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 watching series in Netflix on living room.
"Tom" Mildred called his attention
"oh I'm sorry, kingdom is a good film..." Tom said and paused the film"what did you say?"he asked
" I know," she said " by the way I called Lola," she said
(Lola means grandmother)
Tom looked at her confusing
"what?" he asked surprisingly
"yes I called her" Mildred said
"why?" Tom asked irritated "what if that old man knew that you are here...were busted"
"so!" Mildred answered sarcastically "it's time to fight back" She said "look I'm sick of it.."
Tom remain silent
"look I'd stay in Paris, and got a business there just to prove him, I am the right person for you"
" hey you don't need to prove who you are or to have a business" he rebuke " he's crazy that's all"
"Let's get married tomorrow night at dinner" Tom insisted
" no! I can't do that... wedding is happened once in a lifetime, so I wanted to make it memorable" she said "every woman wanted to walk in an aisle, and that is my dream babe... Tan Taran.." she stood up and walked like a bride walking in aisle and holding a bouquet of fresh flowers.
Tom stood up and hug her
"one day... One day" he whispered "im so sorry"
Tom put his arm around Mildred waist from behind and he kissed on her neck.
Mildred held his hands and closed her eyes and feel the sensation.
Tom turn on the music, and they both feel the music while they're dancing. Tom gently kissed again on his girlfriend neck down to her shoulder , Mildred felt something struck on her stomach,
He leisurely slid his hand to mildred's navel and started to play it, he rotated his index finger inside of it. Mildred felt sensation, she started to moaned, but she's not satisfied, she wanted more, thus she held Tom's hand and to stop and direct to her thigh until it reached her pyramid.
**********************************************
Monday
ANNA'S POV:
when Anna and her friends having lunch on their favorite fast food restaurant, when someone called her
"Anna " the old man called
Anna looked back
"Mr. Yang "he greeted him while she's waving
"who is he?" her friends asking
Mr. Yang walked toward them
"he's my grandfather best friend " introducing him
everyone nodded
"can I joined ?" Mr. Yang asked permission while holding his tray
"yeah sure " everyone agreed
Mr. Yang sat beside Anna
After an hour, Mr. Yang left and went to his office while Anna and her friends went back to their campus.
"Anna, lets go to the mall after class" Shania invited her " I need to buy something for my mom...her birthday is coming "
"Lets Go! " Frej answered , she heard Shania invited
Anna shrug her shoulder and smirked
After their class Anna and her friends went to the mall, they went to any boutique and looked something nice for Shania mom. they are enjoying while they window shopping.
while Shania choosing a dress for her mom, Anna sat down on the sofa, She saw a young lady wearing a floral a line dress, A looked like Liza Soberano.
"Tom...Babe! looked what about this qipao dress. I'm sure Lola gonna love this " while holding the dress
her boyfriend agreed
Anna saw Tom , a looked like Daniel Henney, he's wearing a white T-shirt and tight jeans with brown leather jacket , his sun glasses hang on his shirt.
"How about this Tom...?Do you really think mama would like this bodycon dress " she asked
"no,... mama would love the simple dress like sheath, basic or wrap dress" he explained
"Wooow.. you're amazing ...are you mama's boy ?" she asked
Tom put a check mark on his face and smiled
"shocked ! youre sooo cute babe " they laughed
Anna smiled while she keep watching them.
Shania tap her shoulder
"girl that is enough !" her friend rebuked her " I know he's you're type and he's adorable but girl he's taken "
"pssst " she reprimand "they're so cute, and lovely couple thus I cant stop watching them..." she explained
"don't worry sis, as long as they are not married... you had a chance" frej said "hmf right now ... married couple or not, if you want him , you can grab him" she said
Anna and Shania eyebrows raised
Frej laughed when she saw their reactions
They went outside and Anna looked back for the second time... She saw the lovely couple went to cashier.
Anna and her friends felt tired and hungry, they went to their favorite fast food and had a dinner
************************************************************************************************
TOM
Tom and Mildred after bought something for Tom's Family, They went to the restaurant they reserved for them.
Mildred saw Mrs. Yang and Janeth inside the restaurant, She ran toward them and hug them
"Oh darlin, you don't know how much I missed you " Mrs. Yang said while she hugging the young lady .
" I missed you too Lola" she answered and kissed her on the neck ... "I missed your smell Lola"
Mildred saw Janeth standing beside Mrs. Yang, she released embracing Mrs. Yang and stood up in front of Janeth.
She hug her also
"mama" she said while she's embracing her so tight. "I'm so sorry mama " she said
"Psssst" Janeth reprimand her while wiping Mildred tears "Its alright now "
Tom pulled the chair for Mrs. Yang.
"Does Papa is coming?" tom asked her mom
"No" she answered while seated on her seats " they had a business meeting" her mom explained
Mildred gave her gift to them.
While they are enjoying their food.
**********************************
CHAIRMAN YANG POV:
Chairman Yang and Norman are having a dinner after their meeting.
"Pops Tom is now in the right age, I think its better if he work in here again...I am not going to be an CEO, not my forte " he's talking while his mouth is full
" I know that... but there is someone who would take the company if..."
"if what " he asked continuing bite his food
"Have you remember my bestfriend since high school" he asked Norman
"Yes...you're looking for him last two years ago ?" he sips wine "did you find him?"
"He's dead eight years ago... only his grand daughter that I found"
"dead?" he shockingly asked
Chairman Yang remain silent
"only his grand daughter , how did you find her?...so what's the connection between him and the company ?" Norman asked
" we had an agreement about our grandchildren future"
"what?... what agreement pa?" he asked
Chairman Yang looked at him
" oh my goodness, you're talking about their marriage ?"
Chairman nodded
"so its doesn't matter, arrangement marriage is not common right now, in fact both of them are strangers," he continued "why don't you give him their shares" Norman decided
"60 percent of shares holder... you want me to give up that" Chairman Yang said
"Holy Cow....what ?" he asked
"Papa that's our share ..." he insisted "i did not knew that ..."
"His grand father owned that shares...not mined.. "
"how come that is not ours.... since before papa, you worked hard for that company..."
" I have debt to his grand father, he is the real owner of this company...but no one knew about it, only the three of us... me you and him... before he died I promised to let his grand daughter to marry my grand son in exchange of shares... if not his family would take this company as soon as they knew the contract that we've made, or else someone would marry her like Daniel or Kent, and they are the new owner of this company.."
"Have you heard yourself papa?" he frowned
he put his hand on his face and took a deep breath, and he suddenly put his hand on his head. he's frustrated
"I cant let my son marry to some one else that he does not love, no wonder why you didn't want them to marry" he walked back and forth , He's angry
.
"Could you please sit back and relax" Chairman Yang said to Norman, he sat on a lazy boy chair, facing to Chairman Yang,
"she is the right heir of the company if Tom is not interested" he interlacing his finger and put on his lips.
Chairman Yang hair smoky-grey cold, there's a wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. he stood up and face on the glass wall, the lights are reflected on the glass, their building is the tallest among the building on the area., like a skyscraper .Their architectural building known as the most amazing. Chairman office on the top of the building. He looked down , he saw the cars and other vehicles are like an ants marching on the road, on the other side of intersections, cars are like the soldiers on the field while waiting for the go signal, to attacked their rivalry.
Chairman Yang walked to his rectangular wooden desk, and sat on the edge of the table. There's a varnished bookshelves on the back of his table. A telephone on his left side and there's a note pad beside the telephone. The desktop computer on the centre of the table.
"Tom and her can take the company... only two of them...."
"But Tom is not interested also in the company since you disagreed on his relationship to mildred.,and he's not coming back papa, unless you will allowed them" he pinched his nose line "
" Im thinking for the right solution..."chairman Yang said "but i don't let these people take what its mine..."
Chairman Yang and Norman went home together, in the middle of the night.
Norman went to their bedroom, Janeth asleep on the king sized bed. He sat on the edged of the bed , he remembered what his father told him about the company, there's a lot of unanswered question on his mind. a lot of "íf"running through his brain cells.
"what's wrong ? " Janeth asked while gotten up from the bed
"huh?"he looked back and shake his head
He saw his wife wearing a color white nightgown. Her hair color black at medium length through her shoulder .
Norman Smiled "nothing wrong ? "he said and he kissed on her forehead while holding her wife face"you look beautiful honey"
Janeth smiled and fixed her hair
"Go back to sleep, "he whispered " I'll join with you later "
Norman went to wash room inside to their room, he can't stop thinking about the company, "what will happen to them without it. " he stressed out
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Tuesday morning when Anna is waiting for the Jeepney, outside the subdivision, when the Lamborghini car stopped on her front.
"good morning!" Mr. Yang greeted her while the window of the car rolling down.
Anna smiled
"Mr. Yang, good morning po " she greeted him back
"Come on, i will send you to school "he invited her
Anna had second thought
"Come on... Don't be shy ... I came from my friend, two blocks away from here, I saw you thus wanted to give you a ride" He explained
Anna got inside on the car , sat beside Mr. Yang
"you live here?" he asked
"Yes, unexpected that my sister won a house and lot last week so ...yes "
"wow... very lucky "he said astonishing and smiled to the lady
"By the way, i was planning to meet you at lunch... since we've meet now, so i need to tell you something" he said
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Chapter 3: The Contract part2
stay tuned !
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