WHEN Nicole returned to the hall, her friend was busy talking to others. She's happy with her friend's achievement. In the two years of her absence, she can say that her image has changed a lot. But her attitude was still the same that she liked. Still humble and friendly, she knows how to look back at where she came from.

Nicole distracted herself by watching around while Danica was busy. She was grateful and Xander did not approach her again. She saw Rita with him, they are talking with the other guests.

"Hi, are you alone?" A man greeted Nicole.

Nicole smiled a little and accepted the hand of the man who wanted to be her acquaintance.

"My name is Ralph, the manager of this hotel." He introduced himself.

Nicole's small mouth rounded and she was impressed by his elegance. "Nicole." She introduced herself to him before smiling.

"Are you sure you don't have a partner with you here?" Ralph seemed doubtful.

"Is it not allowed?" She replied jokingly to the young man. She quickly became comfortable with him because, like Xander, he was also funny.

The man chuckled as he scratched his neck. "No, it's just not convincing that your boyfriend lets you attend something like this without him."

She raised an eyebrow at the man and looked at him teasingly.

"What I mean is.. if I was your boyfriend, I would be afraid to leave you alone on this occasion. With that beauty of you, it is unlikely that no one would dare to try to pursue you." He explained to the young lady and scratched his neck again when a smile spread on her lips.

"Oh, should I guess how many you've praised before me?" Nicole asked the man jokingly. This attitude of hers shows when she knows the person she is talking to is kind.

"You, do I look like a womanizer?" Ralph sounded upset.

Nicole couldn't help but laugh with the man. Now, she enjoys the party. The waiters began to walk around, carrying trays with wine and glass. She no longer refused when Ralph handed her a goblet of red wine.

"Cheers for the beginning of our friendship!" Ralph raised the cup he was holding and toasted Nicole.

Steven took a series of sips from the wine while his eyes never leave the woman laughing with Ralph. It seemed that she's easily flattered by men, even though she just met him, she incautiously laughs with him.

Danica also looked at where her boyfriend's gaze is focused. The tip of the upper part of her lip lifted as she recognized who he was observing. She could not deny that the beauty of her friend is no match to the other ladies there. She admits that her body is more shapely than hers. But she lacks self-confidence and that’s what she has.

"Honey, try this one." Danica grabbed the young man's attention. She gave him the goblet she took from the tray carried by a waiter who had just passed in front of them.

Steven took it without hesitation and drank its content straight.

Danica suppressed the smile that wanted to appear on her lips after her boyfriend drank it. After a few more seconds, he shook slightly from his position and she immediately supported him.

"Are you okay, Honey?" Danica asked him worriedly.

Steven rubbed his own forehead as he felt his surroundings spin again.

"I think you need to rest first. You've also drank so much alcohol. I'll tell Rita later to handle it if others look for you."

Steven no longer refused when Danica led him to the elevator. The event was coming to an end and some have returned home, thus he could leave the hall without worrying. He has his own room in the hotel so he can spend the night there.

"I'm okay here, leave me and join Rita to entertain those who are still there." Steven pushes the young lady away.

Danica kissed her boyfriend on the lips before leaving. She hurried back to the venue and looked for Nicole.

Steven suddenly felt hot so he decided to take a bath before going to sleep.

"Here you are!" Danica breathed a sigh of relief as she approached Nicole. "I'm sorry if I left you here too long."

"Don't worry about me. I won't be lost, besides, I've made a new friend." Nicole's eyes were drowsy and she smiled at her friend. She was not used to drinking alcohol, so she became tipsy.

"Thanks for accompanying my friend while I'm gone." Danica smiled gratefully at Ralph.

"No problem, your friend is humorous and it's easy to make her laugh." Ralph's comment.

When Ralph was no longer in front of them, Danica signaled to a waiter to approach them. "Drink this juice first to reduce your dizziness."

Nicole obeyed her and accepted what she offered. It was less than a minute and she suddenly felt strange in her body.

"My, Aunt Rox will be mad at me for letting you get drunk. We should just spend the night here." She led her to a room.

Nicole agreed with Danica. She's right, her mother will surely scold her particularly with what she's wearing tonight. Her mother is scary when she's angry and she's afraid that her friend would be scolded too.

"Where are you going?" She grabbed Danica's hand when she moved away. She sat on the side of the bed.

"I'll just go back to Rita. Take a break and don't worry because I'll join you here later." Danica said goodbye to her.

Nicole lay down on the soft bed when Danica left the room. But she immediately sat down again when suddenly, she felt a hot tingle between her thighs. She was restless and her feeling gradually became hot. She suddenly felt like her cloth is choking her even though it is not around her neck.

Irritably, Steven wrapped a towel around his waist and went out of the bathroom. It took him long because his body barely loses its heat. He realized that what he had drank earlier was wrong and he has to call his doctor friend to bring him medicine before it gets worse and he could no longer control himself.

"What's happening?" Nicole asked herself, her own hand involuntarily rubbed her thighs when it felt hot again.

His attempt to reach for his cell phone on the sofa was thwarted when he heard a woman's low growl. Only the lampshade was on, thus he didn’t notice that someone else was in his room. The woman's hair was covering her face so he couldn't recognize her right away. She was apparently surprised at his presence and quickly removed the hand that was between her thighs.

"What are you doing in my room?!" His voice echoed in the four corners of the room. He groaned and tried to control his libido when he saw the woman's appearance. Her eyes are beautiful and she's biting her own lip to suppress the growl that wants to escape her mouth. He shifted his gaze to her legs, she's squeezing what's between her thighs.

Nicole did not know what caused the sudden trembling of her muscles when she recognized the man. If it's because of the heat she feels or her fear of him or because of the excitement, seeing his muscular body. It looks delicious to eat, especially because only a towel is draped over his entire body.

"Oh my God!" She screamed in her mind. She felt the heat on her face doubled because of the embarrassment.

"I'm asking you, Young Lady!" he hissed while clenching his fist.

"I… I don't know, Sir," she said while firmly touching her thighs when again there was a twitch between her thighs. She was already sweating profusely and didn't know how to release the heat in her body that she wanted to lose.

"Shit!" Steven cussed when he noticed that the woman was not behaving normally.

"Huh!" She sighed loudly when the young man took a few steps and carelessly got her up from the bed.

"Tell me, who is your accomplice to carry out all this?!" anger flared in his eyes as he held the woman by the neck. Anger, disgust and lust mixed into his emotions.

"I… don't know what you're talking about, but please help me!" Nicole moaned and ignored the tightness of his hold around her neck. The heat that lingered in her intensified as she is pressed against him.

Steven angrily released her neck and pushed her back onto the bed. "Don't blame me after this!"

Those were the last words Nicole heard from the young man before he moved on top of her. She felt like she's going crazy because instead of being scared, her body is excited. Her mind was already empty because of the strange sensation she feels.

His anger for her dominates Steven's heart and mind as he indulges in her body. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but even though he wasn't under drugs, he was addicted to kissing her lips. He just let her be noisy. Even he moaned when she learned to respond to every kiss he gave her.

Tears welled up in her eyes as he finally got her most careful compliment. It was painful at first, but the ones that followed were unparalleled in taste.

Steven completely lost his sanity as he continued to own the woman. It didn’t matter to him if he hurt her. What was important to him was to release the intense heat that was building up in his manhood. He claimed her a few more times and she just let him because her body needed it, too. He could no longer count how many times he had taken her to paradise until they were both exhausted.

"Are you okay?" Rita asked Danica worriedly. She accompanied her to a room in the hotel when she informed her earlier that she had a headache.

"A little bit." Danica replied to her in a whisper. The truth is that her heart is hurting now, knowing that the two important people in her life are drowning in the heat. She wanted to shout to relieve the anger she felt, but she had no right to complain because she was the one who wanted it.

"You look terrible, I will call brother Steven so we can bring you to the hospital."

"No!" She quickly grabbed Rita's hand. "Your older brother is not feeling well too and I don't want to disturb his rest. Don't worry about me. It's just a migraine and it will go away later."

Rita sighed and went back to sit next to her friend. She massaged her forehead to somehow relieve the pain.

"Thank you!" Danica smiled at her before closing her eyes to relax herself.

Understanding the situation, Rita just laid down onto the bed next to Danica. She felt sorry for her condition. She's the only one who knows the true status of her body. She knew that she's stressing herself, thinking how to give her grandmother's demand. But her brother did not cooperate because he did not have time. She knew that her brother only had business on his mind. He's not active in the sex life and that’s what the relationship of the two lacks.

DANICA can't force herself to sleep. Rita, who was next to her, was already asleep while she was still bothered by worries. She has sacrificed a lot and will not let all her hard work go away. She suddenly remembered the agreement between her and Steven's grandmother.

"You have a year to give what I want. Before that time is over, you have to give me a grandchild from Steven. Once you're pregnant, it's easy to arrange your marriage."

"Fuck that old woman!" she cursed in her mind. Her closeness to Rita was not enough for everything she wanted to happen. The old woman is cunning and Steven inherited it.

"Ah!" Danica wanted to scream loudly, but it got stuck in her throat because she didn't want to make any noise that might wake Rita. She pulled her own hair out of frustration.

Just a month ago, she found out that her ovary had a problem so she could not get pregnant. Aside from the fact that she still has to get Steven drunk before he can touch her, her chance of getting pregnant is low. If only the old woman hadn't been pressuring her, this thing wouldn't have been her problem up until now. She decided to make Nicole her bait against Rita's family.

"This is all your fault, you deserve to suffer!" she spoke to herself and glared at nowhere. As if Nicole was there, looking at her mockingly, Danica's grudge grew even more.

Since she was a child, she envied Nicole even though she considered her a friend. She looks perfect, even her family is, and she is just like a leech clinging on to her. She didn't want her life to be like that forever. She is even disgusted with her parents because they do not dream to be rich. Fortunately, she was the favorite of Nicole's mother because she is more intelligent than Nicole. That was her advantage over her. She does everything to get the attention of the person she wants.

Danica grinned as she remembered the past. She was a kind and an exemplary daughter in the eyes of every person who knew her. But she did not want to be pitied. She hated those feelings! Nicole never did anything bad to her, but she despised her in the depth of her heart because she has the things she lacks. And now, she hates her even more because she has to use her again to fulfill her biggest ambition.

Nicole woke up with a severe headache. It's like it's being torn apart. The pain in her body increased as she moved. "Argh! What happened?" she asked herself, feeling so confused, as her eyes remained closed.

She has no memory of why she is feeling head and body aches now. She slowly opened her eyes to look around. She frowned because the room was unfamiliar to her. She slowly got up, but was also immediately stunned when she noticed the figure of a man next to her.

Nicole covered her own mouth with her palm to prevent herself from letting out a loud sigh when she recognized the man next to her. She was too shocked to see herself naked, too. She quickly tried to remember what had happened last night, why she was now in bed with her friend’s boyfriend.

"Oh, my God! What have I done?" she whispered to herself, as tears began to fall from her eyes. Even though she had not accepted everything yet, the door suddenly opened and it revealed Danica.

"What does this mean?!" Danica's eyes widened and she looked at Nicole with so much contempt.

Nicole didn't know what to say to her. She trembled with fear and embarrassment. She was confused and still couldn’t believe why she was there in Steven’s room. She was unable to move her body. She tightened her grip on the blanket that hung over her chest because she was not wearing anything.

"You bitch! Traitor!" Danica tries to kick Nicole, but Steven wakes up.

"What's wrong with you?" Steven asked Danica angrily because he was woken up by her noise.

"I'm the one who should ask you that!" Danica cried and scolded the young man.

Steven watched her cry in a daze. When he heard another woman sobbing, that's when he figured it out. He aggressively looked at the woman beside him who looks miserable.

"Why you're still here?" his voice was cold and emotionless and it only added to the weight Nicole was feeling.

Though her body is aching, Nicole forced herself to move and put on her clothes that were scattered on the floor. But before she could compose herself, Danica rushed at her. She slapped her on both cheeks followed by pulling her hair. She was almost deafened by the force of the slap on both her cheeks. She growled because of pain, but did not fight back because she knew she made a sin. She felt her hatred for her, Steven just watched them.

"What the hell is happening here?!" Rita asked in shock when she reached the scene in the room. She woke up to find that Danica was no longer around, so she thought of going to her brother's room.

Steven quickly got dressed and stopped Danica, otherwise her friend might end up dead. "Enough, Danica. Let's talk about it properly." He spoke calmly to her.

Danica angrily shook her boyfriend's hand and her sobs grew louder.

"You're a bitch! I knew you had the intention of snatching my brother from Danica!" Rita angrily went after Nicole when she recovered from the shock.

Steven didn't know if he should feel sorry for Nicole when he saw that the two had hurt her altogether. He could do nothing but pull her and hide her behind his back to stop his sister from hurting her.

"Don't say you side with that gold digger?" Rita angrily pointed at Nicole who kept her head bowed and looked like a wet chick hiding behind her brother.

"Enough!"

Rita became silent as her brother yelled. He looks angry and she knew he was still holding his bad temper in.

"Believe me, I also don't know how I got here. All I remember is you brought me here, Danica." She almost pleads for her friend's help and looks at her like she was begging. But she only became even angrier.

"Are you saying that I brought you to this room? Do you think I'm so stupid, Nicole, to take you to my boyfriend's room?" Danica's eyes were full of anger and attempts to reach Nicole's hair again, but Steven blocked her way.

"I said, enough!" Steven yelled before turning to the woman in the back. "And you!"

Nicole trembled and suddenly stepped back from him when he faced her.

"You succeeded in your plan today. But remember this, something happened to us only because of the drug you gave me!"

Rita and Danica covered their own mouths with the discovery. They are disgusted and angry at Nicole.

"You're the worst woman that I've ever met and don't dream that I'm responsible for what happened to us. You don't deserve to be the mother of my child, so leave my sight before I can drag you out!"

Every word Steven uttered were like thunder and lightning that hit Nicole's heart. Out of embarrassment and fear of him, she quickly complied. But before she could get past Danica, she saw a strange smile form on her lips.

As she walked out of the hotel, her mind was chaotic. She was quite grateful because she was able to carry her small bag. She kept her head bowed and was unable to meet the questioning looks of the people passing by in the hallway.

Why would they not look at her? Her hair was messy and she knew the make-up was also spread on her face because she cried. Even her dress was not worn properly.

Nicole went to the comfort room first and composed herself. She didn’t want to look miserable and be seen by her mother like that.

When the woman was gone, Steven sat down on the bed. He frowned, now he felt the effect of what happened last night. He just let Danica cry quietly while Rita comforted her. He had nothing to explain, he was Steven Scout, he didn’t care about the feelings of any woman other than his grandmother and sister.

Rita felt sorry for her friend, she felt sympathetic, knowing her brother's behavior. Knowing her brother's attitude, she knew he had no intention of consoling Danica or apologizing for what he had done. Besides, her brother seems to be just another victim of that woman.

"I want to be alone for now."

The pain in Danica's eyes was evident when she locked eyes with Steven. She asked for an explanation from him, but he just keeps on showing coldness.

"Danica, let's go home first. Don't worry, you will surely make up with my brother."

Danica nodded understandingly at her. Rita knew her brother well, so she knew it would be better not to force the young man to speak. He might push her away from his life if she insists on what she wants now.

"Rita, I'll die if Steven disappears from my life!" Danica cried again when they were in Rita's car.

"Don't think about that because I won't let that happen! You're the only one I want to become a member of my family and I'll do everything to keep that ambitious woman from succeeding!"

Danica's heart secretly rejoiced at what she heard. She just kept crying on her shoulder until she got to her own condo unit.

"I want to be alone now." She stopped Rita when she tried to accompany her to the inside.

"Promise me you won't do anything bad to yourself!" Rita's face was serious, she was still really worried about her. If she was in her situation, she might have killed that woman.

She smiled at Rita to assure her. "I love myself," she joked, but a bitter smile flashed on her lips. "And besides, I don't want to see you sad when I'm gone."

Rita tearfully hugged Danica again. She recalled what happened when they were little and they were both trapped somewhere far from the houses.

"Please take care of yourself. If you need anything, just call me." Rita instructed her friend before letting her get out of the car alone.

Rita watched her friend's back until she entered the condominium building.

Nicole's mind is a mess, she took a taxi to go to her parent's house. She doesn't know how and where to start to make all the things that happened in the hotel clear. She's also a victim, but no one believes it. She herself can't explain how she got into Steven's room. Particularly, the thing that happened between them.

Her heart wants to explode now because of the stirred emotions. She's the biggest loser, actually, because she lost her virginity that way. To make matters worse, the person who took her first was not her husband nor boyfriend.

She buried her face in her palms. She's thankful because the driver was kind. He even lent her a jacket when he noticed she was getting cold.

"We're already here, Ma'am." The driver said to his passenger when they arrived at the address she gave.

"Thank you." She handed the money to the driver and did not take the change.

After getting out of the car, she entered the gate of their house with heavy steps. She thought she would be able to rest her mind for a moment after entering. But another damage to her life was waiting for her.

"You're so shameless!" Rox angrily rushed at her daughter and pulled her hair which was already messy.

"It hurts, Mom! What's my fault…"

"You still have to ask?!" Rox slapped her hard on the cheek.

Her resentful eyes met her mother's angry eyes. She already has a hunch as to why she is mad. Instead of taking pity on her appearance, she only became angrier.

"How could you do that to Danica? Merciful heaven! She did nothing bad to you for you to ruin her dream and steal the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with!" Rox's voice trembled with anger.

Nicole's mouth was close as she stepped back to distance herself from her mother. "Am I really your daughter, Mom?"

Rox could not move and she stared at her. "Why would you suddenly ask me that? Are you really insane now? And who do you think is your mother besides me?"

"You always judge me like that. You wouldn't even listen to my side before you hurt me and give me your judgement." Resentful, she talked back.

"Don't change the subject!" Rox scolded her. Until now, the pain that Danica feels is still played in her mind.

Danica called her earlier and she was crying. When she told her everything, she felt sorry for her and was mad at her daughter.

"I don't know either," she replied with her head bowed to her mother.

"You're a useless daughter and friend! Get out of here and don't you dare come back until the relationship you broke is fixed!"

Nervously, Nicole followed her mother into her room. She couldn’t stop her as she carelessly removed her clothes from the cabinet and threw them on the floor. She could do nothing but cry and put her clothes in the small suitcase.

"Remember, you can't set foot in this household again until your broken friendship with Danica is repaired!" Rox yelled at her.

Nicole quickly changed clothes in front of her mother and left the room without any words. Her father who's standing in the middle of the living room was silent, but disappointment was also on his face. Tears welled up in her eyes as she left their home. She doesn't know where to go now.

"Where are you going now, Ma'am?" the man who was driving the taxi asked politely.

Nicole was surprised when the car stopped in front of her. She recognized it, thus she was a little relieved.

"Come in, young lady." Smiling, the gentleman invited her. Earlier, when he picked her up from the hotel, he knew she needed help. She didn't speak, but he can feel that she's tormented.

"Thank you!" she no longer bothered to hide her true feelings. When she got into the car, she started to cry.

Kanor understands what the lady is going through. He just drove the car slowly and waited for her to open up to make herself feel better.

Nicole spent a few more minutes before continuing to calm herself. Somehow, God has not abandoned her. There are still people who care about her even though they don't know her.

"Why are you helping me?" she asked the man who is probably older. She estimated that he was the age of his father—forty-eight.

"I see my daughter in you." Kanor replied sadly to the lady. He introduced himself and so did she.

"Where is she now?" he asked the gentleman curiously. She was curious because he looked sad when he mentioned his daughter.

“She’s gone,” a tear ran down his face as he remembered his daughter who died two years ago.

"I'm sorry." She suddenly felt sorry for him. She felt that he loves his daughter very much and suddenly she felt jealous. Her father also loved her, but she did not feel his support for her.

"I neglected my daughter and she made friends with some addicts. Because of my negligence, she became addicted to drugs and became a victim of gang rape."

Nicole burst into tears again out of pity for the man. She felt his remorse and he's blaming himself for losing his daughter too early.

"Do you have a place to stay?" Kanor changed the subject.

Nicole shook her head sadly. She didn't want to stay with someone who knows her and Danica because surely, like her mother, she would be judged by them as well. She did not want to add to the heaviness in her chest.

"You can stay at my place, don't worry because I have a maid in the house."

The man seemed trustworthy, so Nicole goes with him. He took her to Quezon City and she was surprised to see his house. She did not think that the man was an owner of taxis. It was just his hobby to travel sometimes with one of the taxis he owns. She's lucky and she was his passenger that day. She understood his motive of wanting to help. He did not want her to be like his daughter who had passed away.

"From now on, consider my house your home. I have another child, but he is staying in another country."

"I'm really grateful to you! You're a great help to me!" Because of so much joy, she hugged him.

Kanor considered Nicole his own daughter and his maid welcomed her well. He considered everyone in the house a part of his family.

"Have you found her yet?" Danica asked her people a few hours later. She asked them to find Nicole, she didn't expect her parents to banish her because of what she had complained to them. She cannot be lost because she may get pregnant.

"She's not in the places you told us to go to, Ma'am." The man replied to Danica from the other line.

"So annoying!" She threw the cell phone on the bed because they have no good news. She also asked them to contact Nicole's cell phone, but it could not be reached.

At the Scouts' mansion, the siblings get into a fight because Steven is stubborn and refused to fix his relationship with Danica.

"What kind of fuss is this?" Madame Asuncion reprimanded her two grandchildren when she saw them arguing.

"Grandma!" Rita approached her grandmother for help. It's been two days since the incident at the hotel. And until now, Danica has not gone out of her house and her brother is not even taking any action.

Steven sighed because his sister is being annoying. It is not in his vocabulary to appease a woman just because of a misunderstanding. He didn't have time to explain what really happened. It's enough that they knew he was drugged so something happened that night. Steven quickly dismissed it in his mind when he recalled the woman who he had slept with.

"Grandma, please talk to brother. You know how much important Danica is to me. She's my savior and I can't bear to see her hurt and my brother is the reason." Rita pleads with her grandmother.

The madam sighed as she shook her head. She already knew what had happened at the hotel. But she did not feel sorry for Danica. To this day, she still doubts her identity, thus she did not agree with Rita's wish to marry her brother off to that woman.

"Call your friend, tell her I need to talk to her." Asuncion orders her granddaughter.

Rita frowned at her grandmother's reply. Even as an elderly, she still possesses a cold heart. Fortunately, she did not inherit it.

"Brother?!" She called her brother angrily when he turned away.

"I have a meeting to attend." Steven said emotionlessly and kissed his grandmother's forehead before continuing to leave.

Rita turned around to follow her grandmother's order reluctantly.

"Have you eaten?" Rita asked her friend when she answered her call.

"I'm doing fine."

She sighed when she heard Danica's lifeless voice. "I'll tell the driver to pick you up. Grandma wants to have lunch with you."

Danica frowned when she heard the old woman's name. She knew that Rita just worded her grandmother's order to talk to her better.

"But if you're still not ready to face other people…"

"Maybe I'd better deal with it all so I don't feel sad anymore."

Rita smiled even though the person she was talking to couldn't see it. She was happy because somehow Danica can move on and follow her advice. She understood her if she thought that woman might get pregnant and use that to own her brother.

When Danica arrived at the mansion, she politely greeted the old woman. And she was right in her suspicion when she ordered her to follow her to her office which was also inside their house.

Rita gave Danica an apologetic smile when their eyes met.

Danica quickly followed the madam for fear that she would get angry if she moves slow.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush. I heard about what happened at the hotel and I want to know what your plans are now?"

Danica didn't budge at the old woman's intimidating stare. She answered her confidently and did not take her eyes off her eyes. She knew that she wanted to read her true thoughts.

"The agreement goes on. Not a friend of mine can break my love for Steven."

"What if your friend gets pregnant earlier than you? As far as I know, my grandson used no protection when he touched that woman."

"You probably won't let your grandson go to a deceitful woman, will you?" she replied challengingly.

"Huh! You're smart and you know how to compete with the opponent. I won't take back the first agreement. But don't expect me to let my great-grandchild grow up to be a bastard with that woman if it ever happens."

The truth is that Asuncion has already started to find out the background of the woman. Their clan is small. Little did everyone know that the blood of their men was strange. They are not sexually active if they are not compatible with their partner. That is why she thought that Danica should get pregnant before she could allow her to belong to her family. She needs to make sure there is an heir for the next generation of their clan.

"I understand." Danica grinned her teeth.

"Good! You can leave."

Danica bowed her head first before turning her back to the old woman. She is so frustrated on the inside because all her plans are put in jeopardy.