SC 4On Lux's smartphone, it was 9 o'clock at night, and he was talking to Vandros while Heart was resting. He was sitting on the balcony, keeping an eye on his girlfriend. He was facing her here. They were staying at his mansion, different from the house he shared with Diana, which he was now selling because he didn't want any trace of his ex-wife.He didn't regret it. Even though what he did was wrong in the eyes of many, this was where he found true peace. It was a sin, but he found his peace here. They might be wrong in the eyes of most, but let God be the judge. Maybe He would forgive them if Lux proved himself to be a decent person.He was like a male version of Mary Magdalene. Perhaps he would be called Magdaleno.He couldn't help but smile at the thought."Thank you for telling her that her salary was already hundreds of thousands. I didn't have a chance to inform you about it yet you already figured out when she called you," Lux said to his friend."I knew," Vandros replied.
EPILOGUE3 years later…The two-year-old little boy with very curly hair ran towards Carmenzita, shouting, "Babuella." Heart smiled upon hearing her child's call to the elderly Montesalvo. He called Elisa "Wowa."Today is Katy's daughter Megumi's birthday. She's only three months older than Lush Miguel, Heart and Lux's child, who will also have a birthday in three months time.She was a bit late, still wearing her university uniform. Yes, she's back in school, now in her 3rd year of college. They were working on their thesis, so she was quite busy. When she didn't have classes, she worked as a cashier at the restaurant.She couldn't be removed from that position. Lux wanted her to stay there so she wouldn't have to walk among other men, delivering food.He said it was for her eyes only, her beauty and allure. That was so funny. Lux was jealous of other men. Did he have a reason to be insecure? She didn't think so. They argued, and it was just a normal argument. They didn't let t
C1"Baby, stop it. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Lux was almost like a corpse thrown to the passenger's side of the car as Heart struggled to bring the vehicle to a halt.In his confusion, their speed only increased instead of stopping."Jesus Christ!" He exclaimed as they veered off the line, panicking!"What now? What now, Montesalvo?!" She screamed, unsure which pedal to step on to stop the damn car with its invisible brakes.Is she blind now not to see it?They were about to collide with another car."Baaaaaabbbby!" She yelled, closing her eyes as their car swerved and danced, approaching the vehicle in front of them.Lux gripped the steering wheel just enough to maneuver it, and slammed his foot down on the break. In an instant, the car came to a stop on the side.Heart's anxiety soared, breathless as if they had just gone ten rounds in bed.She was stiffened."I don't want to drive anymore!" she cried to Lux, who was also stunned, then burst into laughter.She shot him a sharp l
2That’s how she delivered Lush. They shared the same birthday, so on his birthday, she turned twenty-five. And all she wished for was to marry the man she loved.Heart quickly got out of the car when they arrived in front of the restaurant. She almost ran towards Vandros' office. Her friends probably saw her with a smile, so she waved at them, but she heard a whistle, so she quickly turned.Who dared to whistle at her?Lux grinned, "You forgot something, Mrs. Montesalvo," he said as he immediately rummaged through her bag.What did she leave behind?"I didn't leave anything," she told him, but his hands were faster than a machine as she searched her bag.He immediately wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her.He glanced around and, seeing no one, kissed her immediately."Just in case you forget," he said, and she playfully slapped his chest."Sorry, I got excited to talk to Vandros.""Should I be jealous?"Heart laughed louder at Lux's teasing, "You're crazy. Goodb
C3 Heart STOPPED from choosing clothes from her closet when she heard the door close. “Lush?” she called her son’s name but there was no answer so she continued searching an appropriate dress to wear tomorrow. It’s like she won’t be able to sleep because of the meeting tomorrow. She is used to dealing with people. She couldn’t figure out why she was even nervous. She’s afraid not to please the franchisee. She’s afraid that she might not explain the grounds so well. She pulled a casual romper from a hanger. It was the one she hesitated to wear because she wasn’t accustomed to such attire but it was casual. It seemed to make her even more nervous but she liked it.She was examining the dress repeatedly when someone embraced her. “Oh horse!” she quacked when she was surprised by Lux and he just laughed at her, but slipped on the clothes he was holding. “So busy,” he said, “For?” Lux kissed her on the ear. “I don’t know what I’m going to wear tomorrow. I should be fine when
4.After several minutes without Heart in Lux's sight, he still couldn't bring himself to move the car. Lux appeared foolish, fixated on the restaurant's door, where an imaginary Heart seemed to exist."Daddy," Lush's voice came from behind, prompting Lux to glance in the mirror. "Mommy's inside."Chuckling to himself, Lux realized his child had to remind him and wake him from his folly. He didn't understand why he was deeply in love with Heart; it was the same with Diana before, yet he never treated Heart the way he did to Diana, especially during arguments.From the beginning, Heart had been exceptionally good to him. He couldn't disrespect a woman who had consistently shown him care and love.Their three-year relationship had been smooth sailing."Move the car, Daddy," Lush ordered, and Lux obeyed. "Daddy, is it true that I will have ten baby sisters?" Lush inquired.Lux chuckled and nodded, "That's right, son." However, he almost winced, pondering if he had become infertile
5.Lux arrived at the restaurant breathless, pushing the door despite the presence of a doorman. He resembled Vandros so much, almost like they were twins at a glance because they were both in a hurry. Lux approached the counter, walking towards Vandros's office."Sorry, baby," Lux quickly apologized, gently pulling Heart by the arm, though she felt strangely subdued.Ever since Lux heard that he wasn't Heart's spouse, it felt like a dagger to his neck.Lux hugged her, saying, "I'm really sorry. I didn't see your call, baby.""It's okay," Heart replied flatly, though her inner turmoil was palpable. Earlier, they chatted while their lawyers sorted out documents.Heart couldn't help but envy Macho's former waitress, the franchisee, who had become incredibly successful. Silvana Jones didn't just rely on her wealthy boyfriend; she won a billions in the lottery, prospering in her own way.Luck truly had a way of impacting one's life uncontrollably. She concluded.Charles seemed immensel
C6Heart descended from the car with a smile as she saw Carmenzita eagerly waiting for them. She had been silent since being picked up by her husband from the restaurant. Lush was already asleep in her arms while inside the car, and Lux had been carrying him now, seemingly tuned into her mood.Lux looked over her, perhaps afraid she might explode, and he didn’t utter a word. Heart wasn’t speaking either, not responding to questions about what was wrong. She didn’t know what was wrong. Maybe her mind was the problem, with various thoughts crossing it.“Congratulations,” Carmen greeted her, causing her to furrow her brow. They were still by the door, and Carmen seemed overly excited about something.“For what, Ma?” she asked the older woman, who took her arm after kissing Lush on the forehead.“Well, according to your husband, you got the very first Macho Café franchise,” the old woman said, glancing at Lux who was grinning broadly. “He was so proud of you, dear. He couldn’t stop talkin
46.RUTH accepted a handshake offered by the manager, Vaughn Andaya. She was sitting in front of the man, who was in a swivel chair. She applied for a position at SM as a sales lady for an expensive clothesline worn by politicians in their area. A button-down shirt costs four thousand pesos. Today is her interview, and she just got hired a month after returning home from Manila to Camarines Sur. She’s in Naga City searching for a job and doesn’t want to stay idle at home.Her relatives are furious with Baron, and they say that if he shows up, he’ll face consequences from Uncle Ernesto. They may not have pure blood relatives, but their relationship with each other is invaluable, especially for her, a considered orphan of the family. Her family is protecting her, especially now that they know the story about Baron.The people from Cam Sur have a different attitude—brave and unyielding. If Baron sets foot in their area, he’s in for a surprise. Vaughn smiled at her during the handshake, b
45.RUTH is holding her resignation letter, planning to give it to Lush Miguel. Patricia, facing her, reads the letter. “This is an urgent resignation letter, Miss Eduardo. It says you have something to attend to and will be away for a while. Where to?” Patricia asks with a smirk.“Confidential, Ma’am. I’ll be traveling today,” Ruth responds.“Okay. If that’s your decision, it’s hard to stop you. I don’t know your personal life and problems,” Patricia signs the letter without hesitation.Surprised, Ruth asks, “Won’t you submit it to the CEO?”“Nope,” Patricia shakes her head, “Lush had given me all the authority to decide as long as it’s under my supervision. In your case, since you’re under me, I’ll handle it. Besides, there are plenty who can replace you. Good luck.”Ruth nods and forces a smile. All the authority is with Patricia. Why should she be surprised? Patricia is probably the woman Lush mentioned as new, just unwilling to tell her.She turns away, heavy-hearted, wal
44.FINISHED.He took a deep breath as Ruth gradually disappeared from his sight. Seated in his car, he waited like a thief, watching her run away with Muse’s cage.That’s all he could do, gaze at the girl from afar because, despite his anger, he genuinely loved her. Even in anger, he couldn’t insult or speak hurtful words to her.His respect for Ruth remained high despite everything, knowing she deserved it. Now, he envied Baron. That asshole's spouse was kind, and he hoped to find another Ruth someday, but not now.Lush badly needed time to heal, and the process wouldn’t be easy. He was sure of that because he was deeply hurt in his first experience of love.The young man lazily started the car engine, but he didn’t go in. He would go home, where his parents and Babuela were. He owed his parents an explanation. At thirty-one, he felt the need for a mother’s care. He needed his Mommy.When he arrived home, his shoulders still slumped. As soon as he entered the portico, his Mommy was
43.1Ruth was startled when the door opened, and Lush’s imposing figure loomed over her. “Oh my!” she exclaimed, supporting the young man who peeked at her and smiled. He playfully tapped her nose with his index finger.“Hold on a moment,” she said, closing the door. “We can’t go upstairs; the stairs are too high, and we might both tumble down. Let’s sleep downstairs. Wait, I’ll get the blankets. Have a seat.”Hurriedly, she assisted him to sit on the sofa. He groaned and shook his head, but the young woman quickly went upstairs to retrieve the thick comforter from the bed.Descending again with the items, including Lush’s replacement clothes, she handed him the bottle of alcohol he still clutched.“I’ll take that,” she said, grabbing the bottle.He closed his eyes, his cheeks flushed. He remained the most handsome drunk she had ever seen.“Did you drive home like this? You’re really drunk. Next time, don’t get overly intoxicated. You might stumble or lose balance,” she lectured whi
43.Lush choked on saliva. He couldn't find any words to respond to Ricky. Tearfully, he averted his gaze to hide his eyes. Did she lie to him? Did she conceal her real status? Her profile claimed she was single. Did she forget to update it? Damn! He wanted to rub his face, feeling suffocated. Is he serious about his feelings? Why is fate playing with him like this? The woman he loves is Baron's wife?Damn it!He almost clenched his fists. He wanted to cry and almost wanted to slap himself."Wait, Rick," he hastily excused himself from his friend and walked briskly towards the table with various expensive drinks.He stood in front of it, on the verge of tears. Is there another Ruth Eduardo in the world? Who?He couldn't explain his feelings. He was angry. Why did Ruth deceive him? If that's what happened?He grabbed a wine glass and drank. Unsatisfied, he took another and drank again. He repeated this to numb the pain in his heart. The time with Ruth might have been brief, but he knew
42.Lush Miguel remained nonchalant, lounging. He was still in a four-post position. Ruth was sleeping after four rounds in bed. She was upstairs, and he left her momentarily. He went downstairs to have some coffee now.He grinned as he remembered her annoyance earlier when he introduced Patricia in the lobby as the supervisor. Ruth was jealous of the woman, and he found it amusing. Ruth already had feelings for him, but she was reluctant to admit it. He felt a different kind of joy when he heard the girl sulking in the bathroom earlier.He used to dislike having someone chase after him. He didn’t want anyone to be possessive, but now, he was proud of it. To the point that Ruth didn’t fence him in, and she didn’t hide. Luckily, he overheard her.He took the coffee cup and sipped, but he looked at the stairs when he saw Ruth descending.She was wearing his long sleeves, buttoning a few buttons.“Why are you still lounging?” she asked, obviously sleepy, with no slippers on.He glanced a
41.The last message Lush Miguel sent her was when he mentioned driving his grandmother back home. It’s now ten in the morning, and the coffee break is over. She’s inside the restroom, yet there’s still no update.She’s also waiting for that. It’s a big miracle that she’s not being talked about in the entire company now because of what happened the other day. She’s been waiting to hear something since yesterday. She even told Berna about it so she wouldn’t be surprised.So far, Montevez has remained a peaceful environment for her, especially now that Dennis is no longer around.“Hey.”She winced and stopped mopping the floor as Berna approached her.“Come on, hurry. Your boyfriend is there with another girl!” Berna waved at her, causing her to furrow her brow.Lush?She quickly walked to the door and went outside. The janitors gathered in the lobby, all staring at a beautiful girl. She wasn’t tall, but her skin was exceptionally smooth. She was chubby and had blonde, long hair.She ca
40.“IF I were you, go to the party, so your ex won’t have anything to say,” Ruth told Lush while talking on the cellphone. He was already in the hospital while she was in the penthouse. It was late, and she was alone. All lights were on because she had no company, but she wasn’t scared. He had a companion—the cat. It was amusing that when she asked Lush to take Muse from the condo, it was promptly done by Lush’s bodyguard.“Damn. I really don’t want to go there, sweetie.”“It’ll just be a moment,” she said, though deep down, she didn’t want him to go.Oh God! She gets jealous at the thought of Lush fooling around with that woman, Annelyn or any woman, but he can’t do anything about it. She wants to push him away so that if they break up, it would be easier for both of them.Ruth feels like she has a bomb in her head, a life-threatening illness, that could end any moment. As time passes, she gets closer or, more accurately, falls for the right guy at the wrong time, wrong circumstanc
39.“Thank you,” Ruth smiled at Ricky when they left the police station. She declared that the missing person, who pretended to be kidnapped, was not really kidnapped. She published everything, with Ricky as her witness. The investigation was over. She had concluded everything.The police laughed, wondering why her own husband did such a thing to her. There was only one reason, Baron loved money more than her.“Your job for me is done,” Ruth added, acknowledged by the investigator.“Next time you need a private investigator, just call me directly. For simple matters and when I’m free, even without payment. It’s what makes me happy.”“But never trade a woman and leave her at the altar for an investigation,” she said meaningfully, and he laughed, getting the meaning of her words.“Of course. There’s a more deserving man for you, unlike dela Vega. Where to? Shall I drive you?”“No need. Thanks again.”“Alright, take care. I’ll get you a taxi.”Ricky walked towards the street, and she fol