The Maid's Daughter

CHAPTER 2

Possessive

Buong araw akong hindi mapakali After Alessandro left, parang mas lalong naging mabigat ang atmosphere sa mansion Lahat ng tao tahimik,Lahat mukhang takot And somehow…Parang may tinatago silang lahat sa akin. Napabuntong-hininga ako habang naglalakad sa garden ng mansion.The place was beautiful,

Malalaking fountains, White roses, Expensive statues,Pero kahit gaano kaganda…Pakiramdam ko nakakulong ako.

“Hindi ka bagay dito.”

Napalingon ako agad.A gorgeous woman stood behind me Mahaba ang buhok niya, Naka-red fitted dress Sobrang ganda at elegante. Pero ang tingin niya sa akin?Parang gusto niya akong sampalin.

“I’m sorry?” tanong ko.

She crossed her arms.“So ikaw pala ang bagong obsession ni Alessandro.”

Napakunot-noo ako.“H-Hindi po—”

“Don’t lie.”Lumapit siya sa akin habang matalim ang tingin.“I know Alessandro. He doesn’t protect people unless they matter to him.”

Napayuko ako sandali.Who is she?Parang nabasa niya iniisip ko dahil ngumiti siya nang mapait.

“Isabella Monteverde.”bigla niya sabi

Biglang may naalala ako.The mafia princess.The woman rumored to become Alessandro’s future wife........Shit.

“And you?” taas-kilay niyang tanong.

“Sofia.”sagot ko sakanya at nginitian Siya

“Just Sofia?” she mocked.

I stayed quiet.Bigla siyang tumawa nang mahina.

“A maid’s daughter living inside Alessandro’s mansion…” she whispered. “How pathetic.”

Masakit.Pero pinigilan kong mag-react.Hindi ako magpapatalo.

“Bakit parang galit na galit ka po sa akin?” kalmado kong tanong.

Biglang tumalim lalo tingin niya.“Because girls like you are dangerous.”

Before I could respond—

“Sofia.”Mababa at malamig na boses.

Biglang natigilan si Isabella.Napalingon ako at nakita ko si Alessandro walking toward us.Naka-black suit siya,His sleeves rolled up slightly, exposing his tattooed arms.And God…

He looked furious.

“What are you doing here?” malamig niyang tanong kay Isabella.

She smirked.“Can’t I visit my future husband?”

Tumigas panga ni Alessandro.“You’re not my future anything."

Nanlaki mata ko.Damn.Even Isabella looked embarrassed.Pero agad din siyang ngumiti.

“You’re embarrassing me in front of the maid’s daughter?”

Malamig na tumingin si Alessandro sa kanya.“She has a name.”

Tahimik kaming lahat.Then suddenly—Lumapit si Alessandro sa akin at hinila ako palapit sa katawan niya.My breath caught.

His arm wrapped possessively around my waist.

Nanlaki mata ni Isabella.“A-Alessandro…”

He ignored her completely.Instead, his eyes stayed on me.“Did she say something to upset you?”

Mabilis akong umiling.Pero parang hindi siya naniwala.

His jaw tightened.“Look at me and answer properly.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya....Wrong move.Because the way he was staring at me…It made my knees weak.

“She just introduced herself,” mahina kong sagot.

Tahimik siyang tumitig sa akin for a few seconds.Then he suddenly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.Too gentle,Too intimate At halatang napansin iyon ni Isabella.

“Unbelievable,” she hissed. “You’re choosing her over me?”

Biglang lumamig ang mukha ni Alessandro.“I’m not choosing anyone.”

“But you’re touching her!”galit na Sabi ni isabela

His eyes darkened dangerously.“And?” Tahimik,Deadly silence.

Then Alessandro spoke again.“Leave.”

Isabella laughed bitterly.“You’ll regret this.”

“And you’re testing my patience.”alessandro said coldly

After that, umalis siya nang galit.

Pagkaalis niya, agad akong lumayo nang bahagya kay Alessandro.

“You didn’t have to do that,” mahina kong sabi.

His brows furrowed.“Do what?”

“Protect me.”i said

His expression suddenly became unreadable.Then he stepped closer.“Sofia.”

My heart raced.

“Do you know what happens to people who disrespect something that belongs to me?”he said softly

Napalunok ako.“W-What?”

His thumb slowly brushed my cheek.“They disappear.”

My breath hitched.“Pero hindi naman ako—”

“You are.”Naputol ako. His eyes locked with mine.

“You just don’t realize it yet.”

Hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang sinabi ni Alessandro buong gabi.“You belong to me.”

Paulit-ulit iyong tumatakbo sa isip ko habang nakahiga ako sa kama.What does he even mean by that?Hindi naman ako bagay sa mundo niya.He’s a mafia boss,Dangerous, Powerful, Untouchable.Samantalang ako?Anak lang ako ng dating maid nila.Pero sa tuwing naaalala ko kung paano niya ako hawakan kanina…Kung paano niya tingnan si Isabella habang ipinagtatanggol ako…Hindi ko mapigilang kiligin.Napailing ako habang tinatakpan ng unan ang mukha ko.

“s**t, Sofia,” bulong ko sa sarili ko. “Huwag kang mahulog.”

Pero mahirap.Sobrang hirap.Especially when Alessandro De Luca looks at me like I’m the only woman in the world.Napabangon ako nang makarinig ng mahinang katok sa pinto.

“Miss Sofia?” boses ni Teresa.

“Come in po.”

Pumasok siya habang may dalang tray ng pagkain.“Hindi ka raw bumaba for dinner,” sabi niya habang inilalapag ang tray sa table.

“Wala po akong gana.”sabi ko

Napansin kong para siyang kinakabahan.“Sir Alessandro asked if you were sick.”

Napatigil ako.“He asked about me?”

Tumango siya.“He was worried.”

My heart skipped.Worried?Alessandro?That man barely smiles.Pero nag-aalala siya sa akin?

“Nasaan po siya?” hindi ko napigilang itanong.

Sandaling natahimik si Teresa.“Nasa office niya. May meeting.”

Tumango ako Pagkaalis niya, napatingin ako sa tray ng pagkain.Pero mas nangingibabaw ang curiosity ko kaysa gutom.Kanina pa ako bothered.Who are the monsters Alessandro was talking about?And why does everyone keep acting like I’m in danger?Huminga ako nang malalim bago tuluyang tumayo.Maybe…I need answers.Tahimik akong lumabas ng kwarto.

Madilim na ang mansion.Most of the lights were off.Habang naglalakad ako sa hallway, napapansin kong may mga armadong lalaki sa iba’t ibang sulok ng bahay.

Some were talking through earpieces.Some carried guns openly.Hindi talaga normal ang mundong ito.Pagdating ko sa second floor hallway, narinig ko ang mahihinang boses mula sa dulo."boss's office."Napatigil ako.Maybe this is a bad idea.Pero bago pa ako umatras—

“Boss, the shipment already arrived.”

Bigla akong natigilan.Shipment?

“And the traitor?” malamig na boses ni Alessandro.

“He’s still refusing to talk.”

Tahimik.Then—

“Make him talk.”narinig kung Sabi ni Alessandro

Nanlamig buong katawan ko.There was no emotion in Alessandro’s voice.No hesitation.No mercy.Parang ibang tao siya.Hindi iyong lalaking maingat humawak sa bewang ko kanina.

This version of him was terrifying.Napalunok ako habang dahan-dahang lumalapit sa pinto.I know I should stop.Pero gusto kong maintindihan siya.

Bigla akong nakarinig ng malakas na tunog.Parang may sinuntok.Then a man screamed.Napaatras ako agad.Oh my God........Anong ginagawa nila doon?

Before I could move—

“Who’s there?”

Nanlaki mata ko.Shit.Mabilis akong napaatras pero bumukas agad ang pinto.At bumungad sa akin si Marco.

He looked surprised.“Well, well…”

Patay........

“Boss,” nakangising sabi niya habang lumilingon sa loob ng office. “Looks like your princess was spying.”

Nanigas ako.Then slowly…Lumabas si Alessandro.And my heart nearly stopped.Nakatanggal ang coat niya,Nakarolyo sleeves niya hanggang siko,May dugo sa kamao niya Fresh blood His dark eyes locked onto mine Dangerously calm.

“Sofia." malamig niyang sabi

Muntik akong mawalan ng boses.“I-I wasn’t—”

“Leave us,” malamig niyang utos kay Marco at sa ibang lalaki.

Tahimik silang umalis.Pagkasara ng pinto, kami na lang dalawa.At mas lalo akong kinabahan.Lumapit siya nang dahan-dahan.One step.Two steps.

Until he was standing right in front of me.

“Hindi ba sinabi kong stay away from my business?” malamig niyang tanong

.

Napayuko ako.“I was just curious.”

“Curiosity gets people killed.”he said while staring directly to me

Napatingin ako agad sa kanya.His expression remained unreadable.Pero mas nakakatakot iyon.

“Natatakot ka ba sa akin?” tanong niya bigla.

Tahimik ako.Because honestly?Oo.Pero hindi lang takot ang nararamdaman ko.There’s something else,Something dangerous.

“Hindi ko alam,” mahina kong sagot.

His jaw tightened slightly.Then he suddenly grabbed my chin gently.“Look at me.”

Dahan-dahan akong tumingin sa kanya.Big mistake.Because his eyes were intense.Parang hinihila ako palapit sa kanya kahit hindi siya gumagalaw.

“You should be afraid of me, Sofia.”His voice dropped lower.“I’ve done terrible things.”

Napalunok ako.“Like hurting people?”He stared at me silently.Then—

“Yes.”walang pag aalinlangan niya na Sagot

Hindi ko alam bakit pero sumikip dibdib ko.Kasi despite everything…Hindi ko maramdaman na masama siyang tao Broken maybe,Dangerous definitely,But not evil.

“You’re bleeding,” mahina kong sabi habang nakatingin sa kamao niya.

Sandali siyang natahimik.Parang hindi niya inaasahan na iyon mapapansin ko.

“It’s nothing.”Without thinking, hinawakan ko kamay niya.

At agad akong nakaramdam ng kuryente sa buong katawan.His hand was huge compared to mine Warm,Strong Slowly, I pulled him toward a nearby couch.Umupo siya habang tahimik lang akong kumuha ng first aid kit sa cabinet.

“You don’t have to do that,” sabi niya habang pinapanood ako.

“Mas lalong hindi ka gagaling kung puro ka yabang.”sabi ko saknya For the first time…Parang gusto niyang ngumiti,Tiny.....Almost invisible.Pero nakita ko iyon At muntik na naman akong matunaw Tahimik kong nilinis ang sugat niya Pero habang ginagawa ko iyon, ramdam ko titig niya sa mukha ko Intense,Heavy Parang may gustong sabihin.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” kinakabahan kong tanong.

His thumb brushed softly against my wrist.“Because you’re too soft for this world.”

My breath hitched.“Hindi mo pa ako kilala.”

“I want to.”he softly said

Biglang bumilis t***k ng puso ko Too fast,Too dangerous.

“Alessandro—”

“Sofia.”Mababa boses niya habang dahan-dahan akong hinihila palapit sa kanya.

Napatayo ako sa pagitan ng mga hita niya.Now he was even closer.Ramdam ko init ng katawan niya.Naamoy ko pabango niya mixed with whiskey and smoke.Deadly combination.

“You keep looking at me like I’m still human,” bulong niya.

“Because you are.”I softly said

His eyes darkened.“You have no idea what I’ve done.”

“Then tell me.”lakas LOOB Kong sinabi

Tahimik siya sandali.Parang may battle sa isip niya.

Then he laughed bitterly.“You don’t belong in my darkness, princesa.”

“Maybe I’m not scared of the dark.” I directly said

Bigla siyang natahimik.At parang may naputol sa self-control niya.His hand suddenly moved to my waist Mahigpit,Possessive.

“Sofia…” warning sa boses niya.

Pero imbes na matakot…Mas lalo akong huminga nang mabigat.Because deep inside…I wanted him close.Very close.His gaze dropped to my lips.Then back to my eyes.

“Tell me to stop,” bulong niya.

Hindi ako nakasagot.Hindi dahil natatakot ako.Kundi dahil ayokong huminto siya.At parang iyon mismo ang ikinagalit niya sa sarili niya.

“f**k,” marahan niyang mura bago biglang tumayo.Napaatras ako nang bahagya.

He ran a hand through his messy hair.“You need to stay away from me.”

Mas lalo akong nalito.“Pero ikaw itong laging lumalapit.”

Tumawa siya nang mapait.“Exactly.”

Tahimik kaming dalawa.The tension between us was suffocating.Then suddenly—

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Biglang tumunog ang alarm sa buong mansion.

Nanlaki mata ko.“What’s happening?!”

Agad nag-iba expression ni Alessandro.Dangerous mode instantly.Gunshots echoed outside.At doon ako tuluyang natakot.

“Stay behind me.”Mabilis niyang hinila ako palapit sa katawan niya habang kumukuha ng baril mula sa drawer.

My breathing became uneven.

“Alessandro…”

“Someone breached the mansion.”He seriously said

Nanlamig dugo ko.Mabilis siyang naglakad palabas ng office habang hawak kamay ko.Paglabas namin, nagtatakbuhan ang mga bodyguards.Some carrying rifles.

Some shouting orders.“This way, boss!”

“Protect Sofia,” malamig na utos ni Alessandro.

“No!” agad kong sabi. “I’m not leaving you!”

Biglang napatingin lahat sa akin.Pero si Alessandro lang tinitigan ko.His expression softened for one second.Just one.Then gunshots exploded nearby.

Napasigaw ako nang bahagya habang instinctively kumapit sa polo niya.

Agad niya akong niyakap palapit sa dibdib niya protectively.

“It’s okay,” bulong niya malapit sa tenga ko. “I won’t let them touch you.”

At first time kong marinig iyon…Naniwala ako sa kanya completely.Even if he was dangerous.Even if he belonged to darkness.At that moment…Alessandro De Luca felt like the safest place in the world.