Chapter 1

“Like the ocean, my love for you is endless,” Kaliya sang with the beat, lights flashing around.

“Kaliya!”

“Kaliya!”

She heard the crowd shouting her name. The music got louder as it neared the climax. A final melody was sung and the beat came into a halt.

“Thank you for listening. Let’s get a round of applause to the Voyage Band.”

Kaliya stood up from her seat and bowed, the other members followed her actions. Together, they exited the platform with cheers from the crowd hurting their ears.

“That was dope,” the band guitarist, said with a wide smile. He was also the leader of the band. “Today is a big success so let’s all have a drink. My treat.”

“YES!” the members chorused.

There was a sudden ding that came from Kaliya’s phone and she frowned unknowingly when she saw a message.

The group were then led to an extension room upstairs. Most of the guests in the bar were on the lower floor so it was quiet as there were only a few people allowed up on the second floor. As Kaliya was sneakily trying to get away, someone took her arm and dragged her towards the group’s table.

“Only one glass, Kaliya.”

The others who were enthusiastic about her being there persuaded her strongly.

“One glass,” she gave up. Saying no to her friends was hard. That one glass wouldn’t hurt her either.. But ‘him’ waiting for her must be worried.

Kaliya shooked her head. Him worried? He sure would be, but for a different reason.

Their drinks arrived and Kaliya, in her impulsiveness, downed a tall glass filled with something she didn’t know. All she knew was that she was annoyed and frustrated.

The others clapped and cheered and drank the drinks, obviously with the intention of getting wasted that night. Kaliya was feeling lightheaded as a mild bitterness spread on her tongue. Her phone rang again and fishing it out from her pocket, she noticed that the caller was the devil who was the reason why she ended up in this bar. Hanging up the call, she looked dazedly at her phone.

How would he react with the fact that she hung up his call? He probably would get annoyed or feel nothing at all. But she knew him; he probably As calm as ever. As she never showed resistance directly, she felt excited and nervous.

She grabbed a glass and drank the contents without stopping. A blush was slowly showing on her face and she felt hot.

“Kaliya,” Penny called her.

“Yes?”

“Your phone’s ringing.”

“Don’t worry. It’s not important.”

A few drinks later and her phone rang again. Because of the influence of alcohol in her body, she finally answered it this time.

[“You finally picked up the phone, Kali. I wonder how many calls you’ve rejected this day.”]

‘It’s because of you, bast*rd.’ She can’t possibly say it like that if she didn’t want to see his bad side and just stayed quiet.

[“Where are you?”]

“At a bar,” she answered honestly. Either way, he could find her anytime and anywhere. That’s how capable he is. It was also possible that he already knew where she was.

[“Are you drinking?”]

“No…?”

[“… Stay still and wait for me.”]

The call ended right away and Penny who was sitting beside her asked, “boyfriend?” making Kaliya grinned in amusement. She then shook her head no.

“He isn’t?” Penny asked again. “It just feels like your dovey-dovey with him.”

Kaliya just smiled and sipped a glass again, slowly this time. The quietness of the place made her at ease, unlike the loudness earlier. Well, except some bickering from the band members.

Just then, the door swung open with a chime of a bell.

All of them turned to the door, where a man in black suit was standing in the doorway, seemingly waiting for someone.

Kaliya ignored the buzzling people and sipped on her drink silently. Feeling dizzy she placed her head on the table, sleepiness kicking in.

“He’s kind of handsome,” Penny said. “He’s looking in this direction― wait, he’s coming this way.”

“Hello,” a low voice which was pleasant to hear was heard. At the familiar sound, the group glanced at the approaching man. With his still neat suit and kept hair― everything about him screams handsome. But what dazzled most people in the room was his attractive face that looks like a finely sculpted sculpture and the fact that it was a face that is often seen in front pages of magazines and newspapers.

“Holy, isn’t that the famous Caleb Cruz?” someone muttered loudly at the next table.

At that, the band members who were loud earlier shut their mouths. Who wouldn’t know Caleb Cruz? The once successor of the DY group that stood out from the rest and the current CEO of the company. The mere presence of the successful business tycoon was kind of suffocating them.

“I’m sorry for intruding suddenly but I came to pick someone up.” His gaze then turned to the silent Kaliya. “If you don’t mind, can I take her home?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. Kaliya must be frustrated that she drank a couple of glasses,” a member tapped the sleepy Kaliya. “Kaliya, someone came to pick you up.”

Caleb’s gaze lingered at the man's hands which are still placed on Kaliya’s shoulder. He frowned slightly when a feeling of uneasiness came to him. But what irked him the most was that he didn’t know why Kaliya was feeling off the whole day. She even went to a bar. Even in his work, his mind often wandered to Kaliya and it made him lose focus, resulting in half of his workloads not yet finished. She should have told him.

Kaliya sat down properly but the blush that spread on her face and her dazed state was enough to tell that she was drunk. Caleb went near her.

“Oh, if it isn’t the CEO of DY Company,” Kaliya dazedly said.

Caleb ignored her words. “Kali, how do you feel? Are you dizzy?”

“I’m not.”

“C’mon, I’m gonna take you home.”

“Where?”

“Home.”

“You’re not angry?”

“…”

“Of course, you are.”

“You’re drunk. Let’s go home.”

“I can’t, I’m sleepy.”

After mumbling the words, her head drooped but Caleb was fast to catch her. He then proceeded to carry her in a bridal carry. If she was sane, she probably would feel embarrassed and command him to get her down immediately or... she would just let him carry her and wordlessly be carried.

“Wait,” Penny stopped him. “What is your relationship with her? You’re not forcing Kaliya, aren’t you?”

Kaliya stirred from her sleep and felt Caleb holding her. Caleb, seeing her awake gave her a grin.

“Why doesn't she tell you about our relationship? Kali, who am I?”

“…my husband.”

“Eh?!”

Penny was the first to react. “Say that again, Kaliya.”

Kaliya frowned, obviously drunk, and answered again. “He’s my husband.”

Caleb held her closer, feeling her warmth. He didn’t stay another minute and carried Kaliya on to his car. The bar owner, who was a personal friend of Caleb, greeted him on his way.

“I can’t believe that the almighty Caleb is holding a woman in his arms. Will the sun rise in the west tomorrow?”

“Shut up, Travis.”

“Or did you eat something bad today?”

Caleb’s deadly gaze was directed to Travis. The latter surrendered and zipped his mouth shut. He then placed the silent Kaliya on the passenger’s seat, not forgetting to secure her seatbelt. It was as if he was treating a glass figurine rather than a woman. For the first time in his life, Travis saw Caleb looking out for somebody.

‘Is this the power of love?’

Somewhat, it made him feel lonely.

Kaliya woke up feeling dizzy. She realized that she was sitting on the passengers’ seat and that she was in a car. She caught sight of Caleb on her left, seemingly focused on driving. Then Caleb turned to her, noticing that she was awake.

“Feeling sick?”

She shook her head. It was half truth half lie but she lied without hesitating. He wouldn’t care anyways. Sure enough, Caleb was silent and did not converse with her.

Passing through the familiar street, she knew that they were going back to the villa. But Caleb suddenly stopped the car in the middle of the road. She did a sideward glance and saw Caleb frowning. She quickly avoided his gaze and turned to the window when he glanced back at her.

“Why are you avoiding me?”

‘So he did realize.’ Kaliya was sure there wasn’t a change in her usual routine. But Caleb is Caleb. He notices and catches things fast.

“I’m not.”

“Did you think that I wouldn’t notice?” His slighlty displeased tone startled her.

“I told you I’m not.”

“Then why didn’t you answer any of my calls today? Why didn’t you tell me that you were going to a bar?”

“Why can’t I do that?” she asked back, turning to face him. She was feeling unfair. “This is all my decision. Are you telling me that I don’t even deserve freedom?”

“That’s not it. We’re now married. Everything you do— no, I have the right to know.”

“We aren’t a real couple, Caleb.”

“But according to the contract that we both signed, we must act as a couple. Therefore, every important matter should always be discussed.”

Kaliya made a painful expression. The word contract that bound them in a limited time was the reason that she agreed to marry him. Although it was a hasty decision, she has thrown all the regrets.

‘A couple, huh?’

Caleb who was watching her expression leaned closer and her brows. At the sudden touch, she flinched but did not push his hands away.

“Don’t make that expression,” Caleb said, as if soothing her. She realized again how much a smooth talker Caleb was.

She grabbed his hands and pressed it to her face. The warmth on his palm seemed to be spreading to her face and it tickled her heart. There was no denying it; she had fallen in love with this man.

“Caleb, who am I to you?” she asked in a whisper.

“My wife.”

Yes, that’s right. A wife on paper with no feelings attached. A loveless marriage where both parties benefit from it.

She pulled him closer by his collar, noses almost touching and Caleb staring at with his green eyes with a hint of surprise in it. If she was sober, she would see another emotion rather than just surprise. She smirked. “It’s because I’m drunk that I’m doing this.”

And with that her lips came crashing to his.

It wasn’t her fault. Kaliya believed that it wasn’t her that started it. Since the beginning, Caleb has been acting like a caring husband to his wife but she knew that it was all an act. But even if she knew it, she fell in love nonetheless, to the point where it seems impossible to stop.

And what can she do? It’s not to fall completely for Mr. CEO.