Czahryna "Yna" Torres' world shatters when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. Desperate for a lifeline, she strikes an unlikely deal with Julian Piers Ortiz—a billionaire shackled by his father’s demands. Julian offers to fund her mother’s treatment, but in return, she must pretend to be his lover. What starts as a cold arrangement soon turns into something dangerously real. Yna falls hard, and just when she dares to believe in love, the truth is exposed. Betrayed and powerless against Julian’s ruthless father, she vanishes—taking with her a secret that could change everything. Four years later, Yna returns, now a mother to a four-year-old daughter and determined to keep her past buried. But fate has other plans—her new boss is none other than Julian. Worse, he’s engaged to another woman. Julian is torn. The woman who once shattered him is back, reigniting emotions he thought he buried. But when he notices the uncanny resemblance between himself and Yna’s daughter, suspicion turns into obsession. He demands the truth, but Yna refuses to give in. Now, Julian must make a choice—honor the engagement that secures his future or risk everything to reclaim the woman and child who should have been his all along. Love. Lies. Redemption. When the past collides with the present, will Julian fight for his second chance, or will fate rip them apart once more?
Lihat lebih banyakThe alarm clock on my nightstand jolted me awake, its shrill tone piercing the silence. I groaned, my voice hoarse from sleep, and sat up with a yawn. Rubbing my eyes, I turned to the window, where a sliver of light peeked through the gap between the curtains. I squinted at the clock, my eyes narrowing as I took in the time: 7:46. My gaze dropped to my phone, and I scrolled through the messages. Julian's name flashed on the screen, and my heart skipped a beat as I read his message: "I'll come pick you up at 9:00, be ready by then." My eyes widened as I realized the time. I had just over an hour to get ready. Panic set in, and I scrambled out of bed, my feet pounding the floor as I rushed to the bathroom. I flung open the door, the mirror above the sink reflecting my frantic expression. "Shit!" I muttered to myself, already knowing it was going to be a chaotic day.~ I stood before the mirror, scrutinizing my reflection. The blue dress, a gift from my moth
I reached out, placing a hand on Julian's arm. "Julian, what's wrong? Are you okay?" I asked, my voice laced with concern. But Julian didn't respond. His grip on his phone tightened, his knuckles white. He strode into the dining room, his long legs eating up the distance. I followed close behind, my heart racing with worry. Julian stopped abruptly in front of an elderly woman wearing a crisp apron. She stood beside a beautifully set table, a warm smile on her face. "Miss Agnes, kindly assist my guest," Julian said, his voice low and rough. "I need to leave right away. I have an urgent matter to attend to." Miss Agnes nodded profusely, her eyes flicking to me with a warm welcome. Julian turned to face me, his expression eerily blank. But his voice betrayed him, simmering with anger. "I'll have my personal driver come and pick you up to take you home once you've finished eating your lunch," he said, each word clipped and precise. I nodded, feeling a shiver
I raised my hand, pointing a shaky finger at Julian. "W-What are you doing? J-Julian... Stop right there!" I exclaimed, trying to sound firm despite the tremble in my voice. But Julian just kept coming, his eyes glinting with amusement. I gasped, my eyes widening as I lost my balance and tumbled backward onto the bed. My wet clothes slipped from my grasp, scattering across the floor. I scrambled to sit up, but before I could, Julian landed on top of me, his body caging me in. I felt a surge of panic as his smirk hovered inches from my face. "J-Julian..." I whispered, trying to push him away. But he didn't budge. Instead, he teased, "Why are you scared of me now when you kept on staring at my body a while ago, huh?" I wriggled and squirmed, trying to escape his grasp, but Julian held firm. I glared up at him, my eyes blazing with indignation. "Don't scare me, Julian!" I threatened, trying to sound fierce. But Julian just chuckled, his smirk never
Julian handed me a plush towel, its softness a welcome respite from the chill of my wet skin. "Here, take this," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I wrapped the towel around my shoulders, grateful for the warmth. We sat together in a small, rustic hut near the swing, the sound of birdsong and gentle rustling of leaves filling the air. As I dried myself off, I gazed out at the breathtaking landscape. The garden was a tapestry of colors, with vibrant flowers and lush greenery woven together in perfect harmony. I felt my heart swell with delight, the stress and worry of the past few months melting away. I hadn't felt this carefree in what felt like an eternity. Six months ago, my life had been turned upside down when my father's diabetes had taken a turn for the worse, leaving him disabled. I'd thrown myself into helping my mom with his care, putting my own life on hold. And then, four months ago, we'd received the devastating news that my mom had cance
I gazed out the car window, expecting to see the familiar sights of Julian's condo building. But instead, the car turned onto a winding driveway, and my eyes widened as we approached a massive golden gate. Two imposing lion statues stood guard at the entrance, their stone eyes seeming to stare right through me. I felt a shiver run down my spine as the car stopped in front of the gate. The gate swung open with a loud shriek, the sound echoing through the air. I winced, covering my ears instinctively. The car purred forward, gliding through the open gate and into a meticulously manicured landscape. I frowned, my eyes scanning the vibrant gardens. Colorful flowers and lush greenery lined the winding driveway, carefully arranged to create a breathtaking display. I spotted a cluster of bright pink roses, their petals perfectly arranged, and a row of towering hedges, their leaves precision-trimmed. The car came to a stop in front of a stunning Victorian-style mansio
I fidgeted in my seat, my eyes fixed on the clock as the minutes ticked by at a glacial pace. Tisha shot me concerned glances throughout the class, but I just shook my head, unable to explain my unease. As soon as the bell rang, I grabbed my bag and hurried out of the classroom, Tisha following closely behind. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, her voice low with concern. I forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "I'm fine, just a lot on my mind." Tisha raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. Instead, she followed me to the library, where I spent the next hour arranging books on the shelves. As I worked, Tisha sat on the floor next to me, her eyes scanning the shelves as she searched for misplaced books. I could sense her curiosity, her wonder about why I had come to school today despite telling her yesterday that I wouldn't be attending. I knew she was also wondering about my strange behavior, but I didn't know how to explain it. Julian and I sti
As we burst through the hospital doors, Tisha and I sprinted through the crowded corridors, weaving past patients and medical staff. The sound of our footsteps echoed off the sterile walls, and the antiseptic smell filled my nostrils. We finally reached the third floor, and my eyes scanned the area until they landed on my father, sitting in his wheelchair outside an emergency room, with Mrs. Baylon standing beside him. I rushed towards them, my steps shaky with anxiety. As I reached my dad, he looked up at me with a mix of surprise and concern. "Honey, why are you here? You should be in class right now," he said, his brow furrowed. I didn't respond, instead kneeling down in front of him and wrapping my arms around his waist. He hugged me back, his warm touch a comforting balm to my frazzled nerves. I buried my face in his stomach, fighting back tears. Dad's voice broke the silence, "Tish, honey, you're here too?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Mr. Kho gestured to Jhayden, saying, "Mr. Bernardino, please take a seat anywhere you like." Jhayden scanned the room, his eyes locking onto the only vacant seat – the one beside me. He walked over, his confident stride eating up the distance between us. But as he approached, I caught a glimpse of something else in his eyes - a faint hint of nervousness. As he sat down, I deliberately avoided looking at him, focusing instead on Mr. Kho's lecture. The professor's words droned on, a steady stream of information that I was determined to absorb. I scribbled notes furiously, my pen scratching across the paper as I tried to keep up with Mr. Kho's rapid-fire delivery. My determination to ace all my subjects this year drove me to concentrate intently on the professor's words. But my focus was broken when a gentle elbow nudged me from the right. I turned to face Jhayden, raising an inquiring eyebrow as I did so. He greeted me with a radiant smile, his eyes cr
I stared at my phone, my eyes fixed on the screen as I read the message. It was from Julian—the man I'd been waiting to hear from. My heart skipped a beat as I read his words. "Meet me tomorrow at the bar at 9:00 PM." I could almost hear his voice—cold and demanding—as I read the words. I frowned, wondering why he had chosen the bar as our meeting spot again. Why not his condo, since I already knew where it was? A sly smile spread across my face as I chuckled to myself. "Well, Yna, he only brought you to his condo last time because he thought you two would... you know," I whispered to myself, glancing around to make sure my parents weren’t listening. My mom would definitely have something to say about that. I quickly typed out a response—"Okay." Then, as I put my dishes in the sink, I glanced at the clock and realized I was running late. I grabbed my school bag, flung it over my shoulder, and hurried out. "Goodbye, Mom! Goodbye, Dad!" I called out, r
I let out a deep sigh, my eyes scanning the dimly lit bar with a mix of disgust and desperation. The air was thick with the smell of cheap perfume and stale beer. I had been sitting in the corner for hours, nursing a glass of water. As I glanced around the bar, my gaze lingered on the women dancing on the stage. They were dressed in skimpy two-piece outfits and lingerie, their bodies swaying to the pulsating music. The men in the audience watched with leering eyes, some of them fondling the women's bodies as they danced. My stomach churned with revulsion, but I knew I had to push aside my doubts. I needed the money, no matter how I got it. My mom's operation was expensive, and I had already exhausted all my other options. I thought back to the endless hours I'd spent working, trying to scrape together enough money for my mom’s operation. But no matter how hard I worked, it was never enough. And now, I was faced with the harsh reality that I had to find another way ...
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