The wedding of Ella and Marco was celebrated lavishly. The groom’s family owned a large building materials store in the town of San Miguel, and they were known for their wealth. Marco’s mother passed away early, so he grew up with his father and grandmother.
On the day of the wedding, everyone was impressed with Ella: beautiful, composed, and smart. Marco, on the other hand, was quiet and kind.
But Ella noticed Marco giving her a strange look. Ever since they met, he would often stare at her without blinking, sometimes while eating, just staring and smiling at her. Ella thought it was because of love, so she would just smile back.
On the night of their first night as a married couple, after the guests had left, Ella changed her clothes, sat in front of the mirror, took off her fake hair, and wiped off the thick make-up. Marco slowly entered, quietly sat on the bed, and stared at her. He didn’t speak, just smiled. Ella was slightly scared but tried to be strong:
— “Honey… what’s wrong?”
Marco did not answer. He stood up, approached her, and stroked Ella’s cheek. His hand was heavy and cold, making Ella tremble.
Suddenly, the door opened. Marco’s father, Mr. Santos, stood there, his face pale, sweat covering his forehead. He immediately pulled Ella away and handed her the ten {₱}500$ bills, his voice trembling:
— “Daughter… listen to your father, there is {₱}5,000$ here. Take it, and run away immediately… the sooner, the better. Hurry up!”…
After handing over the {₱}5,000$, Ella quickly stepped away from the bed. Holding the money, her hands were trembling. But instead of leaving the house, she slowly turned to Marco.
— “Marco… what’s going on? Why is this happening?”
Marco did not answer. He stood silently, just staring at her. Ella noticed a strange vitality and light in her husband’s eyes—not normal affection but as if a deep secret was hidden in his heart.
Slowly, Ella walked toward the window. Outside, there were streetlights, and the road was quiet. She thought about what Marco’s father had said: “If you want to live, run away from here immediately…”
But instead of running, Ella decided to find out the whole truth. She went to the living room, and there she found an old box under the sofa. She opened it.
Inside: old photos, documents, and Marco’s diary.
She opened the diary, and there she found:
Marco’s secret experiments on the family—things no one should ever see.
The father’s fear of a dark past.
At the same moment, Ella felt a cold draft on her neck. Suddenly, there was a knock on the kitchen door—loud and fast.
— “Ella… you need to get out!”
But now, her survival was not just dependent on money—but on her intelligence, courage, and quick decision.
After opening Marco’s diary, Ella realized there was a secret in her husband’s family. They weren’t just wealthy—there was a hidden history of danger and deceit.
According to the diary, Marco’s father, Mr. Santos, had a dangerous secret related to the business for a long time—he was breaking the law, which is why he was afraid someone would find out.
Marco, although quiet, was always watching over Ella, not just out of love but to protect her from his father.
Suddenly, the bedroom door opened—it was Mr. Santos.
— “Ella… you shouldn’t know all of this!”
But now, Ella stood silently, holding the diary.
— “I know everything now, Father. That’s why I can face any danger. And if you want, you can also test me.”
Mr. Santos blushed, looking at his son—Marco—who was just quietly standing nearby.
But before Mr. Santos could move, the lights outside turned on and the police entered. One of the wedding guests, also a former business partner of Mr. Santos, had reported all his illegal activities.
In the end, Ella and Marco were safe.
But Mr. Santos? In the custody of the law, he could no longer escape.