The sight of Mrs. Miranda holding the money Joyce had given her was a bitter sight for the woman, her face a mask of shame and humiliation. She glanced at the young woman who had just pardoned her, not with kindness, but with an act of quiet, terrifying power.
"You've heard Joyce's wishes," Nephtali's voice, cold and final, cut through the air. "Once you and your family have packed your things, you will leave this province. If you ever return, I will have you arrested and imprisoned. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Mr. Gonzaga," Mrs. Miranda stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
"Dave, handle this woman," Nephtali instructed. "My lawyer will have the paperwork ready tomorrow and will send it to you."
"Got it," Dave replied. "I'll send you the documents once everything is finalized. Take Mrs. Miranda home and make sure they only bring their clothes and the money she's holding."
Dave's men led the crying woman away, and the tense silence returned.
"Joyce, are you alright?" Nephtali's voice softened instantly. "Do your wounds hurt?"
"I'm fine, Boss," Joyce answered, her gaze fixed on the telephone. "I'm more worried about you. I'm used to a few scrapes. I just don't like it when you get angry. I can fight my own battles against people like her."
"I will always get angry when I hear someone has made you cry," he said, his voice firm. "And don't ever think about what that woman said. It isn't true."
"It didn't hurt me," she countered, her voice full of a sudden, fierce loyalty. "What hurts is that people misunderstand you. You are a good man with a clear conscience. You don't deserve to be judged like this."
Nephtali was silent for a moment, struck by her words.
"Let them judge me," he finally said. "Just as long as they don't involve you. As long as you're by my side, I'll never lose heart. You are the one who gives me the strength to fight, so don't worry about me."
Ram's voice broke the moment of quiet intimacy. "It seems the insects are multiplying around us now."
The small circle of men chuckled, and Joyce and Nephtali's hushed conversation came to an abrupt halt.
"Did they not leave?" Nephtali asked, annoyed.
"Just pretend we're not here," Dave said, his grin audible. "We understand. Ram here just can't keep his romantic feelings to himself."
"Stop it, all of you," Joyce said, her cheeks reddening.
"Why, Joyce, are you blushing?" Ram teased. "Your cheeks are turning red."
"Go on," Dave urged. "Continue your conversation. We won't interfere. I'll even put the phone on private so you can talk properly."
Dave handed the phone to Joyce, and the men walked away, giving them space.
"I didn't even notice them, Boss," she admitted sheepishly.
"Are you embarrassed?"
"Not really. I know they know about... us. About everything you've done for me. So I'm not ashamed of it. I'm getting used to all of them."
Nephtali laughed on the other end of the line.
"They're not the only ones who know about our... arrangement. I mean, about our deal. There are others whom I trust implicitly."
"Do you know we sound like children?" she asked.
"What's wrong with that? You were blushing just a moment ago," he teased.
"And you? Weren't you? It's so obvious you've been smiling this whole time."
"I'm happy because you're happy. So I'm happy, too."
---
From inside the house, Mina watched them, a dreamy smile on her face. Dave came up beside his wife.
"Why are you listening to them?" he asked. "We left them alone so they could talk."
"Is she in a relationship with Boss?" Mina whispered.
"No," Dave said simply. "They just talk like that."
"What? No relationship? But I saw what Boss did to Mrs. Miranda for Joyce. Dave, what is really going on with him?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Dave sighed. "You and I went through the same thing before we got married. Boss has liked Joyce for a long time, but she doesn't know it, and he refuses to tell her. They just have this... mutual understanding."
"This is the first time I've ever heard Boss get angry over a woman crying, and he was so furious when he found out she was hurt. He's never done that for anyone else. He didn't even care about the other women in his life. But with Joyce, he'll do anything for her."
"It's the first time I've seen him this happy, too," Dave confessed. "He used to just watch Joyce from a distance and smile to himself. I thought the guy was going crazy, but now I know his feelings for her are real."
"Why don't you do something to get them together?" Mina pressed.
"Why should I?" Dave smiled. "Let them figure it out. The day will come when they'll finally tell each other how they feel. Their actions are already obvious."
Mina sighed contentedly. "I was getting all giddy just listening to them."
Dave's phone buzzed with a message from Nephtali. Meanwhile, Joyce put down the telephone, a joyful smile on her face.
"We need to take Joyce to the hospital to get her wounds cleaned," Dave announced.
"She's so lucky," Mina mused. "She's the only woman who's ever managed to tame Boss, something the others never could. You know what this means? She's the one who'll carry his name, and she'll be the one to be his equal in the Gonzaga family. Ruth didn't even know how wealthy he was; she thought he was just a simple farmer."
"He liked to pretend," Dave explained. "Ruth faked a pregnancy to get him to marry her. She was blinded by his vast farmland, but when he sold it, her attitude changed. That's why he decided not to reveal his true identity. Even his first girlfriend, Carla, never knew the truth about him. My friend likes to pretend to see people's true colors."
"Why didn't he have any doubts about Joyce?" Mina wondered.
"Joyce is different from all those other women," Dave said, his eyes on the girl. "She cares more about love than money. I think Nephtali has finally found what he's been looking for. He's not going to let her go."
---
Joyce arrived home, a sense of unease settling over her as she saw the people gathered in the living room.
"You're here, Joyce," Jona said, her voice sounding strange. "This is Joyce, my younger sister. And these are Cedric's parents. They're here to talk to Mama and Papa."
"About what, Ate?" Joyce asked, her gaze falling on her sister's boyfriend. Cedric wouldn't meet her eye. Joyce went to help her parents prepare food for the guests.
"Is Kuya Cedric going to marry Ate?" she whispered to her father.
"We're still discussing it," Eddie said. "Your sister is pregnant, so they're here to talk about the future of their child and your sister."
"By the way," Joyce said, a small, knowing smile on her face. "I already paid Mrs. Miranda. You don't need to go see her."
Her parents stared at her in shock. Nida's eyes welled up with tears.
"What are you crying for?" Eddie asked, bewildered. "A man cares about your daughter and will give her a good future, and you're just going to cry?"
"I just feel so guilty about what I did to Joyce before," Nida sobbed, her voice thick with regret. "She's the one helping us now. All of our big problems just disappeared because of her. My child, please forgive me."
"Stop with the drama," Eddie said, his voice firm. "We need to get this food ready."
"Who are you talking about who will give Joyce a good future?" Jona demanded. "Is he the one who paid for her treatment?"
"Mr. Gonzaga is the one who paid for your sister's schooling and treatment, and he's also the one who helped us pay off our debt to Mrs. Miranda."
"What's the catch?" Jona asked, her eyes narrowing. "Did you give Joyce to some old man?"
"Ate, Boss isn't old," Joyce said, defending him instantly.
Jona froze. "Are you talking about Sir Nephtali? The only Gonzaga here? The most influential man in this province?"
"He's the only Gonzaga here," Joyce confirmed.
"Your sister caught a big fish," Eddie said to Jona, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "And you caught a skinny shrimp. Are you sure that boy is going to marry you? From where I'm standing, he doesn't seem to be able to stand on his own two feet."
"That's why they're here, Papa," Jona pleaded. "So you can talk about us."
"Don't worry about Joyce," Nida said, her attention fully on Jona now. "You should be thinking about how the father of your child is going to support you. You're both still in school. What about your studies? We wasted the money we paid for your tuition. Your father and I almost had to beg for the money, and we almost sacrificed Joyce just so you could get a good education, and this is what you do to us!"
"That's enough, Nida," Eddie said, his hand on her arm.
Jona glared at Joyce, who remained silent.
Later, they were all seated for dinner, the tension thick in the air as the parents discussed the future of their children.
"Mrs. Morales," Nida began, her voice strained. "Do you want to separate the children so that your son can finish his studies? What about our daughter? Doesn't your son have anything to say about what he did to our daughter?"
"That's why we're here," Mrs. Morales said, a sneer on her face. "To give you this amount for your future grandchild. I know money is all you people care about, which is why your daughter got pregnant with our son's child."
"I don't like what you're saying, Mrs. Morales," Eddie said, his voice low and dangerous. "What happened to them was a mutual decision."
"Cedric, what does she mean?" Jona asked, confused.
"Don't say anything, Cedric," Mr. Morales commanded. "My wife and I have already decided. We will give you ten thousand pesos to have your daughter stay away from our son. We don't care about the baby; we just want this to be a formal discussion, and we don't want a scandal."
Mrs. Morales placed the money on the table, but Joyce pushed it back to her.
"It would be better if you left," Joyce said, her voice quiet but firm. "We don't need your money. We can support the child in my sister's womb. And you, Kuya Cedric. Don't you dare show your face to my sister again, or I'll have you arrested."
"Little girl, watch your words," Mr. Morales threatened. "You don't know my family. We can have you arrested. We're powerful in the city. One call to the mayor and you'll all be in jail."
"Why don't you try?" Joyce challenged him, a fearless glint in her eyes. "You disrespected my family, so I'll disrespect you. Try to file a case against us; you'll regret it."
"We're trying to help you, and you're the one who's being arrogant!" Mrs. Morales shrieked. "You'll get what's coming to you! We'll see who kneels and begs! I'll crush you just like I crushed your sister!"
They stormed out, and Jona watched her boyfriend follow his parents without a word.
"Why did you do that, Joyce?" Jona cried, turning on her sister. "Papa, why didn't you stop her?"
"What your sister did was right," Eddie said simply.
"You are not to see that boy again," Nida told Jona. "You'll continue your studies, even if you're pregnant. I'll talk to your school about your situation. Now, go to your room."
"Why are you scolding me?" Jona wailed. "Why not Joyce? She disrespected my guests and said bad things to my boyfriend."
"They were disrespecting our family, and you're still worried about them," Joyce said, her voice pained. "Your boyfriend didn't even stand up for you against his own parents. Just listen to Mama, Ate. Don't ever see that boy again."
"I love Cedric, and I can't just forget him! He's just afraid of his parents, but I know he'll fight for me!" Jona yelled, and ran out of the house.
"Jona! Get back here!" Nida screamed.
Jona ran after Cedric, who was getting into his parents' car. "Cedric! Don't leave me! I'm coming with you!"
"Ate, don't follow him!" Joyce yelled, but Jona didn't stop.
Joyce ran after her, trying to pull her back. They reached the street corner, and Jona, crying hysterically, stood in the middle of the road. She didn't see the tricycle coming. Joyce shoved her sister out of the way, taking the full force of the impact herself.
"Joyce! Joyce! Help us! Joyce!" Jona screamed, her voice a mix of shock and terror.
Joyce was rushed to the hospital, her body a bloody mess. Mike, one of Nephtali's trusted men, was already there, watching the nurses attend to her. He saw Jona outside, crying and distraught.
"This is their biggest mistake," Mike said to himself, his voice laced with venom. "Now everyone will see what a Gonzaga's anger truly looks like."
Joyce's parents arrived, and Nida, enraged, slapped Jona. Meanwhile, Dave and Jerry sat in Mike's office, waiting for news.
"How is Joyce?" Nephtali's voice came through the phone.
"She has minor injuries, no internal bleeding," Dave reported. "The x-ray just finished. They found an injury to her left shoulder."
"I'm done with these people," Nephtali seethed. "They need to know who Joyce is, so no one will ever bother her again."
"If you tell everyone, Joyce will be caught in the crossfire of all the rumors about you," Jerry cautioned. "What if she gets hurt by what they say?"
"Joyce trusts me," Nephtali replied, his voice firm. "And what other people say doesn't matter. She's right; my conscience is clean, so why should I be afraid of their judgment? I can protect Joyce from anyone, and they will never be able to hurt her again."
Dave and Jerry exchanged a look, knowing the decision had been made.
A few days later, Joyce sat in a hospital bed, her left arm in a sling. The door opened, and she looked up in surprise as Nephtali walked in.
"Boss? Why are you here?"
"Your doctor said you could be discharged today," he said, walking to her bedside. "You're doing well, but you can't take that sling off yet."
"I'm fine, aren't I?" she asked. "You didn't have to come back. I wasn't hurt that badly."
"I won't tolerate my princess being mistreated," he said, reaching out to stroke her cheek. "Joyce, no one will ever hurt you again. No one will abuse you or look down on you."
"What did you do now, Boss?" she asked, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and knowing.
"Everyone knows about us now," he said quietly.