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Chapter 23
Last Updated:
2024-11-26 20:14:43
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Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 24
Laura had just stepped out of the bathroom when Astin walked back in. Their eyes met briefly before she looked away. He headed straight to her bed while she sat at her vanity, drying her hair. Through her peripheral vision, she could see him watching her. His aura was different now. The anger seemed to have subsided. The harshness on his face was gone—and that made her vulnerable again. She silently scolded herself. So weak. She could hear his occasional sighs, each one deepening her confusion. Astin’s behavior baffled her. She and Darryl had done nothing wrong, yet Astin acted as if she belonged to him. And truthfully, a part of her wish she did. But not like this—not hidden away, not as an afterthought. Why couldn’t he just forgive her? She longed to move forward, to heal completely, like Mara, the taxi driver she once met. The constant ache was too much. This punishment felt unjust. Maybe Darryl was right—she didn’t deserve to be treated this way. But her heart refused to listen.
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 25
“No! I won’t allow it! Does Mom know about this, Ate? You even put the recruitment on pause! You thought I wouldn’t find out?” Andy angrily confronted her. She had discovered that she delayed recruiting a new manager for the Caramoan branch and wanted to take the role herself. Andy disagreed with her reasons. It had been a week since she asked HR to hold off. “Andy, please? Dad’s coming out soon. I want us to start fresh. I want to go back to Caramoan,” she pleaded. “Wow. As if anyone cares about Tito over there, you’ll probably just end up getting bullied. Have you even thought about that? Your dad needs a fresh start, and that’s here in Manila. No one knows him here, which makes things easier. You’re only going to struggle if you stay there. That’s why I’m not on board with this.” Without waiting for a response, Andy turned and walked back into her office. Her shoulders slumped, and she rubbed the back of her neck as she walked away. How could she persuade Andy? Should she com
Last Updated : 2024-11-28Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 26
Laura struggled to get through the next few hours. She felt unmoored as if she were drifting in a haze. It was the first time she’d ever consumed so much alcohol, and the consequences hit hard. Her head pounded relentlessly, her eyes stung with exhaustion, yet sleep was out of reach—work still demanded her attention. She was utterly drained. Dragging herself into Andy’s office, she summoned what little strength she had left to request an undertime. She looked at her drooping eyes and immediately agreed, arranging for the company driver to take her home. She barely got it into the car before fatigue pulled her into a deep sleep. When she arrived home, her aunt Kendra greeted her with a concerned look. Laura quickly explained that she wasn’t feeling well and asked to rest. Concerned, the woman later brought her some medicine. A glance in the mirror revealed her slightly swollen face and puffy eyes. Had she looked like this all day? The thought mortified her. As soon as the woman l
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 27
LAURA arrived at the Del Franco residence almost simultaneously with Darryl. He seemed to have just gotten home from the office. He was the first person she saw, dressed in a business suit. “Hi,” he greeted as he stepped out of his car.“Hello,” she replied.“I heard you’re going back to the province. For good?” he asked.She nodded.“Whoah! Is it okay if I say I’ll miss you?” he said with a chuckle.“You already did,” she responded with a laugh. “Want to come along?” she asked after a moment, surprising him. He looked at her.“Where?”“ZL Lounge.”“Ah, okay. I’ll go with you.”She smiled at his response. No hesitation at all.When they entered, Asia was already prepared. They just waited for Darryl, who had to rush through a shower. They took one car, and Darryl drove it. She also received a call from Aubrey, who was on her way. They arrived just a minute before Aubrey did. Asia was surprised to meet Gael, who had driven Aubrey.“Gael! Oh my God! Long time no see, huh!” Asia exclai
Last Updated : 2024-11-30Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 28
A month had passed since Laura returned to Caramoan. Before BK’s birthday, her father was already released, giving her the courage to face the days ahead. She devoted all her attention to her father. He was one of the reasons she never gave up on life. Even without Astin in her life, her father remained, consistently showing her how much he loved her. Though her father still had a nurse, she took care of him during her free time, never leaving everything to the nurse. Since no one lived at her Aunt Kendra’s house, she stayed there when busy at the resort and unable to return to the center. Her father, however, stayed at their old house in the Poblacion, or centre of town. She couldn’t convince him to stay with her at the resort. Following her Aunt Kendra's suggestion, she hired someone to take care of the house and cook meals. With the generous salary she earned, she could easily afford it. Hazel’s work turnover went smoothly. She even extended her stay by a week to complete an au
Last Updated : 2024-11-30Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 29
Out of nervousness, she shut the sliding door. After closing it, she returned to her bed and leaned against the headboard. Her heart was racing, and it felt like her dream had been real. But that was impossible. No one would dare do such a thing to her, especially with soldiers and the Madrid staff around. She touched her lips, unable to sleep for hours, thinking about the dream. She tossed and turned in bed before getting up and heading to the door. A glass of milk might help. She went downstairs, made some milk, and drank it there. Afterward, she went back up and lay in bed again. She forced herself to sleep as she lay down. Her eyes were closed, but her mind was wide awake. After a while, drowsiness finally crept in. She glanced at the window and the sliding door to ensure they were closed. Moments later, sleep finally took over. She woke up to a knock from outside her room. She sat up abruptly—she had work today. Quickly, she opened the door to see who it was. It was her
Last Updated : 2024-12-01Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 30
Laura couldn’t stop thinking about her conversation with John. So, she was finally going to meet that mysterious CM? But why just the two of them? She slumped into her swivel chair and faced the pile of papers. It was Monday, and she had a lot to catch up on from the previous week. She had barely settled in when her phone rang. The caller ID showed an unknown number, so she ignored it until it stopped ringing. Moments later, she received a message from the same number. Her eyebrow arched when she saw the name at the end of the message: ‘Love, CM.’ She let out a soft chuckle. Seriously? Was he messing with her? Still, she read the entire message. She frowned at the playful threat. He said he’d kiss her if he caught her jogging in the same outfit again. Before she realized it, she was smiling. It felt nice to have someone care like that. With Astin, she had always felt suffocated, unable to appreciate such gestures. She didn’t even notice when one of her staff entered. Quic
Last Updated : 2024-12-02Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 31
She could barely touch her food. She was still full. He looked at him. He must have been starving earlier, just like John said—he ate a lot. “Don't you like the food? I can have something else cooked,” he said, chewing. “I like it, but I’m really full,” she replied. “Ah, okay. Let's take it out so you can eat it later.” “There’s food at home. No need for takeout.” His handsome face frowned. “Who said you’re going home? You’re coming with me.” He wiped his mouth and stared at her. “What? Are you insane? I can’t. My dad’s home and he’ll definitely scold me if I don’t go back,” she protested. He gave her a knowing look. “Since when has your dad ever scolded you for being with me?," he replied, reclining in his chair.She swallowed hard. He was right. Her father never got mad at Astin. In fact, he used to push her towards him. Even now, her father hoped they’d get back together. He was a huge fan of Astin. She hadn’t told her father what happened between them in Manila or w
Last Updated : 2024-12-02
Latest chapter
Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 43: The Wedding
Laura glanced at her reflection in the mirror and smiled softly. She had opted for simplicity—a long-sleeved lace wedding gown with an elegant backless design. It wasn’t overly extravagant because simplicity suited her personality. In just two weeks, her figure and belly had grown noticeably. She looked so different compared to their prenup photos, where she wasn’t as plump. Yet she didn’t mind at all. What mattered most was that she and her baby were healthy. “You’re absolutely stunning, my dear!” Kendra praised warmly, still by her side. After all, Astin had strictly instructed her not to leave Laura’s side, knowing his fear of being stood up again. “Thank you, Tita,” Laura replied with a smile. “Call me Mama, dear. Finally, your wedding is happening. I’m so happy for you and Astin, and of course, excited for my grandchild,” she said happily. Touched, Laura embraced her tightly. “Thank you, Mama, for everything. You’ve been so kind to me, even after what I did before. I was
Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 42: Astin's perspective—from the very beginning. (3)
ASTIN was utterly shocked when Andy told him that Laura was planning to transfer to Caramoan. He didn’t believe that her father was the reason behind her decision. He told his sister not to approve her request. When Andy demanded a reason, he had no choice but to admit what had happened between him and Laura. Andy also asked about Barbie, and he confessed that she was just a part of his mission. He wasn’t mistaken. Laura already knew that Barbie was staying at his condo. She was the one who delivered the papers his mother had asked to review for the hotel expansion. At that moment, he wanted to explain himself to Laura. He wanted to run after her. Even though she didn’t say a word, he could tell she was hurt. She might think she was just one of the many women in his life, which wasn’t true. She was the only woman he had ever truly loved.He almost kicked Barbie out of the condo after overhearing everything she told Laura. He had called Ian multiple times, begging him to end the missio
Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 41: Astin's perspective—from the very beginning. (2)
Astin thought he wouldn’t be affected by Laura anymore. She had hurt him badly before, but now he couldn’t bring himself to stay mad at her. His heart was at risk again. He needed to fight his feelings for her and avoid her before he got hurt again.He couldn’t stop looking at her from the staircase. He had just arrived from headquarters, and Laura clearly just woke up. Her messy hair and casual look caught his attention. She looked even more beautiful than before. Her figure perfectly matched her face and long legs.Why did she have to wear such shorts? It stirred something inside him. He calmed himself when he felt uncomfortable in his pants. She still had the same effect on him.Fearing she might catch him staring, he walked away, pretending to check his phone.When he passed by her door, he noticed her looking at him. She called out his name, but he ignored her. He closed his eyes as he walked past. He missed her sweet voice and felt the urge to hug her.He had to control himself.
Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 40: Astin's perspective—from the very beginning. (1)
“Mama, she's so beautiful. Can I marry her, Mama?” he innocently asked his mother. She had brought him to the Mayor's child's birthday party in their town.The young girl was stunning, like a princess in his eyes. And he saw himself as her prince.“Yes, Laura is indeed beautiful. Hmm, but you’re still too young to discuss marriage, my son. You can say that when you grow up,” his mother replied with a sweet smile, ruffling his hair.Since that night, he could not get the girl out of his mind. Laura Miller. She frequently visited their resort, and they became friends.But as they grew older, Laura became even more beautiful in his eyes. He always wanted to see her. When he turned ten, he asked his parents if he could take Laura on a tour around Caramoan Island. They agreed, as did Laura's father. They used one of his Daddy Sebastian’'s largest yachts. Since he was still too young, their families accompanied them.In fifth grade, his parents transferred him to Manila. He was devastated th
Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 39
Since Laura was already pregnant, Astin didn’t allow her to continue working. Both families agreed that the wedding would be held again in Caramoan.At last, Astin and Laura's postponed wedding was set to take place.Laura leaned her head back, feeling sleepy. They were heading to Manila because she had a gown fitting scheduled for the next day. Their wedding was at the end of the month. For the first time in her life, she felt genuine excitement.Hernandez couple wanted to hurry the wedding before her belly grew too big.They were mid-flight, and she couldn’t stop yawning. Why did Astin have to pick her up at night? Her sleep was cut short.“Get some rest, sweetie. I’ll wake you up when we land,” Astin whispered and kissed her hair.“Okay,” she mumbled, barely able to keep her eyes open.Before she fully gave in to sleep, she heard him humming. She smiled to herself. Maybe he’d be better at lulling their future baby to sleep than she would. His soothing voice only made her sleepier. S
Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 38
LAURA suddenly felt hungry when she smelt the food Andy was carrying. It came from the hotel’s restaurant—their Kubo restaurant. She was familiar with the menu and its aroma. She wasn’t mistaken. The food was indeed for her. She allowed Astin to feed her when she said that she was hungry.“Tell me, why did you rush to leave this morning? Was it because of Elisa?” Astin asked after giving her a bite. She pinched him quickly, worried his parents might hear. But his father caught it anyway. “Don’t mind my son, Laura. He and Elisa have always been close. She’s like a daughter to us, too. Besides, Elisa is my godchild, so don’t think anything of it. They’re like siblings,” his father said. She shyly smiled at his father, not knowing how to respond. It seemed he didn’t realize Elisa had feelings for Astin. “Yes, Tito,” she replied softly, finally finding the courage to speak. Her Uncle Kent smiled warmly at her. Astin said nothing more as she shot him a warning glare. A few moments l
Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 37
“I love you so much, Astin,” Elisa’s gentle voice filled the room.She wanted to hear Astin’s response, secretly hoping he wouldn’t return her feelings. But anxiety gripped her—fear of what he might say.“Elisa... I love you—”She didn’t let him finish. She abruptly walked away, her chest feeling like it was about to explode. She quickly descended the stairs, startling the people in the living room with her haste. Her dad and Aunt Kendra called out to her, but she ignored them.Laura hurried out of the gate and walked briskly. She wanted to scream, but no sound escaped her lips. She wanted to cry, but no tears would fall. She passed by John’s group, noticing them only now as they appeared to be eating. John called out to her, but she didn’t look back. She kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, desperate to leave that place. She encountered some of their staff along the way and forced a bitter smile until she reached the hotel’s main gate. She kept walking until she reached the corner, wh
Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 36
She was left stunned. She wasn’t wrong in her suspicions. Who dared to tell her to avoid Astin? Who did she think she was to dictate her actions? Elisa had no idea what was happening between her and Astin right now. Elisa couldn’t dictate what she should do. Did Astin know how Elisa felt? She needed to talk to Astin when he recovered. She didn’t want this kind of relationship. She wasn’t sure if Astin truly loved her. As long as other women surrounded him, she wouldn’t have peace of mind. Selfish as it may seem, she didn’t want to share him with anyone. She knew Astin loved her. Honestly, Elisa’s words had boosted her confidence—learning that Astin was assigned here because of her brought her joy. That gave her a reason to fight for him. She wouldn’t let Elisa take him away from her. She was climbing the stairs when she spotted Elisa entering Astin’s room. She had no idea where Elisa planned to sleep tonight. She waited for her to go inside before heading upstairs herself. She’d l
Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01 Chapter 35
Before they even entered the gate, Elisa was already waiting for them. When she saw the blood on her hand pressed against his wound, she panicked. “Oh my God, Astin! I told you to take it easy and recover first!” Elisa exclaimed. She quickly assisted Astin as they climbed the stairs. Astin remained silent. His eyes were unfocused, and he looked like he was about to pass out at any moment. The people in the living room also panicked and followed them to Astin’s room. Since Aurora was a nurse, she immediately fetched first-aid supplies from downstairs. Laura’s father, noticing his drenched clothes, took over and helped him change. Laura and Elisa stepped out briefly. Laura’s hands trembled as she nervously bit her nails. Only now did it sink in—why hadn’t Astin told her he was injured? Why did he push himself earlier? She hadn’t even noticed he was in pain. Or maybe he was just good at hiding it. Elisa glanced at her, her face tense, prompting Laura to avoid her gaze. She lowe
