After a week, Anna's life seems quiet and she's able to focus on her studies and final exams week. No one disturbed her. thus she seems nice and happy those weeks.
on the last day of her school days before their semester breaks, Anna and her friends went to the mall and bought something nice for themselves.
While she was busy looking for something for herself, she found a red wallet, she tried to reach that but accidentally someone got it, she looked back and Tom was standing behind her.
Anna stepped on her side, to avoid him, but Tom looked at her and walked away from her, carrying the red wallet.
Anna felt bad, she couldn't say anything to him, she followed him with a look, Tom didn't look back but he directly walked towards the cashier and paid for the wallet.
Anna took a deep breath and her heartbeat was like a drum inside her chest. She looked back at the bags in front of her and made herself busy looking at the bag.
"Anna ?" someone called her and she looked back
it's Daniel, was standing in front of her
Daniel walked towards her and hugged her "How are you ?" he asked
Anna smiled and "I'm good, thanks" she answered confidently
"Good to hear that, um... come and join us.. after this, we were going to eat "
Anna smiled and "No, thanks But my friends are with me..."
"aw come on, it's been a week since I haven't seen you, let's have some fun" he invited him "I'm sure you want to see him," he said
"But I don't like to see her face... you can join her and I am going somewhere " Tom interrupted
"No, I'm so sorry Dan...maybe next time" She walked away from them
"Wow!, you're so confident to say that... next time ?" he said "
"Tom please " Daniel interrupted him
"Look she's nice to you now... but soon she will ruin your life, look what she did to mine" Tom angrily said
"Ohh! Really?" she asked "I did nothing to ruin your life," she said
Tom chuckled "Seriously?" he asked "Wow you're a liar...very good liar, best actress do you know that" he added
"Tom please stop it" Daniel interrupted "That's enough," he said
"You were broke already when I met you, Tom " she angrily said " don't blame me for what happened to your life" she added and walked away from them
Daniel's curved lips turned straight when she heard her
Tom gulped his saliva and gave her an anguished look
Tom wanted to follow her but Daniel grabbed him and "Please let her go," he said but Tom suddenly squirmed and walked away from him.
Anna directly walked to her friends in the other boutique.
her friend Shania came to her " What is wrong?" she asked
Anna smiled and " No nothing...that wallet that I am talking about is too expensive " She explained
"Ohh dear, how much is that? I can lend you some money" She answered her
"No..no...it's not worth it " she replied and walked to the corner "Don't worry that wallet is not for me " she added
"you sure... red is your favorite color," she said
"Yes I am sure ... 100 percent" she replied and sat on the couch in the corner
her friend went to the cashier and settled their things for themselves.
they went to the restaurant after and ate a lot. they went home afterward. Anna went home while walking going to the subdivision, A car stopped on her side, the window of the car rolled and she saw Chairman Yang in the back seat of the car, he invited her to get inside the car.
Anna gets in the car and sits next to Chairman Yang.
"How are you Anna ? " he asked
"I am okay Chairman..." she replied
"I have heard that your semester is already finished, how's your exam?"
" Good, but I don't have any idea if I make it or not " she smiled " But I studied a lot because you didn't disturb me "
chairman Yang chuckles "Well you don't have a class, for now, I am inviting you to have dinner at our house "
"Oh no!" Anna interrupted "That's not gonna happen " she added
"Why not," he said
Anna looked at him "Are you out of your mind...everyone is mad at me because of what you did"
Chairman Yang took a deep breath "I know what am I doing Anna, I did that because that is the only way to restore your family treasures Anna" he explained
"But you've already hurt their feelings. I told you before, I am not interested," she explained.
"But I can't sleep at night. I am always thinking about the company, Anna. I hope you understand that," he added. "You were engaged to Tom before, and I want to keep that promise before I die," he continued.
Anna was surprised. "Don't say that," she said. "Please?" she added. "My grandfather died a long time ago. I'm sure he would respect my decisions," she explained. "My family is happy and content with what we have right now."
"But I can't let that happen. I know what is best for you, Anna, and I treat you like my own granddaughter. Please respect my decision," he said. "You deserve more than that," he added.
Anna took a deep breath. "I wanted a simple and quiet life, Lolo. I don't want to see someone hurt because of my own happiness. I would not be content and happy if someone held a grudge against me."
They were both quiet inside the car when someone came inside the car and sat beside the driver.
"Date? Wow!" he said and looked back.
Anna and Chairman Yang were startled when they saw Tom in front of them.
"What are you doing in here?" Chairman Yang asked him.
"You guys are meant to be…" he said sarcastically. "If you like Anna, you can marry her," he said to him, then looked at Anna. "And Anna, be a mistress… that really suits you," he said.
Anna looked at him angrily.
"What, are you hurt?" he asked. "Oh no… you both don't have feelings," he said.
"That is enough," Chairman Yang interrupted. "You don't know what you're talking about," he continued.
"I know what I am talking about, old man," he said. "Right, Anna? You always stick to him and do what he says because the truth is… you like the money… right?" he shouted. "You are a gold digger. And oh my goodness, stick to him—he has a lot of money. Me? I don't have any. I am penniless. You know that. I am sure you already know that because everything was gone… my house, my girlfriend… everything was gone like a bubble—plop!"
"I am so sorry, Tom, but…"
"Psst… don't. Don't act innocent. That's your plan… you both planned this," he snapped.
"What?" he laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Do I look pathetic to you now? Yeah… I am. I really am. And it's all because of you, Anna."
His voice broke into anger.
"You're a damn—asshole."
"Enough!" Chairman Yang interrupted him.
"Are you done?" Anna asked Tom. "You're an asshole," she said.
Anna was hurt and hastily got out of the car.
om got out of the car. "I'm not done talking to you, lady!" he shouted, but Anna ignored him.
He followed Anna and grabbed her arms. "I am talking to you," he said. "I am not done yet," he added while holding her arms and pulling her toward the car.
"Let go," Anna whispered. "Please," she said. "Stop it, you're hurting me," Anna said.
But Tom ignored her words.
Meanwhile, Chairman Yang asked David to stop them, so David walked toward them.
"I hate you, Tom. I hate you," she said.
Anna kicked Tom's right leg.
"Ouch!" Tom was hurt and massaged his leg.
Anna ran away from him.
David stood in front of him. "That is enough, sir. You're hurting her."
"Tsk," Tom clicked his tongue, pushed him, and walked toward his car.
He drove swiftly on the road while David and Chairman Yang followed him.
When they arrived at the house, Tom quickly got out of the car and went inside the house. Chairman Yang followed him.
"Thomas Yang!"
Chairman Yang's voice thundered through the house, sharp enough to freeze the air.
Tom stopped.
Slowly… he turned around.
"What?" he answered, voice cold and unbothered.
Chairman Yang stepped closer, eyes burning.
"What are you doing? Why did you do that to her?" His voice rose. "Are you out of your mind?"
A dark laugh slipped from Tom's lips.
"What I did?" he repeated, almost amused. "She deserves it. That girl is a slut."
His expression twisted into something darker… something bitter.
"And you know what?" he added, voice dropping dangerously low. "I wanted to crush her face. I hate her… I really hate her."
"Enough!" Chairman Yang roared. "You're immature! Do you even realize what you've done?!"
"Hey! Hey—what's going on here?" Marvin's voice suddenly broke through the chaos as he rushed in. "What happened?!"
Mrs. Yang and Janet followed closely behind, along with the maid, all of them sensing the tension like a storm about to explode.
"Ask him," Chairman Yang said coldly, pointing at Tom. "He hurt Anna. He grabbed her. He pulled her."
"What?" Marvin froze, eyes widening in shock.
Everyone was surprised.
"That's not what you think. I grabbed her hands—I just wanted to talk to her," he said.
"Talk to her… by pulling her? You're hurting her," Chairman Yang said firmly.
"Yes! I wanted to kick her ass because I hate her!" he shouted.
"What… what?" Marvin said in disbelief.
"Why do I look like the villain here?" Tom snapped, furious. "Why can't you tell them how much you like Anna? Why are you still seeing her secretly? For what?"
He pointed at Chairman Yang.
"You keep pushing her to marry me for what? She's a gold digger, a manipulative person! Why can't you see that?"
"That is enough, Tom," Marvin said sharply. "You've said a lot," he interrupted.
"What?" Tom asked him. "Does she seduce you too, for you to take her side?"
"I said enough!" Marvin shouted.
"What is going on here? Who the hell is Anna? Why is everyone like her? She is nothing! Pa, she's new here! Mildred was supposed to be my fiancée that night!" he said, then looked at Chairman Yang. "You can marry Anna and be with her for the rest of your lives. You both are good for each other!" he shouted. "You both ruined my life!"
Marvin slapped his son, and everyone was surprised.
"I told you to stop," he said while shaking him. "You're immature. Act your age!" Marvin shouted at him. "You're acting like a child," he added. "Whether you like it or not, you will marry her."
"Over my dead body…" he answered and walked out the door.
"Tom! Tom!" Mrs. Yang called after him, but he ignored them and hastily drove his car away.
Mrs. Yang cried. "Oh, poor Tom… why did you slap him, Marvin? Oh, my grandson…" she said. "What if something bad happens to him?" she continued crying.
"Oh!" Chairman Yang interrupted. "He is a bastard," he said and walked into his room.
Janet saw Marvin's reaction. She walked over to him, held his hands, and nodded before hugging him.
Marvin was shaking—furious and overwhelmed with anger.
"Calm yourself, my dear. Your heart…" she said gently, smiling. "I understand. And I am sure he will understand why you did that to him," she explained. "I will talk to him," she added.
Meanwhile, Tom was followed by police because he was overspeeding on the road. He stopped when they reached Roxas Boulevard.
He was brought to the police station.
Major Santos called Chairman Yang, and he advised Major Santos to put him in the cell for a night. No one came for him.
The next morning, a police officer came to his cell.
"Mr. Yang, you are free to go," he said while opening the cell.
Tom stood up and wiped his pants and shirt.
As he walked out of the station, Janet was standing in front of the car.
She hugged him.
"I'm okay, Ma," he said.
Janet's lips curved into a soft smile, then slowly straightened as she heard his voice. They both got inside the car and went home.
While they were in the middle of the road, Janet held his hand.
"Are you still mad at your dad?" she asked.
Tom smiled faintly and shook his head.
"I'm hoping you understand him," Janet said gently.
"I'm so sorry, Ma," he said.
"I understand how you feel… Son, we love you, hm?" she added. "If you want to talk about it, I'm all ears."
Tom nodded, his eyes starting to tear up.
"I'm tired, Ma… I don't know why he did that."
Janet hugged him tightly, gently patting his back. "I'm here, son… I'm here."
Her tears slowly fell on her cheeks as well, and Tom's followed soon after.
David continued driving the car.
When they arrived home, Tom went straight to his room. He locked himself inside and fell asleep.
It was already dusk when he woke up. He went out to the backyard and met Major Santos in the garden.
"Major Santos?" he asked. The officer stopped. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I have to meet Chairman Yang and talk about the case I am handling," he said.
"Case…" Tom paused. "What case?" he asked curiously.
"The case about the carnappers that happened last week," he explained. "Luckily, Ms. Anna Rodriguez and David are still alive. Those thugs almost took their lives that day. Chairman Yang wants this investigated."
Major Santos continued walking, leaving Tom standing there.
Tom went silent.
He suddenly realized something.
He had been wrong.
He blamed Anna… when she had almost lost her life.
"Haissst…" he muttered, scratching his head.
"