"Where are we going?" We were still inside the car, and we'd already driven some distance from the university, but I had no idea where we were headed. I just kept looking ahead, my gaze fixed on the road. "There's a café nearby. I told you I wanted to talk to you about some important matters." I immediately recalled the event and felt a surge of anxiety. What if Alexander was looking for me to collect payment? I covered my mouth, worried. When he saw my reaction, he looked at me with knitted brows. "What's going on? Why do you look so shocked?" I didn't answer him and quickly checked my bag. I opened my cell phone and went to my bank account. Balance: 1,500.00 I held my forehead. What would I pay if needed? Could I make a down payment? "What's wrong? You've been bothered for a while now. Did you leave something behind?" Alexander's eyes darted between my seat and the road. I shook my head like a child and frowned. "I'm just worried..." I looked at him. "Is what we nee
"Girl!” Shena shouted when she saw me walk past her on the pathway leading to her condo. She quickly ran up to me, blocking my way so I couldn’t go any further. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, clearly demanding an explanation. She must’ve seen everything from her condo window. I knew she’d noticed us waiting down there for me. I sighed and scratched my head. “What? Can I at least come inside first?” I grumbled. She rolled her eyes dramatically and dragged me into her condo. I didn’t bother resisting and just let her pull me. She only let go when we were inside the living room. I was about to sit down when I was bombarded with a string of questions. “Who was that? What were you doing all night? What are you wearing? Do you even realize what you're dressed in? Is he your boyfriend? Why didn’t you update me?! Don’t tell me you’re keeping things like this from me now! What the hell, Isabella, you’re acting like an alien that just dropped from the sky and doesn’t know me an
"Ahem! Ahem!" We turned to the door when we heard a voice. Francine playfully grinned while looking at us. I sighed and crossed my arms. "What?" I said, bored. She walked up to me and suddenly hooked her arm around mine. Now the two of us were facing Alexander. "No wonder we couldn't find you, girl, you're out here flirting!" I elbowed her, though not hard. She dramatically clutched the spot as if she were really hurt. I was taken aback when she suddenly moved closer to Alexander, her hand sliding down his chest theatrically as if she had been deeply wounded. "Oh! Goodness gracious!" she moaned dramatically. "What you did to me, Isabella, hurts so much. I need healing from a handsome archangel!" I slapped my forehead in embarrassment. Alexander didn’t even react, but he gave me a look that showed he found Francine a bit odd. Francine noticed Alexander’s puzzled look and decided to introduce herself. "Hello, gorgeous!" she said, batting her lashes and extending her hand. "I'm Fra
I stared at my reflection in the mirror and let out a sigh. I was having second thoughts about whether I made the right choice, but in reality, I didn't have much of a choice from the beginning. What I couldn't understand was why Alex wanted to get to know me. He's known for dating younger women, and now I'm one of them. Based on what I've heard, if the person they were referring to was indeed Alex, his ex-wife wanted him back. Maybe he wanted to make his wife jealous or vice versa? I sighed again. I didn't really care about all of that drama; I just wanted this to be over. If his ex-wife was crazy, that's not my problem. All I cared about was fulfilling the contract without any complications. I left the comfort room and headed to the parking area. It was only now that I noticed it was getting dark. We had been inside with Alex for hours, and it seemed like the mall was about to close. When I reached the parking area, I spotted Alex's car with its lights still on. I smiled, thinkin
I stared at my reflection in the mirror and sighed. I'm having second thoughts about whether I made the right choice, but I didn't have much of a choice in the first place. What I don't understand is why Alex wants to get to know me. If that person they were referring to was Alex, his wife wanted him back. Maybe he wanted his wife to get jealous or vice versa? I sighed. I don’t care about that; I just want this to be over. If his ex-wife is crazy, that’s not my problem as long as I don’t have to pay for the contract. I stepped out of the restroom and headed straight to the parking area. It only just dawned on me that it was getting dark. We had been inside with Alex for a few hours, and I guessed the mall was about to close. When I reached the parking area, I saw Alex's car, and its lights were still on. I smiled at the thought that maybe he really was waiting for me here, so I walked directly to his car. I peeked inside but didn't see Alex again, so I walked around the vehicle un
My mouth remained open in awe as we arrived in Hawaii. From what I heard, we were on Maui Island, a popular destination for tourists because of its stunning landscapes and golden sandy beaches. I tried to keep a straight face and not smile, but to be honest, I wanted to kneel down and roll in the sand while taking pictures. However, I didn't want to embarrass myself, especially since such behavior didn't seem fitting with Alex. He was dressed casually, but the attention from other women never seemed to fade. I felt like I was just his maid, even though I was dressed quite elegantly today. "I tried to wear something that would match Alex's style, even though it wasn't really my taste. Shena had told me that sleeveless outfits suited me well because of my toned shoulders, and I ended up looking like a rich man's daughter, so that's what I'm wearing today. When we arrived at the resort, we went straight to the reservation area to drop off our things in the room that Alex had booked. We
Our conversation was abruptly cut short when Alex appeared in front of us. "Isabella, darling, I've been looking all over for you," Alex said as he approached us. My eyes flickered with surprise, but I quickly masked it with a smile. "Alex, this is Michael. I know you two are acquainted. We were just talking about his travels." Alex nodded and looked at Michael with a serious gaze. I could almost imagine an invisible connection sparking between their eyes because they both seemed quite serious for reasons I couldn't fathom. As the evening wore on, Alex's arm was draped tightly around my waist, his grip tightening subtly whenever someone tried to talk to me. Something seemed off about Alex's demeanor. He wasn't usually like this. Later, during a quiet moment amidst the festivities, I excused myself to the outdoor terrace, needing a moment to gather my thoughts. I gazed at the sea under the full moon. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore made my racing thoughts feel ca
I didn't anticipate Alex's visit, but he sent someone to bring me breakfast. When I arrived at the cabin, I felt like I'd just come home from a long day at work, still in my robe. I couldn't understand why I suddenly felt so vulnerable after last night's intimacy with Alex. I wasn't sure how to face him. I don't know why I suddenly felt weak last night. It was my first time feeling that, and honestly, I just realized that I let my body be toyed with. I slapped my cheek when I remembered it again. This is really the saying, "Regret comes too late." My mind kept protesting, but my body was doing something else. Can't they sync up sometimes? It's really difficult. I remembered our closeness from last night, and it made me feel uneasy. Part of me wanted to escape and go back home, but I lacked the funds for that option. I had no choice but to wait for him. He mentioned that we wouldn't leave immediately after the wedding and wanted us to enjoy our time here. In the afternoon, I relucta
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