The next day, Isagani visits Isabella's chambers. On his way, he saw Antonia bringing food for her. He felt a little guilty for ignoring his wife so he decided to bring it himself. "Isabella, it's me, Isagani. Open the door", he called. There was no answer. He heard no noise coming from Isabella's room.
Moments later, he heard shuffling noises. Isabella opened her door and smiled towards her husband who she hadn't seen for a week. Still, handsome as ever. She gestured for him to come in. Putting the food on her bedside table, Isagani sighed and looked at his wife. "We need to talk Isabella", Isagani started. "Indeed, my lord", Isabella smiled bitterly.
PRESENT DAY
"Hey Lizzie, ready for the hiking later?" Andy asked her bestfriend as she went inside her tent. "Yup, but I still think this is a bad idea. I mean, there had been internet rumors of disappearance in Mount Albon", she replied with a worried look. Andy laughed, "Still a chicken after all these years! Comeone Lizzie, you're 17 not 7. Stop believing those tales". Lizzie just smiled.
"Hey Andy, Lizzie. You guys ready? We'll leave in 10 minutes?" Aaron, Lizzie's twin called from outside the tent. Andy peeked and smiled at Aaron,"We're getting ready, you're sister just need some... encouragement". "Okay", Aaron shrugged and laughed then he walked away. Checking the other campers telling them to get ready.
There are ten of them in total, four boys amd six girls. Aaron and Lizzie are twins and both are seventeen. Andy, Lizzie's bestfriend is also seventeen. Kendrick, Aaron's buddy is eighteen while Benjie is sixteen and Rad is nineteen. Ella, Beatrice and Liliane are both sixteen and Maya is the youngest being fifteen. She was not supposed to come but after she found out that Aaron will be there she snuck at her brother's truck. Oh, Maya is Rad's younger sister and she had a crush on Aaron.
At exactly 6 o'clock in the morning, everyone is ready and they started their hike to Mount Albon. A famous mountain not for having wonderfull greeneries but for being an internet sensation of having some creepy stories of hiker's disappearance. Other claimed it is a hoax while others believed the tale. "Alright! Let's go everyone!" Aaron said. Everyone shouted with glee as they begin their morning trail.
"Isabella, you've been a very good wife to me. I know you might feel sad but I want you to know that we can adopt the child that may come in the future", Isagani said. Isabella just sighed inwardly and smiled. But it can't hide the pain and disappointment that she is feeling right now. She knows it is normal for men to have multiple wives especially if the first wife cannot produce an heir but she just can't accept it.
Isagani is hers alone. She cannot let another bitch get the attention of her man. She had done so much for him already Even betraying her own sister just for the sake of a man. A secret that she will forever keep until the grave. Though the memory of her sister's shocked and betrayed face still haunts her at times.
It happened six years ago, the time when she met Isagani. Isabella came from a prominent family. She is the second young miss of the Diwani clan. A famous clan from the neighboring village that specified in medicine as well as poison. Her elder sister Diyanna, a prodigy in medicine, was supposed to be the one who will be betrothed to Isagani to unite the two village. But, Isabella had fallen in love with the young Isagani at first sight.
Upon knowing that her elder sister, Diyanna will be the one to marry such handsome and powerful man, Isabella's heart became filled with jealousy. That jealousy had grown into hate. She hated why her sister always gets the best of everything. She hated the fact that with her sister's presence, she will only be a shadow. Isabella is quite talented in the field of medicine but compared to her sister, she paled in comparison. Wether in beauty, disposition or talent, she is only second to Diyanna and she hate her for that. If Diyanna didn't exist, the people in their village will only praise her. No one will compare to her and she will not be a shadow to her elder sister. But, she is the second child. That is a fact that she hated.
Isagani and Diyanna had actually fallen in love after Isagani's first visit in their village. He started to visit their manor once every month and would stay for two-three days. Of course, during this time, Isabella would always try to find opportunity to get Isagani's attention. But Isagani only held Diyanna in his eyes. For him, Isabella will be his younger sister. Enraged with the way Isagani treats her, Isabella decided to take the dark side. It happened on Isagani's fifth visit. She put a love potion Isagani's water bag that he used when he travel.
After making sure that Isagani had drink the water with a love potion, she decided to execute the second part of her plan. Kill Diyanna! Of course, she had to make it discreet in order to not raise suspicion. Everything went according to plan when Diyanna when into the wild with her maidservant to personally pick the herbs she needed for making medicines.
Isabella hired mercenaries to ambush her sister. But to make sure that she will not be suspected, she came along with her sister and instructed the mercenaries to injure her but not enough to take her life. She also made instructed not to harm her face. Her plan went smoothly and succeeded.
Of course, to make sure that the mercenaries will not spill any information to their family, she poisoned them. One thing, she may not be not as good as Diyanna in times of concocting medicine but she is well-versed in poison. Killing every people who know the hideous things that she did and making sure that none of them stays alive, she finally decided to make the third part of her plan.
Seducing Isagani!
When Isagani heard the death of his beloved Diyanna, he rushed to get there. He morned for his beloved. He did not even spare a look to the Isabella that is always beside him. That only angered Isabella more. But after 6 months, she finally succeeded. Even though Diyanni died, Isagani continue to become an ambassador of peace for his village and made some visits. It was not after 6 months after Diyanni died that he visits back but it was enough for Isabella. This time, she cannot let the man escape. So, he drugged him and slept with him.
In the morning when Isagani found that he was naked with a woman in his arms, he was startled. But what startled him more is that the woman is no other than Isabella, Diyanna's younger sister who she loved so much. When Isabella's father found out what happened, he flew into rage. Isagani decided to marry Isabella. From then on, he decided he would try to teach his heart to love Isabella. For five years, he is patient even though Isabella have not given him a single heir. But time has come so he had no choice but to find a concubine.