My Time

Chapter 5

When we arrived at the villa, Thiago gently shook my shoulders.

"Sis... we're here."

I groaned softly, my eyes fluttering open. I didn't realize when I fell asleep. One moment I was watching the city lights pass by... the next, I was out.

"Mm... already?" I muttered, still half-asleep.

"Yeah. Come on."

Before I could fully gather myself, Thiago had already opened my door and was gently pushing me forward, guiding me as if I might collapse at any moment.

"I can walk, you know..." I mumbled, though I didn't exactly resist.

The cool night air brushed against my face as we stepped out of the car. My mind was still foggy, my steps were slightly unsteady as he led me towards the entrance.

"Careful," he said.

"yeah, yeah..."

We stepped inside, and that's when I fully opened my eyes.

"Huh?" I blinked.

One.

Twice.

Then slowly, I turned my head, letting everything sink in.

The interior was... luxurious!

It's so spacious, modern, and polished to perfection. Warm lighting reflected off the marble floors, and the high ceilings made the entire place feel even larger than it already was. Every piece of furniture looked expensive. Carefully chosen, neatly arranged, untouched.

But.

"This isn't our villa..." I turned to Thiago, my brows furrowed. "You bought a new one?" I asked, my gaze still wandering around the unfamiliar space. "Did you give Mateo the old one?"

For a brief moment, he didn't answer.

"The villa..." he started quietly. "...I sold it."

"Eh?!---" The shock snapped me fully awake. "You what?!" I stared at him, disbelief written all over my face. "You sold it?!"

That villa wasn't just a house. It was... our home. Every corner of it held memories. The kitchen where I learned how to cook. The living room was where the boys would fight over the TV. The garden where mom used to plant her ingredients...

"You just sold it?" I repeated, my voice slightly sharper than before.

"Sis, I'll call Mateo later and tell him you're back," Thiago said quickly, avoiding the topic entirely.

I narrowed my eyes.

Nice try, but I let it slide... for now.

"Is he in Manila right now?" I asked instead.

"No. He's on a world tour."

I blinked.

"A world tour?" Then a small smile formed on my lips. "So he really did become an artist, huh..." There was a hint of pride in my voice.

Mateo always loved attention. Loved performing. Loved being seen. Looks like that part of his story stayed the same.

"Then don't tell him I'm back yet," I said for a moment.

Thiago looked at me, surprised. "Why not?"

"He'll skip everything and come running to me," I replied simply. "Concerts, Schedules. Everything."

And that would be a problem. A big one.

"I'm here to fix the future," I continued, my tone was soft yet still firm. "Not to mess it up even more.

Thiago stayed silent.

"Let's wait till his tour ends," I added.

"Alright," he eventually said.

There was a pause.

"Oh, right," I said, turning back to him. "You still haven't answered my question."

His shoulder became slightly stiff.

"Why did you sell the villa?"

Silence.

The kind that lingers.

Heavy. Uncomfortable.

Then, his smile faded. His gaze dropped to the floor.

"After your death..." he began slowly, "our uncle took over the family's company."

I frowned slightly. "Our uncle?"

"He said he would take care of everything," Thiago continued. "But he... didn't manage it well."

Something in his tone told me this wasn't going anywhere good.

"When the company started to collapse," he said, "he came to me for help."

I blinked. "You?"

"I was 17," he admitted. "There was no one else."

My chest tightened.

"The company had no money left," he continued. "Only debt." A bitter smile formed on his lips.

"I had no choice."

I stared at him.

At the boy who once cried because he couldn't solve a math problem... Now talking about debt and bankruptcy as if it were normal.

I didn't get the chance to run the company. After all, my mom's family hated my father, which is why they didn't help us when she died.

"Hey..."

He looked up.

"What are you talking about?" I said, stepping closer. "You did amazing.

His eyes widened just a little.

"I mean, look at this place," I gestured around us. "It's huge."

Too huge, honestly.

"You turned things around, didn't you?" I added, giving him a small smile. "That's not something just anyone can do."

He stared at me for a moment. Like he didn't expect those words. Then... He smiled.

A real one this time.

"Get some rest, sis," he said gently. "You must be tired."

"I am," I admitted.

"If you need anything," he continued, "Jamie can help you with it tomorrow." He reached into his pocket and pulled something out.

A card.

He held it out to me. "Here." He said. "Spend it as much as you like."

My eyes lit up instantly. "Money, money, money!" I screamed internally.

My hand moved on its own and grabbed it. "This CEO brother of mine is amazing---!"

Then I froze.

"Wait..." My expression changed. "I can't use my brother like an ATM," I thought, my conscience kicking in.

I cleared my throat and tried to hand it back. "No, I can't accept this," I said.

"I insist."

He didn't even hesitate.

"If you say so." I slipped it into my pocket happily. Very happily. "I'll just borrow it," I muttered under my breath.

Definitely. Borrow.

"By the way," I said, suddenly remembering something important. "Where's Denver?"

Thiago froze. Just slightly, but I noticed.

"Oh... right," he said. His voice changed. Lower. Hesistant. "Denver..." He didn't look at me. And that was when a familiar feeling crept in.

Something's wrong.

My expression slowly hardened. "Thiago."

He stayed silent.

"Where is he?" I asked again, more seriously this time.

Still no answer.

The air in the room shifted. The warmth from earlier is gone. Replaced by something heavier. Something uneasy.

I took a step closer.

"Don't tell me..." I muttered, my chest tightening.

No. It can't be. Not already.

"Thiago," I said again, my voice firm now. "Look at me."

Slowly, reluctantly, he lifted his gaze, and what I saw in his eyes was enough to tell me what happened to Denver that it wasn't good.

"What happened?" I asked quietly because I already knew that this wasn't going to be simple. And whatever it was... It's probably connected to the story. The one I was trying to change.

My grip tightened at my side.

"Don't tell me I'm already too late."