"Big Brother," Carmela said anxiously as Manuel approached the place where she was being held.
"Hurry up," he whispered, helping her escape.
"Brother, you'll get into trouble for this," she said, her voice trembling with worry.
Manuel didn't reply. They moved quietly through the mansion, careful not to be seen. He was determined to rescue his little sister from the clutches of their cruel father.
Outside, a car waited. He would take her to the rendezvous point where she would reunite with her lover. Carmela was two months pregnant. If she stayed in that house any longer, she might lose her mind.
As her brother, he couldn't bear to watch her suffer. He escorted her to the meeting place and saw Donald waiting.
"Run away," was all he said when he saw the man.
Donald nodded.
"Big Brother," Carmela whispered, hugging him tightly.
"Be careful. Stay far away from here while the Gonzalez family still controls the Santiago estate," Manuel warned them.
The couple nodded in understanding. Carmela was just two months pregnant, and their father had threatened to kill the unborn child in her womb. Manuel was prepared to sacrifice himself to protect her.
He watched them disappear into the distance. When his father discovered what happened, Manuel paid the price. He bore the scars of that punishment—physical reminders of his father's cruelty. Still, he endured it, determined to keep his sister and her child safe.
Tension grew between the Gonzalez and Santiago families. The Gonzalez family eventually won the dispute, infuriating his father to the point that he nearly cursed Carmela's name. Carmela sent secret letters, which Manuel carefully hid from their father.
Despite the distance, he remained in contact with her, now living quietly with Donald and their child. Though he only caught a glimpse of his niece, he felt fulfilled knowing he had saved them both.
At that time, Manuel hadn't yet met Leah. He was still in college, studying far from town—free from his father's reach and able to maintain secret communication with Carmela.
Occasionally, Carmela would send him photos of the baby, whom they named Ellena. She had left the family with nothing—no inheritance, no diploma, just freedom bought at a steep price. Still, Manuel admired her strength.
He stayed cautious, knowing eyes were always watching him. Eventually, the letters stopped coming. He assumed Carmela had simply become busy with life. He prayed for her safety and longed to send her money, but he couldn't risk raising suspicion.
Then, the worst happened.
He lost all contact with Carmela, and news reached him that his father had found her. Manuel rushed home to the mansion, only to be met with a child in his father's arms.
"Dad… whose child is that?" he asked, horrified.
"Who else? Your clever little sister's," his father replied coldly.
Manuel felt the ground beneath him collapse.
"W-What did you do to Carmela and Donald, Dad?" he asked directly.
"What else was there to do? I gave them eternal rest," his father said, staring him down.
Manuel felt a lump in his throat. He couldn't speak. His mind reeled at the thought.
Suddenly, his father's subordinates dropped a stack of letters at his feet—the ones Manuel had sent to Carmela.
"This is how I found them. You forgot how sharp my instincts are. No one escapes me," his father said with a menacing smile, proud of his cruelty.
Manuel clenched his fists, trembling. He wanted to strike him. But all he could say was, "Don't hurt the child, Dad."
He took care of Ellena for a while, the little girl constantly asking about her parents.
Days later, two bodies were discovered in an abandoned lot—one male, one female. They were beyond recognition, brutalized beyond belief.
The Gonzalez family acted quickly, blaming Manuel's father. But the Santiago patriarch covered it up, giving Carmela a grand wake—while keeping Ellena locked in a room, away from prying eyes, especially those of the Gonzalez family.
The investigation revealed that their father orchestrated everything to bury the scandal and protect his dealings in a powerful criminal organization. The Gonzalez family didn't believe the lies. Donald's furious brother began searching for Ellena, the child they had hidden away.
Manuel cared for Ellena for a month, thinking she was safe.
Then, his father made a final decision: erase the child's memory and dispose of her.
Manuel regretted following that order. Crushed by guilt, he didn't return to San Mateo. He focused on his studies, trying to bury the pain and the memories. He had failed his sister. He had failed his niece.
Freedom only came when he built a life of his own. His father no longer interfered like before. Desperate to make things right, Manuel quietly searched for Ellena. He remembered the bracelet she wore—unique in design. He believed that if he ever saw her again, he'd recognize her instantly.
Years passed.
One day, he returned to San Mateo after hearing his father had a new partner. That's when he met Leah, the daughter of the wealthy Martinez family.
What he didn't realize was that his father was still pulling the strings. He thought he was finally in control of his life. But the stress of the business and his father's manipulation slowly consumed him.
He sought escape in alcohol, and it was at a bar where he met a woman who would unknowingly bring light into his dark world—despite his relationship with Leah.
He fell into the same sins, the same mistakes that had once cost his sister her life.
Now, lost in the silence of the afterlife, Manuel could feel the crushing weight of his remorse. He didn't know why, but as a soul, he carried an unbearable burden deep within.