The weight of the revelations settled heavily upon us as the tension in the room was intense. I struggled to process the newfound information, my mind racing to make sense of the intricate web of connections that had been woven around us. The atmosphere between Kian and Daniel grew increasingly strained as their unspoken animosity casting a shadow over our mission.
Kian, driven by a deep-seated grudge, harbored a fierce resentment towards The Falcon and all who stood in their way. His protectiveness over his sister, Kia, had taken on a whole new dimension. I had underestimated the depths of his dedication, thinking he was solely focused on seeking justice for my cousins. But now I understood that his motives ran far deeper. He wanted to protect Kia from becoming a target of The Hawk.
It struck me then, the love and protection that Kian held for his sister. The bond between them was unbreakable. He is determine to mitigate any potential harm, to extinguish the flames of danger before they could consume his cherished sibling.
In that moment, I realized that our goals aligned more closely than I had thought. The Falcon's mission to halt The Hawk's destructive path, Kian's desire to protect Kia, and my own relentless pursuit of justice are all like threads interconnected in a spiderweb. Each strand led us closer to the elusive source, the heart of the web that held the answers we want to find out.
As we stood on the edge of this shared journey, the weight of our individual burdens felt momentarily lighter. The realization that we were bound together by a common purpose make an unspoken alliance among us. The path ahead was dangerous, filled with perils and unforeseen challenges. But with the connection of our missions, I felt determined. 
Daniel's voice grew serious, the weight of his words hanging in the air. His intense gaze, marked by knitted eyebrows. "I don't want anyone to jeopardize my mission, especially after what I did to you. But I still need your cooperation," he said, his tone filled with a mixture of urgency and remorse. "It's a dangerous path I'm on, and I can't back out now. I've been given orders from the higher-ups."
“So, I was right.” Kian's lips curled into a sly smirk, an all too knowing smile that revealed a glimpse of his hidden knowledge. Though Daniel glared in response as he held his composure and his eyes locked in a stern glare.
"The higher-ups I mentioned," Daniel continued, his voice dropping slightly, "refer to The Master, the enigmatic puppet master behind the chessboard of rival gangs." As Daniel continued, his gaze shifted towards me, his eyes filled with a profound contemplation. "Soon, you will come face-to-face with him. He's the one who instructed me to hide you from your husband."
Confusion furrowed my brow as I struggled to grasp the full meaning of Daniel's revelation. "Wait, so you're saying it wasn't just to keep me away from Denver as a distraction? You made me believe he needed to focus on his mission."
Daniel's eyes squeezed shut, his expression filled with a mixture of anguish and regret. He met my gaze again, his eyes reflecting genuine remorse. 
“D-daniel… tell me the truth…” I stammered, struggling to comprehend the situation. 
It felt surreal, as if I had unwittingly become entangled in a web of secrets and hidden motives. Fragments of disbelief swirled within me, colliding with the faint glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, there was more to my existence than I had ever imagined.
Kian's voice dripped with simmering anger, his words laced with a mixture of indignation and defiance. "You think we're just pawns to be manipulated, Saavedra? Is that what you believe? That Sharmienne is nothing more than a puppet to dance to your tune?"
Desperation flickered in Daniel's eyes as he frantically tried to convey the truth. "No, you don't understand. All I know is that The Master's plan is to protect her from harm. You have to trust me," he pleaded, his voice laced with a tinge of regret. "I apologize, Sharmienne, for not revealing the complete truth before."
Confusion swirled within me, mingling with a sense of disbelief. Why would someone go to such lengths to protect me? And this Master... he knew me? How was that even possible? I had always considered myself fragile, weak, and reclusive—a mere shadow in a world brimming with power and intrigue. So, why?
"Does he truly know me?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. My disappointment in Daniel lingered, but I yearned for answers that only he could provide.
Daniel's response was laden with a mixture of affirmation and caution. "Yes, he knows you. He is aware of your aspirations, your quest for justice. And he wants to help you. But for that to happen, you must separate yourself from your husband."
"Why?" I asked, my voice tinged with a blend of curiosity and confusion. Leaving Denver felt like a betrayal. Yet, if he truly stood in the way of my pursuit of justice for my cousins, then perhaps there was a painful truth I had yet to confront.
"Denver would never allow you to take on this dangerous path," Daniel explained, his voice tinged with a hint of sorrow. "He desires to cage and shield you, to shelter you from harm. But that won't help you. The Master knew from the beginning why you've with your sister and that guy at Madrigal Resorts. While Denver knows your plans, and he aims to stop them."
"So, this enigmatic master of yours intends to eliminate Denver in order to redirect Sharmienne's focus towards her goal?" Kian chuckled, a wry amusement dancing in his eyes. "It's quite the twist, isn't it? Velasquez becoming the distraction instead of the other way around."
I interjected, speaking on Denver's behalf and wants to defend him. "I... don't fully understand... Denver only wanted to protect and keep me safe..." 
Despite the revelations and hidden agendas, I couldn't deny that Denver had always respected me, granting me the space and privacy I needed. He wasn't the type to pry or relentlessly seek answers. He had his own methods of discovering the truth, in his own ways.
"But that very protection he gives you could also be the very thing that could destroys your life, Sharmienne," Kian remarked, his voice tinged with a newfound understanding. It was as if he had glimpsed the underlying truth Daniel had been hinting at. "I now see why our missions align, in some strange way."
Daniel nodded in agreement with Kian. "Trust me, again," he implored, a hint of skepticism lingering in his tone. He extended his hand, offering an unexpected alliance. "Let us be allies."
Reluctantly, Kian shook Daniel's hand, a deep-seated animosity still present in his eyes. "I still despise you and your gang," Kian admitted.
Daniel smirked, acknowledging Kian's lingering animosity. As their hands parted, a sense of relieved tension permeated the air, though the weight of unanswered questions and the need for clarification still lingered within me. Daniel's gaze turned towards me, concern etched across his features. "You should rest, Sharmienne. Don't burden yourself with overthinking for now."
Kian chimed in, offering a glimmer of reassurance. "Everything will be okay, Sha."
I stood back, allowing them to take the reins of the conversation and devise the plan. In this so-called game of strategy and danger, I positioned myself as the obedient ally, willing to comply with their wishes rather than asserting my own authority. It was a role I had grown accustomed to, though it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"I should go," I murmured softly, my gaze shifting between Kian and Daniel. 
A hint of weariness and longing for solitude colored my words. I needed time to process the weighty discussions we had just engaged in, to find my bearings amidst the tangled web of alliances and secrets. The room seemed to exhale a collective sigh of tension, yearning for respite from the heated exchanges that had taken place.
"Please, let's not argue anymore," I implored, my voice laced with a gentle plea. “Please, don’t argue anymore and reconcile. I don’t want to hear any arguments from my room.”
Kian nodded, a flicker of understanding in his eyes as he heard me. His lips curved into a small, apologetic smile, acknowledging the irrationality that had clouded his judgment. In that fleeting moment, I glimpsed the vulnerability beneath his hardened exterior.
"You're right," he conceded, his tone carrying a note of humility. "I've let my emotions get the best of me. I'll strive to find common ground with Saavadra."
Turning to Daniel, I exchanged a fleeting glance, a silent promise of further conversation to come. Our connection ran deeper than words could convey, an unspoken understanding that transcended the constraints of the present moment. He met my gaze, his eyes filled with empathy, recognizing the turmoil that churned within me.
"Talk to you later," I managed to utter, a semblance of normalcy returning to my voice. A nod punctuated my words, conveying my agreement and willingness to reconnect at a later time. My smile, though painted on, failed to reach the depths of my eyes, betraying the inner conflict I grappled with.
I was transparent to them, my emotions laid bare like an open book. They saw through the facade, sensing the unease and unspoken turmoil that flickered in the depths of my brown orbs. It was a fragile moment of vulnerability. But for now, I needed solitude, a chance to confront the storm within me and emerge with a clear mind and unwavering resolve.
As I made my way towards my room, my footsteps faltered at the sound of a ringing phone. It was on the center table, getting my attention. With a quick turn of my head, I caught a glimpse of the name 'Golieza' displayed on the screen. A gasp escaped my lips, and I instinctively covered my mouth, the shock reverberating through me. Waves of emotions crashed upon me, leaving me adrift, unable to grasp a single coherent feeling.
Kian, sensing my distress, glanced at me apologetically before swiftly answering the call with a swipe of his finger. The phone pressed against his ear, his gaze remained fixed on me, observing my every move. I stood there, rooted to the spot, my emotions swirling within me like a tempest. I needed keep calm.
The ache for my family flooded my heart, an undeniable yearning that tugged at my soul. I longed to hear their voices, the warmth and ambiance of our home. Memories of Carmienne and I, huddled together as I scribbled in my notepad, the warmth of my father's hugs and gentle kisses on my forehead, even the echoes of my mother's scoldings that now felt strangely distant. I missed them, a bittersweet sentiment intertwined with the irony of my current situation.
Relief washed over me when Kian told me that my parents understood the reasons behind my choices. Yet, beneath that relief, I sensed their worry, their longing to have me by their side. It had been months since I had been separated from them, ever since Denver took on the responsibility of protecting me.
"Yes, she's here, Auntie," Kian's voice confirmed as he nod a silent assurance. But his eyes suddenly widened, a flicker of concern crossing his features as he listened intently to the voice on the other end. "You need to keep the phone away from him, Auntie. It's not good if he hears our conversation."
My heart skipped a beat, panic seizing me. Was that my mother? Why did Kian suddenly appear troubled?
"Can... can I talk to her, Kian?" I stammered, retracing my steps and settling back into the seat I had recently vacated. Kian sighed, his expression filled with empathy as he witnessed the worry etched upon my face. He nodded and handed me the phone, cautioning me to speak softly.
Nodding in understanding, I brought the phone to my ear, the anticipation mounting as I waited for a familiar voice to greet me on the other end of the line.
"Sharmienne..."
The sound of my mother's voice reached my ears, tugging at my heartstrings with an overwhelming sense of longing. I held my breath, determined to suppress any sobs that threatened to escape. Taking a deep, steadying breath, I braced myself for the conversation ahead.
"M-mom..." My voice quivered despite my attempts to steady it. Daniel rose from his seat, offering me a comforting gesture, while Kian looked on with worry and concern before following Daniel's lead.
"How are you? Are you eating well?" Her voice was gentle, almost a whisper.
"I'm fine, Mom," I replied, forcing a smile even though I knew she couldn't see it. "I'm with Kian and Daniel, and I've also made friends with Carmienne's schoolmate. I'm okay."
"That's good to hear." Her sigh carried a mix of relief and worry, almost palpable through the phone. Then, I heard some sounds, as if someone had opened a door. "We've been worried, especially Denver Velasquez. He was here earlier, but—"
"Mom?"
"Velasquez? Why did you come back?" Panic tinged my mother's voice, followed by a brief pause and silence on the other end of the line. Then, the harsh sound of footsteps echoed through the phone.
"It's my wife, Mrs. Golieza! Let me talk to my wife."
As the sound of my name reached his ears through the phone, it was as if a dormant switch had been suddenly flipped within him. A trigger. I could sense the surge of emotions coursing through him, but I hadn't anticipated the intensity of his reaction.
“Sharmienne...”
His voice quivered with a mixture of disbelief and hurt as he spoke my name, his words laced with a potent cocktail of anger and sadness. The force behind his tone was enough to send shivers down my spine, and I couldn't help but wonder what was transpiring on his end of the line.
A man torn between love and resentment, between wanting to hold on and needing to let go. The weight of our shared history, the dreams and promises that had once bound us together, hung heavy in the air. But now, it seemed that a volatile storm had consumed the man I once knew, threatening to unleash its destructive force upon us both.
In that moment, I found myself grappling with a whirlwind of emotions. Surprise mingled as I tried to comprehend the depth of his reaction. Our past had been fraught with turmoil, and I had thought that distance and time would allow wounds to heal. But perhaps I had underestimated the raw power of unresolved emotions and the gravity of our connection.
As the seconds ticked by, tension radiated through the phone line. I braced myself for what would come next, unsure of whether it would be a hurricane of words or a chilling silence. Regardless, I knew that this pivotal moment held the potential to change everything.
"D-Denver?" I uttered nervously, my voice trembling as I contemplated ending the call. But something within me yearned to hear his voice, even if it were for the last time. "H-Hubby?"
"Wife!" He exclaimed assured that it was me, though his voice was muffled and distant. He had taken hold of the phone. I hesitated, unsure whether to disconnect the call. I wanted to speak to him, to release the burdens weighing on my chest, to apologize, to explain, to clarify everything.
"Where the f*ck are you, Sharmienne? I've been looking for you!" His voice resonated with a potent mix of anger and annoyance. Despite it all, I couldn't help but miss him, even in his rage. It was what I had expected.
"D-Denver... please, don't look for me anymore..." I almost managed to choke out, my throat raw from crying. "I'm sorry for leaving you. I-I'm sorry, Hubby."
"Sharmienne... d-don't cry... please, tell me, where are you?" His voice softened, the anger giving way to desperation. I didn't want to tell him. I just wanted closure.
"Don't look for me anymore, Denver. That's my only wish."
"No... no... We'll fix this, okay? Tell me, where are you?" Desperation laced on every word, his tone bordering on pleading. I wanted to end the call, to spare us both further pain. "I thought you like me, wife? Why are you doing this to me?" His voice grew lower, almost unrecognizable. I sobbed harder, unable to contain the weight of emotions that had been festering since I left him–regret, acceptance, fear.
"I'm sorry."
Just as I reached to end the call, a deafening gunshot pierced the air, followed by an ear-splitting explosion. I froze as a searing pain lancing through my back. The phone slipped from my grasp, falling to the floor as something warm and viscous cascaded from my mouth. Frantically, I covered it with my hand, realizing it was blood. My body gave way, collapsing onto the floor. 
The last sound I heard was another gunshot, intermingling with Denver's desperate cries for my name, before darkness enveloped me, and I succumbed to unconsciousness.