His heart sank as the weight of her mistake crashed down upon him. With a heavy heart, Richard's smile faltered, his eyes clouded with confusion and hurt. And as he turned to leave. His tears mingled with the cold pavement beneath.
"Henry, I still love you," says Khana. She kissed the man whose heart was shattered to pieces.
“All these years she still loved him, so where was I?” he asked himself. Richard closed his eyes and let the time tell what would happen next. All he knew was that he wanted her, even if her heart belonged to someone else.
The rain had started to fall, each drops a cold, silent echo of the turmoil within Richard's heart. He stood still, the dampness seeping through his coat, yet he hardly noticed the chill. His eyes were locked on Khana, whose kisses still lingered on his lips, a kiss meant for another man.
Khana’s words reverberated in his mind. "Henry, I still love you." She had said it with such passion, such conviction, that it felt like a knife twisting in his chest. Richard had spent months courting Khana, his affection for her growing with each shared moment, every whispered conversation.
He had believed that their connection was mutual, that she was finally beginning to see him for who he truly was. But now, it was clear that her heart still belonged to Henry, the priest she had loved before they met.
He knew he swore not to take anything against Khana because she told her back then that her heart was still waiting for someone else, yet he thought it would change by the test of time. Who would have thought that the man she waited for so many years would eventually show up when she is just starting to accept that the faith had no plans to let them be together?
Richard had always known about Henry, a looming shadow in their relationship, a name spoken with reverence and regret. Henry had left their small village to follow a calling greater than love, choosing a life of devotion over a life with Khana. Richard had hoped that time and his unwavering support would help Khana move on. But this moment shatter that illusion.
"Why can't you just choose me?" his mind murmured while kissing Khana back.
With a heavy heart, Richard's smile faltered, his eyes clouded with confusion and hurt. He took a step back, his voice caught in his throat. He wanted to scream, to demand why she couldn't see him, why she couldn't love him as he loved her. But the words never came. Instead, he started caressing her back and leading her to bed.
Richard was glad to return early. He wouldn't have witnessed this if he had a day delayed. He has to express gratitude towards Bettina, who contacted him first and shared where Khana was.
He grinned and thought of an evil plan. Richard swore to make Khana bear his child. So, she would be obliged to marry him for the sake of the child.
He started undressing the intoxicated lady. Richard does not care if Khana has mistaken him for Henry because, at the end of the day, it was he who she will sleep with.
Richard gently laid her on the bed. He started kissing her neck and shoulders.
Khana moaned as her body was engulfed with the warmth of a man.
"I missed you so much," Khana whispered. She was already naked when Richard stood up and went to the restroom. He took a cold shower and had a deep thought. He even slapped his cheek to bring him back to reality.
"Is it really okay to make out with Khana given her state right now?" he asked himself.
Richard heaved a heavy breath and withdrew from the shower. He took the towel from the cabinet and wrapped it around his waist.
He sat at the edge of the bed and started kissing Khana's thigh.
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"I don't want to do this to you when you are not sober, but this is the only way I can have you," he whispered, then kissed Khana's forehead.
"I hope we'll become a family as soon as possible," he added.
Richard embraced the asleep naked lady next to him. He smirked and murmured, "Your body is mine now. Even if it takes a lifetime, I will conquer your heart next."
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Richard stirred, halfway awake, as the persistent buzz of the phone on the bedside table jolted him from his dreamless slumber. He blinked in the dim light filtering through the curtains of Khana's room, the unfamiliar surroundings momentarily disorienting him. The phone's glow illuminated the caller ID: Bettina.
With a sigh, Richard quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Khana, who was still sound asleep. He padded softly across the room and stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The phone buzzed again, and he answered it with a weary whisper.
"Bettina, it's late. What is so urgent to discuss at this hour?" he said, rubbing his eyes.
"Richard, listen," Bettina's voice was sharp and urgent on the other end. "I have a plan. We need to act now if we want to force Khana to get married this week."
Richard's heart sank. "Bettina, I don't know what you are up to, but if it will cause harm to my woman, then I won't do it."
"It will not hurt her physically, just pinching a little from her guilt," Bettina interrupted, her tone brooking no argument.
He leaned against the wall, running a hand through his hair. "What exactly are you suggesting?"
"You need to cooperate, Richard. Make her believe it's the only way out of whatever predicament we can create. Make her trust you. If you back me up, we can make her see it's for her own good."
Richard swallowed hard, his mind racing. The thought of manipulating Khana this way felt wrong, but Bettina's determination was unwavering. He knew she believed this was the best course of action, even if he wasn't entirely convinced.
"Alright," he said finally, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I'll do it. But this has to be the last time, Bettina. No more schemes."
"Agreed," she replied, satisfaction evident in her voice. "We'll talk more in the morning. Get some rest."
Richard ended the call, staring at the phone in his hand for a long moment before slipping it back into his pocket. He returned to Khana's room.
Khana woke up to the sensation of sunlight filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow on her bare skin. She blinked her eyes open, taking a moment to orient herself. The events of the previous night were a blur, but she remembered being picked up from the bar. She yawned, and the blanket dropped, revealing half of her body. Khana woke up, groggy and disoriented, her senses slowly coming back to her. She glanced around and realized she was naked, the covers barely clinging to her body. Her eyes widened slightly as she realized she was naked. Quickly, she pulled the covers up to her chin, glancing around to find her clothes scattered across the room.She sighed, feeling a mix of confusion and discomfort. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she stood up and gathered her clothes. As she headed to the bathroom, she couldn't help but smile, recalling how Henry had swooped in like a knight in shining armor. The memory of his strong arms around her, guiding her to the car, wa
Pulling into the café parking lot, Khana spotted Bettina sitting at a corner table inside. She walked in, her steps quick and purposeful, and sat down across from her friend."Bettina, what's going on?" Khana asked, her voice shaky.Bettina leaned forward, her expression serious. "Khana, I didn't know how to tell you this, but you need to know the truth about Richard. He...""What about him? Cut to the chase and spill it out," Khana said, crossing her legs and raising her eyebrows.Bettina faked a tear. She uttered, "He doesn't have much time left."Khana's heart pounded. "What do you mean?""He returned from China as early as he could to tell me this. He was afraid that it would spread fast, so he asked for help from me to hide it from everyone. He even hid it from his family," Bettina replied."What is he hiding then?" Khana asked, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and confusion."The reason he is so desperate to have you as his wife is because he wants to feel loved by the wom
Khana's heart sank. The confirmation hit her harder than she expected. Bettina had been telling the truth. Richard's time was limited. She left the doctor's office with a heavy heart, the weight of her decision pressing down on her.Khana sat on the edge of the staircase at the fire exit, her hands trembling. Tears streamed down her face as the weight of her guilt crushed her. She had been blind to Richard's silent suffering, unaware of the tumor that had been causing him immense pain. The realization hit her like a tidal wave, leaving her gasping for breath.Khana fled to the restroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes red and swollen. As she splashed cold water on her face, she tried to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her. She needed to make a decision, and she needed to make it now."Is marrying him the best thing I can do?" she whispered to her reflection. "Will I regret it in the end?"She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "Maybe, this time, I c
Meanwhile, Khana went out to meet her friends who will be attending the wedding. They decided to choose their outfits while waiting for the boutique to open, so they went to the nearest coffee shop.Khana was left alone at the table while her friends were at the counter. She stared out the window as the rain started to tap against the glass."I hope it will not rain when I get married to Richard because I get lonely every time it rains... I always remember my first time with Henry," she mumbled out of the blue.She went back to the day when Henry gave her the warmth she has never forgotten... It was cold, and they had nowhere to go but to stay in an abandoned house they found while heading back to their home. It was quite far, and Khana's phone was already useless because the battery was empty.Suddenly, there was a deafening roar of thunder that echoed through the area, causing both of them to jump. The walls of the cabin vibrated, and the windows rattled as if being shaken by the fo
"I have known you since we were teenagers. Your eyes are telling me you are not happy with this marriage. Are you secretly in love with someone else?"Khana was caught off guard by the question her friend had raised. "The question should be, why can't I unlove Henry?" she thought to herself."Why can't you answer me? Are you secretly in love with someone else?" Serina repeated."Don't mind me. You are just overanalyzing everything,” Khana replied.Serina laughed and said, "Good to hear that. You know you're lucky to have Richard. He's kind, gentleman, rich, and handsome.”Another friend, Bettina, added, "He was your savior as well. It's like destiny played its part. What else do you ask for?" There was a bitter tone and sarcasm when Bettina stated her sentiment. She even rolled her eyes, but Khana and Serina did not notice it.Khana was silent, then excused herself to go to the washroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and reminisced about the day when Richard had changed h
The morning sun shone brightly, casting a golden hue over the manicured lawns and elegant flower arrangements. The air was thick with excitement as friends and family gathered at the sacred church of XXX. Everyone is looking forward to the wedding of Richard and Khana. Every soul is ready to celebrate the most anticipated wedding of the year.Khana sat in her room and surrounded by her closest friends. They flitted around her like butterflies, fixing her veil, adjusting her dress, and adding the final touches to her makeup. Their laughter and chatter filled the room, a comforting backdrop to the whirlwind of emotions she felt inside."You look absolutely stunning, Khana!" exclaimed one of her friends, Serina, as she stepped back to admire the bride."Thank you. You look stunning as well," Khana replied."I can't believe this day is finally here," another friend, Bettina, added, her eyes sparkling with joy."Thank you for everything, Khana," Bettina added, giving her friend a meaningfu
Father Henry walked back and forth in his modest quarters, the walls of the monastery closing in on him as he grappled with a torrent of emotions. His mind swirled with memories and regrets, his heart torn between duty and desire.He had known Khana since they were children, growing up together in the small village nestled among the hills. They had shared dreams of a future intertwined until life had taken them on separate paths. That one missed supposedly meeting up to elope together had started the downfall of their relationship. If only they had met back then, the young wouldn't find solace at church. Henry would not have been drawn to the serenity and purpose of the church, he wouldn't have become a priest. And, Khana wouldn't have pursued her own journey and eventually ended up with another man.Today was the day Khana was to marry. He had hesitated, debated with himself whether he should go, whether he could bear to see her as a bride, radiant and happy with someone else. He to
The grand hall was adorned with delicate white roses and cascading ivy, an ethereal backdrop for the joyous celebration of Khana and Richard’s union. Guests milled around, chatting and laughing, their voices merging into a pleasant hum of happiness and excitement. Fairy lights twinkled above, casting a soft glow on the faces of friends and family who had gathered to honor the newlyweds.Richard stood beside Khana. The husband reached for his wife's hand. He was wearing a radiant smile, gracing his lips. Then, the wife smiled back, forcing a joyous smile. Beneath her joyful exterior, an inexplicable unease gnawed at her. It was a persistent feeling, one she couldn’t shake off despite the adoration and warmth enveloping her. She squeezed Richard’s hand a little tighter, and he glanced at her with concern."Are you okay, honey?" he asked, his eyes searching hers."I'm fine," she replied, forcing a smile. "Just a bit overwhelmed, I guess.""Do you wanna lie down? I can ask the coordinato
Henry was in the middle of a conversation with one of the nuns when a woman caught his eye. She wore a yellow sundress with white sandals, her long blonde hair cascading down her back, lips painted a bold red. Her presence was striking and familiar."Father...""Excuse me for a while, sister," says Henry.The nun nodded and left. Then, the priest walked in the lady's direction. He warmly greeted her, "What brings you here, Serina?"Henry looked around to ensure no one was around, still hesitant he asked, "How is she?""I heard she won the trial. I thought she'd be happy with Richard. I thought she'd live the best life with the man who loves her and can provide a wealthy life for her," Henry added, watching the clouds move.Serina took a breath before responding. "She's living with Kharl now. She divorced Richard.""I'm glad to hear she's out of danger now," says Henry, relieved after confirming the news."I bet she doesn't want to see me anymore. She'll always think being near me will
The courthouse was crowded, and the heavy weight of judgment and anticipation felt as if it would kill Khana. Whispers passed with the blade of knives in the air. The glances sent her way seeded contempt and hate. "Wretched wife," someone hissed from the back. "Shameless," whispered another. The words seemed to resound louder, filling the room: whore, traitor, unfit mother.Khana clenched her fists to help block out the hateful murmurs. Her gaze flickered over to Richard, who sat tall and composed on the other side of the courtroom. He looked every inch the wronged husband: calm, almost handsome. He was only making the public support him so much. Now Khana could really feel the weight of the room's collective disapproval bearing down on her, crushing what little resolve she had left.The banging of the gavel jolted her out of her reverie. The judge was an old woman who was strict and unyielding. "The court is in session," she said. "First up for today's docket will be the charge again
Khana sensed that something terrible was on the horizon, a storm brewing that would soon crash into her life. The court hearing for her divorce was approaching faster than she had anticipated, and with it, the overwhelming weight of judgment and loss. Anxiety gnawed at her, and each passing day felt like a countdown to disaster.Then, it came. A loud crash from downstairs snapped her out of her thoughts, sending her heart racing. Voices—angry, furious voices—echoed through the house. Her body went cold as she recognized the sound. Richard’s parents had arrived.As she descended the staircase, Khana’s legs felt like they were made of lead. She was nearly at the bottom when Richard's mother, Karylle, stormed toward her, grabbing her roughly by the arm and pulling her down the final steps. Khana gasped in shock, stumbling to the floor.Richard helped his wife stand up, it was never his intention to see Khana hurt. He was surprised as well, he never had seen how violent his mother would be
Richard paced the living room, and his fury was evident in every tense step he had taken.Meanwhile, Khana stood across the room, her pulse racing, her mind filled with dread. She had seen Richard angry before, but there was something different about this time—his anger felt more dangerous, more unhinged.She knew one aggravating move or thing she said, and everything could spiral out of control quickly.The room was suffocating in its silence, the weight of their unresolved conflict hanging heavy between them. Just when it seemed like Richard might explode, the doorbell rang, cutting through the tension like a blade.Khana's body jolted at the sound, as though she had been yanked back from the edge of a cliff. Moments later, a woman stepped inside, her heels clicking sharply on the marble floor."Richard, I hope I didn't come at the wrong time?"Richard’s lips curled into a smirk. "You just came at the right time, Chloe. Have you contacted the lawyer you recommend? I need to file adul
Khana wasted no time, she ran to the telephone, her fingers trembling while dialing Serina's number. Her heart beats crazy when she tells her friend about Richard's threat."You need to find a way to warn Henry. Richard left the house, saying he'd kill him."The line crackled for a moment, and then a familiar voice answered."Hello?""H-Henry?"Khana was surprised when a familiar voice reached her ears. She was puzzled. Why did the priest have Serina's cell phone?"Are you with Serina right now?" Khana asked."No. She left this phone to me and returned to the city with you.""Listen to me. Richard might be heading there, or he might hire people to harm you. Take care of yourself.""W-What's going on? Are you okay?" Henry asked after realizing the lady's voice was unsteady. Concern is evident in his voice. He could sense the urgency in Khana's tone as if she were teetering on the edge of something dangerous.Before Khana could reply, a loud bang of the door interrupted. She clutched th
Richard grabbed his wife by the wrist and dragged her to the car. He instructed his men to get the baby from Serina.Richard’s grip tightened as he dragged Khana towards the car, his face a mask of fury. The baby’s cries pierced the air, desperate and loud. But as Richard cradled Kharl in his arms, the baby stopped crying, his tiny face lighting up in a smile."Give Kharl to me. I'll feed him," says Khana in a bitter tone. She sat at a distance, leaving one space between them in the passenger seat."Planning to run away again? Did Serina tell you I found your whereabouts? Did you think you could escape?" Richard uttered with a fierce look."I'm not running away. I was about to return, but hell sent you there before I could leave," Khana shot back."You mean you're going home?" Richard's eyes softened slightly, misreading her words."Yes," Khana replied.Richard misunderstood it and thought his wife was finally coming back. He smiled, caressed Khana's hand, and uttered, "Please forgive
“I knew it!” says a man, an unwanted guest of the church. His eyes were like those who had killing intent.“R-Richard…” she whispered, her voice barely audible, her lips trembling as she struggled to speak. Her hands tightened on the edge of the pew, knuckles white. Fear washed over her, paralyzing her in place.Khana felt her body go cold. That voice... It was unmistakable. Her worst fear had come to pass.“R-Richard...” she stammered once again, barely able to speak. Fear was written all over her face as the man she had tried to escape from stood before her.Richard strode toward them, his expression dark and menacing. “So this is where you’ve been hiding,” he spat, his voice low and venomous. His eyes flicked to Henry, then back to Khana, filled with fury and suspicion.His gaze is burning with anger, the kind of anger that could destroy everything in its path. His gaze locked onto her, and in that moment, she felt like prey caught in the sights of a predator.Khana felt her stomac
Khana stood at the threshold of the monastery, her decision weighing heavily on her heart. The cool morning air brushed against her skin as she made a silent vow to herself—she would go back to the house of the man who had slapped her, but not to reconcile. She would return to confront Richard and demand a divorce. She decided to go back to the house of the man who slapped her. She promised not to disturb the priest anymore, afraid of not getting hold of her heart, she chose to leave him alone. Her sole focus now is to divorce Richard and get custody of the child. The sound of soft voices pulled her from her thoughts. The sisters of the monastery were gathered around a long table, filled with plates of rice omelet, fresh lumpia, and crispy bacon. They smiled warmly at her as she approached.Khana was putting Kharl to sleep. So, she could move without bringing the baby with her.“Come, lady Khana. Join us before you leave,” says one of the sisters gathered around a long table full of
“Henry...” she whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling with uncertainty. "Wake up! Come on..." she added.Henry gasped with his eyes flew open. For a moment, neither of them moved, caught in a strange, intimate moment as their faces hovered inches apart. Khana’s breath caught in her throat, her heartbeat quickening as the space between them shrank.Then, the world seemed to slow down when he met her eyes. It was unexplainable awkwardness when they realized how close their faces were. A little uncareful move and their lips would touch each other.They were so close—too close. One careless movement and their lips would meet. Khana could feel the heat rising between them. The temptation was undeniable, yet the weight of her marriage and child held her back.Henry blinked, his expression shifting from confusion to recognition as if he had suddenly returned to himself. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he loosened his grip on Khana’s waist, the warmth of his hands fading as the moment sl