There's still two hours more before the official ribbon cutting. In the dining hall, some tables were tumbled while a few chairs were broken. A bullet hole was seen on one of the tables lying on the floor. There were only a handful of people in the room, Beauty's father, mother, and five other restaurant staff were in there. They were scared to see Cathy holding a gun in the middle of the dining hall.

"Clarence, I'm here. Where are you? I'm here for the retribution."

"Who are you? Why're you rampaging here?" asked Beauty's father, Rodney Ferol while held his wife in a hug.

"Clarence had a debt to pay, I came to collect the pay."

"What debt? What pay?" asked Bella with a confused face. Did Clarence made a big loan to this woman and she's here for the pay? She wondered. Everything to her was vague.

"You're not involved in this. Outta my way."

Her memories were clear. She was totally humiliated. The past came back to her in flashes.

That day after she left the hotel during the regional trials, Mr. Paul Palangka insisted to accompany her to the hospital. She went through medical tests and was found having a severe depression that she didn't know existed since young. So she was experiencing this ever since her parents separated but had no knowledge that it was so. No one guided her and helped while she was in this state. Everything just piled emotionally deep inside her.

As she was sitting on the hospital bed, she heard Paul said the most foolish thing she'd ever heard.

"I'm your real father. I also didn't know this until your mother came to meet me a month ago and told me that you're really my daughter." He paused and sighed before he continued. "I also made a DNA test a while ago. It's proven, I'm your real father."

"Say that again?" shouted Cathy.

"I'm you're biological father but your mother didn't tell me until a month ago."

"How come you became my father? This is totally absurd."

"Your mother and I were lovers back in college and lived together for a while after your mother's parents died in an accident. I was a poor working student. I also took jobs to feed both of us. When she learned she was pregnant, she left me but I didn't know that. She kept you from me. She newly told me this. I was also confused why she left. I just learned later she got married to a rich man and you were born."

Cathy was silent, trying to chew and swallow everything she heard. Silence prolonged and yet, her mind still couldn't comprehend what that d.a.m.n information she heard. 'Was I born to a s.l.u.t?'

"I'm sorry, I didn't let you win for I saw you were not in your best to face the finals."

"At least, you're not biased as a judge," said Cathy acknowledging him as a man of principle. A person who wouldn't be easily swayed by the present circ.u.mstance, unlike her 'known' father.

Cathy asked, "Where is mother now?"

"She left after she told me about this. I don't know her whereabouts." The truth was her mother learned she had cancer and made her decide to tell Paul the truth for their daughter's sake, most of all she learned her husband became a vagrant. Somehow, Paul saw Cathy was not ready to hear this sad news.

"Cathy, I have a proposal for you. I hope you'll hear me out."

"Go ahead, I'm listening."

"Come with me to Australia. Let's live there for good… as father and daughter." He had a hard time saying the last phrase. It didn't sink in yet in his system to have a full-grown daughter but he wouldn't leave her behind, no matter what.

There was silence. Only the sound of the AC was heard. Paul thought of speaking but he gave her time to think. He knew this was not easy for her as well.

"Okay… but I can't still call you…fa…"

"It's fine as long as we're together from now on." His chest was lightened. He thought his proposal would be rejected and were ready to try more but thank goodness, she yielded.

They left the country without a word to anyone. This was for the best. However, deep inside her, Clarence was still there. A year gone by, she tried to forget but the more she saw the news about him and his girlfriend in the Culinary Org's blogs, the desire she wished to leave behind started to grow again.

A month before her 18th birthday, she announced, "Paul, I wished to celebrate my debut party in the Philippines."

"If you'll meet him, you know who, what'll you do?"

"I've moved on." But deep inside, 'Sorry, Paul, I've grown to like you as a father but I still want to meet Clarence. I hope I've totally moved on.'

A day after they came back to Manila, she made a phone call to the city mayor, one of her other father's close friends.

"Uncle, can you bring Clarence Peres to attend my birthday party?"

"Why not just invite him yourself?"

"I want to surprise him. So, please, don't tell him it's my birthday. " She was heard giggling on the other side of the phone.

"Are you both lovers?" The mayor's curiosity was aroused.

"Kind of. Please, help me surprise him." She sounded excited and jovial.

"Alright, I'll call their office now."

"Thanks, Uncle."

"For my big brother's daughter, I'll do what I can to help you meet your love."

Clarence received the call and had no other choice but to accept the mayor's invitation. He was asked to accompany the latter on a very important gathering.

On the other hand, Beauty was also invited by Zennia, as one of the servers. This person was innocent of what was about to happen. She wasn't even informed on whose party they'll be helping.