When she arrived home, she went straight to the bathroom. Her stomach had been hurting for a while, but she'd been holding it in.Her stomach was sensitive, so she was very careful with what she ate. But today, she made an exception. Drake had offered her the food, and she didn’t want to disappoint him. She didn’t want to turn him down, but now, she was paying the price. She threw up everything she ate, and the pain didn’t go away. Exhausted, she took some medicine, and the relief was immediate."You have every right to say no to Drake, your health comes first," Melissa lectured her when she called to share the details of what happened during their date."Besh, I just did it because I wanted to impress him," she laughed on the other end of the line."You're being ridiculous. It's not you who should impress him; he should be the one trying to impress you. Don't forget that’s one of your mottos," Melissa continued.She understood. But Drake was different. She wanted him more than he seem
It’s been a week since Akie’s accident, and she heard that he has already woken up. He just needs to stay in the hospital to recover. Every day after her duty, she visits him. Akie is confined in a different hospital, not the one run by the Icharri family. Today is her last day as an intern. She only completed two months’ worth of hours, as most of her days were spent at the hospital, caring for Akie.Now, she only has to wait for graduation day. After that, she’s supposed to marry Drake. But where is Drake? Since that day when she visited his company, she hasn’t been able to reach him, and she hasn’t heard anything about him. She even asked his assistant about his whereabouts, but all she ever gets is that Drake is on vacation. If he's just on vacation, why is it so hard for him to let her know? That way, she wouldn’t be so worried.She tries calling Drake again, but still, no answer. It’s almost become a daily routine for her to dial his number, hoping he will pick up, but now she wo
Gypsy’s breath hitched as the weight of his words settled in. Her heart pounded wildly against her chest, torn between fear and an unfamiliar excitement that sent shivers cascading down her spine. She had always been wild at heart, but this—this was uncharted territory. In her twenty-one years, she had never given herself to a man in this way, had never crossed that invisible line of intimacy she once swore to protect. Yet now, with Drake standing before her, masked and unreadable, she found herself unable to turn away.“Fine,” she whispered, though the word felt heavier than she expected. A boldness flickered within her, masking the tremor in her voice. There was no turning back.A ghost of a smile tugged at Drake’s lips, an unreadable expression shadowed by the dim lighting of his vast office. The air between them pulsed with tension, thick and suffocating. He reached for her, his touch featherlight against her arm, yet it ignited a wildfire beneath her skin. There was something abou
The next morning, when she woke up, she was alone in the room. Her naked body was tangled in the blanket. A sharp pain lingered in the sensitive parts of her body, but she forced herself to stand up and gather her composure. She left the room and wandered around the office, but she couldn’t find Drake anywhere.A deep feeling of shame washed over her. She didn’t expect to feel so... used. After everything, after all that had happened, it was clear now—once he was done with her, he left. Never in her life had she felt such a thing; it was foreign to her, something that only happened now. She hated Drake, but at the same time, she loved him.Then it all just hit her. She had given him the one thing she’d always protected—the precious gift of her virginity. And now there was no turning back.She went home, lost in her thoughts, completely numb, as if she were walking in a haze. Her best friend, Melissa, couldn’t help but worry when she saw how distraught Gypsy was. Even though her schedul
She had no idea what happened last night. Everything was a complete blur. No matter how hard she tried to recall the events, there were fragments of her memory that refused to return. Who brought her home? How did she manage to arrive safely?Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden ringing of her phone. It was Rona."Gypsy, I’m so sorry! We didn’t mean to leave you behind!" Rona’s voice was laced with guilt.Gypsy pressed the phone closer to her ear, her heartbeat echoing in her chest."I thought you already went home," Rona explained, her voice filled with regret. "You weren’t at the table anymore, so we assumed you left. I didn’t know you were still in the restroom."Gypsy leaned against her bed’s headboard, closing her eyes. So that was what happened. She had been locked away in the restroom, sick and alone, while her so-called friends unknowingly abandoned her.She sighed. "It’s fine, Rona. I was in there for a long time, and I didn’t tell anyone where I was going."After a few
Melissa was in the middle of a shoot when her phone rang. The moment she saw the caller ID, a sense of unease settled in her chest. She answered, and the voice on the other end sent a chill down her spine."Melissa—it's Gypsy… she’s been in an accident."Her world stopped.Her hands trembled as she gripped her phone tighter. "What?! What happened?! Where is she?!""She was rushed to the hospital. It’s bad, Melissa. Really bad."Melissa’s heart pounded against her ribcage. She didn’t even let the caller finish—she grabbed her things and stood up."Melissa, you can’t leave yet! We still have the final scenes to shoot!" her manager protested, grabbing her arm.But Melissa didn’t care."Screw the shoot! My best friend’s life is more important than this!" she snapped, shaking her arm free.She barked orders at her assistant to pack her things. There was no time to go home and change—she needed to get to Gypsy.Now.The moment she arrived at the hospital, chaos greeted her.Doctors and nurse
Melissa stormed out of the building, unable to bear the sight of Drake any longer. Rage coursed through her veins. How could she not be furious? He was hurting her best friend. Sure, Melissa had been a fool for love before—she had loved Tristan despite everything—but she refused to let Gypsy make the same mistakes she did. She couldn't stand by and watch her suffer through the agony that came from loving the wrong person. Gypsy was strong, independent—she never let a man get too close. But she had made an exception for Drake, and now she was paying the price.Her phone rang, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was Aunt Carmela."Yes, Auntie? Really? That’s great news! I’ll be there right away."Gypsy had finally woken up.A wave of relief washed over Melissa, and without wasting a second, she jumped into her car and sped toward the hospital. The moment she arrived, she rushed into Gypsy’s room, enveloping her in a tight embrace. Her friend was pale, her eyes dull, and her body weak, b
A week had passed since she was discharged from the hospital. Gypsy was finally feeling better, though a small bandage still covered the scar on her forehead. But today was the day—the long-awaited trip to Palawan with Akie.She had never been to Palawan before, and for days, she had been searching for the most breathtaking destinations to visit. Each spot she found, she carefully listed down in her notepad, making sure not to forget even a single place. She wanted this vacation to be perfect—an escape from stress, a time to truly enjoy herself.She had even invited Melissa to come along, but her best friend had to decline. Lately, Melissa had been swamped with back-to-back magazine cover shoots, her demand skyrocketing in the modeling industry. Gypsy didn’t mind, though. Akie would be with her, and that was more than enough.Her suitcase was packed, brimming with clothes—perhaps too many for just a week-long trip. But who cared? She wasn't about to repeat outfits in a place as beautif
Gypsy couldn’t hold back the flood of tears as she stood beside Drake, her heart pounding with a mix of anguish and hope. Every drop that slid down her cheeks carried the weight of fear—the terror of losing the one person who meant everything to her"I love you too, Drake," she whispered, her voice trembling, thick with sorrow and devotion. As Drake pulled her into his embrace, the world around them seemed to blur, as if nothing else existed beyond the warmth of his arms.Her chest tightened as her gaze traveled over his bruises, the angry red gashes painting his skin—cruel reminders of the accident that had nearly taken him from her. The mere thought of losing him made her breath hitch in her throat."Drake, we have to get you to a hospital," she urged, desperation lacing her tone. She needed to know he was going to be okay. She couldn’t bear another second of uncertainty.Around them, the gathered witnesses shared in her pain. The sight of their once unshakable Gypsy, the girl who h
Tomorrow, Gypsy would be leaving for the States. The weight of that reality pressed down on her like an unbearable storm, suffocating in its finality. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the open suitcase in front of her, her fingers trembling as she folded each piece of clothing. The fabric felt foreign in her hands, as if they belonged to a version of herself that no longer existed. She was bringing so little, yet it still felt like too much—too many remnants of a life she had to leave behind, too many reminders of what was lost.As she zipped up the suitcase, the silence in the room became deafening. It was a silence thick with unspoken pain, filled with ghosts of laughter, whispered promises, and a love that once felt unbreakable. Her chest tightened, and though she tried to hold it in, the tears came anyway. Hot, unstoppable, searing against her cheeks. She let them fall. She had to.And then there was him.Drake.His name was a whisper in her mind, a bittersweet ache that
Drake had no choice but to return to the office, yet hope still burned within him. Despite everything that had happened, he refused to believe that all was lost. There had to be a way—some path that would lead him back to Gypsy. He could feel her slipping away, distancing herself from him more and more with each passing day, but he wasn’t ready to let go. Not yet. Not without a fight.The thought of never seeing her again, of never having another chance to make things right, gnawed at his soul. He couldn’t allow their story to end this way. With desperation simmering in his chest, he reached for his phone and dialed a familiar number.After a few rings, Mrs. Cameron, Gypsy’s mother, answered."Yes, Drake? What’s the problem?" Her voice carried a weight, a quiet sadness that spoke of a mother’s deep understanding."I wanted to discuss the arranged marriage," he said, his throat tightening. He had never imagined this conversation would be so difficult, yet here he was, forcing the words
Gypsy had so many plans for the day, yet she put everything on hold. She even asked their housemaid to accompany her to the grocery store to buy the necessary ingredients. Today, she wanted to cook for Drake. She knew how hectic his schedule was at the office, and she thought it would be best to bring him food when she visited. The meals she had prepared weren’t just ordinary dishes—they were special recipes crafted with love and devotion. She had even spent hours learning how to perfect his favorite adobo through YouTube tutorials.With a heart full of excitement, she got ready, packed the homemade meal into a lunchbox, and set off.As soon as she stepped into the towering building of Drake’s company, she felt a surge of confidence. The security guard and several employees who recognized her greeted her warmly. She responded with a sweet smile, her heart swelling with happiness. Today, she felt exceptionally beautiful, and the world seemed to reflect that feeling right back at her.Ho
[Veronica's PoV]"Gypsy."Veronica turned sharply at the sound of the name. As the day of mourning continued, the funeral was finally reaching its conclusion. This was the last time they would see Mrs. Mortel, the final farewell before she was laid to rest forever. The air was thick with grief, but Veronica had something else on her mind.She knew Gypsy was jealous of her—jealous because she had been by Drake’s side throughout this ordeal. Gypsy didn’t know that she and Drake were cousins, and judging by the way she kept glaring at her, it was obvious what she was thinking. She probably assumed that there was something romantic between them. Veronica smirked. If that was what Gypsy wanted to believe, then so be it.As Gypsy walked away after saying her goodbyes to her mother, Veronica took a step forward, calling out, "Wait."Gypsy hesitated but eventually turned around, her expression unreadable."You’re Gypsy, right? I’m Veronica" Veronica asked directly, watching the way Gypsy’s eye
Gypsy knew that Drake was busy, but this was important—she was leaving for the States soon. She called him again, hoping he would finally agree, but his response remained the same. He turned her down once more. A lump formed in her throat as disappointment settled deep in her chest. Was he avoiding her? She had invited him to dinner several times, wanting to tell him something in person, but each time, he refused. This was the first time he had ever rejected her, and it stung more than she expected.More than that, it took him hours to respond to her calls and messages, as if she were no longer a priority. Was he growing tired of chasing her? Was he no longer the man who used to move heaven and earth just to be with her? Gypsy had finally gathered the courage to open up about her feelings, but it seemed like it was too late. Maybe Drake had already lost interest in her.Yet, deep inside, she was sure he still loved her. She could feel it. She held onto that belief, convincing herself t
"Ate Gypsy!" Natalia's cheerful voice rang out as she spotted her. Natalia, Vincent’s younger sister, had grown close to her over time. Gypsy had just arrived at the gathering—a welcome party for Vincent."Glad to see you, Ate Gypsy!" Natalie, another one of Vincent’s sisters, greeted her with a warm smile. Before she could respond, they guided her toward a table, insisting that she sit with them.But calling it a party was a bit of an exaggeration. It was more of an intimate family dinner, a gathering meant to celebrate Vincent’s return. Gypsy had long been a familiar presence in Vincent’s household. His family had always been welcoming, treating her like she was one of their own—a second family.Her eyes wandered to the feast spread across the table. "Wow, there’s so much food! And these are all my favorites!" she exclaimed, delighted yet puzzled. It was as if the menu had been designed with her in mind."You know, Tita, these are all my favorites," she pointed out playfully, looking
Gypsy stepped into his house, immediately fanning herself. "I feel hot. Do you not have an air conditioner here?" she asked, her voice laced with discomfort.Drake turned on the air conditioning, setting it to full blast, but it seemed to have little effect. Gypsy still looked flushed, beads of sweat forming on her temples. She shrugged off the jacket he had given her earlier, and to his horror, she looked like she was about to take off even more."Wait! What are you doing?" he stopped her just as she reached for the hem of her blouse."Are you blind? I'm undressing.""But you're in my room."She let out a teasing laugh, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, please. This isn’t the first time we’ve been in the same room without clothes on. Did you forget?"Of course, he didn’t forget. It haunted him, replayed in his mind more times than he’d care to admit. As she stepped closer, he could feel the heat radiating off her. Even in her drunken state, she was undeniably intoxicating. She wrapped
Drake stirred awake as the golden rays of the morning sun streamed through the bedroom window. The warmth of the light fell upon his face, rousing him from his deep slumber. As his eyes adjusted to the brightness, he turned his head to the side and found Gypsy lying beside him, still fast asleep. Her breathing was soft and even, her bare shoulders rising and falling gently beneath the sheets. For a fleeting moment, he simply watched her, memorizing every delicate feature of her face. Then, unable to resist, he leaned in, intending to place a gentle kiss on her lips.But just as he was about to close the distance between them, her eyelids fluttered open.“Good morning,” he greeted, quickly pulling away.Gypsy didn’t respond. Instead, without a word, she threw back the covers and began gathering her scattered clothes from the floor. The silence between them was deafening as she slipped into her dress, her movements brisk and detached.“Where’s my bag?” she asked, her voice devoid of emot