The tension in the boardroom was palpable as the Chairman addressed the team. Suddenly, a figure in a sharp blue suit appeared at the door, attempting to gain entry. He discreetly offered the guard a wad of cash, but the guard stood firm. Undeterred, the man, accustomed to privilege, leaned in and asked, "Do you have any idea who I am?" The guard, without missing a beat, responded, "I'm not interested."
Defeated, the man turned to retreat, but a surge of rage overcame him. He lunged at the guard, and a scuffle ensued. The guard, now with a bloody nose, and the man, clutching his injured hand, hurled threats at each other. The commotion drew the attention of everyone nearby, including the secretary and the chairman, who emerged from their offices to witness the scene.
To the shock of onlookers, the man in the blue suit was revealed to be the chairman's son, also the Vice President. The chairman and the secretary exchanged stunned glances. The head of the department leaned in and whispered to the chairman, "Who is that?" "That's my son, the Vice President of HAG Shipping," the chairman replied, his voice strained.
A female employee commented, "Wow, he's very young and cute." The chairman, without a word, turned to his son and said, "Ivan, we need to talk immediately," and swiftly headed towards his office.
Meanwhile, at the mansion, Lucas moved stealthily through the shadows. His shoes were slung over his shoulder, and he advanced silently until he collided with a table, sending a glass crashing to the floor. Frozen in place, he whispered, "I'm finished."
Sunshine, roused from sleep by the noise, grabbed a frying pan. She crept towards the sound, prepared to defend herself. Instead of a fleeing intruder, she found Lucas, staring at her with a bloody nose and a look of… interest? Before he could react, she swung the pan, yelling, "Thief! Help!"
"You're beautiful, and you smell wonderful," Lucas complimented. Sunshine reacted instantly, striking him again until he fell to the ground.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice sharp. Lucas, ignoring her questions, repeated, "You smell so good, pretty girl," and began to move closer, despite his injuries.
As Lucas attempted to kiss her, Sunshine swung the pan again, but someone intercepted the blow from behind, pulling her away.
"Hansen, thank goodness you're here. This maid nearly ended my life," Lucas said, pointing at Sunshine.
"She's not my maid, and why are you here? Didn't I tell you not to come?" Hansen asked sternly. "Well, since you refuse to take heed,I want you to leave immediately."
"But I'm injured!" Lucas protested.
"And who cares?" Hansen retorted. Lucas began to retreat, but Sunshine interjected,
"Don't let him go! He's bleeding." Hansen, visibly conflicted, lowered his head.
"Absolutely not! Can't you see he almost kissed you? ...I mean, kicked you." He shamefully bowed his head, running a hand through his hair.
"Oh, I see. Is that why you want me out of the house? No wonder you were so angry on the phone yesterday. Did she do something that made you jealous?"
"Actually, no. I was just irritated by the call from the marketing director." Sunshine looked directly at him.
"So what happened that you had to..." "Enough, Lucas, you can stay. No more drama. And don't forget, there will be a series of tasks for you when you're feeling better," he added, turning his head.
"And one more thing... I don't want to see you wasting time with her," he threatened before heading upstairs.
As they ate, Hansen's glares at Lucas, who sat beside Sunshine, caused him to choke. Despite the bandage on his head, the resemblance between him and Hansen was striking.
He stood up, moving to his cousin's seat. "If looks could kill, I'd be dead with your dagger eyes," he murmured.
"Are you two gossiping about me? I didn't know guys were into gossip." She grabbed her food and headed towards her room.
"But we're not finished eating!" they called out in unison.
"I don't care," she yelled back, disappearing from sight.
Back then, as Kane entered the classroom at school, whispers about his family spread among the kids from his neighborhood.
Unaware that he had entered, one child whispered, "My mom said I should avoid Kane, or I'll be poisoned for rituals."
"My mom says Mama Cruz deserves it all; she's a witch. She killed Mr. Cruz," a girl chimed in.
Kane initially tried to ignore them. But when they accused his mom of causing his father's death and called her a witch, he lost his temper.
"Hey, you liars!!!"
He charged at them, resulting in a scar on his classmate's face.
Mama Cruz rushed from the office after a call from the school.
"Sir, please be lenient, I beg you," she pleaded, kneeling.
The principal remained unmoved. "He broke school rules. Look what he did to that poor boy." He gestured towards the injured boy, whose clothes were stained with blood.
"You're responsible for his medical bills," the principal stated.
"I will cover the boy's medical bills. Thank you for informing me," she replied, exiting with her son.
"Kane, what have you done...?" his mom questioned as they departed the office.
"But Mom, he was insul-"
"Silence! Or I'll be pulling your ears until they're as long as a pestle!"
Her shout cut him off. "I'm still dealing with these issues, and you're not helping."
In the taxi, Kane tried to explain, but his mother wouldn't listen.
"That was a mistake. Look at the mess you've made." She let out a heavy sigh.
"Mom, I'm sorry. They were talking about you, that's why I did it," he said, his eyes starting to water.
"It's alright, son. It's over now. I wasn't angry with you, just concerned about you missing school for a month. Promise me you won't get into any more fights or trouble."
She drew him close, caressing his hair.
"Pinky promise, Mom. I won't do it again." He hugged her tightly in the car.
On the road, they nearly collided with a reckless ash salon car. The salon car lost control and crashed into a tree. The cab Kane and his mom were in screeched to a halt, and they both bumped their heads.
"Ouch... my head," Kane groaned.
They saw smoke billowing from the salon car. The cab driver immediately ran to help.
He was shocked to see a beautiful lady and a child struggling to break the window, which was rolled up.
They were suffocating and crying. She tried the door, but it was locked. The smoke was filling the car. She took off her heels and started smashing the glass. Cracks started to appear, drawing the driver's attention.
"Hey, why aren't you helping?" Mama Cruz shouted, running towards the car with a stick.
Amidst the wreckage, a child was saved, a small figure against the backdrop of destruction. The rescuers, driven by instinct, focused their efforts on the girl, the mother momentarily lost in the chaos.
A voice, choked with fear, cried out, "Mom, the car's on fire!"
All eyes turned, but before anyone could react, the flames consumed the vehicle in an instant. The explosion was a final, brutal act.
"Noooooo!"
Mama Cruz collapsed, witnessing the woman's death.
After witnessing the woman's death and overwhelmed by the tragedy. She took Valerie under her wing, caring for her as if she were her own. One afternoon, while Valerie was playing, she stumbled, twisting her ankle while trying to navigate the corridor. Kane, who was supposed to be watching her, was nowhere to be found.
"Aaaaaah!" Valerie's cry pierced the air.
"Kane! Why is she crying?" Mama Cruz shouted, but her son remained silent. Abandoning her work in the kitchen, she rushed to investigate. She found Valerie on the floor, tears streaming down her face.
"Where's Kane?" she demanded, though she knew the child couldn't answer.
"He'll come meet me here. I left her in your care, and look what happened," she muttered to herself, her voice laced with worry.
Meanwhile, Kane was engrossed in a game with his friends when his mother's distant call reached him. He quickly slipped on his slippers, brushed the sand from his clothes, and called out to his friends, "I'm done playing! Mom's calling... See ya!" With a wave, he sprinted towards the house.
He arrived home, breathless, as if he'd been chased. "Where were you, Kane?" Mama Cruz demanded, her voice stern.
"I was around, Mom. Playing with my friends at Marcus's house."
"Congratulations, boss... I told you to watch Valerie while I cooked, didn't I?"
"But, Mom, she's not a tod...?"
"Shut up!" His mother snapped before he could finish. "Do you know what state she's in now? For your information, she's twisted her leg, and you'll carry her to school until she recovers fully."
"Until then, no bus fare for you. Got it?"
"Yes, Mom," he replied dejectedly.
"Alright then, if everything's okay, go take your bath and come eat supper; it's getting late."