Chapter 1

Simone and Emily's engagement party happened 2 years ago. They have known each other for a long time since they are a son and daughter of socialites. They have met in several occasions and even studied in the same prestigious school during secondary level. Although their parents are the ones who planned and wanted their marriage to happen, Emily did not go against with it. Same with Simone, he has been a gentleman towards her. Unlike Apollo who is rude, harsh, and as hard as the badlit system of writing to read when you are a foreigner, but learning is always the key.

Simone and her just got home today. The wedding will be happening here in this town 1 month to go now. Instead of resting, she formally asks his approval to go out, and there is no reason for him to ignore and beg her to stay. He is grateful that she agrees to do this one more time. He owes her a lot for saving up his ass again and again. No doubt, he cares and loves her to the moon and to saturn.

Even sweating, there is no strong force that could stop Emily from bopping to the music. This is her life. She is a certified club party girl in Manila. She is as excited as the newly-hatched baby birds as their parents feed them when she knew that there is a newly-opened club in this town. It is near the shore, that is why most of the people inside are tourists. Most of them are foreign blooded people. They must be loving the tourist destinations and the company of the people for them to keep visiting the country.

"Oh, sorry," Emily uttered when she bump into someone's back while jumping and swaying her body.

"No worries, lady."

Based on his facial features and accent, Emily is convinced that he is a British man. Although, it is so evident from his looks that he is old, he is still screaming with aroma.

"I am Bret," the guy introduced himself and show his hand forward for a handshake. She is about to accept it when someone pulls her right hand that makes her move away from Bret.

She is in awed of whoever does that but when she turned her gaze at that someone, her brows frown in anger.

"Get your filthy hands off me," he is not affected by her words. He remained holding her tightly as if hitching a carabao in the field.

"What the hell are you doing Emily!?," he sounded betrayed and disgusted. She feels being humiliated again that she could not resist her other hand to slap him, but he is faster than the wind to block it.

"You dirty asshole! Get a life!," Emily screams, but the music is too loud to get everybody's attention.

"Even for the sake of your family's name, stop this disgracefulness!," Apollo said like he is losing all his patience.

"And what does it to do with you? Oh yes! You are going to be my brother-in-law a month from now, but I do not give a damn about your tantrums. So get lost," she tries to pull back her hands, but Apollo never lets it go.

"You are still as stubborn as you are," he gritted his teeth and harshly drags her out of that club.

"What the! Apollo, get off me!," but he never listens to her. When they are out of the building, she is tangled with him looking for his car. When he find and instantly opens it, she let go of her hands and push her inside before he slammed the door.

She is going wilder inside—shouting, banging the tinted window, and even asking for help. On the other hand, Apollo goes inside the club to get her thing.

Emily feels like all of her blood are condensed in her head. She swears that he will kill him when he comes back. She has seen 2 of his books in the dashboard and to her madness, she get 1 of it and tear and crush apart its pages.

"Damn you, Apollo!," she curses and throw away the ripped and crumbled-like book in the backseat.

When the driver seat door opens, a flying pocket book hit Apollo's face. He clenches his teeth and give her a death glare. He is on the verge of erupting too, but he swallowed hard at Emily's reasonable behavior. Nevertheless, it is very evident from his action that he is mad too. He throws her bag hardly at the backseat that it makes a creaky sound. That made her flinch.

Without a single word, he drives her off to their mansion. Without a single word spoken again, she quickly unfastens her seatbelt even before the car stop moving in the garage. When it does, she reach for her sling bag and walk out of the car without it being closed.

She passes by some of the house maids in the sala and in the stair on her way to the 2nd floor where her room is. They greeted her, but she is too burnout to give them even a look.

In front of Simone and her room's door, she tries to fix herself by combing her hair with her own fingers. She is wondering about Simone's reaction upon seeing her state. She do not want him to worry or ask what has had happened or who caused her mess of a face. Slowly, she turns the door knob. She is pleased to witnessed that Simone is not inside.

She almost run towards the shower room. She needs to feel at ease and she knew the water could give her that.

"Are you home?," she answered Simone's call while still looking for something to wear after showering.

"Yeah, sorry for not answering your calls."

She just hear his deep sighs.

"Forget it. I just want to tell you that I am not there at home as I was called for an emergency," that makes Emily feel worried.

"What happened?," she asks in a concerned tone.

"It is about Mom," she bite her lower lip as she hears that. For sure, his mother's state is becoming worse. For almost a year that Dawn Elizabeth Flores has been confined in the hospital, no signs of recovery is recorded. She is battling with a rare disease that has no cure. Although there is a treatment, it is still not enough for her family, most especially her only biological son, Simone to feel relieved.

Simone and Apollo are half brothers. Apollo is the son of Geriro Dacquil Garcia's first woman, Anabelle Reece. Sadly, she got into a car accident that leads to her death. A year later, Geriro got a new woman who later gave birth to Simone. Both sons are in good terms and even Apollo to Simone's mother.

In these trying times, their mansion is mostly lived by Apollo and their maids. Geriro and Elizabeth got a mansion as well in Manila, wherein the 3 of them, including Simone peacefully resides. They are too busy with their hotels and restaurants to escape a moment to visit the province most of the time, but they would pay a visit occasionally. On the contrary, Apollo is managing their famous villa and flower garden in there.

The upcoming wedding between the heiress of the Trañilla Clan who is famous with their clothing line and Simone, who is now the CEO of Haveen Incorporation, the country's leading hotel and restaurant company is already a headline to every newspapers, and undeniably the talk of the Internet.

"Stop worrying about me, Simone. I do not want to cause another stress on you."

He thank her for being understandable.

"I love you mo-," she did not finish saying that and automatically ends up the call when she hear the door opens.

With wide eyes, she look at Apollo, who is now standing inside at the room where she is in.