Diego's POVFor the last step, I fixed my tie after dressing up with my tuxedo. I stepped back so that I could visualize myself in the mirror which was in front of me and appreciated every angle of myself. Well, I got a new haircut, made myself clean after taking a bath, picked the right tuxedo, and sprayed myself with good perfume. But for some reason, it would be amazing if I had the opinion of my beautiful secretary, soon-to-be fiancè. I grinned and took a picture of my reflection. I posed a little bit, took the picture, and went to look at it in the gallery. With just a click, I saved it so that I could send it through a text to Marissa. To: MarissaHey, what do you think of my look?After I sent it, I noticed that she had still not yet replied to my last text. I wonder what she was doing. I was about to click her name so that I could give her a call when Tito George called from my phone. I answered it while I focused on posing in front of the mirror again. "Hey, tito!" I calle
Diego's POVShe has still not texted yet. Now I am worried. I arrived in the venue's parking lot, but Marissa was still not replying. Was she scared of my tuxedo? Or did she meet up with Brylle and escape with him? Or did something happen to her?Why is she not replying?! Now, I am getting frustrated.To: MarissaAre you okay? Why are you not replying?I jumped on my seat when a strong knock emerged from my window. I glared at my uncle who was knocking."What?" I asked in frustration when I rolled the window. "Let's go now. The media is waiting on the carpet. They might miss my handsome face to be put in the news," he said and demonstrated for me to get out of the car. If he is not just my uncle, I would have punched him in the face.I shook my head, rolled up my window, and got out of the car. He stepped back as I dramatically closed my car and locked it with my alarm."Happy now?" I sardonically asked."Haha, chill out, my handsome nephew. The party will be your opportunity to hav
Diego's POV"Let me escort my mom to the hall, Dad," I interrupted spacing out and holding my mom's hand. "If you want to talk with your associates, you can go to them. I will take care of Mom. I promise."My cold Daddy chairman only looked at me for a few seconds, barely glanced at Mom, before he sighed like he was so tired, and then exited his way to make it through the venue hall. The bodyguard opened the door as I glared at his back.I hate him."Will you stop glaring at your father?" my mom whispered and glanced at other ways. "People might see you and say things that are not true.""That is how media works, Mom. You can't stop it," I said."The same stopping you to marry your half-witted secretary?""Mom," I called her with a warning in my tone. "First of all, Marissa is not my half-witted secretary. I think she is the most beautiful and intelligent woman I have ever known in my entire life. And whether you like it or not, I am going to marry her.""But, son-""Mom, you are scar
Diego’s POVWhile clapping for Zeana Tan, my eyes transferred to Tito George. My claps went slower when I noticed that he had gone serious and stern this time. I had to blink to make sure that I was seeing the right thing, but I confirmed that his stupid, boyish smile was nowhere to be found, his eyes were wistful, and his face was firm.And that is because he is watching the beautiful woman going through the carpet while waving her hand to the crowd!Even though someone, a woman (I have to include that in my description), was striking up a conversation with him, his full attention remained on Zeana Tan. He was not pleased with what he was seeing.I was already smirking like hell, this is the first time I have seen him so austere. Whenever we both see the women he had taken in hotels or dates, he would only laugh and treat them as nothing. But this Zeana Tan is indeed a different impact on him, huh?“Good evening, everyone,” Zeana Tan greeted the guests with a firm and deep voice, an
Diego's POV"Oh, I am delighted that you know me," I said and displayed a small, formal smile. "Anyway, perhaps you know my uncle? George Benitez?"I made a small push to my uncle who was trying to keep his call beside me and poked him to talk. Zeana Tan also gazed at him and even hovered her gaze casually, as if he was a stranger to her. She smiled and reached out her hand to my uncle. "Yes, I know Mr. Benitez very well. Nice meeting you again, Mr. Benitez," Zeana Tan said and even smiled hugely.See? She is not even bothered by him!When I looked at my uncle, he only stared at her face with a serious expression. He was parting his lips as the words he wanted to say were locked in his throat. The smile Zeana Tan was holding on her lips was slowly becoming constipated because her hand was still reaching out for my uncle who did not acknowledge. I had to secretly elbow him so that he would stop staring and start talking. That was when he snapped and cleared his throat. "O-Oh, yes, Mi
Marissa's POVThe nurse tightened and placed a bandage on my shoulder. I can still see the blood penetrating through it. She excused herself while I was left on the bed where I was brought in to tend to the wound I had when my grandmother had thrown the empty bowl a while ago.I swam in my deep thoughts as I remembered the fear she had in her eyes when I was so worried about why she was in hysteria.I should not see her?Who is the person I should not see that she even almost lost her mind when I was about to step forward?If it were not for the hospital staff and Jane who heard her screams. She tried protesting and getting out of the hospital bed, but thankfully, she was immediately sedated and calmed down until she dozed off. Jane escorted me to a room where a nurse could take care of my wound. I did not feel pain, though. I was more curious."Ms. Dela Cruz."My thoughts were interrupted when a doctor showed up in front of me. It was my grandmother's doctor. I had to stand up from s
Marissa's POVI showered first thing in the morning. Diego followed. Diego cooked. We ate. I double-checked everything to carry. Diego carried it. I made sure we had food on our trip. Diego took care of booking our hotel in Palawan. "Are you ready?" he asked when he sat in the driver's seat. "We'll go to Starbucks first so we can have coffee."I grinned. "That is the nicest thing we would ever do.""My treat.""As if you have let me treat the two of us. That was like never."We both laughed before we left the apartment building. Just like what he said, we went to Starbucks and ordered the coffee we desired to drink. Conversations and plans went on until we got to the airplane. I continued sleeping there with my head on his shoulder. "We're on board now, baby," I heard Diego whisper. "We have to get out of the airplane. Hey."I slowly opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was the small screen that was playing a Disney movie in front of me. I shivered as I felt how cold inside the
Marissa's POV"Grandmother, what is wrong? Are you okay?" I worriedly asked the other line. "Marissa, where are you?" she asked in a firm voice, meaning that she was angry right now. Why does she sound so angry, though? Is she not done yet?"Grandma, I am in Palawan with my boss for a business trip. Why? Is there a problem?" I asked, curious now. "Good," she said."Then stay there. The longer the better until that bitch leaves."My hand flew to my mouth because I was surprised that she knew how to cuss like this. Even before, she would even reprimand me when I cussed in front of her. I know her to be so old-fashioned and so set in her ways to always be respectful, dignified, and kind. "I do not know who you are, Grandma," I said, wanting to see who she is talking about."Just listen to me, Marissa," she said. "I can't let you see her because she will only ruin your life. You would hate it, so I hope you do not get to the point where you will be making the decision you will ever re
Marissa's POVFor five years, I only wanted to take care of Lilith, my daughter, as we left the Philippines to start a new life and a new career. After my grandmother died last year, I knew that I had to be strong for the steering wheel that I had been controlling all my life to be steady. Grandma was the reason I wanted to live for a long time. Now, it was Lilith. "Mom, I told you that I wanted to play in the park with my nanny. Why would you not let me?" Lilith said as she stomped her little feet under the dining table.I turned to her while fixing the valuable things inside my bag. Her nanny, on the other hand, was helping her eat breakfast. My beautiful daughter was looking up at me while pouting her lips. Her hair was already done into ponytails and is currently wearing the dress I just bought for her in the mall."No," I said and smiled at her. "The park is too dangerous, my love. You have to understand me.""Nanny! Help me!" she said and then looked at Nanny Elisa. Nanny Elis
Marissa’s POV I could feel the discrete and watchful stares of Nica and Brylle in front of me. I was just staring at the hot coffee inside a huge mug in front of me. They made sure I ate today, even though it was not a lot. It already satisfied them that I had something in my stomach. “I know you won’t open up to us,” Nica said in the middle of the deafening silence. “But I want you to know that Brylle and I will be here for you.” My eyes slowly darted on both of them. They were beside each other and their hands underneath were obviously intertwined just by the visual of their hands together. The only thing that was separating us was the dining table. Currently, we are in the dining area in front of me. The night was still young. “I am leaving tomorrow,” I started with a lump on my throat, but my eyes are already tired from crying. “And I don’t know if I will be back.” “What?” Brylle exclaimed. “What do you mean?” “Madame Margarita was the primary reason why my contract with Di
Marissa’s POV“Brylle! Oh, my goodness! What happened to you?!” Nica exclaimed in shock.The moment I let her inside the apartment, Nica rushed to Brylle who was caressing the white plaster on his right cheek. She was pressing his wound, while he kept telling her that it was alright. I could not help but furrow my eyebrows at how they care for each other. I can see it. “Marissa,” Nica mumbled my name and stood up so he could face me. “Who did this to him?”I crossed my arms after I locked the door of the living room. “It was Diego Montero,” I answered. “I am sorry.”Her expression changed from a serious one to a concerned one. The moment she did that, I already retreated. I shook my head.“We can talk tomorrow. For now, you should rest together with Brylle. Spend the night. I already prepared everything in my grandmother’s room. You can use it,” I said. “I’ll go to my room now.”I did not let her speak anymore and turned my back on them already. I could feel her stares following me
Marissa's POV"If I could follow the contract, he would answer all of the hospital bills for my grandmother. I will also go to New York and have my dream job. In that way, I would reach my dreams and make my grandmother feel better," I explained."Marissa," he mumbled, and felt his hands on my shoulder. "Why did you not tell me? I could have helped you.""No," I said and shut my eyes. "I could never dare to involve you and Nica in my problems. You have done everything for me, and I would be ashamed to reach out to you.""Why would you even think about that? You are important to Nica and to me. If you didn't like Diego, you could have just reached out to us. How dare you think it would be shameful! Oh, goodness, Marissa. I am so sorry you have to put up with that situation."Before I could even completely react, he had already pulled me for a warm and tight embrace. The sadness and loneliness have already pent up inside my heart, making me sob against his chest as I feel his hand at th
Marissa’s POV“You said you wanted to talk to me,” I said coldly as I watched the stars above me with deadpan eyes. “I am free tomorrow. You can bring Brylle over. I will text where.”I heard Nica inhale sharply. “Brylle would be grateful to talk to you,” she mumbled from the other line. He said he wanted closure.”“I know,” I said and looked down at the pavement. “I also need that, too.”The silence stretched as we shared it through the lines of our cellphones. I bit my lower lip as I realized that I had just killed my pride by deciding to talk to Brylle and Nica. Maybe I was also too hard on both of them over the years I was friends with them. Nica maybe was right. I was selfish and self-entitled.The call briefly ended. My sightseeing through the stars prolonged and I was too drowned in them that I barely recognized how late the night was already.Or maybe because I was still recalling how Madame Margarita and I negotiated that I will have to cut my connection with Diego. Because w
Diego’s POVI played with the red wine inside my glass as Tito George and Ms. Zeana Tan were talking business in front of me. The customers inside the restaurant were filling my ears, but I barely cared about the conversations surrounding me. Only the words of Marissa were circling around my mind, repeating, again and again.She will never love me.She doesn't love me.And I should stop dreaming.Then were her smiles when she was in Palawan with me all fake? Was she just pretending that she was genuinely happy with me?“Hey, Diego…”I snapped out when I felt my uncle’s hand on my shoulder, shaking me a bit. He was furrowing his eyebrows at me and parting his lips, bestowing confusion across his face.“Are you okay? You look like you're occupied,” he concluded.“O-Oh,” I exclaimed and noticed that the both of them were just watching me thinking deeply. I had to clear my throat and straightened up while sitting on my chair. “What… Uh, I was not catching up. Where are we?”“We are talkin
Marissa’s POVMy eyes stayed on the cup of hot lemon tea being poured by the maid, but I could still sense how Madame Margarita was staring at me suspiciously. When the maid transferred to her cup, I raised my eyes to her again. She squinted her eyes, while I still instilled my deadpan stare. “I will still not believe that you intend to not marry Diego after you said yes to him,” she said. “If so, what made you change your mind? Were you scared because I did not approve of you?” “No,” I confidently said. “I was willing to win you over.”“You will not win me.”“I know,” I also agreed, making her left eyebrow raise. “That is why retreating to the marriage would also be a good thing.”“I see where you are going.”“And I also know that you are only faking your illness,” she said. “You don’t have cancer.”Because of what I revealed, she flinched a little bit and was motionless for a minute. She tried to not make it obvious, but when she tried to open her mouth, it was trembling. In the e
Marissa’s POVJust by the mention of Brylle’s name, I had to face her and slap her in the face. I heard Ms. Gonzaga gasp because of what I did. Nica ticked her jaw and held the cheek I just slapped. She glared at me. “Stop talking to me as if we are okay!” I whispered loudly. “We were not okay the moment you stabbed me in the back. And what did you say? Brylle wants to talk to me. After what the both of you has done to me?” “That is why I want to “But I cut her off again. “And would you also deny that you scattered rumors about me just because I married my boss? Did you enjoy the fact that the employees where I work are talking behind my back? Have you always been threatened by me?!”“Yes!” Nica inhaled sharply and widened her eyes hugely because of the frustration that was pent up within her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath tremblingly. When she opened them again, there were already tears pooling at its sides. “I hated the fact that the man I love was in love with my
Marissa’s POV“Thank you for your time joining me tonight, Ms. Dela Cruz,” Ms. Zeana Tan said to me when she dropped me off at the hospital. “I hope I did not waste it.”“I am even grateful towards you, ma’am, for choosing me as your company,” I said and smiled. “Is your husband not going to be mad at you for being late, ma’am?”She arched her eyebrow with a slight smile. “It is funny that you think I have a husband,” she said. “I am still single and not planning to marry anytime soon!”My eyes widened in fractions and panicked. “Oh, my god. I am so sorry. I did not know,” I said.“Don’t worry. I am not offended. Everyone, though, assumes the same.”“Who would not, ma’am? One, I think you are very beautiful, intelligent, wealthy, and successful. It is an obvious fact that many people would admire you, especially men!” I exclaimed.Ms. Zeana Tan only meaningfully smiled, like what I said was just a big deal to her. She stared at me for long. I wanted to avoid my gaze because she migh