As Albert entered his office, Daniel barged in, his expression tense. "Why haven't you been picking your calls?" he demanded.
"Our investors are demanding a meeting!"
Albert sighed, running a hand through his hair. "My phone has been swamped with calls. What did you tell them?" he inquired.
Daniel shifted uncomfortably. "I declined the meeting for now. I thought we should talk first," he confessed.
Albert nodded, his mind already racing with plans. "I think someone needs to take the fall for this. I've worked too hard for this company to watch it crumble," he declared firmly.
Daniel's worry was tensed. "So what do we do? Who do we use?" he asked anxiously.
Albert's jaw clenched. "I have someone in mind. Mr. Richard David," he revealed.
Daniel's eyes widened in disbelief. "You can't be serious! We can't drag him into this; he's been out of the loop for years," he protested.
Albert's tone brooked no argument. "He doesn't matter, and we don't have a choice. Call the journalists. I need to release my statement," he ordered. Daniel reluctantly nodded, already dreading the fallout.
Before they could proceed further, Katrina burst into the office, her face pale with panic. "Sir Albert, our investors in Cebu are threatening to pull out their shares if we take the fall for the tragedy," she exclaimed breathlessly.
Albert offered her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Katrina. I'll handle it," he assured her, though his mind churned with the weight of the situation.
Meanwhile, Anne arrived in Cebu, her mind consumed with thoughts of confronting Albert. As she stepped off the bus, the slip of paper containing Albert's secretary's number slipped from her grasp, lost to the wind without her knowing.
Anne hurried home, where Uncle Peter awaited her, his expression troubled.
"Anne! Where have you been?" he demanded as she entered and ready to dialed the number she collected, but couldn't find it.
Anne's brow furrowed in confusion, searching her body to look for the paper. "I went to Albert's company in Manila," she replied tersely.
Uncle Peter's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why?" he pressed, with anger.
Anne's frustration bubbled to the surface and she confronted Uncle Peter. "Don't you hear what people are saying? A&T Home Of Decor Company is behind the demolition, and that's Albert's company!" she explained, her voice rising with indignation.
Uncle Peter's features twisted in rage as he recalled their past encounter with Albert's company. "That bastard!" he cursed under his breath, his fists clenched at his sides.
Suddenly, the television in the room flickered to life, drawing both their attention. Anne's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the face of the man she had shared a one-night stand with.
"This is Albert," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Uncle Peter turned to the TV, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. As they watched the news unfold.
"I'm sorry to all the people that lost their loved ones in Cebu," Albert began, his voice solemn.
Anne and Uncle Peter exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what Albert was about to say. "But I would like to clear the air because it seems my company's name is being dragged into the tragedy," Albert continued. Anne's eyes widened in disbelief, her mind racing with questions.
"The person behind the demolition of the market is Mr. Richard David, not my company. Thank you," Albert concluded before turning away from the camera.
Anne's jaw dropped in shock. "What? I don't believe Mr. Richard David would do that to this province," she exclaimed, with disbelief .
***************
Meanwhile, in his opulent mansion, Mr. Richard David seethed with rage as he watched Albert's televised statement. He hurled the remote across the room, his anger get the better of him.
Laura, his wife, entered the living room, startled by the noise. "What happened?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
Richard's voice was thick with fury as he recounted Albert's accusation. "Can you believe Albert is blaming me for the tragedy his company caused?" he fumed.
Laura's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why would Albert do that? Is he trying to get you killed now?" she exclaimed, fear creeping into her voice.
Richard clenched his fists in frustration. "Then I'm ready for them!" he declared defiantly. He called for his five years old daughter, Sarah, who appeared with a timid smile.
"Sarah darling, look at the TV and see the face of our family's enemy. He wanted to hurt your daddy," Richard told her, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
Laura's discomfort show on her face as she gently pulled Sarah close to herself. "Honey, go and play," she said, her voice soothing.
Once Sarah was out of earshot, Laura turned to confront her husband. "What is the meaning of this nonsense?" she demanded, her tone stern.
Richard was taken aback by her accusation. "What did I do wrong? I just want my daughter to know her father's enemy," he protested weakly. But Laura was adamant.
"You need to stop involving our daughter in your fight with Albert, because I won't allow it!" she insisted before walking away, leaving Richard to stew in his frustration.
With a frustrated sigh, Richard switched off the TV, cutting off Albert's voice mid-sentence.
-------------------
Later that day, after a tumultuous series of events, Albert returned home. Marie enveloped him in a tight embrace, that comes with relief.
Albert returned the hug, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I cleared my name, just as you wanted, honey," he informed her.
Marie held his cheek tenderly, her eyes brimming with gratitude. "I'm happy you did. I don't care about whoever took the fault, as long as it wasn't you," she confessed, her voice filled with emotion. They shared another heartfelt embrace, finding solace in each other's arms.
But amidst their relief, Marie broached a troubling topic. "There's one problem that needs to be sorted out and buried forever," she said.
Albert furrowed his brow in concern. "What is it?" he inquired.
Marie's expression grew serious as she addressed the delicate matter. "The baby you brought home," she explained. "We need to do something about her, else people won't believe your press released, and we might be tagged as kidnappers."
Albert's mind raced with apprehension. "What do you think we should do?" he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.
Marie proposed a solution that took him aback. "I've been thinking... why don't we adopt her?" she suggested.
Albert recoiled in shock. "What? We can't! What if her family suddenly showed up?" he countered anxiously.
Marie remained steadfast in her proposal. "But you said her family might be dead because of the state you found her. Besides, she's blind; she won't recognize her family members," she reasoned.
Albert hesitated, the weight of the decision bearing down on him. "This is a dangerous decision," he cautioned.
But Marie was resolute. "This is what we can do to cover up the company's reputation," she insisted, her eyes pleading.
Albert sighed in resignation. "She's blind," he murmured, his voice heavy with concern.
Marie's resolve remained unshaken. "Then we should do surgery for her to regain her sight. We have the money," she declared. "And we will change her name and make her ours. Please, Albert, I want the child to be mine," she implored, tears glistening in her eyes.
Albert was torn, his emotions swirling within him. Finally, he relented, pulling Marie into a tight embrace.
Cebu
Anne sat at home, clutching a picture of Isabella to her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. Sebastian, watched her with tear-filled eyes, his heart breaking for her.
Suddenly, Anne's phone rang, startling her from her grief. Trembling, she answered the call, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Hello?" she answered tentatively. The caller on the other end inquired, "Are you Miss Anne Francois?" Anne's eyes widened in surprise, her breath catching in her throat.
"Yes," she confirmed, her voice trembling with anticipation. The caller's next words sent her heart racing with hope.
"Someone said he had information concerning your daughter," the person revealed.
Anne's hands shook with emotion as she clung to the phone, a whirlwind of emotions grips her. Hope, fear, and longing collide within her as she waits anxiously for more information.