Oliver approached me on his own and supported me as I seemed on the verge of collapsing due to weakness. "Are you okay?" he asked. I gave him a disdainful look. "Your question is pointless, just stay quiet." There was irritation in my voice. "Just concerned," he whispered, pouting. He fell silent, and I was seated at a nearby table. They didn't hear our earlier conversation as everyone resumed their activities when Alex's father appeared. I avoided looking at them, trying to hold back the tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. I casually wiped away my tears and quickly drank the wine in the cup. Meanwhile, Oliver intermittently glanced around. I was about to run out earlier, but Oliver and I had an agreement that I couldn't just walk out like in movies because we still had a mission to make his crush jealous. Fortunately, not everyone was interested in our conversation with Lavinia, and we weren't in the main hall, so some people remained oblivious to the commotion. "Oliver
Doubtful glances greeted me from Kalel's friends. I sat on a chair in their kitchen, wearing his T-shirt. Ignoring them, I continued eating, wondering if it was the first time Kalel brought a girl here. He couldn't drop me off last night due to an unexpected person waiting outside my apartment – Alexander. Alone, no bodyguards. He had made countless calls, along with messages from Oliver and Dad. Kalel noticed and asked if I would talk to Alex, but I quickly shook my head, and we headed straight to their house. They recently bought a place near the university, where they sometimes stay when they have classes. Today, his friends are here. Kalel sat beside me, serving my plate. "Eat first before Shena takes you away. Don't want her saying I neglected you." I nodded, eating. A car pulled up outside, and seeing the commotion, I feared Shena's gaze as if she was about to kill someone. Stopping mid-step, I watched Rhys quickly approach the gate, wiping his wet hair. Just as Shena was ab
I trembled as I took my cellphone from my bag and dialed a number. Gasping for breath, I hid in a corner on the same street leading to my apartment. When the number answered, it felt like a glimmer of hope! I didn't expect this to happen to me. I was just going to buy a gift for Mom! "D-d-dad." "What happened?! Are you okay?" "D-dad, help. Huhu." I've been running to escape them since earlier. If only I hadn't noticed those guys this morning, I don't know. "Someone hurt you?! Who?" I covered my ear because he was shouting. I was more concerned about my ear than those guys. "B-because someone's following me. Since this morning. They're like dogs! I'm tired of running. I look like I have a stalker!" Dad fell silent on the other line. I thought he hung up. "That's not my people, Isabella. I'm not desperate enough to assign someone to watch over you." "Huh? Whose people are they then--" Suddenly, someone came to mind. I touched my forehead. "Well, okay, Dad. Looks like I know who."
Mama focused on listing various items on the table while I wrapped the groceries for the customers. I had been selling in front for a while now since more people were buying. "Ate, one kilo of this," a young lady pointed to the pork. "Kuya, one kilo," the guy just nodded and started slicing the meat. I handed him a plastic bag, and he swiftly placed the sliced meat into it, weighing it. "Beyutipol, buy your mussels!" a man shouted as he approached. "None left. Go to the other stall!" I didn't bother looking at him since I was busy calculating another customer's purchase. "564 in total, ma'am," I quickly said to the woman as I handed over her groceries. She took out a thousand, which I immediately gave to Mama. The other customers left, leaving only him in front. "Are there really no mussels? There were plenty earlier," the man scratched his head. "All gone, sir. Come back tomorrow. Why did you come so late? You know they sell out quickly," I scolded him. He looked at me. "They
I couldn't help but glance at him while we were having dinner. He was sitting formally in front of me, while Mom was beside him, also eating but with her phone in hand, engrossed in another K-drama. Alex was almost done with his food, but he seemed hungry, so I stood up to get more rice and barbecue for him. I placed it in front of him, and he glanced at me before taking more food. Was he that hungry when he arrived? Good thing he didn't get lost or Oliver might have directed him here. I started washing the dishes. Mom went to her room, saying she'd finish watching her show. We were surprised because she cried while we were at the dining table. She got hooked on it because of Shena. She also enjoys watching those kinds of shows. I, on the other hand, prefer Hollywood movies. I brushed the strands of hair that fell on my face. I was soaping up, too lazy to tie it up properly. Each time I bent down, my hair covered my face. Annoyed, I washed my hands and was about to tie my hair when
I slumped onto the couch, exhausted, as we arrived home. I didn't expect that we would have so many customers until closing time. I closed my eyes, finding comfort in the position I was in, and decided to take a short nap. I sensed someone quietly sitting beside me, causing a slight frown on my forehead. Yet, tiredness prevailed, and I chose not to open my eyes. "Do you want a massage? I'm good at it." I shifted to my side to see where he was sitting, opening my left eye to glance at him. His head was resting on his arms, lifted from the floor, revealing a peaceful expression. My gaze focused on his nose and lips. The straightness of his nose and the natural pink of his lips caught my attention. I wasn't usually into handsome guys, as I easily get bored, but there was something about Alex's good looks that I enjoyed staring at every day. Why, though? "You're tired yourself. Maybe next time," I calmly replied. He peeked at me and smiled. "I'm not tired; I'm just resting. You've be
I strolled for about five hours, and I hurriedly finished cleaning inside and outside the house. People started coming around seven in the evening, and I completed my tasks by eleven. I noticed Ate Sadie passing by, so I approached her. "Ate, did you contact Kuya Anton? Aren't they done there yet? Maybe they're on their way home, so I'll just wait for them here." "Anton? He came back a while ago. He just went home briefly." "Wh-what? What time did he come back here?" She thought for a moment and looked at me. "Around nine just now. He said he'd come back to pick me up." Anxiety hit me when I heard that. He had been there for five hours and hadn't come back yet. I felt a bad vibe about this. He should be fine since his men were with him, but why did I still feel uneasy? I decided to go out and check on him. Despite the crowd outside, I didn't mind walking at night. For some unknown reason, it felt like someone was watching my every move, but I shrugged it off and walked towards th
THIRD PERSON Alexander wore a sharp charcoal gray suit with a sleek black turtleneck, giving off a confident and modern feel. A subtle chain necklace and well-chosen accessories highlighted his attention to detail, creating a stylish look and his black hair was carefully brushed upward, giving him a refined look suitable for the event he will attend tonight. Even though he was just a guest, he held one of the largest shares in the service. He carried himself with quiet confidence, as if every detail of his outfit and grooming reflected his intention to appear formal and polished at the event. He drove his Bugatti La Voiture Noire that cost 18.7 million dollars that he purchased when he was in Switzerland. This is the first ever car he purchased when he was 25 years old and now he is 28 years old, he has lots of it. He owns a total of six expensive cars, but most of the time, he prefers using the McLaren 720s when in the Philippines. He finds it more enticing since it's the first
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY I hurriedly exited the car upon hearing Dachiel's information. We went to the location where my child was allegedly taken. To my surprise, it wasn't what I expected. There were police surrounding the area, and it seemed we were late. Someone misled us, pointing to the wrong location, causing a delay. A call redirected my attention to the correct place. It appeared we were intentionally set up to create confusion. I felt desperate and fell into the trap. I quickly approached a police officer and asked what happened. They said that the location was indeed the site of a kidnapping case, but it was too late because the house had exploded. I asked them if they saw a three-year-old boy, but they said they found no one there and the bodies they found were mostly around 25 years old-- probably the kidnapper's henchmen who were caught in the explosion. I was disheartened by what I heard, but a call woke me up again and I found out that a child was rushed to a nearby hos
This is the last chapter of the book, and the next one will be the epilogue. I woke up to a knock on the bedroom door and realized I hadn't set my alarm. It's already ten o'clock! I rushed to the bathroom, but the knocking persisted, so I shouted, "I'm not done! I'll be ready in a few minutes!" After a quick shower, there was another knock, prompting me to yell again. Wrapped in a bathrobe, I opened the door, only to find Alexander there in a tight shirt and shorts. "Alex, why aren't you dressed yet?" I asked, eyeing his outfit. "I asked Architect Daiton to go ahead. We can follow later," he replied, looking down before locking eyes with me. "What do you want for breakfast? I'll cook." Opting for bacon, I told him I'd be down in a moment. I quickly changed into shorts and a spaghetti top, leaving my hair untied. As I descended, the aroma of food filled the air, making my stomach growl. Entering the kitchen, I was greeted by a sight—Alexander in a black apron, half-naked, sh
The bar exam takes place at one of the prestigious universities in the Philippines, and I just found out that the university is owned by Vuntier's parents. Vuntier, who is Alexander's business partner and a long-time friend. Despite having a board meeting, Alexander insisted on driving me to the university. His phone kept ringing during our journey. "You shouldn't have bothered to drive me. You have a board meeting today, and you're not even attending." "I can postpone the meeting. You're more important, and as the CEO, I can do that." I observed a change in him, being more open with me about small things. While we're not officially in a relationship, his actions often resemble that of a boyfriend. Architect Daiton, a friend, sent me a good luck message. Alexander noticed and seemed annoyed. "Good luck to him too," he muttered. Glancing at my phone again, he frowned. "Architect Daiton, huh? Is he the reason you've been smiling lately?" "He's just a friend, Alexander. Relax." He
"You like baked cookies?" I lazily glanced at Alexander, who was pacing in front of me with an eagerness that matched his words. He's cooking in my kitchen. Yes, inside my condo. I couldn't bring myself to kick him out because the more stubborn I am, the more stubborn he becomes. "Okay." His face lit up with a satisfied smile, and he headed towards the ingredients, already planning his culinary adventure. "Soup?" "Okay." I replied with a half-hearted nod, my eyes not leaving the random patterns on the floor. "What about lasagna?" "Okay." I mumbled, still lost in thought. "Your mom was right, you eat a lot when you're having a fever. That's unique." A teasing smile played on his lips as he observed my peculiar behavior. He approached me, a subtle charm in his every step, and gently placed the back of his hand on my forehead. "You're still hot, why don't you rest in your room? You've been here in the kitchen for a while." I just looked down, staring into space. "I want to eat.
"I'm too lazy to stir my spoon in my coffee while looking at my laptop. I've been working for months now, and I can say I spend more time reviewing submissions from the Planning department than preparing for the upcoming bar exam. A knock halted my activity, and moments later, my secretary entered. Different from Dad's secretary who worked in the adjacent building, I handled his businesses related to hotels and resorts nationwide. The latest project involved constructing a five-star hotel in Singapore, and this was my first time overseeing such a venture. It necessitated guidance from an expert in hotel design. ‘Good afternoon, ma'am. Mr. Montgomery has arrived.” Secretary Beischiel stepped aside, and in came Alexander with a man, presumably the skilled architect he mentioned, for our Singapore project. “Good afternoon, Ms. Dasmond,” the architect politely greeted, extending his hand. “He’s Architect Daiton, he will be with us, helping with the overall design of the hotel.” I stood
"ISABELLA Heyes, Magna cum laude!" I stood proudly, hearing the applause of everyone. As I walked across the stage, I noticed some students awkwardly glancing at me. For almost a year, I've been trying to find my purpose, attempting to move on from the past, but some things are just too difficult to let go. After receiving my diploma, I gave a speech to my batchmates. The cameras captured my every move, and I knew this would make headlines again. Most of my activities were already in the news, so I preferred staying at home or in my condo to enjoy solitude. Despite not being the valedictorian, they still asked me to give a speech. I didn't mind, considering the valedictorian also spoke. "Oh, why does our Disney princess look sad?" I shot a look at Dad for his remarks, but later, I smiled and hugged him along with Mommy Emely, Dad's new wife who just arrived from Europe. "Congratulations, my daughter! We're very proud of you!" They embraced me warmly, and I couldn't help but notic
I calmly got out of the car, carrying various types of flowers. The breeze greeted me before I gazed at the place where I wanted to go. It's been years and this is the first time I have visited him. I didn't know where he was buried because I didn't know anything about him, except for his first name. I calmed myself before placing the basket full of flowers in front of it and looked at the familiar photo in front. Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw his face, smiling. "How are you? Are you happy wherever you are now?" Suddenly, the wind blew around me as if it was hugging me. "I miss you.. I hope you watch over us from there." I wiped the tears and stepped back. I have to hurry because an important person is coming here today. I hid myself, it's only right to see who will approach the grave. The surroundings were getting dark, so it was dark where I was positioned now. I used the veil to cover my face and waited for the exact time. At 6:30, I could hear footsteps slowly approac
He quickly unhooked my bra, thanks to its thin fabric. He placed his palm on my left breast and started massaging it. He played with my nipple using his thumb while our kisses continued uninterrupted until we ran out of breath, and that's when he pulled away. "Do you want here? Or in the shower?" he mischievously answered. "I go anywhere. I can even go to the balcony to see those below," he raised his eyebrows. I slapped him. "Just kidding, I don't want us to get caught because we're live here." "Then—" I screamed as he lifted me and headed straight to the shower room. With no clothes on, my chest was against his face as he continued to lift me. When he finally put me inside the shower room, he quickly kissed me, pressing my back against the wall. He aggressively kissed me down to my neck while my hand reached for the shower, wetting our entire bodies. He's busy playing with my breasts while I'm gripping his hair, and I pulled it because he was entering his two fingers into my wom
I took off my bathrobe and stepped into the water, enjoying the warmth of the Jacuzzi in the late evening. Even though Alex and I didn't talk much earlier, he bid farewell as he needed to meet Lavinia. Despite wanting to stop him, I couldn't interfere as Alex mentioned Lavinia's desire to speak with me personally. After learning about Alex's departure, I had plans to call Dad. Despite the time difference with Switzerland, I timed it carefully to catch him during his extra hours. He was on a business trip to Korea, and I needed to express my frustration. "Dad." "How's Switzerland?" "I hate you, Dad." My words hung in the air, and he fell silent. "Why did you do that? You should have told me." "I'm sorry, anak. That's the only way for you to be safe, especially when I heard that your guard died." "You mean the guard who was just watching over me?" "Yes. To prevent Alexander's father from intervening, I had to inform Xander about your situation. I also learned that Xander was close