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 POVI slowly opened my eyes and was greeted by Chase’s peaceful face. I couldn’t move right away because he was holding me tightly, his face was so close to mine. Thankfully, he was still sound asleep.I bit my lip. I really did stay over at his condo.Flashback"I'm used to sleeping on the floor as long as there’s a mat," I said to Chase with a smile when we got back to his condo.He frowned. "What? No. We’ll sleep together tonight," he said seriously.Chase had been in a serious mood ever since we left the bar’s parking lot. I didn’t know why his demeanor suddenly shifted. I didn’t know what to think or do, and instead of feeling comfortable around him, I began to feel uneasy again.He walked over to his bed and fixed the sheets that had been messed up earlier. I couldn’t help but recall what had happened earlier. I felt my face heating up again at the thought."Come," he said after finishing."I need to shower first, but I don’t have clothes to change into," I said hesitantl
THIRD POVLexi was about to reach for Gino’s hand to go with him when they both froze—Shiela’s cell phone suddenly rang. They simultaneously turned to look at the young woman as she fished the phone out of her bag. Lexi was suddenly filled with anxiety for a reason she couldn't quite explain.“Yes, Charlene?” Shiela answered the call.“You fool! Where are you right now? Have you got Lexi yet?” Charlene asked nervously.“Why? What’s wrong?” Shiela asked, confused.“My god, Shiela! If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have let you use my people. I might get dragged into your family’s mess,” Charlene snapped.“Wait, wait—what are you talking about?”“Don’t you know yet? Your mother is already in police custody. She’s being charged with murder.”Shiela turned pale at the news. Her heartbeat quickened with fear, and her hands began to sweat.“A-are you sure about that?”"Shiela, it’s on national TV. The whole country knows what your mother did, and Chase’s mother is involved, too.
THIRD POVShiela gave a bitter smile upon hearing the voice of the man who had hurt her repeatedly. The sweet, affectionate tone he used with her just days ago was now gone. It was all an act—to get information about her mother.“Relax. There’s no need to get mad, Chase. They’re safe for now,” she said emotionlessly.“Don’t you dare hurt them,” Chase said, panic in his voice.She smiled again and sighed deeply. “You’ve got some nerve to say that to me now. You lied to me and gave me false hope. All those lies—for what? To get information?”“And why would I get information from you? Do you even know what really happened with the fire in my condo back then?” Chase shot back.Shiela froze, still burning with rage. She took a deep breath as the man she had called earlier finally arrived. He was panting, clearly having run a long way to reach the location. She gave him a faint smile and turned her attention back to the person on the phone.“I’m sure you won’t report this to the police. Eve
THIRD POVChase’s office was thick with tension. His father and his sister Chelsea were there. Spread out on his table were the pieces of evidence he had gathered to strengthen the case he filed against his stepmother and her lover, Minda. His father examined them one by one, while he and Chelsea waited in silence for his reaction.“Papa, I’m sorry that this is how you had to find out everything,” he finally broke the silence.Chelsea stepped closer to him and held his hand tightly. He was immensely grateful to his sister; despite the pain of everything happening, she still chose to stand by what was right. Now, all he hoped was that their father would do the same.Carlo slowly set the papers down and let out a deep sigh. “I never thought my wife would go this far,” he said, clearly dismayed.The siblings exchanged glances. Their father was calm. He didn’t even look surprised—almost as if he already knew all of it.“Papa,” Chelsea called softly.“I’ve known for a long time that your m
THIRD POV"I didn’t expect that we’d meet here."Gino turned toward the woman who suddenly spoke. He wasn’t surprised to see who it was—he could never forget the voice of the woman he hurt because of his deep love for Lexi."Savina," he murmured softly.Savina stepped closer to the grave and gently placed the flowers she had brought for her friend. A bitter smile crossed her face—after all these years, the first man she had ever loved was standing there, at her best friend’s final resting place."May I ask why you're here?" she couldn't help but ask.Gino let out a sigh. "Lexi was my friend too."Savina took a deep breath and turned to face Gino, who was staring off into the distance. She couldn’t miss the empty beer bottles beside him. His appearance had also changed drastically—so different from how he looked on his social media accounts.“It’s been eight years, right? Don’t you think it’s about time you finally tell me the real reason you broke up with me back then?” she said, gath
LEXI'S POV“Chase.”Chase and I both turned to Chelsea when she called him. We had just finished eating breakfast. Chelsea still hadn’t gone home ever since she found out about her mother. She had asked her brother to cover for her so that Uncle Carlo wouldn’t worry.Chelsea had been speaking to us again, but not the same way as before. There was now a wall between the two of us, which I completely understood. I couldn’t blame her for how she was acting towards me and Chase. What mattered now was that she still trusted us.“Can I come with you today? I just want to see Papa.”Chase and I looked at each other. I nodded, showing that I agreed with what Chelsea wanted. I trusted her enough to know that she wouldn’t tell anyone I was alive.“Are you ready to see her?” Chase asked seriously.Chelsea lowered her head, and I didn’t miss how her fists clenched. “I need to accept it, right? No matter what I do, the past won’t change. And just like you, Chase, I only want all this chaos to end.
THIRD POV"Gino, where the hell are you now?"Gino pulled his phone away from his ear as his sister Charlene shouted at him. This was one of the reasons he often hesitated to answer her calls—he knew she was just looking for him."I'm heading home soon," he replied quietly."Wait—are you drunk again?" she asked angrily.He smiled faintly. "Don’t worry. I can go home. Bye."He didn’t wait for Charlene’s response and quickly ended the call. He returned the phone to his pocket and took another swig from the bottle he had been holding for a while. It had lost its chill, and he winced at the bitter taste.“If I had known that would be our last conversation, I would’ve made the most of it,” he said sadly, staring at the tombstone he visited nearly every day. Tears fell again as he took another sip of beer.GINO'S POV (FLASHBACK)Shiela’s bullying was a normal thing in our school. On the first day of class, I was just quietly observing while waiting for Chase. I was looking at the school gat
THIRD POVThe whole day passed, and Shiela tried several times to call and talk to Chase, but he never answered her calls. She spent the entire day sitting in the park, still hoping the young man would call her back—but she was disappointed. She had almost no tears left to cry after that morning’s emotional breakdown. She never imagined being hurt like this, thinking fate had finally started favoring her.She couldn’t understand why all of this was happening to her. Everyone she thought she could trust had been deceiving her. The life she thought was blessed turned out to be more complicated than Lexi’s.Shiela went home in a daze and gave a bitter smile when she saw her mother and Anna eating together at the house. When Anna saw her, she immediately stood up.“It’s good you’re here. Come, eat with us,” the woman said with a smile.“Your Aunt Anna cooked your favorite dish, dear,” her mother added.She turned her back on the two women. “I’m just going to see Papa.”She didn’t let them
SHIELA'S POVI didn’t even know what had happened anymore—I just suddenly found myself inside my car, parked not too far from the TAC building. I was simply staring at the entrance and exit. I didn’t know whether I should tell Trevor what I’d found out. I had no idea how he’d react once he learned that Lexi’s death wasn’t an accident.My life was starting to become smooth again. Things were going well between Chase and me, but after what my mom confessed, I wasn’t sure if it would all come crashing down. Even from the grave, my half-sister continued to bring chaos into my life. I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t just disappear from my path.My thoughts were cut short when I saw Chase come out of the building and head straight to his car. I wanted to talk to him, but he seemed to be in a rush. I tried calling him again, but he didn’t pick up.“What the h*ll, Chase?” I muttered to myself, frowning. I saw him glance at his phone when I called—but instead of answering, he just put it
THIRD POVBecause of what they talked about, Shiela immediately went to her mother’s office. She had now realized that only Chase could help her. As much as she didn’t want to believe that Lexi was haunting them, she couldn’t think of any other explanation for her mother’s strange behavior. That’s why she needed to talk to her mother and convince her to visit the faith healer Chase had consulted.When she arrived at her mother’s office, she was surprised to see Chase’s mother, Anna, there. She couldn’t help but wonder why the two women have been seeing each other more frequently lately. She wanted to feel happy that they were seemingly getting along—it was a huge advantage for her in winning over Chase—but she felt the opposite. She wasn’t happy, for reasons she couldn’t quite explain.“Sweetheart, do you need something?” her mother asked in surprise.Her gaze shifted between the two women. She didn’t want to assume anything improper, but she had walked in on them holding hands. She h