*Arlene’s POV*I can’t forget the kiss we shared—it felt surreal, like something out of a romance movie where the fireworks exploded just right. Only, in my case, those fireworks seemed to have gone off inside my chest, leaving me dazed. Mago probably didn’t even give it a second thought. Still, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about the deal we struck. Sure, I didn’t know if I could win, but at least it gave me time. Time to unravel the layers of his grumpy, brooding exterior. Mago is a broken man, and I’ve decided to be the temptress who puts him back together—whether he likes it or not.I went for a casual look: faded jeans, a white tank top, and a messy bun that I perfected after a dozen attempts. A touch of lip and cheek tint and a quick swipe of powder completed the look. Not too much—I didn’t want Mago thinking I was trying too hard. Subtlety was key in this game, though it felt ironic since my heart was basically doing cartwheels at the thought of seeing him again.When I en
*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
*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*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*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
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
*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
*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
“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