THE BILLIONAIRE'S HIDDEN HEIRS

CHAPTER 2

As I stood up from my seat, I straightened my body, easing the slight pain in my waist from bending over. I am currently washing two bundles of laundry from our neighbor. That's my job to sustain our daily needs every day. "Here's your salary, Fay." Mrs. Nena handed me a thousand pesos.

I was surprised by the amount she gave me, so I returned it to her, "Oh no, Mrs. Nena, this is too much. It should only be five hundred." I said, handing it back to her.

The old woman shook her head and didn't take the thousand pesos from me, "No, use that to buy toys for the twins or food for them. I feel sorry for them; they looked at my grandchildren the other day as if they really wanted those toys. Buy the half of it for them."

I couldn't help but smile and hug Mrs. Nena. Since I returned to Isla Fera four years ago, she has always helped me in every way. She lends me money without interest and never forces me to pay her back. Still, I don't take advantage of her kindness; I repay her when I have money from doing laundry.

"Thank you very much, Mrs. Nena. I'll pay you back when I get another laundry job." I said as we broke the embrace.

"Don't bother; it's really for the twins."

I smiled at her and expressed my gratitude before leaving their house. Mrs. Nena's house is not far from ours, so I just returned home.

It has been four years since I escaped from Mansion Madreal, and our life has been like hell. My mother passed away due to her illness; we couldn't afford to have her treated because we had nothing. All we could do was watch her struggle for breath until she couldn't bear it anymore. We were left with nothing but tears.

We drowned in debt to bury my mother; I had nowhere to turn but to the Madreal twins and Amer. Zav and Zoe helped me; they paid half, and I paid the other half. I worked hard at the municipality, but maybe due to overworking without rest, I fainted. I was taken to the hospital, and that's when I found out I was pregnant.

I couldn't believe that something was conceived during my intimate encounter with Rihav before he spoke ill of me and hurt me so much on that day. It crossed my mind to abort the child because I couldn't afford to raise them. I can't even feed my family, and now they'll add to my burden?

But I didn't succeed in aborting them. Yes, I harbored a deep resentment towards Rihav, but that doesn't mean I would direct my anger towards the children. They are innocent and have no idea what happened.

I continued with my pregnancy until Zav and Zoe found out. They were surprised to see that my belly had grown considerably. Since then, they almost visited my house every week, more excited than I was for the arrival of the baby. I told them never to tell Rihav that we have a child. Since I left them, I have had no information about Rihav because I didn't want him to enter my life again.

With the help of Zav and Zoe, I managed to go through childbirth. They also bought the necessary baby items, considering my children as their nieces and nephews. On the day I gave birth, I didn't know that I was having twins because I didn't have regular check-ups. All I knew was that I was pregnant when I fainted at the municipality.

The burdens in my life doubled. There were times when I just wanted to give up and have the two children adopted, but the Madreal siblings stopped me. With all the kindness Zav and Zoe showed me, I didn't know how to repay them.

I took good care of my twin children. Even with little sleep, I worked to buy milk for them. While I leaned on Zav and Zoe at times, I also needed to provide for my children through my own hard work.

I thought my hardships were over because I was happy seeing my children healthy. However, it wasn't over yet as my father followed my mother. He took his own life, and I felt depressed again when my father passed away.

I couldn't properly care for my children; I couldn't breastfeed them at the right times. For weeks, I didn't hold them; it was Zav and Zoe who took care of them while I locked myself in our house.

I stopped eating, as if there was no reason to live anymore. The two most important people in my life, the two I wanted to give a good life, were no longer by my side. The two who strengthened me were gone; I had nothing left to live for. Since I was a child, all I wanted was to lift them out of poverty. But now, it's too late. They're gone, but they left me and Coleen.

One day, as I wallowed in my room, Zav and Zoe didn't realize that Hera, one of my children, had a fever. They didn't know how to care for the two, so they cried outside until I came out of my room. They were both crying, and I felt fear. They handed Hera to me, and I felt her burning heat.

We rushed Hera to the nearest hospital, and thankfully, the doctors intervened in time. From then on, I realized that I wasn't the only one living in this world. I realized that I had two little ones who needed my care and love. Just because I lost mom and dad doesn't mean I'll let go of my life.

Now, I focus my attention on my twins. If I couldn't fulfill my dreams for my parents, I'd fulfill them for my twins. They're the reason I work; they're the reason I'm strong. I'll take care of them to the best of my ability.

"Mom!" Hera greeted me as soon as I opened the door.

"Oh, my baby," I replied while hugging her.

Now, they are three years old. They can speak, and Hera, in particular, talks like an adult. On the other hand, Hacov is the opposite of Hera; he's always quiet and seems indifferent to everything.

"Tata Zoe and Tata Zav are here, Mom," she informed me and gestured towards the kitchen.

There they were, placing groceries in the cabinets. They smiled at me, and I returned the gesture. Every end of the month, they come here to provide us with food. At first, I didn't like them constantly coming here because they had their own jobs. But they insisted, and I couldn't do anything about it.

"Where is Tata Coleen, Her?" I asked Hera.

She shrugged, "I don't know. She left earlier, carrying a big bag." That surprised me.

"She got a job in Manila, Fay. She said her goodbyes to us. If you reject us, she will be even more reluctant. I volunteered to drive her to Manila or wait for you before going. But she refused. We offered for her so she wouldn't experience hardship. She turned them all down. Zav and I had no choice but to let her go," Zoe interjected into the conversation with Hera.

I left Hera in the living room with Hacov and went to the two of them, saying, "She didn't even call me. That's just how she is. Coleen has big dreams. She's a principled woman. I hope she can handle Manila."

I helped the two of them in preparing the food. I saw a chocolate the twins liked and glanced at Zav and Zoe. Here they go again, spoiling the two.

"Don't look at us like that, Fay. Zav was the one who got that. I told her not to—" Zoe was interrupted by Zav.

"No, Fay. Not me. Zoe got that. I told her that the kid wanted it, but I didn't put that in our cart. Zoe did it, not me," Zav insisted.

"What do you mean it's me? It's not me, it's you!"

"No, it's you!"

I slapped my forehead because of them. I haven't said anything yet, but here they are, acting like they already know me so well. In the past four years they've been with me, it seems like they know all my moves too well.

These two never get tired of helping me, but I hope they won't spoil the two because I don't have the money to give them what they want. If I were rich, I'd give them everything they desire, but I'm not. We're not well-off.

"Stop it, Zav and Zoe. I haven't even said anything yet," I said, and they both stopped. "I'm not angry that you're buying these things for them, but please, not every month. They might get used to it and start asking for it. I don't have the money to buy those things, Zav and Zoe."

I saw Zav take a deep breath, and she touched my shoulder, "They are the heiresses of the Madreal Empire, Fay. They shouldn't be experiencing this kind of hardship; they should be at the Mansion right now. I know what you've been through for the past years, but the twins don't deserve this kind of life. I feel sorry for them, Fay."

Are they really heirs? Or are they Rihav's bastards' children?

I know that Rihav is already married, and he probably has children now. I don't want my kids to be hurt by finding out that they are children born out of wedlock. I don't want the time to come when they throw it in my face that they are illegitimate children.

I am content with our simple life here on Isla Fera rather than being in the Madreal Mansion where they might not be fully accepted.

"They are fine here, Zav. They don't need Rihav; he already has children now, so he doesn't need the two of them anymore."

The two exchanged meaningful glances before Zavia spoke again, "They don't tell us what they want, but when we came here, we found them outside. Hera was intensely looking at her playmate holding a life-size Barbie doll. She looked at the doll like she wanted that too; I saw her playing with the paper doll you made for her."

"And, I think I saw Hacov looking at his playmate using a phone or iPad. I heard him asking if he could watch what they were watching, but the other kid changed the way of holding the iPad, so Hacov just frowned and left." Zoe continued with her story.

I glanced at my two kids watching TV. They've long wanted those things, especially Hacov with the iPad. But I can't afford them; even if I work tirelessly, it seems impossible to buy what they desire. What I can give them is love...

We have no money; I can't provide what they want. I couldn't afford to buy them a cake even on their birthdays. I have nothing...

"If I find another job, I'll buy what they want, but for now, they'll have to endure," I said while looking at them." Fayre, don't sacrifice yourself if my brother can afford to give his children what they want," Zoe said, catching my attention.

I thought we were on the same side? She knows all the pain I went through at the hands of her brother. Why is she like this now? Am I supposed to forget everything Rihav did to me to fulfill my children's wishes?

I'm not that kind of woman. Even if I have to work myself to exhaustion to provide what my two kids want, I will do it, as long as Rihav is not involved in this matter. We don't need him in our lives anymore. We don't need him!

"I don't need your brother's help, Zoe. I thought everything was fine between us. I thought we understood each other. I thought you knew what I went through. Let's not involve the person I've long erased from my life." I said, leaving the kitchen.