“I LIKE Tanya, I find her a perfect match for you. Well, she told me you dated?” his mother casually mentioned as they sat down for dinner that evening. Her voice was light, almost too casual, as if the subject was just another trivial topic among many. But Vincent knew better. His mother rarely brought up anything unless she had an agenda, and he could already feel the weight of her intentions settling in the air between them. He wasn’t surprised—she had always been particular about who he dated. For her, a woman like Tanya seemed like the ideal candidate: well-mannered, sophisticated, and from the right background.Vincent immediately felt a wave of irritation wash over him. He didn’t want to revisit this subject, but he knew that avoidance wouldn’t work. His mother had a way of steering conversations toward what she wanted to discuss, no matter how uncomfortable it made him. His gaze flickered to his plate, but his mind was already elsewhere, replaying the history between him and
“Finish that quickly, my sweetheart, so you can rest,” Artemio instructed her, possibly fearing she might turn her back on him. He left the mansion and went to the maid’s quarters.“Yes, Papa,” Isla replied to her father.“Psst!”Isla quickly furrowed her brows, a slight frown forming as she looked around the room, trying to locate the source of the sound. Her heart fluttered, the air around her suddenly feeling a little heavier, as if something—someone—was nearby. She scanned the corners of the room, her eyes darting across the space, but she couldn’t find anything. Just as she was about to shrug it off, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in her peripheral vision. A soft laugh escaped Isla's lips when she saw Vincent standing behind her. He was leaning casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he watched her. The sight of him made her heart skip a beat, but there was something about the quiet way he stood there that put her
VINCENT didn’t wait for the three knocks to echo through the hallway before he swiftly opened the door. His eyes met Isla’s, and the look in them made her heart skip a beat. It was clear he had been expecting her, and the way his gaze softened upon seeing her made Isla smile without thinking. She couldn’t help the rush of warmth that flooded her chest. There was something about his presence that always made her feel welcome and wanted, and tonight, the feeling was stronger than ever.“Come in,” he said, his voice low and warm as he stepped aside to let her in. His gesture was inviting, and as Isla walked past him into the room, she felt a sense of comfort wash over her. The room was dimly lit, with a soft glow from the bedside lamp casting shadows on the walls. There was a peaceful, almost intimate atmosphere, and it made Isla feel both at ease and a little nervous at the same time. She had grown accustomed to their quiet moments together, but this one felt different—more charged
“V-Vince,” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she attempted to pull away from him. But Vincent wasn’t having it. Without a word, he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her with an urgency that made her heart skip a beat. She could feel the heat of his body pressed against hers, and for a moment, the world outside of this room didn’t exist. It was just the two of them, tangled in a delicate dance of longing and restraint. Despite her attempts to pull back, she found herself sinking further into the sensation, unable to resist the magnetic pull of his embrace.Isla’s mind was spinning as she fought to maintain her composure amidst the overwhelming sensations Vincent’s heated kisses were creating. The electricity between them seemed to grow with every touch, every soft brush of his lips against her skin. When his lips finally reached her cheek, the intensity of the feeling nearly took her breath away. Her heart raced, her chest heaving with shallow breaths, and her tho
A wave of shyness washed over Isla when her bare form was finally revealed to him. Her cheeks flushed, and she instinctively tried to cover herself, but Vincent gently stopped her, his warm smile and adoring gaze erasing her insecurities. “You’re perfect,” he whispered, his voice filled with awe and sincerity. Slowly, her unease melted away, replaced by the overwhelming comfort of being loved and accepted so completely. As his hands and lips explored her body with reverence, Isla let herself be vulnerable, trusting him in a way she never thought possible.“V-Vince,” she breathed, her voice trembling as his kisses traveled lower, leaving a trail of warmth and desire in their wake. Her body responded to his every movement, each touch igniting a fire within her that she couldn’t contain. When his lips reached her stomach and lingered between her thighs, Isla felt as though she might shatter from the intensity of it all. She was lost in the moment, her senses overwhelmed by the ple
Isla woke up in the early hours of the morning, the soft rays of the sun barely breaking through the curtains. She felt the warmth of Vincent’s body surrounding her as she slowly opened her eyes. For a moment, she just lay there, taking in the quiet serenity of the morning. The soft rise and fall of his chest with each breath, the peaceful look on his face, all of it brought a deep sense of comfort to her. She could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat, a rhythm that had become so familiar to her over the past few weeks. It was as if, in this moment, time had slowed down, and all the chaos of the world faded away. There was only the two of them, wrapped in the warmth of the love they had built together.She smiled softly, her heart swelling with affection as her eyes traced the outline of his face. Even in sleep, Vincent’s features held a quiet strength. His jaw was slightly relaxed, his dark hair tousled in a way that made him look even more charming. Isla couldn’t help but admi
“Ma’am Ruby, Aida told me that you wanted to see me?” That was Artemio’s opening question to Ruby as he entered the library of the mansion.“Take a seat,” Ruby replied, motioning to the chair in front of her desk. “I won’t beat around the bush because I have more important matters to attend to,” she said as she handed Artemio a check. “One million. Just let me know if that’s not enough,” she added.Artemio’s eyes widened as he shifted his gaze between Ruby and the check now lying on the desk.“W-What do you mean by this, Ma’am Ruby?”After regaining his composure, the old family servant finally asked.“I want you to keep your daughter away from my son. She’s not good enough for Vincent!” Ruby said in a formal tone, then stared at the man standing before her.Ruby saw the confusion spread across Artemio’s face.“What do you mean by that?”She laughed at his question.“Don’t tell me you don’t know what’s going on between Vincent and your daughter? Well, what should I expect? Wh
PRESENT-DAY... “Two months after that, we were in Cavite. I found out I was pregnant. I thought about telling my father about it, but I was scared, so instead, I tried to get him to tell me the truth. Why did we have to leave the Del Carmen mansion so suddenly?” Isla smiled bitterly. “That was when I found out that Vincent’s mother had paid my father one million pesos. I understood my father, to be honest, I wasn’t angry with him. But because I was hurt, I thought it might be better if I took care of and supported my child on my own,” Isla’s voice broke after that.She saw Cherry open her mouth to speak but then stop, unable to continue whatever she was about to say. Isla proceeded. “I left our house without telling anyone. I didn’t even tell them I was pregnant. You know, I was only eighteen back then. I felt like no one understood me. What I knew was that Vincent loved me so much because that’s how he made me feel. But what I couldn’t understand was why he never looked for me?”“
Saturday night arrived, and after a busy day of shopping and preparation, the long-awaited Festive Employee’s Ball was finally here. The event, being hosted at a prestigious five-star hotel in Quezon City, promised to be a night filled with elegance and grandeur. Isla had managed to pull herself together for the occasion, although the nerves were still very much present. She hadn’t attended a high-profile event like this in years, and the anticipation of it all made her both excited and anxious. It didn’t help that she still had complicated feelings about Vincent’s insistence on bringing her as his date. As she prepared to step into that luxurious world again, she couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort lingering in the back of her mind.Vincent arrived promptly at her apartment to pick her up, his usual calm and collected demeanor intact. As he stepped inside, he greeted Mama Selya with a friendly handshake, his warmth and charm unmistakable. “Good evening, Mama Selya,” he said p
As Vincent continued to pick out items, Isla couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. At first, she had been uncomfortable with the idea of him choosing her clothes, shoes, and jewelry, but as she looked at the assortment of carefully selected items, a strange sense of appreciation began to settle in. Vincent had always been generous, but this felt different. He wasn’t just buying her things for the sake of it—he was thinking ahead, anticipating what she would need for her new role. The thoughtful gesture started to chip away at the wall she had built around herself. Still, she couldn’t shake off the resentment that lingered, but she found herself allowing him to have this small victory. After all, it wasn’t often she saw him so eager to make her happy, and his smile as he handed her each gift was infectious.When they finally sat down in his car, Vincent’s demeanor shifted, showing a side of him that Isla hadn’t seen in a while. He held up the toy airplane with a look of genuine
Leaving Matthew in Mama Selya’s care had become a bittersweet routine for Isla. As she knelt down to kiss her son goodbye, his small arms wrapped around her neck tightly, making her heart ache. “Be good for Mama Selya, okay?” she whispered, stroking his hair. Matthew nodded, his innocent eyes filled with trust, but letting go was never easy. Isla forced a smile, hiding her guilt, and gave one last wave before stepping out. The pang of leaving him behind lingered as she walked toward the bus stop, but she reminded herself that every sacrifice she made was for him—to give him a brighter future.Her thoughts shifted to her own appearance as she arrived home late the night before. She hadn’t had the time or budget to shop for a more professional outfit, so she was left scrambling through her closet that morning. After an exhausting search, she finally settled on her go-to smart casual attire: a modest blouse paired with neatly pressed slacks. It wasn’t flashy or particularly memorabl
The idea of working for him, of seeing him every day in an official capacity, stirred a whirlwind of emotions inside her—emotions she had worked so hard to bury over the years. The anger, the frustration, the lingering hurt all surfaced at once, and she couldn’t fathom why he would make such an offer after everything that had happened between them.Vincent turned to face her with a calm expression, his demeanor unwavering. “You heard me,” he replied, his voice steady and assured. “You’re my new secretary. I’ll wait for you later; come in even if it’s already afternoon. We have a lot to do,” he said, already making his way toward the door. It was clear to him that this was just another way to reconnect with her, to bring her back into his life. Even if it was a professional relationship, it was a start, and he wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away without giving it a shot.Isla stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing as her emotions tangled with one another. Her heart p
PRESENT DAY…“I don’t know what happened. One day, after what should have been our wedding day, I tried calling you,” Isla said, her voice trembling slightly. She tried to mask the bitterness that lingered in her words, but it was clear that the hurt still lingered in her heart. “I was going to ask you to pick me up. You told me before that you were ready to leave everything behind and go far away with me, and I believed you.” Her eyes briefly dropped to the ground, as if trying to find some sense of peace amidst the chaos of her thoughts. “But when I came home from school that day… everything had changed. I saw all of our things packed, and my father… he took my phone and turned it off. All I could do was cry. I didn’t know what was happening, and I couldn’t reach you.” Her voice cracked slightly, betraying the years of pain and confusion that had followed that day.Vincent stood silently for a moment, taking in her words. His mind went back to that fateful day, the day everything
“Enough, let them go. Even if we’re poor, my mom and I won’t abandon you,” Cherry said softly, her voice filled with empathy as she gently rubbed Isla’s back. She could see how broken Isla was, her eyes red from crying, her hands trembling with the weight of her emotions. Cherry, who had always been a pillar of support, knew how hard it was to watch someone you care about suffer like this. She had been with Isla through every high and low, and now, in this painful moment, she could only offer her comfort, trying to ease the pain that Isla felt deep within her.They were in the treehouse, a place that had become a silent witness to so many of Isla’s emotions over the years. It was the place her feet instinctively led her to, a refuge where she could be alone with her thoughts. After everything that happened at the Del Carmen mansion, Isla needed a space to process her confusion, her heartache, and her sense of abandonment. The treehouse, with its quiet solitude, seemed like the on
At the bus terminal, Isla was overwhelmed and unsure of where to go next, but fate intervened when she met Cherry, a kind-hearted woman who immediately took her under her wing. Cherry noticed Isla’s distress and insisted on helping her find a place to stay, offering her the comfort and support Isla desperately needed. As the days went by, their bond grew stronger. Cherry proved to be more than just a helpful stranger; she became a confidante, someone Isla could rely on. Over time, Isla found herself opening up to Cherry, sharing the painful truths of her life. Cherry listened with compassion, never once judging her, and Isla couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief in finally telling someone about the complex and hurtful experiences she had endured.One day, as they were riding a tricycle that would take them to the Del Carmen mansion, Cherry noticed Isla’s tense expression and immediately asked, “Isla, are you okay?” Isla glanced at her friend and tried to force a smile, though the
The days passed quickly, and life in Cavite began to feel like a routine for Isla. She had settled into their new home, which was modest yet cozy, and tried her best to adapt to the changes. Her father had started a small business at the market, selling rice and groceries, which kept both him and Aunt Aida busy most days. Isla appreciated the quiet moments when they weren’t around, giving her the space she needed to think. Yet, despite the peacefulness of her surroundings, Isla couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had been growing inside her.One morning, as she went about her chores, she was suddenly struck with a severe dizziness that made her knees buckle. The world around her seemed to spin uncontrollably, and nausea surged through her in waves. She gripped the nearby table for support, her stomach twisting uncomfortably. Isla wondered what she had eaten that could have triggered such an overwhelming reaction. She glanced over at the food she had prepared earlier, but nothing s
SIX YEARS LATER... With a heavy heart, Isla forced herself to rise from her bed when she heard a series of knocks on her bedroom door. Her body felt like it was made of lead, and each movement felt like an impossible effort. She didn’t want to face anyone; she didn’t want to be strong. All she wanted was to curl up in her bed, cry until there were no more tears, and be left alone with her sorrow. The thought of dying crossed her mind, a fleeting but undeniable feeling that overwhelmed her. She felt trapped in the silence of her own grief, a silent scream echoing within her. The pain of her broken heart felt like it was suffocating her, making everything else seem insignificant.Yesterday, she had been on the verge of experiencing what she thought was the happiest day of her life. It was supposed to be a day for her and Vincent, a day where their love would finally triumph over all the obstacles they had faced. But instead, what followed was heartbreak and devastation. Nothing went