The weekend finally came.
Anna and her sisters were busy unpacking their things. Boxes were everywhere, clothes were folded and refolded, and furniture was slowly being rearranged to fit their new home.
They cleaned the entire house together—every corner, every room—especially their bedrooms.
Anna chose the attic.
She was excited to decorate it on her own.
She hung white curtains on the window facing east, placed her nursing books neatly on the shelves, and positioned her foam bed right beside the window.
When she was done, she lay down on the floor, staring at the ceiling.
A soft smile formed on her lips.
How blessed are we…
No more rent.
No more monthly stress.
Just peace.
A few moments later, her elder sister knocked on the door.
"Hi," her sister said softly.
Anna looked at her and smiled. "Wow…"
"So, what do you think?" Anna asked as she sat up.
Her sister walked inside, glancing around the room.
"Perfect," she replied, walking toward the window. "Nice view."
Outside, a small garden stretched across the backyard. A tall acacia tree stood at the center, giving shade to the entire space. Around it were small shrubs, carefully planted, waiting to bloom into flowers soon.
"Are you sure you want this room?" her sister asked. "You don't want the second floor beside Sara's room? There's another vacant room there."
"100 percent yes," Anna answered with a smile. "And this room is good for our brother. I'm sure they'll like it. Maybe next year he'll be here, right?"
Her sister nodded. "Alright."
Then she added, "Come downstairs. It's dinner time."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," Anna said, standing up. "Do Mom and Dad plan to visit here this summer?"
"Yes," her sister replied as they walked down the stairs. "And they're very excited."
They both chuckled softly.
Downstairs, they all gathered around the table.
Sarah and Dana were transferring food from paper boxes onto plates.
"Wow… did you order all of this?" Anna asked her eldest sister.
"Ate Dana did," Karen replied.
"Wow…" Anna laughed.
"She's rich now," Sarah joked.
"Yes, I am rich!" Dana said dramatically, laughing. "Hahaha!"
"Let's celebrate our new house, our new home!" she continued. "We're rich!"
Anna suddenly stood up, holding her spoon like a microphone.
"Let's celebrate! We're super duper lucky this time! This only happens once in a lifetime… thank You, God!" she shouted.
"Amen!" they all responded together.
"Let's dig in," Karen said with a smile.
And just like that…
They enjoyed the whole night—filled with laughter, warmth, and the feeling of a new beginning.
**********************************************
CHAIRMAN POV
Chairman Yang sat in the garden, quietly reading the newspaper.
The morning sun was soft, and the garden around him was calm—filled with neatly arranged roses swaying gently in the breeze.
A few moments later, his daughter-in-law, Janeth, arrived.
She placed a plate of snacks on the glass table and carefully poured tea into his cup.
"Have a bite, Papa," she said softly, offering him homemade bread as she sat across from him.
"Thank you, Janeth," he replied, folding the newspaper and placing it beside the tray. "How is he?" he asked, referring to Tom.
Janeth smiled faintly.
"He's fine, Papa. He called me last night."
Chairman Yang nodded slowly.
"He's not a little boy anymore," Janeth added.
"I know…" he said with a small smile.
A brief silence settled between them.
Then Janeth carefully asked, "When will you forgive him, Papa?"
Chairman Yang took a deep breath and sipped his tea before answering.
"I don't know if he will understand why I am doing this," he said quietly. "I love your son… but—"
He paused.
"By the way… do you remember my best friend?" he asked instead.
Janeth tilted her head.
"I've heard a little about him, but not everything. Marvin mentioned him before."
Chairman Yang nodded.
"Do you miss him?" Janeth asked gently.
Instead of answering immediately, Chairman Yang looked up at the blue sky.
His expression softened.
Then he asked, "Do you ever regret marrying my son?"
Janeth was surprised by the question.
A few seconds passed before she smiled and shook her head.
"No, Papa."
Chairman Yang nodded in relief.
His eyes moved toward the roses surrounding the garden.
"I'm so proud of you, Janeth," he said sincerely. "I've never regretted a single moment that you became part of this family. Your kindness and love have never changed since the day you stepped into my house."
Janeth blushed slightly, touched by his words.
Chairman Yang looked at her warmly.
"I hope you never change," he continued. "And that you remain fair to everyone… no matter what happens."
A few moments later, Mrs. Yang arrived, holding her mobile phone.
"Mildred is already here in the Philippines," she announced while walking toward them. "She's inviting us to dinner tomorrow night."
She sat down beside her husband.
Then she sighed heavily.
"Why don't you just allow them to marry? They're adults now. I think it's time. They're in the right age already, right Janeth?"
Chairman Yang's expression changed instantly.
He stood up.
"Haisst…" Mrs. Yang sighed again. "You're so stubborn… no wonder your grandson is like you. Blood really runs deep."
She continued, her voice rising with emotion.
"They love each other since they were young, so what's wrong with that? I've known Mildred since you brought her into this house… Aigoo…"
Her voice cracked as she started tearing up.
But Chairman Yang said nothing.
He simply turned away and walked out of the garden.
Leaving everything behind in silence.
**********************************************TOM POV
Mildred and Tom were watching a Netflix series in the living room.
"Tom," Mildred called his attention.
"Oh—sorry. Kingdom is a good film…" Tom said as he paused it. "What did you say?"
"I know," she replied softly. "By the way, I called Lola."
Tom looked at her, confused.
"What?" he asked, surprised.
"Yes, I called her," Mildred repeated.
"Why?" Tom asked, his tone slightly irritated. "What if that old man finds out you're here? We'll get caught."
"So what?" Mildred answered sarcastically. "It's time to fight back. I'm sick of hiding."
Tom fell silent.
"Look, I stayed in Paris and built a business there just to prove I am worthy of you," she said firmly.
Tom shook his head.
"You don't need to prove anything or build anything. He's just… difficult. That's all."
Then he sighed.
"Let's just get married tomorrow night during dinner," Tom said suddenly.
Mildred immediately shook her head.
"No. I can't do that," she said. "A wedding only happens once in a lifetime. I want it to be memorable. Every woman dreams of walking down the aisle… and that's my dream, babe."
She stood up and playfully walked across the room like she was walking down a wedding aisle, pretending to hold a bouquet.
Tom smiled softly at her.
He stood up and pulled her into a hug.
"One day…" he whispered. "I'm sorry."
He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her gently on the neck.
Mildred closed her eyes, leaning into him as the music played softly in the background.
They swayed together slowly, lost in the moment.
Tom rested his forehead against hers, holding her close as the world outside their relationship seemed to disappear.
**********************************************MONDAYANNA'S POV
It was lunchtime when Anna and her friends were eating at their favorite fast food restaurant.
They were laughing and chatting as usual when suddenly—
"Anna."
A familiar voice called her name.
Anna paused.
She slowly turned around.
"Mr. Yang," she greeted him with a small wave and a smile.
"Who is he?" her friends immediately asked in curiosity.
Mr. Yang walked toward their table.
"He's my grandfather's best friend," Anna introduced him.
Everyone nodded in understanding.
"Can I join you?" Mr. Yang asked politely while holding his tray.
"Yeah, sure," they all agreed.
Mr. Yang sat beside Anna.
They talked casually for a while, sharing light conversations and laughter.
After about an hour, Mr. Yang excused himself and left for his office.
Soon after, Anna and her friends went back to campus.
"Anna, let's go to the mall after class," Shania invited. "I need to buy something for my mom. Her birthday is coming."
"Let's go!" Frej immediately agreed after hearing it.
Anna shrugged and smirked. "Okay, fine."
After class, they went straight to the mall.
They entered different boutiques, looking for the perfect gift for Shania's mom. They were enjoying themselves, window shopping, laughing, and trying things on.
While Shania was choosing a dress, Anna sat on a sofa nearby.
That's when she saw her.
A young woman wearing a floral A-line dress… elegant and soft-looking, like she stepped out of a magazine.
She looks like Liza Soberano… Anna thought to herself.
Then—
"Tom… babe, look at this Qipao dress. I'm sure Lola will love this," the woman said, holding up a dress.
Her boyfriend nodded.
Anna's eyes slowly shifted.
And then she saw him.
Tom.
He was wearing a white shirt, tight jeans, and a brown leather jacket. His sunglasses were hanging on his shirt, giving him that effortless rich-boy look.
"Hmm… how about this, Tom? Do you think Mama will like this bodycon dress?" the girl asked.
Tom shook his head slightly.
"No… Mama prefers simple dresses. Like sheath, basic, or wrap dresses," he explained calmly.
"Wow…" the girl smiled at him. "You're amazing. Are you a mama's boy?"
Tom pointed to himself with a playful expression and nodded.
The girl laughed. "Aww, you're so cute, babe!"
They both laughed together.
Anna watched them quietly.
Something inside her tightened—but she didn't know why.
Shania suddenly tapped her shoulder.
"Girl, that's enough," she said firmly. "I know he's your type and he's adorable, but girl… he's taken."
Anna blinked.
"Psst," she muttered. "I'm just watching them. They look like a cute couple… I can't stop."
"Don't worry," Frej said casually. "As long as they're not married, you still have a chance."
Shania and Anna both turned to her with raised eyebrows.
Frej laughed. "What? I'm just saying the truth."
They shook their heads and laughed.
After a while, they left the store.
Anna glanced back one more time.
Tom and his girlfriend were walking toward the cashier.
A perfect couple… in a perfect world.
She looked away and exhaled softly.
By evening, they were all tired and hungry.
So they went back to their favorite fast food restaurant and had dinner together.
************************************************************************************************TOM POV
Tom and Mildred had just finished buying gifts for Tom's family. After that, they headed to a restaurant they had reserved for dinner.
As soon as they entered, Mildred suddenly froze.
Inside the restaurant, she saw Mrs. Yang and Janeth already seated.
Without hesitation, she ran toward them.
"Lola!" she called softly before hugging Mrs. Yang tightly.
"Oh, darling… you don't know how much I missed you," Mrs. Yang said warmly as she embraced her.
"I missed you too, Lola," Mildred replied, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "I missed your smell, Lola."
Mrs. Yang chuckled softly, holding her close.
Then Mildred noticed Janeth standing beside them.
Slowly, she released Mrs. Yang and turned to Janeth.
"Mama…" she whispered before pulling her into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, Mama."
"Shhh," Janeth said gently, patting her back while wiping her tears. "It's alright now."
Tom quietly approached and pulled out a chair for Mrs. Yang.
"Is Papa coming?" he asked his mother.
"No," she answered as she sat down. "He has a business meeting," she explained.
Tom nodded slowly.
Mildred then handed out the gifts she brought for them, smiling softly as the mood slowly lightened.
Soon, they began eating together.
The atmosphere became calmer… warmer… almost like a family reunion.
For a moment, everything felt peaceful.
*********************************CHAIRMAN YANG POV
Chairman Yang and Norman were having dinner after their meeting.
"Pops, Tom is now at the right age. I think it's better if he works here again. I'm not going to be CEO—it's not my forte," Norman said while still chewing his food.
"I know that," Chairman Yang replied calmly. "But there is someone who would take the company if—"
"If what?" Norman interrupted, continuing to eat.
Chairman Yang paused for a moment. "Have you remembered my best friend since high school?"
"Yes… the one you were looking for two years ago?" Norman sipped his wine. "Did you find him?"
"He's dead. Eight years ago," Chairman Yang said quietly. "Only his granddaughter… is what I found."
Norman froze. "Dead?"
Chairman Yang said nothing.
"Only his granddaughter? How did you find her? And what's her connection to the company?" Norman asked, now serious.
"We had an agreement about our grandchildren's future," Chairman Yang answered.
Norman blinked. "What… agreement, Pa?"
Chairman Yang finally looked at him.
Norman's eyes widened in realization. "Oh my goodness… you're talking about their marriage?"
Chairman Yang nodded.
Norman leaned back, shocked. "So… it doesn't matter? Arranged marriage isn't common anymore. They're strangers. Why don't you just give him the shares instead?"
"Sixty percent of the shares?" Chairman Yang said firmly. "You want me to give that up?"
"Holy cow… what?" Norman reacted. "Papa, that's our share!"
"I didn't know that," he continued. "I've been working hard for this company too."
"His grandfather owned those shares," Chairman Yang said. "Not mine."
Norman frowned. "But how is that not ours? You built this company from the ground up."
Chairman Yang's expression darkened.
"I owe a debt to his grandfather. He is the real owner of this company. No one knows this except the three of us—me, you, and him," he explained.
Norman listened silently now.
"Before he died, I promised that his granddaughter would marry my grandson in exchange for the shares," Chairman Yang continued. "If not, their family can claim this company once the contract is revealed… or worse, someone like Daniel or Kent could marry her and take control instead."
Norman stood up abruptly. "Have you heard yourself, Papa?"
He started pacing back and forth, frustrated. "I can't let Tom marry someone he doesn't love. No wonder you never wanted them together."
Chairman Yang remained calm. "Please, sit down and relax."
Norman slowly sat back down on the chair, still tense.
"She is the rightful heir if Tom refuses the company," Chairman Yang said, interlacing his fingers.
The room fell silent.
Chairman Yang stood and walked toward the glass wall. The city lights reflected against the window, painting the skyline in gold and darkness.
From the top floor, the city below looked like ants moving endlessly—cars like soldiers waiting for orders in a battlefield of lights.
He turned back slowly and walked to his desk. The wooden surface was polished, lined with books, a telephone on the left, and a notepad beside it. A desktop computer sat in the center.
He sat on the edge of the table.
"Tom and her… can take the company," he said finally. "Only the two of them."
Norman shook his head. "Tom isn't interested in the company either, especially after you opposed his relationship with Mildred. He's not coming back unless you allow him to choose freely."
Chairman Yang closed his eyes for a moment.
"I am thinking of the right solution," he said slowly. "But I will not let anyone take what is mine."
LATER THAT NIGHT
Chairman Yang and Norman went home together.
Norman entered the bedroom quietly. Janeth was already asleep on the bed.
He sat at the edge, lost in thought. His father's words kept repeating in his mind.
Marriage contract… shares… heirs… consequences…
So many "what ifs" filled his head.
"What's wrong?" Janeth asked softly, waking up.
"Huh?" Norman turned to her and quickly shook his head.
He saw her clearly now—wearing a white nightgown, her black hair resting gently on her shoulders.
He smiled faintly.
"Nothing's wrong," he said, kissing her forehead. "You look beautiful, honey."
Janeth smiled and fixed her hair.
"Go back to sleep," he whispered. "I'll join you later."
Norman stood up and went to the bathroom inside their room.
He turned on the faucet, but his mind stayed restless.
What will happen to them if this continues?
He sighed heavily.
TUESDAY MORNING
Anna was waiting for a jeepney outside the subdivision when a luxury car suddenly stopped in front of her.
The window slowly rolled down.
"Good morning!" Mr. Yang greeted warmly.
Anna smiled. "Good morning, Mr. Yang "
"Come on, I'll send you to school," he invited.
Anna hesitated for a moment.
"Don't be shy," he added gently. "I was just two blocks away. I saw you and wanted to give you a ride."
Anna finally got inside and sat beside him.
"You live here?" he asked.
"Yes. My sister actually won a house and lot last week, so… yes," she answered.
"Wow… very lucky," he said with an impressed smile.
Then he turned serious for a moment.
"By the way, I was planning to meet you at lunch," he said. "Since we met now, I need to tell you something important."
Chapter 3: The Contract Part 2
Stay tuned.