Isabella's uncle named James stood on their doorstep, a twinkle in his eye, wearing a farm hat and his usual boots. He had a hunch that she would join him at the Orchard as she did once or twice a year. So, he informed her mother before picking her up to join their harvest. The couple glanced as he knocked; they were in the living room watching a show. Isabella leaned against Alexander, engrossed in a Hollywood movie on his laptop—something she always enjoyed, and he indulged her. Luckily, Alexander finished Addison's task and now had time for his girlfriend. Isabella stood to open the door, anticipating the familiar knock. "Isabella," he greeted her with a wide grin. "It's time to shine. Ready?" Isabella's eyes sparkled. She cherished her time in the orchard, finding fulfillment and relishing the juicy fruits from her uncle's farm. "Let's go, Uncle!" She was about to head to her room to change but remembered that Alexander wanted to come along. He was looking at her, and she ret
WARNING: not suitable for young readers and sensitive minds. Read at your own risk. ISABELLA HEYES DASMOND I undressed and turned on the faucet since we don't have a shower. Resorting to using a dipper, I tried to ignore the lingering soreness from recent activities. Despite several days passing, the discomfort in my intimate area persisted. It feels like it's being torn apart. I reminisced about Alex's intense gaze and passionate moments at our old home, making me yearn for more. Taking a deep breath, I hastily dampened my body, realizing my desires were stirring again. After my bath, I wrapped myself in a towel and headed out of the bathroom, feeling refreshed. I grabbed a small towel to use for drying my hair since hair dryers aren't commonly used here. I do have a dryer, a gift from Alex, but I tend to forget it. I remember he gave me a complete set of makeup, shampoos, lotions, and other women's essentials, some of which I sent to my mom because there were too many for me to u
I find myself in the midst of a vast plantation, surrounded by endless green fields and the sweet scent of blooming flowers. Near the river, the water sparkles in the sunlight, creating a picture of tranquility. In this beautiful setting, I decided it's the perfect place for my surprise. It's simple picnic for the both of us and It's my first time doing something like this with someone. I've read and seen this in dramas before, and now I'm experiencing it for real. It was late afternoon, and I checked if there was rain expected today — thankfully, there wasn't. I'll be back to my classes tomorrow, and I'm unsure if I'll see Alexander often due to his commitments. Especially with Lavinia causing trouble for me and others. He wasn't around this morning, but he left a message saying he had something to attend to. Since there's no signal here, I left a letter in his room. I don't know what time he'll be back, but I choose to wait for him. Our houses are close by, and Alexander knows th
We decided to head back because it's getting dark. Mama might come home late tonight as she was invited to dine with her friends. We used our cellphones as flashlights since I forgot to bring one earlier. Didn't expect we'd stay until 8. Maybe we would've stayed longer if not for the mosquitoes. The air was refreshing and peaceful. "Let's build a vacation house there next time," he said, holding hands as he carried the basket with our food. "But the land isn't ours. I don't even know if the owner is willing to sell," I replied. "I already met the owner. She let me buy the lot," he said. I looked at him surprised. "When? How did you find out who owns it?" "Oliver knows the owner. She's the wife of the former mayor, right?" I nodded in confirmation. I overheard the challenges they faced after Mayor Del Recio's defeat. Maybe that's why their child doesn't bother me anymore. Despite being just regular citizens now, they're still well-off. "I signed the documents earlier. We can reno
Those words pierced my heart like a rain of knives. Tears filled the corners of my eyes, but I chose to hold them back, swallowing the pain to ease the sting. I swallowed hard, feeling a lump forming in my throat. My hand instinctively clenched into a tight fist, nails digging into my palm. Only after a moment of internal struggle did I manage to gather myself enough to finally utter shaky words. "Kailan pa? Kailan mo p-pa alam?" He continued to gaze at me with a cold look. His brown eyes felt like they were digging deep into my soul, as if trying to break me apart. This is my first time seeing his dark side when he's mad. I noticed this aspect of his personality before, back when we were in Hawaii. He used to conceal his emotions. But this time, he didn't even try to hold it back. "Yesterday night before I fucked you." His tone grew colder, completely different from the man I thought I knew. I understand, that was his son. What else should I expect? If even my own father had rea
I find myself staring into nothingness. The events of the previous night are the only thing on my mind. My eyes are swollen, and the weight of my dark circles is a testament to the endless tears. It's only been a day since my classes started, but I'm still at our home in town. Mama hasn't discussed my situation yet, but I sense her suspicions, especially considering the incident outside is now a topic of discussion. They discovered my visitor's wealth and influence because their faces are plastered everywhere. Even Oliver's argument outside the house was caught on camera, so I know this will go viral. I haven't checked my social media yet, but I anticipate what's coming. The media will scrutinize the two about why they're here and why they're at the house of the market vendor's child. It's ironic that a billionaire like Alex, Lavinia's fiancé, will become viral for being with another woman. My head is buried in my folded arms on my bed. I've lost track of time, but I know it's been
SUDDENLY, there was a knock on the door, prompting us to fall into silence. It opened, revealing Mom and Dad. The siblings exchanged glances and stood up. "We'll leave for now, Isabella," Sylvie bid farewell, approaching my parents. Dad gave a brief smile, but Mom showed no reaction and sat in front of me. I shrugged at Dad and offered a polite smile. "Are you feeling anything, dear? Dizziness?" Dad inquired. Mom came closer and took a seat in front of me. I shook my head at Dad and managed a small smile. "I'm okay," I replied. "The doctor mentioned that your memory is starting to retrieve, which is why you lost consciousness. Certain words might trigger your memory," Dad explained. I chose to listen without speaking. "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, anak. We didn't want to shock you. I thought your last meeting with Alexander in Baguio would be the end of it, so I didn't want you to get involved." "But I could have prevented it if you told me earlier," I said. "I'm already
We started to descend from the van, and as I surveyed my surroundings, my gaze eventually landed on the front of a luxurious hotel. Bodyguards welcomed us again, accompanied by a woman who seemed to be around Mama's age. They greeted us, speaking in Italian, and Dad responded. Another group approached us, and I was taken aback when I recognized a familiar face. The person didn't glance at me and kept looking straight ahead. Four other men in black accompanied her, and when the woman spoke to them, the four positioned themselves beside me. "They will be the ones who will guard you starting today, Isabella," she said, looking at the two men with colorful hair. Both of them were foreigners. "These two have been guarding you for a long time, while these two are new, but I'm sure they will watch over you well." I looked at one of the last men Dad pointed to. He gave me a faint smile, and my expression turned to surprise when I looked back at Dad, who now seemed to understand my reaction.