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Chapter Seventeen
Huling Na-update:
2025-02-03 04:45:39
Kaugnay na kabanata
Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Eighteen
Leonardo’s POVTwo days had passed since the incident at Sylabu—the moment Amanda saw Vania and me kissing in public. I didn’t get the chance to speak with her after that. She was with Agustin, and I couldn’t approach her, not when we had to be so careful. But what really troubled me was the way she looked at me. She didn’t say a word, but her expression—it was like she didn’t care. There was no hurt in her eyes, no shock, nothing. Just… emptiness. A blank stare that I couldn’t stand. What did that mean? Was it indifference, or was she hiding something? I couldn’t figure it out, and it was killing me.I went home with Vania, but nothing happened between us when we got to the condo. We didn’t talk about what happened; the tension was unbearable. We just stayed silent, avoiding each other’s eyes. She went straight to her room, and I did the same. The weight of everything hung in the air, but we didn’t acknowledge it. I tried texting Amanda—over and over—but I got no response. Not a sing
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-03Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Nineteen
Selena’s POVNgayong araw, naiisip ko na siguro'y oras na rin para makipagkita kay Leonardo. Wala si Agustin sa city hall—abala sa kampanya, kaya’t naiwan ako mag-isa sa opisina. May panahon akong lumabas, kaya't hindi ko na pinalampas ang pagkakataon.Leonardo had booked an expensive room for the two of us at a fancy hotel. It was already noon when I decided to head there. When I arrived at the room, I found him sitting on the veranda, holding a glass of what I assumed was alcohol. He didn’t even look up when I entered. I took a seat in the chair facing him, crossing my arms over my chest, keeping my distance both physically and emotionally.Neither of us spoke. I just stared at him, my face giving away nothing. No expression. He, on the other hand, continued to drink, almost absentmindedly, taking one gulp after another.Minutes passed in silence. I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking, what was going on in that head of his. It wasn’t like him to be this quiet. But I wasn’t
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-04Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Twenty
Selena’s POVHabang nasa municipal office ako, nakatanggap ako ng text mula kay Andrew na nagsasabing tumakas siya sa mga bodyguard niya at gusto niyang puntahan ko siya. We’ve both been so busy lately—he with school and me with work—that we haven’t been able to see each other. We agreed to just rest for now and promised to make up for it when things calmed down. But now, I don’t know what’s going through his head. Why did he feel the need to run away from his bodyguards? He’s definitely going to get in trouble with his dad if he finds out about this.Tinanong ko siya kung nasaan siya, at ipinadala niya sa akin ang address. Nasa isang coffee shop siya sa Tanay, Rizal. Agad kong iniwan ang mga ginagawa ko at nagdesisyon na puntahan siya. Nakipag-negotiate ako sa taxi driver para ihatid ako sa kinaroroonan ni Andrew.Nang makarating ako sa lugar, agad ko siyang hinanap. Nakita ko siya na kumakaway sa di kalayuan, kaya’t mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya."Iyong, bakit mo tinakasan ang mga
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-04Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Twenty-One
Andrew’s POVHumigit ang hawak ni Selena sa aking kamay, at bigla siyang sumigaw, "Andrew, takbo!" Parang may nangyayaring masama, pero wala akong oras magtanong. Pagkasabi niya nun, tumalima ako agad. Magkahawak kamay kaming tumakbo, at nakita ko sa mukha niya ang takot. Hindi ko na tinanong kung anong problema, ang alam ko lang, kailangan naming makaalis nang mabilis.Matapos ang ilang sandali, bigla na lang siyang huminto sa pagtakbo at niyakap ako, hinila niya ako papalapit sa kanya. Kasabay nito, narinig ko ang isang malakas na tunog, isang putok na tumusok sa hangin, nakakabingi. Ang katawan ni Selena ay nanigas, at bago pa siya tuluyang matumba, nahawakan ko siya sa beywang. Sa mga kamay ko, ramdam ko ang mainit at malagkit na dugo na dumadaloy mula sa likod niya, dahan-dahang dumadaan sa mga palad ko, at pumulandit sa mga daliri ko.“Selena! Please, stay with me! I’ll take you to the hospital!” Sigaw ko, halos magpapunit na ang boses ko. Ang bawat salita, parang umaasa na mari
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-05Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Twenty-Two
Selena’s POVI slowly opened my eyes, and all I saw was a blur of white, like I was drowning in a sea of brightness. My mind was foggy, and I couldn’t remember how I got here. Panic crept in, but the sharp pain in my upper body held me in place, making it hard to even take a full breath. I tried to move, but the ache was unbearable, as if every inch of me was bruised.When I looked down, I saw the hospital gown, the sterile, almost foreign fabric that made everything feel even more real. I wanted to focus, to recall what happened, but it was as if my memory was fractured, pieces slipping through my fingers.Then, it all came rushing back—the chaotic, terrifying events of that night. Someone had aimed a gun at Andrew, and I had tried, desperately, to save him. My heart raced at the thought, and it felt like a vice tightening around my chest.But where was he now? What happened to Andrew after that moment? Was he okay? Did he—?I couldn’t finish the thought. My mind was too clouded with
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-05Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Twenty-Three
Selena’s POVTatlong araw na mula nang matanggal ang bala sa likuran ko, pero ramdam ko pa rin ang sakit, lalo na sa balikat ko. Parang hindi nawawala yung kirot, at honestly, sobrang bored na bored na ako dito sa hospital. Wala na akong ibang ginawa kundi kumain, manood ng TV, at matulog. Sobrang monotony lang, at feeling ko, wala na akong ibang magawa kundi maghintay na gumaling.Buti na lang at parating dumadaan si Andrew para kamustahin ako. Noon, medyo mahigpit na ang security team niya, pero ngayon, mas lalong pinaghigpitan ni Agustin ang pagbabantay sa kanya. Dalawang bodyguard na ang parating nakasunod sa kanya, kaya’t hindi na kami makapag-lambingan ng normal. Tuwing pumupunta siya rito, sobrang pormal na lang naming mag-usap. Pinapakita niya sa mga bodyguards niya na dumadaan lang siya para mag-abot ng pagkain sa akin, kahit na alam namin na hindi lang iyon ang dahilan. Kapag wala siya dito, parati kaming magka-text. Doon na lang kami nakakahanap ng pagkakataon para mag-usap
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-06Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Twenty-Four
Selena’s POVMakalipas ang anim na araw ay medyo okay na ang pakiramdam ko. Ngayon, pinayagan na akong makalabas ng hospital. Halos araw-araw akong binibisita ni Andrew, dinadalhan ako ng pagkain, at pati sina Agustin at Mando ay bumisita rin. Todo-todo ang pasasalamat ni Agustin sa akin dahil nailigtas ko raw ang buhay ni Andrew. Hindi niya alam kung anong gagawin niya kung nabaril si Andrew.Pinaiimbestigahan na niya ang nangyari, pero wala siyang nakitang kahit anong impormasyon. Lahat ng iyon ay dahil nagsinungaling si Andrew sa kanya. Talagang gusto niyang protektahan ako at ayaw niyang magduda si Agustin kung bakit kami magkasama noong gabing iyon.Agustin hadn’t given me any tasks for the past few days, insisting that I stay home and rest. I couldn’t argue with that, considering how physically drained I was after everything that had happened. But, I heard something that shook me.He was scheduled to give a public speech—one that was going to be huge. One of his biggest sponsors
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-06Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Twenty-Five
Selena’s POVHindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko sa lahat ng sinabi ni Leonardo. Halo halo ang aking nararamdaman—galit, sakit, at pangamba. Tapos parang ang sakit pa na kahit ako na ang tinamaan ng bala nung gabing iyon, wala lang sa kanya. Walang siyang pakialam at parang wala kaming pinagsamahan. Kaya't naglakad lakad ako, na parang wala sa sarili. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta, pero napadpad ako sa simbahan. Doon, sa harap ng altar, parang doon ko na lang naisip na magpahinga, mag-isa. Walang ibang tao, tahimik, maliban sa tunog ng mga dasal at ang mga iniisip ko sa utak ko.Dahan-dahan akong naupo, hindi ko na napigilan ang mga luha ko. Isa-isa silang dumaloy, at sa bawat patak ng luha, para bang ang bigat ng lahat ng nangyari ay unti-unting nawawala. Dito, sa simbahan, parang nararamdaman kong kahit saglit, may kalayaan akong ipahayag ang nararamdaman ko nang malaya.Natatakot ako sa kung anong pwedeng gawin ni Leonardo, at higit sa lahat, natatakot ako para kay Andrew. Hi
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-06
Pinakabagong kabanata
Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Fifty-Six
Amanda’s POVI watched Andrew, his gaze fixed on the pictures in the photo album I’ve held onto for years. Every image, every snapshot of Audree was a piece of time I had carefully collected—her first smile, her tiny hands, even her sonogram, all of it was there. It felt like a sacred collection of moments; ones I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand. But as I saw his face, the way his eyes lingered on each photo, something inside me shifted.I pulled the album out to show him, thinking I was sharing a memory, but instead, I saw the raw pain in his eyes. I felt this wave of guilt wash over me, a heaviness that I hadn’t anticipated. In my desire to preserve these moments, I hadn’t considered how much I had taken from him. I had experienced the joy of Audree’s early days, the moments that a first-time father should have been there for, and in doing so, I had unknowingly robbed him of that.It wasn’t intentional. I never meant to keep those moments from him, but somehow, I had. I ha
Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Fifty-Five
Andrew’s POVGinabi na ako sa Casa Reyes kakahintay kay Amanda na umuwi. Si Audree ay nakiusap na magstay ako ng kaunti pa upang makita ko ang mommy niya, at pabor din sa akin iyon dahil gusto kong makausap si Amanda. Alas siyete na ng gabi nang dumating si Amanda. Nagulat siya nang makita akong nandun sa dining area ng dormitory kasama si Audree.“Andrew? Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?” Amanda asked, clearly startled by my presence.I could see her reaction, and it was clear that she wasn’t ready for the conversation or the questions that I had. But I knew I had to do it. I needed to talk to her about everything that had happened—and about our daughter.“Mommy, si kuya pogi ang naghatid sa akin pauwi galing school,” sabi ni Audree, nakangiti habang palapit kay Amanda.Tumaas ang kilay ni Amanda, mukhang naguguluhan. “Kung kani-kanino ka sumasama, diba sinabi ko na si Ate Miranda ang magsusundo sa’yo?” pangaral niya kay Audree.Di ko na rin napigilan. “Huwag mo siyang pagalitan, Amanda. Ako
Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Fifty-Four
Andrew’s POVI could hardly hold back tears when I read the results of the DNA test I had ordered. Audree... she’s my daughter. The weight of those words hit me like a ton of bricks, overwhelming me with emotions I didn’t know I could feel. A mix of shock, disbelief, and a deep, overwhelming love flooded my chest. All this time, I had wondered and doubted, but now, the truth was laid out in front of me. The little girl who had unknowingly captured my heart was my flesh and blood. But as much as my heart swelled with the realization, there was also a growing anger and confusion. Amanda had kept this from me, hidden our daughter from me for years. I needed to talk to her, to understand why she chose to keep Audree away from me. What could have driven her to make that decision? How do I step into this role of a father after everything that’s happened? I didn’t have all the answers, but I knew one thing for sure—I needed to confront Amanda.I went back to Audree's school, but this time, e
Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Fifty-Three
Amanda’s POV“Sigurado ka na ba dito sa desisyon mo, Amanda?” tanong sa akin ni Bea habang kumakain kami sa bar area. Bumisita siya rito sa Casa Reyes kasama si Tita Lara para kamustahin ang mga staff.“Oo, Bea, sigurado ako,” sagot ko, sinisikap na mapanatili ang kalmado sa kabila ng kalituhan sa loob ko."Bakit bigla mong naisipan makipag-date?" she pressed, her curiosity evident.I had asked for her help earlier, borrowing some clothes and makeup because I told her I had a date in two days.“Naisip ko lang na gusto ko sanang mabigyan si Audree ng kumpletong pamilya,” I reasoned, trying to sound confident, though deep down I wasn’t entirely sure about the path I was choosing."Bakit hindi mo na lang sabihin kay Andrew ang tungkol sa kanya?" Bea asked, her tone softer, as though she were suggesting the simplest solution."Speaking of Andrew, I met him," I confessed, the weight of my words settling heavily between us."What? Wait, how?" she asked, shock evident on her face."He was th
Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Fifty-Two
Andrew’s POVSumunod na araw, bumalik ako sa school ni Audree. May dala akong laruan at mga pagkain, at matyaga kong inantay siya sa may waiting shed kung saan siya nakaupo kahapon. Maya-maya lang, nakita ko na siya papalapit sa akin, at ang saya ko nang makita siyang papalapit na.“Ikaw si kuya pogi kahapon, diba? Ano pong ginagawa niyo dito? Sinusundo niyo po ba ang anak niyo?” tanong ni Audree nang malapitan ako.Umiling-iling ako habang nakangiti, “Hindi, may binisita lang ako na kaibigan dito.”“Ah, okay,” sagot niya nang inosente, sabay tinanong ako. "Ano po yang dala niyo?"“Meron akong laruan at pagkain para sa iyo, Audree," sabi ko, habang inabot sa kanya ang dala ko. "Gusto mo ba?"Ang mga mata ni Audree ay kumikislap nang makita ang mga laruan at pagkain. "Wow! Salamat, kuya! I like it!" Sinimulan niyang tignan ang laruan nang masaya. Habang naglalaro siya, nakaupo ako sa tabi niya, habang nag kukwentuhan kami."Anong paborito mong laro, Audree?" tanong ko, habang binibigya
Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Fifty-One
Andrew’s POVDalawang araw ang lumipas at hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko, basta na lang akong nag-book ng flight patungong Dumaguete at bumalik sa Siquijor. Nag renta ako ng kotse at nag-drive papuntang Casa Reyes. Hindi ko alam kung anong pwersa ang nagtulak sa akin, basta ang alam ko lang ay gusto ko muling makita si Amanda at ang anak niya.Dahil ayokong magmukhang invasive, tumigil ako sa isang sulok sa labas ng resort, malayo sa mga mata ng iba. Sana makakita ako ng kahit saglit na pagkakataon na masilip sila ni Amanda.Sakto bandang hapon, sa hindi kalayuan, nakita ko si Amanda at Audree na bumaba mula sa isang tricycle. Ang bata ay nakasuot ng school uniform, habang hawak-hawak ni Amanda ang backpack nito. Mukhang galing lang si Audree sa school. Naglakad sila papasok ng Casa Reyes, at ako naman, hindi ko maiwasang sundan sila ng tingin. When they disappeared from my sight, I drove away. Just catching a glimpse of them
Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Fifty
Andrew’s POV"Andrew, let's go to the port, we might miss our flight to Dumaguete," Alexa’s voice snapped me back to reality. I hadn't even realized I had been standing there for a while, staring at the front desk, lost in my thoughts after the moment with Amanda earlier. She has a child. How? How did she have a child? Who's the father? The questions kept swirling in my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more to the story.Part of me wanted to talk to her, to ask her all the things I needed to know, but time was running out. I had a flight to catch, and I couldn’t let this moment slip by.Sumakay na ako sa van patungo sa port ng Siquijor, pero parang naiwan pa rin ang isip ko sa Casa Reyes. I couldn’t shake the image of the little girl, Audree. Her innocent face kept replaying in my head. There was this strange pull, this need to know more about her. How old was she? What did she like to eat? What were her favorite toys? I couldn't explain why, but som
Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Forty-Nine
Amanda’s POVToday is Andrew’s last day at the resort, and I find myself torn between conflicting emotions. Part of me feels a sense of relief, knowing that things will finally return to normal, that the chaos and uncertainty surrounding him will fade away. But there’s another part of me, a quieter part, that feels a deep sadness, the kind you can’t quite put into words. It’s the realization that once he leaves, I won’t see him again, and whatever lingering connection we had will be severed for good.I tell myself that I should be happy, that I should embrace the peace that’s coming, because I know deep down that there’s no future for us, that the past is nothing but a painful memory we can’t bring back. And yet, as much as I try to convince myself, the truth is harder to face. Maybe this encounter, this brief time we shared again, was the universe’s way of allowing us to finally close that chapter — a chapter that, even though we’ve tried to move on from, still lingers in the corners
Love Amidst Deceit Chapter Forty-Eight
Amanda’s POVThat evening, Andrew became preoccupied with the woman he was with. He didn't join his students for dinner, instead staying with her. They ate together, talking seriously, and I could see them from a distance. I was sitting in one of the lounge chairs by the pool area, feeling a strange mix of emotions as I watched them.Meanwhile, his students were in the function room, busy with indoor games after their meal, but Andrew seemed completely absorbed in his own world with the woman. It was as if he had forgotten about everything else, and it stung to see him so focused on her while I sat there, lost in my own thoughts.I don’t know what it was, but seeing him with someone else made me restless the entire night. I spent hours just staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn’t quiet. It wasn’t until around 4 a.m. that I finally fell asleep, and when I woke up, it was already 7 a.m. The lack of sleep left me exhausted, but my mind kept replaying everything I
