LEXI'S POVAfter everything, Chase and I agreed to stay the night at his family's house. I could feel that his father had already accepted me, but what lingered in my mind was his stepmother. She had remained silent and simply observed us earlier. I didn’t want to assume she was like Aunt Minda, but I couldn’t help but worry. Still, I felt somewhat relieved now that Chase's family had agreed to formally visit mine. This meant our wedding was finally happening."Chase, my grandson, I’ll allow you to sleep in the same room, but I must ask you, please, don’t let me have a great-grandchild before the wedding. Be a gentleman, alright?" Grandma Mirasol reminded him.I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw Chase’s face turn red."And you, Lexi. Don’t surrender just yet, alright?" she teased, turning to me.This time, it was Chase who laughed. I secretly pinched his side in retaliation. If only Grandma knew I’d already surrendered that."Don’t worry, Grandma. Go on and sleep," Chase urged her."
CHASE'S POV9 years ago...It was the first day of school, and I was already on campus early. While walking, my friend Jay suddenly tapped me on the shoulder. He is my teammate in basketball and has been my classmate since junior high school.“I heard there were a lot of transferees this year,” he began.That wasn’t surprising. Many schools in our area only went up to junior high, so most students transferred here for senior high.“Stop it. You won’t get anything from it,” I replied flatly. I know Jay too well—he has a thing for transferee girls who match his type.“Did you know the sister of your persistent admirer is studying here now?” he added, walking beside me.I didn’t respond because a girl caught my attention. I saw her trip and fall flat on the ground, almost kissing the pavement. The laughter of the crowd filled the air, and I could only shake my head.“She could’ve been pretty, but she’s nerdy and clumsy,” Jay commented, also witnessing what happened.Honestly, I hated thi
LEXI'S POV"Is everything you said true?" I asked, still in disbelief.Chase smiled slightly. "Do I have any reason to lie to you?" he replied with a question.I avoided his gaze. I didn’t know what to say. I only found the courage to agree to his proposal because I assumed he never really loved me before. I quickly set aside my uneasiness, thinking that our past no longer mattered since it was all just a game.But when I heard from him that there was never a bet and that he was genuinely serious about me, it felt like I had been transported back in time. The feelings, the atmosphere, the memories—it was as if I was a teenager again."I'm sorry for doubting you back then," I finally said.Chase took a deep breath. "I can’t blame you, Lexi. For nine months, you heard nothing from the other students but the word 'bet.' I failed you too. I shouldn’t have let them poison your mind."I flopped onto his bed, my feet still resting on the carpet. I stared at the ceiling, my mind replaying eve
LEXI'S POV"Thank you for agreeing to meet me."I offered a faint smile. Here I was, sitting in a popular restaurant after receiving a message from my father. He wanted to talk to me before Chase’s family formally came to ask for my hand in marriage. I didn’t hesitate to agree because this would be the first time we could talk one-on-one since I left his house."Why did you want to talk to me?" was all I managed to ask."I wanted to personally apologize for everything—what your sister did, and all my shortcomings as your father," he said sincerely.I bowed my head and took a deep breath to keep my tears from falling."I only now realize that in my desire to make amends to my wife and Shiela for my past mistakes, I neglected your feelings. I didn’t want to show favoritism towards you because I knew it would hurt them more. I also thought, like your mother, you were strong and independent enough to handle things on your own.I assumed they accepted you. It was only recently that I learn
THIRD POVWhile in the car, Lexi felt restless because of the anxiety she was experiencing. They were now on their way to her father's house. She was in the car with Chase while Chase’s parents were in the other vehicle. Chase was also quiet, seemingly nervous about what was going to happen.After an hour, they finally arrived at the house. Lexi took a deep breath before getting out of the car."Are you ready?" Chase asked her.She nodded gently. She had a lot of trust in what her father had told her, that he supported their marriage. However, she still couldn’t shake off her nerves, worrying about what trouble Shiela might cause again."Don't worry. I won't let them hurt you," Chase said seriously, kissing her on the forehead.A moment later, Chase’s whole family also got out of the car. Among them was Grandma Mirasol, who said she would make sure that the discussion between the two families would go smoothly, and that the wedding would go ahead."Please come in," Linda greeted them
LEXI'S POVThe days flew by so fast that I barely noticed. I have been swamped with work at the office since month-end was approaching. Chase was also busy with their company, so we entrusted the wedding preparations to an organizer. Chase assured me there was nothing to worry about as he hired the best event organizer in the country.Savina, on the other hand, teased me, saying I was the only bride she’d seen who wasn’t stressed about wedding planning. The truth is, I had no idea what our wedding would look like. I never even met the organizer. I felt awkward asking Chase about it since the one time I did, he simply said it would be the grandest wedding ever.Our wedding became the talk of the nation. The proposal video Chase planned went viral, so people eagerly anticipated the event. Adding to the buzz, TAC Group of Companies officially introduced Chase and Chelsea as the heirs of their massive empire. Because of this, I often felt eyes watching my every move. Whether entering or l
LEXI'S POVWhile Chase and I were in the car, I stayed silent. I just stared out the window as he drove seriously. I could hear him sigh occasionally, and I felt like he kept glancing at me. I didn't look back at him because I didn't want to talk to him just yet."About the pictures, I have already told my team to have them removed from all the sites," he broke the silence."Okay," I replied curtly."Look, Lexi. Those pictures were from the time she had me go to the bar. If you remember, that was also the first time you showed up to her as my girlfriend," he explained further.I shut my eyes tightly, still facing the window. "You don't have to explain everything, Grey. We're not really in a relationship."I tried to keep my voice from sounding bitter. I tried not to show any emotion because I didn’t want to confuse him with my behavior. After all, we were just pretending, so I shouldn't let those pictures affect me. They shouldn't disrupt our plan to get back at my sister."Lexi Ann,
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
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