THE SOUND of breathless breathing could be heard clearly in the silence of the night. Sweats just like the size of a grain of rice covered his pale gorgeous face. His green eyes darkened, his gaze was as blank as his heart. He scooped up his face roughly to calm his mind.

"Damn! That dream again!" he cursed with his hands still covering his face.

Neo Izaique Beltran is the eldest son of Arnulfo Beltran and Mildred Rosensteel. This means he is the eldest grandson and next heir of Benedicto Beltran, a billionaire from the Philippines.

They own chains of hotels, malls, law firms,and gas and oil company in several countries around the world.

Izaique reached for his cell phone on the bedside table, searching for one name from the many contact lists. After that, he tapped the screen to contact the person.

"Hello. What's wrong, Bro?" the person picked up his call after several rings.

"Jeremiah, I'm dreaming about it again," he told him.

"How are you feeling now?" asked Jeremiah over the line.

"Does my voice sounds all right?" Izaique raised an eyebrow, even though he knew that his cousin didn't see his expression right now.

"I don't think so. Come to the hospital tomorrow, I'll check on you and take your medicine now," he answered his concern and then gave him instructions.

"Okay," he shortly replied before ending the call. He put his phone back on the bedside table and grabbed the brown glass bottle that was always next to his nightstand lamp. He took a pill from the bottle and swallow it.

His eyes slowly began to close, returning to sleep. This time it's a sleep without any dreams that always show the same story. A story that he hated because of who was in it.

A FEW MONTHS LATER...

A man dressed in all black clothes walks furiously, entering an old warehouse in La Union, Philippines. His hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his jaws tightened. There was no gentleness on his gorgeous face, there was only anger with eyes full of vengeful flames.

His dark green eyes stared intently at the woman who was sitting with her body tied to a chair. He growled which able to make anyone who heard it frightened.

"What have you done bitch?!" his shout filled the corner of the barn. Some men with big built bodies and fierce faces were surprised to hear it. He looked cold and quite very awful when he was angry.

"Sir Izaique, her name is Shekinah Fuentes," said one of the men there.

Izaique continued to stare at the woman in front of him with a murderous stare. Meanwhile, the face of a woman named Shekinah has changed because of her fear. He just didn’t think his actions would be fatal like this.

"Speak! Or I'll punch you in the head now!" he shouted again.

"I-I..." she was clearly terrified at this point. Izaique continued to give her murderous glares from less than a meter away.

"Speak clearly bitch!" he shouted for the third time, maybe after this incident those who heard him should have their ears checked by an otolaryngologist. Because their eardrums are damaged.

"I wanted him, for a long time. Before he even knew Jessica," her tone was low with regret.

"Never interfere with the people in my life, including my sister. Do you know what you did? You almost killed her, even now she's between life and death," he bent slightly, bringing his face close to Shekinah's frightened face. His sharp green eyes met her black eyes.

"I'm sorry. Please spare me, Sir, I won't do it again. Don't kill me!" she asked with unstoppable tears. Fear shrouded her now. How come?

The tip of the gun belonging to one of the men there was already on her temple.

"I can't forgive the bitch who ruined my sister. One thing you need to know, Shekinah. I really hate a bitch like you," Izaique turned around and left her still tied with the gun pointed to her head.

Izaique continued to walk indifferently while Shekinah cries and begs. Until finally he stopped, raised his right hand, and flicked for a moment, and soon after a gunshot sound was heard right behind him. The hot bullet pierces the head of Shekinah, the unfortunate woman who pursues Vincent Ross’s love in a petty way. Hurting Jessica hurt the whole Beltran family.

He wouldn't kill Vincent, it was just enough to keep Jessica away from the man. Being away from Jessica is like dying for Vincent Ross. His best friend, whom he now confirmed as an enemy, because he hurt Jessica.

With confident steps, he walked out of the empty warehouse where Shekinah had died. Even though he was still confused by what had just happened, it all happened very quickly. He was already behind the steering wheel of his car, leaving the place. He followed the streets of La Union to the hotel where he's staying.

He phone called someone while he is driving.

"Hello Izaique, what's wrong?" asked by Vincent after he answered his call.

"Stay away from my sister, you bastard!" he snapped when he heard the voice on the other end. Izaique immediately disconnected when he finished saying his warning.

A SUNNY morning to start the day, Rian Jane Abengoza is preparing a breakfast for Gerald, her younger brother. Rian or 'Ri, that's how she is usually called. She is still studying for the second semester at a University in Manila Philippines. She already looks very mature at the age of twenty-two. Becoming a sister and a parent to her brother who is eight years younger than her, is a tough choice she must make in life.

They live alone in the city of Manila, without any supportive family. All this time she felt abandoned by her original family, more precisely her grandfather. She don't know what the reason is, to the point of being forced to use someone else's name to survive. Every day Rian works in a flower shop and a small diner to support her and Gerald, including for her tuition fees. Meanwhile, her brother just stayed at home, because of a lung illness since birth.

"Gerald, I made scrambled egg, fried rice, and orange juice," said Rian from the direction of the kitchen.

"Yes sister, thank you," her brother came out of his bedroom and sat down to eat his breakfast which she had prepared at the dining table.

"Don't forget to take your medicine. Okay? If there's anything you need, just call me," she instructed him before she left, leaving her brother who was still eating his breakfast.

The two of them lived in an apartment in Sampaloc, Manila. They used some of the savings they had before while still using their real name to buy it.

Their parents died in a plane crash while traveling back to the Philippines from Hawaii a few years ago. Since the news of her parents' death, none of her mother's or father's family has contacted or looked for them. So supposedly they are neglected by their relatives.

Just like the previous days, after school days or without additional courses, she will go straight to the flower shop and diner where she works part-time. Being a medical student at a well-known university with a scholarship is not an easy thing for her to get, so as much as possible this job should not interfere with her studies.

If she didn't remember that Gerald was in need of medication, she probably wouldn't have taken on as many part-time jobs. But for the umpteenth time, it was money that controls life and Rian really needed it.

Remembering how her brother smiled when their parents were still alive made her very happy, therefore Rian tried hard to get a medical scholarship.

Because by becoming a doctor she can help to cure her brother's illness. Although the scholarship she got was not a full scholarship, but at least it could reduce the burden of her tuition fees. Her brother didn't go to school, not because she couldn't afford to support him. It's just that Gerald's condition that easily drops when tired makes her very worried.

"Rian, please clean the flower stands and vases later," ordered the flower shop manager where she works.

Rian rushed to the stands and vases she had to clean, there was already Kaycee cleaning the vases next to her. Kaycee is a close friend in college, although they have different majors but that does not hinder their friendship. Kaycee also doesn't come from a rich family, so she has to work to pay for her own school fees. And again Kaycee wasn't as smart as her to apply for a scholarship.

"Aren't you tired 'Ri?" Kaycee asked while cleaning the vases next to her.

"Do you think so?" she returned the question to Kaycee.

"You must be very tired. After school hours or days, you go straight to work, not to mention taking care of Gerald. How's that cute boy by the way?"

"So far his condition is improving, I need to graduate quickly with good grades and work in a respectable hospital. In order to help Gerald get treated."

"Cheer up 'Ri! I'm pretty sure you'll get through all of this."

"Thank you, Kaycee. I should go first, there were customers who wanted to order like him," she said leaving Kaycee who was still cleaning the vases. She immediately walked to the coffee table with the cold-faced handsome man in the corner of the store. The other half of the shop is also a small diner that's why their job is multi-tasking.

"Good day, Sir. Is there anything you would like to order?" she asked politely to the man who was still focused on the menu book in his hand.

"I will have the grilled steak as the main dish and Leche flan for desert," he said with his eyes still focused on the menu book.

"We have several types of fresh juices produced in local farms in the province, Sir." A moment of silence, a second later the man closed the menu book and said the last order while looking at Rian.

"Any juice or beverage will do."

*Oh, my God! An angel is before me right now, please let me breathe Lord. My brother still needs me, don't take my life now.* Rian muttered to herself, she couldn't hide her admiration. Until a baritone voice interrupted her from staring unblinkingly.

"That's enough Miss — Rian," he said while glancing at the name tag on her chest.

"I-I'm sorry, Sir. Please, let me repeat your order," she was a little nervous when she was stared at with his cold eyes. Honestly, she realized that the man was uncomfortable with her gaze. She repeated the man's order properly and correctly.

Finally, she went to give the order note, this time she had to be very careful because she didn't want to see the handsome man lash out at her. Because it is not new anymore for Rian often makes mistakes when recording orders.

*ATTRACTIVE LADY.* Izaique muttered to himself for a moment after the woman named Rian left.

Izaique was sitting alone in the corner of Sampaloc's one of the most popular small diner along with its flower shop. The weather this afternoon was not very favorable for him, the sudden heavy rain since earlier made him have to cancel several outdoor activities. The fresh strawberry juice had arrived and another waitress had poured it for him to enjoy. His hands kept tapping on the table, as if he was tired of staring outside. He can see very clearly the raindrops from behind the clear glass of this small diner.

Until he accidentally saw the girl named Rian again, she was serving guests at other tables. The girl somehow managed to steal his attention from the first time he saw her. Something was different and he don't know, Izaique didn't understand what he was thinking.

For a long time he watched Rian's actions and movements with his eyes, until their eyes met accidentally. Both looked surprised but the woman quickly broke their eye contact with him and then a sweet smile crept her lips. A smile that unconsciously managed to make his heart beat faster. Something he hadn't felt in a long time. It throbbed just because a woman smiled at him.