Arwena never imagined surrendering to a stranger after discovering that her boyfriend, Jake, was cheating on her with her best friend, Farah. Heartbroken and disillusioned, Arwena left the country, vowing never to return. But five years later, she is back, tasked with reviving her parents’ struggling business. Arwena must face the very people who inflicted her deepest wounds. What she doesn’t anticipate is crossing paths once more with Tandre Denovan—the man with whom she shared a one-night stand and the father of her child. Will Arwena succeed in reviving her family’s struggling business while facing the painful memories of her past, or will she dare to open her heart to a second chance at love? Can she find the strength to rebuild her life and embrace a brighter future, or will her past continue to cast a shadow over her dreams?
View MoreArwena woke up, feeling as though someone was watching her. She wasn’t mistaken. Tandre was standing in front of her, shirtless.Fear instantly gripped her. She sat up like a child, hugging the thick blanket close to her as she pressed herself against the headboard.“D-don’t come any closer,” she said, her voice trembling, on the verge of tears. She shook her head, pleading with her eyes as she stared at Tandre.Tandre froze, utterly shocked by Arwena’s reaction. He was confused. He should’ve been pleased.He wanted to make Arwena suffer, yet now he felt pity—and a strange sense of guilt. He didn’t like seeing the fear in her tearful eyes—the same fear he’d seen the night he saved her from a man who had nearly assaulted her.Turning his gaze away, he said, “I have no interest in you, and I certainly wouldn’t harm you for you to act like that. I’m not as bad as you think, Ms. Dela Torre,” he said coldly, stepping away from the bed and heading toward the couch.Arwena lowered her head a
“I’m sorry, Miss Arwena,” Ted said, straightening his suit and clearing his throat.He gently took Arwena's hand, which had been gripping his arm, and carefully released it.Tandre hadn’t taken his eyes off him, and Ted was starting to feel uncomfortable, as though Tandre was a jealous boyfriend. The tension made it hard for Ted to swallow.While Ted felt nervous, Arwena, on the other hand, was irritated by Tandre, who stood like a pillar.Ever since Tandre had arrived and glared at Ted, his expression hadn’t changed—no smile, no sign of life, just a look of anger toward the world.But despite his scowl, Tandre’s handsomeness couldn’t be hidden. He was masculine, with a jaw that seemed sculpted to perfection, a nose sharp and defined, and dark eyes that felt like they could pull you in if you stared too long. His lips might not smile, but they looked incredibly kissable.Arwena blinked rapidly when the corner of Tandre's mouth lifted. She hadn’t even realized she had been staring at t
At seven in the evening, Arwena was already parked in front of the Denovan Hotel. She should have been home, resting with her son, Nathan, but after what happened to her father, she changed her mind. The promise she had made to herself—to never sacrifice her dignity to reclaim Coffee Negrense—now felt like hollow words.She was determined to try again. She would beg if she had to. Maybe Tandre would offer her another chance to get her coffee shop back.By the time the clock struck eight, she finally stepped out of the car, her steps slow as she crossed the street toward the hotel.As she approached, several luxury cars pulled up, one after another, and elegantly dressed guests stepped out.That’s when she realized she was walking into an event. Glancing down at herself, she saw her outfit: skinny jeans and the same white blouse she had been wearing since yesterday.She hadn’t even washed her face. She had come straight from the hospital and hadn’t gone home. She just called Nathan’s n
Arwena felt an overwhelming sense of frustration as she stared at Tandre's back. She wanted to run up to him and slap him. If only she could confront him and throw away everything she had endured because of their past mistakes. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t let him know the truth—that their past had resulted in her becoming pregnant.She was angry because of his inflated sense of self-worth. Just because he was wealthy, he acted like he was untouchable. She had once thought Tandre, the man who had saved her, was a good person. But now she saw him as a monster, waiting for his next victim. It felt like she was a helpless animal caught in a trap, just waiting to be devoured.Silently, she cursed him over and over in her mind. That was all she could do for now. She knew Tandre was using the coffee shop to try to win her back.Tandre knew how badly she wanted to take ownership of her parents’ shop. But if he was cunning, Arwena was just as sharp. She wouldn’t let him have his way. She wo
Tandre spoke only three words, yet their impact on Arwena was immense. Despite her nervousness, she couldn’t tear her gaze away from his face—especially his dark, penetrating eyes. They were so intense, it felt as if they could consume her soul.“D-Do you know me?” Arwena stammered after a brief moment of staring at him.Though she already suspected Tandre Denovan was the man who saved her five years ago—the father of her son, Nathan—she still wanted confirmation. She needed to hear it from his lips.“Of course. How could I forget the helpless, devastated woman I saved five years ago?” Tandre said slowly, his tone firm.He wanted her to remember. He wanted her to relive everything that had happened that night.“It was you,” Arwena whispered.She had acted as though she didn’t recognize him, but the truth was that her entire body had gone cold. It was as if someone had poured ice water over her the moment she heard those words from the father of her child.What worried her most was the
Arwena was boiling with anger as she stared at the coffee shop her parents had built, now under the control of others thanks to the treachery of Farah and Jake. Her parents had trusted them completely—Farah, her former best friend, and Jake, her ex-boyfriend—and had left them in charge of managing the coffee shop and its other branches.Unbeknownst to her parents, Farah and Jake had slowly sold off the shops to a certain Mr. Denovan. Now, he was operating the coffee shop her parents had worked so hard to grow."Good morning, ma'am," the guard greeted Arwena as she entered the coffee shop. She didn’t respond; her mind was clouded with anger. Her eyes immediately locked onto Farah and Jake, deep in conversation at a corner table.She had waited days for the chance to confront the people who had nearly destroyed her life and were now ruining her family’s business.“Is it true that Arwena is back?” Farah asked Jake, her voice low but sharp.Arwena’s hands clenched into fists, her nails di
As Arwena climbed the stairs to her home, a broad smile spread across her face. She knew exactly what awaited her every time she returned from work.“Mommy!” There it was—the sweet greeting, a kiss, and a tight hug from her energetic, adorable son.“How was your day, Mommy?” Nathan asked, his bright smile lighting up the room.She grinned and playfully pinched his nose. “My day was great! How about yours?” she replied, pulling him into a hug as he giggled.“Awesome!” he exclaimed with a grin.Five years had passed since Arwena’s darkest moment, and the child she once thought would ruin her life had become her greatest reason to live—and to be happy.Though she had moved on, she could never forget Nathan’s father, Mr. Tandre. How could she? Their son was his spitting image. Every time she looked at Nathan, it was like seeing Mr. Tandre all over again.“Where’s Daddy?” she asked after cuddling with her son.“In the kitchen,” he said, tugging at her hand and pulling her toward the room.
Arwena sat quietly in the clinic's waiting area, her heart weighed down by indecision.Just yesterday, she had been resolute. She was ready to end the pregnancy. But now, sitting there and watching women emerge from the room in tears, doubt began to creep in. Fear for herself and her baby grew stronger with each passing moment. She instinctively placed a hand on her belly, not noticing that tears had begun to fall.“Ms. Arwena Dela Torre.” Her name was called, but she didn’t move. Something inside her resisted the urge to respond or to step inside. “Ms. Dela Torre...”She squeezed her eyes shut as her name was called again. This time, she stood—but not to enter the room.She shook her head and muttered, “I'm sorry, I can’t do this!” Then she ran out of the clinic.Tears streamed down her face, and her breathing became labored as she fled. Once outside, she collapsed on the steps, clutching her chest as though it might burst from the pain. She didn’t care who saw her or who stared at h
"Arwena, why didn't you go to school again? You haven’t lost anyone, so stop pretending you're mourning?"Archie’s voice was sharp as he flung open her bedroom door. He had been knocking for ages but Arwena didn't bother to answer.Running a hand through his hair, Archie looked at Arwena, sprawled on the floor like a lifeless doll. She looked worse than any street beggar, her hair tangled, and her face smudged with dirt. “Stop this madness, Arwena!” Archie snapped, snatching the bottle as she took another gulp.She used to drown her sorrows in coffee, standing by the window, breathing deeply, as if trying to gather the strength to face another day. But now it was alcohol she clung to, sobbing on the floor like a woman who had lost everything.“Give that back, Archie!" she screamed, pointing a shaking finger at him. “It’s mine! Give it to me!”Like a desperate child, Arwena crawled across the floor, trying to take the bottle he had taken from her.“I don’t know what to do with you any
"Let go of me, please!" Despite her dizziness and weakness, Arwena struggled with all her strength against the man dragging her out of the bar.No matter how fiercely she fought, he refused to release her. His grip around her waist tightened until he was practically carrying her."Just come quietly if you don’t want to get hurt," he hissed, gripping her face harshly.Arwena’s sobbing faltered, but her tears continued to flow, matching the wild pounding of her heart.The heartless man grabbed her neck and slammed her against the car’s hood, silencing her scream."Please, let me go. I don’t want this," she begged, trembling, her voice cracking with desperation. She pushed him with shaking hands, trying to turn her face away as he leaned closer."Stop acting like you're a virgin," he sneered, pressing his body against hers. The sickening force left her painfully aware of his intent."Let me go! I don’t want this!" Her screams tore through the air as her veins strained under the pressure ...
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