CHRISTY:“Kitten?” Everette asked when I did not say anything at all. “Are you fine? You’re not hurt, right?”All I could do was stare at Everette as I looked for words to answer.It was only a simple question that even a two-year-old baby could answer, but for me, it was difficult. I did not want to lie to him. Except not telling him about Mom and mine’s conversation earlier. What would I say? That he was wrong? That I was definitely hurt after learning he had one woman and that he only used me so that he wouldn’t marry someone else whom he might hurt if that woman loved him. All along, I thought it was because he asked me to marry him because of our debt. Only to find out it had something to do with Eden.I forced a smile before rolling to my side and facing him.“Why would I get hurt? I don’t care if you loved Eden or any woman at all. I don’t have any feelings for you, Everette. After six months, we will have our divorce. I will sign the divorce agreement and we will be saying go
CHRISTY:Everette was kidding. There was no way he would think that we were no longer indebted to him. Two hundred million dollars was not something a person could toss aside. Except Everette. He was wealthy and that large sum was nothing to him. He was a freaking billionaire, Christina!Still, my mind could not comprehend why he was doing this. It needed an explanation. “Why would you do that? Why would our debt be paid?”“You don't want to receive any gifts from me. Then, let's put it on the contract that your family will be paid for all your debt after six months. You no longer have any liability and if your company needs my help, I will do everything in my ability to help your parents. Your Mom said your company is unstable.”I forgot to breathe. He would do that?I really did not care about what happened to the company, but if something did happen, what would happen to Dad? He would no longer have the will to live.My eyes watered as I continued to stare at him. He laughed an
CHRISTY:Everette laughed. “It won’t happen, kitten. I won't fall for you. You can mark my words.”My hope crashed. The smile wiped away from my eyes. He was so sure about it that he wouldn't be falling for me. It must be because of my size. I was ugly and did not pass his standards.Or maybe he just loved Eden so much that he did not have any space for someone else.He patted my hair, tenderly. “I promise that this will be the best six months of your life. I will show you that you should not settle for less anymore. I will treat you like my queen.”“How did you know I always settle for less?”“Different men after every break-up?”“It wasn’t my fault that they always come to me when I am broken.”Tenderly, Everett put the strands of hair away from eyes. “You attracted assholes, kitten. A piece of advice. When you have your heart broken, the next thing you should do is heal yourself. Not to enter into another relationship with a broken heart. The new guy will break you again. I bet my
CHRISTY:Loving someone should not be this scary, but it was to me at the moment. I was scared of all the possibilities. That this will be another heartache and everything. Of course, this would be another heartache. Everette loved someone else and already made it a point. “You would cook for me?” Everette asked with disbelief in his voice. “You must think pretty bad of me.”“No, no. It's not like that.”It was like that. He was only being kind to me. I was quite aware of how I treated him before. It was bad. But now… I made up my mind. To the best of my abilities, I will be good to him until this will last. Because I realized that Everette did not deserve my broken version. He did not deserve my evil side. Even if this started as a business marriage, I will make sure that when we get divorced, no one will have any regrets.“You don't have to hide it. I am quite aware of how I've been to you. I will send you food for lunch.”He exhaled an air of disbelief as he continued staring
CHRISTY:I know Mom would never stop running my mood, and she aced it for now. She will never stop calling me and she did until we reached the house. I was already happy being with Everette and temporarily forgot the problem I had to deal with when we were in the resort, but now that we were back to reality, it felt like someone had slapped me hard to be back in the present. My phone beeped and Mom’s text flashed in.“Christina. You will pay for this!” When I did not respond, she continued showering me with text messages.John kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “Are you fine, Christy?” he asked with a concerned look.“How was your relationship with your parents?”“They are still alive, and it is great,” he said, smiling. “Lucky you. How old are they?”“They are in their eighties, but still healthy and I wished them a long long life.”John must have loved his parents because he wanted them to have a long life. While Mommy…“We were poor but rich in values. We were also ha
CHRISTY:Everette kept on looking at me and for once, I wanted to take back the words I said to him earlier. It was embarrassing and scary at the same time. I did not want him to think that I was using his money for our family’s benefit. But what I was doing was already proof that I was taking advantage of his wealth.What if…what if…I mentally shook my head. One step at a time. I had to think of one problem at the same time. If not, I would burst. “What would you use it for?” he asked, giving his full attention to me. He scratched the side of his neck.I groaned internally. Did he know I would be giving it to Mom?Don’t overthink, Christina. It was only between you and your Mom.I shifted in my seat as I looked for words on how to tell him. I would rather not say that Mom was blackmailing me so that I would give her money.“I’m…I’m planning on starting a business soon. It was only an initial estimate and I might have asked for more. You can add it to our debt, Everette. I woul
CHRISTY:Eden did not love Everette. That was the biggest surprise I experienced so far. Was there someone incapable of loving someone like him? He was the most ideal man I had ever encountered and not falling for him was one of the biggest mistakes someone could ever make. He was a complete package!“Can you believe it, kitten?” he asked. “My family would never understand why she did not fall for me. And I was too. I mean what should I do so that she will fall for me?”It was an unrequited love, but the amount of love Everette poured towards Eden despite knowing it wouldn’t be reciprocated was beyond comprehension.There was no difference between you and Everette. You both loved a person whom you could never love truly.Still…it was a shock that Eden did not love him at all. That was…surprising given the qualities that this man possessed.“Maybe…she loved someone else and really treated you like her brother.”He went back to his chair and put his hands under his chin. “Why is that?
CHRISTY:The money had been transferred to me a few years ago, but I had not informed Mom about the money. I was still debating on what I should do with it whether to give it to her or not. She won't stop calling and I could sense her desperation. I did not think it was something about Dad. I was always monitoring his condition through the nurses and doctors. “What are you up to now, Mom?” I mumbled to myself as I stepped out of my car. I never brought John with me and told him not to tell Everette about this.I pulled over to my parent’s parking lot and the maid automatically met me when she saw me. Now that I realize it, the house that holds so many memories of my childhood and Ben became even lonely. There was nothing worth remembering in this house no matter how grand it was.“Miss Christy!”“Where is Mom?”She averted her gaze and went back to me. “She went somewhere else, Miss Christy. But she said that she will be back.”“She left Dad’s side?”“He has his nurse with him.”“