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Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad
Chapter 218
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Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 218
By nightfall, Karlos's birthday party had officially come to an end. All the neighbors and guests had filtered out of the front yard with full stomachs, leaving behind only a few leftover dishes that Maya planned to store in the fridge for the coming days.
Only Joseph and his family remained in the house. Venus and Gavin were still wide awake, happily playing hide-and-seek and giggling with their little cousins, including Jenny and Marlon, who were Andres's children.
"Penelope, Brother, thank you so much for everything," Maya said sincerely. Even though they had used disposable plates and utensils, large family gatherings always needed plenty of cookware and serving trays that needed scrubbing. Joseph had taken charge of the kitchen, ensuring that by the time the party wrapped up, every single dish was washed and put away.
Joseph and his family had arrived early that morning to pitch in with the cooking, and their immense help had made the day run smoothly.
"We're family, we're always going to help each other out," Penelope waved her hand dismissively with a warm smile, and Joseph nodded in agreement.
The couple was genuinely happy to see Maya living so comfortably and thriving. After watching Karlos steadily improve his livelihood over the years to provide a wonderful life for Maya and the twins, both Joseph and Penelope had completely changed their tune about him.
Karlos proved to be a devoted partner and a fantastic father. Even Venus and Gavin now looked up to him with genuine respect. Karlos was no longer viewed as a struggling outsider, he was a respected, successful man in his own right.
"Oh, before I forget, here's our birthday gift to you, Karlos."
"A gift? Nah, you really didn't have to. I'm getting too old to expect birthday presents," Karlos said, looking pleasantly surprised as Penelope handed him a small, neatly wrapped box. Attached to it was a card with handwritten words: Happy Birthday, Karlos Alejandro. From the Reyes family.
Reyes was Maya's maiden name. Maya Reyes.
"It's nothing extravagant, but I figured it's something you'd actually use. Joseph was the one who picked it out," Penelope explained.
"Babe, go ahead and open it," Maya encouraged, noticing Karlos hesitating. He rarely ever received gifts, so he wasn't quite sure how to react.
"Okay." He nodded, carefully tearing away the wrapping paper to reveal a heavy-duty, waterproof flashlight. A wide grin broke across his face.
"This is incredibly practical. Thank you so much."
As a fisherman who headed out to sea almost daily, a reliable flashlight was an absolute lifesaver.
"I knew you'd appreciate it. Having spent years on the water myself, I know how vital a good light is. That model is exceptionally bright, and I made sure to include rechargeable batteries to make it even more useful."
Karlos turned the flashlight over in his hands, admiring its rugged, durable build. He instantly fell in love with it.
"Well then, we really need to head home now. It's getting late." Joseph had a full workday tomorrow, meaning he needed to get to bed early.
"Take care, and thank you again, Brother."
"Alright kids, time to head out. Jenny and Marlon, you guys need to get back home too, your parents are probably looking for you," Joseph called out to the children. In his hand, he carried the bottle of wine Karlos had gifted him, looking forward to savoring a glass later that night.
A few minutes later, only Karlos and his immediate family remained. It had been an eventful, heartwarming day, one that Karlos knew he would cherish forever.
"Looks like the little ones are completely tired out. Let's get them into their cribs," Maya smiled softly, looking over at the twins, who had fallen fast asleep right there on the living room couch. Playing hard all day had exhausted them, and the moment night fell, they had crashed instantly.
Now that the children were fast asleep... it was time for Karlos and Maya to celebrate in their own way.
"I almost forgot, I still haven't given you my actual present... Here." Maya handed him a small stack of handmade cards with a mischievous glint in her eye. She blushed slightly, having personally written every phrase on the cards detailing various intimate acts and positions she loved... Truth be told, it wasn't really a gift for Karlos, it was just as much a gift for herself.
"These are one-time-use vouchers. Once you play a card, it's gone for good," she reminded him playfully.
Karlos curiously flipped through the stack, letting out a low chuckle. The cards were filled with cheeky, explicit prompts like sloppy toppy, 69, and several other adventurous ideas.
"So I'm officially allowed to do all of this to you?" Karlos asked, raising an eyebrow.
"M-Most definitely," Maya stammered, a flush of excitement creeping up her neck.
"Alright, let's pick this one first," Karlos selected a card and handed it back to her.
"Ohh... you're very naughty," Maya giggled as she read the word Cunnilingus written across the paper.
The couple thoroughly enjoyed their private time together... Though, as it turned out, the cards were completely used up by the third week. In reality, the vouchers were mostly just for fun, since the couple practically experimented with all kinds of intimate things nearly every single day anyway. If Karlos ever wanted to try something new, Maya was always more than willing, cards or no cards.
The novelty items were just another playful way to spice things up, though they certainly didn't dictate their already active, passionate sex life.
.........
......
...
"Sharon, I heard your boyfriend just resigned from his job. What's going on with that?"
A female worker at the local sardine factory cornered Sharon, pressing her for gossip about Domingo.
"I don't really know," Sharon brushed it off casually... Though she had heard through Domingo himself that he wanted to transition into business rather than continuing life as a truck driver. That exact revelation was the moment Sharon had started seriously contemplating breaking up with him.
Sharon had never seen much of a long-term future with Domingo. She had only agreed to date him in the first place because he was generous with his money, every time he returned from a delivery run, he brought her nice gifts.
Overall, though, Domingo was painfully ordinary. He had average looks and an average height, though his salary had been comfortably above average, which was undeniably a major plus. But the moment he threw away his steady job to chase an unproven venture, Sharon instantly lost whatever interest she had left in him.
It didn't help matters that Domingo had a notoriously difficult mother. Whenever Sharon visited his family home, the older woman would lecture both Domingo and Sharon endlessly about household expenses, constantly preaching that they needed to tighten their belts because starting a family was no small feat.
To be completely honest, Sharon had never had any real intention of building a family with Domingo anyway... She had simply been biding her time, waiting for a wealthier catch to come along. Unfortunately, she wasn't particularly gorgeous enough to easily attract rich men, being entirely average herself.
[Thank you for reading this novel.]
By nightfall, Karlos's birthday party had officially come to an end. All the neighbors and guests had filtered out of the front yard with full stomachs, leaving behind only a few leftover dishes that Maya planned to store in the fridge for the coming days.
Only Joseph and his family remained in the house. Venus and Gavin were still wide awake, happily playing hide-and-seek and giggling with their little cousins, including Jenny and Marlon, who were Andres's children.
"Penelope, Brother, thank you so much for everything," Maya said sincerely. Even though they had used disposable plates and utensils, large family gatherings always needed plenty of cookware and serving trays that needed scrubbing. Joseph had taken charge of the kitchen, ensuring that by the time the party wrapped up, every single dish was washed and put away.
Joseph and his family had arrived early that morning to pitch in with the cooking, and their immense help had made the day run smoothly.
"We're family, we're always going to help each other out," Penelope waved her hand dismissively with a warm smile, and Joseph nodded in agreement.
The couple was genuinely happy to see Maya living so comfortably and thriving. After watching Karlos steadily improve his livelihood over the years to provide a wonderful life for Maya and the twins, both Joseph and Penelope had completely changed their tune about him.
Karlos proved to be a devoted partner and a fantastic father. Even Venus and Gavin now looked up to him with genuine respect. Karlos was no longer viewed as a struggling outsider, he was a respected, successful man in his own right.
"Oh, before I forget, here's our birthday gift to you, Karlos."
"A gift? Nah, you really didn't have to. I'm getting too old to expect birthday presents," Karlos said, looking pleasantly surprised as Penelope handed him a small, neatly wrapped box. Attached to it was a card with handwritten words: Happy Birthday, Karlos Alejandro. From the Reyes family.
Reyes was Maya's maiden name. Maya Reyes.
"It's nothing extravagant, but I figured it's something you'd actually use. Joseph was the one who picked it out," Penelope explained.
"Babe, go ahead and open it," Maya encouraged, noticing Karlos hesitating. He rarely ever received gifts, so he wasn't quite sure how to react.
"Okay." He nodded, carefully tearing away the wrapping paper to reveal a heavy-duty, waterproof flashlight. A wide grin broke across his face.
"This is incredibly practical. Thank you so much."
As a fisherman who headed out to sea almost daily, a reliable flashlight was an absolute lifesaver.
"I knew you'd appreciate it. Having spent years on the water myself, I know how vital a good light is. That model is exceptionally bright, and I made sure to include rechargeable batteries to make it even more useful."
Karlos turned the flashlight over in his hands, admiring its rugged, durable build. He instantly fell in love with it.
"Well then, we really need to head home now. It's getting late." Joseph had a full workday tomorrow, meaning he needed to get to bed early.
"Take care, and thank you again, Brother."
"Alright kids, time to head out. Jenny and Marlon, you guys need to get back home too, your parents are probably looking for you," Joseph called out to the children. In his hand, he carried the bottle of wine Karlos had gifted him, looking forward to savoring a glass later that night.
A few minutes later, only Karlos and his immediate family remained. It had been an eventful, heartwarming day, one that Karlos knew he would cherish forever.
"Looks like the little ones are completely tired out. Let's get them into their cribs," Maya smiled softly, looking over at the twins, who had fallen fast asleep right there on the living room couch. Playing hard all day had exhausted them, and the moment night fell, they had crashed instantly.
Now that the children were fast asleep... it was time for Karlos and Maya to celebrate in their own way.
"I almost forgot, I still haven't given you my actual present... Here." Maya handed him a small stack of handmade cards with a mischievous glint in her eye. She blushed slightly, having personally written every phrase on the cards detailing various intimate acts and positions she loved... Truth be told, it wasn't really a gift for Karlos, it was just as much a gift for herself.
"These are one-time-use vouchers. Once you play a card, it's gone for good," she reminded him playfully.
Karlos curiously flipped through the stack, letting out a low chuckle. The cards were filled with cheeky, explicit prompts like sloppy toppy, 69, and several other adventurous ideas.
"So I'm officially allowed to do all of this to you?" Karlos asked, raising an eyebrow.
"M-Most definitely," Maya stammered, a flush of excitement creeping up her neck.
"Alright, let's pick this one first," Karlos selected a card and handed it back to her.
"Ohh... you're very naughty," Maya giggled as she read the word Cunnilingus written across the paper.
The couple thoroughly enjoyed their private time together... Though, as it turned out, the cards were completely used up by the third week. In reality, the vouchers were mostly just for fun, since the couple practically experimented with all kinds of intimate things nearly every single day anyway. If Karlos ever wanted to try something new, Maya was always more than willing, cards or no cards.
The novelty items were just another playful way to spice things up, though they certainly didn't dictate their already active, passionate sex life.
.........
......
...
"Sharon, I heard your boyfriend just resigned from his job. What's going on with that?"
A female worker at the local sardine factory cornered Sharon, pressing her for gossip about Domingo.
"I don't really know," Sharon brushed it off casually... Though she had heard through Domingo himself that he wanted to transition into business rather than continuing life as a truck driver. That exact revelation was the moment Sharon had started seriously contemplating breaking up with him.
Sharon had never seen much of a long-term future with Domingo. She had only agreed to date him in the first place because he was generous with his money, every time he returned from a delivery run, he brought her nice gifts.
Overall, though, Domingo was painfully ordinary. He had average looks and an average height, though his salary had been comfortably above average, which was undeniably a major plus. But the moment he threw away his steady job to chase an unproven venture, Sharon instantly lost whatever interest she had left in him.
It didn't help matters that Domingo had a notoriously difficult mother. Whenever Sharon visited his family home, the older woman would lecture both Domingo and Sharon endlessly about household expenses, constantly preaching that they needed to tighten their belts because starting a family was no small feat.
To be completely honest, Sharon had never had any real intention of building a family with Domingo anyway... She had simply been biding her time, waiting for a wealthier catch to come along. Unfortunately, she wasn't particularly gorgeous enough to easily attract rich men, being entirely average herself.
[Thank you for reading this novel.]
Chapter 219
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Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 219
Sharon bid farewell to her coworkers and boarded a tricycle bound for the bus terminal. She remembered that Domingo was selling siomai rice there.
Domingo had been the one to pursue her, and she could tell that he genuinely loved her. Sharon had agreed to date him, realizing he was a sweet, thoughtful man who took wonderful care of her. Whenever he returned from long driving routes across various towns and cities, he always brought back regional delicacies and souvenirs for her and her family.
Her family fully supported Domingo because he was a capable, hardworking individual, and Sharon had initially shared that same opinion.
However, she was deeply furious that Domingo had chosen to resign from his stable job. Sharon had tried to stop him, but Domingo explained that he wanted to increase his income so they could build a secure future together without financial struggles.
'A secure future? When did I ever say I wanted to marry him?' Sharon scowled to herself.
'On top of that, I have no desire to be married to a man who sells siomai. Selling dumplings doesn't sound respectable or professional at all.'
Siomai, a traditional steamed meat dumpling, was a common street food and quick meal across the country. To her, it certainly didn't sound fancy or prestigious.
The tricycle pulled up outside the busy bus terminal. As always, the terminal was buzzing with foot traffic. The main hub in Una Town served as a vital transit stop connecting routes to major destinations, such as Evitac City to the east and Taas City to the north.
Long-distance buses frequently pulled into the terminal, allowing weary travelers to stretch their legs and grab a quick bite to eat while waiting for their departures.
As crowds surged back and forth, Sharon scanned the area to locate Domingo. It didn't take long to spot him.
Domingo and his father were operating their siomai rice stall in a prime, spacious spot. They had even set up a small foldable table for customers who preferred to eat on site.
Domingo enthusiastically called out, "Siomai rice!" while his father efficiently packed warm rice into disposable cups and topped each portion with four hot pieces of siomai. Three or four people were already queuing up to order, and business was clearly thriving.
Unfortunately, Sharon failed to see any positivity in the scene. A scowl deepened across her face as she watched Domingo wipe his sweaty forehead with a towel. To her, he looked entirely unrefined.
He looked like a laborer grinding through backbreaking work... and Sharon felt an instant wave of disgust. Her left eyelid twitched in irritation. Their coastal town was full of fishermen who were constantly sweaty and drenched in the salty stench of fish, and she saw that exact same unappealing image reflected in Domingo right now. To her, both were equally repulsive.
Suddenly, Domingo caught sight of her and called her name, eagerly walking over to greet her.
"Sharon! You came to visit me? I saw you standing over there from afar! I'm so happy you're here. Just give me another half hour, our inventory is almost sold out," he explained proudly. He had been earning 2,500 pesos a day, and that steady success had boosted his energy and enthusiasm through the roof.
"Here, take this chair. You can sit down and wait for me to wrap up."
"Hm," Sharon nodded coldly. She didn't bother greeting Domingo's father, and the old man didn't bother greeting her either. His father had never held a high opinion of her, and Sharon had zero interest in interacting with him anyway.
Sharon dragged the chair a considerable distance away from the food cart, not wanting any passing travelers to associate her with the street stall.
Half an hour later, Domingo finished selling the last of his stock.
"Go talk to your girlfriend, son. I'll handle packing up the stall," his father offered generously.
"Alright, thanks Pa."
Domingo's father loaded the pots and equipment onto the custom cart, neatly folded the large umbrella, and strapped it securely into place. He then collapsed the foldable table and stacked the plastic chairs, tying everything down firmly for transport.
Once he finished, Domingo walked back over, though his face had gone completely pale.
"Are you done talking with Sharon?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah... Yeah, we're done talking. It's over," Domingo muttered, a deeply pained, distant look in his eyes.
"Good, let's head home then. I'll drive the tricycle this time." His father failed to notice the sudden change in Domingo's demeanor.
"Hm," Domingo nodded weakly. His mind felt utterly numb as he tried to process the reality of their conversation.
'So we really broke up? She never actually intended to marry me in the first place... So what have I even been working so hard for?'
.........
......
...
It took two full weeks for the devastating reality of the breakup to truly sink in for Domingo.
He was so utterly heartbroken that it started affecting his daily business. He found himself completely distracted at the stall, occasionally miscounting change and handing customers the wrong amounts. His father eventually realized that something was seriously wrong and gently pressed him about what was going on, but Domingo could only manage a bitter, hollow smile. Sharon had even confessed during their final conversation that she secretly disliked his parents and viewed them as a financial burden.
"Hey, man, your dad personally came to our houses and asked us to help cheer you up. So what's really going on?"
Jerry threw his arm over Domingo's shoulder, having gathered the entire group for a drinking session.
Domingo stared down at the table, clutching a cold bottle of beer. His friends sat around him in silence, waiting for him to speak.
"Come on, why the quiet act? We can't help you through this if you don't tell us what happened," Brandon urged gently.
Domingo tipped the bottle back and chugged the entire beer in one go. Seeing that, the group knew something heavy had gone down.
"My girlfriend dumped me," he blurted out, breaking down into ragged tears.
Karlos and the rest of the group exchanged somber glances, realizing the depth of his pain. They did their best to comfort and encourage him, but they all knew that when it came to a broken heart, only time could truly heal the wound.
They sat quietly, listening to him pour out his heartache, constantly reminding him that no matter what happened, they would always have his back.
[Thank you for reading this novel. You can read more on my Patreon.]
Sharon bid farewell to her coworkers and boarded a tricycle bound for the bus terminal. She remembered that Domingo was selling siomai rice there.
Domingo had been the one to pursue her, and she could tell that he genuinely loved her. Sharon had agreed to date him, realizing he was a sweet, thoughtful man who took wonderful care of her. Whenever he returned from long driving routes across various towns and cities, he always brought back regional delicacies and souvenirs for her and her family.
Her family fully supported Domingo because he was a capable, hardworking individual, and Sharon had initially shared that same opinion.
However, she was deeply furious that Domingo had chosen to resign from his stable job. Sharon had tried to stop him, but Domingo explained that he wanted to increase his income so they could build a secure future together without financial struggles.
'A secure future? When did I ever say I wanted to marry him?' Sharon scowled to herself.
'On top of that, I have no desire to be married to a man who sells siomai. Selling dumplings doesn't sound respectable or professional at all.'
Siomai, a traditional steamed meat dumpling, was a common street food and quick meal across the country. To her, it certainly didn't sound fancy or prestigious.
The tricycle pulled up outside the busy bus terminal. As always, the terminal was buzzing with foot traffic. The main hub in Una Town served as a vital transit stop connecting routes to major destinations, such as Evitac City to the east and Taas City to the north.
Long-distance buses frequently pulled into the terminal, allowing weary travelers to stretch their legs and grab a quick bite to eat while waiting for their departures.
As crowds surged back and forth, Sharon scanned the area to locate Domingo. It didn't take long to spot him.
Domingo and his father were operating their siomai rice stall in a prime, spacious spot. They had even set up a small foldable table for customers who preferred to eat on site.
Domingo enthusiastically called out, "Siomai rice!" while his father efficiently packed warm rice into disposable cups and topped each portion with four hot pieces of siomai. Three or four people were already queuing up to order, and business was clearly thriving.
Unfortunately, Sharon failed to see any positivity in the scene. A scowl deepened across her face as she watched Domingo wipe his sweaty forehead with a towel. To her, he looked entirely unrefined.
He looked like a laborer grinding through backbreaking work... and Sharon felt an instant wave of disgust. Her left eyelid twitched in irritation. Their coastal town was full of fishermen who were constantly sweaty and drenched in the salty stench of fish, and she saw that exact same unappealing image reflected in Domingo right now. To her, both were equally repulsive.
Suddenly, Domingo caught sight of her and called her name, eagerly walking over to greet her.
"Sharon! You came to visit me? I saw you standing over there from afar! I'm so happy you're here. Just give me another half hour, our inventory is almost sold out," he explained proudly. He had been earning 2,500 pesos a day, and that steady success had boosted his energy and enthusiasm through the roof.
"Here, take this chair. You can sit down and wait for me to wrap up."
"Hm," Sharon nodded coldly. She didn't bother greeting Domingo's father, and the old man didn't bother greeting her either. His father had never held a high opinion of her, and Sharon had zero interest in interacting with him anyway.
Sharon dragged the chair a considerable distance away from the food cart, not wanting any passing travelers to associate her with the street stall.
Half an hour later, Domingo finished selling the last of his stock.
"Go talk to your girlfriend, son. I'll handle packing up the stall," his father offered generously.
"Alright, thanks Pa."
Domingo's father loaded the pots and equipment onto the custom cart, neatly folded the large umbrella, and strapped it securely into place. He then collapsed the foldable table and stacked the plastic chairs, tying everything down firmly for transport.
Once he finished, Domingo walked back over, though his face had gone completely pale.
"Are you done talking with Sharon?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah... Yeah, we're done talking. It's over," Domingo muttered, a deeply pained, distant look in his eyes.
"Good, let's head home then. I'll drive the tricycle this time." His father failed to notice the sudden change in Domingo's demeanor.
"Hm," Domingo nodded weakly. His mind felt utterly numb as he tried to process the reality of their conversation.
'So we really broke up? She never actually intended to marry me in the first place... So what have I even been working so hard for?'
.........
......
...
It took two full weeks for the devastating reality of the breakup to truly sink in for Domingo.
He was so utterly heartbroken that it started affecting his daily business. He found himself completely distracted at the stall, occasionally miscounting change and handing customers the wrong amounts. His father eventually realized that something was seriously wrong and gently pressed him about what was going on, but Domingo could only manage a bitter, hollow smile. Sharon had even confessed during their final conversation that she secretly disliked his parents and viewed them as a financial burden.
"Hey, man, your dad personally came to our houses and asked us to help cheer you up. So what's really going on?"
Jerry threw his arm over Domingo's shoulder, having gathered the entire group for a drinking session.
Domingo stared down at the table, clutching a cold bottle of beer. His friends sat around him in silence, waiting for him to speak.
"Come on, why the quiet act? We can't help you through this if you don't tell us what happened," Brandon urged gently.
Domingo tipped the bottle back and chugged the entire beer in one go. Seeing that, the group knew something heavy had gone down.
"My girlfriend dumped me," he blurted out, breaking down into ragged tears.
Karlos and the rest of the group exchanged somber glances, realizing the depth of his pain. They did their best to comfort and encourage him, but they all knew that when it came to a broken heart, only time could truly heal the wound.
They sat quietly, listening to him pour out his heartache, constantly reminding him that no matter what happened, they would always have his back.
[Thank you for reading this novel. You can read more on my Patreon.]
Chapter 220
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Pujimaki
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Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 220
Crying was considered an act of cowardice by many men. Society preached that tears were reserved only for the weak. Because of this stigma, most men rarely showed their vulnerable side, even to their closest loved ones.
But there were moments when a man's tears were unavoidable, when a pain cut so deeply that crying was the only way to ease the heartache.
And now, drowning his sorrow in alcohol, Domingo wept like a child as he poured out everything that had happened. His friends didn't mind the emotional outburst at all. None of them made fun of him, they had long passed that immature stage of adulthood.
They were men who had matured through the harsh realities of life. They understood firsthand that life wasn't easy, and that releasing tears was sometimes the only way to vent the crushing stress that could slowly destroy a man from the inside.
They had zero right to mock Domingo. His long-term girlfriend had just shattered his heart, and he was simply trying to pick up the broken pieces to keep himself together.
Jerry patted Domingo's back continuously to offer silent comfort while the others sat in empathetic silence... The next day, Domingo felt incredibly embarrassed about the breakdown, yet his mental state had visibly improved after letting all those bottled-up emotions out.
Meanwhile, Karlos returned home after wrapping up the drinking session with his crew. He was a bit tipsy, but his mind remained relatively clear.
He unlatched the front gate, stumbled inside, and locked it securely behind him. He then gave the front door a light knock, and Maya opened it almost instantly.
She stood there with her arms crossed, glaring at him while her foot tapped the floor impatiently.
"You're a whole hour late. Look at the clock, it's already 10:30 p.m. You have work tomorrow and you need your rest. Let's get inside. Before you go to sleep, I have something important to talk to you about."
"Babe, I missed you."
As Maya turned around to walk toward the dining table, Karlos wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent and kissing her head lovingly.
"Tch, don't cling to me like that. You smell like alcohol," Maya complained, though her stern expression softened.
"Mmm, I just want to hold you," Karlos mumbled, refusing to let go and pulling her tighter against him.
"Y-You brute!" Maya suddenly felt something hard pressing firmly against her lower back. She broke free from Karlos's grip, her face flushing crimson.
She spun around to confirm her suspicion... and sure enough, a very prominent bulge was rising in Karlos's pants.
She swallowed hard. The children were already fast asleep in their room, meaning they had the entire night ahead to enjoy each other's company.
However, Maya wanted Karlos to put some food in his stomach first to help him sober up.
"Let's sit down at the table first. We're going to eat, and then we'll have a financial meeting."
"Hehe, of course... a 'financial meeting,'" Karlos smirked, sliding quickly into a chair.
"No, this time it's an actual financial meeting." Despite the blush lingering on her cheeks, Maya was genuinely serious about going over their accounts tonight.
The couple ate together quietly, with Maya taking small bites to keep him company. By the time Karlos finished his meal, the haze of alcohol had cleared from his mind.
"Alright, let's talk about our savings." Maya laid out their bank passbook on the table alongside their cash records and the twins' college funds.
"Babe, we currently have 121 million pesos in total... It actually terrifies me, and I honestly don't know what we should be doing with this kind of money," she explained. She had been calculating their total net worth, completely floored by how much wealth they had generated over the past twelve months. They had netted over 80 million pesos in less than a year.
"...Wow. If we factor in the taxes we paid back in April, we technically earned around 150 million pesos total," Karlos remarked, equally amazed.
"Don't remind me about taxes... I'm still bitter about that cut," Maya sighed. She had occasionally thought about researching tax loopholes, but ultimately decided it wasn't worth playing games with the government.
"What really concerns me is how we manage this capital moving forward. Karlos, this is a massive fortune. We could deposit a portion into a high-yield savings account for better interest returns. Or we could invest in a new business venture, or buy up land and real estate for future appreciation."
"Alfred mentioned to me recently that Roman built a new apartment complex in the northern part of town. We could purchase one or two units there and let their value appreciate over time."
"That's a solid strategy," Maya agreed, nodding in approval. She remembered hearing that the northern district was booming as more infrastructure project developments took shape.
"Then let's reach out to Alfred tomorrow. Roman is currently away in Maynila, so contacting Alfred is our best bet to get an introduction to the apartment's general manager."
.........
......
...
Speaking of Roman, he had recently arrived at his grandparents' grand estate alongside his immediate family.
Roman, Alfonso, and Tonto bowed their heads respectfully to greet their grandparents. Standing right behind the three young men were their parents, Heneral and his wife, Allyson Alejandro.
Caesar and Lourdes were in high spirits as their second son's family came to visit. Unlike their previous meeting, where Lourdes was confined to a wheelchair, the matriarch stood up on her own two feet and warmly welcomed Allyson into an embrace.
Despite hailing from a powerful political dynasty, Allyson had an impeccable, grounded upbringing, which earned her Lourdes's deep affection. Allyson and Heneral's romance had bloomed years ago after surviving a dangerous incident in the sea together.
"Allyson, I am so delighted to see you."
"Mother, please let me assist you," Allyson said gently, worried her mother-in-law might be overexerting herself.
"Don't worry, my dear, I'm doing wonderfully. We truly owe a debt of gratitude to Roman for what he accomplished," Lourdes smiled brightly.
Roman stood tall with pride, earning approving nods from both Caesar and Heneral. Roman had managed to find a rare, ancient ginseng, which was subsequently refined by a Master Alchemist into a potent elixir that restored Lourdes's failing health.
Now, the matriarch was thriving and walking around comfortably. With her incredible recovery, the entire Alejandro family was filled with joy.
Lourdes invited her daughter-in-law to join her for afternoon tea in the garden, while the men retired to the study to handle family business.
"Roman, you did well. I am proud of you," Caesar stated with deep sincerity, looking at his grandson.
Roman smiled, gratefully accepting his grandfather's praise. Lourdes was a vital pillar of the Alejandro family, loved by everyone, and Roman had been determined to see her healed.
"I only wanted Grandma to recover," he replied smoothly.
"Hm." Caesar nodded in appreciation, and the five men proceeded to converse. Caesar spent most of the time asking about their daily affairs, and the men responded with updates regarding their respective business ventures, with the sole exception of Tonto.
[Author's Note:]
You can read more on my Patreon with:
97 advance chapters of Behind The Spotlight
92 advance chapters of Reincarnated as a Fisherman and Dad
Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/Puji_makii
Crying was considered an act of cowardice by many men. Society preached that tears were reserved only for the weak. Because of this stigma, most men rarely showed their vulnerable side, even to their closest loved ones.
But there were moments when a man's tears were unavoidable, when a pain cut so deeply that crying was the only way to ease the heartache.
And now, drowning his sorrow in alcohol, Domingo wept like a child as he poured out everything that had happened. His friends didn't mind the emotional outburst at all. None of them made fun of him, they had long passed that immature stage of adulthood.
They were men who had matured through the harsh realities of life. They understood firsthand that life wasn't easy, and that releasing tears was sometimes the only way to vent the crushing stress that could slowly destroy a man from the inside.
They had zero right to mock Domingo. His long-term girlfriend had just shattered his heart, and he was simply trying to pick up the broken pieces to keep himself together.
Jerry patted Domingo's back continuously to offer silent comfort while the others sat in empathetic silence... The next day, Domingo felt incredibly embarrassed about the breakdown, yet his mental state had visibly improved after letting all those bottled-up emotions out.
Meanwhile, Karlos returned home after wrapping up the drinking session with his crew. He was a bit tipsy, but his mind remained relatively clear.
He unlatched the front gate, stumbled inside, and locked it securely behind him. He then gave the front door a light knock, and Maya opened it almost instantly.
She stood there with her arms crossed, glaring at him while her foot tapped the floor impatiently.
"You're a whole hour late. Look at the clock, it's already 10:30 p.m. You have work tomorrow and you need your rest. Let's get inside. Before you go to sleep, I have something important to talk to you about."
"Babe, I missed you."
As Maya turned around to walk toward the dining table, Karlos wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent and kissing her head lovingly.
"Tch, don't cling to me like that. You smell like alcohol," Maya complained, though her stern expression softened.
"Mmm, I just want to hold you," Karlos mumbled, refusing to let go and pulling her tighter against him.
"Y-You brute!" Maya suddenly felt something hard pressing firmly against her lower back. She broke free from Karlos's grip, her face flushing crimson.
She spun around to confirm her suspicion... and sure enough, a very prominent bulge was rising in Karlos's pants.
She swallowed hard. The children were already fast asleep in their room, meaning they had the entire night ahead to enjoy each other's company.
However, Maya wanted Karlos to put some food in his stomach first to help him sober up.
"Let's sit down at the table first. We're going to eat, and then we'll have a financial meeting."
"Hehe, of course... a 'financial meeting,'" Karlos smirked, sliding quickly into a chair.
"No, this time it's an actual financial meeting." Despite the blush lingering on her cheeks, Maya was genuinely serious about going over their accounts tonight.
The couple ate together quietly, with Maya taking small bites to keep him company. By the time Karlos finished his meal, the haze of alcohol had cleared from his mind.
"Alright, let's talk about our savings." Maya laid out their bank passbook on the table alongside their cash records and the twins' college funds.
"Babe, we currently have 121 million pesos in total... It actually terrifies me, and I honestly don't know what we should be doing with this kind of money," she explained. She had been calculating their total net worth, completely floored by how much wealth they had generated over the past twelve months. They had netted over 80 million pesos in less than a year.
"...Wow. If we factor in the taxes we paid back in April, we technically earned around 150 million pesos total," Karlos remarked, equally amazed.
"Don't remind me about taxes... I'm still bitter about that cut," Maya sighed. She had occasionally thought about researching tax loopholes, but ultimately decided it wasn't worth playing games with the government.
"What really concerns me is how we manage this capital moving forward. Karlos, this is a massive fortune. We could deposit a portion into a high-yield savings account for better interest returns. Or we could invest in a new business venture, or buy up land and real estate for future appreciation."
"Alfred mentioned to me recently that Roman built a new apartment complex in the northern part of town. We could purchase one or two units there and let their value appreciate over time."
"That's a solid strategy," Maya agreed, nodding in approval. She remembered hearing that the northern district was booming as more infrastructure project developments took shape.
"Then let's reach out to Alfred tomorrow. Roman is currently away in Maynila, so contacting Alfred is our best bet to get an introduction to the apartment's general manager."
.........
......
...
Speaking of Roman, he had recently arrived at his grandparents' grand estate alongside his immediate family.
Roman, Alfonso, and Tonto bowed their heads respectfully to greet their grandparents. Standing right behind the three young men were their parents, Heneral and his wife, Allyson Alejandro.
Caesar and Lourdes were in high spirits as their second son's family came to visit. Unlike their previous meeting, where Lourdes was confined to a wheelchair, the matriarch stood up on her own two feet and warmly welcomed Allyson into an embrace.
Despite hailing from a powerful political dynasty, Allyson had an impeccable, grounded upbringing, which earned her Lourdes's deep affection. Allyson and Heneral's romance had bloomed years ago after surviving a dangerous incident in the sea together.
"Allyson, I am so delighted to see you."
"Mother, please let me assist you," Allyson said gently, worried her mother-in-law might be overexerting herself.
"Don't worry, my dear, I'm doing wonderfully. We truly owe a debt of gratitude to Roman for what he accomplished," Lourdes smiled brightly.
Roman stood tall with pride, earning approving nods from both Caesar and Heneral. Roman had managed to find a rare, ancient ginseng, which was subsequently refined by a Master Alchemist into a potent elixir that restored Lourdes's failing health.
Now, the matriarch was thriving and walking around comfortably. With her incredible recovery, the entire Alejandro family was filled with joy.
Lourdes invited her daughter-in-law to join her for afternoon tea in the garden, while the men retired to the study to handle family business.
"Roman, you did well. I am proud of you," Caesar stated with deep sincerity, looking at his grandson.
Roman smiled, gratefully accepting his grandfather's praise. Lourdes was a vital pillar of the Alejandro family, loved by everyone, and Roman had been determined to see her healed.
"I only wanted Grandma to recover," he replied smoothly.
"Hm." Caesar nodded in appreciation, and the five men proceeded to converse. Caesar spent most of the time asking about their daily affairs, and the men responded with updates regarding their respective business ventures, with the sole exception of Tonto.
[Author's Note:]
You can read more on my Patreon with:
97 advance chapters of Behind The Spotlight
92 advance chapters of Reincarnated as a Fisherman and Dad
Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/Puji_makii
Chapter 221
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Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 221
The youngest son kept his silence throughout the meeting. He only spoke when his grandfather addressed him directly, taking a small sip of tea and frowning at its bitter taste.
Suddenly, the topic shifted to Roman's love life... Caesar was still holding onto his dream of having a little girl in the family. As one of the wealthiest families in the country, the Alejandro family lacked only one thing: a daughter to spoil and pamper.
"Roman, how are things going between you and your girlfriend? Have you given any thought to marriage?"
"Grandpa—"
"Dad, don't ask Roman something so outrageous. Naturally, he only views that actress as a passing fling, they don't have a serious future together. Roman is going to marry his fiancée," Heneral interjected firmly, refusing to budge on his stance.
Caesar set his teacup down... He wasn't fond of tea either, but his wife constantly insisted he get used to it. He scowled at his second son.
"Heneral, are you really that desperate? Has our family fallen so low that we need to rely on another family to elevate our standing?"
"Veronica comes from a prestigious family that owns the nation's leading telecommunications company. Dad, marrying her isn't a bad move for Roman at all. Besides, they maintain a solid relationship and are quite close. Isn't that right, Roman?"
"Dad, Veronica and I are just friends. I'm currently dating Sidney," Roman answered smoothly. Truth be told, Roman had zero intention of getting married anytime soon. However, he was thoroughly enjoying his time with Sidney, Both of them led busy lives, Sidney with her acting career and Roman with his frequent business trips back to Timog-Kanluran province.
Still, their relationship suited them well, and Roman had no desire to alter the status quo. He also found the idea of dating Veronica uncomfortable, as neither of them harbored romantic feelings for the other.
"See? Your son has made his own decision, and you ought to respect it. You should be asking Tonto about his fiancée instead," Caesar added, turning the spotlight away.
"Him?" Heneral glanced sharply at his youngest son. Tonto instinctively sat up straight in his chair.
"..." Heneral remained quiet.
Just like Roman and Alfonso, Tonto had an arranged fiancée. However, Heneral actually felt a pang of pity for the girl... Tonto was a constant headache, while his fiancée was a prim, highly respectable woman working as a prominent news anchor.
In fact, the woman had made it clear on numerous occasions that she held no affection for Tonto, but her parents insisted the match was set in stone since childhood... Heneral lacked any confidence that Tonto could ever be a decent husband.
At least Alfonso and Roman were men Heneral could rely on, they were exceptional sons. Tonto, on the other hand, was entirely different.
"Alright, let's set marriage talk aside. This is a family gathering, we should enjoy ourselves," Caesar declared. Knowing Heneral and Roman shared the exact same stubbornness, he decided to let them resolve their own conflicts.
Unfortunately, since almost everyone present was a workaholic, the conversation quickly reverted to business operations, leaving Tonto completely isolated.
A few hours later, Heneral's family took their leave from the mansion.
"Dad, my wife and kid are waiting for me at home, so I'll take a separate car," Alfonso bid them farewell. He was eager to get back to his family.
"Give my greetings to your wife and let her know I'll drop by to visit next week," Allyson instructed her son. She was already looking forward to seeing her adorable grandson.
"Will do, Mom. I'll let them know," Alfonso replied before heading to his vehicle.
"Mom, Dad, I have somewhere I need to be as well," Tonto chimed in, quickly seizing the opportunity to slip away before his parents could corner him for another lecture. He was thoroughly sick of their scolding.
"Alright. Drive safely," Allyson told him, her eyes lingering on Tonto's figure as he went into the car.
Back when Tonto was just a small child, he and Allyson had been practically inseparable. He used to cling to her side constantly, craving all of her attention.
'When did everything go so wrong?'
Allyson asked herself silently. Perhaps it started back when Tonto stabbed his classmate in the eye. Allyson had been utterly horrified, reprimanding him severely and raising her voice in disbelief that her own child could commit such a cruel act.
'...The older he gets, the darker he becomes.'
She vividly recalled an incident during Tonto's high school years. After his crush rejected his confession, he hired a hitman to execute her, unable to stomach the humiliation of rejection.
The gunman he contracted belonged to a syndicate nurtured by the Araneto family, Vice Governor Araneto's faction, who maintained a hit squad to handle political rivals and dirty work. Allyson had always despised politics and kept her distance from her family's illicit ventures, striving to maintain her principles despite knowing her bloodline's shady background. Marrying Heneral had been her escape from that world.
Regardless, her relatives had alerted her to Tonto's hit order, leaving Allyson stunned and enraged. For a teenager, Tonto's mind was profoundly twisted, he didn't even bother denying it when confronted. Furious beyond words, Allyson had slapped him across the face, and fortunately, the assassination was aborted in time.
Ever since that day, the bond between mother and son had completely shattered, until Allyson could only view Tonto as a dangerous stranger.
She let out a heavy sigh... It seemed Tonto had inherited the dark, ruthless nature of the Araneto family, standing in stark contrast to the Alejandro family's honorable reputation. She carried a persistent weight of guilt, suspecting her own blood was responsible for how crookedly Tonto had turned out.
.........
......
...
"Phew, fuck those people! All they ever do is obsess over work! Don't they have a single fun bone in their bodies?" Tonto muttered, growing increasingly fed up with his family. Yet he couldn't break away from their grip. Having no actual job of his own, his lavish lifestyle was entirely funded by the trust fund managed by his parents and grandparents.
If he dared to skip these family obligations, his elders would cut off his allowance without hesitation, a threat Heneral and Caesar were strict enough to enforce.
[Thank you for reading this novel.]
The youngest son kept his silence throughout the meeting. He only spoke when his grandfather addressed him directly, taking a small sip of tea and frowning at its bitter taste.
Suddenly, the topic shifted to Roman's love life... Caesar was still holding onto his dream of having a little girl in the family. As one of the wealthiest families in the country, the Alejandro family lacked only one thing: a daughter to spoil and pamper.
"Roman, how are things going between you and your girlfriend? Have you given any thought to marriage?"
"Grandpa—"
"Dad, don't ask Roman something so outrageous. Naturally, he only views that actress as a passing fling, they don't have a serious future together. Roman is going to marry his fiancée," Heneral interjected firmly, refusing to budge on his stance.
Caesar set his teacup down... He wasn't fond of tea either, but his wife constantly insisted he get used to it. He scowled at his second son.
"Heneral, are you really that desperate? Has our family fallen so low that we need to rely on another family to elevate our standing?"
"Veronica comes from a prestigious family that owns the nation's leading telecommunications company. Dad, marrying her isn't a bad move for Roman at all. Besides, they maintain a solid relationship and are quite close. Isn't that right, Roman?"
"Dad, Veronica and I are just friends. I'm currently dating Sidney," Roman answered smoothly. Truth be told, Roman had zero intention of getting married anytime soon. However, he was thoroughly enjoying his time with Sidney, Both of them led busy lives, Sidney with her acting career and Roman with his frequent business trips back to Timog-Kanluran province.
Still, their relationship suited them well, and Roman had no desire to alter the status quo. He also found the idea of dating Veronica uncomfortable, as neither of them harbored romantic feelings for the other.
"See? Your son has made his own decision, and you ought to respect it. You should be asking Tonto about his fiancée instead," Caesar added, turning the spotlight away.
"Him?" Heneral glanced sharply at his youngest son. Tonto instinctively sat up straight in his chair.
"..." Heneral remained quiet.
Just like Roman and Alfonso, Tonto had an arranged fiancée. However, Heneral actually felt a pang of pity for the girl... Tonto was a constant headache, while his fiancée was a prim, highly respectable woman working as a prominent news anchor.
In fact, the woman had made it clear on numerous occasions that she held no affection for Tonto, but her parents insisted the match was set in stone since childhood... Heneral lacked any confidence that Tonto could ever be a decent husband.
At least Alfonso and Roman were men Heneral could rely on, they were exceptional sons. Tonto, on the other hand, was entirely different.
"Alright, let's set marriage talk aside. This is a family gathering, we should enjoy ourselves," Caesar declared. Knowing Heneral and Roman shared the exact same stubbornness, he decided to let them resolve their own conflicts.
Unfortunately, since almost everyone present was a workaholic, the conversation quickly reverted to business operations, leaving Tonto completely isolated.
A few hours later, Heneral's family took their leave from the mansion.
"Dad, my wife and kid are waiting for me at home, so I'll take a separate car," Alfonso bid them farewell. He was eager to get back to his family.
"Give my greetings to your wife and let her know I'll drop by to visit next week," Allyson instructed her son. She was already looking forward to seeing her adorable grandson.
"Will do, Mom. I'll let them know," Alfonso replied before heading to his vehicle.
"Mom, Dad, I have somewhere I need to be as well," Tonto chimed in, quickly seizing the opportunity to slip away before his parents could corner him for another lecture. He was thoroughly sick of their scolding.
"Alright. Drive safely," Allyson told him, her eyes lingering on Tonto's figure as he went into the car.
Back when Tonto was just a small child, he and Allyson had been practically inseparable. He used to cling to her side constantly, craving all of her attention.
'When did everything go so wrong?'
Allyson asked herself silently. Perhaps it started back when Tonto stabbed his classmate in the eye. Allyson had been utterly horrified, reprimanding him severely and raising her voice in disbelief that her own child could commit such a cruel act.
'...The older he gets, the darker he becomes.'
She vividly recalled an incident during Tonto's high school years. After his crush rejected his confession, he hired a hitman to execute her, unable to stomach the humiliation of rejection.
The gunman he contracted belonged to a syndicate nurtured by the Araneto family, Vice Governor Araneto's faction, who maintained a hit squad to handle political rivals and dirty work. Allyson had always despised politics and kept her distance from her family's illicit ventures, striving to maintain her principles despite knowing her bloodline's shady background. Marrying Heneral had been her escape from that world.
Regardless, her relatives had alerted her to Tonto's hit order, leaving Allyson stunned and enraged. For a teenager, Tonto's mind was profoundly twisted, he didn't even bother denying it when confronted. Furious beyond words, Allyson had slapped him across the face, and fortunately, the assassination was aborted in time.
Ever since that day, the bond between mother and son had completely shattered, until Allyson could only view Tonto as a dangerous stranger.
She let out a heavy sigh... It seemed Tonto had inherited the dark, ruthless nature of the Araneto family, standing in stark contrast to the Alejandro family's honorable reputation. She carried a persistent weight of guilt, suspecting her own blood was responsible for how crookedly Tonto had turned out.
.........
......
...
"Phew, fuck those people! All they ever do is obsess over work! Don't they have a single fun bone in their bodies?" Tonto muttered, growing increasingly fed up with his family. Yet he couldn't break away from their grip. Having no actual job of his own, his lavish lifestyle was entirely funded by the trust fund managed by his parents and grandparents.
If he dared to skip these family obligations, his elders would cut off his allowance without hesitation, a threat Heneral and Caesar were strict enough to enforce.
[Thank you for reading this novel.]
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