Arwena felt her eyes briefly close in response to Tandre's last words.His offer was tempting—exactly what she had been waiting for—but an undercurrent of apprehension lingered.Everything would become complicated if she accepted his proposal; he would discover her secret. Besides, she wasn’t foolish or desperate enough to agree to marry a man she barely knew. What had happened between them long ago wasn’t a good foundation to accept his proposal.“Mr. Tandre…”He cut her off by pressing his thumb gently against her lips. “No, I don’t want to hear your answer now. I’m not in a rush. What I want is that when you do answer, it comes from your heart, and you’re sure of your decision—not just because you feel pressured or like the terms I’ve offered.” Tandre whispered the last part, his tone calm and deliberate.After speaking, he took her hand and turned toward the guests at the ball.“Everyone, have a nice evening!” he said, guiding Arwena out of the hall.Arwena quietly followed him, h
Arwena paused for a moment and gazed at Tandre's extended hand, waiting for a handshake. She wasn't sure if she wanted to reconcile with him, but soon she found herself smiling.She thought that if she made peace with Tandre, she could manage her role as the coffee shop manager without any hindrances. Moreover, she would finally feel at ease.She acknowledged to herself that holding onto anger never felt good. It was enough that Farah and Jake had already caused enough trouble in their lives."But if you don't want to, it's okay. I won't force you," Tandre said sadly, about to lower his hand."Tandre," Arwena said, looking him in the eyes and offering a faint smile as she held his outstretched hand. "Let's start as friends," she added with a sweet smile.Tandre's eyes immediately lit up, unable to hide his joy. He couldn't contain the happiness he felt."Thank you," he said shyly, but his smile never faded. He couldn’t bring himself to let go of Arwena’s hand."You don't need to thank
Thank you so much to everyone for taking the time to read this story. Your support means the world to me. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to leave a comment and share your feedback. Your opinions and suggestions will help me grow and improve as a writer!
"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
Arwena looked around the room until her eyes landed on the frosted shower door, where she saw the hazy silhouette of a man."What have I done?" she whispered, her hand flying to her mouth as tears welled up.She rose unsteadily, gathered her clothes, dressed hurriedly, and slipped out of the room as quickly as possible.Frustration bubbled over as she repeatedly tapped her forehead. She felt utterly foolish. For so long, she had protected herself, priding herself on self-restraint. It was the reason her ex-boyfriend left her for her best friend. And yet, here she was, giving herself to a stranger."Tandre," she murmured, the name of the man who had saved her—and the man to whom she had surrendered."Arwena! Where have you been?" her mother’s voice, tinged with worry, greeted her as she stepped into the house. Her father shook his head in silent disappointment.She longed to collapse into their arms, to tell them everything—the horrible events of the previous night, her boyfriend's and
Arwena sighed as she held her cup of coffee, soaking in the silence—far from the people who had hurt and shattered her life. After breaking down and hitting her head in the bathroom during her last conversation with Jake, she finally woke up to reality. She realized that no matter what she did, the pain Jake and Farah had planted in her heart and mind wouldn't easily disappear. She could no longer fake smiles or surround herself with the people responsible for her suffering.And so, here she was, bravely moving to another country, trying to start anew, far away from those who had hurt and crushed her. But despite her efforts, the pain still lingered within her. She hadn’t fully freed herself from the anger."My goodness, Arwena, you've been here for two months and still haven't done anything different. All you do is drink coffee and watch the waves, over and over again. Aren’t you tired of it yet?"She glanced briefly at her friend, took another sip of coffee, then turned her gaze ba
Archie paced back and forth inside Arwena's hospital room, occasionally glancing at his friend, whose face was still very pale.Earlier, when his friend passed out, he blamed himself. He had insisted on taking her out. But after hearing what the doctor said, he could no longer stay calm. He didn't know how his friend would take the news about another problem in her life.She was beginning to forget the negative events that had befallen her.He stood by the side of the hospital bed, where his friend was still sound asleep. He quietly watched her, praying that her mind would be open and that she wouldn’t lose hope in facing this new challenge in her life."Archie..." Arwena called groggily."Wena, how are you feeling? Are you still dizzy? Nauseous? Is there anything that hurts?" Archie asked, his voice filled with concern as he gently stroked her forehead.Arwena smiled and held his hand. "I'm fine; maybe I just felt overwhelmed by the noise and crowd earlier," she replied.She tightene
"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
Thank you so much to everyone for taking the time to read this story. Your support means the world to me. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to leave a comment and share your feedback. Your opinions and suggestions will help me grow and improve as a writer!
Arwena paused for a moment and gazed at Tandre's extended hand, waiting for a handshake. She wasn't sure if she wanted to reconcile with him, but soon she found herself smiling.She thought that if she made peace with Tandre, she could manage her role as the coffee shop manager without any hindrances. Moreover, she would finally feel at ease.She acknowledged to herself that holding onto anger never felt good. It was enough that Farah and Jake had already caused enough trouble in their lives."But if you don't want to, it's okay. I won't force you," Tandre said sadly, about to lower his hand."Tandre," Arwena said, looking him in the eyes and offering a faint smile as she held his outstretched hand. "Let's start as friends," she added with a sweet smile.Tandre's eyes immediately lit up, unable to hide his joy. He couldn't contain the happiness he felt."Thank you," he said shyly, but his smile never faded. He couldn’t bring himself to let go of Arwena’s hand."You don't need to thank
Arwena felt her eyes briefly close in response to Tandre's last words.His offer was tempting—exactly what she had been waiting for—but an undercurrent of apprehension lingered.Everything would become complicated if she accepted his proposal; he would discover her secret. Besides, she wasn’t foolish or desperate enough to agree to marry a man she barely knew. What had happened between them long ago wasn’t a good foundation to accept his proposal.“Mr. Tandre…”He cut her off by pressing his thumb gently against her lips. “No, I don’t want to hear your answer now. I’m not in a rush. What I want is that when you do answer, it comes from your heart, and you’re sure of your decision—not just because you feel pressured or like the terms I’ve offered.” Tandre whispered the last part, his tone calm and deliberate.After speaking, he took her hand and turned toward the guests at the ball.“Everyone, have a nice evening!” he said, guiding Arwena out of the hall.Arwena quietly followed him, h
Arwena’s eyes widened at Tandre’s bold actions. She wanted to push him away, but his grip on her neck was firm, holding her in place as his lips pressed against hers. She couldn’t even bring herself to close her eyes.All she felt was embarrassment. Mortified, she noticed the shocked expressions of the people around them, stunned by Tandre’s public display.She pressed her lips together, trying to break free, but it was useless. Tandre continued kissing her, savoring every moment.Finally, she managed to gently push him away and whispered, "Mr. Tandre, what are you doing?" Her voice trembled as she gasped for breath. "You’re crazy," she added, but before she could finish, he kissed her again, catching her completely off guard.“Be quiet for a moment,” Tandre whispered, stopping her from speaking. He didn’t want to cause a scene that would embarrass them both.Even he was surprised by his actions. He had only meant to push her ex-boyfriend away, but he couldn’t control himself after Ar
Arwena 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