*ARLENE’S POV*He had avoided me since our last encounter, disappearing like a shadow in the night, but that didn’t stop me. Maybe it should have. Maybe my heart should have listened to reason. Instead, I chose his bar for my on-the-job training. It was reckless, bordering on foolish, but what else could I do? My heart refused to stop beating for him, no matter how much sense told me to let go. I couldn’t command my mind to stop obsessing over his every move. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up whenever I thought about him.Even if the entire world screamed that he was wrong for me, that he would never love me back the way I needed, my heart—stubborn and irrational—still insisted on loving him.“Are you even listening?” The sharp voice of the bartender snapped me back to reality.“H-huh? I-I’m sorry,” I stammered, embarrassed.She gave me a look, somewhere between frustration and amusement. “If you want to survive your first night here,” she said
*MAGO’s POV*My breath caught in my throat when I saw her standing near the counter of my bar, her eyes scanning the room as if she belonged here. ARLENE. Of all places, here—my sanctuary, my downfall. What the hell was she thinking, applying to be my apprentice? She shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t have kissed her the last time we met. I should’ve known better.But how could I have known? She’s innocent—never been in a relationship, never kissed anyone before me. And now, because of my stupidity, I’ve put her in danger. Not physical danger, no—but something worse. Emotional destruction. I can’t allow her to fall for me. I ruin every woman I touch. They fall, and I drag them down with me. Every. Damn. Time.I’m a cheater. It’s not just some bad habit—it’s in my veins, a twisted inheritance from my mother. I remember my father’s desperate attempts to keep her, as if she were slipping away day by day. He thought getting her pregnant would hold her, would make her stay. But she left anyway
*ARLENE’s POV*I watched them disappear up the stairs to his office, and a wave of bitterness washed over me. What right do I have to stop them? None. He never promised me anything. But why do I feel so betrayed? It’s like a knife twisting inside me, and I hate myself for it.I let out a sigh and forced myself back to work. If he likes those types of women, then fine. I’ll show him I can be the bitchiest bitch he’s ever met. This negativity is eating me alive, and Patricia was right—crying is for the weak. I refuse to shed a single tear. Instead, I’ll play his game and beat him at it.I glanced at Dessa as she prepared her props for a flair bartending exhibition. A wicked idea sparked in my mind. I used to be the best at this—hell, I won the inter-school flairing championship. If I’m going to get close to Mago, I need to remind him just how damn good I am.I stepped up beside Dessa and started prepping my own bottles and glasses. She looked at me, her brow raised, but when she realize
*MAGO’S POV*"Do you know what pisses me off?" she slurred, her eyes narrowing as we stepped into my house. Her voice was laced with a mix of frustration and vulnerability. "I've been trying to catch your attention, but you can’t even flash me a smile. What do those other women have that I don’t?"Before I could respond, she turned, throwing her hands in the air dramatically. "I’m sexy," she said, her voice dripping with irony. "I’m pretty." She pouted, emphasizing her lips. "Don’t I have kissable lips?"I almost laughed at her drunken antics, but the situation was more serious than it seemed. I’d been with many drunk women, and I knew how these nights usually ended. But not this time. Not with her. She’s a virgin, and we’re definitely not ending up in bed tonight.She took a step forward, and her legs wobbled beneath her, making her lose her balance. I instinctively reached out and caught her before she could fall.“Sorry,” she murmured, pressing her face against my chest. “Mmm, you
*ARLENE’s POV*I wake up in a haze, the room spinning slightly as I sit up, groaning at the unfamiliar weight of a shirt—much too big for me—draped over my body. My head pounds as I try to piece together the fragmented memories of last night, but everything's a blur.‘Oh no, no, no!’ I frantically scan the bed, my heart racing, looking for any sign—any telltale mark—that could confirm my worst fear. Nothing.‘But what if it didn’t happen here?’ My mind spirals.‘The car? The living room? The kitchen?’ I pace around, trying to piece together my night.I search my body for any pain or discomfort. My legs feel steady, my body normal, but the doubt lingers.‘Who was I with? What if it was some random guy... or worse, someone old? Ugly? Oh god, what if I’m...’I stop, clutching my hair in horror. ‘Pregnant? No, it couldn’t be. Could it?’Suddenly, a name flashes in
*ARLENE’s POV*The elderly care facility loomed ahead, its weathered walls casting long shadows in the fading light. My stomach twisted into knots as I watched Mago park the car. He stepped out, casually grabbing a single grocery bag, leaving the others behind. I hesitated, torn between staying in the car or following him, but before I could decide, I found myself circling the car and stepping out.“I might take a while,” he said, his voice almost too casual. “You should come with me.”The world seemed to stop spinning for a second. ‘Come with him?’ This felt like something more than just an errand. My heart raced, the thought of meeting his father made my hands sweat. I was about to follow him eagerly when he added, “Take the other grocery bags from the trunk.”My excitement deflated as I opened the trunk, staring at the three large grocery bags. ‘Really?&rsquo
I crossed my arms, determined to hide the slight tremor in my fingers. “Go on,” I challenged, narrowing my eyes, daring him to test me. “You set your rules, and I’ll make my own boundaries.”Mago’s lips curled into that maddeningly arrogant smile, the one that made my pulse quicken even when I wished it didn’t. “You’ll move into my place,” he demanded, his voice low and authoritative, as if he’d already won.A sharp laugh escaped me, masking the nervous energy bubbling beneath my skin. He wanted control, but I wasn’t about to hand it over that easily. “That fast, huh?” I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be unfazed. “Fine, I’ll move in. But what happened to your ‘I don’t do virgins’ rule?”His eyes darkened, locking onto mine with an intensity that made the air between us sizzle. “After what you did last night,” he murmured, stepping
*MAGO's POV*This is insane! I can't wrap my head around why I asked her to stay with me. I’ve never asked a woman to live with me before, let alone entertain the thought. But I did. And what’s worse, I agreed to her ridiculous no-sex policy unless one of her friends confesses their love to one of mine. What the hell was I thinking?I need to convince my friends to resist the temptation or I’ll be forced to take desperate measures to get Arlene into my bed. And the more I think about it, the more I realize—I’m bending my own rules for her. Why?There’s something about Arlene. She’s different. But that doesn’t mean I’m falling for her. No, I don’t fall for anyone. Not after what happened before. That’s a line I swore I’d never cross again.Flashback“Wow! What’s all this for?” Kaz’s voice broke
“Hmmmph,” the pain was unbearable. Every inch of him felt like a foreign invasion, pushing into places that were never meant to be touched this way. I gasped, biting my lip, trying to hold back the scream, but the sharp sting forced it out “Aaargh!”“Just relax, Arlene,” he murmured, his voice trying to soothe me, but it only made the situation worse.“I-I can’t,” I sobbed, my voice breaking, fragile like the very core of my being.“Don’t fight it,” he said again, his hand lifting to cup my face, guiding my gaze to meet his, “Arelene, look at me.”I did not want to look. I did not want to see the intensity in his eyes, the purpose in his every movement. But I couldn’t look away. His gaze held me, trapping me in a silence that felt like it was both suffocating and electric“M-Mago,” I heard myself cry his name, almost a
*Mago*“Hmmmph,” she whimpered, her body tense beneath me as she fought to endure the pain. But the moment I moved again, she screamed, her cry sharp and raw. “Aaargh!”“Just relax, Arlene,” I urged her, my voice strained with worry.“I-I can’t,” she sobbed, her tears flowing freely now.“Don’t fight it,” I said softly, trying to keep my own emotions in check, though the sound of her cries twisted something deep inside me.“Arlene, look at me,” I said, my tone filled with both worry and determination.“No,” she choked out, turning her face away from me as her body shook with quiet sobs. “I don’t want to do it anymore,” she added, her small hands pressing against my chest in an attempt to push me away.My chest tightened at her words. She wasn’t just in pain—she was terrified, vulnerable, and br
*Arlene*The room felt heavy with anticipation, the air almost stifling as I paced back and forth, trying to calm the storm of emotions surging through me. My heart pounded against my ribcage, loud and unrelenting. From the moment Mago and I decided today would be the day we finally consummate our marriage, I had been a trembling mess. It sounded simple—dinner first, then intimacy—but nothing about this felt simple.I’d already taken three baths since 2 p.m., unable to decide on the perfect perfume to wear. My bed was a chaotic sea of discarded lingerie, each one scrutinized before being rejected. Eventually, I settled on a red lace strapless set—seductive yet classy—hidden beneath a black Venetian-cut ballgown.“Should I wear makeup?” I’d asked Janine earlier, my voice trembling with nerves. “Or would it just smudge off anyway?”“You’re clueless,” she teased wi
*Mago*Marco’s office was alive with the usual energy—cigar smoke curling in the air, beer bottles clinking on the wooden table, and the sound of good-natured ribbing echoing off the walls. It was our sacred space, a haven where we could tackle life’s heavier problems and then lighten the mood with relentless teasing. Tonight, we’d gathered to lend support to Angelo, who looked more stressed than I’d ever seen him.Angelo leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, absently spinning his beer bottle. “Thanks for coming, guys. I need this.”Marco waved him off. “You don’t need to thank us. We’re your brothers. What’s going on?”Angelo exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “It’s Cerise. She’s been… struggling. She’s got a lot of doubts about us, and it’s hard to get through to her.”Stuart frowned. “Doubts? Like what?”
*Arlene*I marched into Janine’s mansion, nerves tying my stomach into knots. Stuart had just proposed to Patricia, and now my own marriage to Mago was on a fast track to… consummation. Even the word made my chest tighten. I was desperate for advice and moral support.“The ladies are waiting for you in the entertainment room, ma’am,” the butler informed me with a polite nod.“Thanks,” I said, already making my way there. I didn’t need directions—I knew this house like the back of my hand.As soon as I entered, Janine waved at me from the oversized couch. “Budz! You look stressed. Sit down and spill.”I collapsed onto the couch with a sigh. “I need help. Like, serious help.”Patricia raised a perfectly arched brow. “Wait, you haven’t done it yet, have you?”“Not yet,” I admitted, covering my face. &ldqu
*Mago*I don’t know what came over me when I stopped by the jeweler where our wedding rings were made a year ago. Back then, I had been a fool—a man blinded by love and hope. I thought Arlene was my fresh start, the one who could heal the wounds of my past. What I didn’t realize was that she would be the one to rip those wounds open, exposing every scar I’d tried to bury.“Wear this,” I said as I handed her the ring, my expression blank, and explained, “Naina asked about the rings earlier. So, I decided we should have them.”Her lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smile crossing her face. It wasn’t just a smile—it was hope. Quiet, stubborn, dangerous hope.“Don’t read too much into it,” I added, my voice sharp enough to sever any illusions. “This is just to keep Naina from asking questions. That’s all.”She said nothing, just quietly s
*Arlene*I spent the entire day alone in the house. Mago had taken Naina to the doctor, explaining briefly that she had fainted when she saw him at the cemetery, and he wanted to make sure she was okay. The house felt empty and unnervingly quiet, but I used the time to follow through with our agreement.I moved my things into Mago’s room—a task I’d been both dreading and looking forward to. Each trip felt like I was intruding on his space, yet claiming it at the same time. This was what I wanted, after all.As agreed, I began removing the pictures I had hung around his room. Pictures of me. Carefully chosen, perfectly staged, deliberately seductive. Each image had been placed with one goal in mind: to break through Mago’s walls and remind him that I wasn’t just his wife on paper—I was a woman who wanted him.Now, as I removed them one by one, I couldn’t help but feel a small, amused triumph. He ha
*Arlene*“Naina, this is Arlene, my wife,” Mago said, his voice calm, almost detached.The words still felt foreign coming from him, but a small flicker of happiness warmed my chest. He had introduced me as his wife. He could have easily avoided it, brushed it aside, or simply said my name. But he didn’t.Naina’s face lit up as she turned to me, her eyes warm and curious. “I am so happy to finally meet you, Mrs. Concepcion.”“Just call me Arlene,” I said quickly, feeling a twinge of awkwardness at the title.“Well then, it’s nice to meet you, Arlene. Have you eaten breakfast yet?” she asked kindly, her motherly tone softening the edges of the tension I carried.“We haven’t,” Mago replied before I could.“Well, I’ll prepare breakfast for you,” Naina offered, already moving toward the kitchen. “Would you like me t
*Arlene*I woke to the weight of Mago’s body against mine, his arm draped over my waist, his leg tangled with mine. His steady breaths warmed the back of my neck, and I felt his chest rise and fall in rhythm against me. For a moment, I didn’t move, savoring the rare closeness. My heart hammered, caught between joy and anxiety.I glanced down, relieved and oddly disappointed to see that I was still fully clothed in the same outfit from last night. Nothing had happened. But this—waking up in his arms—was still more than I’d dared to hope for. How long had it been since I’d felt his warmth like this? Since I’d been trapped, willingly, in his embrace?I didn’t want to lose this moment, so I stayed still, pretending to sleep. I knew this was fragile, temporary. I wasn’t sure it would ever happen again.Minutes passed, and then I felt him stir. His hand flexed on my waist, and instead of pul