CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5. Homewreckers

The dinner went well—or so I supposed. I was finally able to get to know the other staff working in the house.

Aside from Nhea and Ansel, there was Lila, one of the maids, Ester who served as the head cook, Justin, Susan, and Karla. Most of them looked like they were in their early twenties, except for Ansel and Ester who were probably in their early thirties and forties respectively.

“How’s the food, ma’am?” Ansel asked while I continued savoring the dishes laid out in front of me.

I glanced at the dining table and almost laughed. There was enough food to feed an entire family reunion. Various dishes occupied almost every corner of the table, and although I wanted to pretend that I wasn't impressed, I would be lying if I said they weren't delicious.

“Great. Join me, Ansel,” I offered, gesturing toward the empty seats around me.

The moment the words left my mouth, everyone suddenly became busy with whatever they were doing. Justin fixed the plates. Nhea adjusted the water pitcher. Even Karla found something extremely interesting to stare at near the kitchen counter.

I blinked twice.

“Seriously, join me.”

“Ah, no need, ma’am. We've already eaten,” Justin politely answered.

“Ah yes, ma’am. We're done eating already,” Ansel immediately followed.

I stared at them for a few seconds before shrugging.

Fine.

If they didn't want to eat with me, then that was their decision. It wasn't as if I could force-feed them anyway.

With that, I continued eating until my stomach finally surrendered. No matter how delicious the food was, there was only so much a person could consume before regretting every life decision they had made during dinner.

The moment I finished, I stood up from my seat and excused myself. Susan and Karla were the only ones left in the dining area. I was already a few steps away from the kitchen when I heard voices behind me.

“Ganyan ba talaga iyan? Spoiled brat? No wonder ipinatapon iyan dito sa Pilipinas. Konsomisyon naman siya rito.”

I immediately recognized Susan's voice.

“True. Twenty-four years old na pero hindi pa rin marunong magligpit ng pinagkainan. Kapag si Sir Colen ang nakasabay niyan, siguro kanina pa iyan napagsabihan.”

“Hayaan mo na. Tayo rin naman ang mahihirapan. Hindi na ako makakapag-enjoy dito dahil may aalagaan pa tayong spoiled princess.”

My steps halted.

I couldn't understand every single Filipino word they were saying, but I wasn't stupid enough not to realize that I was the topic of their conversation.

There was a certain tone people used whenever they judged someone. A certain look. A certain laugh.

And unfortunately for them, judgment sounded exactly the same in every language.

For a moment, I wanted to turn around and ask them what their problem was. But considering I had only been here for less than a day, starting a war with the household staff didn't seem like the smartest decision.

Never mind.

I shrugged and continued upstairs.

At least, that was what I told myself.

Because somehow, that never mind stayed in my head the entire night.

The next morning, I woke up with only one goal.

Mission One: Find information about the mysterious fiancé.

Mission Two: Destroy the engagement.

Mission Three: To be determined.

After changing clothes, I stepped out of my room and immediately became distracted by the number of rooms occupying the second floor.

Curiosity won.

Again.

I started opening doors one by one, peeking inside like some suspicious investigator in a detective movie. Most of the rooms looked identical—same furniture, same decorations, same layout. The only difference was that my room was significantly larger.

Then I reached the locked room.

The same room that had caught my attention yesterday.

I twisted the knob.

Nothing.

Locked.

Now I was interested.

Why lock one room when every other room in the house was accessible?

I stared at the door for a few more seconds before giving up and heading toward the left wing instead. The rooms there were just as empty. Clean. Organized. Unused.

It honestly felt like only a handful of people actually lived inside this giant house.

When I finally made my way downstairs, I was greeted by the loud hum of a vacuum cleaner.

Justin was busy cleaning the living room.

“Good morning, Ma’am,” he greeted the moment he noticed me.

I nodded. “Good morning too, Justin.”

After that, I headed straight to the kitchen and prepared myself a glass of milk. Unfortunately, peace lasted less than thirty seconds.

“Gising na iyan siya. Attitude.”

Karla's voice.

Followed by Susan's laugh.

I simply yawned and continued stirring my drink.

The Philippines and the United States practically lived in different dimensions when it came to time zones. My body was still confused, my brain was still loading, and I wasn't awake enough to care about their opinions.

After finishing my drink, I headed outside to look for Ansel.

The morning air immediately greeted me the moment I stepped into the garden. Unlike the city where I grew up, everything here felt strangely peaceful. The trees swayed gently with the wind, the grass looked freshly trimmed, and even the birds seemed happier than me.

In fairness, Dad actually had good taste.

Before I could continue admiring the surroundings, I heard someone call my name.

“Ma’am Aria!”

I turned and found Ansel washing the black Mercedes we had used yesterday.

“Oh, Ansel. Want some milk?” I asked while watching him struggle against a bucket of soapy water.

“No po. Tapos na po,” he smiled.

I nodded before immediately getting to the point.

“Anyway, Ansel. Have you heard anything about my fiancé?”

The rag in his hand froze.

Interesting.

“Hey,” I continued. “If you know something, tell me. I highly doubt my dad never mentioned anything about my arrival.”

“Ahm, wait ma’am.”

He immediately reached for his phone.

I already knew what was happening.

Language translation mode activated.

A few seconds later, he pointed the phone toward me.

“Can you repeat?”

I sighed.

“I said, if you know anything about my fiancé, maybe you can tell me.”

He nodded seriously before checking the translated result.

“Ah. Fiancé.”

Finally.

“Dad tell me po. But I don't know who your asawa is.”

I stared at him.

Then stared at my milk.

Then stared at him again.

Great.

My only lead had absolutely no lead.

“But Colen may know po.”

Colen.

The same name Susan and Karla mentioned last night.

“Who exactly is Colen?”

“He's papa assistant, ma’am.”

I blinked.

“Papa assistant?”

Ansel scratched his head.

“Yes po.”

That explanation somehow created even more questions.

“Come with me, ma’am. I call him upstairs.”

I followed him back inside the house, but instead of going upstairs myself, I simply sat on one of the couches and waited.

Unfortunately, the moment I sat down, another familiar voice reached my ears from the kitchen.

“Ayan na naman siya. Nauupo na naman ang senyora. Pabida.”

Honestly, what in the duchess was their problem?

I stood up, ready to pretend I heard absolutely nothing, when my foot accidentally caught the leg of the small table beside me.

The glass slipped from my hand.

Milk splashed everywhere.

Including the person who had just walked into the living room.

The woman froze.

I froze.

Everyone froze.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!”

“Lagot...” someone whispered.

The woman looked down at her ruined clothes before slowly lifting her head toward me.

“YOU?!”

Before I could even respond, another voice suddenly echoed through the room.

A deep voice.

Cold.

Familiar.

“What’s happening here?”

The woman immediately turned.

“Colen...”