CHAPTER ONE

Santina's mom kept talking about this marriage thing, at hindi na siya natutuwa.

"Santina, are you even listening to me? I'm talking here for hours at hindi kana man pala nakikinig." She rolled her eyes at her mother. Nagiging nagger na naman ang ito sa kanya.

Nasa college palang siya at wala pa sa isip niya ang magpakasal. She is currently studying BA Fashion Design and Merchandising at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Dahil sa pabago-bago ng kurso ay hindi agad siya nakatapos ng kolehiyo. Kung hindi lang niya nakita ang mga kaibigan niyang naging successful sa fashion industry ay hindi pa niya mare-realized ang pangarap niya sa buhay. Baka hanggang ngayon ay nagti-take pa rin siya ng Business Course sa College.

"Ano nga ulit yun, Ma?" she asked again.

"I said, didn't you think of settling down at the age of 28? You're at the right age to get married. Look at your colleagues, they have a family now and are successful in their careers. While here you are, still struggling in college." 

Napansin niya ang pagiging maligalig ng ina. May hindi ba ito sinasabi sa kanya?

"Be honest, mom. Why are we talking about this? It's not like you're planning to settle me into this arranged marriage thing."

Nang hindi sumagot ang ina ay doon niya palang nakumpirma ang hinala.

"You promised that you would not get me into that situation! Just look at what happened to Cecil. Her parents agreed to marry her off to their Chinese business partner, and she became a battered wife! She ended up getting killed by that merciless monster, and when he was about to get arrested by the authorities, he immediately flew back to his country as if nothing had happened. Justice never prevailed in Cecil's case. Until now, her family was still seeking justice. If only they could have prevented it in the first place by not marrying their daughter to that sick man. Cecil must've been alive right now. "

Cecil was her best friend. She was kind and pretty. She had always been there for her through the rough times. But she was found dead inside her house in Makati. She was killed by her Chinese husband, who shot her to death because of jealousy.

"You're overthinking, Santina. Of course, hindi ka namin hahayaang mapahamak. Mga magulang mo kami. Sa tingin mo ba ay papayag kami ng ama mo na ipakasal ka sa hindi namin kilala? We know their family for so long, anak. We know he is a good man. Ikaw lang naman and hindi nakakakilala sa kanila dahil hindi ka mahilig sa mga social gatherings. Their family owns many charities and foundations under Valentina's name. Your soon-to-be mother-in-law." 

"So, it true? May napili na nga kayo para maging asawa ko. You can't force me to marry a man na kahit anino ay hindi ko pa nakikita." Giit niya sa ina.

"We are not forcing you into this marriage, Santina. Do you think we like this? Na ipakasal ka sa taong hindi mo gusto? If there's any way to get you out of this marriage, we will do it. Pero wala ng ibang solusyon, anak, I just can't afford to let your father go to jail."

"W-what do you mean jail? Why would my father go to jail?" Kinakabahang tanong niya sa ina.

"Your father embezzled millions from Madriaga's real state company. You see, our business has not been doing very well these past few months. We are going into bankruptcy and investors have pulled out their stocks from the company. I can live without money, Santina. But I can't live without your father. He's too old to go to jail. Baka kung ano pa ang mangyari sa kanya sa loob ng kulungan. Kaya nakipag usap ako kay Hades na ibabalik nalang and pera at wag nang kasuhan ang Papa mo pero hindi siya pumayag. He said he saw you once, at gusto ka niya para sa anak niyang panganay na si Hellios. Because of desperation, pumayag ako sa gusto niyang mangyari. Your father was so mad at me when he heard it. Pero wala na akong magagawa dahil pumayag na ako sa kasunduan." 

For the first time, she saw her mother cry. She was always poised and happy whenever she was with them. Now she was crying in front of her, and she couldn't take it. Her heart is breaking for her mother. 

She didn't know how to solve this problem anymore. She was always smart in every situation, but right now she couldn't think of any solution.

But how could she blame her parents when all that they did for her was to give her everything in life that they think she deserves. She can't pay her parents for all the sacrifices they make so that she could have a comfortable life. This was the only solution that she could choose. To marry that stranger and give her family a good life. It's time for her to give back now. Sooner or later she will get married anyways.

"Anak, I'm so sorry." umiiyak na sabi ng kanyang ina.

She hugged her mom.

"Stop crying, mom. I will marry him, okay? I can't afford to see you cry. "

Thank you, Anak, you don't know how happy I am na pumayag kang magpakasal kay Hellios. I'm so sorry that you have to sacrifice for us. Kung may magagawa lang sana kami ng Papa mo..."

"Don't think about it anymore, Ma. Hindi maganda sa inyo ang ma-stress. Cheer up okay?"

Sa wakas ay ngumiti na rin ang ina. "Okay." Her mother said.

God, please help me. Because I will never be the submissive wife that my husband wants. I will not give him any satisfaction in marrying me. Because I will be his rebel wife.

Hellios couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"One week from now you need to marry Santina Hermosa for convenience. We need to make alliances to have more connections in real state business. Her father had more knowledge in this business than we do, for he used to be the former president of Montgomery Realtors and Company."

"I can make our company the biggest realtor in Asia without marrying Gabriel's daughter and his connections; you just need to trust me, father."

"You say trust? How many times have you dragged our name into your scandals, Hellios? We are always in the newspaper because of your childish acts. First, a high-class social climber in a bar. For heaven's sake, you were caught making out in a public toilet! Now, the former senator's daughter, Who's claiming to be pregnant with your child! Kung hindi lang natin ipina DNA test ang bata ay hindi malalaman ng publiko na hindi ikaw ang tatay ng anak niya!"

"Because of your negligence, so many investors and stockholders doubt your capability as the CEO of the company. They said you're immature and irresponsible to hold such power. I have given you enough time to make amends with our investors, but I ended up being disappointed with you again! Maybe they are right. Your younger brother is more deserving than you in that position, for he did not do anything to tarnish our family's reputation in front of everyone. You put shame on us and yet, you are here complaining about getting married to Santina, who can save your butt from being dismissed as CEO of the company by the board of directors."

He narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth after hearing his father's sentiments about his recent scandals.

He didn't expect the Senator's daughter to be so desperate that she would make such an announcement at the press conference, claiming that he was the father of her unborn child and that he promised to marry her after nine months! She must be out of her mind to think that she could trap him into marrying her after the mess she made. He would make her pay after this.

"Fine! I will marry her. But don't expect more from me, father. Dahil kasal lang ang kaya kong ibigay sa kanya. Not my time, affection, or attention. I will only marry her for the sake of formality, not the true meaning of marriage. Only in the papers, she will be my wife. There will be no more than that. "

"Only time can tell what will happen, Hellios. We will see after that."

He was gritting his teeth the whole time, while nagpipigil ng galit. He was sure as hell na mukhang pera ang babaeng yun. Hinding-hindi siya papayag na paikutin ulit siya ng isang babae lang. He would make that woman regret marrying him.

Hellios was busy signing the papers on the table when the secretary told him that he had an unexpected visitor.

"Who is it?" He asked.

"She said she was Santina Hermosa, Sir. Your fiancée." His secretary said.

Natigilan siya sa narinig.

"Come again? Sino ulit ang nasa labas?" Paninigurado niya.

"Fiancée niyo raw po, Sir. Santina Hermosa daw po ang pangalan. Papasukin ko na po ba?"

What was she doing here?

"Let her in." He said in a cold tone.

He didn't bother to look at her when he heard the door open. Bumalik lang siya sa ginagawa niya na parang wala doon ang dalaga.

"Didn't you know that you have to set an appointment before you can talk to me? Hindi porke't pakakasalan kita ay pwede kanang maglabas pasok sa opisina ko anumang oras mo gustuhin."

Narinig niya ang pangsinghap ng babae.

He knew that he was being rude, but what could he do? Ganito talaga ang ugali niya. Hindi naman siguro ito nag-e-expect ng VIP treatment mula sa kanya.

"How rude! You just prove to me what kind of a person you are!"

Tsss... As if I care!

"And so? Yan lang ba ang pinunta mo dito? To tell me what kind of a man I am? You know, hindi na yan bago sa akin, Miss. Kung di mo napapansin, sinasayang mo ang oras ko, kaya kung wala kang sasabihing importante, the door is open, you are now free to go." Pasimpleng pagtataboy niya dito. Habang hindi niya parin inaangat ang tingin sa kaharap na ngayong ay nagpipigil ng galit.

"I came here to make a truce." 

Natigilan siya sa sinabi nito at tumingin sa babae.

For a minute he thought his world would stop. When his eyes landed on her enchanting big brown eyes, and angelic face. He thought he had stopped breathing. He hates to admit it, but she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever met. The woman was exquisitely beautiful, and a sight to behold. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa katawan nito. She also had the body that every woman dreamt of. 

Marahil ay napansin ng dalaga ang paraan ng pagtingin niya dito, kaya bahagyang tumikhim ang dalaga.

He wickedly smiled inside his head.

Maybe it's not really wrong to marry her after all.

"And what kind of truce is that?"

Sa huli ay nakabawi ang babae mula sa tanong niya at tiningnan siya ng may tapang at determinado sa mata.

Damn, her attractive dark brown eyes. He wanted it.

She looked so nervous about on she was about to say.

"I will have sex with you now. In exchange, you have to promise me to annul our marriage after two years."