Chapter 32:Bad news

"What are your plans with Nicole and Danica?" Asuncion asked Steven.

"I don't know yet, but I don't want them to be separated from me."

"Including Nicole?" Asuncion asked her grandson again. She did not want to meddle in his decision, especially since he already has a son.

Steven was silent and Asuncion understood that. She was worried about Rita. She certainly wouldn’t allow Danica to be removed from Steven’s life. From what she sees in her grandson, it seems that he has fallen in love with Nicole.

Danica decided to sleep in Daniela's room that night. She had to hold on to the girl because that was her only remaining ace now.

"Mommy, why are you sad?" Daniela asked her mother.

"Sweetie, do you remember the woman in your daddy's office?"

The child nodded her head in response.

"She wants to take you from me with your daddy." Danica sobbed and pretended to cry.

"I won't allow, Mommy. I don't like her because she's bad and a stealer!"

"But your daddy wants her more than me to be his wife." Tears welled up in her eyes to make the child feel more pity for her.

"I'll fight her when I see her again." Daniela said boldly.

"But what if she takes you forcibly and pretend to be your mommy?"

Daniela shook her head and hugged her mother. "I'm not coming and you're my only mommy!"

Danica was satisfied with the child's reaction. She let her sleep while hugging her.

The next day, there was a breaking news about Nicole’s true identity. But the news was not good, even the headlines spoke badly of her. All news sources are from Soledad who did the interview.

"I wanted revenge on her, so I revealed myself. I hated her because she didn't keep to our deal before." Soledad narrated in front of the camera.

"Can you tell us how she fooled you and why?"

"We had an agreement in exchange for a large sum. I conspired with her to put medicine in Mr. Scout's drink that night. When she gets pregnant and the man she loves marries her, she will pay me a large sum. She knew the Scout family wanted a male heir. But Steven refused to marry her even if they had a child."

Those who listened to Soledad's story gasped and were very interested in what else to hear.

"She was angry and she blamed me. When she gave birth, she had no intention of fulfilling our deal. Of course I did not agree, I wanted to exchange the boy with the Scout family for a large sum. If she is smart, I am smarter. She didn't want to, and I think she had another plan that I didn't know about. I imprisoned her so she could not escape me. But she still managed to escape with the baby boy even when she was weak. She left the girl with me. And because I was angry, I want revenge on her somehow. I faked her death and gave the girl to the Scout family. "

Everyone who watched the news was stunned, but they totally believed Soledad. Steven clenched his fists while listening to the news. He had doubts about Nicole again. But he also doubted Soledad, so he didn't want to act for the time being.

Danica laughed out loud and applauded after watching the news. "Great!" even her eyes were smiling. She is now sure that everyone doesn't like Nicole, especially Steven.

Nicole's room went silent after watching the news. Sean was the first to break the silence.

"She's a liar, Mommy! Please tell Daddy that she's a liar, Mommy!"

Kanor sighed and didn't know what to say. Nicole gritted her teeth in anger. Everything Soledad said sounded authentic, especially to people who are judgmental.

"It's really better for you to pretend you have an amnesia. This way, you can avoid the issue because you don't remember anything."

"But Grandpa, what if Daddy believes that old woman." Sean frowned.

"Sean, son. Don't worry about me anymore. I and your Grandpa Kanor will make a way for the truth to come out and find your sister." Nicole spoke sadly to the child.

"I will face the cameras to deny Soledad's statements. I'm also looking for Gardo and hopefully we'll be ahead of Danica."

Nicole left everything to Kanor. She felt tired even though she was just lying there in the hospital bed. The three of them were the only ones in the room and she did not want to receive visitors. She didn't want to talk to her parents because she was sure they would believe what Soledad said again.

"She's really evil! She won't stop until I'm not in her way!" Nicole whispered as she focused on Soledad's face on the television.

"Danica is smart and this is what she thought so she wouldn't get involved." Kanor commented to lighten the atmosphere around.

Soledad did not admit that she had anything to do with Nicole’s gunshot. She said that Nicole probably used another person aside from her.

Kanor handled Nicole's discharge from the hospital. She didn't want to stay there long, even though the doctor hadn't suggested that she could go home.

When they left the hospital, many reporters were waiting to get their statement about the news.

"I'm sorry, but Nicole can't be stressed yet. All I can say is it's easy to make up a story. Even though I didn't know Nicole's true identity before, I knew she was a good person. No heartless mother would sacrifice her life to save her child. If what that woman said is true, she should prove it in court because I will fight for Nicole's case even if she doesn't remember anything. I have other evidence in my possession to fight the case against that woman along with the person behind all of this."

"Do you mean, Soledad is not the only one involved in this case?" a reporter asked Kanor.

"Yes, there is a mastermind in this case and Soledad is just working for that person. You will know at the right time who she is. Right now, I have to secure her and her son's safety. Because this person will not allow Nicole to get close to the Scout family."

The reporters exchanged views again and wondered who was the mastermind Kanor was referring to.

Madame Asuncion who was just quietly following the news from both sides was contemplative. Especially with what Kanor said meaningfully about the person preventing Nicole from getting close to her family.

"Where are you going?" Asuncion asked the young man as he stood up. He was just as quiet as her and she didn't know what he was thinking now.

"I need to see my son." Steven said emotionlessly.

"That's right, focus on getting your child's trust first. We don't know who's telling the truth. What's important right now is Sean and Daniela."

Steven just nodded at his grandmother before leaving. He was going to Nicole's residence. This time, he would not allow her not to face him. If it is necessary to use her amnesia to force himself into her, he would.

From Danica's room, she was restless after watching the interview with Kanor. She thought hard about what evidence he had that would point to the mastermind. If what he said was true, it would definitely be the end of her.

"I won't allow it! If you have to die, I'll do it so that no one can help that woman!" Danica talked to herself.

She quickly called Brando and she wanted him to silence Kanor.

"I want your work to be clean and don't fail this time." She gave Brando a stern command.

"You can count on me, Ma'am. I'll just take the time to finish that old man." Brando replied.

Danica smiled after the call ended. Without Kanor, there will be no one else to help Nicole. She will also try to win her son's heart and tell Steven that she can accept his son so that they can have a complete family.

Daniela burst into tears when she watched the news. Yesterday, she was banned from listening to the conversation of the elders. She accidentally watched the news in her room and did not inform anyone.

"Is that why I don't look like Mommy?" the girl asked herself.

She did not understand the other news about the woman named Nicole. The only thing she understood was what the reporter said that her real mother had appeared and she had a twin brother.

Now the question in Daniela's mind was answered as to why her mother sometimes got mad at her when she stared at her face. Why until now her parents are not married and they stay in separate rooms. Perhaps what Trisha said that her parents do not love each other was true. She wanted to know who her brother was and if they really looked alike.

Daniela quickly turned off the TV when the door to her room opened.

Madame Asuncion stared at the child sitting quietly on the bed. Even though she didn't speak, she knew she had watched the news. She approached her to talk.

"Am I just the result of a mistake, Grandma?" Her eyes watered as she looked at the old woman. She was unable to hide her true feelings about the news.

"That's not true, my granddaughter. Remember, the news has pluses and minuses. You shouldn't believe everything you hear in the news." She gently explained to the child.

"Did my real mother left me because she didn't like me?"

Asuncion hugged the child and wiped the tears that flowed down her cheeks. "That's not true. Your real mother loves you as much as she loves your brother. There are just things that have to be sacrificed for the good of all."

Although Daniela did not understand much of what her grandmother said, she was somehow relieved.

"Do you want to meet your real mother?" She asked the child.

"How about Mommy? I don't want her to be angry with me and maybe she'll take me with her. I don't want to be separated from Daddy." The girl sobbed.

Asuncion's forehead furrowed, "that won't happen because we won't let that."

"But I don't want Daddy and Mommy to be separated. Mommy will cry when we leave her."

Asuncion sighed again and found it difficult to make the child understand the situation. "Play with your nanny now. Don't think about what you've seen on the news. Your daddy is working on a way to fix it all without anyone getting hurt."

Daniela still had sadness on her face and followed her grandmother. She wanted to meet her real mother, but she was afraid that her mother figure might get angry. She might really do what she said, that she will go away with her and they will never return.

####Chapter 33:My son

"STEVEN!" Danica called the young man before he could get in the car.

"What do you need?"

Danica was hurt by the young man's coldness to her. It was as if he had no obligation to let her know what he had decided about the happenings recently.

"If we're going to talk about Nicole, let's do it later."

"No!" she stubbornly refused. "We need to talk now and clarify everything."

Steven thought for a second, he closed the car door again and faced Danica. "Let's go to the garden."

Danica was happy because the young man gave her time. He walked fast, thus she had to hurry to keep up with him.

"About Sean," Danica started as the two of them sat down.

"He's my son."

"I know," she interrupted the young man. "I will accept him if you bring him home. I will love and treat him as my own child like Daniela."

Steven looked at Danica, not the least convinced. He knew that she could do that just to stay by his side.

"Please don't let Nicole succeed in all her evil intentions."

"Soledad still doesn't have enough evidence for me to believe what she's saying."

"But…"

"And it's not that easy to get Sean's heart. He already has a mind and you can't force him into something he doesn't want. Do you think he'll just accept you like that and trade you for his real mother?"

Danica was annoyed by Steven's question. It was as if he was saying that she had no hope of winning over his other child.

"If you have nothing else to say, I'm leaving."

"And do you also think it would be easy for Daniela to accept the truth about her?"

Steven stopped in his tracks and thought for a moment. "I will handle all of these, you don't have to worry about these matters." He answered her and did not bother to look back at her.

Danica fumed inwardly as she watched him leave. She followed to the parking lot with clenched fists and big steps. She did not catch up to him. She quickly got into her own car and left as well.

Sean was thrilled to hear that Gaven was coming soon. He will be the one to handle the business and he didn't want his mother to go out.

"But Dad, I don't want to be locked up here at home." Nicole complained when she heard the gentleman's decision.

"It's for your own good, it's also Gaven's decision and you know him."

"Mommy, please listen to Grandpa. Bad people might see you again and hurt you." Sean frowned.

Nicole smiled as she stared at the boy. He was ahead of his age. The three of them stopped their discussion when someone rang the doorbell at the gate.

"Sir, Mr. Scout is outside," said the maid.

Kanor looked at Nicole and Sean. The boy just folded his arms and the woman got up from her seat.

"I'll go in my room now." Nicole excused herself and left.

Kanor's gaze shifted to the child who was now busy with his cell phone.

"I'm good here."

Kanor just shook his head. He and Nicole had already talked about Sean. But she was still not ready because the man would surely have a reason to get into her life.

"Shall I let him in, Sir?" the maid asked Kanor. He nodded in response and waited for the young man to enter.

"Good evening!" Steven greeted Kanor but his eyes were focused on Sean.

"Come and sit down." Kanor offered to the young man.

Steven chose the seat closest to his son. "Hey, buddy!" he greeted him, but he seemed to hear nothing. "I have something for you!"

Sean lifted his head and his eyes widened as he looked at what his father was holding.

Kanor scratched his head, seeing the visible reaction on the boy's face. Steven seemed to have investigated what his son didn’t want and wanted.

Steven grinned as he handed a box of chocolates to him. He knew he could only eat a limited amount of it, but he had to get his love, so he would give him anything, even the forbidden ones. He looked at Kanor and he just nodded.

"He already knows who you are in his life." Kanor whispered.

Steven nodded happily to the gentleman and looked at him gratefully. He left them when his cell phone rang.

"Do you want me to unwrap it?" he asked, anticipating.

Sean stared at his father's face, even though he was still young, he knew how to hide his emotions. "I don't want to call you daddy as long as you have another woman you love besides mommy."

Steven's lips parted and he was amused by his son. He did not expect that he also inherited his personality.

"Can I hug you?" Steven asked instead.

"Answer me first, do you love my Mom?" Sean asked aloofly.

"Do you want me to marry her?" he asked the boy again.

The boy nodded quickly to his father.

"Then, help me." He whispered seriously to his son.

Sean's face suddenly brightened and he hugged his father voluntarily. When he felt his embrace, he could not help but cry. He had always wanted to hug his father and recognize him as his son.

"I'm sorry if I just came today." Steven's eyes watered as he kissed the child's cheek.

"Don't believe the old woman in the news. She's a liar and Mommy isn't a bad person."

Steven wiped the tear from the child's cheek before nodding to him. "Everything will be all right."

"Mommy is sad, Dad."

Steven's smile widened when he was called ‘Dad’ by his son. If things were easy, he would have taken him home with his mother right now. But there are things he must consider.

"Can you take me to her?"

Sean quickly released himself from his father's embrace and pulled his father's hand as they stood up.

When Nicole heard her son's voice, she told him to come in. She kept looking out the window and let the child get close to her. "Did you talk to your father?"

"Yes," Steven replied to the woman, clearing his throat.

Nicole turned violently to the person and her heart beat faster when she saw the young man. She even saw her son hurried out the door and left them there.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, glaring at him. "If you're here to criticize or ask about the news, you can leave now."

Instead of answering the woman, he quickly pulled her over and held her waist. He heard her gasp in shock. He quickly squeezed her hands between their bodies, so that she could not push him.

"W-What are you doing?" she asked, stammering. Her chest throbbed even more as she smelled his fragrant scent. She even inhaled his breath because he was only inches away from her face.

Without a word, Steven sealed the woman's lips with a kiss. He expressed his worries for her, when he took her to the hospital, through a kiss. He didn't know why, but his memories of her barely let him sleep. Every night, his body sought the heat from her and her kiss.

"Steven…" She said hoarsely as his kiss fell on her neck.

"Hmm…"

His low growl sounded like music to Nicole's ears as he continued to sniff her neck. She felt even hotter because of what he was doing to her body.

"S-Steven, Sean might come here." She stopped him, with lacking strength.

Steven sighed and slightly distanced himself from the woman. "Do your head and shoulders still hurt?" he suddenly remembered when he saw the bandage come out slightly because the strap of her dress slipped.

Nicole nodded with her mouth shut. She breathed a sigh of relief because he didn't ask about the news. He helped her sit up in bed so they can talk properly.

"I know you don't remember yet, so let me help you."

"Is Daniela Sean's twin?" She asked, pretending.

"Yes, she looks like you."

Her heart felt good because of what the young man had said. But she knew he was only saying that because he knew she can't remember anything. The memory of the unpleasant thing he told her years ago.

"Based on what I heard on the news, I'm a bad woman you can't afford to love." She said sadly and lowered her head.

Steven didn't know what to say, because even he was still searching for the truth. He did not want to offend her when she found out the truth. He had uttered unpleasant words to her before and he didn’t want her to remember it.

"You can't say anything, does that mean you only wanted my body, and that's how we had the twins?" She asked him resentfully.

"It's not good for you to think too much. I admit our relationship didn't start out well back then. But let me make it up for our son." He said sincerely.

Nicole secretly sneered, even though she had fallen into the young man's hug and kiss, she still had doubts about his true motive. And she also knew that he would completely dislike her when he learned the truth about her pretending to be amnesiac. But before that could happen, she had to clean her name and get her children back from Danica's hands.

####Chapter 34:You won’t succeed

"I can't allow that!" Danica angrily protested in front of Madame Asuncion and Rita.

"Whether you like it or not, Nicole can step in this household with Sean!" the tone of the Madame's voice also rose.

"Rita?" she called her friend for help, but she just averted her eyes from her. "I accept the child, but why does that woman have to come here as well?!"

"That's Sean's condition in exchange for living here. He wants to be with his mother." Rita explained to her.

"Huh! I'm sure that's what she taught the boy. Please, don't agree. What would people think about Steven and our family if that woman lived here?"

"You're not married to Steven yet, don't forget." Asuncion reminded Danica aloofly.

Danica clenched her fist that was hidden under the table. She tried to calm herself down so she wouldn't utter a bad word to the Madame.

"Another thing is to help Nicole regain her memory, thus the case against Soledad can move forward. And you're one of the ones who can help her because you used to be her best friend." Asuncion became calm in talking to Danica.

Rita held the palm of her friend that was resting on the table. She wanted to tell her not to worry and not to oppose her grandmother's decision because they could do nothing about it. That's exactly what her brother wanted and nothing could break it.

Danica went to her room, fuming. She had to get along well with Nicole to help her remember.

"Damn you! Do you think I believe that you have an amnesia?" Danica's face in the mirror looked like a fire-breathing dragon. It was as if she was seeing the woman she hated.

"You won't succeed! You'll regret that you're still alive and come back here with your bastard son! You'll regret why you introduced your son to this family!" Danica grinned and glared at her own reflection in the mirror.

While thinking about Nicole's child, she quickly went out and decided to pick up Daniela at school.

"Daniela!" Sean called his sister when class was over. They couldn't talk before because they were busy with the teacher's lecture. During break time, he had a practice in the event he will participate in.

Daniela looked sadly at Sean. They have not yet been formally introduced as siblings, but she recognized him from the news. Even though his face was not fully captured in the news, she could tell that it was him. Even the name is the same.

"Did you watch the news?"

Daniela nodded sadly. Even Sean was saddened because Daniela discovered about her true family in such a situation.

"Do you remember the first story I told you?" Sean asked again.

Daniela thought for a moment before nodding.

"It's all true, that was the reason why we were separated."

Daniela burst into tears and was happy because Sean was really her brother. But when she remembered that they have known different mothers, she was confused again about who she should call mother.

"Mommy has an illness, so please don't make it difficult for her." Sean pleaded with his sister. He could read the confusion in his sister because she was brought up by a different mother.

"But I don't want Mommy to get mad at me."

"She's not your true mommy. She's the real stealer and not our Mommy."

The teacher shook her head, hearing the two children talking. They look like adults talking and trying to solve their family problems. She left and just let the two talk in the classroom. She also watched the news and as a teacher, she was only there to guide the children in studying.

"I'm still confused, Brother." She said, frowning.

"Don't worry, we'll be together soon. You just need to help me get Mommy and Daddy back together." Sean convinced her.

"What about my mommy? She said she can't allow Daddy and her to be separated. And if I don't help her, she will leave and take me with her. I don't want to be separated from Daddy."

Sean was upset and felt angry at the female enemy. Their mother was right, she would use his sister to stay next to their father.

"Do you want our real family to be together?"

Daniela nodded at her brother. She wanted to be with him. And based on Sean’s story, his mother is kind and loving. What Danica did was just planting fear in her mind, so she hadn't given her whole heart to her.

"Follow everything I tell you. Don't trust that woman you've known as your mother because she's the reason we were separated and Mommy almost died."

Daniela believed in everything Sean said. She also remembered his instructions for their parents to get back together.

"She shouldn't know we've known each other, so she won't have any doubts." Sean whispered his last instructions to his sister before they parted.

Daniela nodded and left their classroom first. She was surprised to see her mother had come to pick her up. At first, she would take her to school and pick her up. But lately, it is often the driver or her aunt who picked her up since she had been busy at work.

"Aren't you happy that Mommy is here to take you home?" Danica asked the girl softly when she noticed that she did not have the energy even after seeing her.

"I'm sorry, Mommy. I'm just tired because we wrote so much in our notebook." She made up an excuse.

"Come on, I'll buy you ice cream to relieve your tiredness." She briskly led the girl to the car by the hand.

From his place, Sean gazed sharply at the back of the woman holding his sister. He saw her for the first time, but he knew she was Danica.

After buying ice cream, Danica went on a park to talk to the child.

"Sweetie, what if the woman who wants to get your daddy takes you from me?"

Daniela looked sadly at her mother. She felt sorry for her when she spoke in a sad voice and she looked really sad.

"What do you mean, Mommy?"

"She wants to live in our house so that she can take your daddy from us. She is a bad woman because she left you when you were a baby. If I hadn't come, you might have died. She only wanted to have your brother back then and she didn't like you."

Daniela felt even sadder. She is now confused about who she should believe. If she hadn't just talked to Sean, she would surely have believed her mother right away. She did not know why her real mother had not brought her instead of her brother. But when she remembered that they had another sibling and that her mother was hiding her, she stared at her. She wanted to ask her if it was true, but she couldn't.

"I want to meet my twin." She said as she lowered her head.

"We will accept your brother, but not that bad woman!"

Daniela kept her head bowed and nodded. She pretended to be busy eating ice cream and did not want her mother to see the contents of her mind.

Danica smiled and was pleased with the girl's obedience to her. When they came home, the young man spoke to her intensely. She could no longer avoid him, which she had been doing for several days because she did not want to accept his decision.

"I want you to treat Nicole well." Steven said to Danica.

"Are you really that heartless towards me?" she tearfully scolded the young man.

"I want to be with my son." Steven said in a monotone voice.

"And me? How about me when you're with them, especially with that woman who uses her body to get you?!" she asked the young man aloud.

"Nicole has amnesia and only you can help her regain her memory." He averted his eyes from her, he didn't want to see her pain.

Danica didn't care what she looked like in Steven's eyes. She cried to relieve the pain she was feeling. She wanted to ask why her life had become like this? She just wanted to be happy and fulfill her dream. To be rich and marry a millionaire.

"I'm sorry…"

Danica did not want to hear anything anymore. She ran out of the library and left him. She shut the door of her room carelessly and locked it.

Danica did not leave the room, even though Rita knocked on her door to invite her to eat. She ignored Daniela, too. She was full of anger and she felt a deep hatred in her heart. Whatever she did to be a good person, a villain came to make her feel bad again.

Nicole was busy arranging her and Sean's belongings to be taken to the Scouts' mansion. She did not want to live there even for a day, but she did not want her son to live there alone. She and Steven agreed that they would only stay at their mansion on Saturdays and Sundays to allow the child to be with them.

"Be careful, Nicole. Don't forget you're amnesiac." Kanor instructed the woman as he watched her.

Smiling, Nicole nodded at the gentleman. She was so grateful to him because he had done so much for her. Gaven's flight was canceled and she couldn't wait for him. He will arrive on Sunday night and fortunately, she and Sean will be home by that time.

"Don't let your anger for the enemy to get the better of you, so you won't arouse suspicion."

"Yes, Dad! Thank you very much and I'll call you when we're there, so you don't have to worry."

Kanor smiled sadly at her before hugging her. He liked what she called him when they were alone face to face.

"Mommy, I'm ready!"

The two looked at the boy at the same time. He didn't want his mother to carry his small travelling bag because he was a ‘young man’. As much as possible, he did not want to see his mother struggling.

"Be a good boy, okay? Don't let that witch get close to your mom." Kanor strictly instructed the boy.

Nicole just laughed as she listened to their conversation.

The car that would send them to the mansion came, with Steven himself as the driver.