It’s around 5 in the afternoon, I'm preparing mom’s soup when our doorbell rings consecutively. As I check on the living room Lucy, Candace and Roland are in there so I think it must be someone who is mistaken to push our doorbell. But it’s not stopping for consecutive times so I check who's on our door.
“Margarette,” I whispered. She's wearing a red suit paired with her red lipstick.
I get a vibe of Cassandra by the look on her face. There’s nothing so different between the two of them. They are trouble makers.
I open the door to see what she’s here for now. Margarette storms in along with five men that look like her bodyguards. They go directly to the living room disturbing Lucy, Candace, and Roland who are watching TV.
“Search every room and get their things out,” Margarette commands the men and they immediately follow.
One of them goes to mom’s room. I was quick to notice it.
“Hey, don’t disturb my mom, she’s sleeping and she’s not feeling well.”
The man looks back and seems to be waiting for Margarette’s approval.
“You will only listen to me and not this stupid girl.”
“I am Angelo’s daughter.”
Margarette laughed like what I said was a joke to her.
“You are claiming to be Angelo’s daughter? Poor girl. You don’t even have his surname. What makes you think you are his daughter.”
“Angelo acknowledged me as his daughter. You can ask him if you want.” I said confidently.
Margarette paused, she seemed to realize I’m telling the truth.
I rush to mom’s room but one of the bodyguards holds me in one arm.
“Take your hands off me. I will let Angelo know about this, you will never like what he’s capable of doing.”
“Seriously? Angel, are you threatening us?”
“I’m telling you what Angelo is capable of doing if you hurt me and my mother. Angelo loves my mother, something that you’ll never get. He only loves one woman and that is my mom.”
Margarette looks at me intensely, her eyes are piercing. I know I made her angry by telling the truth.
“Get her mother here,” Margarette commands the other bodyguard.
“No, mom can’t walk properly. She doesn’t feel well.”
Candace and Lucy walk over to mom’s room but the bodyguard at the door stops them. The first bodyguard comes out with mom in a wheelchair. Mom’s head was lying on the side, she’s weak. Lucy and Candace help mom to sit properly.
“Mommy…” I pull my hand out of the bodyguard with all my might and I succeed.
“Mommy, are you okay?” I ask, tucking her hair. My heart breaks seeing my mom so weak.
“Angel, what is happening?” Mom asked slowly, her voice almost didn’t come out of her mouth.
“It’s me, Athena.”
I haven’t noticed Margarette is near us, listening.
“You and your mother, you are opportunists. You took advantage of my husband’s weakness. You dare to tour around Singapore and spend our money like it is yours. This is the last day you will live in heaven. As long as I am here, you will live in hell. Mark my word.”
Margarette points at me and my mom back and forth.
“Margarette, we will leave.”
“Of course, you will, that’s why I’m here. To make sure you will leave this place right now. Not later, not tomorrow but right now.”
“Let us get our things and we will leave peacefully.”
Margarette paused for a moment and then heaved a sigh.
“You have 10 minutes. After that, I want to see you 4 out of this condo. Make it fast.”
After packing all my things I noticed Roland in the living room, head bow down.
“Roland, did you get your things? Let’s go.”
Roland glances up. “Angel, I have to stay. I’m sorry.”
“He is my driver. By the way, you can’t take the car either. We will use it to tour around the city.”
Roland doesn't speak anymore, he bends his head again as if he was shy.
“Thank you for your service, Roland. We will never forget you. We have to go.”
Roland glances up again and he smiles at us.
“Make it fast. Leave now. We still have to fix this messy place.” Margarette thundered. I ignore her.
“Ms. Lucy, can you take my luggage please. I’ll push mom’s wheelchair.”
Lucy and Candace take our luggage including mom’s meds. We are left with no choice but to commute to get to the nearest apartment. We got the two-room apartment where I share the first room with mom and the other for Candace and Lucy.
As I check the clock it’s 7 pm. We finally settle mom in her bed and try our best for her to rest.
“Mom, do you feel comfortable in this bed?”
“Yes, Angel, no problem. I can lay here easily.”
“Alright. Let Candace or Lucy know if you need anything. I’ll make your dinner first. Okay?”
Mom nods in response.
You will not get away with this Margarette. I promise myself as I dial Angelo’s number. The call is connected immediately. “Hello, I’m sorry to call you at this time. I hope I’m not disturbing any of your work or business.”
“No, no, no, it’s fine. Is there something urgent?” Angelo asked worriedly.
“This is about Margarette, your wife.”
“Margarette? What about her? Is Margarette in Singapore right now?”
“Yes, she is. The first time she visited us she was mad seeing us staying in your condo and wanted us to leave. I insisted that it was you who offered us to stay and we will only listen to you. This afternoon she came with 5 men and kicked us out of the condo. We had no choice, I don’t want mom to get hurt.”
“No... How’s Athena? Can I talk to her?”
“Mom is in her room. We are in the nearest two-room apartment. I don’t think it’s a good idea you talk to her right now, she’s resting a bit. It was stressful back in the condo. Besides, mom told me not to call you.”
“I understand, sweetheart. I will fix this immediately, don't worry. You take care of yourself as well as your mom. Okay?"
"Thank you, we really need your help. Mom is so weak now and we had to ride a taxi to get here. Margarette forbids us to use the car as she will use it to tour around Singapore and have Roland as her driver."
“Oh... MARGARETTE," Angelo said with disgust and anger in his voice. “Do you still have the credit cards I gave you?”
“Yes, I still have them. We use credit cards for our expenses including this apartment we stay in.”
"Good, if anything comes up, let me know.”
"I really appreciate all your help, I don't know what to do without you."
"Sweetheart, you don't have to say that. I'm always here for you and your mom."
I end the call with a calm heart, knowing Angelo will do everything to resolve things with Margarette. My heart skips a beat every time Angelo calls me sweetheart, it was like he accepted me as his daughter. He is giving me the confidence and hope of calling him, my dad.
An unknown number appears on the screen as I try to check my inbox. I swipe to answer the call, expecting it's from one of my friends, using a different phone.
“Hello, Angel!!”
“Cassandra? Is this you?”
“Yes. The one and only. And oh, this won’t be a long call, Angel. I just wanted to ask how was life in Singapore. Have you guys been kicked out of the condo?”
How did she know?
“That’s none of your business Cassandra.”
“Well, stories spread so fast, right?”
"Were you the one who told Margarette? Cassandra, what do you want from me?"
"Yes. Who else could it be? I called to ask if you've thought about the message I sent you."
"Go to hell, Cassandra. You are not worth my time."
I end the call immediately and turn off my phone.