Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Quote to Remember:

"... This is war then, I just hope you don't hide in your Dad's pants and fight your own battles."

Cassandra Jilonan's

"Ate, it's going to be Christmas, but your face still looks like it was left behind." Her brother whispered to her as they ate together.

"Daughter are you okay? It looks like you haven't been on your own these past few days," her mother held in her right hand.

"Yes Mom, I'm okay. I'll just go into my room. I'll eat later." She said.

"Didn't you like our dish?"

"Yes, sister, the sardines that Mom cooked with vegetables are delicious."

"All right, just eat their youngest. All right, I'll come in first. Just call me if you need anything from me."

Upon entering, she stretched straight on the bed. Her whole body was lethargic even though she did nothing all morning. She had planned to help her mother with the laundry but her body did not seem to be able to move. Her mind was troubled, as if she were floating in the air. She was wondering what to do. But over the past two days, it seemed that no sensible decision had entered hiser mind. All she could think of was to see Jethro, she knew when she saw the young man she would definitely calm down. But how could she see and talk to him if eer calls were not answered. She receives a hundred missed calls from here but she does not have the courage to answer it. She was afraid that when she answered the man's call, it was one of our bad news that was about to come. She's afraid he might call to let her know that he has agreed to marry Jillian. Shit! Her thoughts are killing her and making her paranoid.

Unbeknownst to her, she had fallen asleep in a trance. She woke up past three o'clock in the afternoon. The whole house was quiet; all she could hear was the rush of tap water in the kitchen on the roof of her room made of bamboo. She turned on the cellphone to see if Jethro called her again. Three missed calls startled her. She turned off the device again and arranged the hair in the mirror. She wrapped it up, stared at herself for a moment before a deep sigh escaped her mouth.

She's seeing a new personality on the reflection. Far away from Cassandra as everyone knew. Far from her life in Manila where the only problem and thought was how to meet their family needs. She put the cellphone in her pocket.

"Ate, someone is looking for you outside." Her brother broke her at the door. Cassandra did not answer. She hurried out of the room and went to whoever he was referring to. She strongly believed that Jethro could not bear not to see and talk to her personally so sshe meant it at home. It was the man's job to surprise her.

But he did not expect the front to sit on the sofa. The excitement she felt washed away and was replaced by the curvature of her then. She wanted to think she was surprised but in a way she did not like.

"You look so disappointed to see me, Cassandra. Are you expecting someone? Perhaps, Jethro?" She did not answer. She sat down straight on the other side of it. She crossed her arms and glanced at Jillian from head to toe.

"What, aren't you going to answer me? Or maybe you're dumbfounded after that incident at the mansion, just tell me, I'm a considerate person. I could give you a favor." It smirked at her. As usual, the woman carries the strange tone of speech that sometimes or most probably always makes her trigger.

"You really don't have a place to hang out, Jillian, huh? Remember you are here in my house, so don't ever insult me ​​as if you've owned this place."

"Don't I own this place? Come on, Cassandra, remind me again why I have no right to the land where your house lives?"

"Simply because you are not yet married with, Jethro." Her sarcastic language.

"Don't worry Cassandra that won't be too long. Besides even though Jethro and I are not married yet, you may forget that Tito Fructose gave me this land with full confidence as part of our wedding investment. So legally entitled I'm in any other corner of Hacie de Silvestre. " It emphasizes the words. But he was not shaken. Cassandra wasn't affected at all, no matter what it said she tried not to be affected. She knew it was just Jillian's game for him to give up.

"Youngest, can you find Mom first. I'll just talk to this very important guest of ours." She rolled her eyes over her before turning to the writing brother.

"Sure ate." When the brother left, the tension returned. The intensity became dashing, smoldering the atmosphere. Both gazes were very devious, just need to put them in the tare and fertilize.

"So you really don't have the intention to leave us alone, Cassandra. Even with the trouble, you brought. How dreadful. Tell me; is your family crocodile-skinned? Because of the thickness."

"If I say yes, can you do anything? As far as I can see Jillian, there's no reason for me to let go of things I started. Why should I let go if I know I have Jethro's heart."

"How silly of you to think that way, do you really think you have the last laugh. How ambitious, very, very ambitious. Why do you think Tito wants to sell this land?" She did not answer. "You have so many secrets to unfold Cassandra and as a token of kindness I will tell you one more reason. I also know that Tita Trinidad told you about Jethro being a bastard from Tita Trinidad's first love. " She wanted to think that it warmed her head even more but still she wanted to hear what it has to say.

"The mansion and this land all belong to Jethro's legitimate father. Hacie de Silvestre isn't it's real name. Tito only changed it when he bought this lot and he and Tita Trinidad got married. So Tito wants to sell that land ' to so that she could erase all memories that attached his family from the past. And what other way could he do that but to put the land as a wedding investment to avoid the press. "

"Is that how Don Fructose treated Jethro like that because this is Tita Trinidad's son to another man ?." She wanted to disbelieve but her mind was dictated differently.

"Exactly, you are smart Cassandra. I just wish your brain could function well sometime. Jethro is the son of Don Fructose’s best friend to Don Hidalgo." She stopped talking and smiled mysteriously at her "If you think Cassandra that you can use this information against us you are wrong. Even if you announce to everyone that Jethro is not Tito's son nothing will change. Tito is another hero for saving someone else's child. And as for Tita and Jethro, you will just make the situation worse for both of them. Do you want to call Tita Trinidad a free woman? "

"You're cruel." she said in a low and weeping voice.

"Just think of it, Cassandra, the issue of selling the land has been around for a long time to yet no one cared to stand and speak up."

"Because they are scared!" She almost shouted in frustration.

"Exactly, exactly! Because we are Silvestre and Elverio’s."

"Not just that, you paid all the people living in Hacie not to speak. You framed them up so as not to protest to sell this hacienda. You convinced the press that you talked to the people well but in reality it was not" her mouth.

"How smart. What is the use of money if we do not move? So if you plan to sing in the press. Worry about yourself because you will be embarrassed. So sticking to Jethro is a big mistake Cassandra. You are baiting yourself into a pond without a fish. "

"I will not let this land be sold, Jillian. And especially to let you marry Jethro I will do everything. This is war then, I just hope you will not hide in your Dad's pants and fight your own battles."

"You can save that speech later Cassandra, I haven't finished speaking yet." She grabbed the handbag and grabbed a brown envelope. It laid it on the table. "You can open this, after you will hear what I have to say. “She said. She did not say a word and her eyes remained stiff.

"Jethro being an illegitimate child, you don't have any choice left. If you continue to cling to him how can you save this land as you say? In the end I still have the last laugh Cassandra."

Cassandra bit her lips. She gritted her teeth in annoyance. Her eyes were on fire and hier fists clenched tightly. She felt the numbness straying on her fingers as if it wanted to land on Jillian's face.

"But I'm not that demon, Cassandra. I still save you a spot where you can go back to the way your life has been. You can still live peacefully without this commotion. You have nothing else to think about but your own life and your family. You just have to accept my proposition. "

She wanted to be hesitant to listen to what she had to say next but the desire to know what it had to offer prevailed over her.

"If you really want to save the land Cassandra then you are leeching at the wrong man."

"I love Jethro, Jillian and no matter what you say my decision will never change I will stay by his side."

"Oh fuck off with that love. There is nothing good about that love, Cassandra. If you really wanted to take priorities then this will be the time. If you want to save this land, you will put aside your flirtation and hear what I has to say. “Jillian smirked.

"And what could be your proposition?"

"I would love to correct myself and say that this is not a proposition but a great reward for you." its magical smile on her.

"And what could that be. If you were hear to give me cheap threats or bribe me to leave you are wasting time, Jillian. You can freely leave this instance, before I drag you out."

"Come on, Cassandra chill. I haven't even said what I mean here. You're getting tense," it laughed aloud. "If you really wanted to save this land like you always wanted to, maybe you are touching the wrong person."

"What are you talking about?" the line curled around her forehead.

"Just open the envelope."

It was not noticeably shaking hand that Cassandra picked up the envelope on the table. She carefully opened it and forced the contents into her pocket. The papers startled her first. She read it thoroughly.

"I will give you freedom, Cassandra. You can live peacefully in this land. In addition, because I honor everything I said I gave you a copy as a proof stating that, we and Tito Fructose are withdrawing our first decision to sell the land. We signed it, we just need to talk to Asta Lonia's. "

Cassandra's forehead furrowed sharply. She couldn't believe what Jillian offered her. It is a great possibility for them to live a normal life. They could start a new life and forget this treacherous fate they had.

"But-."

"Hush, Cassandra. I'm not done yet." It robbed her of the next contents of the envelope. It's another layer of papers she read that, another your agreement about the willingness of the Silvestre to give their farmers the right to the hacienda. Not the full authority though, but the right to decide how much it will give to the Silvestre.

The next thing Cassandra saw made her even more surprised. A name that gave her the mark that caused her to leave Manila and return to the province.

"What has Julius got to do with this?" she asked confused.

"Good thing you still remember him, Cassandra."

"Don't turn me around, Jillian. Tell me!" she shouted.

"Julius is Tito Fructose’s real and legitimate son before they were married to Donya Trinidad. Tito Fructose has pregnant with a paid woman from Manila but since then the Silvestre influence throughout the province has not been great. Responsible to avoid embarrassment. " It paused slightly.

"Tito Fructose’s parents paid the woman's family trying to silence everything and to get away."

"This is insane! I do not believe. I do not believe!" she shouted loudly.

"You're just making this up for me to stay away"

"I am not here to convince you, Cassandra. I am here to give you a choice. If you do not want to believe me then at least try to finish pocketing those papers from the envelope."

Cassandra turned to the envelope she was holding. She is afraid that she will still be there because maybe what papers she will pull out again and that is another big revelation.

"Come on, Cassandra. I'm giving you a chance to prove your doubts." She dared. She took a deep breath and pulled out the remaining contents of the envelope. She poured it on the table. She has never seen those pictures of Julius before. Pictures of Julius from childhood to adulthood.

"And this one is Don Fructose’s DNA result matched with Julius's DNA results. Cassandra. If that is not enough then there are also papers proving that Julius was born here." It gave her the paper she was holding. She scrutinized it thoroughly.

"This is fake!" she growled litany.

"If you are not yet convinced. We are open to prove this to you. We have nothing to lose even if the press finds out, Cassandra. Therefore, we are giving you the benefit of the doubt. If you really wanted to hear the truth, you will know it from Julius' mouth. “The woman cleared her throat.”Tito Fructose is planning to bring him home."

"You are fucking lying! You're insane. Julius has no family, that's what he told me."

"Of course that's what he'd told you. What would you expect from a son who’s furious with his own father." Cassandra could not believe what she heard. She wanted to see everything as a big dream.

"Cassandra if you really want to survive you need to think wisely. I am already giving you a choice. If you continue to attach yourself to Jethro, you might as well say goodbye to this land and all the memories you had and not yet, Jethro will keep you quiet. Nevertheless, if you would have chosen Julius, Tito Fructose will not hesitate to give you your freedom. He will still support you and as a token he will give this hacienda as your own personal keepsake. Just keep away from us and stop making a scene. "

"Jethro won't let me get away from him, Jillian." Her voice is almost incomprehensive.

"I know, do you think I am too dumb to unrecognized it. Why do you think Jethro doesn't want to marry me?" She did not answer.

"Because of you, Cassandra. Since you came, Jethro has changed his mind. Actually, Jethro really doesn't care about this land. Long before you came, he didn't care about it. Correct my guess if I am wrong "Jethro offered you to stay on his condo right?" Cassandra just remained silent.

"Silence means, yes. Do you know what that means, Cassandra? ... The truth is that he really doesn't care about this land." The girl wants to protest that Jillian is saying something wrong. However, from all that she heard from her she was confused as to who should believe. Her brain was in turmoil. All the information is mixing in her mind and it seemed difficult for you to accept. He thought he had escaped Julius. She already forgot the man who slit her heart and made her feel the excruciating pain. She thought she had forgotten the pain it gave her but she was mistaken. All of her feelings for the man is exploding again in her chest, making all things complicated.

"I have nothing else to tell you, Cassandra. If you wanted to clarify these entire just wait for Julius or should I say your ex-boyfriend. He will be the one to explain you everything. Not anymore, I will take care of a lot more at Jethro and I is engagement party. “It stood up.

"Just think of it, Cassandra. This is the time to forget about love and make priorities. After all, your family's future depends on your decision."

Jillian had left but Cassandra left like a statue in the seat. All information are exploding in her mind. She is confused. Who is her priority? Her family or Jethro?