REBIRTH OF A FORSAKEN WIFE

CHAPTER FOUR

THE MAN was dressed in a sharp, high-end bespoke suit. Its impeccable tailoring accentuated his tall, imposing figure, exuding an innate sense of nobility. Mailap sa mga tao, bihira makipag-usap lalo na kung hindi niya naman kilala. Iisipin nga na panget ang ugali nito ng iba pero wala itong pakialam, dignified presence carried a quiet yet overwhelming pressure. He didn’t need to say or do anything, his mere presence was enough to command attention.

Renzo Escobar. Enrique’s uncle.

Si Enrique Escobar ang naging dahilan kung bakit nasangkot sa aksidente si Renzo at kung bakit siya naging imbalido, but he was still the most untouchable figure of the family. Noon, na hindi pa alam ni Lily ang mangyayari ay iniiwasan niya si Renzo. A week before her wedding to Enrique, kRenzo had forcibly taken her away. Paulit-ulit siyang binalaan, that Enrique was not a good man, that she must not marry him pero bulag siya. Isa pa, mahal niya si Enrique..Hindi siya nakinig sa sinabi nito. He asked if she was willing to leave with him and gave her a week to think it over.

Pero ano ang ginawa niya kay Renzo? Minasa niya ang lahat ng sinabi nito…She told him to get lost. She said she hated him. Tinulak niya palayo si Renzo at pilit na iginiit na wala siyang ibang pakakasalan kundi si Enrique dahil ito ang pinakamamahal niya. Like what the f**k! Iba pala..

In the end, Renzo had been right. Enrique was never a good man, demonyo ito. Manggagamit. After marrying him, she had met such a tragic end. The more Lily thought about it, the more remorse she felt toward Renzo. Labis siyang nagsisisi… Sa nakaran niyang buhay, para matulungan si Enrique at para masecure ang position nito as chairman, she had done everything she could to seize 35% of Renzo’s shares. She had not only destroyed herself and her child she had ruined him too.

Renzo stood quietly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally landing on Lily. Her heart skipped a beat. For a brief moment, she thought she saw him smile at her…She hurriedly looked away pero natigilan siya ang makita kung sino ang hawak ni Renzo. Walang iba kundi ang anak niya.

“Mommy!” bulalas sa kanya ni Ethan…Seeing her son again, Lily felt her throat tighten. Nabunoton siya ng kung anuman sa dibdib. Nanginig siya sa takot. Hindi niya kakayanin na mawala ito sa kanya. Ethan’s eyes instantly filled with tears. Without caring about anything else, he ran toward her, crying.

“Mommy!”

Lily immediately squatted down and wrapped him tightly in her arms. Pinugpog niya ng halik ang anak. Punong-puno ng takot ang kanyang mga mata---ang puso niya and hearing him call her “Mommy,” Lily felt so overwhelmed she almost cried.

Next month would be Ethan’s third birthday; the same time he would develop the chronic illness caused by Luna in her previous life at ngayon may oras pa siya para hindi maulit ang nakaran. Kailangan niyang iligtas ang anak sa kamay ni Luna.

Lily silently vowed in her heart:

Baby, Mommy will protect you this time. I won’t let you get hurt again.

At the same time, Ethan made his own silent promise.. Mommy, this time, I’ll do everything I can to protect you.

Nang makita ni Enrique ang Uncle Renzo niya ay naningkit ang mga mata niya. Ilang taon na itong hindi uma-attend ng anniversary ng kumpanya, siguro dahil nakuha niya ang shares nito kung kaya hindi wala itong mahihirap na mukha sa lahat. His sudden appearance was definitely not good news. Hindi niya gusto na nasa paligid lamang ang kanyang Uncle Renzo.

Putting on a fake smile, Enrique stepped forward. “What brings you here, Uncle?”

Ang itsura ni Renzo ay ganoon pa rin, walang nagbago, malamig kung tumingin at parang walang pakialam.

“Anniversary ng kumpanya hindi ba??? Am I not allowed to attend?”

“Of course that’s not what I meant.” Enrique smiled, mabilis niyang hinila si Lily at hinahawakan ito sa baywang iba, kasi ang tingin niya kay Uncle Renzo, mukha itong may gusto sa kanyang asawa, noon pa man..

“Lily, come greet your Uncle," sarkastiko niyang wika..

Lily lifted her eyes to meet Renzo’s gaze. Bumilis ang t***k ng puso niya. Sa nakaraan buhay niyao ito ang kanyang knight in shining armor..

The moment he saw Enrique’s hand on her waist, Renzo’s expression grew colder and colder. A chill ran down Lily’s spine.

Dalawang beses ng nabuhay si Lily pero ang kabog ng dibdib niya sa tuwing na nakikita niya si Renzo ay ganoon pa rin.

Nagulat pa si Lily sa ginawa ng anak na si Ethan, bigla lang naman nitong itinulak si Enrique, tinutulak nito palayo si Enrique sa kanya kung kaya napakunot noo siya.

How dare that bastard touch Mommy’s waist? Wala silang hiya..

"Ethan!" saway niya sa anak..She was wearing high heels and nearly lost her balance.

Dahil sa nangyari ay naging maagap naman si Renzo at agad na nasalo si Lily para hindi matumba. Her soft, fragrant body pressed against him, causing Renzo’s heart to skip a beat. Their eyes met. Tila siya natigilan. Hindi maintindihan ni Renzo kung bakit ganon na lamang ang epekto ni Lily sa kanya. Dapat ay galit siya dito dahil sa ginawa nito sa kanya pero nandito siya maagap na sinasalo ang asawa.

Napatingin si Lily sa mukha ni Renzo. Hindi niya mapigilan ang t***k ng puso niya.. Halata naman, Renzo was devastatingly handsome. Gwapo rin naman si Enrique but compared to Renzo? Iba ang gwapo at appeal ni Renzo, iyon nga lang parang nakakatakot kung tumingin.

Watching from behind, Ethan smiled smugly. Looks like I’m one step closer to getting a new daddy. Kailangan makagawa siya ng paraan para maging malapit ang mommy niya kay future daddy Renzo niya.

Dumilim ang mukha ni Enrique sa nakita. Agad niyang hinila si Lily palapit sa kanya.

“Lily, how could you be so careless? Magpasalamat ka kay Uncle, kung hindi ka niya nasalo, baka nahulog ka, " ani Enrique.

“Thank you, Un--cle Renzo," naiilang niyang wika. Hindi naman ganun ito katanda pero dahil Uncle ito ni Enrique, uncle na rin ang tawag niya.

“You’re welcome.” Renzo’s eyes never left her.

Seeing the two of them looking at each other, Enrique tightened his grip on Lily’s hand. Naiinis siya sa nakikita niya.

“Ahmmmm Hon, we should go. Grandpa is waiting, " ani Enrique...He was clearly impatient. Hindi niya gusto ang nakikita niya. Pakiramdam niya ay may pinaplano si Uncle Renzo kung kaya ito nagbabalik.