Claire’s
I stood outside Niu’s study for a few minutes, debating whether to talk to him about last night. I wanted to apologize, but I was scared he'd be even more upset. I was so embarrassed about my behavior. I regretted the whole impulsive thing so much. Now I was paying the price. Niu had been distant all day. He’d left before I woke up and skipped dinner. He’d shut himself in his study ever since. He’s really mad at me. It made me feel even worse. He doesn’t want to talk to you, Claire! I took a deep breath and knocked. No answer. I knocked again and tried the handle. The door opened, revealing the dim light of a desk lamp. The room was quiet, empty. I went inside. Niu wasn’t at his desk, or on the couch. Where was he? Manang said he’d come straight here after dinner. “Niu?” I called, closing the door behind me. Silence. Just theClaire’s It was a family tradition for the Altamiranos to have dinner together once a month, no matter how busy they were. Amalia Altamirano made sure to keep tabs on her boys. She never let them out of her sight. Niu and I walked into the mansion’s entrance. My parents were wealthy, but I was still in awe of the Altamirano mansion. Every design was meticulously planned, the details extravagantly beautiful. From the floors made of expensive marble to the palatial grand staircase and the antique pieces displayed in every corner, everything was exquisite. Amalia Altamirano had an eye for the finer things, and Don Manuelo indulged her every whim. I glanced at Niu, who was walking silently beside me, his hand resting on the small of my back. One thing I’d noticed about him was that he was always sweet, even when his expression was stoic. Sebastian was the same way. Niu and I hadn’t talked about what happened. It
Claire’s His warm hands covered my mouth while the other settled on my waist. His masculine cologne mixed with the scent of his aftershave invaded my senses, making my head spin. His dark eyes looked drowsy as he stared at me intensely. His body pressed against mine as he pushed me toward the edge of the sink. The cold tile dug into my skin. I quickly brushed off the hand covering my mouth and widened my eyes at him. “What are you doing here?” I whispered, nervous that someone might catch the two of us inside. He just stared at me intently, saying nothing. Annoyed, I pushed his hand off my waist and stepped back slightly—but stopped when I realized there was nowhere else to go. His presence was overwhelming, especially in such a confined space. He was a big man, and it felt suffocating having him so close. It’s illegal to be this close to him—he’s my brother-in-law, for God’s sake!
I quietly watched from the car window the grassy roadside we were passing through. Since earlier, we had only passed a few vehicles, and the road ahead seemed endless, as if it led to nowhere. This is the kind of place I liked—far from the dusty air of the city. Peaceful, and it truly lightens the mood. I could feel the cold breeze brushing against my skin even though it was already noon and the sun was blazing. Maybe it was because of the abundance of trees surrounding the area. A typical scene in an isolated place. This is what I need right now—far from my stressful family and the prying, judgmental eyes of people.“We’ll stop at some local store to buy food,” Sebastian said.I nodded without looking at him. I just kept my eyes fixed outside the window. I wasn’t in the mood to talk, not even to him.I didn’t force him to come with me here. In fact, I insisted on going alone, but he was more stubborn than I am. I just wanted to be alone, to think clearly. I wanted an exit. An esc
I let out a heavy breath as I stared at the woman hopelessly looking back at me in the mirror. The thick makeup designed for this occasion and the crystal beads adorning my hair weren’t enough to hide the sadness in my eyes. If my sister were still alive, I wouldn’t be the one in this situation. It should be her sitting in this hotel room. She should be the one dressed up for this occasion—not me. But what can I do?Another sigh escaped my lips. I signed up for this, and I should take responsibility. I forced a smile even though my head ached from all the thinking. My practiced smile, the one I always wear in front of a crowd, was now reflected back at me. The smile everyone believed was real—but it was anything but. I can do this.My gaze shifted to the door when someone knocked, and one of my cousins, Evany, entered. She gave me an unsure smile.“Are you okay? Auntie’s asking if you’re ready,” she asked.Her eyes spoke a thousand unspoken words. She walked over, fixed the tiara rest
I stared blankly into space while twirling the pen in my hand. I’d been out of it for a while now, replaying everything that happened earlier this morning while I was preparing breakfast. As usual, my husband was on another out-of-town business trip and wouldn’t be home until next week.Being the wife of the CEO of one of the wealthiest companies, I expected all of this. I had no problem with him constantly being busy with work—I understood it, and I had my own business, so I didn’t get bored easily. I was used to being alone at home with just the maids, and I was fine with it—until yesterday. Sebastian suddenly showed up at our doorstep last night, grinning like a Cheshire cat, and announced that he’d be staying here for an indefinite period—and that Niu couldn’t do anything about it.They were the Altamiranos. They owned several houses in the city—not to mention all the condos and townhouses. They were filthy rich, and I didn’t understand why he had to crash at our place like some h
Flashback“Which do you prefer?” I asked Niu. He was usually the one who picked his ties, but today I made an effort to appear just a little interested in him—even if I was annoyed with him last night. Our relationship was a bit complicated. Being his wife had its pros and cons. As the CEO and successor of the empire, he was expected to sire an heir. He asked for it, his parents did too—but I really couldn’t bring myself to do it. And ever since I refused him, he changed.He looked at the ties I was holding and raised an eyebrow at me. Maybe he was confused why I was suddenly attending to his needs like a devoted wife. I cringed at the thought.“The blue one,” he answered. He went back to his work and I let him be. He said he was going out of town again for a project presentation in Hong Kong and would be gone for a week.“I’ll be in the kitchen,” I said to him before walking off. I glanced at the clock mounted on the wall—it was already past eight in the morning. I remembered Sebasti
I stared at Sebastian’s hand resting on Stanford’s small waist, and for the first time, I felt a slight sting over something that wasn’t even supposed to hurt. This feeling was so new to me—and I hated it. I knew exactly what it was. I was jealous of her.And I shouldn’t be. Not over Niu’s brother, who was practically like a brother to me, too.I looked away and turned my gaze to Stanford’s face. I think this was the first time I ever felt annoyed by her. She was one of our best clients because she was obsessed with fine jewelry. I used to like her because we shared the same passion—a love for jewelry.But now, I wanted to take that back. I hated her. I hated her now that Seb’s arms were around her.I smiled at her and greeted her, deliberately ignoring Sebastian. I didn’t want to look at his face and get distracted again. If I could roll my eyes at him, I would’ve done it ages ago.“Hi,” I said to Stanford with a bright smile. “How are you?” I asked as I led them toward the VIP room
I’ve lost count of how many times I sighed today. It’s becoming a habit ever since Sebastian started living here. I asked Niu about it, but he would just shrug and say he didn’t know. It’s frustrating because I don’t know what to do around the house anymore. Every time he’s around, I get so self-conscious—and it’s stressing me out. I notice his every move, and I get conscious of myself, how I look, how I smell when he’s nearby.“Claire, Mom’s here!” Niu called out.I developed this habit of locking myself in the bathroom whenever I need to think. It’s become my personal space ever since I married Niu. In here, I can be honest with myself—I don’t have to pretend I’m happy in front of everyone. Here, I can talk to myself in the mirror and pour my heart out.I heaved a deep sigh and turned to the door.“Go ahead, I’ll be out in a few,” I said, cracking the door open just slightly to let Niu know he should go down first.I quickly took off my nightgown and stepped into the shower. My moth
Claire’s His warm hands covered my mouth while the other settled on my waist. His masculine cologne mixed with the scent of his aftershave invaded my senses, making my head spin. His dark eyes looked drowsy as he stared at me intensely. His body pressed against mine as he pushed me toward the edge of the sink. The cold tile dug into my skin. I quickly brushed off the hand covering my mouth and widened my eyes at him. “What are you doing here?” I whispered, nervous that someone might catch the two of us inside. He just stared at me intently, saying nothing. Annoyed, I pushed his hand off my waist and stepped back slightly—but stopped when I realized there was nowhere else to go. His presence was overwhelming, especially in such a confined space. He was a big man, and it felt suffocating having him so close. It’s illegal to be this close to him—he’s my brother-in-law, for God’s sake!
Claire’s It was a family tradition for the Altamiranos to have dinner together once a month, no matter how busy they were. Amalia Altamirano made sure to keep tabs on her boys. She never let them out of her sight. Niu and I walked into the mansion’s entrance. My parents were wealthy, but I was still in awe of the Altamirano mansion. Every design was meticulously planned, the details extravagantly beautiful. From the floors made of expensive marble to the palatial grand staircase and the antique pieces displayed in every corner, everything was exquisite. Amalia Altamirano had an eye for the finer things, and Don Manuelo indulged her every whim. I glanced at Niu, who was walking silently beside me, his hand resting on the small of my back. One thing I’d noticed about him was that he was always sweet, even when his expression was stoic. Sebastian was the same way. Niu and I hadn’t talked about what happened. It
Claire’s I stood outside Niu’s study for a few minutes, debating whether to talk to him about last night. I wanted to apologize, but I was scared he'd be even more upset. I was so embarrassed about my behavior. I regretted the whole impulsive thing so much. Now I was paying the price. Niu had been distant all day. He’d left before I woke up and skipped dinner. He’d shut himself in his study ever since. He’s really mad at me. It made me feel even worse. He doesn’t want to talk to you, Claire! I took a deep breath and knocked. No answer. I knocked again and tried the handle. The door opened, revealing the dim light of a desk lamp. The room was quiet, empty. I went inside. Niu wasn’t at his desk, or on the couch. Where was he? Manang said he’d come straight here after dinner. “Niu?” I called, closing the door behind me. Silence. Just the
Claire’s “Here are the designs that were submitted online. I’ve printed them all,” Kate said, placing the printed designs on my table. I’d launched an online jewelry design contest. The goal was to open opportunities for aspiring designers to work with me. I planned to expand my business, and I needed more designers to do that. “Thanks, Kate. Just leave them there. I’ll finish signing these documents first,” I said, smiling at her and continuing with my work. “Claire,” she called out. She was still standing in front of my desk. I didn’t look at her and kept signing the papers. “Yes?” I answered without looking up. “Spill it,” she demanded. She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows at me, waiting for me to confess. Kate was both annoying and helpful. Sometimes, it was annoying how easily she could read me. It was like I was an open book to her, but most of the time, she was a l
Claire’s Pathetic. If there was one word to describe how I was feeling right now, it was pathetic. Growing up surrounded by people who showed me care, support, and appreciation, it was so ironic that Claire dela Fuerte was jealous of some woman she didn’t even know personally. Because that woman was Sebastian’s girlfriend! And her boobs were way bigger than yours, that’s why! I groaned in annoyance and threw the crumpled paper into the trash can. I’d been trying to come up with a beautiful design for hours, and to my frustration, I couldn’t create one. I glared at the overflowing trash can. I sighed heavily and grabbed a fresh sheet of bond paper. Frustrated, I started drawing random things, letting out all the anger and frustration I was feeling. I didn’t think this would work. I was stuck here all day, but all I could think about was what I’d witnessed last night.
Claire’s They say diamonds are a woman’s best friend. Every woman has her own source of beauty and strength. You can’t just be beautiful for no reason. Beauty comes from the heart, it’s like a reflection. Just like diamonds, they don’t shine on their own, they reflect the light. I held up a pair of diamond earrings, admiring them. The light from the lamp made them sparkle, and the brighter the light, the more elegant they shone. I smiled. These would be perfect for my outfit tonight. I applied my signature red lipstick, my eyes a soft nude shade that complemented my lips. My hair was pulled back in a low braided bun, showcasing my slender neck and bare back. I was wearing a knee-length bodycon dress with lace sleeves and a plunging scoop back. The gold detailing on the dress added a dramatic touch to its black color. I turned, admiring my exposed back. It was open all the way down to my lower back. I smiled. I looked both i
Sebastian’s I closed my eyes and took a deep, long breath. This headache was killing me, and I had a meeting in just a few minutes. That bastard Andrei, mixing all those different liquors at his bar. Such an idiot. I scanned the papers in front of me. This was the first meeting I’d be attending since my arrival. We usually had our monthly meetings via video call. I’d let Marcus handle everything here while I was in the U.S., and I was pretty impressed with his performance—except for these reports. I continued to review them. Those bastards thought they could get away with what they did. Just because I was out of the country didn’t mean they could steal from my company. I’d get to the bottom of this and send those fools straight to hell. “Sir, the meeting is in ten minutes. I’ve got everything you asked for,” Cherry said, placing the files on my desk. As much as I wanted to go home, I didn’t have much time. I still needed to
Claire’s I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already five in the morning, and I hadn't gotten a decent sleep since last night. Niu was away at a convention in Palawan. That should have been a reason to sleep soundly—no husband, no one to share the bed with. But knowing Sebastian didn't come home last night was gnawing at me. I sighed heavily and sat up. I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway, it was almost morning. It was Sunday, the shop was closed, and I had the whole day to myself. Maybe I’d hit the gym later this afternoon. I washed my face and brushed my teeth before heading downstairs for breakfast, though I wasn’t really hungry. The house was eerily quiet. No loud music from the home gym. I was used to hearing hardcore music since Sebastian arrived—he blasted it while he worked out. It should have been even louder today, a Sunday with no office work. That jerk really hadn’t come home. It was strange
3rd Person POV The kiss between them burned with urgency, their hands roaming feverishly over each other’s bodies. They stumbled into the nearest vacant VIP room. Sebastian pinned the woman against the door, tearing off her clothes with rough impatience. Weeks of pent-up desire roared through him, his body aching for release. The woman moaned as he devoured her breasts, sucking and licking her hardened nipples. In his mind, it was Claire beneath him—her flawless skin, her scent, her heat. He pressed her swollen breasts together, alternating between them, his tongue and teeth relentless. “O-oh my,” she whimpered, her voice trembling. Her nipples glistened, wet and stiff from his attention. The mere thought of Claire made his cock throb even harder. “Oh, gosh…so good,” the woman gasped, her face contorted in pleasure. Sebastian smirked, sucking harder, pinching one nipple while his tongue swirled around the oth