Del Valle

"Leandro Del Valle? My dad?" Dazaree exclaimed. It's the first time she heard about her father and she felt more curious than ever. 

Nana Seling slowly nodded her head and replied, "Yes, that is right." 

"I don't really know much about my father because he died when I was a kid," Dazaree said then looked down. "Does that also mean we won't find the antidote?" 

Troye felt hopeless hearing that. 

"No. I don't think so," Nana Seling told her, causing Troye to look at her. 

"What do you mean, Nana Seling?" he asked. 

"I haven't told you what happened when I met Lunari Thomas," she paused and stared at Troye. 

"She told me that Leandro and Penelope are batchmates and are both intelligent. It just happened that Leandro became a neurosurgeon instead. Leandro and Lunari are bestfriends of Penelope's husband, Manuel Hundrel." For a split second, Seling looked sad after mentioning the man's name but then she continued. 

"Leandro and Lunari suspected Penelope for killing her own husband so they became allies. Lunari confessed to him about the poison that she thinks is the strongest weapon Penelope has. They planned on creating an antidote that will help them counter Penelope's poison and she succeeded with the first one. During that time she told me that she and Leandro are supposed to meet up the next day to test the antidotes that they made. She also wasn't sure if the second antidote was finished. But then that next day, he didn't show up. Later on she found out that he and his wife died," Nana Seling stated and looked at Dazaree once again. 

"It was that time…" Dazaree blurted out. "They died in an accident," she said as her face darkened. She remembered how her uncle told her about their death and it still pains her. 

"Are you sure it's an accident?" Nana Seling said, grabbing her attention. 

She slowly looked up and their eyes met. "What do you mean, Nana? Are you saying someone killed them?" 

Nana Seling let out a long sigh. "I myself do not know the answer to that, my dear. Lunari and I don't understand what happened. They just said that they died in a car accident, case closed," she answered. 

"Do you think Penelope Hundrel killed them?" Troye abruptly asked. He's been listening to the conversation as he tries to connect the information that Seling is spilling.

"Possible but we don't have proof of that," Seling replied. "It can also be someone else…" she whispered which the two didn't seem to hear because they are too focused with their own thoughts. 

Ofcourse Seling doesn't only see one suspect in the incident. She has this thought that it may not be Penelope Hundrel all along. It could be another person hiding in the darkness. 

"Why didn't you investigate with the police?" Dazaree queried. Having thoughts that her parents' death is not an accident makes her mad. They are kind people so why would someone do that to them? 

Who is this Penelope Hundrel and why is she doing this to her? 

"We can't do that. If we do, Penelope will find out about the Lunari's betrayal," Nana Seling explained. "Believe me if I say she's not someone who's easy to take on. Normal ways won't work to defeat her. In fact, I couldn't contact Lunari Thomas anymore. I could only hope that she isn't found out yet." 

Nana seling sighed again and continued. "For now, you have to find the antidote. Fablo comes first, remember that because you only have a week." 

Troye looked at Dazaree and said, "We should go to your home. We might find it there."

"You mean, my parent's house?" Dazaree asked.

"Yes." 

"I don't remember where it was anymore…" Dazaree said and looked down. She was just a kid back then, probably 10-11 years old. She just woke up in her auntie and uncle's house without remembering what happened before that.

"I can tell you where your home is. But heads up, an intelligent man like Leandro won't hide such an important thing in a place where people will most likely investigate," Nana Seling told her and took something inside the envelope again. It's a photo of Del Valle's residence. "This is your home right?" 

Dazaree's eyes dilated when she recognized the house. "Yes! Yes it is." 

"I went there to investigate personally and didn't find much. But then I saw a photo of Gabriel Del Valle and Leandro Del Valle together," she stated. 

Dazaree frowned. "You mean my uncle? Well they are siblings, of course they have a photo together, Nana." 

"Yes I know but I also found out that Gabriel, your uncle, works for Penelope Hundrel," Nana Seling explained and rested her back on the couch. 

Dazaree's eyes widened. "I should tell my uncle about this! He must've not known," she exclaimed in worry. If Penelope is the one who sent her that monstrous man, then that means she's extremely dangerous. 

She thought, "Uncle should know about her and resign immediately." 

"Oh dear…" Nana Seling shook her head. "You're pretty naive, child." Dazaree really reminds her of someone. 

"What do you mean, Nana?" she asked. 

"Gabriel is not that stupid not to know what is happening around him," Nana Seling answered. 

"But my uncle is nice…" 

Dazaree does not want to believe what Seling wanted to point out but now that she thinks about it, Dazaree feels like nana Seling is right. 

"Are you sure?" Nana Seling raised an eyebrow. 

"Yes… he took me in. He's the nicest person in the house because he treats me well," Dazaree said, trying to convince herself. Besides, they do not have proof yet to judge a person who's been nice to her. 

"Well, I doubt that because there is something more that I found inside your house," Nana Seling said as she remembered a letter she found in a child's room. She read it but after reading, she put it back again. 

Dazaree felt really curious because of what she said and inquired, "What is it?"

Her heart is beating fast but she does not know the real reason why. Was it because she's afraid of the truth? Maybe. Because if it's true that her uncle is an enemy, then she does not know who to trust anymore. 

Nana Seling stood up and tapped her head. "Why don't you go see it for yourself, honey?" 

***