BILLIONAIRE LEGAL WIFE

"My child, Agusto! Where is Ana?" Diana's voice trembled as she lay on a stretcher inside a hospital in Quezon Province. They were on their way to Manila in her father's Pajero when the car collided with a bus bound for Manila. There was a pile-up of vehicles on the zigzag road, and she suspected that her father's brother, Octavio, had something to do with it. She also suspected that her family's mining accident in Camarines Norte was the result of Octavio's actions, though she still needed to prove her claims.

"I will find Ana, Diana. I promise," her husband quickly nodded, tears still streaming down his face. He left her and went to check on some of the survivors, but their daughter was not among them. He fervently prayed that their child wasn't among the casualties. The worry didn't leave him, as ever since the chaos erupted and their child slipped from his grasp, he hadn't seen her again.

There were about seventy people on that bus, making it difficult for him to find their child, especially now that relatives were arriving. He stepped out of the hospital, and there were a few bodies already declared dead. His heart pounded as he examined each one. The last thing he saw was the lifeless body of a woman nearly the same age as their child.

"Anikka..." a young woman's voice cried out, presumably her mother, as she held the child's hand. He couldn't bear the sight, as it reminded him of his own child, and he couldn't bear to think the same fate had befallen her. He couldn't bear to lose his only child.

He circled back to continue searching for Ana, but he was unsuccessful. He also couldn't face his wife, who was crying even harder. He sat for a moment in the emergency waiting area, his eyes still scanning around.

"Papa..." a small voice spoke, immediately sending a jolt through his chest.

"Ana?" He turned his gaze to where the voice came from and saw the child being held by the woman who had been crying earlier, clutching the body of another young girl. "Ana!" He immediately embraced his child, exhaling a sigh of relief. He looked up at the woman, who was smiling faintly.

"Thank you," he said to her. "I'm so sorry for what happened to..." She nodded in understanding, her face still etched with sorrow. "If there's anything I can do to help."

"I just need to take Anikka home," she replied through her tears. He could feel the pain she was going through.

"I'll help you. Where do you live?"

"In Nueva Ecija. We just visited some relatives, that's why we're here. I wish I hadn't brought her." She broke down again, allowing her pent-up emotions to flow.

"I'll take care of everything. Wait for me here. I just need to see my wife, she's worried about Ana." The woman nodded. "I'm Agusto Mondragon. And you are?"

"Lucila Merced," she replied. She nodded before bidding him a momentary farewell, holding her child.

After he brought Ana to Diana, he quickly called a friend who would help them leave the area. Octavio didn't need to know their current situation. He needed to get his family away from his brother's malevolence.

"I can't be separated from my child, Agusto," Diana said when she explained her plan to take Ana away from Rancho Mondragon.

"We need to make it appear that Ana is missing, Diana. Octavio won't stop until he gets revenge. She'll be safe far from Octavio. I'll accompany her to Mother Tina's. We won't let any harm come to her." Mother Tina, referred to by Agusto, was the woman who had worked in the mansion and now lived outside Hacienda Mondragon. She was Agusto's mother-in-law, as she was the mother of Agusto's father.

Diana didn't respond, as she knew why Octavio harbored such intense anger towards them. He was Diana's first love, and she became pregnant with his child when they were still young. However, because he was abusive, Diana decided to distance herself from him. When he found out about the two of them, he offered to marry her and take responsibility for the child she was carrying. It was then that her feelings for the young woman began to grow. Octavio's anger escalated, leading to further violence against Diana, which ultimately resulted in the miscarriage of their child. He vowed that they would never find peace because of the betrayal.

That was just one of the resentments Octavio held against her. Another significant reason was the loss of his inheritance at Rancho Mondragon. The land belonged to his mother, Manuela Mondragon, and when his father died first, his mother ensured that Octavio had no claim, as he was the child of her husband Roman from another woman. His mother passed away a year ago, and that's when his slow but sure revenge began after he learned about the family's will from their lawyer.

"Promise me that no one will find out about all of this, Diana. Ana's safety is at stake here. You wouldn't want to lose her for the second time, would you?"

She released a gentle nod. She guided her husband away from the hospital without their daughter Ana.

APRIL 2018

"Maybe I can take you home now, Nikka," Jude, her boyfriend, said as he picked her up from school one afternoon. It had been a year since she agreed to be his girlfriend after eight months of courtship. But it seemed she wasn't ready for their relationship to progress to a more serious stage, especially since she still had many secrets she hadn't shared with him. Her father had also arrived today for an important discussion.

"I can't right now, Jude. Maybe next time," she made an excuse.

"You're always making excuses. Are you not serious about our relationship?" he said with a hint of frustration. Suddenly, a headache struck her as they talked. Jude was actually kind and a gentleman. He never once pressured her to go beyond a kiss. He was a twenty-five-year-old call center agent.

"My father is at home waiting for me," she gave another excuse. "Let's just set it for another day."

"I want to propose to you, Nikka. You've already finished college."

She looked at him quickly before turning her gaze out the car window, seeing him looking at her. She wasn't even ready to introduce him to her parents, let alone get married. She hadn't even experienced working and building a career in her chosen field of Mass Communication.

She let out a deep sigh while still looking out the window. When they reached her house, she saw her father's car parked in front of the gate. Her father was outside, talking to her mother Lucila, seemingly waiting for her to arrive. She quickly said goodbye to Jude and kissed his cheek, but instead, he turned to her lips to kiss her. She quickly pulled away in fear of her father seeing them.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your father?" he asked, seemingly waiting for a good answer. His face darkened when she couldn't speak. "Goodnight," he said without looking at her. She quietly got out of the car and quickly entered the gate.

"Anikka is here," her mother Lucila said, and her father immediately turned and welcomed her when he saw her.

"Hi, Pa!" She kissed his cheek and smiled.

"It's good that you're here. We have something important to discuss," he said, walking with her into the house. Their house was small with only three small rooms. She put her bag on the study table. Her father stayed standing at the door, his hands clasped.

"It's time for you to go back, Ana. I will give you an hour to pack your things."

"W-what?" she asked in surprise. She knew they used to live in Camarines Norte because she was eight years old when they left that place, and there was an accident where Lucila's real daughter, Anikka, died. She was too young to understand things back then; why she had to go with a woman she didn't know and take on a new identity.

"You've finished college, Ana," her father said. When she was called by that name, it felt like a stranger to her because she grew up using Anikka. Although in school, she was allowed to use her real name, Anastacia Mondragon.

"I'm okay here, 'Pa," she said as she took off her sneakers.

"You need to face your real life. You need to learn the ins and outs of our business and how to manage the ranch. I'm sorry, my child, but you're the only one I can rely on because you're the only child of your mother," her father continued to say. He gestured to the vast land of Rancho Mondragon and the various companies established by her grandmother.

"But weren't our lives in danger, which is why you took me away? Why do I have to go back?" The anxiety in her chest slowly rose.

"Because your Uncle Octavio wants to claim half of the ranch and the earnings from Golden Land Mining Corp."

"If that would appease him, why don't you just give it to him? Maybe he has a right as Lolo's child," she reasoned. Truthfully, she didn't want such a huge responsibility. She was content with the simple life in Nueva Ecija.

"If only it were that easy, Ana. The reason your uncle is contesting his inheritance is because he needs a large sum of money. He'll only sell that land if he wins. We suspect he is a druglord, and having that piece of land would make him rich and powerful."

"Then I shouldn't go back there, Papa. My life was in danger thirteen years ago, it will be in danger now. Can't you declare me dead?"

"We never declared you dead, Anastacia!" her father said angrily. "Missing, yes. But there's someone pretending to be you in the mansion."

She stared at her father, confused by what he was saying now. "W-what do you mean?"

"Five years after that accident, when we claimed you still hadn't been found, Octavio brought a girl to the house who was your age. She was claiming she was our daughter. We accepted her anyway because of your Mama's longing for you."

She couldn't believe what her father was revealing. She couldn't stop the tears at the thought of someone else assuming her identity and being with her real parents. While Lucila had been attentive to her, she still couldn't fill the void she felt for her true family.

"So, he's using my name?"

"No. I would never allow someone else to use your name or your Lola's name. She's simply Ana Mondragon. Where Octavio found her or whatever his reason for bringing the child to us, we don't know. But now everything is becoming clear. We suspect she is Octavio's child with another woman. Since we only have one child, she will be the sole heir. If it turns out we can't find you, Ana will inherit everything – which will all be in favor for Octavio."

"And now that your real child is returning, what do you think she'll feel?"

"She lived a comfortable life, Ana-"

"Anikka, Papa," she corrected him, insisting on being called Ana. "Let her use that name. My identity has changed now."

"You will always be my Ana," her father said emotionally, but she didn't pay it any mind. "She won't suffer because she was legally adopted by your Mama."

"So Uncle Octavio still wins, Papa, if it turns out her adoption was legal."

"No. The Rancho Mondragon is already in your name since you were eight years old. If she gets anything, it will be shares in the company, but just enough for her to live comfortably."

"I wasn't prepared for all of this, Papa. I never expected it. I wanted to think about it first."

"Sooner or later you still have to claim what is yours, Anikka."

"But as I said, this is the life I want now. I've also applied for a job at a local radio station here. My friends are here, and I have a boyfriend too."

"You're already set to marry the child of a close friend, Anikka."

"What?!"

In Anikka's one year at Rancho Mondragon, it seemed like her world had shifted from a simple life to a chaotic one. Everyone was surprised by her return, especially when her father revealed that Lucila suddenly appeared at the Rancho and surrendered herself. This led to a reward being given, and her mother-in-law was promptly sent away, almost running to catch up.

She didn't want to return to the Rancho, especially after seeing the piercing gaze of her Uncle Octavio and Ana's evident disgust in her presence. Her father quickly called a meeting and handed over the management of the Rancho to her, despite her objections.

From the large house, she cast her eyes on the land she owned. She was only eight when she left, thinking she would just take a stroll in Manila because she wanted to visit Ocean Adventure. Due to an accident, she was completely separated from her land. Now, she was seeing a part of her youth that was once happy, colorful, and full of life. Now, it seemed like a prison that restrained her freedom because of the eyes of the people there; Uncle Octavio and Ana, her parents' adoptive child.

The family owned two companies that she preferred not to meddle with; the Golden Land Mining Corp., and the Mondragon Agri Corp. which distributed agricultural products from Rancho Mondragon. Both companies involved a lot of money. For now, she was content with roaming the Rancho. Whether she admitted it or not, she felt a fear in her heart whenever she faced her Uncle Octavio because of his sharp gaze. She was just thankful that Ana had started treating her better in the past few months. If there was a good relationship between her real mother and Ana, she shouldn't be jealous anymore because Diana was also trying to fill in the lost time between them.

"You need to start attending company meetings, Anikka," her father said from behind her, entering the room unnoticed by her. "It won't be long before you take charge of them. It's best for you to learn it early."

"Ana is interested, Papa, you can just assign her. I want to have a job related to my course."

"But you are my child. I inherited this land and the company from your Lola. You are the true Mondragon, not Ana, and definitely not Octavio. On Monday, I will take you to the office and give you a position. Ana will still stay in her position," he said, seeming firm about it.

"Can I refuse?"

"No. You need to embrace this reality, my child – you are rich and you own a Ranch and two companies. I want you to be smart, observant, and brave in these times. I'm not always here to protect you."

She touched her forehead, feeling the weight of the responsibility he wanted to place on her. If she had grown up here, she would have easily gotten used to being an heir, rather than suddenly thrust into a battle without even having ammunition.

Her father had already left but she still couldn't think straight. Jude kept calling her, asking when she would return to Nueva Ecija because she didn't inform him why she suddenly left. She couldn't bring her boyfriend here because her father would insist on arranging her marriage to the son of his friend, whom she had never met in her entire life.

Her life was in turmoil and she was not happy.

"You're here, Nikka," her mother said when she came down to the dining room for lunch. Ana was already there, happily chatting with the servants. Their mother-daughter relationship was fine, but she was sad that Ana's attention was divided between her and Ana. When she was this troubled, she wanted to confide in Lucila and express her feelings. She saw more sympathy from Lucila in their phone conversations than from Diana, who was with her now.

"Is something wrong, Nikka?" Ana asked, noticing her brief smile before it turned serious.

"Nothing," she forced another smile.

"You look bothered," Ana said again.

"My head just hurts," she replied. When she had a lot on her mind, anxiety would attack her.

"There's paracetamol in the medicine cabinet, Nikka. I'll have one of the housekeepers get it for you," her mother said, taking a seat at the dining table. Their conversation resumed, but she didn't fully grasp what they were talking about. After eating, she quickly returned to her room and listened to music to ease the heaviness in her chest.

In the afternoon, she sat on the veranda and savored the fresh air. A loud voice from behind startled her and made her heart race.

"How's our dear Princess?" her Uncle Octavio greeted with a smile. "What are you doing here alone? Your mother and Ana went into town. Didn't they invite you?"

"I just came out of my room," she replied curtly. She wanted to dismiss him, but her father had instructed her to make an effort to get along with him to avoid being dragged into the conflict between the siblings, though it didn't seem to be working out that way.

"Ana has completely won your mother over. Aren't you alarmed?" he continued. She knew he was trying to provoke her into taking action against her mother or Ana, but she wouldn't allow it.

"I also don't want things to change just because I came back, Uncle," she said firmly, showing that she wasn't affected by his words.

"Agusto mentioned that you'll start working at the company on Monday. Did you know that Ana has requested to be appointed as VP for Operations at Agri Corp? Maybe you won't stand in her way so that the position can go to you."

"Papa will be the one to decide, Uncle. Whatever he wants, Ana and I should respect it, right?"

"You have a lot to learn before you're assigned to a high position, Nikka. If you want, you can work with me temporarily," he said tactfully. She knew he had a position in Mining, but his rank had dropped due to a series of accidents involving the workers in the mine. Her father took over operations and put in another manager as his replacement.

"No problem, Uncle. As long as my father approves it," she replied.

"Of course your father won't allow that. Because as far as I know, you will be appointed as CEO at Agri in the coming days." She was shocked by this news and quickly turned to face her uncle. That wasn't what her father had told her, and if what he was saying was true, she wouldn't accept it.

"Ana will surely be devastated, Nikka. She was expecting to be appointed by your father there. But because you arrived, she's accepted that she can only dream of the VP position," he continued. "And if Ana gets hurt because of this, your mother will surely be hurt too. You don't want that, do you?"

"As I said, Papa will make the decision on where to place Ana and me. Will you excuse me, Uncle? I just remembered I have something to attend to," she said, using it as an excuse to end the conversation.

"Sure." He stood up as well but spoke again before leaving. "Don't stray too far when you explore the Ranch, Nikka. There are still dangerous places on this land," he said, leaving her with a shiver. The memory of the accident when she was a child resurfaced in her mind, haunting her even now.

That evening, when her father arrived at the house, she talked to him in the library. Since she arrived here a year ago, she noticed that her mother Diana didn't interfere in any of the family's businesses.

"Is there a problem, my child?" her father asked, sitting in the swivel chair while she remained standing.

"Uncle Octavio talked to me this afternoon. Is it true that you plan to replace yourself with me as CEO at Agri? I want to know what your real plans are for me, why you brought me back here, Papa."

"Yes. I don't know where Octavio got that information, but now I believe that man has eyes and ears in my office."

"I don't want such a high position right after my return. If I really have no choice because I'm your only child, give me a year to learn the ins and outs of the company."

Her father stared at her for a moment before nodding slowly. "If that's what's best for you, I'll agree. But you'll start as my assistant on Monday, Anikka. Tomorrow, you'll accompany me to meet with the lawyer for some things I need to discuss with you."

"But isn't my official start date on Monday?"

"This is not about business. This is personal. Promise me that no one will find out about this."

If earlier she was nervous talking to Uncle Octavio, now she was twice as anxious hearing her father's words. "Why hasn't Mama been part of our conversations since I arrived, Papa?" she finally asked her father after a long moment of waiting for him to respond.

"I didn't want to tell you this right away, Anikka, but I guess you need to know now," he began, seeming to struggle with what he was about to say. "Ana is Octavio's daughter."

"You already mentioned that suspicion to me, Papa. Have you confirmed it?"

He nodded slowly before taking a deep breath. "And your mother's daughter."

"What?!"

A moment of silence followed. Now she understood the complicated relationship between the two, even though she had felt like the outsider in the first few months of her return. Even her visits to Nueva Ecija were infrequent, and Agusto rarely accompanied her.

And now she understood Agusto's lack of trust in his wife when it came to business matters and the wealth left by her grandmother.

"How did you find out?"

"Diana insisted that I just adopt Ana, despite both of us knowing where we had you cared for. At first, I thought your mother was just feeling nostalgic for you, so I agreed. But I noticed Octavio's fondness for Ana, so I had both of them undergo a DNA test. It was positive. I only had your mother and Ana take the test last month when I noticed that Diana seemed distant from you compared to Ana. And the result just came out last week."

She sank into the receiving chair, her knees trembling. She couldn't fathom the pain her father must have felt upon discovering his wife's secret.

"We're really siblings..." she almost whispered. "But you said Mama had a miscarriage back then, right?"

"That's what I believed too. But Octavio might have just told her to have the child and secure his claim to the inheritance through their child."

"So, where does Mama's loyalty lie now? With us or with Ana?"

Despite their separation from Octavio before I married Diana, their relationship has remained amicable until now. It's not hard to guess why. They live freely, thinking I don't know their secret."

She wanted to pity her father for keeping all these revelations to himself for the sake of maintaining peace.

"How do you cope with all of this, Papa?" Her father wiped away a tear that he had been holding back since earlier.

"Because of you, Anikka. I need to be strong for your sake and your safety..."

"Why don't we just leave? Let go of this wealth. Sell the Ranch and leave this place. I want to live quietly, Papa. I don't want to live in fear."

"I won't agree, Child. I won't back down from them. That's why I'm asking you to be brave at all times."

"Oh, Papa..." She stood up and hugged him. She felt the pain in his heart, and if she could, she would bear the pain for him. With what she had learned today, she wanted to despise her mother.

"Promise me you'll be brave, Anikka. Don't let them defeat you. Do you understand?"

She could only nod to reassure her father. She was the only ally he had left now. She couldn't afford to falter.

But the truth was, she wanted to get away from this place.

"The next day, they left early in the morning with their father, riding in a Wrangler Jeep along with the four bodyguards of their father. Their farewell to their mother, Diana, was just a ruse to take her on a tour of Camarines Norte and introduce her to some of their father's business associates. They reached Gumaca, Quezon, which puzzled her.

"This is your Godfather Ernesto's office, Anikka. He's a lawyer and he's in charge of your trust fund and some of the wealth I put in your name. Your mother doesn't know any of it, you probably know why."

She nodded slowly as they entered the house of her Godfather. An old man, nearly seventy years old, greeted them.

"So this is Ana, Agusto. Your granddaughter is so beautiful. It's a shame Doña Manuela didn't get to see how she grew up."

"The only grandchild, Ernesto," Agusto agreed. "That's why I want her to be safe and secure in case something happens to me."

"Papa..." she wanted to interrupt whatever her father was going to say. She didn't know what she would do if he were to pass away.

"I'm not getting any younger, Anikka. It's better that we're prepared for whatever might happen. Your Godfather Ernesto is here to help you, no matter what."

"You're scaring your daughter, Agusto," Ernesto said with a smile. When his wife entered, she handed them drinks. "Take a break because your journey is still far."

After some conversation with her father and Godfather, Agusto began to go through the assets he had put in her name, like the Ranch, her trust fund, and shares in Mining and Agriculture as his daughter. He divided some of the shares between Ana and Diana. He also left a will stating that if something were to happen to him, his shares would go to Ana and not to Diana, his wife. Along with that will was the result of the DNA test confirming Ana as the child of Octavio and Diana.

Ana was now twenty-five years old.

"That's why their resemblance couldn't be denied, Agusto," Ernesto commented. "But when it comes to beauty, your daughter is undoubtedly more beautiful." He turned to her and smiled. "Choose your future spouse wisely, Ana. Besides your beauty, you're incredibly wealthy. Many will surely court you. It's a challenge if you encounter an opportunist like Octavio who only seeks his own interests."

"Do you know Uncle Octavio?"

"I know him very well, dear. I was also friends with your Grandma Manuela. She never really liked Octavio because he always aimed for the same status as your Papa when it came to money and popularity. If he had been a good grandchild to your Grandma, he might have inherited from Manuela. But he's always been naturally unruly and loves to cause trouble."

"We're leaving, Ernesto. Say hi to your children for me," her father said, standing up and saying goodbye to his wife as well.

"Take care, Agusto," the lawyer replied, escorting them to the gate of the subdivision they were staying in.

When they returned to the Ranch, Ana and Diana were at the swimming pool. Although she felt a pang of jealousy, she pushed it aside. For now, she needed to focus on her father.

"Join us, Nikka," her sister called, so she reluctantly approached the pool area. She was surprised to see a man there, someone she hadn't seen since she returned to the Ranch.

"Hey, babe! That's Anastacia," Ana said in a louder voice. The man approached her and extended his hand.

"I'm Benedict. It's nice to meet you."

She smiled and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you. I just saw you here for the first time," she said, smiling. He seemed kind, and she felt at ease with his genuine smile. She couldn't help but notice the casual attire he was wearing, but he didn't seem like a simple Ranch employee.

"I just arrived from Palawan yesterday. I've been there for a year, taking care of the land Papa left that I needed to manage."

She nodded and smiled before returning her attention to the two swimming.

"Why don't you join them?" he asked in his deep voice.

"We've been traveling around CamSur with Papa. I'll rest for a bit." She leaned back on the metal chair. "How about you?" He shook his head immediately.

"I just came to talk to your Papa because one of the horses is sick."

"You work here?"

"Not directly. I'm the one who looks after the horses when your Papa calls me. Can I speak with him?"

"Sure, he's inside the house, he might be done changing by now." She stood up, and they walked together from the patio into the large house.

"You look different now, even more beautiful," he complimented her as they walked. She furrowed her brow at his words.

"You know me?" she asked, surprised. She couldn't remember meeting him when she was younger.

"I see your pictures all over the house. You were a bit chubby, but your face was undeniably beautiful even then. Seeing you in person now is even more special," he continued to say. She smiled at him.

"So, I guess you're a veterinarian," she said.

"Yeah. I have a clinic in town."

Her father greeted him warmly when they entered the house.

"Benedict! I'm glad you came early."

"I wanted to check on the horses early. Fury seemed a bit sluggish when I passed by the stables."

"Let's go and see what needs to be done, Benedict."

"Would you come with us?" Benedict asked her, waiting for her answer.

"Come along, Anikka, so you can also chat with Benedict. I trust him here at the Ranch," her father added.

She reluctantly joined them at the stables, which were a kilometer away from the main house. There were only ten horses there, but all were imported by her father from other countries. As they walked, the two talked about the land in Palawan that Benedict inherited from his father. She remained quiet, just listening.

"It's good that you're back here," Benedict said while they sat on a large fallen tree. Her father was touring the Ranch with other staff on the horse named Glory.

"My return here has a long story," she said with a smile, trying to avoid sharing too much. She didn't want to add to the lies they had already told the people there.

"Sunday is tomorrow, can I invite you for coffee in town?"

"You might have problems with Ana, I don't want to have any conflict with her."

Benedict chuckled at her words. "Ana and I are good friends. She's just used to calling me 'babe'. But I can assure you, I am single and available," he said with a sweet smile.

"Alright, I'll ask Papa for permission."

The next day, Ana was surprised to see her dressed up, while their father was in the garden, reading the newspaper. They were used to her leaving with their father.

"Do you have plans?" Ana asked.

"Benedict invited me to stroll around town."

"Hmmm... Benedict seems to have caught your attention, considering you just met him yesterday.

On the way, she asked Benedict about the true nature of his relationship with Ana. Among the people she met at the Ranch, Benedict was one she felt comfortable with.

"Ana seems upset about me being with you now, Benedict. Is there something I should know about your real relationship?"

"Like I said yesterday, Ana and I don't have a relationship, but I'll admit that she's expressed several times that she wants us to have one."

"Why didn't you court her? If it's just about beauty, Ana is undoubtedly the most beautiful among the ladies at the Ranch."

A man looks for more than just beauty in a woman to court, Anastacia," he said, using her full name. Since she came here, she avoided being called Ana. Only her Papa called her that, while most people called her Nikka along with her Mama and Ana.

"How long have you been friends?"

Since I started working for your Papa. But I've never given her any indication that I wanted our relationship to go beyond being friends."

"Well, it seems like she has a different understanding."

"Let's forget about Ana for a while. How about you? Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Yes," she answered quickly. "But I haven't introduced him to Papa yet."

The man didn't speak again until they arrived at a coffee shop in town. As he lined up at the counter, she observed his physical appearance once more. He was good-looking; a cowboy-type look with his boots and polo, and his tight-fitting pants. He was also quite tall, probably around 5'10". It wasn't surprising that Ana was fond of him.

"How old are you?" she asked the man.

"Thirty," he answered while preparing his cappuccino order. "You probably already know what you're going to say next. Why I'm not married yet," he said with a laugh.

"Why is that?" she asked with a smile.

"I had a six-year relationship that ended two years ago. Her family moved to Canada. She wanted me to follow, but I didn't want to live in another country. So, it just ended that way. Since then, I haven't found another love."

"Wow. It's a shame about those six years."

"Maybe. But I don't regret it because we were happy. And if I find love again, I'll make sure it lasts longer than six years. I want it for keeps." If he was trying to imply something, she didn't know, because he was staring at her as he said it. Ana's warning about Benedict earlier came to her mind, and she didn't want any trouble between them because of the man.

They talked for over an hour before she asked him for a ride back. He wanted to show her his office there, but she declined, using the excuse that she still had some things to prepare for her first day at the office tomorrow. When she arrived home, Ana was in the living room, seeming impatient for her return.

"Hi! You both came back quite quickly, didn't you?" she pretended to say, then approached Benedict and kissed his cheek. He was polite enough to disregard her action, but he quickly excused himself. He nodded at her before going up to his own room.

"If Benedict tells you we don't have a relationship, Nikka, you shouldn't believe him," Ana said, looking back at her. Her sister's eyes were questioning.

"We've been through something, and if it weren't for Papa's objections, we would have been married a long time ago."

"I'm sorry, Ana, I didn't know. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have gone with him earlier. But don't worry, I'll make sure we're just friends," she reassured her sister. Ana nodded slightly before turning away.

"Can I know why Papa doesn't like him?" she asked.

She saw the confusion in Ana's face before she answered. "I-I don't know either..." She gave a weak response before heading downstairs.