Chapter 48 48

Chapter 48 48


Chapter 48 

I’m currently reading through the script while sitting inside the tent. I can hear France and Vladimir laughing outside, chasing after my children with Amara’s younger sibling. They’re all playing joyfully.

Suddenly, someone kissed me on the cheek, making me jump in surprise and turn my head. Fabian burst into laughter and handed me a flower.

"Gosh! You startled me," I said, clutching my chest. Fabian only chuckled and remarked how focused I seemed.

“You’re doing well staying focused, considering how noisy the kids are,” Fabian said, sitting beside me. I smiled, sniffing the flowers he gave me.

"I’ve been in this industry for a while now. Do I look like someone who'd get distracted by a little noise?" I asked, remembering my early days. Back then, even while working part-time at a convenience store, I’d read scripts during my breaks.

“There was even a building under construction beside that store,” I recalled. Fabian smiled, encouraging me to continue reading my script.

“By the way, do you have time? I’m a bit confused about a few scenes in this drama. I have the script from Season One, but I’m struggling to grasp some parts of Alice’s character,” I admitted. Fabian rested his chin on his hand and looked at me.

“I’ll make time for you—always,” Fabian said sincerely. I blushed and told him I was being serious.

“I’m serious too. I just answered your question,” he replied, gazing at me like I was the most beautiful woman in the world.

My expression softened. Then I asked him, “What does Alice’s character mean to you?”

“She’s weak and hopeless,” Fabian answered.

I paused, glancing down at the script in my hand and the Season One script beside it.

As far as I know, Alice was written as a strong character. I looked at Fabian with confusion.

“You’ll understand when you see it on the big screen,” he added, chuckling and sitting properly.

“Alice is like me… So what, I’m weak and hopeless too?” I asked. Fabian looked at me, smiling gently.

“No,” he replied. “You’re weaker... but you’re not hopeless.”

I playfully hit him because of that. He just laughed and hugged me like a child.

“You cried when Themarie died—first one to cry, actually. That’s so weak,” Fabian teased. I leaned on him, my expression softening.

“She was the first person to accept me... to bring light into my life. She was a big part of it, and I can’t deny that,” I whispered.

Fabian kissed my temple and said he knew—he understood me.

“Back to the script? I’m serious now, I promise.”

I laughed and teased him, asking when he’d ever take me seriously.

“When it comes to you, I’m always 100% serious,” Fabian said defensively. I burst into laughter again when he started kissing my cheeks, whining that I shouldn’t laugh at him.

“Okay, okay! I believe you already. You’re serious.”

I froze for a moment when I noticed a few people watching us from the side of my vision. I saw Tania and the manager giggling as they returned to their conversation. Some staff were also looking at us and whispering.

I gently pushed Fabian and told him it was embarrassing. I covered my face with the script. I even noticed someone taking photos of us.

“Hey, stop looking over here. Wifey’s shy—”

I quickly covered Fabian’s mouth, whispering for him to be quiet. He pouted and grabbed my wrist, kissing my palm before grinning mischievously.

It seems like a day isn’t complete without him teasing me—whether in private or public.

“Mr. Fabian.”

Fabian’s face turned neutral. He looked toward the makeup artist calling him. I immediately understood her reaction.

It was as if Fabian suddenly switched personalities. I chuckled, prompting Fabian to glance at me. He pouted and stood up, mumbling complaints.

“I’ll follow you later. Just let me finish reading,” I said. Fabian stopped mid-step and turned around.

“How many minutes?” he asked. I stuck my tongue out and told him two hours—I had a lot to go through and I didn’t want to go to his tent. I wouldn’t get any reading done there—he’d just keep bothering me.

He walked away with slouched shoulders. I laughed and focused back on the script.

“How do I cry without showing visible emotion?” I murmured. I saw a mirror on the table and turned it toward me, studying my face carefully.

This was the scene where Alice sees Florencio talking happily with another woman. The script described a single tear falling down her cheek as she watched him from afar.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

I am Alice. I am Alice.

Later, Amara walked back toward the tent. The director had called for her, so she left Sonia and her younger sibling behind for a bit.

She saw her younger sibling playing with the two kids outside, while Sonia sat at the table.

Amara approached with a smile but paused in her tracks. She was amazed—Sonia was staring at her reflection in the mirror, capturing every bit of the emotional nuance from the scene they’d been studying for weeks.

That scene had been especially difficult. And now… Sonia had just nailed it. Effortlessly.

Amara's shoulders sagged slightly as she heard someone laughing nearby. She turned to see Jomari.

“What? You’re giving up already on mastering Season Two like you did in Season One?” Jomari teased.

Amara scratched her cheek and looked at Sonia, who was now making funny faces and talking to herself in the mirror.

“There can’t be two main characters in a drama—just like how there can’t be two Alices. Miss Sonia is just that good,” Amara said, scratching her head, almost laughing in awe.

They both sat near Sonia, who was flipping through her script. Amara took her own copy and began reviewing lines.

“Uncle!”

France and Vladimir came running toward Jomari, who was heading their way.

“Your dad asked me to bring you. His tent is bigger, and you can sleep inside if you get tired,” Jomari explained. Sonia’s tent wasn’t fully set up yet, so the kids had nowhere private to rest.

“What does dad’s tent look like? I wanna see!” France said excitedly.

As they walked, Vladimir marveled at the celebrities nearby—people he’d only seen in magazines, online, or on TV. Everyone had their own designated areas.

“Uncle Jomari, why do artists need their own space?” France asked.

“For privacy,” Jomari replied. “And you never know with the weather—it rains sometimes, especially in open areas like this near the beach.”

Soon, they spotted their dad surrounded by stylists.

“Why all this fuss? I’m just doing a script reading,” Fabian complained, irritated.

“The director asked for it—some agency people and sponsors are arriving, even other directors. There’s media too, so you need to look good,” the stylist explained.

Fabian crossed his arms and yawned.

“Dad!”

France and Vladimir arrived and stared at him—then burst out laughing.

“I only see mommy getting makeup, not you. Are you gay?” France teased. The stylists froze, and even Jomari was stunned.

“Hey! The one you’re calling gay is the same dad who’s planning to give you a baby sister! How could you?” Fabian snapped playfully. Vladimir giggled, saying their dad looked pretty.

France pretended to throw up, making the nearby staff burst into laughter.

“Stop teasing Daddy Fabian. Mommy’s gonna scold you later,” Vladimir said as he climbed onto the chair beside Fabian.

Fabian asked a staff member to help the kids sit properly, then brought food from his table over to them. The kids started eating quickly.

“Grab some wet wipes. Clean your hands.”

‘Is this real? One of those kids is apparently Sir Victor’s child, and now his ex-wife is here too?’

The staff whispered among themselves, surprised. It was the first time they'd seen Fabian Martinez’s children—long rumored but never shown publicly.

“Where’s Miss Sonia? Is she here?”

Tania arrived, drawing Fabian’s attention. He sat upright and told her Sonia was in her tent.

“I saw her there earlier with Sophia and her sibling,” Jomari added.

Tania looked worried.

“Miss Sophia and the new director were looking for Miss Sonia. They need to talk to her urgently.”

Fabian immediately took out his phone and opened a GPS app—linked to Sonia’s phone. She would never turn it off, knowing how much it meant to him. He’d panic otherwise.

Fabian’s brows furrowed. She was still within the site, nearby.

“Watch the kids,” he ordered before walking off toward Sonia’s tent.

Inside, Sonia stood face-to-face with Victor. She looked him straight in the eyes and asked coldly:

“What do you want?”

She pursed her lips, noting that Victor could barely meet her gaze.

“Like I told you… this is about Themarie. I need your help,” Victor said.

Sonia was visibly angry. “Do you even have a conscience?” she asked.

“After everything you did to me, now you want my help?” she snapped.

Victor ran a hand through his hair, clearly desperate.

“I have no one else to turn to,” he said. “I can’t accept what happened to Themarie. We didn’t always get along, but I loved her. She was your friend—at least consider that.”

“So it wasn’t an accident?” Sonia asked.

Victor nodded.

“I overheard it myself… from my mom. I never imagined she’d go that far—just for Themarie’s insurance and to save the agency,” Victor confessed.

Shock registered on Sonia’s face.

“There’s no solid evidence. Even the driver died. Please, Sonia—help me get justice for her,” he pleaded, reaching out.

Sonia stepped back. Victor quickly pulled his hands back.

“I’ll talk to my husband first,” Sonia said firmly. “Like you said, Themarie was my friend. I spent most of my life with her. No one has the right to take a life. We’re not gods.”

“Sonia?”

Fabian appeared.

He stared at the two of them together with furrowed brows.

Sonia turned and walked toward Fabian. Victor called her name, hopeful. She met his gaze firmly.

“I told you—I need to talk to my husband about this,” she said, then took Fabian’s hand.

Fabian shot Victor a death glare but allowed himself to be led away.

“What was that, Sonia? Why was that bastard talking to you?” Fabian asked.

Sonia glanced at him. “Can we talk about it at the mansion?”

“No. Now. Why was Valencia talking to you?” Fabian stopped walking.

Sonia also stopped and turned to face him.

“Fabian, we’re at work. Please, let’s talk about this in private.”