She owed him everything. But when the time came to pay, it wasn’t money he wanted… Desperate to save her mother’s life, Isabel “Izzy” Vergara turns to a wealthy stranger—Seth Santiago—for help. She offers her body in exchange for the money, but when she hesitates, Seth refuses her. Yet, the next day, her mother’s surgery is mysteriously paid for, and Seth leaves her with a chilling message: Be ready when I come to collect. Months later, Izzy’s world is turned upside down when she learns Seth is her best friend Carl’s uncle. What begins as a reluctant debt soon turns into a dangerous addiction—one she can’t escape, no matter how much she tries. But just as she starts falling for the enigmatic billionaire, Carl reveals a shocking truth: Seth has a past dark enough to destroy them both. As secrets unravel and a vengeful ex-wife resurfaces, Izzy is forced to decide: Will she fight for a love that has already shattered her heart, or walk away before she loses everything—including her life?
View MoreIzzy let out a deep sigh after reading the text message. She didn’t even need to ask who sent it—there was only one person who ever messaged her like this: Seth Santiago.She rolled her eyes as she reread the message, then chose to shove her phone into her pocket.“Your boss won’t lose his mind if I ignore his text, right?”Izzy said, deliberately raising her voice so the person on the other end could hear her.She rolled her eyes again when the driver didn’t even glance at her.“We’re here.”A moment later, she heard Mang Robert’s gruff voice.Instead of responding to Seth Santiago’s grumpy driver, Izzy chose to quietly open the car door and quickly step out.“I’ll go ahead, Manong. Thanks for the ride. Please let Sir Seth know I got back to the hospital safely.”She said cheerfully, rolling her eyes when the driver simply stared at her.“Nice talking to you… You know, talking once in a while won’t kill you.”She shook her head, falling silent when the driver shot her an unimpressed
Izzy didn’t know how she managed to last in that house—Seth Santiago’s house—for even a few more hours. She didn’t even know how she managed to swallow the delicious food laid out on the table after hearing his response to her earlier."You are way too expensive only to be thrown out, Isabel…"Izzy exhaled sharply when, out of nowhere, she once again heard Seth’s voice in her mind.He was right. She was worth one and a half million pesos. No sane person would throw away that kind of money.Izzy let out a bitter smile as she forced herself to remember that she was doing all of this for her mother.At least her mother was okay now. All she had to think about was how to escape from Seth."We probably won’t see each other again…"She muttered absentmindedly before choosing to turn her gaze toward the car window."I hope not…"She murmured again, this time louder than before, which caught the attention of Seth’s driver.Izzy forced a smile when the driver glanced at her, as if wondering wh
Izzy's already pale complexion almost lost all color when she heard what Seth Santiago had just said.She swallowed hard as she saw the dangerous smirk on his lips, accompanied by his sharp, piercing gaze.“I-I don’t h-have—”“Relax… I have no intention of collecting from you right now. I know you’re not prepared for whatever reason. Besides, I want my woman to be game and willing. From what I can see now…”Izzy bit her lower lip hard when he deliberately left his sentence hanging before smirking again. She instinctively took a step back as he approached her and gently traced her trembling lips with his fingers.She felt as if her heart would explode at any moment, overwhelmed by a mix of fear and anxiety, made worse by the way he was intensely staring at her.Isabel Vergara… What have you gotten yourself into?She silently asked herself, squeezing her eyes shut as she felt his hand trail from her lips down to her neck.She thought that was as far as he would go, but she gasped sharpl
"Are you a monster or something ?""Are you a monster or something ?"Seth couldn't help but smirk as he remembered what the woman following him had said earlier."What the hell is she thinking?"He shook his head, talking to himself, trying hard to resist the temptation to glance at her.They had just arrived at his large house. As soon as the car entered the gate, he could see the mixed astonishment and curiosity on Isabel Vergara’s face.Seth couldn’t really blame her, especially since he had taken her to a different house the previous day.Seth had so many properties, and the condo where he first accommodated Isabel Vergara was just one of many.When they reached the main living room, Seth suddenly stopped walking, feeling a momentary irritation when something bumped into his back a few seconds later."Seriously, how clumsy could this woman be?"He asked himself in frustration, trying to calm down. But his annoyance returned when he turned around to face her, only to be met with h
"For the last time, Isabel, relax… I won’t bite you, at least not yet."Seth told her once again.Izzy couldn't tell if his tone was irritated or if he was just naturally serious.She couldn't really blame him, especially since the farther they got from the hospital, the more uneasy she felt. She was almost out of breath from holding it in due to anxiety.Why did this man affect her so much? She knew she lacked confidence when interacting with other people, but it had never been this intense before—so much so that she could almost hear the loud pounding of her heart.Faith let out a deep sigh as she tried to distract herself by looking out the car window. Izzy, on the other hand, could feel the numbness creeping into her legs and back due to her uncomfortable sitting position. She still couldn’t bring herself to rest her back against the luxurious seat of Seth Santiago’s car."Ayyy, you horse!"She shouted quite loudly when the car suddenly stopped, almost causing her to lurch forward
Shit…Izzy cursed under her breath after reading the short text message sent by the man who, despite helping her mother, she knew had a bad attitude.Seth Santiago…Of all the days, why did he have to invite her for lunch at his house today? And at a time when she had no excuse to refuse.Izzy let out a deep sigh and shifted her gaze to her smiling mother.She returned the smile before slowly approaching her while discreetly slipping her phone into her pocket."Is there a problem, dear?"Her mother’s voice still sounded weak."N-no, Mom… Are you feeling better now?""A little better. My wound still hurts a bit, but I can breathe much easier now…""T-that’s good to hear. Don’t worry, when you get out of here, I’m sure you won’t feel any more pain. I know you’re going to make a full recovery, Mom…"She forced a smile, but for some reason, guilt immediately consumed her as she saw the happiness in her mother’s eyes.It was guilt that she tried to hide behind her smile, which only intensi
Izzy felt like her own lips were about to bleed from how hard she was biting them.The reason?She didn’t know how to answer her best friend’s question.Did you do something illegal?Could what she did really be considered illegal? With the large amount of money she got from Seth Santiago—money he willingly gave her before throwing her out of his grand mansion—she wasn’t sure.She didn’t even know if it should be considered a debt, knowing full well what he might ask for in return if given the chance.Izzy let out a deep sigh, and as she lifted her gaze, she was immediately met with Carl’s scrutinizing eyes."Don't try to look away again. It will only convince me that you did something bad—so bad that it’s making me worry, Isabel."His voice was serious, and he didn’t break eye contact with her.Without realizing it, Izzy bit her lower lip again before forcing herself to meet his gaze.She chose to ignore how her lips parted slightly—only for her to press them shut again when she real
Izzy felt as if the heavens and earth had collapsed upon her as she walked out of Seth Santiago’s condo building in defeat.Lost in thought, her eyes red and swollen, she walked aimlessly, searching for another way."Izzy, okay? If you ever need financial help, no matter what it is, as long as I can, don’t hesitate to come to me."A bitter smile formed on Izzy’s lips as Carl’s worried voice echoed in her mind—her best friend.She wanted to ask for his help, but she felt she had no right to. Carl had already done so much for her and her mother, to the point that she felt nothing but overwhelming shame.Izzy let out a deep sigh as she finally reached the road. Despite the thick smoke from the vehicles and the pollution in Metro Manila, she still couldn’t breathe easily. The air filled with pollution seemed more bearable than the fragrant and cold atmosphere of Seth Santiago’s living room."I still can’t believe you did that, Isabel Vergara…"She murmured sadly to herself.Deep in though
Izzy felt as if the heavens and earth had collapsed upon her as she walked out of Seth Santiago’s condo building in defeat.Lost in thought, with red eyes and a heavy heart, she desperately searched for another way."Just remember, Izzy—if you ever need financial help, whatever it is, as long as I can, don’t hesitate to ask me."Izzy let out a bitter smile as Carl’s worried voice echoed in her mind—her best friend.As much as she wanted to ask for his help, Izzy felt she no longer had the right. With everything he had already done for her and her mother, she was drowning in so much shame that she could barely face him.She took a deep breath as she finally reached the street. Despite the smog, the pollution, and the chaos of Manila, she couldn’t help but feel as if she could breathe more freely here than in the cold, fragrant air of Seth Santiago’s luxurious condo."I still can’t believe you did that, Isabel Vergara…"She whispered sadly to herself.Deep in thought, instead of hailing
"Isabel Vergara, are you sure you're okay?"Carl, her best friend, asked with furrowed brows while staring at her intently.Izzy forced a smile and quickly nodded."Of course! Why wouldn't I be okay?""Izzy, do you even look in the mirror? Can you still see yourself? You look like a corpse with how pale you are."Carl said with a pout, making Izzy laugh."Wow, a corpse? That's a bit much! I'm really fine, promise! By the way, thanks for the free coffee. That's why you're my favorite best friend!"She joked with a teasing grin, making Carl roll his eyes before pushing a plate of muffins toward her."You're such a freeloader. As if you have another best friend besides me—I'm the only one who puts up with your stubbornness."Izzy pouted at his grumpy tone but still accepted the snack he offered.It was just past 3 PM, and they were at the coffee shop where Izzy worked as a waitress. Fortunately, Carl arrived just as she was on her break."Why are you so grumpy today? Are you on your peri...
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