“C13”“FUCK!” a loud curse snapped Heart out of her trance in front of the television. That’s what she heard after the door violently swung open, revealing Lux. “What the f*** is that?” he angrily demanded from his friend, abandoning the visitors he had been talking with a while back.“I don’t know. Lola Carmen supposedly issued the statement,” Vandros replied.“Turn that off!” he insisted, gesturing fiercely at the TV, his mestizo face turning red.She recognized Lux’s anger; he wasn’t the type to get mad like this unless provoked, similar to the incident four years ago with Franco and Diana.Lux glanced at her, and his expression softened. She saw compassion in Lux’s eyes, causing her entire system to melt. She wasn’t crying; she was just stunned and unable to react to what she saw on the TV.Someone was trying to ruin her, and she didn’t know who. Diana was the only one capable of such deception, as that woman orchestrated everything that happened to her before. Diana might pret
C14Even though Lux didn't want it, he couldn't do anything when he left Heart at the restaurant. He felt pity seeing her strong yet tearless. Time had hardened the Heart that once relied on him.He was amazed at her bravery in the face of everything, resisting tears. Despite the intense insecurity and jealousy the previous night, she stood firmer now. Does his Heart still need him? He feared the strength he witnessed. She seemed like the kind of woman who could stand on her own even without his help.Damn. He always needed her to want and need him just as he did. He's on his way to pick up his grandma now. He's close. He spotted his mom's car, probably bringing Lush to the mansion.He quickly went down upon entering the yard, stopping in front of the main door. "Daddy!" Lush shouted, running towards him. Carmen and Elisa were behind."Hi, son!" he greeted, lifting Lush. "Where's my Bobbie?" Lush immediately asked."Mommy's still working. Are you bored already?" he asked, and Lush sh
C15Heart's mind is filled with thoughts while she prepares dinner. Lush is busy playing with his airplanes, content on the floor, occasionally running and flying the plane. Lux has bought him every type of airplane toy, including one with a remote control that once hit the TV, breaking it.Lush cried a lot, but Lux found it amusing, praising the excellent flying skills. Heart was upset because they wasted the TV, which was worth more than just a few hundred thousand pesos. Lux claimed the TV wasn't durable.Since then, she never let Lush hold the remote control of his toys. He played manually. Although there's a playroom upstairs, he preferred to play wherever she was.When she was a kid, Playrooms weren't common for them. The yard and the living room served as their playing areas, extending to the kitchen.They played and wore out toys wherever they were. They weren't wealthy enough to have playpens or playrooms. Lush seemed to have adapted to playing anywhere, and Lux mentioned be
C16Lux scratched his head because his bookbinding was cut short. Heart wanted to sleep early because she still had an exam the next day. He moved closer to his wife, embraced her, kissed her shoulder, and tried to press his masculinity against her.She giggled, “You really don’t want to be stopped.”“I just miss you. You didn’t talk to me last night and all day. That turned me so old.”She giggled again, “So, if I leave you, you’ll age quickly,” she teased, and he chuckled in response.“Probably. When I lack love, I age. Kindly check, baby. Do I have a new wrinkle here?” He pointed to his forehead, and she quickly looked.“None.”“There is,” he insisted, placing a kiss on her and leaning over her.“Oh, Lux!” she exclaimed as he tried to part her thighs.She couldn’t resist because he was stronger.“Just one more, baby. I promise,” he said, and without further ado, he entered her, so what could she do?She could only close her eyes and let him lay her down, turning her over. He held
C17“Where are you going now?” Heart asked when they reached the door of her classroom.Lux looked at her, seemingly thoughtful.“To the office, of course. Where else would your handsome husband go?” He grinned, but inside, he was concerned.He worried that her classmates might continue bullying her.“How did you meet my classmates?” She asked, curious.“Who? Celeste Madrigal, Anelyn dela Peña, Joan Dondonilla, and Jessica Hernandez? Pom-pom girls, they call themselves? They are the thorns in your life causing you stress. I’ll eliminate them.”Heart’s eyes widened, “Eliminate? Oh my. Just leave them be,” she said, but it seemed like he didn’t want to agree.He shook his head. He couldn’t let it go because they might persist in their actions.“Lux…” she said, and he nodded.“Okay, first offense indeed. I’ll go now. I’ll continue the meeting with the franchisees. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call. That’s also Mama’s instruction.”“Okay. Goodbye. Take care,” she said with
C18Heart confidently left the classroom after her exam, believing that even if she didn’t achieve perfect score, she was close to it. Despite the rule imposed by her instructor, she remained undeterred, determined to give her best. Regardless of her pending exam results and grades, she faced each challenge head-on, knowing she wouldn’t be defeated.As she headed to the Guidance Office, she bid farewell to her friend Jeck, who wished her luck. “Take care, Ate Heart. Good luck.”“Thank you,” she replied, then walked away, paying no mind to her other classmates.Unfazed by the distance created by rumors surrounding her personal life, Heart refused to force herself into societal expectations. Her true comfort always lay with her family.The assistant opened the door for her, and she entered, greeting Miss Collins. This woman was a topic of gossip, too: how did she become a Guidance Counselor when her partner is allegedly a lesbian? Does a person's ability to be a counselor depend on th
C19HEART’s heart skipped a beat when she entered the restaurant and saw Silvana inside. Aiza, whom the woman was talking to, immediately glanced at her when she appeared at the entrance.Her focus was on Silvana.Oh no. What is this woman up to again?Insecurities surged as soon as Heart saw this woman. She didn’t know the reason, but it hit her all of a sudden.She continued walking towards the counter, trying to resist her feelings and casually approached.She caught Silvana’s attention. She couldn’t tell if Silvana was smiling or what. She wasn’t sure if Silvana knew about the rumors spreading.“Oh, here you are!” Silvana exclaimed as if they were close friends. She approached, hugged her, and kissed her cheek.“Aren’t you going in?” Silvana asked cheerfully.She just shook her head, “the exam is over,” she said, glancing at Silvana, “How are you?”Silvana shrugged, and she went to the counter.“Here, moving on.”“Is it really over? It’s a waste of several years.”“He
C20Thank goodness World War 3, which he feared, didn’t happen. He quickly retaliated against the slap of pain he saw on Heart’s face earlier.Hopefully, Silvana won’t go to the restaurant so they won’t meet again.They are currently inside the 3VP room. Lush is awake and eating ham.“I don’t know if I’ll pass this semester,” Heart told her, causing her to pause in chewing.“And why is that so?”“But I feel like I’ll pass. I explained my side well. I told the counselor it’s unfair if they judge my efforts based on my status. I made it clear that my student life is separated from my personal situation. I feel like I convinced her.”“Uh-huh,” he nodded. “It’s only fair because she might lose her job.”“Lux!” Heart scolded him, but he was smiling.“Mimi, call Daddy Bibi, not Lats. You call him Bibi,” Lush sided with him, making Heart smile as she pinched their child’s cheek.“Yes, I call Daddy ‘baby.’”“That’s right, son. High five,” he said, giving his child a high-five before