What she did not see—what she could not yet know—was how swiftly Marco's life had begun to unravel.
The first blow came with his business in Manila. An investor who had promised him capital suddenly withdrew, citing "unexplained risks." The second came when his car broke down on the expressway, a brand-new vehicle that should not have failed. Repairs drained his pocket.
Then, the strangest of all: a deal he had been chasing for months simply dissolved overnight, the partner vanishing without explanation. Calls went unanswered, messages ignored. His contacts, once eager, now treated him like bad luck.
One evening, Marco stood in his apartment, pacing furiously. He clenched his fists, muttering, "Why now? Why, after I found a gold mine?"
Somewhere in the dark, the mysterious man watched unseen, his presence calm but resolute. Marco's greed would not be allowed to grow teeth.
---
Back at the hacienda, life took a brighter turn.
Bianca woke to sunlight filtering through the old windows, the sound of Lydia humming as she cooked, the laughter of Paolo chasing chickens. She stretched, a rare smile curving her lips.
When she stepped outside, Lara was already in the veranda, scribbling furiously in her notebook.
"Good morning," Bianca said, amused. "You look busy."
Lara looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Bianca, I had the best idea last night. Live selling. It's time."
Bianca blinked. "Already? But we don't even have livestock yet."
"Who cares?" Lara grinned, tapping her pen. "We have fruits. Not just fruits—miracle fruits. People already whisper about their effects. If Rosa's knees feel better, if villagers notice they have more energy… imagine what will happen when the wider world discovers them. This could change everything."
Bianca hesitated. "But… wouldn't that attract more attention? What if people abuse it?"
Lara softened. "We'll do it carefully. Price them fairly, make sure the right people get them. We're not greedy, Bianca—we're just making the hacienda sustainable. And besides…" She leaned in conspiratorially. "I'm an influencer. Let me handle the selling. You just handle the growing."
Bianca laughed despite herself. "You make it sound so simple."
"It is simple," Lara said, eyes shining. "The world is waiting. We just need to show them."
The two spent the morning brainstorming.
Lara sketched ideas for the live stream: a rustic background under the veranda, baskets of glowing fruit arranged with flowers, a handmade sign reading "From Hacienda Rodriguez – Miracle Fruits." Bianca frowned at the word "miracle," but Lara waved off her protest.
"It's what they are," she said. "Call it truth in advertising."
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End of Chapter 22