Chapter 63 CHAPTER 62

Chapter 63 CHAPTER 62

“Mommy, are you okay?”

Amethyst’s gentle voice broke the silence. Turning to her, my chest tightened at the sight of absolute sorrow and fear etched across her small face. She stared intently at me, as if desperately searching for reassurance.

I forced a smile, even though my entire body was trembling with rage. “I’m okay, sweetheart. Why do you ask?”

“Mommy, I’m sorry… It’s my fault you got hurt,” she stammered, tears finally welling up in her eyes. “It’s my fault. I didn’t look where I was going.”

The panic was still fresh in my mind how she had fallen and nearly gotten severely injured because of Aeros’s wife. I immediately approached her and gently stroked her soft hair.

“Don’t think about that anymore, baby. You have nothing to worry about because you can see it, right? Mommy is okay. I didn’t get hurt.”

She looked up at me. With every blink, tears rolled down, tracing paths along her flushed cheeks. “I promise, Mommy… I’ll always listen to you from now on. I won’t be naughty anymore.”

I couldn’t hold back any longer. I pulled her up and enveloped her in a tight embrace. “Let’s eat,” I whispered into her hair, trying to force my voice back to a normal tone.

“Okay, Mommy!” She wiped her cheeks and forced a smile, then gripped my hand tightly as if I were her ultimate lifeline.

I took a deep breath as I took a bite of food. I tried to bury the fear and chaos from earlier just so my daughter wouldn't worry. But before I could fully calm my racing heart, the jarring ring of my cellphone pierced the air from atop the table.

My brow furrowed automatically when I saw a familiar yet unregistered number on the caller ID. It was an unknown number, yet it brought a strange sense of dread to my chest.

“Who could this be?” I whispered, feeling my hands suddenly grow cold.

Amethyst immediately noticed me staring blankly at the screen. “Mommy, why aren’t you answering the call? It’s been ringing for a while.”

I quickly pressed decline just to cut the noise and stop my daughter from prying further. “Ah, I don’t know who’s calling, sweetheart, so I didn't answer. It’s probably just a wrong number.”

“That’s right. Don’t answer calls like that nowadays; it might just be a scammer looking for a victim,” Manang Hilda chimed in agreement as she tidied up the kitchen.

I shook my head to dispel the dark thoughts and smiled at her. “Let’s finish our food. We're still going to buy you some new clothes, Amethyst. And of course, Manang Hilda must get something new too.”

Manang Hilda stopped eating and looked at me with concern. “Lilith, don’t spend money on me. I still have so many new clothes over there that I haven't even worn. I even sent some to the province because I can't use them all.”

“If you don’t want clothes, alright, I’ll just give you cash instead,” I insisted.

“Oh, definitely not! It’s not even my payday yet, Lilith.”

“Manang, it doesn't need to be payday for me to give you something,” my voice softened as I reached out to touch her arm. “Of course, I look up to you as a mother. So it's only natural for a child to give money to her mom.”

She shook her head, a trace of bashfulness in her eyes. “I’m fine, dear. Don’t worry about me.”

“Manang Hilda, come on, I’ll really be hurt if you don’t accept this,” I said coaxingly, adding a playful pout to my voice. “Besides, you can add this to your store's capital back home so you have more merchandise to sell.”

Manang Hilda sighed. “Oh, alright then. You always get your way.”

“Thank you, Manang!”

After dinner, I took Amethyst to the department store to buy toys and clothes. Watching her run around, absolutely thrilled with her new selections, was the best reward for all my exhaustion. Truth be told, every muscle in my body ached from the lack of sleep and the weight of my thoughts, but every time I heard my daughter's laughter, the pain seemed to vanish. She was my strength.

By eight in the evening, sleep finally claimed Amethyst, completely worn out from playing. I had just finished showering and drying my hair when I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door.

“What is it, Manang Hilda?” I asked upon opening the door.

“I brewed some hot tea for you, I know you’re tired,” she said gently, holding a mug.

“Thank you, Manang Hilda. You really are dependable.”

I stepped out of the room and followed her to the kitchen. There, I noticed a steaming glass of milk on the table, prepared for her.

“It’s good that you're drinking milk tonight instead of coffee,” I joked to lighten the mood.

She smiled faintly. “Hmm… I actually wanted coffee, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to fall asleep right away and end up staying up late.”

“That’s right. Stick to milk or tea so you can get a peaceful night's sleep.”

The lightheartedness was suddenly cut short when I noticed Manang Hilda staring at me seriously. Her eyes were filled with sorrow and a deep understanding, as if she could read all the weight I was hiding in my chest.

“Lilith…” she began, her voice carrying the tender tremor of a mother. “If you need capital to save your business… I can lend you some.”

I froze.

“I’ve saved all my wages and the money you give me,” she continued, placing her hands on both of my shoulders. “I don’t really have any expenses here because you already provide for everything I need. And the money I send to my family in the province is enough, coming from the earnings of my store. So please, accept this.”

I felt tears welling up in my eyes. In the middle of my battle, there was someone willing to give everything just to keep me from drowning. I smiled at her, fighting back the urge to cry.

“Manang, I’m so happy that you’re able to save for yourself. But I can't possibly take or borrow the money you worked so hard for.”

“But I'm not even using it, Lilith! You need it more right now,” she insisted, her deep concern evident.

I tightly held her rough yet caring hands. “Don’t worry about me, Manang. I can handle this. I’ve been through much worse problems before, and I know I can get through this one too. Just have faith.”

A long moment passed before she slowly nodded, though a hint of hesitation remained. “Alright… just remember, if you ever need a shoulder to lean on or any help, I’m always here. I won’t leave you.”

I tightened my grip on my teacup, forcing a cheerful aura back into the room. “Thank you. By the way, Manang Hilda, didn't you buy some land back in your province?”

She seemed to liven up at the change of topic and nodded, a touch of pride flashing across her face. “Yes, it's three hectares. I divided one hectare among my five children so they each have their own plot to build a house on. As for the remaining two hectares, we planted them with coconut and mango trees.”

She let out a deep breath—a sigh of pure relief. “That’s why I don’t worry too much even if I can’t send money regularly anymore, because I know they have food to eat there and won’t go hungry. The money I send now is just for my grandchildren... just their allowance for school.”

“I’m happy because all your hard work is finally paying off,” I began, trying hard to catch her eyes. “In fact, Manang, you don’t need to push yourself this hard anymore. You could just relax and rest back in the province.”

Manang Hilda took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze that seemed to leave behind a warmth I had long been searching for. “Our lives wouldn’t have improved if it weren’t for your parents, Lilith. They were such good employers to me. My salary as a housemaid was substantial, I didn't have to spend a single cent of it, and they would often hand me extra money even without an occasion. Families like yours are rare, which is why I’m so lucky to have you.”

She sighed, a tinge of sadness creeping into her eyes. “You’re right, I could indeed relax in the province... but how? I can’t bring myself to leave you and Amethyst in this state. How could I turn my back on you?”

Tears welled up in my eyes. I quickly wiped them away before they could fall. I didn’t want her to see me weak.

“Manang Hilda, please don’t worry about me,” I pleaded, my voice growing hoarse as I choked back a sob. “You can retire now. You have every right to rest.”

“But what about you and Amethyst?” extreme worry laced her voice.

“We’ll be okay, we’ll get through this,” I forced a smile, though the truth was, I was terrified. “Maybe... I’ll just call our former housemaid so someone can manage the house and look after Amethyst.”

Manang Hilda shook her head, her stance unyielding. “I’m not leaving, Lilith. I won’t leave until I see that the two of you are settled and safe.”

“But that’s unfair to your own children!” I insisted, aching for the family she was leaving behind because of us. “They need you too, Manang.”

“I always go home to the province, you know that.”

“But—”

“Lilith, don’t be stubborn,” she cut me off, though her voice was tender. “My mind is made up. I won’t leave you until I am certain you are well.”

I couldn’t hold back any longer. I stood up and threw my arms around her in a tight embrace, pouring out all the heavy burdens I had been carrying. “Thank you, Manang... thank you so much,” I whispered between sobs.

I felt her pat my back. “Finish your food before we both end up crying our eyes out here,” she joked, though a hint of surprise lingered in her voice.

I let out a soft laugh, wiping my cheeks. “You really are a joker, Manang Hilda.”

I sipped the hot tea, gradually calming my racing heart. We chatted about happy memories; I listened to her, and with every word she spoke, the weight in my chest slowly lifted. Even if my life was a mess, even if danger lurked all around, at least I knew I had a family like Manang Hilda and Amethyst giving me a reason to fight tomorrow.

It was late at night. I was already in bed, on the verge of falling asleep, when the sudden ringing of my cellphone shattered the silence of the room. I frowned. The number wasn’t registered in my contacts, but an inexplicable anxiety shot through my chest. It had been calling repeatedly for a while now.

Taking a deep breath, I pressed the answer. “Hello?”

“Lilith…”

In an instant, the world seemed to stop spinning. My heart hammered against my ribs, beating so violently it felt as if it would burst from my chest. A sudden chill washed over me, making every hair on my body stand on end. Even without asking who was on the other end... I knew that voice all too well. I knew it was Aeros. The man I had run away from.

Nevertheless, I fought to keep my voice from trembling. I feigned ignorance. “Who are you?”

“Your baby.”

Rage immediately met my fear. “My baby is asleep, exhausted from playing earlier,” I replied, my tone cold and rigid. “Tell me who you are before I hang up.”

A brief silence followed. “It’s Aeros.”

My entire body shook, and I gripped the blanket tightly. The terror I had desperately tried to bury away suddenly clawed its way back to the surface. “W-What do you want from me?”

“Lilith, please... Can we talk?” desperation bled through his voice, but I wouldn't let myself be fooled again.

“We have nothing left to talk about, Aeros. What we had ended a long time ago.”

“Don’t you want to get your mansion back?” his serious question caught me off guard. “I know that up until now, that’s the only thing you’ve ever wanted... because it’s the only inheritance left by your parents.”

I swallowed hard. My chest tightened with pain. “I’m still saving money to buy it back. Right now, I can’t match its value yet, so there’s no reason for us to speak.”

“Wait, Lilith! Don't hang up yet!” he urged, sounding frantic.

“What else do you want from me, Aeros?!” I couldn’t stop myself from screaming as tears of anger finally spilled over. “Isn't it clear to you that we have our own separate families now? Your life is fine! And I’m happy with my husband and child!”

“I know you don’t have a husband.”

It felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me. I froze like a statue where I sat.

“Did you... have me investigated?” I asked, my voice trembling, barely a whisper.

Oh God, no. If he had me investigated... he might find out that we had a child! He might take Amethyst away from me!

“It doesn’t matter whether I had you investigated or not,” he dismissed, only intensifying my panic. “What matters is I’m certain you don't have a husband, and no one will get angry if I ask you to come back here to Manila so we can discuss the price of the house.”

“I already told you, I can’t afford to buy the mansion right now!”

“I have an offer for you... one where you won't need to shell out a large sum of money.”

A chill ran down my spine at the underlying implication of his words. The filth and bitterness of the past rushed back. “What, my body? I’m going to wager myself? I will never agree to your twisted desires, Aeros!”

“That’s not what I want! Please... Lilith, let’s just talk properly.”

Silence fell over me. Only the sound of my sharp, terrified gasps echoed in the room. Questions and anxieties raced through my mind. My parents' mansion... the only memory left of them.

“Let’s talk tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be waiting for you here at your mansion,” he said finally, before the line went dead.

Only then did I let out a breath, but I quickly clutched my chest. My heart was still racing wildly. I stared blankly into space, my cheeks wet with tears, completely consumed by dread.

“Do I really need to go see him?” I whispered into the dark, terrified of what awaited me tomorrow.