After the prenup, we went to the restaurant to have our lunch. I was eating the food in silence while Arrabella and Sir Alexander were chatting about her plan to move school here. Grandma was at my side at the round table, and on the other side was Zach. "If you allow me to move here, Grandpa and Brother, then I would be happier closer to the two of you." Arrabella smiled and poked the meat. "It's up to your brother, Arra," Sir Alexander said, looking at Zach."What do you think your little sister wants?" Zach wiped his mouth with the napkin and stared at him. "She needs to finish her senior year before moving here." The corner of Arrabella's mouth curled downward. "Brother! I am sick of that place. I don't feel at home in the dormitory I was leaving, and plus, the students there are mean to me. I don't have friends." "It's your attitude that makes no one want to be your friend," Zach pointed out, and he continued eating. Arrabella shifted her gaze to me, pleading for my assistanc
I looked at myself in the body-sized mirror, and the wedding dress was as beautiful as what I imagined it to be. It fits me well, and the design was precisely what I wanted it to be. It was not revealing, but it showed the curves of my body, and the long sleeve was made of lace. It has a square neckline. The veil was made of lace, and it was beautiful. “Wow! You are so beautiful, Cairen!” Arrabella exclaimed behind my back. "I love the dress, it's so stunning." "I do love it too," I remarked. "Brother will fall over heels with you," Arrabella said, grinning. For a few seconds, a sad glint appeared in my eyes. And I smiled brightly. "Are you here to take me?" I turned to face Arrabella. She was wearing a peach dress, and her hair was braided. "Look at you, you are so beautiful." "No, you are the most beautiful here. Yes, the wedding ceremony is starting." And Arrabella held my hand. We exited the villa room and entered the hallway leading to the back garden, where the wedding wi
During the journey, my eyelids gradually got heavier. And I yawned. Zach was next to me, on his phone, answering some emails. "Are we close?" I asked him. I wiped the sleepy tears from my eyes. "Almost there," he answered after looking inside the window. "Okay," I softly said. I didn't expect that he'd wrap his arm around me, pulling me closer to him. "Lean your head on me and sleep." And I did. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep. When I woke up, I was in an unfamiliar room, lying on a comfortable bed. Though I was still wearing my gown. The birds were chirping outside, and I sat on the bed, squeezing my eyes. What time is it? I was looking for the phone, and I remembered that I put it in Arrabella's bag. I stretched my arms before getting off the bed. I felt refreshed. Then I unzipped my wedding gown since the zipper was on the side, letting it fall on the floor. I was half naked except for my underwear. And I looked in the body size mirror at my face. My dark red lipstick had
He went inside the house while I was processing his presence in my mind. "I need your help," he told me. I looked out the door and at him, who was sitting on the couch. The shock still hasn't gotten over me. I look at him intently. I tightened my grip on the doorknob and slammed the door closed. "What are you doing here?" I asked indignantly and approached him. "I have texted you before that it will be the last time we meet. I will not help you with anything. I am not interested. Go away!" I pointed to the door, and the heat flushed my face. What if Zach or their grandfather finds out he's here? Does he want to destroy me? "I won't leave until you help me," he said seriously, crossing his arms. He gave me a challenging stare. "Help me, then it will be the last." I facepalm. If only I could lift him up and throw him outside to solve my problems, but I am half his size. "You're ruining me!" "If you don't help me, you know what I will do." He smiled, threatening me. Iffin him! I c
Zach was silent while I was deafened by my heart beating so hard. What was he thinking? I want to look at him, but I'm afraid of seeing his intense, burning stare. My grip on the upper back of the seat tightened. I noticed him walk out of the dining room, and I watched him go to the fridge. "You're angry..." I said it with difficulty. "No," he said, taking something from there. I blinked my eyes. "You're not angry?" "No, and you tell me about it. Giovanni had called me this morning to tell me he had come to see you to ask you something. I am mad, but I am expecting you not to tell me about it. But you did," he said with a beautiful smile on his lips. Zach was not angry. I still can't believe it. I was expecting him to shout at me in anger or grab me while I looked into his cold eyes and stern face. He closed the fridge, got some wine, and took two glasses from the drawer. I just realized that he is happy; what's the reason? He placed the glass on the dining table and opened
I looked outside the car. Zach was quiet. I have class, but I was excused for two weeks for the honeymoon. It was so sudden that until now I was in disbelief. It's a good thing he didn't hear everything Blake and I talked about, as he said. But I keep doubting him, especially since he has been quiet since we left the university. "Are we leaving tomorrow?" I asked, looking at him. He nodded, and I don't know where we are going. "This is not the way to the house." "No, we're going somewhere," he answered in a monotone. I'm still nervous as to why his answers were like that. Something seems wrong. "Zach, are you okay?" He nodded, but there was no smile on his lips. "You are lying," I remarked. And he smiled. "I am not. What do you want me to say?" "You are so quiet and don't smile. I thought you were mad at me," I admitted. Zach laughed, and I smiled. "Do I need to smile every time I am with you to assure you that I am okay?" he asked, and the car turned to another road. "Not a
I was restless during the trip. The contents of the photograph cannot be removed from my mind. Maybe it was just a prank. There is only one person with the name Cheska. The one Cairen told me about was Zach's ex-girlfriend. I'm not sure if it was from her. Surely, the one who sent me the box was to make fun of me, and the name was common. I turned to face Zach, who was sitting in a chair facing me, but his gaze was fixed on the laptop, where his attention was. We were traveling on a private plane owned by his grandfather, and it was my first time to ride this one instead of the common economy class flight I usually fly with. The photo content of Cairen's pregnancy, the hospital name where she checked up, and the date when. And it was six years ago, after their graduation. Is it really a prank? I can't think of anybody doing it. And is unlikely to be true. Cairen didn't say anything to me, and it was even more impossible for that to happen. It was just a prank that I didn't need
"I won't go with you," I refused when Zach wanted me to go kayaking with him. We've been here for three days. I'm glad I never saw Cheska again or crossed paths with her because I was mostly inside my room or strolling on the beach watching the sunset. Zach had been out doing what he enjoys—I don't ask what. We only meet when it's time to eat. He had been suggesting that I come with him to enjoy this honeymoon. But I wasn't interested. In fact, my plan to go to Grandma's house will be executed today since she is not in her estate. I was surprised that she did not come back to her estate, although Grandma won't tell me where she was. That led me to overthink. I called Mikaella, Grandma was not with one of her children. Mika didn't even know where she was. I would be worried if Grandma wouldn't answer my call. He brushed his messy hair with his fingers and sat on the couch. He ended up sleeping on the floor. Fortunately, there were extra comforters and pillows in one of the drawers
Zach and I stood there in the crowded room, surrounded by the people we loved, when Grandfather Alexander made the announcement, we had all been waiting for. "I'm cancer-free," he said with a small smile, his eyes flickering with relief and gratitude.Tears prickled in my eyes as I watched him, unable to believe that after more than a year of confinement in the hospital, he had finally overcome the disease that had plagued him for so long. Although he still struggled to stand properly, his physical tests were gradually improving, thanks to the tireless work of his therapists.But then, the room erupted with another shout, and I turned to see Haze leaping onto the table, a wild grin spread across his face. "It's a boy!" he screamed; his arms flung wide in jubilation. "I'm having a son!"Zach's hand tightened around mine, pulling me closer to him as we shared in the joy of the moment. He beamed at Haze; his pride evident in his every movement. He kissed my forehead, his joy overflowing.
I couldn't help but wonder what was preventing him from advancing. Was he getting increasingly irked with the current ambiance in the hallway, now that I was present? He approached me, causing me to feel a flutter of nerves. I wasn't sure if I should flee or stand my ground and watch him come closer. "Casslie, it's been a long time," he said, speaking slowly as I cautiously met his gaze. "I had no idea you were here in the Philippines too." "I've been here for over a week now," I responded succinctly, and he studied me intently. Of course, Casslie! Iffin you! He's probably just visiting his grandfather! What else would he be doing here? "I was on my way there now," he answered, and I gazed at him thoughtfully. I informed him that I would be heading back to Grandpa Alexander's room to say farewell. We made our way to his room in silence, with my mind focused on the jumbled thoughts swirling in my head, and Zach simply observing the flowers he had placed on Grandpa Alexander's tabl
I couldn't help but inhale deeply as I listened to her words. My heart felt heavy as I struggled to process everything she was saying. "H-how is he doing, Bella?" I finally asked, my voice filled with concern. "He's okay... I think," she said with a shrug as she leaned back into her chair. "He never opens up to me about his problems. He keeps everything to himself and refuses to share what's going on in his head. Every time I ask him, he just says that he's got it under control. I know deep down he's still struggling with what happened to our grandfather, especially now that his condition has worsened." "I heard about it from our grandmother," I said softly. She smiled at me and I felt a wave of comfort wash over me. "No matter what mistakes our grandfather may have made, Casslie, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive him. You have no idea how long he's been waiting for you to come back and visit him. He's been beating himself up for causing you and your brother pain. He
Due to my question, she gasped. It wasn't just her who was surprised because even Grandma was startled by my question. "Che-Cheska?" "Just answer, Cairen," I said without hesitation, swallowing her fear. Based on her face, it seemed she didn't know how to answer my question. "Is that result yours or were you blackmailed by Cheska before?" "It's mine," she replied confidently, taking a deep breath. "The baby died when I gave birth to her. I wasn't even able to hold or see her before they took her away to Grandma." I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at Grandma who was now silent. She looked at me when she noticed my gaze on her. "I wasn't able to show her to Cairen because the doctors on duty then forbade me to," Grandma answered, looking down. I know Cairen didn't want to remember the death of her first child, so she didn't question it anymore. Sadness and tears were also evident on her face, so instead of asking questions, she just remained quiet. We continued to wander around th
As I sat at the dinner table with my parents, Papa posed the question that caught me off guard, "Do you want to visit him, daughter?" The mere mention of Zach sent my mind spiraling and a warm flush rose to my cheeks. "I don't want to see him anymore, Pa," I answered, unable to hide the bitterness in my voice. Mama and Papa exchanged a concerned look, aware of the tension between Zach and I. "God knows how much I hate him..." "His grandfather, daughter," Papa corrected me gently, a hint of amusement in his voice as Mama let out a small laugh. "We were asking if you wanted to visit him in the hospital, daughter." My words had made me feel ashamed, and I struggled to meet my parents' gaze. "There's no reason for me to visit him anymore," I replied softly, before returning to my meal in silence. The thought of Zach lingered in my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder about his whereabouts. But I didn't dare bring him up in conversation, as it seemed to be the only topic my parents wan
After much contemplation for two weeks, I finally made the decision to return to the Philippines. The thought of it weighed heavily on my mind, but once the decision was made, I felt confident in it. Blake had promised to visit me whenever he had a vacation or gigs in the country, and Alice and Katana had also pledged to accompany me. With their support, I felt motivated to search for a suitable place for us to stay, just like we had in the past. As soon as I stepped off the plane, I was greeted with a loud, joyful cry of "Casslie, my child!" from Mama, who then enveloped me in a warm, tight embrace. We held each other tightly as we reunited at the terminal. Grace, Lucia, and Evan were also there to greet me, but Aldridge was nowhere in sight. Despite this, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. "I told you, it's you that I saw at Forçe last time," Grace said before she smiled at me and hugged me, which I returned. Even though our relationship wasn't good the las
The desire for silence was overwhelming. All I wanted was to escape to a tranquil place with Blake, where we could just be together without any distractions. But ever since Zach reappeared in my life, something had shifted. My decision to retreat from the world was no longer so simple. Despite everything that had happened, I still loved Zach. The guilt I felt towards Blake was overwhelming, as if I had been using him to forget the past. Had I really been so callous as to use him as a distraction? Lost in thought, I looked up to see a familiar face not far from me. Grace. She was beaming with happiness, chatting animatedly with the man beside her - Aldridge. It was hard not to feel a twinge of envy as I watched them from afar. As I watched the couple, I couldn't help but feel a sense of longing mixed with regret. It was evident from their smiles and the way they looked at each other that they were genuinely happy together. But the happiness that I felt radiating from them only served
To be truthful, I was uncertain. For the past few months, Zach had become an integral part of my life. I had learned countless valuable lessons from him, and whether I acknowledged it or not, my feelings for him still lingered. I tried to conceal my emotions, but it seemed like my actions always betrayed me and revealed my true feelings towards him. I had spent two consecutive days with my parents in my condo unit. We passed the time by binge-watching N*****x shows and honing our cooking skills. Despite my slow progress, my mother never gave up on teaching me. "It's not bad anymore," my mother praised as she took a bite of my dish. questions about Blake from my parents had finally ceased. I was at ease, not having to worry about what to say if they were to inquire about him again. However, this also left me with a sense of unease as I wasn't sure how to answer them should they ever bring him up again. Days passed, and my life resumed its normal routine. But with each passing day, the
After the nurse in the nearest hospital treated my wound, we left. I was walking side by side with Zach towards the parking lot. I didn't say anything when he told me that he missed me. He hates me, why should he say that? "Thank you. But you don't have to take me," I said and looked at my phone with the cab to see when it would arrive. "We need to talk," he said, and looked at my bloodied shirt. "And you need to change your shirt." I looked at him seriously. "What are we going to talk about? Oh, you are planning to ruin my reputation after what I have done." He sighed wearily. "Not about that. Let's talk in a quieter place, not here. In the restaurant.” Even if I am stubborn with him although he was more stubborn than me and he was good at persistent. "Okay," I agreed. I didn't know which restaurant we were going to but it was far away from the mall. Until he stopped at a restaurant I had never been to. He didn't come out and stayed where he was sitting which made me wonder.