Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Amadeus gritted his teeth. He was not liking it. He did not want to owe anything to the woman he was trying to get rid of from his brother. If he would base on the information he found out about her, she was loved by the people of San Luis. She was helpful to the needy. She offered her new home to them as a shelter, and she would personally collect the flood victims to bring into her house.

So she is like a saint. It doesn’t change the fact that she is using my brother. Aiden paid for her house and lot. She did not even wait to marry him before spending his brother’s money. She used her beauty and her barrio lass image to soften my brother’s heart and manipulate him.

Esmeralda was no different from the women who were gold-diggers. She was just using a different strategy. That made her the more dangerous kind. Women who were posing as saints were more menacing.

He could see right through her. He could see her stares that were full of interest. She was attracted to him. He felt it when she stared at his lips. She did not care even if she was about to marry his brother.

And he felt his arousal whenever their eyes met. No matter how he hated her, no matter how he was disgusted with women like her, his libido did not care. So, she was a beautiful woman. He was used to women who were interested in him and chasing him. And he picked his partners well. He easily lost interest in women who were already committed but unfaithful.

But the attraction was strong a while ago. He loved the touch of her silky skin. He wanted to pull her into his arms and devour her. As if she was unleashing the animal in him. And his libido did not care even if she was his brother’s fiancée and how much he hated her kind.

Life is a bitch!

He shut his eyes tight. He had to find a way to separate that woman from his brother. He had already proven that she was dependent on his brother’s money. How could he make her back off from the wedding when he owed her his life?

He was in deep thoughts when he heard a knock on the door. “Come in.”

The head of a child appeared whom Amadeus guessed was only ten years old. His head was shaved. “Hello!” he greeted.

“Yes?” he asked and knotted his forehead.

“Goodness, Jeremy! Don’t race before me.”

“I just want to see your so-called boyfriend, Sister Cynthia Lyn,” the young boy said.

“Wear your face mask. Your sister might scold us,” Cynthia Lyn said and put a mask on him. “I’m sorry for the trouble, Richard. Esmie’s brother is just a little naughty. I’m sorry if we disturbed your sleep.”

“Not really. I’m already awake. You can come in,” he said and forced a smile.

"I won't cause trouble. Sister Cynthia Lyn just wanted to check on you. I just went with her. She even brought some clothes so she could put them on you and see your…"

"Come on. I was just joking. You didn't have to mention it," the woman said and put a hand on the kid's mouth. The little boy struggled.

“You might suffocate him,” Amadeus said in a cold tone. He was no stranger to women like Cynthia Lyn, who used children to get close to the men they liked. But he was an exception.

"Come on. I was just joking. You didn't have to mention it," the woman said and put a hand on the kid's mouth. The little boy struggled.

“You might suffocate him,” Amadeus said in a cold tone. He was no stranger to women like Cynthia Lyn, who used children to get close to the men they liked. But he was an exception.

“My name is Jeremy. I’m the brother of your rescuer. Where are you from? Why are you traveling despite the typhoon?” the boy asked and stood beside his bed.

“I’m from Manila. I am visiting someone from another town that’s why I got here. It was important. But the bridge and my car got swept away by the flood,” Amadeus explained.

“Manila?” Jeremy uttered, his eyes twinkling. “My sister and I had been there. We stayed there for a long time since I’m receiving treatment.”

His forehead knotted. He was sick? He turned to Cynthia Lyn. "What's his illness?"

"Leukemia. He was receiving his treatment there, so he and his sister had to stay in Manila for a while," she said.

Leukemia. It was a blow to his chest. That sickness was no joke. Why was it not included in the report he received? "Isn't the treatment painful?" And expensive.

“It does not hurt that much. I’m brave!” Jeremy said.

"Come on! You're brave, you say, but you're scared to make a move on your crush," Cynthia Lyn teased.

"Of course, we're still young. We're only twelve years old. My sister said I'll grow taller and handsome, so I should not rush to have a girlfriend," Jeremy said.

Twelve. He looked younger than his age. He thought he was only nine years old. He could sense the slight shaking in his voice.

“Do you want to sit down?” Amadeus offered. There was a small chair beside the bed. “You might get tired.”

“I’m fine. I’m not doing much,” the child said, trying to sound healthy. “You’re the one who needs to rest more. Do you want me to help you?”

He felt a tug in his heart. He could not help smiling. Though he was panting, he was showing that he was strong. Amadeus was starting to like the boy.

“It’s a good thing that he was getting better,” Cynthia Lyn said. “My best friend’s Prince Charming is from Manila, too. You’re actually as handsome as Aiden, her fiancé. But he’s rich. Super duper rich. He’s the one helping Jeremy’s treatment. Gosh. It’s like a fairytale. Aiden is like heaven-sent to Esmie.”

“My sister Esmie is the one who’s heaven-sent according to Brother Aiden,” Jeremy contradicted.

“What made him say that?” Amadeus asked.

Because my sister Esmie is an angel. She will do everything for the people she loved. That’s why she’ll do everything for brother Aiden.”

Amadeus grinned. Anything for money. But her brother is sick. Whoever in that situation would do as Esmeralda did.

Jeremy tapped his shoulder, waking him up from his deep thoughts. “You should be brave, too, Sir Richard. Don’t be sad that your car got lost. What matters most is that you’re alive. Like me. As long as you’re alive, there’s always hope. I can fight my illness because I need to live for the people who love me.”

"That's right. Your sister loves your very much." And he could not hide the admiration in his voice, just for the sake of her brother.

“We’ll leave you alone now. We’re just outside whenever you need anything or someone to talk to,” Cynthia Lyn said and giggled.

“Brother, we’ll talk some more, okay?” Jeremy said and waved at him.

Cynthia Lyn pulled him. “We’re interrupting him already.”

"No. He's kind, just like Brother Aiden. Right, Brother Richard?" the child asked with a smile.

Amadeus felt a tug in his heart when he smiled at the boy. He had no idea that he was a secret enemy. He and Aiden share the same blood, but they have no other similarities. This kid was just too gullible. He was innocent to the world. He had no idea about the secrets of the people that surrounded him.

He felt sorry for Jeremy because Amadeus hated his sister. Jeremy was innocent, and he had no idea of his sister’s deception. In his eyes, his sister was a hero.

And since when did I have a heart? I am better than this. I am logical, and I don’t easily get carried away by soppy stories.

Amadeus heaved a sigh. Yes, Esmeralda wanted to prolong her brother’s life and give him a better future. But she used the wrong person. She was not supposed to use his brother.

She is really an angel. You can’t just accept it, his conscience lectured. Your life is worth so much more.

Amadeus felt like his heart was stretched like a rubber band. He thought he didn’t have one. That’s the reason why he did not want to use his emotions in making decisions because it overpowered what’s logical and right. And he did not like the feeling of being wrong. Even though Esmeralda saved his life, he still believed she should not marry his brother.

Amadeus gritted his teeth. He needed to leave to come up with another plan. He must shut down his heart. He did not want to be weak. He did not want to be more drawn to Esmeralda.

Because the longer he stayed in that place, he might fall for the same trap that she used on her brother. Esmeralda may have saved his life, but he still needed to save Aiden and his own sanity. There’s no way a woman would ruin his relationship with his brother.