SASABONSAM

After dinner, Rayden now stood in front of the mirror, getting himself ready for an important event. He was fixing himself up for something that he needed to attend to.

"Oh, my handsome son! Where are you heading, my child?" Mrs. Rebecca curiously asked, her interest piqued.

Rayden faced his mother and replied, "I'm going to Isabelle's place, mom."

Mrs. Rebecca neatly brushed Rayden's hair and straightened his collar.

"Son, if your father were still alive, he would surely be proud of you. Especially now that you're becoming a fine young man."

"Wherever he may be, I'm sure he's proud of both of you for taking care of us," Rayden said, placing his hands on his mother's shoulders.

"Are you sure about Isabelle?" Mrs. Rebecca asked, her question tinged with doubt.

"Yes, mom. I'm sure she's the woman I will love forever..." Rayden's eyes sparkled as he spoke those words.

They were just two siblings. He worked hard as a fisherman to provide for his younger sister who was studying. Rayden was handsome and diligent, which is why Isabelle liked him. He was humble, thoughtful, stood up for what was right, and didn't rely on others. Even though he already had a girlfriend, many young ladies still found themselves drawn to him.

As he left their house, he passed by his friend and fishing partner, Ricky, who was at a store with some companions.

"Rayden! Where are you heading? You look all dressed up!" Ricky called out.

"Oh, Ricky! It's you... I'm going to Isabelle's place. Do you want to come along?" Rayden replied.

"Nah, you go ahead. I might just get in the way," Ricky said.

Ricky's friends playfully teased him, causing them all to laugh. Rayden smiled and bid them farewell. Even in the dimly lit street, there were still eyes that noticed his presence. Young girls who couldn't help but smile and feel excited whenever they saw him.

After walking for just a few minutes, Rayden arrived at Isabelle's house. He was surprised to see a car parked outside her place.

Rayden hesitated, unsure if he should continue, thinking that important guests might be visiting Mr. Fernando. He didn't want to intrude.

Just as he was about to leave, Isabelle's cousin, Tony, came out of the house because he had been asked to run an errand.

Rayden called out to him. "Tony! Come over here for a moment." He waved at Tony.

"Brother Rayden, it's you—" Tony's voice was filled with uncertainty.

Rayden furrowed his brow. "Is Isabelle inside?" he asked, puzzled by the expression on Tony's face.

"She's inside... Why didn't you come in?" Tony abruptly left Rayden without saying anything, leaving him with a different feeling.

Rayden took a deep breath before heading inside the house.

"Good evening to all of you," Rayden greeted Mr. Fernando and the visitor, who was well-dressed and sitting on the sofa. He noticed that the man seemed wealthy.

Isabelle stood up from her seat as their gazes met.

"Oh, Rayden, it's you." Isabelle motioned for him to come in.

Their eyes met with the well-dressed visitor who had a bouquet of red roses on the table. Isabelle invited her boyfriend to join them.

"You have a visitor—" Rayden began to say, but he sat down beside Isabelle.

Mr. Fernando looked at Rayden intently, clasping his hands together before speaking.

"Rayden, I want you to meet Anthony Valle. He is a wealthy businessman in our town, and their family is well-known even in other countries," Mr. Fernando introduced Anthony.

Rayden simply nodded at Anthony and then turned to face Isabelle.

"Can we go to our date now?" he asked her.

Rayden hesitated before answering. "Rayden... Because—" Isabelle couldn't look directly at Rayden.

"What? Why can't you look at me? Is there a problem?"

Isabelle's father interjected. "Don't tire yourself out, Rayden," Mr. Fernando urged.

"What do you mean?" Rayden furrowed his brow.

"I want my daughter to have a good future. I want her to be happy and experience a life of freedom..."

Rayden was utterly confused. "I really don't understand."

"In simpler terms, forget about what happened between you and my daughter." Mr. Fernando lowered his head.

"Mr. Fernando, what are you saying? Isabelle and I love each other—" Rayden turned to his girlfriend. "Isabelle, I love you. Tell your father that I love you. What is he saying?"

"I'm sorry, Rayden." Isabelle bowed her head.

"I want you to break up with him now. He has nothing to offer you," Mr. Fernando insisted.

"That's not true." Rayden stood up hesitantly.

"That's why Anthony is here. He is the one I want my daughter to be with. And I know that her future will be bright with him."

Rayden opposed Mr. Fernando's statement. "I can work hard. I believe I can give your daughter a good life. I just need a little time."

Mr. Fernando also stood up, seemingly provoked by Rayden's demeanor.

"How dare you speak to me like that! Have you forgotten that you are just a lowly fisherman?" Mr. Fernando said with a challenging tone.

Rayden glanced at Anthony, then looked back at Isabelle.

"Isabelle, tell me, do you still truly love me?"

"Rayden, I love you, but I don't want to defy my father's wishes," the young woman replied.

Rayden approached Isabelle and embraced her.

"I love you, I hope you won't leave me..."

"Rayden, stop! You are not worthy of my daughter..." Mr. Fernando separated Rayden from Isabelle.

Mr. Fernando sought Anthony's help to escort Rayden out.

"I'm sorry, Rayden. I have no choice."

"No choice or do you really want this wealthy man?" Rayden's voice trembled.

Isabelle grew serious. "Yes... because I know that Anthony can provide what you cannot."

"But we love each other, right? Have you forgotten that?" Rayden's voice quivered.

Isabelle shook her head.

Rayden knelt in front of Isabelle, pleading, but her father intervened.

"Stand up."

Anthony interjected, and without hesitation, Rayden punched him. Mr. Fernando quickly intervened, pushing Rayden out of the door.

"Leave! You don't belong here." Anthony wiped the blood from his face.

"Leave and stop causing trouble here. There are plenty of other women out there. So, if you want to be my daughter's husband, you better work hard to become a millionaire like Anthony—"

"Let it be, Mr. Fernando. I will do exactly what you want. I will become wealthy, and you will regret it one day," Rayden confidently replied.

“Well, I will wait for that day—“

Mr. Fernando closed the door, leaving Rayden standing by the stairs.

His heart raced, feeling the humiliation he had just endured. He turned around and walked away slowly. Tony saw him and approached, apologizing.

"I'm sorry, Rayden. Isabelle loves you, but she's afraid to go against her father's wishes," Tony offered a consoling remark.

"Just leave me alone, Tony. Don't say anything..."

Tony let Rayden be and entered the house. Rayden gazed up at the sky.

"One day, I will become a wealthy guy. I will come back, and you will all regret this..."

Due to Rayden's overwhelming irritation, he forcefully kicked a small rock that was on the street. It flew and accidentally hit a dog that was digging through the trash.

One of the bystanders witnessed Rayden's action and became annoyed with the young man.

"Hey! You, young man!" shouted an arrogant bystander at Rayden.