"Stop that blaming already!" Angely snapped irritably at her two companions.
"We're still here, and you're still blaming each other? We have one goal—to escape and get out of this place." She spoke firmly, trying to rein them in after the heated argument that erupted when Manuel's niece visited Leah's place.
"And another thing, Felicia! We still haven't managed to get out of here," she added, her frustration directed at the woman beside her.
Felicia merely stared at her with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm just holding back because of your attitude, Angely. Don't act like you're innocent in all of this," Felicia retorted coldly.
Angely didn't flinch. "You created your own problem, Felicia—not me. I only tried to help you back then," she said, glaring at the older woman.
"Enough!" Manuel's voice thundered, filled with fury. "Enough is enough!" he barked at them.
He said nothing more, but the tension lingered.
Tsk! If you weren't so foolish, we wouldn't be in this mess, Angely thought bitterly.
She sighed deeply. Her heart was troubled for her youngest sister, Sheila—especially now that Manuel's niece had uncovered their true identity.
I don't want everything I worked for to go to waste! She screamed inside. I died in that damn accident because of that idiotic man, after sacrificing so much to rise up from nothing.
They had both been blinded by the wealth of those powerful families. She needed to come up with a successful plan to infiltrate their world.
She met Leah back in high school, in San Mateo province. Angely had put herself through school, working odd jobs—maid service, collecting plastic bottles, laundry—whatever it took to survive. She studied in a public school, while Leah, being from a rich family, attended a prestigious one.
Her beauty attracted many, but desperation often pushed her into dark paths. Her classmates called her a leech, a prostitute—but she didn't care. That's how she and Sheila survived.
One day, fate brought her to Leah's household when she was hired as a laundress. She had assumed Leah would be a snob but was caught off guard when the girl spoke kindly while she was doing laundry.
They were both fifteen when their paths crossed.
"What's your name?" Leah asked, watching her wash clothes.
Angely was surprised but replied briefly, knowing her place. "Angely."
Leah smiled brightly. "Leah. Nice to meet you."
Angely didn't answer—she was too busy. Later, as she rested, Leah returned with food.
"Eat first," Leah insisted, noticing the small boy nearby.
"Ah, this is Lawrence, my cousin," Leah introduced casually.
Angely only nodded. "Don't bother, ma'am."
"Ma'am?" Leah laughed. "Just call me Leah. We're the same age, right? And don't worry—your companions are eating too. We understand how hard your job is."
Angely's stomach growled. Leah smiled at her. Embarrassed, she accepted the food.
"Do you have siblings?" Leah asked.
Angely nodded. "I need to go home early today."
"How old?" Leah asked again.
"Same as Lawrence."
"Next time, bring the child here. It's sad if they're left alone," Leah said with concern. "I'll tell Mom. You go ahead—I'll handle the laundry."
Leah ran inside the mansion with Lawrence. Not long after, her parents came out and instructed the maid to take over the laundry. They paid Angely—and even gave her extra. They continued to send food for her and her siblings.
Angely couldn't believe it. A rich family being so kind to someone like her? Her heart was touched.
Their friendship blossomed. There was no jealousy, no resentment—only trust. Angely kept studying while working for them, slowly pulling away from her old ways.
But that happiness was short-lived.
Leah graduated and left for college abroad with her family. Angely cried. She had saved money because of Leah's help, but she was left behind.
She tried to live cleanly, but eventually, desperation returned. Her savings dwindled, Sheila was now in school, and she had to work again in a club. She clung to survival and gave up her own dreams for Sheila's sake.
She immersed herself in the world of the rich men she met at nightclubs, using her charm to get by.
Eventually, she crossed paths with Raymundo Santiago—the powerful patriarch of the Santiago clan in San Mateo. She became one of his women. She knew it was a dangerous game; Raymundo was involved in syndicates, hiding in the shadows.
He warned her—if she ever betrayed him, her body would be found in the river.
But Angely didn't care. She clung to him, milking his wealth to fulfill her needs. Even though he had children her age, he still gave her everything.
"Does Manuel know about this?" Leah suddenly asked her one day, eyes locked on hers.
With a single blink, Leah's sincere smile struck her.
"Maybe he doesn't know what you're hiding either, right?" Leah whispered.
Angely couldn't respond.
"I'll keep your secret," Leah said. "But hurry… I might get bored again, Angely." She laughed softly.
The shadows around her slipped away as Leah smiled one last time, signaling that silence would be kept. Angely couldn't help but laugh bitterly as she left the dark.
That damn woman, she thought. Always one step ahead.