I woke up later than usual, finding that Ivan had already left our bed. It had been nearly dawn when I drifted off to sleep, and I hadn't noticed him getting up.After a refreshing shower, I left our room with a smile gracing my lips, but it quickly faded upon seeing the scene before me. Maureen was here! She and Ivan were sitting together on the couch. It was already past nine, so my in-laws had left, and Ivan's siblings had also gone to work. I watched the two of them for a moment; Ivan was smiling, and Maureen was talking non-stop. Whenever they laughed, Maureen would hug him, and Ivan would put his arm around her. Once again, I was seized by a sudden, profound ache in my chest. I had hoped to become emotionally numb, yet it appeared impossible. The pain was still very real. Uncertainty gripped me, unsure whether to make my way to the kitchen and feign ignorance or retreat to the room and wait for Maureen to leave. Why does this woman persist in constricting my world? It's not
Seeing Maureen, I walked directly, without glancing back, leaving the house in annoyance since I was supposed to have breakfast in the garden. Upon spotting a taxi, I quickly hailed it, clutching my phone containing my ATM card, and directed the taxi driver to make a brief detour to the nearest ATM for cash. I headed to the church, fervently praying and wrestling with the tears I had bottled up. Eventually, I let my emotions flow, relieved that only a handful of people were entering the church, sparing me the discomfort of shedding tears before the Lord. By noon, I resolved to leave the church, lighting a candle on the side to pray for my parents before my departure.Afterward, I made my way to the mall, where I enjoyed a meal and watched a movie. As the clock approached five in the afternoon, I decided to head back home, assuming that Maureen had likely left the house.On the way back, I pondered whether I should stay or break the commitment I had made to remain for a month,
I remained in the living room while the doctor examined Ivan. Inside, his parents were with him, while his siblings stood by the door. It had been twenty minutes since the doctor entered the room, and I hoped Ivan's condition would improve. Perhaps he was shocked, which caused his headache. I stood up as the doctor emerged with my in-laws. "Take him to the hospital for a thorough check-up tomorrow," the doctor advised Ivan's parents. Dr. Cheng nodded at me before leaving the house. "Mom, how is Ivan?" I inquired. My mother-in-law smiled. "He's doing better now and is looking for you. Go inside your room." "H-Hasn't his memory returned yet?" Mom shook her head. "He just had a headache. I told him not to pressure himself to remember. Myla..." She held my hands and said, "I know you're going through a tough time, but..." Her eyes pleaded as she looked at me. "Can you stay a little while longer? Please, dear, just until he recovers as you promised before." I looked away and could
"Your dad and I are headed to Vietnam this Friday for a conference," my mother-in-law muttered as we enjoyed a snack. "And I was thinking that you two should join us... What do you think?" That would be the next day. I turned to look at Ivan, who responded with a nonchalant shrug. When he noticed my gaze, he raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Do you want to go?" I asked. "How about you?" But this plan would be his decision because there are lingering wounds on his body that had yet to heal. "If you want to go, then let's do it." "But won't it be tough for you?" I expressed my concern. "I'll be fine. A little getaway won't hurt me," Ivan reassured me. "Thank you, love," I hugged him tightly, and he patted my back affectionately. After our snack, I began packing our clothes for the trip, but I found it difficult to concentrate because Ivan was playfully teasing me. He kept hugging me and stealing kisses, filling my heart with overwhelming love. Never did I anticipate that Ivan
We were all taken aback by Maureen's unexpected arrival. She even appeared surprised as she took in the sight of our suitcases in the living room. "What are you doing here?" my mother-in-law asked her sternly. Maureen was on the verge of responding when Mom interjected, "Didn't I tell you to stay away from my son?" Maureen hesitated for a moment, but then summoned the courage to reply, "I'm the one your son loves. Besides, they're going to break up." I clenched my fists and struggled to maintain composure as her gaze fixed on me. She offered a sympathetic smile, not out of kindness but as a silent acknowledgment of my role as a wife, even though I wasn't the one my husband loved. With a sigh, I averted my gaze, determined not to let this ruin my day. I didn't want to stoop to her level. As I heard Ivan's footsteps descending the stairs, I glanced up at him, but he froze in his tracks upon seeing Maureen. "You're leaving? Where are you going?" Maureen questioned my husba
"You didn't wake me up," Ivan muttered while gently caressing my back. I had just finished taking a bath, was wearing underwear, and had applied lotion to my thighs. "You were sleeping so soundly, and it's still early," I reasoned, biting my lip as I felt his hands brushing against my skin. His body was still pressed against mine, and I could feel the subtle awakening of his masculinity. He planted a kiss on my back, causing me to catch my breath. He gently kissed my skin, tracing his lips on my spinal cord. Consequently, my body tingled, but I tried to resist it. I turned to face him and softly caressed both of his arms. "Why don't you take a shower so we can have breakfast?" "Let's stay here," he grinned, his hand focused on my chest, even though I was wearing a bra. "Your breasts are very beautiful, baby," he said with a husky voice. "I want to touch, lick, and suck them." My entire body trembled at his words. Goodness, I never knew my husband could be this flirtatious
I had no choice but to comply with Ivan's desire for us to go back to the hotel. While we were on the way, I felt a sense of unease in my chest. To be honest, I wasn't scared; in fact, I was genuinely excited.My mind was filled with various explicit thoughts. Would it be painful like the first time? Would he find pleasure in being with me? I hoped he would. I aspired to meet his needs and desires, making sure there was no temptation for him to seek comfort elsewhere.Ivan nipped at my shoulder, eliciting a playful squirm from me."Ivan!" I scolded him, but he responded with a warm embrace."I'm just overcome with excitement," he whispered with a mischievous grin, gently nibbling and lightly tracing my ear with his tongue."When was the last time that we-""When you were drunk, and the following morning, your parents arranged for us to marry.""No more... intimate moments?""You hold such deep disdain for me, Ivan. You can't even meet my gaze, let alone entertain thoughts beyond that.
"My meeting with your dad was scheduled for this afternoon, so we decided to have a get-together now," my mother-in-law said.We're currently in their suite. It was only half an hour past five in the morning when they called to inform us we should all have breakfast together.If it weren't for my in-laws, I would have preferred to sleep all day and wake up in the afternoon.It wasn't until around three in the morning that I finally succumbed to a peaceful slumber. Ivan had been incredibly persistent and unrelenting, his desire insatiable.Despite mentioning that his body ached, we indulged in passionate encounters. He looks so happy and full of energy now, while I find myself utterly drained with burning eyes.My mother-in-law wore a warm smile as she gazed at our hands resting on the table, with Ivan holding mine."What a delightful beginning to the day for your dad and me," Mom exclaimed with a twinkle in her eyes.A soft, involuntary chuckle escaped me as I discreetly cast my gaze
I was lazily sitting in the office when my friends arrived."If you want to know what she's up to, ask her, or better yet, investigate.""I'm not interested.""Don't deny it, Ivan. You can't hide anything from us. We can see that you're starting to care about your wife.""Your cellphone was also turned off. Was it because you're avoiding Maureen?""Well, good job!"***I got home at six in the evening, but Myla hadn't returned yet. Seated on the sofa, I silently surveyed the entire house. The pervasive quietness left me with a sense of solitude. Could this be the reason she doesn't stay here for long? She left early and was still away at this hour.I stood up, intending to go upstairs when the door opened. She was surprised to see me and mustered a forced smile."Good evening." Without asking if I had eaten, she ascended the stairs.Tsk!Feeling hungry, I decided to have dinner somewhere else. The next day, she arrived home even later."What time is it?" I asked irritably. It was alre
"You and your girlfriend always seem to be having disagreements."I glanced at my older sister, who had suddenly appeared behind me. I stood on the balcony, trying to regain composure after yet another argument with Maureen. It's always like this. It feels like just a week ago when we last fought.A sigh escaped me as I redirected my attention to the garden. I lifted the beer bottle in my hand to take a sip, deciding to remain silent. No words came to mind. What my sister said was true. It's always like this. Maureen's immaturity remains consistent; it feels as if she hasn't experienced any personal growth since we entered into a relationship years ago.Whenever we argue, I choose to ignore her because I don't want to say anything hurtful. Besides, the next day, she'll apologize to me.We're already adults, but it feels like she's still in high school, not maturing at all. But despite that, I love her. Everyone has flaws."Think about it while it's early. She's not the marrying type,
The following morning, I awoke alone in bed, unsure whether Heather had spent the night here. The neatly arranged side of my bed hinted that she might have chosen her daddy's villa instead. This is currently a concern for me. She has grown accustomed to constantly being with her father. What if Ivan needs to return to Manila for his job? My child would undoubtedly be saddened. Despite Ivan assuring that he'll stay here, I believe there will be a day when he must return for their company. "Good morning, how are you?" Lucinda inquired, having noticed my tears the previous night as she prepared breakfast. I responded with a subdued smile. "Ivan set up a tent last night. He and Heather slept in it," she informed me. That explains why my daughter didn't come up last night. I approached them at the back, the laughter of my husband and daughter filling the air as Ivan playfully tickled our child. Upon noticing my presence, they promptly got up, and Heather exclaimed, "Mommy!" "Hello, b
Ivan was still around. He had been here for several days, looking after Heather all day while I was at work. He took on the roles of both preparing breakfast and handling our dishwashing duties. "Mommy, your flowers are here!" Heather shouted excitedly from outside the house, eagerly awaiting the helicopter's landing. "Mommy!"I glanced out the window to see my daughter, a big smile lighting up her face. Ivan was by her side, both of them looking up at me. She dashed toward the helicopter as it landed. The bouquet was too large for her to manage. Ivan's assistant handed her a paper bag, likely containing a new toy or clothing item. Ivan carried the flowers and a couple of other paper bags. They were about to enter the house, heading up here to present me with the flowers. "Mommy!" I mustered a smile. "Your flowers have arrived!" For three consecutive days, a helicopter has been dropping off bouquets for me. Ivan was wasting money on this. "The flowers are beautiful, Mommy!" I
I left Ivan, and he made no effort to stop or chase after me. There was nothing he could do to change my decision. Given his past actions, did he truly believe I would entertain his proposal? It felt like I was permitting him to inflict more pain on me. He needed to understand that I was no longer the delicate wife who could empathize with him, even during moments of distress. I am no longer that person. I showered before joining Heather in bed, but despite a bit of alcohol, sleep eluded me. Frustrated, I rose to engage in some work. Reflecting on the situation, I shook my head in disbelief. Damn you, Ivan! All you ever did was play with my emotions. It would have been okay if there weren't a child involved. Even Heather, you're messing with her mind. *** I woke up to the realization that Heather was no longer beside me. Despite the throbbing pain in my head, I compelled myself to rise and tend to my child; it was already eight in the morning, and she might be hungry. After fre
Almira quickly recovered from her surprise. She returned a serious look to the man she was hiding from. Chelle, on the other hand, seemed as though she had seen a ghost while looking at Ivan's friend. I didn't know whether it was Angus, Caius, or Huxley. Ivan grabbed my attention, and I blinked in response. "What are you doing here?!" I exclaimed at him. What was his deal, suddenly showing up here? I wanted to slap some sense into him, but I refrained from revealing my bitterness, despite feeling a strong urge to vent in those moments. "You're drunk; go home," he replied calmly. His voice was gentle as if he were a patient spouse comforting an upset wife. I scowled. I didn't budge from my seat. Who was he to tell me what to do? The nerve of him! "Let's go," he invited, but I remained stubborn. I looked in another direction, arms crossed. He patiently looked at me. Why did he seem angry with me? What did I do wrong? And what was he doing here? He sighed. His face softened again
I attempted to force a smile despite the pity evident in Almira and Rachelle as they awaited our arrival. They hugged me, encouraging me not to cry, but my tears flowed uncontrollably. I felt exceptionally exposed when it came to him. Heather promptly joined Myrrh to engage in a play. "Please stay in the room, alright?" Almira instructed. She didn't want her child to go outside and be around other people. Mira, too, preferred not to interact with or be observed by others. They were in hiding, which is why their presence caught me off guard. I wouldn't have cried if they hadn't insisted on going over the events again. I was frustrated with the repetitive nature of the story, including the details of how we became a couple. They laughed when I expressed my annoyance. I knew they did it deliberately, but I’m not sure for what reason. I scowled, crossing my arms. "Let's not discuss him! It's getting on my nerves!" They burst into laughter. "That's one of the steps to move on—refusing
A few minutes of heavy silence lingered. With hesitation, I parted my lips. "O-Okay," I nodded. He sighed, affirming his decision, and gradually retreated from me until he left the room. I lost track of time as I stared at nowhere. When I finally blinked, the dampness on my cheeks revealed the silent tears. Swiftly, I wiped them away. What should I do? I contemplated for a few moments, then reached for my phone. Anxiety tightened its grip on me, prompting the need to find someone to talk to instead of surrendering to a breakdown. I refused to let weakness take over. Given the challenges I've faced, heartbreak felt like nothing more than a fleeting mosquito bite. "Hello? How are you? Are you okay?" Rachelle bombarded me with questions. I hadn't spoken to her since the incident. My life was a whirlwind of events. Kidnapped, and now Ivan was informing me about the impending annulment. I cleared my throat, gazing up at the expansive sky before uttering, "Ivan is ending things with m
I lost consciousness, and the duration eluded me. Upon regaining awareness, an unusual noise enveloped me—the resonant hum of a formidable engine. Unsure if it originated from the vessel, a more clamorous sound ensued. My eyes remained shut, shrouding me in uncertainty about my surroundings. Amidst the chaos, echoes of screams, gunfire, and an urgent call of my name reached my ears. Then, all plunged into darkness once again. Upon waking, a white ceiling and bright light greeted me. "I-Ivan?!" The man I addressed approached with concern, and tears welled up in his eyes as he saw me. "I had a bad dream," I murmured. He enveloped me in a tight hug. "Yes, love. It's just a bad dream." We are presently at the hospital. Ivan is in good condition, while there's a bag of intravenous cellulose water hanging, connected to my arm. I lost consciousness and had to undergo stitching for the wound on my cheek. The doctor mentioned that it was a deep and relatively large cut, necessitating