THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

The Name She Never Knew

THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

Episode 18 — The Name She Never Knew

7:00 A.M. — HANNA'S HOUSE

Maagang nagising si Hanna dahil sa ingay ng mga sasakyan sa labas.

Paglabas niya ng kwarto, nakita niyang nakaupo si Michael sa sala habang may kausap sa telepono.

"Yes. I want the entire file."

Sandali siyang napatingin kay Hanna.

"Send everything to my office."

Ibinaba niya ang tawag.

Hanna crossed her arms.

"You've been here all night?"

Michael nodded.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't want you and your grandmother to be alone."

Hanna sighed.

"Michael, you can't keep protecting me every second."

"I know."

"Then why do you keep doing it?"

Michael looked at her.

"Because someone is watching you."

Hanna became quiet.

"Did you find out who?"

"Not yet."

"Then what are we going to do?"

"I'm going to find out."

Hanna sat beside him.

"Together?"

Michael looked at her.

"Together."

She smiled.

"Okay."

---

9:00 A.M. — GREY INTERNATIONAL

Pagdating nila sa office, may naghihintay na private investigator.

"Mr. Grey."

Michael nodded.

"What did you find?"

The investigator placed a folder on the table.

"We traced the name Mendoza."

Hanna sat beside Michael.

"And?"

"The surname Mendoza wasn't originally yours."

Hanna's heart started beating faster.

"What was my real surname?"

The investigator opened another file.

"Valencia."

Hanna stared at him.

"Valencia?"

"Yes."

Michael frowned.

"Are you certain?"

"We found an old hospital record from twenty-four years ago."

The investigator handed the document to Hanna.

Baby Girl — Mother: Isabella Valencia.

Napahawak si Hanna sa bibig.

"Isabella..."

"That's your mother's name," said the investigator.

Hanna's eyes filled with tears.

"Then my father?"

The investigator hesitated.

"We're still verifying."

Michael immediately asked,

"Who is Isabella Valencia?"

The investigator looked at him.

"She came from a wealthy family."

Hanna stared at him.

"Wealthy?"

"Yes. The Valencia family owned several businesses."

Michael frowned.

"Why would she disappear?"

"We don't know."

The investigator pulled out another document.

"But there is something else."

"What?"

"Isabella Valencia disappeared the same year you were born."

Hanna's voice trembled.

"Disappeared?"

"Yes."

"Was she killed?"

"We have no evidence of that."

Hanna looked at Michael.

"What if she's alive?"

Michael took her hand.

"Then we'll find her."

---

12:00 P.M. — RESTAURANT

Naupo silang tatlo sa isang private room.

Hindi mapakali si Hanna.

"Michael, what if my mother doesn't want to see me?"

"Then we'll respect her."

"What if she abandoned me?"

"We'll ask why."

"What if she hates me?"

Michael looked directly at her.

"Then that's her decision. It doesn't change who you are."

Hanna looked down.

"You always know what to say."

"No."

He smiled faintly.

"Sometimes I just say what I wish someone had told me."

Hanna looked at him.

"Your family doesn't seem very close."

Michael became quiet.

"We're not."

"Why?"

"My grandfather controlled everything. The company. The family. Even our decisions."

"That sounds difficult."

"It was."

"Did you ever want to leave?"

"Many times."

"Why didn't you?"

Michael looked at her.

"Because my father needed me."

Hanna smiled softly.

"You're more like me than I thought."

Michael raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

"We both put family first."

He nodded.

"Maybe that's why I understand you."

---

5:00 P.M. — GREY MANSION

Umuwi si Michael sa mansion para kausapin ang kanyang father.

"Where is Grandfather?"

"Why?"

"I need to talk to him."

"He's unavailable."

"About Isabella Valencia."

Biglang nanahimik ang kanyang father.

Michael noticed.

"You know that name."

His father looked away.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't lie to me."

"Michael."

"Who is Isabella Valencia?"

His father finally sat down.

"You shouldn't be involved."

"I'm already involved."

"Why?"

"Because her daughter is the woman I'm marrying."

His father's eyes widened.

"Hanna?"

"Yes."

Natahimik siya.

"Then you really don't know."

"Know what?"

His father looked at him.

"Isabella was not simply a woman your grandfather knew."

Michael waited.

"She was your father's first love."

Michael's eyes widened.

"What?"

"Before I married your mother, I was in love with Isabella."

"Then Hanna..."

His father slowly nodded.

"She may be your half-sister."

Michael froze.

"What?"

---

6:00 P.M.

Mabilis na bumalik si Michael sa office.

Hanna was waiting.

"You look pale."

Michael couldn't speak.

"Michael?"

He looked at her.

"We need another DNA test."

Hanna frowned.

"Why?"

"Because I found something."

"What?"

Michael sat down.

"My father knew your mother."

Hanna's eyes widened.

"How?"

"They were once together."

Tahimik siya.

"And there's a possibility..."

Michael struggled to say the words.

"...that you're connected to my family by blood."

Hanna slowly stood.

"What?"

"I don't know if it's true."

"Michael, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying we need to know the truth before we get married."

Hanna stepped backward.

"You think I'm related to you?"

"I said it's a possibility."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Then what happens to our marriage?"

Michael immediately stood.

"Nothing until we know the truth."

"But what if it's true?"

He couldn't answer.

Hanna covered her face.

"I can't believe this."

Michael wanted to approach her but stopped.

"Hanna..."

"Don't."

She shook her head.

"I need to go home."

"I'll take you."

"No."

"Hanna—"

"I said no."

She walked away.

Michael watched her leave.

For the first time since they met, he couldn't protect her from the truth.

---

THAT NIGHT

Hanna sat beside her sleeping grandmother.

"Lola..."

Tahimik na tumulo ang kanyang luha.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Her grandmother opened her eyes.

"Tell you what?"

"That Isabella Valencia was my mother."

The old woman froze.

"Who told you?"

"Michael."

"Does he know everything?"

"No."

Hanna looked at her.

"Is it true?"

Her grandmother couldn't answer.

"Lola, please."

After several seconds, the old woman whispered,

"Yes."

Hanna's tears fell.

"My mother is Isabella Valencia."

"Yes."

"And my father?"

Her grandmother looked away.

"His name is..."

Before she could finish, may narinig silang sasakyan sa labas.

The lights suddenly went off.

Hanna stood.

"Lola?"

The door slowly opened.

A man's voice came from the darkness.

"Finally..."

Hanna froze.

"Someone found you."

Biglang bumukas ang ilaw.

Pero wala nang tao sa pintuan.

Sa sahig ay may isang envelope.

Nanginginig ang kamay ni Hanna habang pinulot ito.

Sa loob ay isang lumang birth certificate.

At sa ilalim ng pangalan ng kanyang ina...

may isang pangalan na hindi niya kailanman narinig.

Father: Alexander Grey.

Namutla si Hanna.

"Michael's grandfather..."

Sa kabilang bahagi ng lungsod, hindi alam ni Michael na ang lalaking matagal nang naghahanap kay Hanna...

ay ang mismong taong pinakamalapit sa kanyang pamilya.

At ngayon, isang tanong ang mananatili:

Bakit itinago ni Alexander Grey ang tunay na pagkatao ni Hanna sa loob ng dalawampu't apat na taon?

TO BE CONTINUED...