REED: Reed was excited to see Blue and Clarisa together again. He was determined to join them this time. In his mind, he kept thinking about how much he wanted to see his wife again. He had already talked to Blue, who promised to help him convince Clarisa not to return to America. He just hoped she’d agree and give him another chance to win her back. He had been chatting with his wife earlier, pretending to be Blue so she would respond. Every time his phone chimed, his heart fluttered, knowing it was Clarisa. God, I missed her so much! Even though they had just seen each other yesterday, he wanted to run to her and hold her tightly. For two years, he had lived in worry and search, unsure if she was alive or dead. Why had it never crossed his mind that she might have returned to America? He recalled seeing her for the first time yesterday... He was speechless. She was even more beautiful now. Her once straight hair was now curly. He didn’t mind—it suited her. But there was somethin
CLARISA: She woke up with a throbbing headache. She was lying in bed and had fallen asleep. Glancing around, she realized it wasn’t her room, but she was still in the hotel where the convention was being held. The setup of this room was identical to hers. She tried to recall what happened before she lost consciousness. Her memory was hazy, but she distinctly remembered Albert giving her wine, and then everything went black. She bolted upright. Where was she? She looked for her cellphone. She knew she had put it in her pocket before passing out. "Good, you're awake," Albert said, stepping out of the bathroom, freshly showered. "What did you do to me? Why am I here?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion and fear. "Did you think I would just forget what you did to me? I won’t let anyone else have you, not even your ex-husband! I’ve been waiting for you for so long, only to find out you have a family here in the Philippines?" "What are you talking about, Albert? I neve
"Stay silent! You have no right to say that to my wife!" Reed shouted at Albert, punching him again. The hotel security quickly stepped in to prevent them from clashing further."Sir, please stop. We'll take care of him. We'll bring him to the precinct," the hotel security assured Reed.She lay on the bed, unable to move because her clothes were torn. She just stared at Reed, unable to believe what she had heard from him. In the past, he never believed her, but now, he was defending her.Albert was taken to the precinct, leaving only Reed and Clarisa in the room."Are you okay, sweetheart?" Reed asked as he embraced her. He wrapped a blanket around her to cover her body. She couldn’t stop crying, and the fear of possibly being raped again started sinking into her mind.Neither of them spoke. Reed simply held her as she cried, waiting for her to calm down.When she had calmed down a bit, she stood up, looked for her bag and phone, and went to her own room. Reed followed her silently. S
REED: Clarisa had fallen asleep beside him. He didn’t go home; she fell asleep in her hotel room. He was very happy. He looked at his wife. She was peacefully sleeping in his arms. He gently brushed the hair that was covering her face. He couldn’t count how many rounds they had last night. They both felt it—they missed each other so much, even though no conversation had taken place between them. When she wakes up later, he’ll talk to her about going back to the mansion. He’ll woo her to reconcile with him. He was sure that she still loved him. He felt that in the kisses she gave him last night, and it made him smile. He remembered yesterday, while he and Blue, along with Maria, were waiting for Clarisa at the mall. He had received some pictures from her phone showing her with a man lying on a bed. His jaw clenched at what he saw. Jealousy resurfaced, just like when he saw that video two years ago. He wanted to cause a scene in the mall yesterday, but he held back because of Bl
They sat in silence in the car as he drove. She didn’t say a word either.“H-how have you been? I’ve been looking for you for so long… you and Nanay Celia and Tatay Kardo. I even went to the mango orchard, but you weren’t there anymore.”“We hid in a place where no one knew us, where no one could mock me because of the video that spread back then,” Clarisa replied, her face blank. There was no trace of her true emotions.“A-about the video… I just want you to know that I believe you now. I’m sorry for not trusting you right away back then, sweetheart,” he said to his wife.He saw her tears begin to fall. The brave front Clarisa had put up crumbled, and she started crying. He quickly pulled the car to the side of the road to comfort her.“Don’t cry, sweetheart. It breaks my heart to see you like this. Please forgive me for what I’ve done to you. I still love you…” he whispered to her. Her sobs grew louder until she buried her face in his shoulder.He kissed her to try and stop her tear
"Your dad's room is bigger, sweetheart... can he just stay there? We might not all fit in your bed," she tried to convince the child again. She still couldn’t fully grasp the idea of sharing a bed with him."Then let’s just stay in your room with Dad, Mom. I’ll move to his room as long as we’re all together," Blue replied."That’s right, baby. Let’s stay in our room with your mom so you can roll around. Our bed is big enough, right? Back then, your mom used to roll around on it too," Reed chimed in from behind them, carrying his luggage. They hadn’t noticed he had followed them. He meant something else entirely, but she chose to ignore it.She shot him a sharp look for joking around with their child. Had he and Blue already conspired on this before she even arrived at the mansion?"Mom, let’s go to Dad’s room!" Blue exclaimed enthusiastically, tugging her out of the room and leading her to Reed’s bedroom.At first, she hesitated to enter, but Blue gave her a little push, urging her in
She went to the closet to grab something to wear. She didn't bother opening her luggage since it would only be a hassle to reorganize it tomorrow when she and Blue left.Once she was dressed, she was about to leave the room to check on her child."Where are you going?""To Blue's room. I'll sleep there.""No need. I'll bring him here so the three of us can sleep together.""Are you kidding me? Why would I do that?" she snapped at him."Suit yourself. But if your son wakes up and we're not sleeping together as a family, he'll get upset again," he said nonchalantly. She suddenly fell silent."You stay here; I'll get Blue," Reed said, standing up and walking out the door. She was left sitting on the sofa.When he returned, he was carrying their sleeping child. She quickly stood up to greet him and take Blue from him. She flinched when their skin accidentally brushed against each other.Get a grip, Clarisa! Acting like a virgin just because of a little touch? she scolded herself.Once she
The next morning, they were awakened by the noise of their child, who had gotten up before them."Yehey! We're in the same bed! Mom, Dad, and me!" the child exclaimed happily. Reed was right last night—if their child found out they weren’t sleeping together, he would be upset. It was a good thing she listened to her husband."Good morning, baby," she greeted her child. Reed also woke up from the noise."Good morning, Mommy," the child said, planting a kiss on her lips."Good morning, Daddy," he added, kissing his father on the lips too."You both kiss Mom and Dad," the child commanded, giggling."L-later, sweetheart. Mommy's breath smells bad," she tried to reason."It's okay, even if Mommy smells bad, I'll still kiss her," Reed teased before kissing her on the lips. "Good morning, sweetheart," he said softly, making her blush again."Yehey!" Blue cheered with excitement."Mommy, didn’t you say we’re going to visit Grandpa and Grandma today?""Yes, sweetheart. We’re leaving today. You
They walked together into the mansion. Blue was in between the hands of his parents, while Reed and Clarisa walked hand-in-hand, following them. She didn’t really want to hold hands with him. She was shy because their staff at the hacienda were staring at them. She tried to pull her hand away, but Reed didn’t let go."Why? Are you ashamed of me? I’m handsome, aren’t I?" he joked."It’s embarrassing, they’re staring at us.""Let them look. I want you by my side always..." he whispered in her ear and then put his arm around her. She felt a thrill from what he did; it was like they were back to courting each other."By the way, Reed, Clarisa, Don Miguel is here too," her father said."Grandpa Miguel? What’s he doing here?" Reed asked in confusion. Both of them were surprised that Don Miguel was there. Before her parents could respond, they saw the old man approaching."Well, here you are, my grandchildren?" he happily greeted them."Grandpa!!!" she shouted and ran to him. She hugged him
Here we go again... the topic from two years ago is being brought up again. She didn’t want to talk about it anymore. She didn’t want to revisit it because it still hurt, but she had no choice but to listen because she was driving. She couldn’t pretend to sleep. She couldn’t silence Reed with what he was saying either... She had no choice but to listen to his explanation."God knows how much I regret not believing you. I looked for you back then, but I couldn’t find you.""Is what happened with Diana also just an accident?" she asked, almost sarcastically. She didn’t believe it was an accident."I don’t know, sweetheart, how she ended up in our room. She gave me a drug to drink... before I knew it, she was holding my manhood, but please believe me, sweetheart, I didn’t want that. You’re the one I love..."She glared at him again to hide the pain in her chest. She felt her eyes starting to water, threatening to cry. She could barely see the road. She stopped the car on the side. Thankf
The next morning, they were awakened by the noise of their child, who had gotten up before them."Yehey! We're in the same bed! Mom, Dad, and me!" the child exclaimed happily. Reed was right last night—if their child found out they weren’t sleeping together, he would be upset. It was a good thing she listened to her husband."Good morning, baby," she greeted her child. Reed also woke up from the noise."Good morning, Mommy," the child said, planting a kiss on her lips."Good morning, Daddy," he added, kissing his father on the lips too."You both kiss Mom and Dad," the child commanded, giggling."L-later, sweetheart. Mommy's breath smells bad," she tried to reason."It's okay, even if Mommy smells bad, I'll still kiss her," Reed teased before kissing her on the lips. "Good morning, sweetheart," he said softly, making her blush again."Yehey!" Blue cheered with excitement."Mommy, didn’t you say we’re going to visit Grandpa and Grandma today?""Yes, sweetheart. We’re leaving today. You
She went to the closet to grab something to wear. She didn't bother opening her luggage since it would only be a hassle to reorganize it tomorrow when she and Blue left.Once she was dressed, she was about to leave the room to check on her child."Where are you going?""To Blue's room. I'll sleep there.""No need. I'll bring him here so the three of us can sleep together.""Are you kidding me? Why would I do that?" she snapped at him."Suit yourself. But if your son wakes up and we're not sleeping together as a family, he'll get upset again," he said nonchalantly. She suddenly fell silent."You stay here; I'll get Blue," Reed said, standing up and walking out the door. She was left sitting on the sofa.When he returned, he was carrying their sleeping child. She quickly stood up to greet him and take Blue from him. She flinched when their skin accidentally brushed against each other.Get a grip, Clarisa! Acting like a virgin just because of a little touch? she scolded herself.Once she
"Your dad's room is bigger, sweetheart... can he just stay there? We might not all fit in your bed," she tried to convince the child again. She still couldn’t fully grasp the idea of sharing a bed with him."Then let’s just stay in your room with Dad, Mom. I’ll move to his room as long as we’re all together," Blue replied."That’s right, baby. Let’s stay in our room with your mom so you can roll around. Our bed is big enough, right? Back then, your mom used to roll around on it too," Reed chimed in from behind them, carrying his luggage. They hadn’t noticed he had followed them. He meant something else entirely, but she chose to ignore it.She shot him a sharp look for joking around with their child. Had he and Blue already conspired on this before she even arrived at the mansion?"Mom, let’s go to Dad’s room!" Blue exclaimed enthusiastically, tugging her out of the room and leading her to Reed’s bedroom.At first, she hesitated to enter, but Blue gave her a little push, urging her in
They sat in silence in the car as he drove. She didn’t say a word either.“H-how have you been? I’ve been looking for you for so long… you and Nanay Celia and Tatay Kardo. I even went to the mango orchard, but you weren’t there anymore.”“We hid in a place where no one knew us, where no one could mock me because of the video that spread back then,” Clarisa replied, her face blank. There was no trace of her true emotions.“A-about the video… I just want you to know that I believe you now. I’m sorry for not trusting you right away back then, sweetheart,” he said to his wife.He saw her tears begin to fall. The brave front Clarisa had put up crumbled, and she started crying. He quickly pulled the car to the side of the road to comfort her.“Don’t cry, sweetheart. It breaks my heart to see you like this. Please forgive me for what I’ve done to you. I still love you…” he whispered to her. Her sobs grew louder until she buried her face in his shoulder.He kissed her to try and stop her tear
REED: Clarisa had fallen asleep beside him. He didn’t go home; she fell asleep in her hotel room. He was very happy. He looked at his wife. She was peacefully sleeping in his arms. He gently brushed the hair that was covering her face. He couldn’t count how many rounds they had last night. They both felt it—they missed each other so much, even though no conversation had taken place between them. When she wakes up later, he’ll talk to her about going back to the mansion. He’ll woo her to reconcile with him. He was sure that she still loved him. He felt that in the kisses she gave him last night, and it made him smile. He remembered yesterday, while he and Blue, along with Maria, were waiting for Clarisa at the mall. He had received some pictures from her phone showing her with a man lying on a bed. His jaw clenched at what he saw. Jealousy resurfaced, just like when he saw that video two years ago. He wanted to cause a scene in the mall yesterday, but he held back because of Bl
"Stay silent! You have no right to say that to my wife!" Reed shouted at Albert, punching him again. The hotel security quickly stepped in to prevent them from clashing further."Sir, please stop. We'll take care of him. We'll bring him to the precinct," the hotel security assured Reed.She lay on the bed, unable to move because her clothes were torn. She just stared at Reed, unable to believe what she had heard from him. In the past, he never believed her, but now, he was defending her.Albert was taken to the precinct, leaving only Reed and Clarisa in the room."Are you okay, sweetheart?" Reed asked as he embraced her. He wrapped a blanket around her to cover her body. She couldn’t stop crying, and the fear of possibly being raped again started sinking into her mind.Neither of them spoke. Reed simply held her as she cried, waiting for her to calm down.When she had calmed down a bit, she stood up, looked for her bag and phone, and went to her own room. Reed followed her silently. S
CLARISA: She woke up with a throbbing headache. She was lying in bed and had fallen asleep. Glancing around, she realized it wasn’t her room, but she was still in the hotel where the convention was being held. The setup of this room was identical to hers. She tried to recall what happened before she lost consciousness. Her memory was hazy, but she distinctly remembered Albert giving her wine, and then everything went black. She bolted upright. Where was she? She looked for her cellphone. She knew she had put it in her pocket before passing out. "Good, you're awake," Albert said, stepping out of the bathroom, freshly showered. "What did you do to me? Why am I here?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion and fear. "Did you think I would just forget what you did to me? I won’t let anyone else have you, not even your ex-husband! I’ve been waiting for you for so long, only to find out you have a family here in the Philippines?" "What are you talking about, Albert? I neve