Valya ruined her surprise when she tripped on the foot of the bed."OUCH" Like a child, she kicked the bed and swore in many languages before sitting on the floor.That's when Gideon burst into the bedroom looking all worried and ready to kill whoever hurt Valya, only to find her alone with a swollen toe."Are you okay?" Ininspect agad ni Gideon ang paa ng nobya. "I'm fine. I was trying to surprise you when my little toe got caught on this stupid bed.""Should we toss the bed and buy a new one?" Gideon asked while checking her foot. He sat down on the floor beside Valya. "No. I love this bed. It's my toe's fault." Napatawa si Gideon. "Who were you talking to on the phone?""Some asshole who wanted to pull his investment." Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Valya. She was able to hear Gideon, but not the person on the other line."Some nerve of that guy to call you this late. Office hours was over at five, wasn't it?""Hmm." He agreed with her, then picked her up from the floor and sat her on
She asked for a couple of days to think about it. Kahit alam niya na pwedeng maging dahilan ng paghihiwalay nila kung magdesisyon siyang huwag sumama. Nagfocus siya sa trabaho at kahit gusto niyang makasama ang mga kaibigan para malibang ay hindi niya magawa. Alex and Stan had a disagreement and they have stopped talking. Ngayon ay nasa gitna siya at pinipilit na walang kampihan. Stan was dating Alex's sister and they broke up. There is a reason why you don't date your friend's sister or brother, but Stan won't listen. "Have some strawberry cheesecake and coffee, Val," alok sa kaniya ni Ana. The smell was so divine that she didn't have a chance to say no. Sunod-sunod ang pagsubo niya at tulalang nakatitig sa kaniya ang kaibigan."Are you okay? You're not a big fan of sweets and I know the cheesecake is good, but it's weird seeing you eat that fast. It's like you wolfed it down.""It's really good." Then she remembered the coffee but as soon as she tasted it, Valya felt like vomitin
"I'm not Yulia." He has to be smart about this. The woman in front of him was not his friend. He doesn't even know who it was. But he knows he won't be alone. By now, Georgina is working on his location thanks to his earing that she bugged. Binigay 'yon ni Luc sa kaniya noon at kahit naiinis si Vanessa na may suot siyang hikaw, nangatwiran siya na napakaliit naman nito at halos hindi pansinin. "Obviously. Care to tell me who the fuck are you?" Ngumisi ang babae sa sinabi niya. "On second thought, don't bother. I'm going to have to kill you anyway."Napatawa ang babae. "Careful now. You have nothing on you. Besides, is that how you want to repay the woman who saved your wife?"His face remained neutral. Ano naman ang pinagsasabi nito? Saved my wife? Nababaliw na ba ito? Kinidnap niya si Vanessa mula sa banyo tapos gusto niyang magpasalamat pa ako?"Do you not remember me? Not with this face, of course." She rolled her eyes."If you're wearing a fake face, that would mean you wanted t
NEW YORKVANESSA GORDANA DE LUNA'S MOTHER IS FUCKING DEAD. He just got off the phone with his half brother, Cam. Ito ang nagsabi sa kaniya na inakusahan ang kanilang ama na pumatay kay Valya— ang ina ni Vanessa. And now he's in jail for murder. Kakaunting panahon pa lang niyang nakakasama ang ama, pero hindi niya inasahan na ganito ang kahihinatnan ng buhay nila. Everything is a fucking mess."My apologies but I have to cut the meeting short," anuns'yo niya nang makabalik sa boardroom mula sa hallway. "I have a family emergency. Lorenzo will continue with the meeting." Tinapik niya sa balikat ang bunsong kapatid ni Lucian at tinungo ang pinto.When he left his position, sinalo ito ni Lorenzo. It's not like they have a choice, being born as a Profaci has responsibilities attached to it. He was waiting for the elevator when his phone rang. It's P from Italy."Kuya Kons, do you know if Lorenzo's busy? He's not picking up his phone." Itinuring niyang mga kapatid si Pietra at Lorenzo. He
Kons didn't want to talk to the woman either at bigo siyang bumalik sa upuan niya. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon-- mas mabuting magkakampi sila and they can go on their separate ways after pero talagang galit ito sa kaniya. Sino nga namang babae ang matutuwa kung hindi sumipot sa altar ang groom niya? Kung natuloy ang kasal nila, may anak na kaya sila ngayon? There's no use thinking about it, pero may mga araw na sumasagi sa isip niya 'yon. Vanessa grew up in Russia at schoolmates sila. Likas na matalino ang babae kaya kahit mas matanda siya ng isang taon ay naging ka-eskwela niya ito. Hiwalay ang mga magulang ni Vanessa at ang ina nitong si Valya ay ninang ni Kons. Valya is friends with Alexander-- ang tiyuhin ni Kons at siyang nagpalaki sa kaniya, and Stan, who he later on found out is his real father. Matalik na magkakaibigan si Valya, Alex at Stan. Nasira lang ang pagkakaibigan ng tatlo nang may makilalang ibang babae si Stan habang engaged kay Katerina na kapatid ni Alex. Sa kabil
Winter is dreadful with those dead trees and some pine trees coated in snow. The bitter cold wind was enough to freeze anyone but people still came to pay their last respects. He could be wrong because their reasons could be something else too. Regardless, they showed up.Kons went to the funeral despite the murder case against his father. He had nothing to do with it. Kaya siya nagpunta ay para magbigay ng respeto para sa ninang niya sa huling sandali, at para na rin makiramdam kung sino ang posibleng may gawa ng krimen. It could be anyone. Ayaw man niyang aminin, nagpunta rin siya para bantayan si Vanessa. He doesn't like what he's seeing right now, pero wala siyang karapatan magcomplain. She can date anyone just like he did. Kons dated Taisiya for a bit but it didn't work out.Tahimik na lumuluha si Vanessa habang hinahagod ni Damien ang likod niya. Damien Quijano is one of the biggest movie producers in the Philippine film industry. He has Russian features too, pero lamang ang pa
Naiwan silang dalawa ni Vanessa sa study at umalis na ang abogado. They have three days to decide. Kung ano'ng gusto ni Vanessa ay 'yon ang gagawin niya. She's angry. Ramdam niya ang galit nito. Kanina lang sa libing ng ina ay umiiyak ito pero ngayon, Vanessa looked like she's about to explode. "Let me know what you want to do and I'll support you." She scoffed. "Funny how you could say that. We won't be in this stupid room having this conversation if you—" Hindi itinuloy ni Vanessa ang sasabihin. But Kons knew what she was going to say. If he showed up to their wedding day, walang magiging ganitong kondis'yon si Valya. "I just don't understand why we need to get married," frustrated nitong wika. Hindi alam ni Kons kung siya ang kinakausap nito o hindi. Maybe he is just voicing out her frustrations."If she's here, I'd ask her," wala sa loob na sambit ni Kons. Sinamaan ni Vanessa ng tingin si Kons. He was out of line and Kons knew it. Gusto lang naman niyang pagaanin ang lahat ng
Hindi kaagad nakapagsalita si Kons sa pagkabigla. He is pretty sure he heard her right. Pero suot pa rin ni Vanessa ang singsing na bigay ni Damien— how ironic is that? Balak ba niyang mamangka sa dalawang ilog? Kons doesn't share. "What did you have in mind?" It was safe to ask then make a comment that would make him look like a fool. At this rate, time is precious and he doesn't have time for games."I was thinking we can get married before the time is up. I am not in a rush to get my inheritance. We are just going to make sure that it doesn't go to charity." Kumunot ang noo ni Kons. "I am still donating— but I am not giving everything. My mother worked hard for it, and she told me it's all for me.""Point taken. Until then, what?" "I was thinking we'll just stay as is until then." Vanessa sipped his wine and looked into his eyes. Hindi niya mabasa ang gusto nitong laro. "So let me get this straight. You're agreeing to marry me but the wedding won't take place until before the ye