Seed of Possession

“I can’t believe that the successor will be announced any months from now,” one of the gentlemen said while smoking his tobacco.

“Well, I didn’t believe this would happen. The rules of the head are kind of tricky,” one of the men in a blue suit said.

“The main rule is that the next heir should bring a beautiful child, and we don’t know what kind of beautiful child it is – is it in the face, bloodline, or talent?” The man said while puffing his tobacco.

“It’s not important anymore because the head will now announce the next heir after the woman gives birth to their child.”

“But did you hear the latest news? There is a scandal in the main mansion-”

“Gentlemen, why are you still here?” Lorenzo interrupted their conversation. The two men were a bit startled because of what Lorenzo did.

The two men coughed as they tried to cover their awkwardness in the situation.

“Ahem… Ahem…. We were just having a deep conversation, but we are going now. Thank you,” one of the men said and pulled his friend away, walking away from Lorenzo.

Lorenzo just smiled at the two as he hid his disgusted and annoyed face from them.

“Annoying bastards,” he mumbled while watching the two men walking away from him.

“I can’t believe I need to attend this meeting,” Lorenzo muttered.

Lorenzo turned to the woman who was talking behind him. He grinned as he confirmed that it was the woman walking towards him.

“Krizza, my lovely cousin, you’re here!” Lorenzo beamed with enthusiasm, smiling brightly at Dr. Krizza.

Krizza’s face turned grim when she saw Lorenzo’s expression. “What’s up with you?” Dr. Krizza asked suspiciously, knowing that Lorenzo would not greet her like that unless he had ulterior motives or was planning something unpleasant.

“Nothing, why? Can’t I greet my beloved cousin?” Lorenzo said sweetly, causing Dr. Krizza to feel sudden unease due to his words.

“You’re planning something in the meeting, aren’t you?” Dr. Krizza gasped as she realized the true reason behind Lorenzo’s actions.

In a carefully measured tone, Lorenzo remarked, “You’re undoubtedly a woman of great intellect, but when it comes to managing your emotions, you reveal yourself as somewhat of an unwitting confidante. Under the strain of stress and distress, you inadvertently disclose the secrets of those around you.” His words carried a weight that quickened Dr. Krizza’s heartbeat and left her feeling exposed.

Nervously, Krizza inquired, “What do you mean, Lorenzo?” It was clear that at that moment, she sensed Lorenzo’s intentions for the upcoming meeting.

With a teasing grin, Lorenzo replied, “Oh, it’s just some drama I happened to overhear. Care to enlighten us about it? Ah, yes, I recall the dramatic saga between you and your soon-to-be-ex-husband, Rolando.” His words left Krizza stunned, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“How do you know?” she stammered.

Lorenzo leaned in closer, his voice lowered, and advised, “Krizza, please, let’s avoid any further theatrics within the mansion.” With a sly wink, he turned and headed toward the meeting location.

Panicked, Dr. Krizza reached for her phone in her pocket, urgently dialing Xander’s number.

In a moment of exasperation, Krizza murmured, “Xander, please, pick up the phone,” as she anxiously nibbled on her fingernails. On the other end of the line, she could only discern the distant murmur of the operator’s voice. It seemed like an eternity of ceaseless ringing. Frustrated, Krizza redialed Xander’s number, but her call went unanswered once more.

“Perhaps, Rolando will answer. It’s an emergency,” she muttered, her voice tinged with panic, as she swiftly dialed her husband’s number. To her relief, Rolando picked up after just one ring.

“Krizza, why are you c-”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Where is Xander? Why didn’t he answer my call?” Krizza interjected, her impatience evident.

“Why do you need to know?” Rolando asked.

“Rolando, just answer my question. We’re facing an emergency,” Krizza replied, her voice rising in pitch, underscoring the gravity of the situation. A prolonged silence hung in the air before Rolando finally spoke.

“Master is already here; he stepped out for some other business. I’ll pass the phone to him,” Rolando explained.

Dr. Krizza nodded, as if she were speaking directly to Rolando. “Make it quick,” she mumbled while leaning against the nearby wall.

“Hello, Krizza. Why did you call?” Xander’s voice came through the phone.

“Xander, we have a problem. It seems that Lorenzo already knows the secret between you and Giselle, and he’s planning to reveal it during the meeting. I’m not sure, but he warned me. It appears that, aside from Flora, someone else overheard our argument,” Krizza said in a panic to Xander. She anxiously awaited a reply, but all she heard was a blurred curse before the call abruptly ended.

“I suppose that should suffice. I hope he arrives swiftly to prevent Lorenzo from divulging Giselle’s secret,” she murmured as she took a deep breath. She gently caressed her belly, seeking to draw renewed energy and strength for her unborn child, before straightening herself and making her way to the room where the meeting was set to occur.

As soon as Dr. Krizza arrived at the meeting place, she swiftly took her seat. The meeting had been arranged by Lorenzo, and the attendees consisted mainly of 1st and 2nd cousins, along with some family friends of the Monteverdes. The interior of the meeting room was spacious, offering ample room. At its center stood an imposing rectangular table crafted from narra wood. It resembled a boardroom for stockholders, but on a grand scale, complete with microphones and speakers at each seat.

Krizza cast a fleeting glance at Lorenzo, who was engrossed in conversation with one of their cousins. A cold sweat formed on her brow as she grappled with the knowledge that she was at fault. Lorenzo had the power to wield this against Xander, potentially placing Giselle’s child in harm’s way. If that were to occur, her own life would hang in the balance, subject to the wrath of the two volatile, married individuals.

“Are you feeling the chill of fear, Krizza?” Krizza’s startled, her eyes snapping to the woman who whispered in her ear.

“Chandrea,” Krizza hissed, her gaze sharp as a blade.

“Oh, my, what icy glare, my dear pregnant lady. It’s almost as if you’re hurling daggers at my face,” Chandrea said with a mocking chuckle, taking a seat beside her.

“Perhaps your child is a boy, for you seem to grow uglier by the day,” Chandrea commented, further fueling Krizza’s irritation. She had never been able to tolerate Chandrea, a feeling she shared with Chantal, but Chandrea was even worse than her sisters.

“Why are you here? The scandal that unfolded within the mansion has already been exposed. How shameless can you be to attend this meeting?” Krizza’s voice cut through the air, dripping with irritation and annoyance. Chandrea merely laughed, seemingly impervious to her words.

“Why? Is there any proof that the scandal is true? As far as I remember, there’s no video or picture of the scandal; it’s only the testimony and gossip from the servants in the mansion,” Chantal teased, giggling and grinning mischievously at Krizza.

Krizza just laughed at the situation. She had long known that Chandrea was Lorenzo’s mistress. She discovered it when Maxine had an accident at the age of 2, and Chandrea secretly donated blood to save her. Krizza confirmed this when she overheard a conversation between Lorenzo and Chandrea. She had wanted to tell Chantal about what she had heard, but Chantal had done something to her that made her keep the secret. It was her form of revenge against Chantal.

“I shouldn’t be surprised that you’ve been the mistress of every governor in Luzon, and you’ve hidden it so well. I’m amazed you’re still alive, considering the jealousy of some politicians and their wives in our country,” Krizza retorted, matching Chandrea’s earlier intensity.

Chandrea just smiled at Krizza, tilting her head. “If I were you, Krizza, I’d keep my mouth shut and go with the flow. Aligning yourself with Xander and his unfaithful wife won’t protect you from me when I decide to make a move, whether it’s in your house or your beloved clinic,” Chandrea sweetly threatened. However, Krizza wasn’t afraid of Chandrea; she was far more scared of Giselle. Between the two, Krizza knew that Giselle held more influence in the outside world and high society. When she ran errands for Giselle, Krizza had learned that Giselle had strong connections with influential people, especially in politics. What was even more frightening was Giselle’s contact in the underworld, the notorious black market.

“Give it on!” Krizza said as she challenged Chandrea to do as she had said.

“What’s happening here in this part of the table? The other guests are getting scared in this area,” Krizza smirked when she heard the voice of that person. She looked at that person and rolled her eyes.

“Whoa! The husband is already here. I guess the Genius Master is already here,” Chandrea playfully said as she stood up, escaping the situation because she knew she might get into trouble when Krizza told Rolando what she had said to her.

“Please excuse me; I’m going to search for the master of the two of you,” Chandrea said as she left the two. Krizza just watched Chandrea walk away, and a loud sigh escaped her mouth when Chandrea finally left.

“Where’s your master?” Krizza asked Rolando, who was standing behind her.

“He is just doing business with Lorenzo,” Rolando answered, making Krizza chuckle.

“It looks like blood will be painted in this room.”