THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

The Truth They Tried to Hide

THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

Episode 17 — The Truth They Tried to Hide

8:00 A.M. — GREY INTERNATIONAL

Maagang dumating si Hanna sa office, pero hindi siya makapag-focus.

Nasa harapan niya ang isang lumang photograph na nakita niya sa kahon ng kanyang lola.

Paulit-ulit niyang tinitingnan ang batang babae sa larawan.

May maliit na pendant ito sa leeg.

Kapareho ng pendant niya.

"Hanna."

Napatingala siya.

Si Michael ang nakatayo sa harap niya.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

Napansin ni Michael ang photograph sa kamay niya.

"You brought it?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I want to know who she is."

Umupo si Michael sa tabi niya.

"Have you asked your grandmother?"

"She told me some things, but not everything."

"What did she say?"

Hanna took a deep breath.

"She said my mother gave me to her when I was still a baby."

Michael remained silent.

"She said my mother was afraid of your family."

Michael's expression became serious.

"Did she say why?"

"No."

"Then we'll find out."

Hanna looked at him.

"Michael, I'm scared."

"I know."

"What if my parents really abandoned me?"

"Then we'll find out why."

"What if they didn't?"

Michael looked at her.

"Then we'll find them."

Hanna smiled sadly.

"You make it sound so easy."

"It won't be."

"Then why are you so sure?"

"Because I'll be with you."

Hanna became quiet.

"Why are you always saying that?"

"Because it's true."

---

10:30 A.M. — GREY FAMILY ARCHIVES

Dinala ni Michael si Hanna sa isang private room sa Grey mansion.

Puno ng lumang documents ang mga shelves.

"Why are we here?"

"My grandfather kept company records here."

"Do you think we'll find something about my parents?"

"I hope so."

Binuksan ni Michael ang isang cabinet.

Maya-maya, nakakita siya ng lumang folder.

ALEXANDER GREY — PRIVATE

Kinuha niya ito.

Hanna stepped closer.

"Open it."

Michael hesitated.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Binuksan niya ang folder.

May ilang contracts, photographs, at handwritten notes.

Biglang may nahulog na larawan.

Kinuha ni Hanna.

Nanlaki ang mata niya.

"Michael..."

Tumingin siya.

Sa larawan ay isang batang babae kasama ang isang lalaki at babae.

Ang babae ay kamukhang-kamukha ni Hanna.

"My mother..."

Napahawak siya sa larawan.

"And that's your father?"

Michael looked closer.

"Yes."

Sa likod ng larawan ay may nakasulat:

Alexander Grey — 1999

Hanna frowned.

"Why would my mother have a picture with your grandfather?"

Michael didn't answer.

May nakita siyang isang envelope.

"Look."

Binuksan niya ito.

May isang sulat.

Binasa ni Hanna ang unang linya.

"Alexander, I am leaving with my daughter because I can no longer trust you."

Nanginginig ang kamay niya.

"She was running away."

Michael continued reading.

"Please don't look for us. If you truly care about your son, let us disappear."

Napatingin si Michael.

"Your mother mentioned a son."

Hanna looked confused.

"Your father?"

Michael nodded.

"But why would she say that?"

Tahimik silang dalawa.

Then Hanna noticed another name.

"Lucas."

"Who's Lucas?"

Michael's face changed.

"My uncle."

"Your uncle?"

"Yes. My father's younger brother."

Hanna looked at the letter.

"Maybe he knows something."

---

AFTERNOON — GREY MANSION

Hinahanap nila si Lucas.

Pero hindi ito makita.

Tinanong nila ang housekeeper.

"Where is Mr. Lucas?"

"He's been away for several years."

"Do you know where?"

The housekeeper hesitated.

"Last I heard, he lives in Busan."

Michael frowned.

"Busan?"

"Yes."

Hanna looked at Michael.

"We need to find him."

"I know."

---

MEANWHILE — HANNA'S HOUSE

Nasa bahay ang kanyang lola.

May kumatok.

Knock.

Knock.

Napatingin siya sa pinto.

"Sino?"

Walang sumagot.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit.

Nang buksan niya ang pinto, walang tao.

Pero may maliit na envelope sa sahig.

Kinuha niya ito.

Walang pangalan.

Binuksan niya.

Isang photograph.

At isang note.

"You should have kept the girl hidden."

Namutla ang matanda.

"Hanna..."

---

6:00 P.M.

Pagdating ni Hanna sa bahay, agad niyang napansin ang kakaibang expression ng kanyang lola.

"Lola?"

Walang sagot.

"Lola, what's wrong?"

Iniabot ng matanda ang envelope.

"Hanna..."

Binasa niya ang note.

Nanginginig ang kamay niya.

"Who sent this?"

"I don't know."

Michael, na kasunod niyang dumating, kinuha ang note.

Naging malamig ang mukha niya.

"Someone knows."

Hanna looked at him.

"Knows what?"

"That we're looking for the truth."

"Then what do we do?"

Michael immediately answered.

"We stop looking."

Hanna stared at him.

"What?"

"Until I know who's behind this."

"No."

"Hanna."

"No, Michael. I've spent twenty-four years not knowing who I am. I'm not stopping now."

"It's dangerous."

"I don't care."

"I do."

"Why?"

Michael stepped closer.

"Because I can't lose you."

Natahimik si Hanna.

Michael realized what he had said.

He looked away.

Hanna's voice softened.

"Michael..."

"I mean it."

"You're afraid for me."

"Yes."

"Because I'm your wife?"

Michael looked at her.

"No."

"Then why?"

He took a deep breath.

"Because you're Hanna."

She stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I don't need a contract anymore to care about you."

Hanna's eyes filled with tears.

Michael gently held her hand.

"I don't know when it happened."

He looked into her eyes.

"But somewhere between all our arguments, your stubbornness, your smile, and the way you take care of everyone except yourself..."

He paused.

"I started caring."

Hanna couldn't speak.

"I know we're supposed to be married because of an agreement," he continued, "but every day, I'm starting to forget that it's supposed to end."

A tear rolled down Hanna's cheek.

"Michael..."

He gently wiped it away.

"Don't cry."

"I'm not sad."

"Then why are you crying?"

"Because..."

She smiled through her tears.

"I'm starting to forget too."

Michael looked at her.

"Forget what?"

"That this marriage is only a contract."

Tahimik silang dalawa.

For the first time, neither of them tried to hide what was happening.

---

LATER THAT NIGHT

Habang natutulog si Hanna, nakatanggap si Michael ng tawag.

Unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Michael Grey?"

"Who is this?"

"You need to stop searching for Hanna's parents."

Michael's expression hardened.

"Who are you?"

"You don't understand what you're getting into."

"Then explain."

"If you continue, Hanna will be in danger."

Michael stood.

"Don't threaten her."

"I'm warning you."

"Where are you?"

The caller laughed softly.

"You'll find out soon."

The call ended.

Michael immediately looked toward Hanna's room.

His face became cold.

"Whoever you are..."

He clenched his fist.

"You made one mistake."

He looked at Hanna.

"You threatened the wrong person."

At that moment, Michael made a decision.

He would uncover the truth.

Not only because Hanna deserved to know who she really was...

but because he would protect the woman he had unexpectedly fallen in love with.

And somewhere far away...

someone was already watching them.

TO BE CONTINUED...