Reunion

"I've changed my plan, Rita has to live so Steven and I can get married."

"But what if she betrays you, Ma'am? Remember that she knows a lot and…"

"I know what I'm doing, so just follow what I want!" She irritably interrupted what else Brando had to say.

Brando did not speak for a few seconds. "What are your plans now?"

Danica smirked as she felt Brando gave up. The man was handsome and young, she could tell that he liked her, so he did whatever she said.

"Don't worry, I only need their wealth." She lied, so that he would not hesitate to cooperate with her.

Danica needed Brando to be loyal to her. She can also use him one day as a man.

Brando smirked and had hope.

"I want you to bring Rita and Nicole together because I'll talk to them. But don't let Natasha see Nicole, understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Brando replied with a smirk. He understood why the woman could not go there personally yet, because Steven was strict for her ‘safety’.

"Where are you taking me?" Nicole struggled to break free from the man.

"Just be quiet if you don't want to get hurt again!" The man shouted back at Nicole.

Nicole gritted her teeth and walked quietly, ignoring the man's nails that almost sunk in her arm. She had been held captive by them since morning, but she had not seen Danica yet. They just circled a small house and headed to another hut. The man pushed her inside.

"Rita?" Nicole's eyes widened when she saw her.

"Nicole? Why are you here?" Rita asked, surprised.

Nicole burst into tears when she saw the bruise on her friend's face. She was obviously tortured and she remained tied to the chair. She crawled closer to her, but she could not touch her because her hands were also tied from behind.

"That woman is really a devil! Why did she abduct you, too?" Rita gritted her teeth in anger.

"My daughter, how is she? Did you see her?" Nicole asked immediately.

"Yes and she's as beautiful as Daniela." Rita replied smiling. The smile on her lips widened when she saw the happiness on her friend's face.

"I don't have a good feeling why they brought us here."

Rita's smile faded and she looked around. Their guard was not inside, so she also felt nervous. It looked like Danica had a new plan again.

"Oh, are you done with your reunion?" Brando asked the two women and smirked.

Rita and Nicole looked at each other and closed their mouths while watching what the man did next. He took a phone and called someone.

"The two are here, Ma'am." Brando talked to Danica from the other line.

Rita and Nicole both clenched their fists when the man brought the phone screen near their faces. Danica's grin was so wide as she looked at them.

"Well, well, well… You shouldn't be upset with me anymore because I brought you together today."

"What do you need?" Rita asked angrily.

"Well, I just want to tell you the good news!" Danica replied teasingly.

Nicole just glared at her in response.

"I have two good news for you. First, you can come back here alive, Rita. But don't make the mistake of disclosing me if you don't want Nicole and your niece to die."

Rita smirked and didn't fear Danica.

"Is that clear?" Danica asked Rita.

"Answer!" Brando hit Rita when she kept her mouth shut.

"Rita, just say yes. Don't worry about me, the important thing is that you get home alive." Nicole prompted her.

"But how about you?" Rita's eyes watered. She could not bear to live in exchange for the lives of the two who were important in her life.

"Do you remember what I said before on the island?" Nicole asked with a smile.

Tears fell from Rita's eyes because of her reminder.

"Tata, don't be sad. Even if I'm left here, I'm happy because you're safe. Don't worry, we'll meet again."

Nicole smiled when she saw in her eyes that her memory of the past came back. "See, we meet again. So don't hesitate."

Tears continued to stream down Rita's face as she smiled and nodded. She will trust her friend again and hope they will meet again.

"I'm sorry if I didn't recognize you."

Even if Nicole wanted to hug her friend, she couldn't.

"Enough with the drama!" Danica was irritated with the two. She was jealous of the closeness of the two.

"I agree, just promise that you will keep them alive."

Danica laughed, but deep inside she was mad because there was someone else important to Rita.

"My second good news is for you, Nicole."

Nicole closed her eyes tightly when she saw the joy on Danica's face.

"I and Steven are getting married soon! So I have to let Rita go home because Steven wants to fulfill his sister's dream of being my bridesmaid." Danica laughed again, as if tickled by a demon.

"Congratulations!" Nicole said indifferently. She did not show that she was affected or hurt.

Danica stared at Nicole on the screen. She turned to Brando and told him what to do.

"Be careful, she must still have dark plans against you." Nicole said to Rita in a whisper.

"Thanks, don't worry and I'll make a way to save you and Natasha."

"Blindfold them and take them out of here." Brando commanded his two men.

The two did not waste any more energy to resist because they knew it'd be futile. Nicole would be taken somewhere else and Natasha could not be with her. Danica was smart and made sure that Rita wouldn't take action against her.

"Can I see my daughter even for a moment?" Nicole pleaded with the man holding her.

"Danica strictly orders not to show you the child." The man answered.

Depressed, Nicole continued to walk. She could no longer hear Rita's voice, so she must have gotten into the car. Danica really won't let her see her child until her last breath. She knew Danica would only use her against Rita to make her submit. She hoped that Rita can find a way before Danica succeeded in her plans.

At the mansion, Asuncion was worried again when the kidnapper called. She always prayed that her grandchildren would not be harmed.

"Don't worry, I promise I will take Rita home safely." Steven comforted his grandmother.

"Steven, be careful!"

Steven just let Danica hug him tightly. But inwardly, he wanted to strangle her until she stopped breathing. When she volunteered to accompany him, he let her.

Steven deal with the kidnappers alone as they wished. They have changed their meeting place this time. Danica was left inside the car with Tony, who was their driver.

"Brother!" Rita called him when she saw him.

"Stop, stay right there!"

Steven stopped in his tracks when he heard the man's voice. He could not see him, but his sister was tied alone to an old pole.

"Put the money you brought on the table." Brando ordered Steven.

Steven slowly placed the large bag he was holding onto the old table.

"Open it." Brando commanded again. After making sure that no weapon was hidden with the money, he ordered a man to take the bag and check if the money was not counterfeit.

"All’s good, Boss!" the man informed Brando after checking the money.

"Take the money to the car."

Steven quickly approached his sister and removed the ropes from her body.

"Make sure the amount of money is right. Because otherwise I'll get back to your family." Brando threatened dangerously.

"Brother…" Rita cried and hugged her brother when she got untied.

"Let's go, we need to get out of here before they change their minds," Steven whispered and carried his sister so they could leave immediately.

"Rita… Thank God, you're safe!" Danica welcomed the two and helped Steven.

Rita wanted to shake Danica's hand off, but when she glanced at her meaningfully, she closed her eyes and accepted her hug.

"Come on, I'm carrying a first aid kit. I know that they also hit you too before releasing you." Danica said sadly.

"It's not necessary and I might still have an infection." Rita stubbornly refused and averted her face from her.

Steven ignored how his sister behaved toward Danica. He felt her anger at the woman and he understood her. He knew that his sister was also holding back and tried to get along with Danica. When they arrived at the hospital, she did not want to be separated from him or his sister for even a second.