The Billionaire's Wife: Estranged

Chapter 5

HER ASSISTANT’s contact information and not hers?

Gray wanted to crumpled the calling card that Liza’s assistant gave him but this is the only way to contact her, though he won’t be able to talk to her directly. How bizarre that he can’t talk to his wife without going through her assistant, it’s like he’s just some business associate and not her husband.

He was surprised when she barged in wearing tight-fitting black sleeveless jumpsuit and matched with a black stiletto, she looked so hot and pretty. He noticed some changes on her physically, her breast looked much fuller and her hips was more shaped which her clothes enhanced and flaunt.

Dati ay mga simple lang ang sinusuot nito pero kitang-kita pa rin ang ganda ng hubog ng katawan nito kaya maraming lalaki ang napapatingin dito but she was oblivious of those facts around her or maybe she’s just acting, just like what Ara said. Lalo na siguro ngayon na mas lalo itong sume-sexy at gumanda, napansin din niya na gumagamit na ito ngayon ng makeup na hindi nito ginagawa noon dahil masyadong sensitive ang balat nito na nagpapantal kapag gumamit ito ng makeup.

He felt something odd tighten in his chest when he realized that she was walking around in those clothes, he very much prefer if his wife to only wear simple clothes and no makeup. She’s very beautiful and sexy then especially without anything on, he remembered one of their intimate moments in bed where he had touched and kissed every part of her but an intimate picture crossed his mind that he felt a bit of pain in his heart that he can’t explain.

She also have changed a lot, not just physically but her personality. She’s not the timid girl from the past anymore, she has gained so much confidence and she gives off an aura of powerful authority that anyone would obey anything she says. She’s also fierce now, she fights back and can protect herself.

“Daddy!”

Nakuha ng sigaw na iyon ang atensyon niya mula sa pag-iisip sa kanyang asawa.

It’s his eldest, Ashellie Zab Vauxgard.

Ito ang mini-Scarlett Vauxgard. Kamukhang-kamukha ito ng kanyang ina pero nakuha nito ang mata at ilong niya tulad ng triplets kaya siguradong-sigurado siya na anak niya ito habang lumalaki, aside from the fact that his father done a DNA test behind their back to prove that Ara was not lying about him being the father and it turned out as positive. But something was odd, it's her hair color and her lips since none from Ara and his family has a brown hair and a little pinkish bow-shaped lips, though they just ignored it since maybe somewhere along their bloodline there was someone with a brown hair.

He was the one who named her when she was born since Ara seems uninterested in naming their child and even now, it looks like that she’s not interested with Ashe. Mas may interest pa ito sa mga kaibigan nito at mga social events, lagi itong wala sa bahay at nasa ibang bansa para mag-shopping o kung anumang event na dinadaluhan nito. Dapat nga mas pinagtutuunan nito ng pansin ang anak nila since wala naman itong trabaho, mula kasi ng ikasal sila ni Liza ay pinag-merge na rin ang mga kumpanya nila at siya na ang namahala.

Liza tried to asked him if she could help in managing it but he refused and tell her to just stay home and don’t involve her self with business since it was on the verge of bankruptcy and he didn’t want her to ruin it more since according to Ara, Liza don’t know how to manage since the department she was managing then was in chaos and Ara was the one who fixed it.

He asked Ara if she wanted to be back to her position or any position in their company but she refused. She said she wants to relax and take a break, he just let her since he thought that she’d devote her time with their child but that’s not what happened.

“Hi, princess.” binuhat niya ang anak at dinampian ito ng halik sa pisngi. “How was your ballet class?”

“She was having so much fun.” Ang mommy niya ang sumagot na kasama nito.

“My teacher said I’m natural and I could be a good ballerina someday, if I wish.” Nakangiting kuwento nito.

Nginitian niya ito ng sobrang tamis. “Really? That means you’re so good.”

Ashe giggled. “Of course. Mana ako sa’yo at kay Mommy.”

Natawa siya sa sinabi nito. Namana nga niya siguro kay Ara ang galing nito sa pagsayaw since nag-ballet classes din ito hanggang grade 6 pero mas magaling dito si Liza na napasama pa sa ilang production hanggang highschool.

“By the way, nag-miryenda na ba kayo?” tanong niya.

“Hindi pa.” Nakangiting sagot ng kanyang ina na ngayon ay nakaupo na sa couch sa opisina niya. “Excited kasi iyang anak mo na makita ka.”

Tinawag niya si Stacy para kumuha ng miryenda at sumama rito ang anak niya, gusto daw nitong tulungan ang kanyang secretary baka daw mahirapan ito.

Isa ito sa mga ugali ng anak niya na hindi niya alam kung kanino niya namana kasi alam niya sa sarili niya na hindi nito sa kanya namana iyon at mas lalong hindi kay Ara, she’s bossy and don’t want to be burden by trivial and tedious tasks. Funny but Ashe is more like Liza, who never forgot to offer to help anyone.

“Grayson, what’s this?!”

Ibinaling niya ang tingin sa kanyang ina, mababakas sa boses nito ang pagkalito at the same time, amusement. She’s holding the scrapbook that Argentine gave him that was on the coffee table, his mom was looking at him with anticipation and anxiousness.

Umupo siya sa couch na kaharap nito.

“That’s the scrapbook of my triplets’ life for 6 years.” sagot niya.

“Triplets?! With whom?!” her mom exclaimed. “Tinanggap ko na may anak ka sa labas kay Ara since siya naman talaga dapat ang papakasalan mo at nabuntis mo siya before your marriage with Liza but not this time! I’m pretty sure you’re already married with Liza when you had them, I won’t forgive you kahit na anak pa kita!”

Natawa siya sa sinabi nito, alam niyang matatanggap ng kanyang ina ang mga anak niya kahit sino pa ang ina ng mga ito at mas lalo na siguro kung malalaman nito na anak niya ang mga ito sa asawa niya na mahal na mahal ng kanyang ina.

Malapit si Liza rito, parang anak na ang turing ng kanyang ina sa kanyang asawa kahit bago pa man sila ikasal at kahit ang nakakabatang kapatid niya ay naging malapit rito. Hindi nga niya maintindihan kung bakit hindi napalapit si Ara sa mga ito, his mom and sister we’re just civil with her even after those years since Liza left.

“Don’t just freaking laugh at me, Grayson Vauxgard! Answer my question! Who’s the freaking woman you got pregnant?!” singhal pa ulit nito sa kanya.

He grinned. “It’s Liza, my wife.”

That felt nice to say, it gave quite a tingling feelings in him.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng kanyang ina sa sinabi niya. “B-But I-I thought she had a m-miscarriage…”

Sumeryoso ang mukha niya. “She hid it from me and asked the doctor lied to me to hurt me.”

He noticed that his mom started to tear up and had her hand covered her mouth. “Oh my god. For her to do that, she might had felt so miserable that time. I don’t blame her after everything that was happening with her life that time, losing her grandparents then your marriage and Ara’s pregnancy. Aside from those, she was almost been violated and assaulted.”

Nagulat siya sa huling sinabi nito. Violated and assaulted? Wala siyang matandaan na may ganoong nangyari. Bakit ngayon niya lang naririnig ang tungkol dito?

“W-What are you saying? Violated? Assaulted?” He asked very anxiously, he was almost shouting at his mom. “When? Bakit hindi ko alam ito?”

Napabuntung-hininga ang kanyang ina. “It’s when after Ara returned that you almost never go back home to your also pregnant wife, one of your business associate went to your house in the middle of the night. No one knows how he was able to got in but he tried to violate and assault her, she fought him hard but he’s a well-fit man, you can imagine what he did to weaken her from fighting and luckily, Edward Creston checked in on her that night. He rushed in when he saw the door wide open and he heard her scream, he saved her. Fortunately, she didn’t lost the baby but she was black and blue all over, she also has cuts on her lips and eyebrows.”

Shock didn’t even fit what he feels right now, he’s terrified and he felt so awful hearing his mom’s story. Honestly, he never talked to her again after he moved in with some of his important things at Ara’s apartment, he talked to her about Ara and her condition.

“Gray, w-what’s going on? W-Why are you packing some clothes?”

He could feel her anxiousness and he could hear a hint in her voice that she’s close in tearing up but he doesn’t care. He’s not going to leave her anyway, this is just temporary since Ara needs him while she’s pregnant with his baby,

“I’ll be staying with Ara for a while.” He answered coldly. “She’s pregnant with my baby and he needs me.”

“But I need you here too!” She was crying heavily. “I’m not going to stop you from seeing and taking care of her but you don’t have to stay in her apartment. It’s not that far from here, m-maybe you can just let her stay here.”

He scoffed. “No way, I don’t want to endanger them while staying here with you.”

She was horrified at what he said.

“Y-You think that I wou-”

He interrupted her words. “I know you would. Since you’re very envious of Ara that she have everything that you doesn’t have especially since she’s the one I love and not you.”

After packing, he left her sobbing silently while just standing beside their bed. He felt guilty but he brushed it off and leave, he knows that he’s causing her a lot of pain but he can’t help it when he remembers everything that she did to Ara and ruining his relationship with Ara. She deserved it.

He remembered that night and the hurtful things he have said to her, he regretted it after that night but he doesn’t want her to know that fact so he secretly went to their house every night when she had fell asleep to checked on her. It was just one night that he was not able to do so since Ara was having some cramps that he had brought her to the hospital.

Damn!

***

SCARLET still remembered that night very clear. Nakatanggap siya ng tawag noon sa kalagitnaan ng gabi mula sa cellphone ni Liza pero si Edward Creston ang nakausap niya, nasa ospital daw si Liza. Sa sobrang pag-aalala ay nagmamadali silang mag-asawa na pinuntahan ito, wala itong sinabi kung anong nangyari kaya mas lalo pa silang nag-alala.

Pagkapasok nilang mag-asawa sa kuwarto na sinabi ng nurse ay nandoon ang isang lalaki halos kaedad yata ni Gray at may hitsura ito saka halata na may lahi ito, nakaupo sa isang couch doon habang nakatitig sa nakahiga sa kama. He looks so dejected and furious at the same time.

“We’re you the one who called us?” tanong ng asawa niya pagkapasok pa lang nila ng kuwarto.

Mabilis na tumayo ang binata. “Yes.”

Kaagad na lumapit naman siya sa kama kung saan nakahiga ang natutulog na si Liza at nagulat siya sa hitsura nito. She has some bruises on her face especially her cheeks, also her arms and wrist and she also noticed that there was a cut on her lips.

Bumaling siya sa lalaki. “A-Anong nangyari?”

“She was almost assaulted by that Howard Gracia at their house, good thing I went there to check in on her since she’s home alone. When I arrived the front door and gate was wide open then I heard her screams, I immediately run to where she was and I don’t think I need to elaborate what I saw so I immediately pulled that guy away from her, she was semiconscious and I beat that creep until he’s not able to move. I called the police and took her here.” Tiim-bagang na kuwento nito. “She asked not to call anyone even her husband but I know you need to know what happened to her. Also, the baby is safe so you don’t have to worry.”

“Baby?!” sabay na sambit nilang mag-asawa.

“You didn’t know? She’s 10 weeks pregnant.” imporma nito.

Oh my god! Liza is also pregnant.

“By the way, young man. May we know who you are? Kaibigan ka ba ni Liza?” tanong rito ng asawa niya. “For someone to look after to a woman who was not his wife in the middle of night, I’m sure na importante sa’yo si Liza.”

Her husband have a point. Isa pa, ngayon lang niya nakita ang binatang ito at walang naikukuwento si Liza tungkol dito. Saka kilala niya ang lahat ng kaibigan ni Liza since sobrang open sa kanya ang batang ito, talagang ikinukuwento sa kanya lahat kahit noong bata pa ito.

The man smiled. “She is very important to me, to us.”

“That’s why we’re going to take her with us.” A deep voice interjected from the door.

Napabaling ang atensyon nila sa may pinto ng kuwarto, nakatayo roon ang isa pang lalaki na kaedad ng anak niya. This one was much more rugged-looking than the man who saved Liza, who was more of a boy-next-door but she could see some resemblance to the both of them. They might be siblings.

“Mr. Creston?” Gulat na sambit ng kanyang asawa niya. “What are you doing here? And what do you mean?”

Ito ba yung napakahalagang businessman na makaka-partner ng kanilang kumpanya sa isang napakalaking project sa may bandang Quezon Province? Anong ginagawa nito rito at anong koneksyon nito kay Liza?

“My brother called me and told me what happened.” He answered while entering the room then sat down on the couch and gritted his teeth when he saw Liza. “We’re going to take her back with us when we return to London. If your son can’t take care of his wife despite of her being pregnant with his child then there’s no reason for us to leave without our little sister. She’ll be much more taken care of there than here.”

She could sense the firmness in his voice but did she misheard what he said. He called Liza, ‘little sister’.

“Little sister?” usisa niya.

“Yes, Mrs. Vauxgard. Your daughter-in-law is our little sister that went missing for 20 years due to a k********g incident, where we also lost our mother. That's the main reason why we are here, we received news that our sister was alive and we want to confirm it. We've done DNA test and it came out 99.99% match with her.” he answered nonchalantly before turning to his brother. “How is she?”

“She’s fine, Kuya. Though she has some bruises and cuts, other than those she’ll be okay also she must stay in bed for a few days for the baby.” sagot naman noong isa.

“But Liza doesn’t like staying at the hospital.” sabad niya. “Hindi ba pwedeng sa bahay na lang siya magpahinga?”

“Pwede naman po.” The younger man answered in fluent tagalog with a bit of an accent. “But not at that house where she’s all alone, she can stay with us at the hotel since there are some guards there that could keep her safe.”

“Sa bahay namin na lang.” suggestion ng asawa niya. “She’ll also be safe there.”

“N-No.” It was Liza, she just woke up and trying to get up from the bed. “Dad, no need. Tatawagan ko na lang po sina Lolo at Lola, I’ll just stay at the hacienda for a while.”

Tinulungan niya itong bumangon at makaupo ng ayos sa kama.

“Liza, hija. You know you’re very much welcome in our house, Violet would be very happy that you’ll be staying with us.” pagkumbinsi niya rito.

Liza smiled bitterly. “I don’t want Gray to see me like this, mas lalong ayokong malaman niya ang nangyari tapos wala man lang siyang magiging reaksyon kahit na awa. Saka gusto kong makasama sina Lolo at Lola bago ako sumama sa mga kapatid ko.”

“It seems that we don’t need to force you to go to London with us.” medyo masungit na sambit noong rugged-looking.

Liza smiled sweetly at him. “I know you won’t force me.”

Napakunot-noo ito. “After what happened tonight, I will. Hindi ako matatahimik kung nandito ka sa Pilipinas tapos napakalayo namin kapag kinailangan mo ng tulong tulad ngayon. We just found you after all these years, we’re not going to take risks of losing you again.”

Napabuntung-hininga naman yung mas nakababata. “Good thing, I really checked in on you since I’m so worried that you’re alone while pregnant in that house.”

“Thank you talaga, Kuya Edward.” Mangiyak-ngiyak na sabi ni Liza kaya niyakap niya ito ng mahigpit. “I was losing hope kanina, I tried to call Gray noong saglit akong nakatakas papunta sa kuwarto but he’s not answering.”

Oh my god! Napatiim-bagang ang asawa niya sa ikinuwento ni Liza at mahinang napamura.

“Hija, humihingi ako ng paumanhin para sa anak ko at sa pagpapakasal ko sa’yo sa anak kong wala yata sa tamang katinuan.” ani ng asawa niya. “Kasalanan ko ito.”

“Dad, wala kayong kasalanan. Isa pa, kung hindi ko ginusto ay hindi ako papayag na magpakasal kay Gray, mahal ko lang talaga ang anak ninyo ng sobra at hindi ko nga alam kung anong nakita ko sa kanya. I should have give up since from the start, it was only Ate Ara that he loves.” Nakangiti pero malungkot na sambit ni Liza. “Sana huwag po ninyong sisihin ang sarili ninyo, Dad. Oo kayo ang nagpakasal sa amin pero nasa amin kung ano ang kahahantungan ng buhay namin bilang mag-asawa. Alam ko naman na hindi niya ako gusto pero I still took a chance baka naman kasi magbago siya kapag naging mabuti akong asawa sa kanya pero wala, eh. Si Ate talaga ang gusto niya at nag-iisa sa puso niya.”

Pare-pareho silang natahimik sa sinabi nito at hindi nila alam kung ano ang sasabihin rito kaya niyakap lang niya ito ng sobrang higpit.

“But now, I give up. Ayoko nang umasa na may chance pa ang marriage namin, after what happened tonight para akong binuhusan ng nagyeyelong tubig.” tuloy ni Liza. “Tapos na ako sa pagiging mabuting asawa, mas mahalaga ngayon na maging mabuti akong ina sa magiging anak namin.”

“If you want annulment, I’ll help you.” ani ng asawa niya na lumapit sa kama at hinawakan ang kamay ni Liza saka pinahid ang luha sa pisngi nito. “Iginagalang ko ang desisyon mo na umalis at hindi kita pipigilan pero sana ay makilala namin ang magiging apo namin sa’yo, saka huwag rin sanang ipagkait kay Gray na makilala ang bata. I know he’s not a good husband to you but I believe that he’ll be a good father to your child.”

Nakangiting tumango si Liza at niyakap ito ng asawa niya ng mahigpit bago hinikayat na magpahinga na dahil kailangan nito iyon. Hindi naman talaga malapit si Liza sa asawa niya pero alam niyang anak na rin ang turing ng asawa niya sa manugang nila, hindi man nito iyon pinapakita o pinaparamdam pero mahalaga rin si Liza rito.

“Ano nga palang nangyari sa lalaking gumawa nito kay Liza?” seryosong tanong ng asawa niya.

“He’s already in jail and we made sure that he won’t be able to get out that easily.” sagot ni Edward. “But something was weird, according to him, someone sent him some duplicate keys through mail and the address, he thought it was from Ellie. I mean Liza. He found it odd since Liza was very aloof with him when he met her, that she’s obviously avoiding him but since he was very intoxicated and high on substance he just went there.”

It was shocking that it seems someone deliberately planned something horrendous to harm another person. Sino naman kaya ang gagawa nito kay Liza? Hindi man marami ang kaibigan nito ay wala rin naman siyang alam na may malaking galit rito para gawin ito.

“We’ll have this investigated thoroughly.” sambit ng asawa niya. “Hindi namin palalampasin ito, Liza is also part of our family.”

“I’m thankful for that, Mr. Vauxgard.” ani Erick Creston.

“I already contacted Mr. Napoleo Morgan, they’re on their way.”

Awang-awa ang mag-asawang Morgan nang makita ang hitsura ng apo ng mga ito sa ospital, kaagad na nagdesisyon ang mga ito naiuwi si Liza sa hacienda ng mga ito para magpahinga. Nalungkot ang mga ito nang malaman ang pag-alis ni Liza pero iginalang ng mga ito ang gusto ng apo at the same time ay natuwa na magkakaroon na ng apo sa tuhod ang mga ito.

They immediately traveled back to their hacienda with Liza but a few a hours from departing the hospital, they received a call from their son that Liza and the old Morgan couple met an accident. The old Morgan couple died and Liza had a miscarriage, when they went to visit Liza to know how she is but she’s not talking and just staring nowhere blankly and what’s worst their son was nowhere to be seen at the hospital but instead he’s with Ara and her family who were mourning for the lost. Then, after a week, Liza left with her siblings and Gray didn’t even know. From then on, they have lost communication with her and they understood, the project continued but neither Erick nor Edward came back to check on it.

“How is she?” tanong niya sa anak na mukhang pinagbagsakan ng langit habang nasa mga picture sa scrapbook ang atensyon niya. “It seems she fulfilled what she said, she’ll be a good mother to your babies when she stop being a good wife to you. So, kailan mo pipirmahan ang annulment papers?”

Nabigla ito sa tanong niya, kailanman ay hindi niya ito inusisa o pinakialaman tungkol doon pero kahit naman siya ay curious kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nito pinipirmahan ang mga papeles na yearly yata dumadating.

He smiled bitterly. “Bakit ba lahat na lang kayo ay gustong pirmahan ko iyon? Si Daddy at kahit si Violet, maging ang triplets ay dinalhan ako ng annulment papers sa una naming pagkikita.”

Bahagya lang siyang nagulat. “Siguro dahil mahal namin si Liza at gusto naming maging masaya siya, makahanap siya ng tamang lalaki na makakapagpasaya sa kanya at magiging mabuting asawa sa kanya.”

He looked like he’s in pain. “Hindi ba halata na ayoko? Wala akong balak na ipawalang-bisa ang kasal namin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ayoko noon lalong mas ayoko ngayon na may mga anak pala kami.”

“Aren’t you being selfish?” seryosong sambit niya. “She wasted a lot of tear because of you, she deserve much better and you made her life miserable for being married to you. Why can’t you let her go?”

“I don’t know, something in me that can’t let her go. That I must not.” sagot ng anak niya. “Siguro kasi kapag pinutol ko yung nag-iisang pisi na nagkokonekta sa kanya sa atin ay tuluyan nang mawawala ang koneksyon niya sa atin. Alam ko na para sa inyo ay parte ng pamilya natin si Liza, tanda ko noong mga bata pa kami na mas madalas pa sa bahay natin si Liza kaysa sa kanila na kulang na lang sa atin siya tumira. That I did saw her as one of my little sisters since she's also the sister of Ara, she'll be my sister-in-law but instead she became my wife.”