Chaste Fairytale (Hacienda Alegre Series #3)

Chapter 17 - Ava Smith

Sorry for the very late update. Wala talagang internet at kuryente for how many days dahil kay Odette. Saka kung mayroon man, sobrang bagal ng net. Enjoy! Merry Christmas everyone! Lovelots! 🥰

Beware of typographical and grammatical errors. 

__

"ITO ang nakitang letter sa desk ng kwarto ni Clifford," Maric was snapping Nicco from a nightmare. Minamasahe niya ang kanyang ulo dahil sumasakit iyon. Wala siyang tulog. His feet were itchy to get out from this villa at puntahan si Chandra.

Nagtatampo ba ito dahil hindi niya ito mabigyan ng wastong oras. Nasasaktan ba ito dahil sa set up nila? Because he wasn't there for her physically. 'Cause he was busy analyzing all the evidences plotted in front of him.

Na nagngangalang Clifford Barnes ang nagpanggap na chef sa barko niya patungo rito sa Pilipinas. Though he couldn't remember, but his heart was whispering to him that Clifford wasn't part of the people he trusted.

His security was tight. Simula bata pa ay mulat na siya sa katotohanan na walang dapat pagkatiwalaan. He was exposed to those techonological tools in order to secure himself from danger. From those traitors. Sa mga crew kasama niyang crew sa yate, sino ang naglakas loob na papasukin si Clifford Barnes.

"Alam ko kung ano ang mangyayari sa susunod na araw, Nic, but I really suggest that you need to stay here. Hindi ka pwedeng pumunta sa maraming tao. I know you badly want to see her on that day, but..."

Binasa niya ang picture na nasa harapang Ipad. The picture of a letter, handwritten by Clifford.

I'm guilty of Nicco Alexander's yacht tragedy. I'm sorry for those people that I have killed.

"Someone was sending him money to support himself from the day of the tragedy until his last day. We're still trying to investigate the matter. ATM cards and phone calls."

Clifford was found dead yesterday in one of the hotels in El Nido.

"The hotel is now under investigation. Mga staff at managers na nakakilala kay Clifford sa loob ng ilang buwang pag-ste-stay in ng lalaki doon. We have asked on chamber maid yesterday. Hindi siya naniniwala na magagawang mag-suicide ng lalaki. Hindi sila makapaniwala nang isang araw ay bumisita ritong babae. And the American authorities will get his body tomorrow. Walang record si Clifford rito sa Pilipinas bilang isang tourist. Literally, he's illegal and hindi kabilang sa mga registered tourists na sakay ng yate mo."

"I really want to this to end, Maric. Clifford died. Hiling ko na lang ngayon ay makilala na ang mga kasabwat niya sa plano na 'to, 'cause I want to rest. I want this issue to end. Gusto ko ng kapayapaan. I want her to give my time."

"Mapapadali naman namin ito kung tatanggapin mo ang tulong ng Daddy mo. Mas malakas ang koneksyon niya. If we can't pull some magical strings, we can't solve this issue like the way you want it fast."

Umiling siya, sumandal sa sandalan ng sofa.

"He can't even believe me that his relatives wanted me dead. Na sila ang nag-utos na ipapatay ako. Because I was a threat. Hindi niya ako pinaniniwalaan. Paano niya ako mapro-protektahan sa ganitong sitwasyon?"

"Then, try a little harder to wait. Kapag nalaman namin kung sino ang babae na bumisita kay Clifford, matatapos din 'to."

"Can I even reveal myself to my lawyers?"

"Do you trust them? Do you still trust the team surrounding you? Kung ano man ang naiwan o kung sino man ang mga taong naiwan mo sa Amerika, Nic, isa sa kanila ay maaaring kalaban mo. Ang mapagkakatiwalaan mo ngayon ay ang mga tao na nakapaligid sa Daddy mo. With his power and monarch, no one can be a traitor. Betrayal would end their lives."