Prologue

Prologue

Nakatingin ako sa labas ng bintana ng kotse, tila ba lumulutang ang isipan kung saan. As a first daughter of Ledesma, I am not required to say no to their command. I’m just a mere puppet and a pawn of their chess na kung saan ay gagamitin nila ako sa kung anong gusto nila. This is my life, hindi pa ako pinapanganak ay alam ko ng wala akong laya sa kanilang mga kamay.

“You will be the wife of The Great and Billionaire of the oldest son of Rajamas. Remember, don’t disgrace our family name, Juliette Quinn Ledesma. Don’t make him mad. This arranged marriage is very important to us, kung anong gusto niya ay dapat sundin mo. Do you understand ija?”

“Yes, Papa," sagot ko ng walang emosyon.

Alam ko na. Ilang beses niya ng pinaalala sa'kin, hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses niyang sinasabi sa’kin na para bang makakalimutan ko.

Tumingin ako sa labas ng kotse, tila ba nakikisabay ang panahon sa aking damdamin— na kahit hindi ako ay lumuha ay siya namang ulan na sobrang lakas na para bang dinadamayan ako nito. Papunta kami sa Mansion ng mga Rajama, doon ay para bang isa akong ginto at perlas na ibebenta at aalagaan ng bagong may-ari ngunit alam kong impyerno ang magiging buhay ko.

Maximillian Hades Rajama. Pangalan pa lang ay nakakapanindig balahibo na. I never saw him in person, sa mga magazine news lang ngunit ilap siya sa media dahil minsan lang siya magpakita. Ang pagkakaalam ko lang ay delikado siya. He's known as a Ruthless Billionaire in this country. Kaya niyang pabagsakin at sirain ang buhay mo sa isang pitik niya lamang. He is the most influential person among the Rajamas Siblings.

This is bullshit. Gusto ko na lang maiyak at magwala pero wala akong magawa. This is my life now, ipapanalangin ko na lang sana ay pabayaan niya ako sa buhay ko dahil susundin ko naman ang lahat ng gusto niya. And my family needs the Rajamas. We are not poor, not the slightest of being poor, in fact The Ledesma Clan of ours is one of the influential families in this country. We rank at number five but my Grandfather and Papa need more, they are so greedy that they are willing to throw me in the Alpha’s den.

They want to sold me to Rajamas Clan as they want the Rajamas influence, money, and power. Because who wouldn't be jealous? Rajamas and Ledemas join hands… A powerful new family indeed.

Kasama ko sa kotse si Papa at ang kanyang asawa na si Luciana. She doesn't like me as I am the illegitimate daughter of the Ledesma Family. I am the daughter of the lowest maid and my Father— Idris Ferguson Ledesma raped my mother at ako ang naging bunga. Hindi ko nakasama o nakita ang aking ina sa hindi ko alam na dahilan. I never asked them in the first place because I am not allowed.

I sighed heavily. Lumakas ang kabog ng aking dibdib ng nasa harap na kami ng gate ng Rajamas Clan. Ang gate nila ay sobrang laki na ni puno ay hindi mo makikita sa loob. It's not surprising, they're the rank one most influential family, the wealthiest and powerful among them all. Kusang bumukas ang gate ng dahan-dahan, nilibot ko ang aking paningin, mula sa loob ng kotse at kita ko ang ganda ng entrada ng mga Rajamas. Walang panama ito sa entrada ng Ledesmas. Malinis at mga punong nagsisilakihan ang sumalubong sa amin. Tila ba ay isang siyudad ang entrada ng Rajamas dahil sa hindi ko pa makita ang Mansion nila. Pati si Papa ay napahanga, kita sa kanyang mga mata ang ganid at selos. Dumako ang tingin ko kay Luciana na siya namang nakatingin sa akin na ikinagulat ko.

“You are lucky. This property will be yours too as you will be the wife of the first son of Rajamas. How lucky isn't it? An illegitimate child of Ledesma Clan will be part of Rajamas, the Great Clan! Be grateful and obey their command once you step your foot on their Mansion, especially to your husband, be obedient, alam mo naman siguro kung paano ‘di ba?”

“Shut up, Luciana! This is not the time to pick a fight with Juliette. And you?” Binaling ni Papa ang tingin niya sa akin, “Do as she told. Remember all of that,”

“Yes, Papa,” para akong isang plaka na paulit-ulit sinasagot ang mga paulit-ulit nilang tanong.

Hindi ko namalayan na nakarating na pala kami sa Mansion ng mga Rajamas. The Mansion is like a European style as they are the descendants of Royal Families in European countries. Their Mansion screams power that cannot be untouched.

Pinagbuksan ako ng pinto ng isang tauhan ng mga Rajamas. Their maids line up in front of us as they welcome us. Napalingon pa ako sa isang kotse kung saan lumabas na rin ang tatlo kong kapatid na sina Luciano ang ikatlo sa magkakapatid na Ledesma, si Lucifer ang pangalawa at ang panganay at tagapagmana ng Ledesma, si Augustus Dominic…

Since I was young, I have always been afraid of them. Their dominance can't hide as they are the legitimate children of Ledesmas.

“Welcome Lord Idris, Madame Luciana, Young Masters… And Lady Juliette. I am the head butler of Rajamas. The Lord and Madame Rajama are not here yet. They told us to serve you as you all wait for them to arrive,” nakayukong saad ng head butler sa amin pati ang ibang tauhan.

Tila ba ay hihintayin pa namin ang mga Rajamas. I can see Papa’s rage, hindi niya gustong pinaghihintay siya at tila ba minamaliit kami ng mga Rajamas. Ngunit walang magawa si Papa, kailangan niyang maging kalmado.

“Lead us…” Papa said coldly.

Tumango naman ang head butler at nauna sa paglalakad. Hindi pa man kami makapasok ay nagsalita si Augustus na siyang nagpatigil sa aming lahat.

“Can I talk to my sister first, Papa? I just want to remind her more,” he asked.

Nanlamig ang aking kamay at napayuko. Hindi ko man kinatatakutan ng husto si Papa ay mas natatakot ako kay Augustus. Ayaw ko siyang lapitan mas lalong makausap.

“Alright but make it quick!” Sagot agad ni Papa at nauna nang pumasok sa Mansion ng mga Rajamas. Augustus asked the head butler kung saan pwede kami mag-usap at iginayak naman kami nito sa kanilang Hardin. Just like in the fairytale, the garden has a small house with different flowers. Pinaupo kami ng isang maid at tinanong kami kung anong gusto namin, umiling lamang ako.

“Leave us,” Augustus said coldly to the maid. The maid bowed and left us quickly.

Nanaig ang katahimikan sa hardin. Ang tibok ng aking puso ay sobrang lakas na tila ba maririnig ito ni Augustus.

“Does mother say anything to you?” he asked me coldly. I know he is staring at me but I can't lift my head… I'm scared.

“Yes, Young Master…” I answered him softly.

He scoffed at me. Tumayo siya sa kaniyang kinauupuan at lumapit sa'kin, walang paligoy-ligoy at marahas niyang inangat ang aking baba.

“Do you really think you can escape at my grasp, Juliette?”

“I will be the wife of the Great Rajama… I can say that I can and I will?” Hindi ko alam kung saan ako kumuha ng lakas ng loob na sagutin siya. In my twenty three years of living in this hell, this is the very first time I answered him back.

“Wow! Don't you think of anything. That man will never love you or take care of you Juliette. Once I inherited and be the Lord of Ledesma, I'll take you back. Remember that!” his grip in my jaw tightened.

“You are fucking disgusting, Augustus Dominic just like your name! Magkapatid tayo!”

“And you knew it's not true, Juliette. Right?” I stopped wriggling. Nanigas ako sa aking kinauupuan at napatulala. Augustus lowered himself para lang pantayan ang aking mukha.

“You knew that you don't have the blood of Ledesmas. I said it to you before and it seems you forgotten… Juliette, the three of us want you,” he whispered as he touched my neckline, “That man will never save you, he is ruthless as we are. You are mine…”

“K-Kuya…” I sobbed and looked at him.

“Don’t call me that if you don't want me to fuck you right here, right now, Juliette.” he warned me.

“I never saw you as my fucking sister, Juliette Quinn. We never saw you as our younger sister. Keep in mind that you'll be here in just five months… I'll take you back no matter what. You will forever be a Ledesma, mark my word.”

“And who said that?”

Nanlaki ang aking mata at napatayo, mula sa aking likod ay isang lalaki ang nakatayo na tila ba kanina nakikinig sa aming usapan ni Augustus. I gasped as I looked at him. Walang-wala ang magazine photos niya. Maximilian Hades Rajama stood in front of us with the dominance. His tanned skin and golden eyes are the one that I noticed first, he's just standing but I can feel his power. He is indeed a Rajama, the oldest of Rajamas Siblings.

“Maximillian,” Augustus seems chill, he stared back at Maximilian Hades like he's never afraid of him.

“Augustus, All of that… Is it true?” he asked Augustus.

Tila ba bumalik ang aking pag-iisip. Maximilian heard of it. All of Augustus secrets. Natatakot akong hindi niya ako pakasalan. Magagalit si Papa!

“Hind—”

“Yes. She is not a Ledesma. Not a little bit of Ledesma blood running on her veins. You'll still marry her?” Augustus cut me off.

“T-That is n-not true, Lord Maximilian!” I stutterly exclaimed.

Augustus held my wrist and keep me close at him. He put his arm on my waist as if he is marking his property in front of Maximilian.

“Well, I don't care.”

Lumakas ulit ang tibok ng aking puso. He's staring at me intensely.

“I bough her for five hundred million,”

Augustus chuckled.

“And you think maniniwala ako sa iyo? Who do you think you are facing of? Do you think we are cheap and do you think my father will let you? Who's family—” Maximilian cut Augustus off and my eyes widened again of what I've heard in Lord Maximilian lips.

“Dollars.”

“W-What?” Augustus seems taken back at Maximilian answer.

“I bought her for just five million dollars. Your father just signed the papers. You can look at it.”

Augustus grasp tightened on my waist. Ang titig ni Maximilian sa akin ay bumaba sa kamay ni Augustus.

“Let go of my fiance now. She will be my wife as soon as possible, Augustus.”

Inilahad ni Maximillian ang kaniyang palad na para bang sinasabi niyang kunin ko ang kaniyang kamay at lumapit.

“Come here, Juliette Quinn,” he is not asking me. He is commanding me.

“Stay,” pabalik naman na utos ni Augustus sa akin.

Maximilian chuckled. He stepped forward and held my wrist, kusa niya ako hinila kay Augustus. Then he wrapped his arms on my waist possessively. Ramdam ko ang mainit niyang haplos mula sa aking katawan. I can't open my mouth, tila ba napipe ako sa lahat nang pangyayari.

“Ledesma. She may not be your sister by blood but remember your father, Idris. He won't like it once he learns about Juliette's secrets.”

Ang kaninang nakatulalang Augustus ay tila natauhan. Then he looked at me furiously, Maximillian tightened his grip to my waist na tila ba ay alam niyang takot ako kay Augustus.

“I will drag Juliette back on my arms, Rajama. You may be powerful but you know I know all of your secrets. After all, you were my best friend.” Augustus said sarcastically.

“I don't care about that, Ledesma. Use my weaknesses all you want… Nasa akin pa rin ang kapatid mo.” hindi pa hinintay ni Maximillian na makasagot si Augustus ay hinila niya na ako paalis sa hardin.

“Kukunin kita pabalik sa akin,” saad ni Augustus ngunit hindi ko na siya nilingon hanggang sa tuluyan na kaming makaalis sa hardin ay pumasok sa Mansion ng mga Rajamas.

Pagkapasok namin ay sinalubong kami ng mga maids at yumuko bilang pag-galang. Hawak pa rin ni Maximillian ang aking pulso at hindi binitawan iyon. Nakarating kami sa dining room— hindi ko man lang napansin ang interior ng Mansion ng mga Rajama dahil tila ba ay na blangko ako sa lahat ng pangyayari.

Doon ay natagpuan ko si Papa, Luciana at ang dalawa ko pang kapatid na nakaupo kasama ang ilang miyembro ng Familia Rajama. They looked so majestic that you couldn't take your eyes on them. I know them all and I can feel their heavy presence. Nakaupo lamang sila ngunit para silang maharlika. Walang duda na may halo silang dugong bughaw.

“Everyone, Juliette Quinn, my fiance.” ang mga tauhan pati ang kapatid ni Maximilian ay biglang nagsiyukuan. My eyes widened as I looked at them. Kahit ang dalawa kong kapatid— I never imagined them bowing a me but right now they're bowing as if I am a Queen.

I looked up to Maximillian. He is smiling at me warmly, biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko sa mga katagang sinabi niya, “Finally… You're mine now.”