THE PASTCHAPTER TENLOVE ANDREI LEE“Villaflor, Aria.”“Absent, Dr. Lee,” sagot ng isang estudyante sa ‘kin na nakaupo sa katabing upuan ng girlfriend ko.My brows furrowed as I looked up, glancing at the student and then at Aria’s empty seat.Late ako ng seventeen minutes sa klase dahil dumaan pa ‘ko sa ospital. Kaya kanina pagdating ko, itong attendance muna ka’gad ang inatupag ko. Ni hindi ko nagawang sulyapan ang upuan ni Aria bago ako maupo sa desk ko. Ngayon ko lang nagawang mag-angat ng tingin at oo, wala nga siya.Why didn’t she attend my class? She hadn’t texted or called to inform me. That wasn’t like her. Aria never missed class without a good reason, especially mine.Does she have a problem?The thought unsettled me, distracting me from the task at hand. I couldn’t shake off the nagging worry as I moved on with the attendance, my gaze flicking back to her empty chair more times than I’d like to admit.Bigla akong nag-alala dahil nitong nakaraang linggo matapos ang pagtan
THE PASTCHAPTER ELEVENLOVE ANDREI LEEKinabukasan,Saktong alas singko ng hapon no’ng dumating ako sa apartment ni Aria. Alam kong maaga pa dahil alas sais ang usapan namin, pero hindi na ‘ko makapaghintay kaya inagahan ko ang punta sa kaniya.Hindi niya ‘ko kailangan pagbuksan ng gate dahil saktong pagdating ko may estudyanteng lumabas sa gate ng apartment at hindi niya ‘yon naisara. Hinintay ko lang makalayo ang estudyante bago ako bumaba sa sasakyan at deretsong pumasok na sa loob.I wanted to surprise Aria, so I went up the stairs on my own, leaving the bouquet I brought for her in the car for later. When I reached her door, I knocked. A few seconds passed before she opened it, and the look on her face told me I’d caught her completely off guard.“Hi, love,” I greeted her with a smile.“L-Love… bakit… bakit ang aga mo?” she stammered. Napansin ko ang mahigpit niyang hawak sa doorknob at hindi man lang binubuksan nang maayos ang pinto. It was as if she didn’t want me to come in.I
THE PASTCHAPTER TWELVELOVE ANDREI LEEHindi lang kahihiyan ang baon ko paglabas namin ni Aria sa restaurant. Baon ko rin ang sakit at sama ng loob. Nakakahiya dahil may ilang nakapanood sa amin kanina nang tanggihan ako ni Aria, at nakakasakit sa loob dahil kahit ano’ng gawin ko, hindi ko nabago ang isip niya sa pag-alis.The car ride to her apartment was suffocatingly silent. I didn’t say a word to her from the moment we left the restaurant to the second my car stopped in front of her building. The frustration, disappointment, and anger bubbling inside me were too overwhelming.Nanatili kami sa loob ng sasakyan ko kahit nasa tapat na kami ng apartment niya. Hindi ko siya kailangan balingan sa tabi ko para malamang umiiyak siya. The occasional sound of her sniffles gave her away, even though she tried so hard to hold it in.“Sorry, Love,” she murmured, her voice barely audible, yet it still managed to pierce right through me.Humigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela habang deretso ang ting
THE PRESENTCHAPTER THIRTEENLOVE ANDREI LEE“Final na ang desisyon ko, darling,” ani Mommyla habang magkakaharap kami sa pangpamilyang mesa.It was Saturday, our usual family dinner, and this time, we were at a well-known restaurant. Everyone was there—my twin brothers and their wives, Summer, Tita Baby, Mom, Dad, Mommyla and Daddylo.“Pinagbigyan ka namin noong una,” she continued, “dahil akala namin magiging masaya ka sa babaeng ‘yon. Akala namin tama ang desisyon mo na balewalain ang engagement mo kay Ishay. Pero ano’ng nangyari? Iniwan ka. Ipinagpalit ka sa career niya sa ibang bansa. That says only one thing, Love Andrei—that the two of you were never meant to be. At naniniwala ako na nangyari ang bagay na ‘yon para matuloy ang kasal mo kay Ishay—sa babaeng ini-match talaga sa ‘yo ni Don Adolfo.”Summer nodded in agreement, adding fuel to the fire. “I think so too, Mommyla. We’re on the same page.”Focus sa ‘kin ang usapan kahit na abala kaming lahat sa pagkain. Everyone seemed t
CHAPTER FOURTEENISHAY ARCANWAY(Four months ago)“Oh my goodness, anak!” Nagulat si Mommy nang salubungin niya ako sa main door. Her eyes widened as she stared at my face, particularly at my hair, which now only reached my neck, compared to how it used to fall halfway down my back. “Bakit ka nagpagupit? Alam ba ng manager mo ‘yan?” She even circled behind me to inspect how it looked from the back.“Yes, Mom. Actually, ayoko sana. But it was my manager who said I needed to cut it for my new project,” I explained.“Nag-mature ka tingnan. Pero kaunti lang naman.”“It’s fine. Honestly, long hair can be a hassle. It takes forever to fix. Laging hirap ang stylist ko sa pag-aayos ng buhok ko lalo na at makapal pa. Ngayon, sa tingin ko hindi na siya mahihirapan. Anyway, where’s Dad?” tanong ko nang mapansing wala ang presensya ni Dad sa bahay. Tahimik.Bahagya siyang napabuntonghininga. “He’s in his study.”Kumunot ang noo ko. “Kaninang umalis ako rito sa bahay naroon na siya. Ngayong nakaba
CHAPTER FIFTEENISHAY ARCANWAY(PRESENT)Dumating ako sa restaurant na ibinook ni Mrs. Vivar para sa amin ni Love Andrei Lee. Four months ago noong kinausap ko si Mrs. Vivar at sinabing payag na ‘kong magpakasal. I had also laid out my condition—the financial assistance I needed for my family’s situation.At the time, however, she said it wasn’t the right moment. Kabe-break lang daw kasi Love Andrei Lee sa nobya niya, and she didn’t think it was fair to immediately thrust him into the engagement that had previously fallen through. Ganunpaman, ibinigay niya pa rin ang tulong pinansyal na kailangan ko kapalit ng paghihintay ko.Ang sabi niya, maghintay raw ako ng mga apat na buwan then muli niyang kakausapin ang apo niyang si Love Andrei tungkol sa engagement. Huwag daw akong mag-alala dahil sa mga oras na ‘yon ay matutuloy na dahil siya na raw ang magdedesisyon para sa amin. She explained that the waiting period was to allow her grandson some time to heal and adjust, so he wouldn’t feel
CHAPTER SIXTEENLOVE ANDREI LEE‘A simple outfit by Euphrosyne Saoirse Arcanway—baggy jeans and a plain cropped top—has once again captured the attention of netizens on social media. Many claim that even if she wore rags, she’d still look fashionable.’I sighed, backing out of the article and shaking my head as I turned to tidy up the clutter on my desk. Ginugol ko ang natitirang sandali sa pag-scroll sa internet bago ang klase ko para sana malibang at mawala sa isip ko ang nalalapit na engagement na ipinagpipilitan sa ‘kin ni Mommyla.But instead of finding relief, I only felt more stressed. Every scroll brought me face-to-face with posts, articles, and endless chatter about Ishay. Her name was everywhere—every trending topic, every headline.“Euphrosyne Saoirse Arcanway stuns yet again.”“Is Ishay the perfect match for the Lees?”“She’s the epitome of elegance and beauty.”Alam na ng mga tao ang tungkol sa nalalapit naming engagement dahil isinapubliko na ‘yon ni Mommyla. Ginamit niy
ANNOUNCEMENT:Ang story po ni Love Andrei Lee, ang THE COLD HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #3) ay matitigil na ang update sa GoodNovel at mababasa na lamang po muna sa aking Telegram private channel. Para magkaroon ng access sa channel ay mayroon po kayong babayaran na monthly subscription fee na P200. Daily pa rin po ang update doon, Monday to Sat, and Sunday lang po ang wala dahil iyon po ang rest day ng author.Ang kagandahan po sa VIP group ay hindi n'yo na kailangan bumili ng coins kasi alam kong mahal din ang coins sa mga platform. Dito po sa VIP group, ang 200 n'yo po ay pang isang buwan n'yo na.Sana po maintindihan n'yo dahil kailangan po talaga namin pagkakitaan ang pagsusulat, lalo na po ako na may tatlong kapatid na pinapaaral. Sobrang hirap po na magpaaral ng mga kapatid tapos halos barya-barya lang ang napupunta sa amin galing dito sa GoodNovel kasi maliit na coins po na pinang-u-unlock n'yo ay hinahati pa ng app. 50/50 po sa coins ang GN at author. Tapos kapag watch ads naman an
ANNOUNCEMENT:Ang story po ni Love Andrei Lee, ang THE COLD HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #3) ay matitigil na ang update sa GoodNovel at mababasa na lamang po muna sa aking Telegram private channel. Para magkaroon ng access sa channel ay mayroon po kayong babayaran na monthly subscription fee na P200. Daily pa rin po ang update doon, Monday to Sat, and Sunday lang po ang wala dahil iyon po ang rest day ng author.Ang kagandahan po sa VIP group ay hindi n'yo na kailangan bumili ng coins kasi alam kong mahal din ang coins sa mga platform. Dito po sa VIP group, ang 200 n'yo po ay pang isang buwan n'yo na.Sana po maintindihan n'yo dahil kailangan po talaga namin pagkakitaan ang pagsusulat, lalo na po ako na may tatlong kapatid na pinapaaral. Sobrang hirap po na magpaaral ng mga kapatid tapos halos barya-barya lang ang napupunta sa amin galing dito sa GoodNovel kasi maliit na coins po na pinang-u-unlock n'yo ay hinahati pa ng app. 50/50 po sa coins ang GN at author. Tapos kapag watch ads naman an
CHAPTER SIXTEENLOVE ANDREI LEE‘A simple outfit by Euphrosyne Saoirse Arcanway—baggy jeans and a plain cropped top—has once again captured the attention of netizens on social media. Many claim that even if she wore rags, she’d still look fashionable.’I sighed, backing out of the article and shaking my head as I turned to tidy up the clutter on my desk. Ginugol ko ang natitirang sandali sa pag-scroll sa internet bago ang klase ko para sana malibang at mawala sa isip ko ang nalalapit na engagement na ipinagpipilitan sa ‘kin ni Mommyla.But instead of finding relief, I only felt more stressed. Every scroll brought me face-to-face with posts, articles, and endless chatter about Ishay. Her name was everywhere—every trending topic, every headline.“Euphrosyne Saoirse Arcanway stuns yet again.”“Is Ishay the perfect match for the Lees?”“She’s the epitome of elegance and beauty.”Alam na ng mga tao ang tungkol sa nalalapit naming engagement dahil isinapubliko na ‘yon ni Mommyla. Ginamit niy
CHAPTER FIFTEENISHAY ARCANWAY(PRESENT)Dumating ako sa restaurant na ibinook ni Mrs. Vivar para sa amin ni Love Andrei Lee. Four months ago noong kinausap ko si Mrs. Vivar at sinabing payag na ‘kong magpakasal. I had also laid out my condition—the financial assistance I needed for my family’s situation.At the time, however, she said it wasn’t the right moment. Kabe-break lang daw kasi Love Andrei Lee sa nobya niya, and she didn’t think it was fair to immediately thrust him into the engagement that had previously fallen through. Ganunpaman, ibinigay niya pa rin ang tulong pinansyal na kailangan ko kapalit ng paghihintay ko.Ang sabi niya, maghintay raw ako ng mga apat na buwan then muli niyang kakausapin ang apo niyang si Love Andrei tungkol sa engagement. Huwag daw akong mag-alala dahil sa mga oras na ‘yon ay matutuloy na dahil siya na raw ang magdedesisyon para sa amin. She explained that the waiting period was to allow her grandson some time to heal and adjust, so he wouldn’t feel
CHAPTER FOURTEENISHAY ARCANWAY(Four months ago)“Oh my goodness, anak!” Nagulat si Mommy nang salubungin niya ako sa main door. Her eyes widened as she stared at my face, particularly at my hair, which now only reached my neck, compared to how it used to fall halfway down my back. “Bakit ka nagpagupit? Alam ba ng manager mo ‘yan?” She even circled behind me to inspect how it looked from the back.“Yes, Mom. Actually, ayoko sana. But it was my manager who said I needed to cut it for my new project,” I explained.“Nag-mature ka tingnan. Pero kaunti lang naman.”“It’s fine. Honestly, long hair can be a hassle. It takes forever to fix. Laging hirap ang stylist ko sa pag-aayos ng buhok ko lalo na at makapal pa. Ngayon, sa tingin ko hindi na siya mahihirapan. Anyway, where’s Dad?” tanong ko nang mapansing wala ang presensya ni Dad sa bahay. Tahimik.Bahagya siyang napabuntonghininga. “He’s in his study.”Kumunot ang noo ko. “Kaninang umalis ako rito sa bahay naroon na siya. Ngayong nakaba
THE PRESENTCHAPTER THIRTEENLOVE ANDREI LEE“Final na ang desisyon ko, darling,” ani Mommyla habang magkakaharap kami sa pangpamilyang mesa.It was Saturday, our usual family dinner, and this time, we were at a well-known restaurant. Everyone was there—my twin brothers and their wives, Summer, Tita Baby, Mom, Dad, Mommyla and Daddylo.“Pinagbigyan ka namin noong una,” she continued, “dahil akala namin magiging masaya ka sa babaeng ‘yon. Akala namin tama ang desisyon mo na balewalain ang engagement mo kay Ishay. Pero ano’ng nangyari? Iniwan ka. Ipinagpalit ka sa career niya sa ibang bansa. That says only one thing, Love Andrei—that the two of you were never meant to be. At naniniwala ako na nangyari ang bagay na ‘yon para matuloy ang kasal mo kay Ishay—sa babaeng ini-match talaga sa ‘yo ni Don Adolfo.”Summer nodded in agreement, adding fuel to the fire. “I think so too, Mommyla. We’re on the same page.”Focus sa ‘kin ang usapan kahit na abala kaming lahat sa pagkain. Everyone seemed t
THE PASTCHAPTER TWELVELOVE ANDREI LEEHindi lang kahihiyan ang baon ko paglabas namin ni Aria sa restaurant. Baon ko rin ang sakit at sama ng loob. Nakakahiya dahil may ilang nakapanood sa amin kanina nang tanggihan ako ni Aria, at nakakasakit sa loob dahil kahit ano’ng gawin ko, hindi ko nabago ang isip niya sa pag-alis.The car ride to her apartment was suffocatingly silent. I didn’t say a word to her from the moment we left the restaurant to the second my car stopped in front of her building. The frustration, disappointment, and anger bubbling inside me were too overwhelming.Nanatili kami sa loob ng sasakyan ko kahit nasa tapat na kami ng apartment niya. Hindi ko siya kailangan balingan sa tabi ko para malamang umiiyak siya. The occasional sound of her sniffles gave her away, even though she tried so hard to hold it in.“Sorry, Love,” she murmured, her voice barely audible, yet it still managed to pierce right through me.Humigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela habang deretso ang ting
THE PASTCHAPTER ELEVENLOVE ANDREI LEEKinabukasan,Saktong alas singko ng hapon no’ng dumating ako sa apartment ni Aria. Alam kong maaga pa dahil alas sais ang usapan namin, pero hindi na ‘ko makapaghintay kaya inagahan ko ang punta sa kaniya.Hindi niya ‘ko kailangan pagbuksan ng gate dahil saktong pagdating ko may estudyanteng lumabas sa gate ng apartment at hindi niya ‘yon naisara. Hinintay ko lang makalayo ang estudyante bago ako bumaba sa sasakyan at deretsong pumasok na sa loob.I wanted to surprise Aria, so I went up the stairs on my own, leaving the bouquet I brought for her in the car for later. When I reached her door, I knocked. A few seconds passed before she opened it, and the look on her face told me I’d caught her completely off guard.“Hi, love,” I greeted her with a smile.“L-Love… bakit… bakit ang aga mo?” she stammered. Napansin ko ang mahigpit niyang hawak sa doorknob at hindi man lang binubuksan nang maayos ang pinto. It was as if she didn’t want me to come in.I
THE PASTCHAPTER TENLOVE ANDREI LEE“Villaflor, Aria.”“Absent, Dr. Lee,” sagot ng isang estudyante sa ‘kin na nakaupo sa katabing upuan ng girlfriend ko.My brows furrowed as I looked up, glancing at the student and then at Aria’s empty seat.Late ako ng seventeen minutes sa klase dahil dumaan pa ‘ko sa ospital. Kaya kanina pagdating ko, itong attendance muna ka’gad ang inatupag ko. Ni hindi ko nagawang sulyapan ang upuan ni Aria bago ako maupo sa desk ko. Ngayon ko lang nagawang mag-angat ng tingin at oo, wala nga siya.Why didn’t she attend my class? She hadn’t texted or called to inform me. That wasn’t like her. Aria never missed class without a good reason, especially mine.Does she have a problem?The thought unsettled me, distracting me from the task at hand. I couldn’t shake off the nagging worry as I moved on with the attendance, my gaze flicking back to her empty chair more times than I’d like to admit.Bigla akong nag-alala dahil nitong nakaraang linggo matapos ang pagtan
THE PASTCHAPTER NINELOVE ANDREI LEE“Tell me about your dream house,” sabi ko kay Aria habang magkatabi kaming nakahiga sa kama niya. Pareho kaming walang saplot, our bodies covered only by a shared blanket.I had come straight here after my shift at the hospital. Nagkita naman kami kanina sa university noong klase ko sa kanila, pero hindi sapat ang oras na 'yon lalo at hindi ko siya malapitan at mahawakan.I brought groceries and other essentials she might need—daily supplies, personal hygiene products, and even a variety of fresh fruits. At first, sinermonan na naman niya ako, pero kalaunan naging okay rin kami no’ng sinabi kong gusto kong gawin ‘yon para sa kaniya.Hours later, after sharing the McDonald’s I’d brought for dinner, we found ourselves here again, tangled up in her sheets. Hindi na rin mabilang kung ilang beses nang may nangyari sa ‘min simula noong naumpisahan namin ‘yon gawin. It had become a regular part of my visits, and every time I initiated, she never said no.