news station. Lalo akong kinabahan nang makita ang isang malaking conference room. Atlas' name was on the headline.

"Atlas Valdemar stepped down as CEO of Valdemar Prime Holdings Inc. – Commerical Real Estate." It says.

"Si Esperanza ba ang papalit?"

"No, but he will be replaced by Giovanni Salvatorre. Ibinenta ni Atlas ang sixty percent shares niya sa lalaking iyon! The Salvatorres are rich!" She exclaimed. "Hindi ba't rival 'yon ng panganay na Valdemar sa negosyo? They both has top resorts in the country! Bakit sa kaniya pa binenta?"

Nanuyo ang lalamunan ko at hindi nakapagsalita. He is stepping down? Ngayon pa na unti-unti nang nakakabawi ang negosyo niya, saka pa siya bababa?

Umiling ako saka pilit na nakinig kahit na halos wala na akong maintindihan. Why did he do this? He sold his sixty percent share! Para saan ang lahat ng ito? Is he really leaving his family now?

"I'm sorry, Terry. I don't know a-anything about this."

"Atlas didn't tell you?"

I shut my eyes. "No.."