Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

4 A.M. Only a couple of people are awake in the house. Cadmus is still asleep but Berry is fully awake. And it wasn't difficult to get out of Cadmus's house especially since only a few people were awake and there was no guard at the gate. it was easy for her to climb the high gate, it wasn't the first time she escaped from a huge house. But this is the first time she succeeded.

She still remembers how many times she escaped her uncle's mansion. He tried several times and was always unsuccessful. and every time she tried to escape and she would get caught, her clothes would be stripped and her Uncle would beat her up with his belt for being a bad girl.

A lone tear fell from her eyes. No matter what he does, he cannot escape his past. whatever forgetting he did, it was already stamped on his soul.

He stared at Cadmus's big house for a few seconds. She's thankful to him. What he did to him was not that big of a deal, but he was still grateful. He made her feel good. and in the life he had, that was too much.

He took a deep breath and started walking away from Cadmus' house. Berry didn't know how many minutes or hours he had been walking. he just kept on walking, even though he was tired, even though his legs were aching, even though he was dizzy from the heat of the sun, he kept walking.

She walked, and walked, until she reached a long bridge. He stopped in the middle of the bridge and looked below it.

Water. It'll suffocate her. and it will kill her.

He closed his eyes. He couldn't think of any reason not to pursue his long-held plan. She's worthless...no purpose... no use and no value. There's no sense of living if she has no reason to live.

No reason. No purpose. No use. That's her. it's time to end this. To end everything.

But Cadmus ... and Snow.

He shook his head violently. No. Cadmus and Snow ... they're just people she met. She doesn't mean anything to them. They only treated her like that because they thought she was Cherry.

But she's not Cherry. she's a different person. They may have the same face but they are not the same. She's broken and Cherry isn't.

At that very moment, death is inviting. And even though he was weak and tired, he climbed up and stood on the edge of the bridge looking at the water below.

This will kill her for sure. it's going to be the end of her. And she likes it that way. No one will know, no one will care. No one will save her. And she prefers it that way.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. She savors the feeling of the wind, caressing her face, embracing her body... it's peaceful here. she likes it.

A perfect place for someone like her.

With a smile on her face, she leaned down and let her body fall. And when her body hit the water and she submerged and she smiled.

And last. She'll die now.

CADMUS CAN'T FUCOS with his work. since he found out that Berry was no longer at his house, he was restless. There are many scenarios that come to his mind.

What if she hurts herself again? And she will. What if she gets hurt? Who will care for her wound? What if she bleeds to death? What if she tries to kill herself again? what if—He pulled out his own hair, then stood up from the swivel chair, then walked restlessly back and forth while thinking.

He shouldn't care. She's not his wife. She's someone he doesn't even know. He doesn't know her. He shouldn't care. I shouldn't care.

But... I promised her. He promised he won't hurt her. And if he didn't do anything, Berry was sure to get hurt. And she's been through too much already. He didn't even tell her what he was going through, it was obvious from the girl's actions that something bad had happened in her life. he can see the pain in her eyes, he can see how scared she is and how vulnerable she is.

Suicide is not the answer, he told her that. Although it's easy to say but for a person like Berry, who had been broken and depressed for so long, words are never enough. action is needed to make her see her worth as a person again. She doesn't need another pain. What she needs is understanding and care.

And he can give that to her. He can take care of her until she recovers. Yes. He can do that. I can.

Cadmus took a deep breath before picking up his phone from his table to call his Private Investigator.

"Berry left my house this morning." He immediately said to answer the call. "Find him. You need to see him now—"

"But Mr. Valcarcel—"

"Find her. I don't care how. just find her." He hung up and left his office. "Nadia, cancel all my appointments."

"But Sir Cadmus, you are my meeting at the Lacsamana Group of Companies and this is a big deal—"

"I don't care. Cancel it."

he hurriedly boarded the elevator then pressed the button for the Basement where the Parking Lot was. When he got there, he got into his car and then opened the Map Application of the cellphone and checked the address of the Hospitals in the city.

it's a very slim chance, and he's hoping that she's not in the Hospital, but he has to cover all his bases. If he had to single out all the Hospitals and raid the entire city, he would.

Berry had been through too much already. He can't let her hurt herself again. if he could even stop it, he would.

He stepped on the selenador and drove the car to the nearest Hospital to him.

He'll start there and then he'll move to the next Hospital and to the next until he finds her.

Nine hours later, still nothing. he couldn't find her in any Hospital and Clinics, until his P.I. Called him.

"You better have some good news." He said in an irritated voice while removing his necktie. "What is it?"

"I found her."

He stopped the car on the side of the road and leaned his body against the back of the driver's seat.

finally. He's relieved.

"Where is he?"

"In the precinct."

His grip on the steering wheel tightened, worry consuming him. "What is she doing there? Is she hurt? Something happened to her? What? Tell me!"

"He was at the precinct to take his testimony in the case of Sexual Harassment."

his lips parted. "Give me the address."

The P.I. immediately told him. He gave the address and immediately drove his car to the precinct. His car almost flew at the speed he was running. he doesn't care if he gets into an accident, the only thing on his mind is Berry and what happened here. Cadmus car tires screech when he hurriedly parked his car in front of the Police Station.

He hurriedly got out of the car and almost ran into the precinct.

his eyes instantly fell on Berry. She's wrapped in a thick blanket, she's pale, she looks scared and she's trembling.

Oh God...

Then his eyes focused on the two men in front of Berry. The desire in their eyes is obvious. And Berry...she looks so scared. she was looking down, tears in her eyes.

She's scared.

"You, bastards..." his jaw clenched and he clenched his fist in anger and rushed at the two men.

Every punch that came out of his fist was strong. He didn't give them the chance to fight back. he was shaking in anger as he beat up the two men. He punches and punches the bastard's faces until the Police get hold of him and stop him.

Cadmus was huffing in anger when he heard a whimper of fear.

He stopped and looked behind him. His anger immediately receded when he saw that it was Berry.

"Oh..." he faced Berry then put his hand on her shoulder but she immediately struggled and tried to get away from him.

But he didn't let her.

He cupped her face and forced her to look at him and he spoke softly. "It's okay... it's me. It's okay. Its me. It's Cadmus... sshhhh."

"N-no... g-get a-fight. AND-no..."

"Shhh... It's me. It's me. Cadmus... I'm not gonna hurt you. Shhh... Shhh. Its me. Its me... Cadmus—Shhh... it's Cadmus. It's me."

finally, after a minute of whimpering and trying to get away from him, her eyes filled with tears looked at him and the spark of realization in her eyes made him feel relieved.

"It's me... it's Cadmus." He said in a low voice while staring into the girl's eyes. "It's me. Cadmus ... shhh..."

"C-Cadmus?" Her voice was shaking and she looked so scared. And his heart ached for her.

"Yes. It's me." He let go of her cheek then grabbed her hand that was out of the blanket surrounding it. "It's okay. I'm here. I won't let them hurt you."

she didn't say anything, her tears just kept on rolling down to her cheeks. Her fear is still there, but he can tell, she's calmed down a little.

"Shhhh..." he rubbed his thumb on her wrist to calm her more. "Everything is gonna be okay. I'm here. I'm here. I won't let them hurt you."

he guided Berry back to a sitting position then adjusted the blanket around his body before facing the Police.

"What happened?"

The Policeman who was interviewing the two men shook his head and his lips cracked because of his anger then he turned to him.

"Someone called us. There is a woman who is abusing these two." He pointed to the two men who appeared to be the bruises he caused. "When we got to the place, we saw these two trying to hold Ma'am. He has no clothes, Sir. Good thing the nearest house lent us a wide blanket, so that's what we let him use first. Ma'am doesn't want to talk like that, and she doesn't want anyone to approach her. When we gave him clothes, he didn't move to get dressed. we don't want to force it, sir.

"And when we caught these two, they said that Ma'am was crazy and was kicking them even though they saved her from drowning because they said she jumped off the bridge. But it's hard to believe these two, that's why we filmed Ma's statement am.Because we've had many encounters, Sir, that women like Ma'am are always being exploited as if they have nothing to do with themselves." "She's not crazy, Officer. And you all have no right to be called that and judged." Jaws chattering as he turned to the two men with pouty lips then looked back at the Policeman. "We will charge them both with Sexual Harassment and Battery. My Lawyers will be here later." After saying that, he placed a business card on top of the policeman's desk. "You can contact me here if you need anything. I'll take him home."

He was about to hold Berry upright when the Police stopped him.

"Wait a minute, Sir, how are you Ma'am?"

He stared at Berry for a few seconds before answering the Policeman and showing his wedding ring. "She's my wife, Officer. Now, can we go?"

The Policeman first looked at Berry and when he did not contradict what he said, the Policeman nodded at him. "We'll contact you when we need to know more."

He nodded then carefully picked up Berry. he made sure that the blanket surrounding his body could not be removed. And when he felt his body shaking and a trace of fear on his face because of their proximity, each step he took was big and hurried towards his car.

he immediately deposited Berry on the passenger seat to calm her down. But he didn't leave her side. He sat on the edge of his car's floor, beside her bare feet and looked at her softly.

"Shhh... it's okay. I won't hurt you. Shhh... it's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Shhh... it's okay." he kept on whispering 'it's okay' until her body relaxed a little.

"There...just calm down. It's me, Cadmus. I won't hurt you. Shhh..."

Berry blinked a few times as if he had just returned to the present when he looked at her.

"C-Cadmus..."

he continues staring at her softly. "What did you do when you left my house? Do you know you worried me too much?"

She looked down. "N-none of your b-business."

He sighed and looked at her intently. "I'm worried about you and that makes you my business."

The girl shook her head. "L-Leave me alone. I-I want to die. But why is it that every time I try to end my life, someone always saves me? Why am I so unlucky?"

His eyes softened as he looked at Berry. "You are not unlucky. Someone is always there to save you because God wants to save you. it's his way of saying that you still have things to do in the world of the living. God wants you to hold on, you may not see it now, but there's a reason why you're still alive."

"A reason?" She scoffed. "To make me suffer more?"

"I'm here. I'll help you get through it."

The girl shook her head. "No one h-helped me before, why now when I don't n-need help anymore?"

"You think you don't need help, but you do." His voice was full of determination. "And I will give it to you, whether you like it or not." when he said that, he adjusted his seatbelt then left the seat and closed the door of the passenger's seat.

Then, Cadmus quickly slid himself into the driver's seat, turned the engine on and locked the doors. then he turned on the small light inside the car then turned to Berry.

She's silent but her body is in a defensive mode. She's still wrapped with a thick blanket and her hair looks disheveled.

he sighed heavily and raised his hand to comb her hair with his fingers, but he stopped before his hand touched her hair as she backed away from him. He stared at the girl then sighed again . "I'm just going to do your hair. Can I do that?"

It took her a minute to answer. "W-why?"

"You look like a mess."

She blinked before nodding slightly. "O-okay. Just the hair."

He secretly smiled at Berry's approval. It only means one thing, she's starting to trust him. and that's what he needs to help her. "I promise. Just the hair."

He felt Berry stiffen in his seat as his hand ran through her hair. Slowly, he moved his fingers to comb her hair.

Every movement of his hand was careful. each combing of his fingers through her hair was sweet. And to his surprise, her body started to relax as she leaned in on the back of the passenger seat and closed her eyes.

That made him smile. She likes it. She likes what he's doing. That's a relief.

he continued to comb Berry's hair until he heard her breathing deeply.

She fell asleep? He smiled. That's good. She needs to rest.

He slowly lowered his hand— he didn't want her to wake up— then carefully maneuvered the car out of the parking lot. when they were on the road, he was still driving carefully. Be careful not to wake up Berry.

She must rest. She needed it.

Until they reached his house, Berry was still asleep. he's afraid that she'll wake up if he carries her to her bed but staying in the car, asleep, is bad for her health. that's why even though he didn't want Berry to wake up, he carefully lifted the girl out of the car and stayed on the stand for a few seconds to see if the girl woke up.

When Berry didn't wake up, Cadmus started walking towards the door to his house. when Manang Josie opened her door and when she was about to speak, she signaled her not to make any noise.

"She's asleep. Is the room next to Snow's room clean?" He asked in a whisper.

Manang Josie immediately nodded.

"Good. Come with me." he whispered at Manang Josie before walking towards the second floor.

Manang Josie immediately followed and opened the door to the room next to her son's room.

when he laid Berry on the soft and wide bed, he immediately turned on the room's air-con and rubbed the girl. When he looked at Manang Josie, she looked at him badly.

"What?" His voice was still a whisper.

It shook its head and answered in a whisper. "You have softened your heart towards your husband."

"Come on." Smiling, he led Manang Josie out of the room and then spoke to her. "Manang, she is not Cherry. Her names is Berry Lacsamana and my Private Investigator already confirmed her identity. he's not pretending to be Berry. He's really a different person."

The butler's lips twitched, clearly in disbelief. "B-but they look alike..."

"Yes. They look alike. But they are different. That's why I want you to treat her with respect from now on, Manang. I want to make him feel at ease in this house. I want you to take good care of her when I'm at the office. And if someone tried to harm her in anyway, call me immediately. Okay?"

The butler quickly nodded and gave a thumbs up. "You can count on me Sir Cadmus."

"Thank you." he said then went back inside the room and watched the sleeping girl. He couldn't stop laughing softly when he heard Berry's soft snoring.

He was sleeping very soundly which made him happy. these past few days, since he found out that this was not his wife, he always watched over her sleep. And this was the first time he saw her sleeping soundly.

He took a deep breath and then laid down on the long sofa just opposite the bed where Berry was lying. but it has a great distance, enough to calm his mood when he wakes up and sees him.

While lying on the sofa, he faced Berry and stared at her gentle face. She really looks like his wife, but now, he can tell the difference. her features looked sharper than Cherry's.

Berry's nose is pointed and untouched by science and surgeons. Her cheeks look smooth and soft. Her eyebrows are natural. Her eye color is more vivid. and her lips... she has a chopped, heart shaped lips with a prominent cupid's bow that he finds cute. And he never saw a lip so inviting...

He shook his head violently and closed his eyes. He shouldn't think like that. Even if he turns the world upside down, he still has a human wife. and he would never disgrace Berry like that. But even if he's single, Berry is not ready for any men including himself.

Cadmus took a deep breath and forced himself to sleep.

Cadmus DOESN'T KNOW how many hours he slept. as soon as he woke up, it was still dark outside the glass window. He looked at his wristwatch.

4:00 A.M.

He blew a loud breath and when he looked at Berry, he stilled for a moment when she saw her staring at him.

"Hi." He said.

"Hi." She replied.

"Are you awake yet?" he asked.

It shook its head. "I-I'm thirsty."

He quickly stood up. "I'll go get you a water. Warm right?"

She nodded. "W-warm."

"Okay."

he left the room then hurried to the kitchen then got a jug of water then two glasses then he hurried back to the room.

When he entered the room, Berry was already sitting on the edge of the bed, the thick blanket was still wrapped around her body.

"Here." He said he then poured water into a glass and handed it to her, then he placed a glass on the center table of the sofa along with the pitcher. "Another glass?" He asked as he finished the water in the glass.

The girl shook her head then placed the empty glass on the bedside table. he returned to the long sofa and sat down.

They were silent for a few minutes before he broke it. "Do you know what I went through to find you?"

Berry looked down. "I-I wish you hadn't s-looked for me."

He frowned. "And why is that?"

"B-because I'm not your w-wife."

"Yeah, so?" The cut on his forehead deepened. "I know that already."

Berry's eyes widened as he looked back at her, a trace of surprise and confusion. "You already believe that I'm not your a-husband?"

He nodded and sighed softly. "Yeah.I believe you." He looked deep into her eyes. "And I'm sorry for mistaking you as my wife. If I had known and if I hadn't let my anger get the better of me, I wouldn't have treated you so harshly—""S-since when?" She pressed her dry lips together. "W-since when n-found out?"

"A week ago."

her lips parted. "T-then, w-why are you nice to me? I-I'm not your a-wife..."

"Yes you're not Cherry and I like that you're not... her."

"Then w-why are you so n-nice to me?" Berry asked again. It was as if he couldn't believe how he treated her.

"Why can't I be nice to you?" he asked again then poured water into his glass. "Is there a law that says don't be nice to Berry?"

"Y-you even know my name..." she whispered, stunned, then she looked down again. "I-I thought you were kind to me because you thought I was your wife."

"Then you're mistaken."

it looked up at him. "M-may I ask what did she do to you... y-you're—wife... you were so angry n-when we first n-met."

He let out a violent breath. It's only fair to tell her the reason of his anger.

"Ahm, my wife... she's not a good person." He started. "She cheated on me several times and I always let it go. She wants money, I gave it to her. She cheated on me with another man, I gave her a chance to make it up to me.

"I always gave her a chance, even when she faked a medical condition after she stole some classified documents in a safe, when I found out, I still forgive her. But Cherry, my wife, she ahm, crossed the line when she hurt Snow .I won't let her hurt my little princess again. she can hurt me, but not my daughter. I won't let her. That's why I was so mad when we first met. Some people would call me a sucker for always giving Cherry a chance, but, ahm, I'm doing it for my daughter.

"I don't want Snow to grow up without a mother but Cherry already knows my apologies. I don't care if my son loses his mother. I know how hard it can be to grow up without a mother, but Cherry is not a mother material. She's selfish and she hurts Snow. I can never forgive her for what she did to my daughter."

Berry was silent for a few seconds before asking again in a low and gentle voice. "Y-you said you grew up without a m-mother. W-where is she?"

He clenched his fist as he remembered what happened to his mother. "She killed herself in front of me when I was eight years old."

his jaw tightened as he looked away. He never spoke about his mother. Never. So why did he answer Berry's question? He didn't even tell Cherry about it. He didn't tell anyone about it.

"Your mother k-killed herself?"

His clenched fist tightened even more and his jaw clenched in response. "When Mommy died, Daddy drowned himself in alcohol. He couldn't accept that Mommy committed suicide because of her womanizing. and when he's drunk, he would beat me up, blaming me and saying it's my fault that she died because I was there and I didn't stop her. Bruises after bruises. Every time I try to run away from home, he would look for me and when he finds me, well, another bruises well replace the healing ones. but I survived all that. I got through that hellish part of my life because I fought to live.

"I promised myself that I wouldn't imitate Mommy. I promised myself that I will be strong, that I will not run away from my problems, that I will face the hardships of life, that no matter how strong the temptation is to end my life to end my suffering, I will not do it . That's why I'm worried about you, Berry."

he looked at her, deeply. "We may not have the same experience, but I can feel your pain, your hopelessness and the feeling of being worthless because I'd been there and I saw it in my mother's eyes before she took her own life. And I don't want you to end up like my mother, Berry. killing yourself is never an option." She looked down. "Unlike your m-mother, no one will c-care if I die."

"What do you think of me? Do you think I won't grieve if you die?"

"You don't even k-know me." Berry whispered.

"That's true. I know very little about you, but I can assure you that I know you better than the people you have been with for a long time. And unlike them, I'm always worried about you."

He bit his lower lip. "Y-you always say that... that you are worried about m-me. W-why is that?"

"I do not know." he shrugged then took a deep breath. "I'm always worried about you. I can't even focus on my work yesterday morning because I keep on thinking about you. What if she hurts herself again? What if no one noticed? What if she bleeds out? What if—lots of what if's, Berry. you always worry me."

Berry COULDN'T STOP staring at Cadmus because of what he was saying that he wasn't used to hearing from other people. "W-why do you care?" He asked again. "Y-you don't even k-know me that much."

"Sure I do." He sounds so sure. "In the morning, when we have breakfast, you prefer coffee to coffee with cream. Between corn-beef, bacon and hotdog, you prefer hotdog. And you like it better if the egg is cooked boiled. You hate scrambled eggs and you like warm water.you have an amazing voice and when you sleep, you prefer sleeping in the left side of the bed. Do you want me to continue?"

He shook his head then stared at the man. Was he observing her these past dew days? How did he know all that? of all the people he had been with since he was a child, no one had said what Cadmus had said now. They don't care about what she likes, they only care about themselves.

But Cadmus ... he noticed what she likes and what she dislikes.

And she felt happy. Finally. Someone noticed her. so he thought that he had no value because no one cared about him. But Cadmus noticed those little things that she likes, does that make her worth it? Or I'm... "still worthless..."

"Berry, you're nice, kind and genuinely fond of my daughter." Cadmus said. "And to me, that's what makes you worth it."

He shook his head, not believing what Cadmus was saying. "Why do you keep saying I'm w-worth it when I'm really worthless?"

"Don't say that." Against this. "You're not worthless. You are far from being worthless—"

"B-but I am."

"Not to me."

she was about to say something to contradict him when a random thought suddenly crossed her mind. He stared at Cadmus's face as he drank water from the glass. While staring intently at him, she noticed something.

"You know what, y-you're really handsome, Cadmus."

He fell back on the bed when Cadmus threw out the water he was drinking and he coughed several times as if he couldn't breathe while catching his own breath.

"W-are you okay?" he asked.

"Don't. Say. That. Again..." he was catching his own breath, "...especially when I'm drinking. it's not safe."

She frowned. "I-I didn't s-say anything bad."

Cadmus looked at her and shook his head. "Yeah, right. Thank you by the way and ahm," he looked at her, "you're pretty too."

he didn't say a word then went back to lying down while Cadmus cleaned the water on the floor with the room's foot rug. For the first time, he didn't know what he was feeling.

She was used to feeling nothing. Her existence is void ... blank. Only pain can calm her.

but in the precinct, she was having an anxiety attack but when she saw Cadmus, slowly, she felt a little better. she felt calm and not terrified of those two men...because Cadmus was there and her mind is telling her that he will be with her, just like those nights he stayed in her room until she fell asleep.

She hates men. But Cadmus ... he doesn't feel anger here. but he also doesn't know the call he feels when it's close.

Is this what they call ... trust? Do I trust him not to hurt me?

I don't know. I'm not sure. I'm scared.

"You want to sleep again?" Cadmus asked, interrupting his thoughts.

it has finished drying the water on the floor.

He nodded silently.

"Can I stay?" It pointed to the sofa. "I'll just be there. I promise. I won't touch you."

Do I want him to stay? He closed his eyes and nodded. "Okay."

because Berry's eyes were closed, he could no longer see the smile drawing on Cadmus' lips while his dark eyes were staring at the girl.