CHAPTER 1

Zhe's POV

I had always known that love had no place in this marriage. From the moment I signed my name on that contract, I had surrendered the right to dream of romance, of whispered affections, of a man who would look at me as more than just an obligation. 

Who would know na ganito pala ang mangyayari sa buhay ko?

Napangiti ako ng mapait at tiningnan ang sarili ko sa salamin. I traced down the love marks on my neck. Oh, should I call it love marks?

Nah it's not, it's a red mark.

I continue brushing my hair and walk towards the bed after. Malungkot akong napangiti. I didn't dream this kind of life I am right now.

I am Vivienne Zhe Ainsley, I’m already married. Married to a ruthless man named Caleb Leander Vasquez’s. I’m his wife—on paper. Nothing more. 

My fingers curled around the silk sheets as I stared at the ceiling of his bedroom, my heart weighed down by the cruel reality of it all. Ano nga bang ginagawa ko dito sa kwarto niya? Well, simply because gusto ni Caleb na pagdating niya ay nandito na ako sa kwarto, ayaw niyang pumunta pa sa kwarto ko para kumatok at sabihing kailangan niya ako.

For the past three months, our nights had followed the same pattern: Caleb would come home late, reeking of expensive whiskey and long, tiring meetings. He would undress without sparing me a glance, slip under the covers, and pull me into his arms—not as a lover, but as something far less. 

A bed warmer. 

I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the coldness of our relationship seep into my bones. I wasn't sure which was worse—the way he touched me without emotion or the way he ignored me during the day, as if I didn’t exist beyond the corner of this house. 

The sound of the bedroom door opening snapped me out of my thoughts. 

Caleb had arrived. 

His tall frame moved across the dimly lit room with an air of quiet dominance. He loosened his tie, his gaze not once meeting mine. 

"Kumain ka na?" His deep voice broke the silence, but the question was empty, routine at best. 

I sat up, pushing back the strands of hair that had fallen over my face. "Oo," I answered, though I hadn’t eaten much. 

Caleb nodded, unbuttoning his shirt as he walked toward the bathroom. The door clicked shut behind him, and just like that, I was alone again. 

I let out a bitter chuckle. So this was marriage?

Not a partnership. Not a love story. 

Just a contract. 

And I… was nothing more than a woman who kept his bed warm. 

I sat still, listening to the faint sound of running water from the bathroom. Caleb was inside, going through his usual routine—mechanical, impersonal, as if he were the only person in this marriage. 

I sighed, running a hand over the silk sheets. Ano ba’ng ginagawa ko dito? I asked myself this question every night, yet the answer remained the same. 

Because I had no choice. 

Because this was the life I had agreed to. The thing that I need to do, for the sake of business.

The bathroom door swung open, releasing a wave of steam into the cold bedroom. Caleb stepped out, a towel draped over his waist, his damp hair tousled in a way that would have made any other woman stare. But I had long since trained myself not to look, not to feel. 

He walked past me, heading straight to his side of the bed, wordlessly. The silence was deafening. 

"Hindi ka pa matutulog?" His voice was calm, detached. 

Nagulat ako sa tanong niya, it's the first time na tanongin niya ako ng ganito. May pakialam naba siya sa'kin?

I turned to him, searching his face for any trace of warmth and care. There was none. He wasn’t asking because he cared—he was simply stating an observation, as if my presence or absence made no difference to him. Sabi ko nga don't expect too much.

"Mamaya na," I answered, my voice just as indifferent. 

Caleb nodded and lay down, one arm lazily draped over his forehead.

"You can go back to your room, consider this as your night off," walang emosyong sabi niya na ikinagulat ko na naman.

Kapagkuwan ay tumango ako kahit hindi niya naman iyon makikita. But then, I stayed there for awhile, I don't know why, maybe because I want to see him sleep? Napapikit ako at kinurot ang sarili ko.

Within minutes, his breathing evened out, signaling that he had fallen asleep. 

However, I remained sitting there, looking at his handsomeness.

I stared at him—the man who was my husband in name but a stranger in every other way. 

Somewhere deep inside me had hoped for something different. That maybe, just maybe, he would see me. That he would acknowledge me beyond our agreement. 

But hope was a dangerous thing. 

And I had no room for it in this marriage. 

With a quiet sigh, I turned away, pulling myself up and went out the room. Napangiti ako ng mapait.

Dang! Why I am hurt? I should be happy kasi he didn't used my body tonight.

I shook my head and enter my room. I enhaled my scent that lingers on my nose.

I sighed as I lay in bed, pulling the blanket over myself.

Another night as Caleb Vasquez’s oh so called wife. Another night pretending this arrangement didn’t slowly break me. 

And tomorrow? Tomorrow will be the same. 

I closed my eyes, trying to push away the thoughts that threatened to consume me. Pero kahit anong pilit ko, hindi ko maiwasang maramdaman ang sakit. Bakit nga ba ako nasasaktan? Hindi naman ako ang mahal niya. Hindi ako ang gusto niyang makasama.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at pumikit ng mariin, forcing myself to sleep. But before I could even drift off, my phone buzzed on the bedside table. Agad akong napabalikwas at kinuha ito, only to see my mom’s name flashing on the screen.

Napakunot ang noo ko. It was already late. Bakit kaya siya tumatawag?

“Hello, mom?” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Zhe, anak, sorry for calling you late, I just want to remind you, birthday ng kapatid mo bukas, pumunta ka ha? Huwag mong kalimutan. He’s been asking about you since this morning,” her voice was soft but firm, a mixture of love and a mother’s gentle scolding.

Napakagat-labi ako. I had almost forgotten.

“Mom… I—”

“No excuses, Vivienne,” she cut me off gently. “Alam kong busy ka, pero anak, your brother is expecting you here.”

“H-Hindi po. Pupunta po ako,” I assured her, forcing a smile kahit hindi niya naman ako nakikita. “Anong oras po ba ang party?”

“Alas tres ng hapon. Pero kung makakapunta ka ng mas maaga, mas mabuti. Your dad wants to see you too.”

I nodded, kahit alam kong hindi niya ako nakikita. “Sige po, I’ll be there.”

“Good. We miss you here anak.” She paused for a moment, then continued in a tone that made my chest tighten. “And… umuwi na si Sophia.”

Natahimik ako at napakurap, her words sinking in like a sharp knife. Sophia. She was back.

“Zhe… anak, okay ka lang ba?”

Napapikit ako sandali bago sumagot. “Oo naman po. Ayos lang ako.”

She sighed on the other end, as if she didn’t quite believe me, but chose not to press further.

“Does Caleb know?” I said quietly, trying to keep my voice neutral.

She hesitated. “I’m not sure, anak. Pero kung hindi niya pa alam, I’m sure malalaman niya rin.”

Of course, he would. Hindi naman imposibleng hindi niya iyon malaman. Sophia and Caleb are close.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile, kahit hindi naman niya ako nakikita. “Sige po, Mom. I’ll be there nalang po.”

“Alright, magpahinga ka na. See you tomorrow, anak. Goodnight”

“Goodnight, mom, see you.”

Pagkababa ng tawag, I remained still, staring at my phone as if it held the answers to the emotions swirling inside me. Why did it bother me so much that Sophia was back? I had no reason to feel this way. I was just Caleb’s wife—on paper. Nothing more.

And yet, bakit parang may kumukurot sa puso ko? Bakit parang may kung anong bigat ang bumagsak sa dibdib ko?

Nagseselos ba ako?

There's a rumor na they're together, yes, we're married pero walang ibang nakakaalam nun bukod sa pamilya namin at sa taong malapit sa'kin.

It's just a rumor lang naman diba?

I sighed, shaking my head. Hindi ko dapat iniisip ‘to.

Eh ano naman kung may relasiyon sila? I should be happy kasi pangarap yun ng kapatid ko.

Determined to push all unnecessary thoughts aside, I stood up para pumunta sa banyo, pero kahit sa pagbabanyo ko ay hindi naalis sa isip ko ang kaalamang nandito na si Sophie, this single thought refused to leave my mind.

She’s back.

Maybe that's the reason why he didn't.... Maybe..... Argh! Wtf I am thinking?!

Napailing ako at bumalik sa kama ko upang mahiga ulit. Hindi ko dapat iniisip ‘to ngayon. Bukas na lang. Mamaya na lang.

With one last sigh, I closed my eyes, letting sleep finally take over

Tomorrow will be another day. Another pain to live through.