SHIELA'S POV"Grey, can we talk?"Chase looked at me. He probably didn't expect me to follow him out of the restaurant. He had told his parents that he still had some things to take care of, and since our parents had already come to an agreement, they gave me their blessing to follow him."Could you please stop calling me Grey?" he said, emotionless.He didn't stop walking, so I just kept following him. I wasn't going to waste this chance. It's better to start softening his heart now."Why? I thought we were friends before," I said softly."Friends? You were just a schoolmate to me," he said bluntly.I was slightly hurt. He really hadn't changed at all. The way he pushed me away before was exactly how he is treating me right now. But I wasn't going to give up."Chase, what can I do to make you notice me?" I asked desperately."Nothing," he replied briefly.I took a deep breath. We had already reached the parking lot, and he hadn't even glanced at me. I just kept following him until we
LEXI'S POV"Lexi, don’t be shocked by what I’m going to say. James had a seizure earlier, but he’s stable now."I took a deep breath upon hearing Savina’s words. She had been my eyes at the hospital where James was. He still hadn’t woken up, and I was very worried."I want to see him, Sav," I said, my voice cracking as I started to tear up.I had just arrived home, and Chase was right—Papa wasn’t there. So, at least I was able to breathe a little easier, since I wasn’t ready to face him yet. Just then, Savina called to update me about James."Lexi, right now, what you want is impossible. James' mother has barely been home, and no matter how much I beg them, they won’t let you see him. I’m sorry, Lexi," Savina said sadly.I nodded slowly as the tears that I had been holding back began to fall. I was angry at myself because there was nothing I could do for James."But don’t worry, I’ll keep you updated. Let’s not insist on you seeing him for now, because you know the kind of trouble tha
LEXI'S POVI hurried to Midnight Elixir Bar, where Chase said he needed my help. He didn’t explain what kind of help he required on the phone— he just asked me to meet him there. Since I wanted to talk to him anyway, I didn’t hesitate to go. Luckily, I knew the place because Savina had taken me there once before.“It's the first time I’ve seen a guy waiting in a bar’s parking lot,” I teased when I got into his parked car. He didn’t seem drunk—there was no trace of alcohol on him.“Guess who’s inside the bar,” he said instead of responding.I frowned, not in the mood for riddles. “That’s the help you need? Guessing games?” I asked, barely concealing my irritation.He sighed, clearly unimpressed by my sarcasm. “Shiela is inside.”“So?”“I think I might be the reason she’s drinking herself silly. Even if I don’t want to marry her, my conscience can’t handle something bad happening to her. I'm afraid she might use it also to frame me,” he admitted.“You have a conscience? That’s new,” I s
LEXI'S POVGoosebumps crawled all over my skin because of a strange feeling I couldn’t quite understand. Chase’s face was so close to mine that I couldn’t move. I wanted to push him away, but my strength seemed to have left me. I lacked the courage to do anything at that moment. I was just frozen at where I am standing right now.I swallowed hard when he gently held my chin and turned my face to look at him. He was staring straight into my eyes."Don't you think it is unfair?" he asked seriously."W-what?" I stammered.Instead of answering, he suddenly pressed his lips against mine. It felt like millions of volts of electricity coursed through my entire body. Our lips remained locked as I held my breath, eyes closed.No. This isn’t right. I should do something.But I couldn’t move. My body felt paralyzed, and all I could sense was the loud thumping of my heart.When he pulled his lips away, I finally opened my eyes. He was still staring at me intently, while I slowly slid down to the
LEXI'S POV“So, you’re not gay,” I said while lying on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling. I couldn’t move, as if my brain still hadn’t fully processed everything that had just happened.“Who said I’m gay?” he replied, and I felt his hands slide under my neck and the backs of my thighs. I didn’t resist as he lifted me and carried me to his bed.When I felt the soft mattress beneath me, I instinctively closed my eyes for a moment. I have to admit, my back was sore—from the cold floor and, of course, from what we had done earlier. Still naked, I pulled the blanket over myself to cover my body.“My parents think I am, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. And I just proved that to you,” he said with a smirk, standing by the bed.I glanced at him. Now that he had a towel wrapped around his waist, I had enough courage to look at him directly.“Having s*x with a woman doesn’t guarantee your gender,” I said flatly.He laughed softly, looking at me in disbelief. “So, how many times do I hav
SHIELA'S POV“d*mn that man. He really left me all alone,” I muttered in frustration, downing the drink I’d ordered.“It’s your fault, Shiela. You’re rushing things too much. It’s like you don’t know our old team captain anymore,” said Jenny, the owner of Midnight Elixir Bar and one of my high school friends.“You know, I never understood him, even back then. I mean, excuse me— Shiela Marie Castillon has been after him for years. And yet what? He chose to chase Lexi instead,” I said bitterly.Even now, I still can’t believe how Chase continued to ignore me. Way back in high school, I’d spent so long before trying to get his attention, only to find out he was courting my oh-so-perfect half-sister. And the worst part? Lexi actually said yes. She probably thought being the girlfriend of the team captain would elevate her status.“Didn’t he just do it because of a bet? So why should it even bother you?” Jenny remarked.I stayed silent, focusing instead on my drink.“But it’s still crazy.
SHIELA'S POV“Girl, that's enough already. You might actually get drunk for real. How will you score with Chase later if you’re wasted?”I let out a frustrated sigh and glanced at my watch. I’d been waiting here at Jenny’s bar for almost an hour, and Chase still hadn’t arrived. Boredom was getting the better of me, and I couldn’t stop ordering drinks. I was starting to feel dizzy, but I knew I could still handle it.“Why is he taking so long?” I asked irritably.“Are you even sure he’ll come? We might just be waiting for nothing,” Jenny replied, her voice carrying a baritone of doubt.I shook my head quickly. “Even if he is cold toward me, I know he can’t resist me. No one has ever said no to me, you know!”“Shiela, you’re drunk. Let me take you home,” Jenny offered.As she reached for my hand, I pulled away swiftly. “No. I’m not leaving here unless Chase is the one taking me home,” I declared stubbornly.“Shiela, do you even hear yourself right now?” she asked incredulously.I gave h
SHIELA'S POVI wiped my tears angrily and looked back at Chase's car. I can’t lose now. Everything was already going my way, and I wouldn’t allow it to be ruined just because of the girl he was talking about."Let me meet her," I said, emotionless."No," Chase replied firmly.I smiled faintly. "Once I meet your girl, I'll leave you both alone. I’ll even make excuses for our parents to stop the marriage," I added."I know you, Shiela. I won’t let you hurt my girlfriend."I laughed at what he said. I couldn’t believe he still carried the fear of what I was capable of. I didn’t think he’d still remember what I did to Lexi when I found out they were together before."As long as she’s not Lexi, I won’t do anything. And for sure, she’s not your girlfriend now, right?" I said with a smirk.I had no intention of bringing up my half-sister, but I was stunned by his reaction. He looked at me seriously, and my heart began to race."What the f*ck, Chase!" I exclaimed angrily.Even though I was di
LEXI'S POV"Where are you? You're not here at the hospital," Chase's voice greeted me the moment I answered his call.I let out a deep sigh. "I'm on my way back, but there's someone I need to talk to first. Do you have anything else scheduled?" I asked in return."I canceled my other appointments. Do you want me to go with you?" His voice carried a serious undertone."No, it's okay, Grey This won't take long. I'll be back soon.""Alright, be careful. Call me if you need anything. I love you, Baby.""I love you too, Grey."I ended the call and started driving. After my conversation with Gino, I received another call—this time from my father’s lawyer. He provided little detail, only emphasizing that our meeting was crucial and had to remain confidential. I had no clue what this was about, especially since this was the first time I would ever speak to him.The meeting place wasn’t far, and in less than thirty minutes, I arrived at an upscale restaurant with private VIP rooms. Attorney Ar
LEXI'S POVFor nearly two hours, I sat by my mother’s grave, lost in my thoughts. Eventually, my tears stopped falling on their own. I had also turned off my phone to keep anyone from disturbing me. I made sure to let Chase know that I was fine, so he wouldn’t worry. We both needed time and space to think. We had needed each other before, but for now, perhaps being apart was what we truly needed.I finally decided to stand up, brushing off the dirt from my clothes. I had to return to the hospital. My father needed me there.“I’ll visit again, Mama. I love you so much, and I miss you terribly.”I turned to leave, but in my absentmindedness, I failed to notice someone approaching. I only snapped back to reality when a firm, but gentle hand caught my arm.“Lexi.”I looked up and was momentarily startled. “Gino… It’s you.”Standing before me was Gino, Chase’s former teammate—the same man who had helped us when Shiela got drunk at the bar.“Yeah. I’ve been calling your name, but you seemed
LEXI'S POV"I don't know how to tell Papa and Chelsea about what I’ve discovered," Chase said in a low voice after recounting everything he had learned.I could no longer hold back my tears. Everything I had just found out was overwhelming, and I didn’t even know how to react. Papa had just woken up, but he still couldn't speak. He had no way of telling me what really caused his attack. I had no idea how much he knew about Aunt Minda.And now, I had learned that Chase’s stepmother was Aunt Minda’s lover and accomplice in the accident that killed my mother. If we could get the truck driver to testify, it would be enough to put Aunt Minda behind bars. But along with that would come the destruction of Chase’s family. And I didn’t know how Chelsea and Uncle Carlo would take it.I had no problem if my father’s family fell apart—he didn’t deserve someone like my stepmother. I wouldn’t hesitate to expose the whole truth to finally get justice for my mother. But Chase’s family was different.
FLASHBACK“Good morning, Sir Ricky.”Ricky merely nodded in response to the greeting of the man he had tasked with investigating his wife. The man had been tailing Minda for nearly two weeks and had only now come forward to report. Ricky despised what he was doing, but his unease had grown unbearable over the past weeks. He had caught his wife talking on the phone several times, her tone secretive, and she had been leaving the house more frequently—without telling him where she was going.“Any news?” he asked, his voice devoid of emotion.“Sir Ricky, your wife often visits an exclusive village. I couldn’t follow her inside because of the tight security, but every time she left that exclusive village, a tinted car always followed her. I couldn’t confirm if a man was driving it. I tried tailing the car, but whoever was inside must have noticed me because they managed to shake me off. Aside from that village, she doesn’t seem to go anywhere else.”Ricky clenched his fists tightly. His su
THIRD POVChase was so overwhelmed by the truth he had just uncovered that he couldn’t remember how he ended up standing in front of the TAC Group of Companies' building. He stood there, frozen at the entrance, staring blankly into space.“Good morning, Sir Chase.”The cheerful greetings of the employees snapped him out of his stupor. Forcing a polite smile, he nodded at them before taking a deep breath and walking inside. He was certain his father was in his office. He didn’t know exactly what he would do, but he couldn’t keep what he had learned from his father.“Papa, are you busy?” Chase asked as he entered the office.“No. Actually, I was just about to head to the hospital. I heard what happened to Ricky. Wait—why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your wife?” Carlo asked, his expression filled with concern.“Papa, we need to talk,” he said firmly, his voice laced with tension.“Is it urgent, son? You know I canceled all my appointments today because of what happened to Ricky,”
THIRD POVWhen Savina arrived at the hospital, Chase excused himself from Lexi. He needed to confront his father about everything that had been happening. He had to confirm his suspicion: was his father involved with Emerald’s stepmother? But before he could reach his father’s office, his phone buzzed with a call from the investigator.“Mr. Sandoval, I found the driver of the truck that hit the taxi back then.”Instead of going to his father, Chase prioritized meeting the driver responsible for the accident that killed Lexi’s mother. The driver lived in a nearby province, and within an hour, Chase found himself in front of a small, shabby house.A frail, elderly man was sweeping the yard. Chase glanced at the photo in his hand and confirmed—it was the same man. The answers to his questions lay with him.“Mr. Dela Cruz,” he called out.The man froze. As soon as their eyes met, he turned and attempted to run, but he was quick to grab his arm.“Wait, please.”“Did they send you here to k
LEXI'S POV"I will call Grandma Mirasol to inform her about this," Chase said with a smile as we got back into his car."Grey, can we not? At least, not yet?" I asked hesitantly.My husband's smile faded instantly. "Why?"I placed a hand on my stomach and let out a deep sigh. "I didn’t want anyone to know yet. I’m scared that my sister might turn her anger towards our baby. I don’t want our child to get hurt," I said, my voice trembling as tears welled up in my eyes.Chase leaned closer, gently kissing my forehead. "I understand, Lexi. I know it’s selfish, but what if you leave for a while? Go with Grandma abroad. I will handle everything here."I shook my head quickly. "I won’t leave you, Chase. I don’t want to."He stared at me, and after a few moments, he sighed. "Alright, fine. But I think it’s best if you quit your job. I can’t always be there to watch over you, Lexi. And I think it’s safer if we move into the mansion. At least there, I know you’ll be protected," he said firmly.
LEXI'S POVAfter speaking with the investigator, Chase fell into a heavy silence. He drove without a word, heading to an unknown destination. I could feel his confusion and anger, so I chose to remain quiet as well. I was just as lost in my thoughts, unsure of how to process everything I had learned. Was the world really this small for Chase and me?An hour passed, and Chase finally stopped the car. I looked out the window and realized we were by the beach. So absorbed was I in my thoughts that I hadn’t noticed how far we had gone.He got out without a word, and I followed him. He took off his shoes and let the seawater lap at his feet. Then, with all his might, he screamed into the open air.“Grey,” I called softly.He dropped to his knees, overwhelmed, and I quickly approached him.“I don’t know how to feel if I find out my father is truly behind all this,” he said, tears streaming down his face.I shook my head gently. “Grey, don’t think like that yet. Don’t doubt your father unles
LEXI'S POVI opened my eyes as I felt Chase getting up. He headed straight to the bathroom, while I slowly got out of bed. A grimace crossed my face as I felt the heaviness in my body. I lay back down, sensing that something wasn’t quite right. Thankfully, I still had one more day of leave, given that I had just gotten married. As for my husband, I wasn’t sure if he had plans because he seemed to be in a hurry.When he came out of the bathroom, our eyes met.“You’re awake,” he said, looking a bit surprised.I glanced at his outfit. “Are you going out?” I couldn’t help but ask.He gave a small smile and nodded lightly. “I wasn’t sure if I should tell you, but I’m meeting James,” he said directly.“James? Why? I’m coming with you.”I sat up quickly. As I was about to head to the bathroom, Chase grabbed my arm.“Are you ready to hear what he has to say?” he asked seriously.“Ready or not, I need to do this, Grey. We can’t move forward if we don’t start somewhere,” I replied firmly.He si