After exploring each other, Lance was very tired and was fast asleep. Cassie, was still disturbed by their impending return to the US and to Lance's busy life. She decided to dress up and take a stroll at the beach. This is one of the things that she will miss. The relaxing sound of the waves and the calming whispering of the winds as she bury her feet on the sand. She found a small rock along the beach and sat there while watching the ocean waves and the magnificent sun set.

Cassie wanted nothing more than to stay here and just be with Lance but she can never be selfish. She knew they had to go back for his sake. He has a life to live and he deserve to live it as normal as possible. Not like a fugitive like her.

Her reverie was broken by a familiar voice.

"Mam Kasseee Hi! Why you alauwn? Wer's Ser Lance?"

Cassie was startled by Anselmo's sudden appearance but she welcomed his presence as he has been very kind to her each time they meet.

"Anselmo, hi to you too. Lance is asleep. I just wanted to take a walk here and just think."

"Is der eni prablems Mam? Meybi me kan help you."

Anselmo's weird accent always makes Cassie laugh and smile not because she finds it funny but because she was glad that he makes enormous effort to communicate with her no matter how difficult it was for him.

"Wats so pani Mam? See mam? I do not tell a jokes but you now smayling."

"You're just adorable Anselmo. Im just wondering, how can I keep someone I love safe from harm?"

"Harm? Why mam? You have enemy? You want me to make resbak errr fayt back? hirap naman magingleshing. dumudugo na ilong ko"

Cassie laughed out loud upon hearing the complaint in the young man's voice. She knows what the tagalog words meant as Lance had been teaching her some of the words.

"Weg ne dumowgo ang ilowng mo. No need to make resbak too, whatever that means. You can just keep me company."

"Wateber mam. You know weneber Ser Lance visit here he oweys sad. He come here bepor when we are still building haus. He smayls samtaym when he toks to his yaya, but not like now. He oweys hapi and laffing and smayling."

"He makes me so happy too. I have never enjoyed my life and I am glad that I finally did and I have him to thank for that. He is my saviour. My hero. And I want to keep him safe at all times."

Anselmo answered after a while. He seemed to be earnestly contemplating on how to respond to Cassie.

"He is oredi a beri big boy Mam. No nid teyk keyr op him. He will teyk keyr op you."

"I know, but there are things I cannot control and I fear that it may lead to something hurtful for the both of us. I cannot bear to see him get hurt. It may be the death of me. I care for him more than I care for anyone in my life."

"Slowly mam. So bilis your Inglishing. I kenat make habol."

Cassie cannot help but laugh at Anselmo. She was so serious but his antics lightened the mood.

"Maybe we need a dictionary?"

"No need Mam. I ken do dis jas gib me taym."

"Do you want me to repeat what I said?"

"No no no. I get the care en hurt. You afraid to see him hurt. I see he labs you and wen a . . . a person is inlab. . . .ahmmm. . . . aint no mountain hay enap, aint no bali low enap, aint no riber wayd enap, to keep him prom youuu."

Cassie was very amused that he used lyrics of a song just to express his thoughts, so she sang the song.

If you need me, call me.

No matter where you are, no matter how far.

Just call my name. I'll be there in a hurry.

On that you can depend and never worry.

Ain't no mountain high enough

Ain't no valley low enough

Ain't no river wild enough

To keep me from him. . .

Anselmo was surprised, if not shocked by her singing. His mouth was comically hanging open as if he just saw some miracle.

When he recovered, he clapped his hands and did a worshipping gesture which made Cassie laugh harder.

"Anselmo don't be silly!"

"Wow Mam I neber hear good songing like dat. You are owsam!"

"Of course! There's no question on her awesomeness. I can also worship the sand she walks on if she lets me." Lance said proudly as he sat beside Cassie and pulled her close to him.

"Hi honey, you're awake." She gave him a brief kiss.

"I missed you."

"Aheerrmmm. . . Ser Mam, Ayl be awey now. Gud nayt."

"Thanks Anselmo for cheering up my queen." Lance smiled at Anselmo and gave him a thumbs up sign.

"Opkors ser. Eniting por you." He said as he waved them goodbye.

"Bye Anselmo! Good night! Thanks again." Cassie waved back.

"So babe, why did you leave me alone in bed?"

"I just wanted to have a stroll and watch the sun set. I will miss this when we go back to the city."

"We can always spend our time at the beach whenever you want. We can go to Santa Monica Pier or Venice Beach. I can even buy a property near the beach if that will make you happy."

"It cannot compare to this. Nothing could ever compare to this paradise that we have."

"Do you want us to stay here? Anything to wipe out that frown on your gorgeous face."

"No Lance. I don't want your life to be put on hold just because I am scared."

"Scared? Tell me, what is it that makes you so fearful of going back? Please tell me and we'll work something out."

"Promise me you will not leave me and you will listen to everything first before you say anything."

Her pleading voice makes Lance nervous but he just nodded his head.

"Promise." Cassie faced him and held his hands. She made sure that she was looking at his face as she told him her story.

"Here goes. Lance, my real name is Maria Cassandra Villanueva Lopez of the Lopez Financing Corporation in Spain. I ran away from home on the day of my supposed but arranged wedding. The wedding was orchestrated to salvage our bankrupt company via a merger with a rival company. I never agreed to that wedding so I escaped and with the help of my best friend and her boyfriend, was able to go to California. The day we met outside the cafe, it was my first day alone and I was still thinking on how to survive. You were the answer to my prayers but I am afraid that being with me can be very dangerous for you."

Lance was surprised by her confession but he also want to make her feel safe and secure, so he hugged her tight and kissed her forehead to reassure her that he will never leave her.

"Baby, I will never back down from anything especially when you are concerned. I don't care about your past, all I care about is our future together. We can make this work. I want to make this work. If you let me, I can talk to your parents and maybe I can help your company so you won't need a merger with another company."

"Lance, if that was as simple as that, then I am the happiest person alive. But my parents and Miguel's parents will never allow that. Miguel is an unforgiving man and that is the reason why I am afraid for us, especially for you. He has been humiliated by my running away and I am sure he is now looking for me."

"Who is this Miguel that you are so scared of?" Lance's voice was laced with controlled fury for the man who causes Cassie so much dread. Whoever that is, has been dead thousand of times in his head.

"Miguel Fernandez. He was my batch mate in college and was constantly asking me out but I never liked him. Im not sure how he managed to convince my parents for a merger and an arranged marriage but I have a hunch that everything was schemed by him." Upon hearing the name, Lance seem to stiffen and Cassie looked at him cautiously.

"Miguel Fernandez of the Fernandez Group of Companies?" Lance's voice was so cold and menacing as he said the name that Cassie cannot help but slightly quiver in response.

"Yes. Do you know him?" Cassie worriedly asked as she felt the anger that emanated from her boyfriend.

"Know him? Believe me, I know him more than anybody does."

***

Anselmo is a native Filipino and is that good in English. I wrote his dialogues just how he says it. Isn't he adorable that he tries to communicate even though he finds it difficult?

Just read it as you see it. It's pretty obvious once you get the hang of it.

I'll just translate some of the Tagalog words. Thanks!

It's difficult to speak in English. Nosebleed

Slowly ma'am. Your English is too fast. I can't comprehend what you're saying.

Tagalog slang for fight back

***

A/N: I had to set the next few chapters into Private to protect my copyright.

You can read the full story if you follow me. Thank you!