Camille Syanna
Montano Wesley.
I gasped upon hearing that name for the second time from ZA. If that was Montano Wesley, then that man was the one who killed ZA's dad. I started getting goosebumps all over my arms. What was he doing here?
And how did my father know that man?
I turned to Dad and waited for answers. It took him a while before he returned the question to ZA.
"How did you know him?"
ZA had no business telling my dad who Montano Wesley was to him. Right then, I knew I had to protect ZA's secrets as if they were mine, so I stepped forward and asked Dad again. "No, Dad. How did you know Montano Wesley?"
God, I almost couldn't force myself to mention the name of the devil. Dad's face doubled the surprise I had in mine two minutes ago. It was as if he was terrified that I knew the guy.
"Y-you know him too?" The color left his face, and he stuttered.
Now I'm more concerned than surprised. Clearly, my father knew Montano Wesley, not in a chummy, comfortable way. His body language spoke the opposite. I nodded. "What's going on, Dad?"
"Hey," Mom called us from inside the house. "Kanina ko pa kayo inaantay na pumasok. Ano? Diyan na lang ba kayong tatlo?"
"Camilla!" Dad immediately panicked. He turned to where the BMW was parked a few minutes ago to make sure it was already gone, and then he ran toward Mom, pushing her back into the house. "He now knew where we live!"
"Who?" Mom asked, confused.
"Dad, what's happening?" I followed them inside, ganoon rin si ZA.
"M-Montano," Dad answered Mom's question and ignored mine.
Nakita ko kung paanong nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ni Mommy. Her concerned expression turned frightened. Umiling-iling ito. "No, no... no..."
"Darling," Dad was there to catch her as she was about to lose her balance. "Honey, I wouldn't let him near you. Not this time. I swear to God. I will protect you and Camille with my life. I swear to God."
Fear started to boil in me as I pieced everything together. I watched how Dad turned protective of Mom. And the fear in my mother's eyes. She wasn't just alarmed. She was horror-stricken, frantic like the mention of Montano's name relived a nightmare she had been trying to escape for so long.
"O-oh, Oh, my God..." I whispered with my rattling lips. A single tear ran over my cheek.
And only then did the two of them remember I was still here. They both panicked and turned their attention to me.
"H-he... h-he was..." I couldn't even construct what I needed to ask them.
Mom rushed to hug me tightly, trying to cushion my fall. "Oh, sweetie! I-I'm sorry,"
I didn't know what she was sorry for because none of these was her fault. If anything, she was the victim here and not me. I wrapped my arms around her, trying to return the comfort she was showering me. My mother is the most selfless woman I know. She didn't deserve everything that had happened to her. Everything that Montano Wesley did to her.
When they told me about Dad not being my biological father, they also told me who I really was—everything except for the name of the perpetrator. A man who had shown no sign of danger since she met him. Mom was already living a quiet married life when her long-time admirer violated her. It was a harmless adoration turned sick obsession, and when he saw a window of opportunity, he jumped into it and ruined her.
