Immediately upon seeing Uncle Peter and Anne approaching, Teresa excused herself from her customers at the food stall.
"Hey, Uncle Peter, Anne," she greeted them with excitement in her voice.
Uncle Peter wasted no time in getting to the point. "We need your help, Teresa," he said gravely. "We need Albert's address in Manila, Isabella has Glaucoma, and we need money for surgery."
Teresa's expression turned to one of shock. "What?" she exclaimed.
Moving closer to Anne, Teresa took her hands gently. "I'm sorry, Anne. I hope you can forgive me. I never knew that Madam P would do that to you, trust me."
Anne shook her head, dismissing Teresa's apology. "We don't need to think about that now, Aunt Teresa. Just make it up to me and Isabella by giving us Albert's address, please. I need to talk to him."
Teresa hesitated,"but he's married, Anne. I don't want his wife to sue you if she finds out."
Anne's resolve remained steadfast. "I don't care, Aunt Teresa."
With a nod, Teresa relented. "I only know his company in Manila, so I will take you there."
A&T Home Of Decor Company, Manila.
"This is huge!" Uncle Peter exclaimed in surprise as they arrived at the company.
Anne glanced around, taking in the opulence of the surroundings. "Are you sure you still want to do this, Anne?" Aunt Teresa voiced her concern. "Albert is a billionaire. If his wife sues you, you won't stand a chance. Please, rethink this, Anne."
Anne remained resolute. "No, Aunt Teresa. I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm even happy Albert is rich. Three hundred thousand pesos will be nothing to him."
"But, Anne, he doesn't even know you! I'm scared," Aunt Teresa persisted.
Anne shook her head. "We shouldn't be scared because Isabella is Albert's child. Let's go inside the company."
As they turned to proceed, they were interrupted by a voice behind them. "Hey, what are you people looking for here? We're not hiring cleaners," the company security man said gruffly.
The three of them turned to face the security man, who had the audacity to mistake them for cleaners. Aunt Teresa, visibly irritated, snapped back, "What? Do we look like cleaners to you?"
The security man, unfazed, inquired, "So what do you want?"
"We're here to see Albert," Aunt Teresa asserted.
The security man scrutinized them before delivering his verdict. "Sir Albert doesn't feel like giving alms today. Besides, he just resumed work after four months of losing his child. You people should leave and don't cause trouble!"
His words hit them like a bolt from the blue. Aunt Teresa couldn't hide her shock. "Did you hear that? Albert lost a child? Are you sure this is the right time to talk to him, Anne? Let's just go back, please."
Uncle Peter chimed in, echoing Teresa's sentiments. "Teresa is right, Anne. Let's go back. He might not want to talk to us."
They were about to leave, when Daniel approached his car and spotted them. "Hey, what are you doing beside my car?"
Before they could respond, another car pulled up behind them, and Marie stepped out, exuding an air of luxury. Daniel greeted her warmly, and they shared a hug. Marie's attention turned to Anne and the others, and she quipped, "Who are these people? Is the company accepting cleaners now?"
Quick to clarify their purpose, Uncle Peter spoke up. "We're not cleaners, ma'am. Besides, we are already leaving."
Marie's gaze fell upon Isabella in Anne's arms, triggering a flood of memories about her own lost child. "Your daughter is beautiful," she commented softly to Anne, who managed a grateful smile.
Turning to Daniel, Marie announced, "I'm going inside to see Albert now," before walking away.
Anne, already starting to leave, hesitated as she glanced back at Marie. Aunt Teresa gently tugged at her hand, urging her to let go, "Come on Anne, let's go."
Meanwhile, Daniel retreated to his car and drove off.
"Is that Albert's wife?" Uncle Peter wondered aloud.
They walked outside the gate when Aunt Teresa looked back and spotted Albert and Marie approaching their car. Their eyes met briefly, and Aunt Teresa hastily grab Anne's hand again telling her to walk faster. Albert, noticing the unfamiliar figures, couldn't help but wonder what they're doing in front of his company.
They climbed into a tricycle, Albert drove past them before their vehicle could move. Anne didn't look up, preoccupied with adjusting her baby.
Five years later
"Moma, I can perceive something, are you cooking?" Isabella's tiny innocent voice echoed from the kitchen doorway.
"Yes, love, Moma is cooking your favorite food. Come here," Anne replied, her voice filled with excitement.
"Where are you, Moma?" Isabella struggled to locate her mother due to her blindness.
"Here, love," Anne guided Isabella closer and took in her scent. "Hmmm, Moma needs to bathe you, love. You're sweating. Will you go out with Sebastian later?"
"No, Moma," Isabella replied with a pitiful voice.
"Why, honey?"
"The children we play with said I don't have a father and I'm blind, so I'm supposed to stay at home."
"What? No, Isabella, don't mind them. Don't listen to them," Anne's heart ached, tears welling in her eyes.
"But, Moma, where is Father? I hear everyone's voices but have never heard his. Is it that he doesn't like me because I'm blind?"
"No, love, come on, the food is ready," Anne deflected Isabella's question, her own emotions swirling beneath the surface.
"Isabella, Isabella!" A little boy's voice interrupted their conversation as he entered their home.
"Moma, Sebastian is here!" Isabella exclaimed with excitement.
Sebastian, one of Anne's neighbor's sons and Isabella's best friend, walked in. He was two years older than Isabella and acted as her guiding light.
"Sebastian, you're here," Anne greeted him warmly.
"Yes, Aunt Anne. Come on, Isabella, let's go play," Sebastian suggested eagerly.
"No, Sebastian, I don't think Isabella will go. She hasn't eaten yet, and Isabella said the other friends bully her," Anne interjected.
"Moma—" Isabella attempted to stop her, but Anne turned to Sebastian and inquired if it was true.
"Yes, Aunt Anne, but I defend Isabelle and tell them to stop bullying her," Sebastian confirmed.
"Okay, Sebastian, but Isabella won't be following you to those kids again. Both of you can play outside the house," Anne decided firmly.
Sebastian grabbed Isabella's hand, and they ran outside to play, leaving Anne alone on the couch, tears streaming down her face.
"Hey, Anne," Uncle Peter and Mrs. Francois walked in, noticing Anne's distress. Uncle Peter dropped the basket of fruits he was carrying, and Anne quickly wiped her tears away.
"Uncle Peter, Mother, you two are back," Anne tried to hide her sadness.
"What's wrong, Anne?" Mrs. Francois inquired, concerned.
"Yes, Anne, what's wrong?" Uncle Peter echoed.
Anne couldn't contain her emotions any longer. "Mother, Isabella is being bullied by other kids. My child deserves to be happy like others. Why is that so difficult?"
"Bullied? Who are those kids? Take me there. I need to teach them a lesson because how can they be bullying my goddaughter," Uncle Peter fumed.
"Hey, Peter, calm down. That's not the next thing. Come here, Anne," Mrs. Francois enveloped her daughter in a comforting hug. "You know, children can be so mean. Don't think about it. Besides, Isabella's surgery is tomorrow, so you shouldn't let that bother you."
"Yes, Anne, your mother is right. Since the surgery is near already, but I still feel like dealing with those children," Uncle Peter added.
"Uncle Peter—"
"Okay, fine, I'm just joking."
"I can't wait for my daughter to see me. Mother, I can't wait for Isabella to see," Anne hugged her mother tightly, crying.