*Mago’s POV*
When I learned from Dessa that her brother, Dee-Vyn, was protecting someone in the witness protection program and needed a place to hide, I saw an opportunity. I knew Angelo’s island would be the perfect spot, isolated and far from prying eyes. Offering this help gave me the leverage I needed to finally get some answers about Ailene. There were too many shadows in my mind, too many questions I couldn’t shake.
As soon as we arrived at the island and they settled in, I found Dee-Vyn by the shoreline, watching the waves. His face held a weariness that I understood all too well—he was burdened by secrets, and I intended to unravel them.
“Dee-Vyn,” I started, my voice steady, but underneath I was a storm waiting to erupt. “You know I didn’t bring you here just to hide you. I need to know what happened to Ailene… everything.”
He looked at me, his gaze guarded. “Mago
*Mago’s POV*Securing our papers for the marriage had been surprisingly easy. I had plenty of connections at City Hall, and with a few discreet calls, everything was ready to go. I wanted nothing standing between us. After a brief oath and a quick signing, it was done. It felt surreal—Arlene was my wife now. We didn’t have rings, didn’t even have anyone there to witness the moment, but I promised her that once we told our families, we’d celebrate with a grand ceremony. I’d give her the wedding she deserved.As we left the mayor’s office, Arlene’s eyes sparkled with joy, and I felt a warmth in my chest that I couldn’t contain. We stepped outside, and I couldn’t resist pulling her close, catching her off guard as I pressed a lingering kiss to her lips.“M-Mago,” she whispered, gently pushing me back with a playful smile.“Yes, sexy?” I murmured, my voice low, savoring the way her cheeks flushed.She gig
*Arlene’s POV*I bolted down the stairs, heart racing as I heard the unmistakable sound of Mago’s car pulling away. A sickening dread twisted in my stomach—why would he leave so abruptly, without saying goodbye? My fingers gripped the banister as I reached the bottom, my eyes darting toward the door, hoping somehow I’d misheard, that he was still there.“Arlene,” my mother’s voice stopped me, gentle yet insistent, but I could hear a strange tremor in her tone.“Mommy!” I choked, tears blurring my vision as I turned to face her. “Why did he leave? What happened? He didn’t even say goodbye!” I looked to her for answers, hoping she could make sense of it all. But instead, I saw something unsettling in her expression—an intense worry, almost like fear, barely hidden beneath a calm facade.Before she could answer, my father’s sharp voice sliced through the silence, cutting down the small comfort I’d hoped for.“Enough of this nonsense,
*Mago’s POV*The insistent ringing yanked me from sleep, an unwelcome tether back to reality. I reached for my phone, already irritated by whoever was so determined to get my attention at this ungodly hour.“Boss Mago!” Dessa’s voice crackled with urgency.“Dessa, it’s early.” My tone was a mixture of annoyance and fatigue.“Did you forget?” Her voice was tinged with panic. “You’re meeting the investors today!”My blood ran cold as her words hit me like a slap. The meeting—I’d forgotten. Cursing under my breath, I sat up, groggy and disoriented, and glanced around the dim room. I hung up without another word, then tapped the woman beside me. “You need to go.”“What?” She murmured, eyes still closed, voice laced with the sultry remains of sleep.“I said you need to go.” My tone sharpened. “I&rsq
*Mago’s POV*When I walked up to the bar, I saw Dessa waiting, twisting her hands nervously. She was stunning—quick-witted, magnetic, a woman who could turn heads with a smile, yet she’d chosen to be with women. Her choice worked for me; it made her the perfect decoy, my “girlfriend” to ward off women who couldn’t resist me. And there were plenty—women begging to be with me, trying to claim a piece of me. But I was Mago Concepcion, and I wasn’t the kind of man who settled. I preferred variety, the thrill of tasting something new every night, savoring life like an endless array of fine wine. Why choose one bottle when the world was a cellar, each one offering something different?“B-Boss Mago,” Dessa stammered, handing over the contract. “The investors are inside.”I gave her a slow, confident smile. “I’ll handle it,” I said, oozing assurance.She gave me a slight nod, her eyes darting down. “Good luck.”I chuckled, almost pitying her misplaced concern.“Luck? Dessa, I am luck.” I winke
*Arlene’s POV*Janine and Marco had invited us to their wedding anniversary party, but Mago went ahead, leaving me to catch a taxi alone. It was yet another reminder of how things stood between us—how he wanted to make sure I felt like a stranger in his life. When we did speak, his words dripped with sarcasm and thinly veiled insults, as if he enjoyed seeing how deeply he could wound me without breaking the skin.There were only a few guests milling about when I arrived, but I scanned the room, searching for him, my stomach twisting with nerves.“Looking for Mago?” Janine’s voice cut through my thoughts, a touch of anger in her tone.“Is he here?” I asked, hoping he hadn’t disappeared already.“You’re wasting your time, Arlene.” She glanced over her shoulder, face tight. “That manwhore is upstairs in the guest room—hooking up with our florist.”
*Mago’s POV*The cold water hit my skin, grounding me as I tried to wash her image from my mind. But the memory of her—her eyes filled with pain and longing—stayed, twisting inside me. I hated that she still made me feel... anything.But love? No. Whatever I’d once felt was buried too deeply beneath years of bitterness and scars that ran too deep for her to understand. The darkness inside me was beyond anything her love could fix. I couldn’t forgive—not her, not her family. The damage ran too deep.*Flashback*“Mago, you can come out now,” Nana’s voice coaxed gently, pulling me from the cabinet where I’d hidden, trembling.“Nana,” I whispered, “Dad’s drunk again…”Her hand found mine in the darkness. “I know, sweetheart. But you can’t stay in here forever. Come on.”I held back, clinging
*Arlene’s POV*Mago’s warning had struck me like a thunderclap, shaking the foundation of my resolve, but it wasn’t enough to make me give up. No matter how much people mocked me, calling me foolish or masochistic, I clung to a stubborn hope—a fragile belief that I could change Mago’s heart, that I could make him see love as something more than a cruel game.That evening, Mago returned with a woman on his arm. The sight of them together was a knife twisting in my chest. My breathing quickened as I rushed to the door, intercepting them before they could step inside. I felt the weight of my decision settle heavily on me. Call me a martyr, but I refused to share my husband with anyone else. He could wound me, tear me apart with his callousness, but I would not allow another woman to take him away.The woman’s eyes swept over me with disdain, her lips curling into a smug smile. “Who is she?” she asked, her voice dripping with mockery.“She’s just my jealous stepsister,” Mago said dismissi
*Mago’s POV*I only intended to push her, to see how far she would go for me. I wanted to test her resolve, to watch her limits bend and break under my control. But when she knelt before me, trembling yet determined, and pulled down my boxers, I froze. The way her hands moved over me—tentative yet resolute—shattered the image I had clung to. She wasn’t the innocent, untouchable Arlene I used to know. The girl who once smiled at me with unfiltered sweetness was now staring up at me, offering herself in ways I never thought she would.And yet, as much as I wanted to revel in my supposed victory, something inside me shifted. It wasn’t anger or lust—it was something darker, sharper. Shame. A suffocating wave of it crashed over me. What kind of man had I become to drive her to this? To make her kneel, to strip her of her dignity, just to satisfy some twisted notion of revenge? She had once looked at me with love, with purity. And now, she was lowering herself to the punishment I had cruell
*Mago’s POV*The bar was packed, the air electric with anticipation as the first-ever gender battle began. The crowd buzzed with excitement, their cheers and whistles echoing against the walls. Arlene and I stood on opposite sides of the stage, both ready, both determined. I could see the fire in her eyes—a challenge, a promise that she wasn’t going down without a fight.I signaled to Dessa to start the music. As the first beats of the energetic track boomed through the speakers, I began my flairing routine. Bottles twirled and spun in my hands, catching the lights in dazzling flashes. The crowd roared with approval, egging me on as I tossed the shaker high into the air, caught it behind my back, and poured a perfect shot. I finished my first round with a dramatic slam of the shaker onto the bar, my signature smirk firmly in place.Then it was Arlene’s turn.She stepped forward with a coy smile, her moves smooth, c
Mago’s POVFor three days, I went to work and came home alone. Arlene had been busy redesigning the house, pouring her heart and soul into it. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought. She was so into it, and honestly, I didn’t mind. It was our house. She was my wife. And I loved the idea of her leaving her touch everywhere—it made the house feel alive, like a home.But tonight was different. It was past midnight when I got home, and the house was dark and eerily quiet. I didn’t bother turning on the lights in the living room as I made my way upstairs. Passing by Arlene’s room, I paused for a second. The door was closed, but I could feel her presence behind it. I’d been fighting the urge to touch her for nights now, and the battle was getting harder. I knew I still loved her. But that love wasn’t strong enough to erase the pain her father had caused me.Shaking my head, I pushed o
*Arlene’s POV*Mago sat behind his desk, massaging his temple as he read through the financial report I handed him. The tightness in his jaw told me all I needed to know before he even spoke. The numbers were bad, worse than I expected. The newly opened bar across town had stolen not only our regulars but also our spotlight.“Our regulars are barely showing up,” I said, trying to gauge his mood. “And when they do, it’s just for a quick drink before hopping over to the new place.”Mago leaned back, letting out a frustrated sigh. “We need something more interesting than just serving drinks,” he muttered, his voice carrying the weight of his thoughts.“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” I said, trying to keep my tone professional despite the nerves twisting in my stomach. I had been preparing for this moment, waiting for him to ask for my input. “And it’s not jus
*Mago’s POV*I didn’t expect her to get up on that stage.Arlene—the woman I told myself I no longer cared about, the woman I convinced myself was nothing more than a tool for revenge—was up there, singing her heart out. She wasn’t the same sweet, innocent girl I’d known before. No, this version of Arlene was bold, confident, and utterly captivating.And I hated it.I hated the way the spotlight caught her, the way her voice softened the crowd, the way her movements seemed so effortless. But most of all, I hated that I noticed it.When the drunk fool climbed onto the stage and started dancing with her, my chest tightened with something I refused to name. I wanted to rip him off that stage, throw him out of my bar, and make it clear to everyone who she really belonged to. But I didn’t.Why would I?She clearly liked the attention. She smiled, played along—flirting effortlessly, like she was just another woman who wante
I started moving to the rhythm, letting the beat take me. I moved in sync with the drunk man, encouraging him, letting him believe I was into it. He spun around, laughing, and his hands reached for mine. At first, it felt like a harmless game. I was in control. Or so I thought.The crowd cheered, egging us on, and I felt my confidence rising. But then, the man’s grip tightened. His hands started moving in places I hadn’t invited him to, his touch no longer playful, but aggressive. His body pressed too close to mine, and for a moment, I felt trapped.Panic creeped up my spine. I glanced at Mago again, hoping—no, needing—him to step in. But he was still caught up in his own world, his attention divided between the women and his drink.The customer’s hands were all over me now, his breath hot on my neck as he leaned in closer, too close. I jerked away, but he only followed, grinning like he’d just won some sort of prize. I could feel the heat of his body pressing in, his hands now danger
*Arlene's POV*It was only 11 PM, but the bar was already a chaotic mess. The students, high on the thrill of a long weekend and the relief of finishing their exams, were letting loose, their laughter and cheers mixing with the pulsing bass of the music. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and the sharp tang of spilled beer.Quinn darted from one table to another, his tray barely staying balanced as he delivered drink orders. Dessa hustled behind the bar, her brow furrowed as she juggled glass after glass. But me? I was standing near the entrance, trying to ignore the sharp pang of frustration gnawing at me.Mago—my husband, though it felt more like he was a stranger—was surrounded by a small group of women, laughing too loudly, tossing their hair, and touching his arm like they were already in some private world. He didn’t notice me watching. He never did.I clenched my jaw, watching him flirt effortlessly while I held everything together. ‘It’s just a job. Just a job
*Mago’s POV*Dessa met us at the entrance of the bar, her expression more tense than usual. “Boss Mago, I heard there’s a new bar opening nearby,” she said, her voice laced with concern. “It could be trouble for us. If it’s anything like the rumors, they’ll be taking our regulars.”Arlene frowned, glancing over at me. “When’s the opening?”“This Saturday,” Dessa replied, shaking her head. “I’m worried that the competition will pull people away from our place. It’s a risk—if we don’t do something, we might lose our crowd.”I felt the weight of her words, and Arlene’s expression mirrored the same tension. This wasn’t just a friendly opening—it was a direct challenge.“In that case, we need to make this weekend count,” I said, my voice steady but sharp with intent. “We’ll need to create an event that not only keeps our regulars coming back but also draws new faces to our bar.”Dessa looked at me, her gaze still uneasy but trusting. “What do you have in mind?”“We’ll need to make our drink
*Arlene's POV*“Where are you going?” Mago’s voice broke the silence as he saw me standing on the sidewalk, waiting for a taxi.“I’m meeting Janine and Patricia at Blue Plate,” I replied, glancing at him before adding with a casual shrug, “You can go ahead. I’ll follow you to the bar.”Mago frowned, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he responded, “Get in the car. I’ll take you to Blue Plate.”His tone was firm, but there was something different—an unease, like he didn’t quite like the idea of me going somewhere alone.I raised an eyebrow, “You’re acting like I can’t go on my own. It’s just some girl talk, Mago. Janine and Patricia probably wouldn’t appreciate having you around for that anyway.”“Who said I was coming with you?” Mago’s eyes sparkled with a playful glint, though his tone was defensive. “I need to see Stuart at his office. Since it’s on the same street, I thought I’d drop you off first.”A slight blush crept up my neck, realizing I had misread the situation. W
*Mago’s POV*I’ve been trying—really trying—to keep myself together. But Arlene? She makes it damn near impossible. She moves through life with this unintentional grace, doing the most mundane things in a way that somehow feels provocative. It’s maddening. It’s infuriating. And it’s everything I try not to think about.Take this moment, for instance. She stood by the table, running her fingers lightly along its edge. A simple action, completely innocent—at least in her mind. But in my eyes, it was something else entirely. Her fingers moved with a lazy, unhurried rhythm, tracing the grain of the wood as if she were memorizing its texture. The way her nails lightly grazed the surface made my imagination spiral into places it shouldn’t go.And then there was her face. Her head tilted slightly, lips softly parted as she inspected the table, utterly unaware of the chaos she was causing. She didn’t even realize she was biting her bottom lip, just a little. It was enough to send a fresh wave