LEXI'S POV"Thank you for dropping me off, Grey," I said with a smile as his car stopped in front of the building where I work.He smiled back at me. "Are you sure you’re ready to go back to work?" he asked."Of course. I can’t afford to stop working—I don’t want to run out of money, especially now that I can’t rely on Papa," I said jokingly.That was true. I didn’t want to stop working because I’d never wanted to depend on Papa for my financial needs, even before. Especially now, with all the problems at home."I could support you, you know. You don’t need to work," he said, smiling."Crazy. You’re not obligated to do that. Anyway, I’ll see you later. Bye."I was about to get out of the car when he suddenly grabbed my hand. I turned to him, puzzled. I didn’t think I’d forgotten anything."I love you, Lex," he said seriously.I became even more confused. "Grey, you don’t have to say that. No one’s watching us," I replied."I know. But we need to practice—to get used to it," he explain
THIRD POVThe video of Chase proposing to Lexi quickly went viral. Shiela saw it too, and she screamed at the top of her lungs, overwhelmed with rage. Her mother, Minda, immediately rushed to her and was equally furious when she saw the video."I can’t take this, Mama. Do something about this!" Shiela shouted angrily.Her mother promised her that the couple would be separated, but after watching the video, she realized their plan had become much more difficult. Chase had publicly announced his desire to marry Lexi to the entire country. She couldn’t accept this. She should have been the woman Chase proposed to, the one he knelt before. That proposal she had dreamed of for years was instead given to her mortal enemy."I can’t lose like this. She’s just Papa’s illegitimate child! She doesn’t deserve this. I should be the one, Mama. Only me!" she yelled hysterically.Her mother tried to calm her down, embracing her while stroking her hair."There’s still a way, my dear. That woman will n
LEXI'S POV"Are you already at home?"I glanced at my father's house while holding my phone to my right ear."I just need to drop by somewhere, Grey," I curtly replied to Trevor at the other end of the line."Okay, take care, Lex."I didn’t respond further and simply ended the call. I took a deep breath while staring at the gate. I had called Linda earlier, and she said that Papa and Aunt Minda would be home late. Shiela, on the other hand, was still devastated and just staying in her room, which gave me the courage to come home."Hija, why don’t you come in? Come inside," Linda greeted me as she stepped out of the gate.I quickly approached her and hugged her. I missed Linda, who had stood in as my mother, and I couldn’t help but cry because of it. The longing for a mother's child was still lingering in my mind."Lexi, don’t make me cry too," she said, almost in tears.I smiled faintly. I wiped my tears quickly and released her. If I had my own house, I would have taken her with me s
CHELSEA'S POVI decided to stay at my brother's condo because I wanted to see Lexi again. However, when I arrived, no one was there. My brother had already told me he’d be home late, and I couldn’t get through to Lexi. She is not answering my calls. Left with no choice, I called Chase instead."Chelsea, are you at the condo already?" he greeted."Yes, Chase. But Lexi isn’t here," I replied, glancing at my watch.It was already seven in the evening. I didn’t want to think negatively, but I couldn’t help worrying about her. She once told me how Shiela had nearly attempted to harm her, so I couldn’t shake off my anxiety."I’m on my way home."That was all Chase said before hanging up. I let out a sigh and slumped onto the sofa. Both of them are going through so much right now. That’s why I wanted them to feel that I was on their side. I also wanted Lexi to experience what it’s like to have a supportive sibling, something her half-sister had denied her. She's a great person, and she does
LEXI'S POVI slowly opened my eyes, greeted by a white ceiling. I scanned the room and spotted Chelsea arranging food on a table not too far away from where I was."Chelsea," I called softly."Hey, Lexi, how are you feeling? Do you need anything? Should I call the doctor?" she asked rapidly, worry evident in her voice.I gently shook my head, unable to respond as she suddenly embraced me. Her unexpected gesture caught me off guard."Lexi, please don’t scare us like that again. Chase and I were so worried," she said gently.I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. Everything that had happened earlier came rushing back to me, and I was beyond grateful that the siblings were there to help me. If they hadn’t arrived when they did, I might not even be alive right now. But even now, I can’t fully process the horrible truths I have learned from James.All my life, they made me believe my mother’s death was an accident. And now, they are trying to take my father away from me, too. I couldn’t
SHIELA'S POVI threw my phone against the wall in a fit of rage, shattering it into pieces. I screamed loudly, punching the pillows on my bed repeatedly."Shiela, what is it this time?" Mama asked as she stormed into my room."We need to kill that woman," I spat, my voice filled with venom.The anger burning inside me was unbearable. If I saw Lexi now, I wouldn’t hesitate to end her life. She had become a massive thorn in my side, standing in the way of everything I wanted."Calm yourself, Shiela. It’s a good thing your father isn’t home yet, or he might have heard you," Mama scolded me, her tone was sharp.Tears streamed down my face as I trembled with rage. I felt nothing but hatred and fury coursing through me."She’s not the same Lexi who always agreed with Papa. I don’t understand what changed her. It can’t be because of Chase, since she already loves James," I ranted.Mama sat beside me and gently wiped my tears. "Haven’t I told you before? Leave Lexi to me. You just need to kee
LEXI'S POV"Are you okay?"I looked up at Chase, surprised that he had already entered the room without me noticing it. I managed a faint smile. After everything that happened earlier, Chelsea chose to go home with their parents, while Chase stayed here at his condo to keep me company. After his bold declaration earlier, his father had stormed off in silence, followed by my own father. It seemed none of them could believe what he had said."Chelsea said they’re home now, and it’s peaceful there," he added, breaking the silence.I took a deep breath, letting my thoughts wander back to the events of the day. Everything was becoming far too complicated. When I saw Aunt Minda earlier, my hands trembled with rage. I wanted to confront her, to scream at her for what she had done, but I couldn’t let her know that I already knew the truth. I didn’t have a solid plan yet on how to get back at her.I knew their mother-daughter act was calculated. They had likely orchestrated the events earlier
THIRD POV“Can I finally get your approval to marry Lexi?” Chase asked, emotionless.Chase was currently at his family’s mansion, summoned by his father. He had left Lexi at the condo, still sound asleep. He had written her a note to ensure she wouldn’t worry when she woke up.It was the weekend, and Chase had planned to take Lexi out for some relaxation. However, since speaking with his father was a rare opportunity, he decided to indulge the older man’s request.“I want to understand why you’re so eager to marry that woman,” his father said seriously.He let out a bitter laugh. “Aren’t you the one pushing me to get married? That’s why you want me to marry that woman you liked,” he retorted."That woman has a name. It's Shiela.""Lexi also had a name," he said seriously.His father took a deep breath. “All we want is what’s best for you. Your mother chose Shiela because she knows who’s best for you. And it’s her.”Chase looked at his mother in disbelief. He had always thought she was
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
LEXI'S POV"I love you, Lexi." I was speechless at what Chase said. I don't understand myself because my body's reaction is contrary to what my mind is shouting. My mind really wanted to respond to what he said, but I couldn't even open my mouth. So instead of speaking, I just kissed him.It should be just a quick kiss. But when he held my neck, our kiss deepened even more. His left hand also became restless, caressing my entire body. While he was kissing me, he slowly pushed me back against the bathtub. A small moan escaped my lips as my neck pressed against the cold edge of the bathtub."You're so sexy when moaning, Baby," he said hoarsely to me.I pulled him closer to kiss him again. My hands also became restless, wandering everywhere. And just as I was about to touch him, he immediately stopped my hand."No, Baby. I want our first night to be special."I was about to speak when suddenly the paper bag that had fallen on the floor made a sound. We both turned to look there, and I al
LEXI'S POVIt was already one in the morning when we finally made our way up to one of the rooms at Chase's event place. I couldn’t help but shake my head at the sight of the room—it was still in line with their princess or royal theme. No wonder White Castle is one of the most popular event venues in the entire country.“You’re tired, baby. Want to take a shower? There are clothes in the cabinet,” Chase said seriously while checking something on his phone.I glanced at the paper bag I was holding. Chelsea gave it to me and specifically told me to wear it tonight. I hadn’t looked inside yet, but I had a strong feeling it was nightwear since she even teased that she was excited to have a niece or nephew. Just the thought of it made my face feel warm. She even mentioned that Grandma Mirasol helped her pick it out.Feeling sticky, I decided to head to the bathroom for a shower. I smiled as I saw the bathtub and the array of soaps and scented candles prepared there. I set the paper bag on
LEXI'S POVIt was already 11:00 in the evening when the wedding reception ended, and almost all the guests had left. The only ones remaining were Chase's family and my family. Our families were engaged in a conversation, but it was evident that only my father was actively participating. I also noticed that Chase's stepmother barely spoke. I couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling I had about her—perhaps because I didn’t feel she had fully accepted me as Chase’s wife.“How long do you think they’ll keep talking? I can’t wait to have you all to myself,” Chase whispered to me, sending shivers down my spine.“Stop it; you already had your fill last night,” I whispered back.“That doesn’t count. You weren’t my wife yet then,” he said, pouting.I couldn’t help but laugh softly and shake my head. Truth be told, I was anxious about what would happen now that our wedding celebration was over. I wasn’t sure how to fully embrace my role as Chase’s wife. I had given myself to him completely, over a
LEXI'S POVAfter the wedding ceremony, Chase and I were already seated together in the bridal car. We were on our way to the wedding reception, though I had no idea where it was. Chase held onto me tightly, as if silently promising never to let me go. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought.It all started with my desire to get back at my half-sister and his desire to avoid marrying Shiela. But now, I couldn't understand what I was feeling. I felt like a genuine bride—happy and fulfilled because my long-dreamed wedding had finally come true. If only my mother were here, this moment would be perfect. As I married Chase, I managed to set aside my anger and thirst for revenge. I focused solely on him, just as Chelsea had advised me. It wasn’t an obligation—it came naturally. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but Savina seemed to be right all along.“Did you see your sister's reaction?” Chase whispered to me.I shook my head slightly. The truth was, I hadn’t noticed her presence. I w
LEXI'S POVI kept letting out deep sighs as I sat inside the bridal car. Ahead of us was the car carrying Chelsea and Savina, which gave me a sense of reassurance. However, I couldn’t shake off the nervous feeling gnawing at me for reasons I couldn’t explain. To make things worse, my phone was with Savina, and I hadn’t retrieved it before she got in the car with Chelsea. I had been so mesmerized by my wedding gown that I completely forgot to grab it earlier."Ma'am, don't be nervous. You look stunning," the driver remarked, noticing my frequent sighs. He was someone I knew well—Chase’s family driver, who had driven for him countless times."Thank you. Are we still far from the venue?" I couldn’t help but ask.I was startled when he suddenly turned right, while the car carrying the two ladies continued straight. I looked at him with curiosity, my heart beginning to race."Ma’am Lexi, Sir Chase instructed me to take this route to the venue," the driver explained, sounding a bit uneasy.
THIRD POVLexi was awakened by the ringing of her phone. Eyes still closed, she groped for it on the bedside table.“Sav, it’s too early,” she lazily answered her friend's call.“Early? It’s already noon! And isn’t today your wedding day?” her best friend replied.She sat up quickly. Chase was no longer beside her, and she noticed that she was already dressed. Because of what happened between her and Chase the night before, she hadn’t noticed how late it had gotten. Now, she’d overslept.“Get up now. Chelsea and I are on our way to your condo. See you soon.”Savina ended the call, leaving her furrowing her brows. She got up to look for her groom but found only a note pinned in the fridge.Baby,I’ll see you in church, okay? I love you.—ChaseLexi couldn’t help but smile. Today was the day she and Chase would get married. She had successfully outmaneuvered her sister, and she couldn’t wait to see her sister’s face when she walked down the aisle. She also promised herself that after th