The entire room fell silent. The stares directed at Mathilda grew more intense. Richard exhaled harshly and rubbed his temples.The topic shifted back to Lilliane, and he didn’t know how to shield his wife from the accusations when even he was unaware of some of her decisions and plans for the company.The murmurs began after Mr. Lim’s sharp words.“Is that the strategy you’re talking about? Is that why you’ve been tirelessly searching for her to use her as payment for what Fuentes can provide to save the company?” Mr. Lim snarled through gritted teeth. “Shame on you, Mathilda. You’re willing to sacrifice your own niece to fix the problems you created.”Mathilda’s neck stiffened, but she managed a faint smile. However, it did little to quell the anxiety spreading in her chest, like a tiny flame touching dry hay, impossible to extinguish right away.The matter of her niece’s disappearance and the issue of forcing her to marry Fuentes had now become the focus of the shareholders’ ire.“
“But Uncle!” Lilliane protested. “Mr. Fuentes is fifty years old, isn’t he?” Her eyes began to show anxiety. “Why—”“Mr. Fuentes is sixty years old, Lilliane!” Richard said impatiently and irritably. It seemed the niece was still opposing their wishes.Lilliane looked up and met her uncle’s angry gaze.“Mr. Fuentes is very rich. You won’t go hungry or suffer with him! He might even save our family and business! That consideration is so important that you should just engrave it into your mind right now!”Lilliane stood up violently, unable to hold back, drawing the full attention of the two. She was sure that the two could also see how red her face was from a mix of anger and frustration.She admitted that even though she was hesitant about marrying someone she didn’t know, she was ready to accept it—for the sake of her late parents’ company. But the thought of marrying an old man—almost like her grandfather—was unbearable!Disgusting!Just thinking about spending the wedding day with
As soon as they got inside the stranger’s car, their kissing became unstoppable, as did his constant caressing of her exposed thigh. He licked the skin around her neck, and she moaned continuously, almost guiding one of his hands to grasp her breasts, which were craving attention. When he stopped, she almost protested.She couldn’t deny to herself how intoxicating the man’s scent was, like she had inhaled a love potion. And she also admitted that this was her first time making out, so deep inside, she knew how eager she was. Perhaps it was also because of the alcohol she had earlier that she almost didn’t want to refuse what they were doing.He drove off from the club’s parking space. She noticed the veins on his arm and hand as he gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw clenched.Lilliane felt heat surge through her body, craving his touch and kisses. She must have been very drunk because she had lost all sense of reason.Through half-closed eyes, she glanced at him. The lights f
Lilliane reached for the doorknob of her unit, her hands trembling as she fumbled with the key, trying to regain her composure.It felt as if she had been struck by a fierce tornado since waking up and finding someone beside her in bed, with the last thing she expected being to see the two people she least wanted to face in that state.Finally, she managed to insert the key and turned the knob, pushing the door open. She sighed heavily in exhaustion.But as soon as the door fully opened, her breath caught in her throat.Standing in the middle of her living room was her uncle Richard, with his arms crossed. His brows rose upon seeing her, and Mathilda, seated in the single sofa, glanced at her with a mix of anger and irritation evident on their faces.Lilliane could feel the intense and oppressive tension in the unit, making her feel suffocated and further intensifying her nervousness. The way they looked at her only heightened her anxiety.“Lilliane!” Mathilda’s sharp voice sliced thr
Lilliane could feel the rapid pounding of her heart as she stepped out of the elevator and into the marble-floored lobby of her condo building. The echo of her high heels seemed to intensify her anxiety, in sync with every beat of her chest. Even at that moment, Lilliane still felt the sting and pain from the slaps and hair-pulling she had received from Mathilda. She forced herself to dress up, despite not wanting to attend. She even wore the dress her aunt had left on the coffee table. Her eyes were swollen as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She wanted to cry again, but she felt like she had no more tears left. She couldn’t feel anything else but deep pity for herself. Lilliane took a deep breath, exhaustion evident in her eyes. “Miss Lilliane Olivares?” Lilliane gave a small nod to the elderly man who stood up upon seeing her. “That’s me.” “I’m Pedring, and I’m here to drive you to Mr. Fuentes’ mansion. Mr. and Mrs. Amante are also waiting for you at the m
Miguel Gunther Salvatierra, the 29-year-old billionaire and CEO of a multinational company, was busy moving from one desk to another.His office, located on the 30th floor of a tall building, was filled with luxurious furniture and modern technology. He was preoccupied with finishing some paperwork when his secretary, Beatrice, entered his office.“Sir Miguel, the reports you requested are here,” she said. The concern in the elderly woman’s voice was evident.“Thank you, Manang (1) Beatrice,” Miguel responded without taking his eyes off the laptop screen. Beatrice had been serving their company for a long time, having been his father’s secretary before he passed the responsibility of the company to him. “Just put them on the other desk, please.”After the elderly woman left, Miguel exhaled and leaned back against his chair, trying to calm himself for a moment.He picked up his tablet from the side of the desk and turned it on.An article immediately caught his attention: “Media Magnat
Mathilda couldn’t sit still as she paced back and forth in her office. Lilliane had been absent for several days and had not answered any of her calls or messages, which worried her. If she hadn’t asked earlier whether Lilliane had come to work today, she wouldn’t have known that she had been absent for several days. Tasks that were supposed to be Lilliane’s had been left undone. Mathilda clenched her fists, seething with anger at the thought that her niece was running away and hiding from them. With heavy feet, she marched out of her office. She needed to act now. “Carla!” “Ma’am,” Carla startled and stood up abruptly at her boss’s sudden shout. Carla couldn’t help but feel frightened and slightly step back at the sight of Mathilda’s anger. “I need to know where Lilliane is right now!” she shouted through gritted teeth, oblivious to the curious employees glancing their way. “Y-yes, Ma’am.” “I won’t let her get away with whatever she’s planning or thinking,” she said, almost
After Lilliane withdrew some money, she got back into a taxi. “Where to, Ma’am?” “Take me to...” she paused, thinking. When her stomach grumbled and her throat seemed to crave hot coffee, she said, “Do you know any coffee shop outside of Las Piñas?” The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “It’s already in Laguna, Ma’am.” She licked her dry lips and softly nodded. “Okay, Manong, let’s go to Laguna.” She leaned back against the seat to try to rest her weary body. “Are you alright, Ma’am?” Lilliane caught a glimpse of the older driver watching her from the rearview mirror and awarded him a small smile as she nodded. “Yes, thank you.” She closed her eyes. She didn’t know how long she would run and hide. Just thinking about how this would be for the coming months and years made her feel exhausted. Truth be told, she didn’t know much about commuting or going places. Her whole life revolved around home, school, and work. She didn’t have many friends. She noticed t
The entire room fell silent. The stares directed at Mathilda grew more intense. Richard exhaled harshly and rubbed his temples.The topic shifted back to Lilliane, and he didn’t know how to shield his wife from the accusations when even he was unaware of some of her decisions and plans for the company.The murmurs began after Mr. Lim’s sharp words.“Is that the strategy you’re talking about? Is that why you’ve been tirelessly searching for her to use her as payment for what Fuentes can provide to save the company?” Mr. Lim snarled through gritted teeth. “Shame on you, Mathilda. You’re willing to sacrifice your own niece to fix the problems you created.”Mathilda’s neck stiffened, but she managed a faint smile. However, it did little to quell the anxiety spreading in her chest, like a tiny flame touching dry hay, impossible to extinguish right away.The matter of her niece’s disappearance and the issue of forcing her to marry Fuentes had now become the focus of the shareholders’ ire.“
“You made a huge mistake, Mathilda!” Mr. Briones shouted, his voice trembling with fury, unable to hold back any longer. As a prominent shareholder, he had always been passionate about his investments.Those words exploded in the air, releasing the intense tension that had been simmering in the NexTech Solutions conference room. The boiling anger of the shareholders became palpable within the four walls of that room.The large table was surrounded by people in business attire, some holding folders filled with documents. Their eyes were ablaze, filled with frustration and resentment as they glared at Mathilda, who stood before them. An emergency meeting was underway.They couldn’t believe that the once-thriving and leading technology company in the Philippines had fallen into such a dire situation. It felt as though they were crawling through the mud, struggling to rise no matter what they tried.The shareholders’ fists clenched involuntarily, and their jaws tightened. They had investe
Lilliane let out a deep sigh. She had no other choice but to face the truth and the situation, no matter how difficult it was.She decided to get out of bed and placed the shirt on it. She walked toward an antique vanity mirror and sat on the chair in front of it.She couldn’t help but admire the elegant design of the vanity dresser, made of narra wood, and the mirror itself.Since the day she saw it, she’d been in awe of its intricately carved designs. Her vanity table in her room at the mansion and even in her condo unit didn’t compare to this one.According to Consuelo, it had been there since the house was built. When Consuelo saw her gazing at the vanity mirror, she explained that it was made in Ilocos Norte by one of the best craftsmen in the province, and that the design reflected the art and tradition of the region.The designs she saw around the mirror and on the dresser table were traditional Ilocano motifs.Despite its decades of age, it still looked brand new.After taking
Lilliane cupped the man’s jaw as they both felt the gentle caress of their lips against each other, eyes closed, savoring the softness and sweetness of each kiss.She felt his hand lovingly trail from her smooth shoulder, across her left chest, down to the curve of her waist, stopping at her thigh. His touch sent delightful shivers through her, while his lips left a trail from her cheek to her jawline.Unable to hold back, Lilliane moaned softly with every brush of his mouth and hands against her smooth skin. His hand, which had been exploring her body, now gripped her rounded thigh tightly, almost possessively.Her body arched, eyes shut, her lips letting out soft, blissful moans and whimpers. Her center and chest yearned for deeper attention. She felt like she was running out of breath with each press of his lips and tongue on her soft, smooth skin.Unable to control herself, her hips began to move and sway in the air from the intense, ticklish sensation building within her.She fel
A gentle knock interrupted Lilliane as she combed her short hair. She set the comb down and walked over to her bedroom door.Consuelo stood there, smiling, when she opened it.“Are you ready?”She gave a faint smile and nodded softly.Consuelo was going to accompany her to the clinic before heading to school.Their journey to the doctor was silent, and they hardly spoke while in the tricycle.Lilliane didn’t know what to feel. She was nervous, mixed with a bit of excitement she couldn’t quite understand.Her mind wandered to various thoughts—things that could potentially change her life if Consuelo’s suspicions proved true.She suddenly thought of her situation.She couldn’t hide and run forever. She didn’t want her child to live in a chaotic situation. Nor could they hide forever together.Thinking about Mathilda made her anxious and uneasy. What would happen if they found out she was pregnant—if she already had a child?She closed her eyes.She was starting to feel stressed from her
Could you be pregnant?Consuelo’s words echoed like a siren’s call.Lilliane was stunned, staring at her after hearing those words. Her heart pounded, and she felt her entire system quake in response.She shook her head slightly, still gazing at her, refusing to believe it. Maybe it was just a mistaken assumption, and it seemed impossible to happen.But when she recalled that one night with a stranger—whose face she couldn’t even remember—and the heated moments they had shared multiple times, it only strengthened Consuelo’s suspicion.But it was just one night! A part of her mind insisted.One night, but he claimed you multiple times! countered another voice.Lilliane’s eyes dropped to the sink.She had just finished vomiting. And like before, nothing came out but thick saliva.She began trembling.What if she really was pregnant? What would she do? How could she explain it to Consuelo when she had told her she was hiding from her family and the man they wanted her to marry, and now s
“Arnulfo,” she said in a flirtatious tone as she leaned on him, her fingers playing with the fine hairs on his chest.“Hmm,”“Why are you wasting your time on her?” she referred to Lilliane.When the news reached her that he was going to marry the daughter of the then-renowned tech mogul, her whole being was shaken. She was immediately filled with intense anger and jealousy.If he were to marry another woman, he might not have time for her anymore. She didn’t want to share Arnulfo with anyone, even though she secretly had affairs with older fellow celebrities. Most them were already well-known in showbiz.Arnulfo was different for her when it came to intimacy. Only with this older man did she feel and taste the true pleasure that the others couldn’t give her.No matter how handsome and dashing those actors were, whether she worked with them or not, none of them could compare to Arnulfo in bed. She could only flirt with the young actors of her generation, but she had no intention of pu
“I’m here, Arnulfo, my love!” Scarlet announced seductively, her voice high-pitched as she entered the mansion’s towering double doors. She sashayed provocatively through the expansive living room, dressed in a red dress with a plunging neckline that proudly showcased her ample chest. The fabric clung to her wide hips, and the dress fell just below her knees. Her nude strappy stilettos gave height to her otherwise short frame. Scarlet stopped in the middle of the living room and dramatically flipped her long hair, which had partially obscured the side of her face. Her originally straight hair was now curled to add flair. She surveyed the room. The mansion was eerily quiet, as though no one lived there. A moment later, one of Arnulfo’s maids appeared, and Scarlet couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, silently mocking her with her eyes. From what she knew, this was the youngest maid in the mansion, only eighteen years old, while the others were significantly older. What really caught
A two-storey house came into view as Lilliane got off the tricycle. It seemed to have been built after the Second World War, one of those houses referred to as “post-war”.Lilliane noticed the large windows, making her think that the house must be well-ventilated, allowing the breeze to flow freely inside. It was also evident that the house was well-maintained, as its beauty remained despite the passage of time and the modernization around it. There were no visible cracks or damages on the wooden walls, and the roof seemed to have been freshly painted.The house also had a spacious yard, surrounded by tall trees of various kinds. There were also flowering plants that added to the beauty of the large front yard. It seemed like a perfect place to sit and relax under the towering trees.Earlier, as they rode the tricycle from the terminal, Lilliane couldn’t help but notice the lush green surroundings.She was delighted as she gazed around, seeing nothing but mountains and rice fields. It