The Grand Mistress

When the Tang's left, Primo had the courage to speak directly to the girl who was standing near him.

"Have lunch me," His voice was begging but it wasn't enough to get Gabriella's attention. Instead, she walked away from him as if she had not heard him.

"Dulzura.." Primo chased and called his woman. Gabriella consistently ignored him and he was left with no choice but to chase and  grab her. "Please have lunch with me at least,"

"Have lunch with your other woman," The girl rebutted and forcefully squeezed herself out of Primo's grab but with no success. Primo was too strong for her and surely was hard to push away.

"Do you really think I have another?" 

"I didn't just think it out of nowhere. I've seen it first hand," She replied and evaded his eyes. "Please let me go, Lucy will be picking me up. Her men is always with her, I don't want any chaos,"

"Won't you really forgive me?" Primo was desperate. He was already living miserably without her and wanted to bring her home but the girl wasn't giving him any chance at all. "Don't you love me anymore?"

"I don't remember telling you that I love you," Gabriella corrected. "You are just assuming things,"

"But we already—"

"Its just sex okay," Gabriella said it like it was nothing. "Just get over it. I won't come back to you,"

When Primo heard her answer he was dumbfounded. He had been wooing her for many days and nights yet she was always consistent in rejecting him. Worst of all, she sounded like whatever happened to him wasn't anything special at all but just for fun. 

Helpless, the young lawyer frustratedly brushed his air. He wanted to have more conversation with her but in a moment, a familiar car stopped in front of them.

"Gabriella hop in," The singer commanded as she opened the window from the backseat. Without waiting for anything, Gabriella charged all her might to be free from Primo and immediately ran inside Lucy's car. 

The man however who had lost a grab on his woman instinctively chased her but Lucy's men immediately block his way.

"Give me back my woman or there will be bloodshed today," Primo threatened, eyes shooting daggers at Lucy's men  "How dare you block my way,"

"Boys…" Lucy stepped out of the car and had her men withdraw so she could talk with Primo.

"I thought you'd help me," Primo confronted the singer right away. "Why does it seem like you are hiding my woman away? Are you taking me as a fool Lucilla?"

"I didn't promise I'd help you with Gabriella," She denied.

"Lucilla, Hawk Monsanto already knew we were both involved with your friend's escape," Primo was like telling her he had already pushed the trigger just so he can have his woman back with the intention to make Lucy cooperate with him.

"Fine. I'll help you. I'll make sure she goes back to your mansion," Lucy decided on it. She was really impressed at how Primo helped her with Simione and how he was very consistent with Gabriella so she wanted to fulfill her part of their agreement. "However, don't push yourself into her today. Wait for the right time,"

"I have been waiting for many days already," Primo nagged.

"Your wooing would do nothing," Lucy assured him. "Just wait for it. She'll come home to you soon. Trust me on this,"

Primo wasn't amenable with what the singer suggested but what could she really do at this time? Gabriella was so serious about ignoring him and he just can't find a way back into her heart. He really had nothing then but to just Lucy on whatever she had in mind.

"Alright,"

"Nice doing business with you then," Lucy winked at him. "Goodbye El Tigre"

****

Simione does not anymore remember what happened. When she woke up, she was already blindfolded, tied  and was on transit. She knew she was being shipped off somewhere because she could feel that she was in a vehicle. She was also aware that there were men with her but all of them were unusually quiet and not none did give her attention. Perhaps because they all thought she was still asleep.

Where could they be taking her?

How long did she fall asleep?

Who are these men?

She wanted to shout and probably fought back but being with several men in one car wasn't really the best place to do that. She had to be patient and find the right timing on when to execute her plans. Perhaps when the transit was over and she had regained her strength.

Hours and hours went by until they arrived at their destination. Simione had really no idea where she was brought but when soon, she had smelled a familiar scent of garden flowers she used to know.

Wait.

Are they taking her to….

"We are here," One of the men announced and immediately loosened Simione's blindfold. As long as they did, Simione saw four big men all dressed in brown uniforms in the same car she was in and already.

"Get her out," The leader instructed and soon, Simione was dragged into the ground of a big ancestral property. Seeing it, Simione's previous fear and nervousness faded and what rushed into her heart was loathe. 

That man. He dared to drag her back here.

The mansion that was before them was something that Simione was very familiar with and at the very foot of the entrance an old man was standing, proud and tall, with honey colored eyes and an antique walking stick on his right hand. His aura immediately got everyone intimidated, except Simione.

"So it's true! That child is really alive?" Madam Fara gasped at the main entrance of the Han's mansion together with her husband and Feather who was just released from the hospital.

Her words somehow caught the Don's attention and so he gathered his eyes to her sternly that made her instantly shut up. She lowered her head with fear and shame.

"Why? Who told you she was dead? I don't remember having a funeral for her," The Don straightforwardly answered, trying to question Madam Fara's words. 

The scandal about Hawk and Feather broke out uncontrollably and reached the ears of the Don. As a proud man as he was and because of how terrible the scandal was, he was forced to come home and clear the matter, most especially that the name of the Han's reputation was at risk here. When he arrived, he certainly did not expect all the things that welcomed him and knowing that it had to be remedied immediately, he had to act on it.

"Why did you bring me here?" Simione asked.

"It was you who hit on your cousin," Don Benedicto pointed a finger on her. "Do you expect that I will just let you off after the mess you did?"

"Yes! You broke my wedding! You deserved to be punished!" Feather acted pitifully in front of her grandfather. When he arrived, things had been difficult for her parents but she had washed her hands clean from everything and pretended to be the victim as she was. Of course her grandfather would not blame her for anything she had not contributed for, just like how Han's Scintillait was these days.

"Hahahahah," Simione laughed at it. "Oh no cousin, I just saved you from a two timing animal. You should be thankful," 

"Hawk is not like that!" Feather defended him. She still wanted her grandfather to approve of the wedding so she wanted to clear off Hawk's name on this. "It was you who went to him and seduced him. Slut!"

"If a man truly loves you, they should have not betray you in anyway," Simione responded then dragged his eyes immediately to the Don, "Right Don Benedicto….oopps! I'm sorry…I forgot that you knew nothing about love too…you left your wife in Somerset Village just so you can be rich….ahaahaha…then you built the white mansion to woo her back…how pathetic—"

"Pacccckkkkk!"

Simione's insult gained her a slap from the Don. "I am still you ascendant. Learn some respects,"

"Respect is earned. Not given" Simione snapped back, not minding the pain that rushed to her face.

"Is that what the streets taught you? To be disrespectful?" Don Benedicto continued chiding her. "You left home and became like that? An ill-mannered ingrate? Look at yourself…you left here with pride and now you come back with nothing, not even dignity"

"At least I get to own my life for once! Besides, this place is not my home!" Simione looked at him with disgust. "It was never a home!"

"Father…" Mauro Han cut the two's argument because he could already see the Don's fury and he was very afraid that his argument with Simione would only create more chaos in their household. As much as possible, he had to keep the Don calm and composed or things would only lead to more complications.. "How about we all talk about this inside? I had the maids prepare some tea. The wind outside is not good for your health,"