THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

The Secret in the Old Letter

THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

Episode 16 — The Secret in the Old Letter

11:30 P.M. — HANNA'S HOUSE

Tahimik ang buong bahay.

Nakahawak si Hanna sa lumang liham habang paulit-ulit na binabasa ang pangalan sa ibaba.

Alexander Grey.

"Grey..."

Hindi niya alam kung bakit pamilyar sa kanya ang pangalan.

Maingat niyang binuksan ang lumang kahon.

May isa pang larawan sa loob.

Isang batang babae.

At sa tabi nito, isang batang lalaki.

Napakunot ang noo ni Hanna.

"Who are they?"

Maya-maya, nagising ang kanyang lola.

"Hanna?"

Mabilis na isinara ni Hanna ang kahon.

"Lola! Gising ka?"

"Anong ginagawa mo?"

"Nothing."

Napansin ng matanda ang hawak niyang liham.

Unti-unting nagbago ang mukha nito.

"Hanna..."

"Lola, sino si Alexander Grey?"

Nanahimik ang matanda.

"Lola, please. I need the truth."

"Hanna, saan mo nakuha ang liham na iyan?"

"Nasa kahon."

Lumapit ang kanyang lola.

"Akala ko itinapon ko na iyon."

"Why did you hide it from me?"

"Hindi ko gustong malaman mo."

"Why?"

Napaluha ang matanda.

"Because I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Na kapag nalaman mo ang totoo, mawawala ka sa akin."

Napatigil si Hanna.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

Huminga nang malalim ang matanda.

"Your parents didn't die."

Parang nawalan ng lakas si Hanna.

"What?"

"Your parents were alive when I found you."

"Then where are they?"

"I don't know."

"Lola, please..."

"Your mother asked me to protect you."

"From whom?"

Hindi agad sumagot ang matanda.

"From the Grey family."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Hanna.

"The Grey family?"

Tumango ang matanda.

"Your mother told me never to let them find you."

"Why?"

"I don't know everything."

"Then tell me what you know!"

Napaluha si Hanna.

"Please, Lola. I deserve to know who I am."

Hinawakan ng matanda ang kamay niya.

"Your mother came to me one rainy night. You were only a few months old."

"She was afraid."

"She gave me a small bag, some money, and that pendant."

Napahawak si Hanna sa pendant sa leeg niya.

"She told me your name."

"What name?"

The old woman looked at her.

"Hanna Jane."

"Was Mendoza my real surname?"

Her grandmother slowly shook her head.

"No."

Napapikit si Hanna.

"Then what is my real name?"

Bago pa makasagot ang matanda, biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Hanna.

Michael.

Tinitigan niya ang screen.

"Hanna, answer it," sabi ng kanyang lola.

Sinagot niya.

"Hello?"

"Hanna?"

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"You don't sound okay."

Tahimik si Hanna.

Michael continued.

"Where are you?"

"At home."

"Did you find anything?"

Napatingin si Hanna sa lumang liham.

"Michael..."

"Hmm?"

"I need to ask you something."

"What?"

"Do you know someone named Alexander Grey?"

Biglang natahimik si Michael.

Hanna noticed.

"Michael?"

"Where did you hear that name?"

"Please answer me."

Another long silence.

"He's my grandfather."

Napahigpit ang hawak ni Hanna sa phone.

"Your grandfather?"

"Yes."

"Michael, I found a letter."

"What letter?"

"It has his name."

Michael immediately became serious.

"Don't touch anything else."

"Why?"

"I'm coming there."

"No, Michael—"

"I'll be there in twenty minutes."

The call ended.

Hanna stared at her phone.

Her grandmother looked worried.

"Who was that?"

"Michael."

"What did he say?"

"He's coming."

The old woman closed her eyes.

"Then the truth is finally catching up with us."

---

12:10 A.M. — HANNA'S HOUSE

Isang black car ang huminto sa labas.

Bumaba si Michael.

Hindi na niya hinintay na buksan ni Hanna ang pinto. Agad siyang pumasok nang payagan siya nito.

"Hanna."

"You're here."

"Show me the letter."

Iniabot ni Hanna ang liham.

Binasa ni Michael ang pangalan.

Alexander Grey.

Naging seryoso ang mukha niya.

"Where did you find this?"

"In this old box."

Michael looked at her grandmother.

"Grandmother Elena..."

The old woman looked at him.

"You know who I am."

"I know your family."

Michael frowned.

"What happened between your family and Hanna's parents?"

The old woman remained silent.

Hanna stepped closer.

"Lola, please."

Napabuntong-hininga ang matanda.

"Your grandfather knew Hanna's father."

Michael froze.

"My grandfather?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"Business."

"That's all?"

"No."

The old woman looked at Hanna.

"Your father was supposed to marry someone from the Grey family."

Michael's eyebrows rose.

"What?"

"But he fell in love with Hanna's mother."

Hanna stared at her.

"So my parents were separated because of your family?"

"I don't know."

The old woman shook her head.

"I only know that your mother was terrified."

Michael looked at the letter again.

"What does my grandfather have to do with this?"

"I don't know."

Hanna suddenly spoke.

"Then let's ask him."

Michael looked at her.

"My grandfather is in Europe."

"Then call him."

"It's midnight."

"I don't care."

"Hanna—"

"This is my life, Michael."

He looked into her eyes.

She was crying, but her voice remained firm.

"I've spent my whole life thinking I was abandoned. I thought I wasn't wanted. I thought my parents were dead."

She wiped her tears.

"And now I'm finding out that maybe everything I knew was a lie."

Michael slowly approached her.

"I know."

"No, you don't."

He remained silent.

"You're not the one who spent your entire life wondering why your parents didn't love you."

"Hanna..."

"I don't even know who I am anymore."

Michael gently took her hand.

"Then we'll find out."

She looked at him.

"Why do you keep saying 'we'?"

"Because I mean it."

"Michael, what if the truth hurts?"

"Then I'll be there when it hurts."

Hanna's tears fell again.

"What if your family is responsible?"

Michael's expression became serious.

"Then I'll find out the truth, even if it hurts my family."

---

THE NEXT MORNING — GREY INTERNATIONAL

Michael called an emergency meeting with his father.

"What's wrong?" asked his father.

"I need information about Alexander."

His father frowned.

"Why?"

"Because someone has a letter with his name."

"What letter?"

Michael placed a copy on the table.

His father's expression immediately changed.

"Where did you get this?"

"From Hanna."

"Hanna?"

"Yes."

His father stood up.

"Michael, stay away from this."

"Why?"

"This is family business."

"She's my wife."

His father stared at him.

"Your wife?"

Michael realized what he had said.

He had called Hanna his wife without thinking.

His father noticed.

"Since when did you start defending her like this?"

Michael didn't answer.

His father continued.

"Michael, you don't understand what happened years ago."

"Then explain it."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because your grandfather ordered everyone to keep silent."

Michael's eyes narrowed.

"About Hanna?"

His father looked away.

"About her parents."

---

LATER THAT DAY

Hanna was working at her desk when Michael came out of his office.

"Hanna."

She looked up.

"Did you find something?"

"Yes."

"What?"

Michael sat beside her.

"My father knows about your parents."

Hanna stopped typing.

"What did he say?"

"Not enough."

"Why?"

"He says my grandfather ordered everyone to remain silent."

Hanna's hands began to shake.

"Why would your grandfather do that?"

"I don't know."

"Michael..."

He looked at her.

"I want you to promise me something."

"What?"

"Don't go looking for answers alone."

She frowned.

"Why?"

"Because if my family has been hiding this for years, there may be people who don't want the truth exposed."

Hanna became quiet.

"Are you afraid?"

"Yes."

She looked surprised.

"For me?"

Michael nodded.

"Yes."

Hanna looked down.

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything."

He reached across the desk and gently took her hand.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Hanna looked at their hands.

"Michael..."

"Hmm?"

"What happens to our marriage if I really am connected to your family?"

Michael didn't hesitate.

"Nothing."

"But what if our families are enemies?"

"I don't care."

"What if your grandfather doesn't accept me?"

"I don't care."

"What if the contract ends?"

Michael looked into her eyes.

"I don't know."

Hanna's heart skipped.

"Why?"

"Because lately, I don't think about you as part of a contract anymore."

Silence.

Hanna couldn't look away.

Michael slowly released her hand.

"I should get back to work."

He stood.

But before he could walk away, Hanna called him.

"Michael."

He turned.

She smiled softly.

"Thank you."

He nodded.

"Always."

---

THAT EVENING

Sa Grey mansion, nakaupo si Alexander Grey sa kanyang private study.

May tumawag sa kanya.

"Sir, Michael has started asking questions."

Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa phone.

"About what?"

"About Hanna Mendoza."

Natahimik siya.

"Hanna..."

Matagal na niyang hindi naririnig ang pangalang iyon.

"Has he found her?"

"Yes."

Alexander slowly stood.

"And does he know who she really is?"

"Not yet."

Napatingin siya sa isang lumang photograph sa kanyang desk.

Isang batang babae.

Isang babae.

At isang lalaki.

"Don't let Michael discover the truth."

"Yes, sir."

Ibinaba niya ang phone.

Pero hindi niya alam na nasa labas ng study ang kanyang asawa.

Narinig nito ang lahat.

At ang tanong na nasa isip nito ay simple lamang:

"Who is Hanna Jane Mendoza?"

Sa kabilang panig ng lungsod, magkatabing nakaupo sina Hanna at Michael sa isang maliit na restaurant.

Hindi nila alam na ang kanilang kontrata ay nagsimula dahil sa isang kondisyon sa mana.

Pero ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit sila nagkita...

ay maaaring may mas malalim na koneksyon.

At habang papalapit sila sa katotohanan, mas lalo ring nagiging mahirap para kay Michael na itago ang isang bagay:

nahuhulog na siya kay Hanna.

TO BE CONTINUED...