"MISS Beautiful! Why did it take you so long?" Vincent asked cheerfully when Isla finally arrived at their meeting place. His voice was full of excitement, the kind of lighthearted tone that was typical of him, but it didn't go unnoticed by Isla how his eyes immediately studied her as she approached. The usual spark of mischief in his gaze seemed to falter for a moment, replaced by an expression of curiosity. He had been waiting for a while, but his attention now shifted solely to her, sensing that something was amiss. As Isla sat down beside him, she felt the weight of his gaze on her, and despite her best efforts to pull herself together, the sadness she had been trying so hard to suppress began to surface."Isla, sweetheart," he added, his tone suddenly shifting, now gentle and filled with concern as he caught sight of the tears streaking down her face. His usual teasing nature faded, and he reached out instinctively, his hand hovering just above hers as if waiting for permission
"THAT'S not true, don't believe Tanya," Vincent said firmly after they had finished eating and he was carefully treating the scratch on Isla’s arm. His voice was filled with determination, as if he was trying to convince both her and himself of the truth. The gentle way he applied the medicine to her arm, his touch tender yet confident, made Isla feel comforted, but his words didn’t completely chase away the doubt that had taken root in her heart. He had bought the medicine from a drugstore they passed by earlier when they were on their way to the treehouse. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes to Isla. As she lay on the bed with her head resting on Vincent’s lap, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for his care, even though the emotional ache in her chest was still there.Isla just stared at her boyfriend’s face, which was lowered as he looked at her, his eyes filled with concern. She didn’t know how to fully explain the turmoil swirling inside her, but she had to ask. “Wha
“I’ve been wanting to ask you, Isla. What happened to your arm?” April’s voice broke the silence that hung over the library, her tone laced with concern. They were seated at their usual corner, surrounded by shelves stacked with books and the faint rustle of pages turning. It was their sanctuary during long breaks, a space where they could quietly prepare for the next period or discuss life’s latest curveballs. April’s eyes didn’t stray from Isla’s arm, the faint red mark peeking out from under her uniform sleeve drawing her attention like a magnet. She leaned slightly forward, her concern palpable, waiting for an answer.Isla sighed softly, placing a bookmark in her novel before shutting it and looking up at her best friend. Her lips curved into a weak smile, attempting to downplay the situation. “Ah, Tanya. If you know what I mean?” she replied with a half-hearted chuckle, shrugging her shoulders as if to brush off the gravity of the matter. Though her tone seemed casual, her
Choosing to focus on what mattered, Isla turned her full attention back to Vincent. His confident strides carried him closer, and with each step, the tension she felt earlier melted away. The way he looked at her—so sure and unwavering—was all the reassurance she needed. Tanya might have been watching, brimming with jealousy or malice, but Isla refused to give her the satisfaction of reacting. Right now, it was just her and Vincent, their shared smiles bridging the space between them as he finally reached her side.Vincent’s voice was soft and filled with warmth as he greeted Isla, his hand lightly grazing her cheek. The simple gesture was enough to make Isla’s heart skip a beat, and a flush of warmth spread across her face. She met his gaze, her pulse quickening with the quiet intimacy of the moment. His touch lingered for just a second, leaving her feeling as though time had slowed, the noise of the library and the teasing from their friends fading into the background. It was a m
With all the love she had for him, Isla gently ran her fingers through Vincent’s damp hair, savoring the softness of each strand as it slid between her fingertips. She couldn’t quite explain why, but as her hand continued to caress his hair, she felt an intense warmth growing inside her, an energy that seemed to radiate from him. Despite the fact that his skin was still damp from just coming out of the shower, she didn’t feel any coldness, as one might expect. In fact, the sensation was the complete opposite; the warmth of his skin against hers sent a surge of heat through her, making her pulse quicken with every touch. It was as if her body was responding to him in ways she had never felt before, and she found herself getting lost in the intimacy of the moment.Maybe it was because this was the first time she had the chance to admire Vincent’s physique so closely. As he stood there, his bare chest still glistening with droplets of water, Isla couldn’t help but let her gaze wander ov
Just as Vincent had promised, he followed Isla to the laundry area, a small, quiet part of the house where the rhythmic hum of the washing machine filled the air. Isla couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly Vincent slipped into the task, as if he had been helping with chores his entire life. His presence beside her, moving with ease from one task to the next, made the otherwise mundane task seem more pleasant. They exchanged casual words, but most of the time, they worked in comfortable silence. She was grateful for the moment—simple, unspoken, but filled with the unhurried warmth of being in each other’s company.Isla’s Aunt Aida walked into the laundry room, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw Vincent there, assisting with the laundry. She paused, clearly taken aback by the sight. Vincent, ever the gentleman, didn’t falter in the slightest. With a quick, charming smile, he explained the situation, making light of the moment and assuring Aunt Aida that he was merely helpi
“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
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