THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

The Birth Certificate

THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

Episode 19 — The Birth Certificate

11:45 P.M. — HANNA'S HOUSE

Hindi makagalaw si Hanna.

Nakatayo lang siya sa gitna ng sala habang hawak ang lumang birth certificate.

Paulit-ulit niyang binabasa ang pangalan.

Father: Alexander Grey.

Parang hindi siya makahinga.

"Lola..."

Hindi sumagot ang kanyang lola.

"Lola, please tell me this isn't true."

The old woman slowly closed her eyes.

"Hanna..."

"Alexander Grey."

Nanginginig ang boses ni Hanna.

"Siya ang grandfather ni Michael."

Tahimik ang buong bahay.

"Does that mean I'm related to Michael?"

Napaluha ang matanda.

"No."

Mabilis na napatingin si Hanna.

"No?"

"You're not related to Michael."

"Then why is his grandfather's name on my birth certificate?"

Hindi agad sumagot ang matanda.

"Hanna, listen to me. There are things I should have told you years ago."

"Then tell me now."

"That certificate..."

She pointed toward the paper.

"...is not your original birth certificate."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Hanna.

"What?"

"Someone changed it."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Your mother gave me documents when she left you with me. But there were people looking for you. I was afraid they would find you."

Hanna shook her head.

"Why would someone put Alexander Grey's name there?"

"I don't know."

"You're my grandmother. You have to know something."

"I only know what your mother told me."

"Then tell me everything!"

The old woman started crying.

"Your mother told me never to trust Alexander Grey."

Hanna stared at her.

"Why?"

"Because she believed he wanted to take you away."

"Why would he?"

"I don't know."

"Was he my father?"

"No."

Hanna froze.

"Then who was?"

The old woman looked at her with tears in her eyes.

"Your real father was a man named Daniel Valencia."

Hanna slowly sat down.

"Daniel Valencia?"

"Yes."

"Then why is Alexander Grey's name there?"

"Because your mother wanted everyone to believe you were connected to the Grey family."

Hanna frowned.

"Why would she do that?"

"To protect your real identity."

Hanna couldn't understand.

"How does putting another man's name on my birth certificate protect me?"

"Because if the Grey family believed you were their responsibility, they would stop searching for the Valencia family."

Hanna stared at her.

"So my mother was hiding me from both families?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because your mother knew there was a fight between the Valencia and Grey families."

Hanna whispered,

"And I was caught in the middle."

Her grandmother nodded.

---

THE NEXT MORNING — GREY INTERNATIONAL

Michael had barely slept.

Nasa office siya, nakatingin sa phone.

Wala pa ring message mula kay Hanna.

He called her.

No answer.

He called again.

Still nothing.

Biglang pumasok si Daniel.

"Sir."

"What?"

"We found something."

Michael immediately stood.

"What?"

Daniel handed him a folder.

"Our investigator found the original hospital record."

Michael opened it.

His eyes immediately went to the father's name.

Daniel Valencia.

He froze.

"Valencia?"

"Yes, sir."

Michael looked up.

"So the birth certificate with my grandfather's name..."

"Was altered."

Michael closed his eyes.

For the first time that morning, he could breathe.

Hanna wasn't related to him.

But another question remained.

"Who changed it?"

"We don't know."

Michael grabbed his phone.

"I need to see Hanna."

---

HANNA'S HOUSE

May kumatok.

Hanna opened the door.

Pagkakita niya kay Michael, agad siyang napatingin sa kanya.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you."

"I don't want to talk."

"I understand."

"Then please leave."

Michael didn't move.

"I found the original birth record."

Hanna froze.

"What?"

"You're not related to my family."

She stared at him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He handed her the document.

Hanna read it carefully.

Mother: Isabella Valencia.

Father: Daniel Valencia.

She covered her mouth.

"It's true..."

Michael nodded.

"Your father wasn't my grandfather."

Hanna slowly sat down.

"Then why did someone change the document?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

She looked at him.

"I was so scared."

"I know."

"I thought..."

She couldn't finish.

Michael sat beside her.

"You thought we might be related."

Hanna nodded.

"I didn't know what would happen."

Michael looked at her.

"I was scared too."

She turned toward him.

"You?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He hesitated.

"Because I thought I might lose you."

Hanna's eyes softened.

"Michael..."

"I know we started with a contract."

He looked down.

"But when I thought there was even a possibility that we couldn't be together..."

He stopped.

Hanna whispered,

"What?"

Michael looked directly at her.

"I realized how much I don't want to lose you."

Tahimik si Hanna.

She didn't know what to say.

Michael continued.

"You don't have to answer me."

"I don't know what to feel."

"I understand."

"My whole life changed overnight."

"I know."

"My parents aren't dead. My real surname isn't Mendoza. I have a wealthy family somewhere. Someone changed my birth certificate. And now I find out my mother may have been hiding from two powerful families."

Michael nodded.

"We'll find the answers."

"Why do you keep saying 'we'?"

"Because I don't want you to face this alone."

Hanna looked at him.

"And what about our marriage?"

Michael became quiet.

"If you want to cancel the contract, I'll understand."

Hanna's eyes widened.

"You'll let me go?"

"If that's what you want."

"But your inheritance?"

"I'll deal with it."

"And your company?"

"I'll deal with that too."

She stared at him.

"You'd give up everything?"

Michael answered quietly,

"I'd rather lose money than lose you."

Hanna's eyes filled with tears.

"Michael..."

He reached out but stopped before touching her.

"I don't want you to stay because you owe me something."

Hanna looked at him.

"You really mean that?"

"Yes."

"Even after everything?"

"Especially after everything."

Hanna smiled through her tears.

"You're not as cold as you pretend to be."

Michael gave a small smile.

"Don't tell anyone."

She laughed softly.

---

THE VALENCIA FAMILY

Samantala, sa isang malaking mansion sa kabilang bahagi ng lungsod, isang matandang lalaki ang nakaupo sa wheelchair.

May hawak siyang lumang photograph.

Sa larawan ay isang batang babae.

Si Hanna.

Pumasok ang isang babae.

"Sir, we found her."

The old man slowly looked up.

"Where?"

"She's living with the woman who raised her."

His hand trembled.

"Isabella's daughter..."

"Yes."

"How old is she now?"

"Twenty-four."

Napapikit ang lalaki.

"Twenty-four years..."

The woman asked,

"Should we bring her here?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because she doesn't know the truth."

"But sir—"

"I want to see my granddaughter."

The woman hesitated.

"After all these years?"

He nodded.

"But there is one problem."

"What?"

"Michael Grey."

The old man looked serious.

"He's protecting her."

---

THAT EVENING

Hanna was sitting in her grandmother's room.

"Lola."

"Hmm?"

"Do you know where my real father is?"

Her grandmother looked away.

"No."

"Is he alive?"

"I don't know."

"Do you know anything about the Valencia family?"

The old woman hesitated.

"Your mother came from a very powerful family."

"Then why did she leave them?"

"Because she wanted freedom."

"From what?"

"From an arranged marriage."

Hanna stared at her.

"Who was she supposed to marry?"

The old woman took a deep breath.

"Alexander Grey."

Hanna's eyes widened.

"Michael's grandfather?"

"Yes."

Everything suddenly became clearer.

Her mother was supposed to marry Alexander Grey.

But instead, she fell in love with Daniel Valencia.

That could explain why the two families had become enemies.

But there was still one thing Hanna couldn't understand.

"If my mother loved my father, why did she leave me?"

Her grandmother started crying.

"She didn't leave you because she didn't love you."

"Then why?"

"Because she believed someone was trying to kill her."

Hanna froze.

"What?"

"Your mother told me she had to disappear."

"Is she alive?"

"I don't know."

Suddenly, Hanna's phone rang.

Unknown number.

She answered.

"Hello?"

No one spoke.

"Hello?"

Then a woman's voice whispered:

"Hanna..."

Napahinto siya.

The voice sounded strangely familiar.

"Who is this?"

"I've been waiting twenty-four years to hear your voice."

Hanna's heart began pounding.

"Who are you?"

A pause.

Then the woman said:

"I'm your mother."

The call ended.

Hanna stared at her phone in disbelief.

"Lola..."

Her grandmother's eyes widened.

"What happened?"

Hanna slowly looked at her.

"She called."

"Who?"

"My mother."

Sa kabilang bahagi ng lungsod, isang babae ang nakaupo sa harap ng isang window, umiiyak habang hawak ang parehong pendant na suot ni Hanna.

At sa unang pagkakataon matapos ang dalawampu't apat na taon...

nagbalik si Isabella Valencia sa buhay ng kanyang anak.

Pero hindi pa alam ni Hanna na ang pagbabalik ng kanyang ina ay magbubukas ng isang lihim na maaaring sumira sa parehong Valencia at Grey families.

At si Michael ang unang taong tatayo sa pagitan ni Hanna at ng panganib.

TO BE CONTINUED...