Henrietta knitted her brow. Her father escaped. How did that happen? Did someone help his father? Come to think of it, noong namatay siya ay talagang wala na s'yang alam sa mga sumundo ngunit alam n'yang naging tagapagmana ng yaman ng kanilang pamilya ang tatay niya. Marami pa s'yang hindi alam at kung may tao nga bang nasa likod ng ama niya.
Luciel was not possible. Sa utak niyon ay hindi nito magagawa ang gano'n. Baka nga ay maging puppet pa ito.
"Then, where is he?" she asked in a low voice. Baka kasi marinig ng mommy niya at ayaw n'yang mag-worry ito.
"We're still searching for him. Don't worry." Hinawakan ni Vincenzo ang braso ng asawa. Whoever the people who back up Reynold surely have a big background. Paano ito makakalusot?
"Hmm. Thank you." Henrietta looked at the man with unfathomable eyes. She is still not sure of his intentions towards her, pero alam n'yang mapagkakatiwalaan si Vincenzo.
"Always. Kamusta ang filming?"
"It's doing well," sagot ni Henrietta at nagsimula silang maglakad patungo sa kanilang kwarto. Vincenzo opened the door and he stared at his wife's back.
"Did the crew treated you well?" Though alam niya na ang nangyayari dito dahil may in-assign s'yang guards para bantayan ito gusto niya pa rin marinig ang sasabihin mula sa asawa.
"Hmm. Bit do you know that there are rumors circulating about you and Santi?" Tinaasan ni Henrietta ng kilay si Vincenzo habang may ngiting nakapaskil sa labi nito.
Hinubad ni Vincenzo ang suot na suit at inalis ang tatlong butones. Umupo siya sa kama habang nasa harap naman niya si Henrietta na naka-krus ang braso sa dibdib.
"What rumours, Mrs. De Luca?" His eyes travelled to her waist into her chest. Vincenzo tugged his collar.
"That you deliberately sent food for Santi's appreciation. Did you know people said that you are interested in her?"
Vincenzo clicked his tongue and grabbed Henrietta's waist, pulling her towards him. The man encircled his arms into her small waist and looked up. Henrietta's eyes flashed with surprise but she quickly composed herself and unconsciously touched her husband's shoulder.
"But yours was different, right? If I'm interested in one girl I'll make a difference to be noticed by her. Besides, I have a high standard, Mrs. De Luca," sagot ni Vincenzo sa mababang boses. Henrietta is far better than her step sister who is delusional. How can he look at another woman if the one who is shining in the crowd is now his wife? He doesn't have a plan to break the relationship between them lalo na at napapanatag na ang loob sa kanya ng dalaga.
"Hmm? If you say so. I'm sure Santi has plans to ruin me. Hindi titigil ang babaeng iyon hanggat hindi maaalis sa kanyang landas."
"Just kill her," suhestiyon ni Vincenzo na ngayon ay nakayakap na sa bewang ng asawa at nakasubsob ang ulo sa tiyan nito. Henrietta's hands went into his hair and gently brushed it. It was so soft. Vincenzo loved the way her hands ran on his hair. He heaved a sigh.
"It was too easy, Vincenzo. That would be no fun," malamig na tugon ni Henrietta. After nang dinanas niya noon? Napakasimple lamang kung papatayin niya ang mga ito. She's not that kind. Hindi pa sapat. Ngayon nga ay nakatakas ang daddy niya kaya magiging mas alerto siya lalo na kapag nalaman nitong buhay ang mommy niya. She can't risk her mother's safety. May hindi pa siya nalalaman at gusto n'yang maungkat ito. May mga bagay pa na hindi nareresulba kagaya nang step mother niya at kung sino ang katawag nito noon. Sa tingin niya ay may kinalaman ang step mother niya sa pagtakas ni Reynolds.
"As expected from you." Vincenzo made a circle on her waist that sent shivers on Henrietta's skin. "My wife will never let her enemy die easily." Kahit siya ay napakagaan ng parusa na iyon.
"Anyway, I'll expect Santi's show soon and I'll trouble you while searching for Reynold." Huminga ng malalim si Henrietta ngunit agad ding napasigaw nang bigla s'yang hatakin ni Vincenzo paupo sa hita nito.
"What the?!"
Vincenzo just grunted and held her back, before falling on the bed.
"I'm so tired. Can we sleep now?"
Nakasandal ang ulo ni Henrietta sa may leeg nito. She can smell his body and perfume scent na hindi matapang sa pang-amoy niya. Vincenzo was never in his plan from the very start until he offered her something that she cannot refuse. Nalaman niya pa na may kakambal ito na pareho n'yang nakasama. And now she's married to him. A man who she barely knew from the past.
Iniangat niya ang ulo at tiningnan ang mukha ni Vincenzo na ngayon ay nakapikit na at natutulog. Okay, he's really handsome that women wanted to get him. Kaya hindi niya masisisi kung magkagusto si Santi dahil ito ang mga type nito. Alam naman nito na kasal sitya sa lalaki, pero hindi pa rin nagpapigil ang step sister niya kahit na may asawa na rin ito.
She pity her.
Henrietta closed her eyes and slept on Vincenzo's chest. Ilang sandali pa ay minulat ni Vincenzo ang mata at tiningnan ang asawa na nakatulog agad. He reached out his hand and touched her face.
'I'm sorry for being selfish, wife.'
---
Pang-limang araw na ng taping at kulang na lang ay baguhin ni Santi ang script dahil may hindi ito gustong gawin. Henrietta didn't even have any expression and based on the scene she's been watching while Santi and the Director talking, Santi insists on changing it.
Napahimalos ang director at lumakad papunta sa kanya.
"She wanted to change the scene of her basking in the sun. Hindi ba iyon ang scene kung saan makikita siya ni Eugene and he will drive her to her place? It was Kylie's plan to make Eugene closer to him."
"Takot ba s'yang maarawan? She's not being professional," komento ni Henrietta. "Continue the film, it was an important scene dahil may makakakita sa kanilang isang netizen that would start the rumors of their idol." Ano'ng gusto ni Santi payungan pa?
Santi gritted her teeth when the staff told her that the filming should continue.
"It's alright. Kapag nagawa mo ang scene ay mas maganda dahil hindi ka na uulit na mabilad sa araw. Hayaan mo na balang araw ay makakaganti ka rin sa kanya. Hindi naman siya pwedeng basta-bastang awayin ng direktor, remember, you're still changing your reputation to the public," pagpapaalala sa kanya ng kanyang manager.
Santi inhaled sharply. "I know. I can't wait to crash her again. Mukhang nag-e-enjoy siya dahil alam n'yang malakas ang authority niya. But it won't be long. I will let her know that she should have left when she had a chance. Hindi ako magtitira sa kanya, Henrietta the b*tch!"
"Shh! Too loud! Paano kung marinig ka ng iba? Paano ang public figure mo?"
Santi rolled her eyes and went to film her scene.
Sa gilid naman ay nakatitig lang si Henrietta kay Santi. Kaya naman pala, eh. Ang arte. Naka-tatlong takes pa bago malapit na matapos ang scene ni Santi at darating na ang kotse na sinasakyan ni Eugene (Ron.)
Unexpectedly, Santi fainted and the crew immediately went towards her.
"Tumawag kayo ng medic!" aniya ng manager nito. "She fainted from the heat!"
Henrietta pursed her lips.
-----
© _eysteambun
BINABASA MO ANG
Henrietta's Blade
Romance"Divide your enemy so you can reign approach." Upon rebirth, she returned to the time when she was twenty-four years old. As she recalled the torture she had through, memories filled her head. Smarter, feistier, and more daring! She became the cold...
