Prologue

How do people learn to love and trust again after being hurt so many times by the ones they love?

I know emotions are difficult to handle, but we have to face them when they come. Pain is one of the hardest, sadness, anger you may not want to deal with it, but you have to. That’s just how life works…

As I stood on the ledge, a glass of red wine in hand, twelve stories above the streets of Metro Manila, I found myself thinking about suicide.

Of course, not mine. I love my life too much for that. But I wonder how do people make that choice? Do they ever regret it? I know we all have our struggles, but is that really the solution?

“Zari!”

I rolled my eyes when I heard my sister Margot’s voice. I knew exactly why she was here.

“I’ve been looking for you. What are you doing out here?” she asked.

I sighed and stepped back from the ledge before facing her.

“I just wanted to be alone,” I said curtly.

“Alone or avoiding me so I won’t bring up that favor I’ve been asking for?” she teased, chuckling.

There it was again. That same thing she always brought up.

“Oh, come on, Zari. We talked about this already,” she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

I met her eyes and saw her silently pleading with me.

“Why me? Why not ask Bettina instead?” I asked.

She let out a breath, her shoulders slumping.

“She can’t. They’re leaving for the States, remember?”

I bit my lower lip. Bettina was a school principal in the province, but she promised her son they’d celebrate his birthday in Japan. Now she needed a stand-in, and Margot wanted me to go in her place.

It’s not like I didn’t want to help but I had promised myself I’d never go back to that place again.

“Please, Zari. I really need you to be there,” she added.

I sighed again and finally gave her a small nod. I knew I couldn’t refuse her.

Her face lit up and she pulled me into a tight hug.

“Thank you, Zari! I swear I’ll make it up to you when I get back!” she said happily, making me roll my eyes.

We’re three sisters. Bettina is the eldest, I’m the second, and Margot is the youngest. Since our parents passed away three years ago, it’s been just the three of us until they started their own families. Both are married now. I’m the only one still single.

After my biggest heartbreak, I stopped believing in love. I dated many men, but I never let myself get attached. I believed they’d all leave eventually.

The days passed quickly, and my emotions stayed all over the place. I was alone in the house since our maids were on their day off, so I had no choice but to step out for a while.

I held my breath as I loaded my suitcase into the car. I was only going to be there for a week, but I still packed a lot. Margot insisted on sending a driver, but I refused. I could drive even if it was a bit far.

My sisters kept messaging me to drive safely and update them regularly. It was annoying, but I understood. Ever since our parents died, my life had been relatively normal compared to before, when I had bodyguards and a driver at all times. Back then, I felt like a prisoner. Now, I was finally free.

I don’t know how many hours I drove before I arrived in the province. We had our own house here. My heart ached as my car approached the familiar white gate.

“del Real,” I read softly, our family name engraved on the metal.

I slowly stepped out of the car. It had been nearly five years since I last visited. Just seeing the house again made my chest tighten, memories flooding back.

“Miss Zari!”

A voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I turned and saw a woman walking toward me, wearing a long dress and a shawl over her shoulders. When she got closer, I finally recognized her.

“Manang Gina?!” I said, surprised.

She laughed and nodded.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t recognize you right away,” I said, laughing with her.

“It’s okay, Miss Zari. I barely recognized you either. Come inside and your room’s ready. I’ll call Julio to bring in your things,” she said warmly and motioned for me to follow.

I smiled and nodded. Manang Gina had been our caretaker for years. I was grateful to her and her family for looking after the house, so I let them live here.

They even cooked for me when I arrived. It was already 1 p.m., and I hadn’t eaten on the road. After lunch, I went straight to my room to rest.

Almost nothing had changed. My college things were still there. Even though I didn’t have the best memories here, I couldn’t help but smile at the old photos of my college friends. I wondered where they were now, probably with families of their own.

But the smile slowly faded when I spotted one photo in particular. My heart pounded. I stared at it, and before I knew it, I was crushing it in my hand.

Then my phone rang. I figured it was one of my sisters.

I was right. Margot’s name flashed on the screen.

“I just got here,” I told her.

“Good. I called to let you know that you need to go to the school. I already told them you’ll represent me, but you’ll need to be there to go over the event plans. Please,” she said.

I sighed, already feeling tired, but nodded.

“Fine. I’ll change and text you once I get there. Don’t worry about me,” I said.

After we hung up, I got dressed and said goodbye to Manang Gina and her husband. They were busy, so I didn’t want to disturb them.

I drove straight to the school where Margot worked. It was small—too small, in my opinion for all the kids who studied there.

I parked near a large tree, where another car was parked. I glanced toward the playground. A few kids were still playing. It was already late in the afternoon, and it seemed most students were heading home. From what I knew, the school only catered to kindergarten and elementary.

I smiled watching the kids laugh and run around. My heart clenched if my baby had lived, he would’ve been about that age now, playing in a place like this.

Before I could drown in those thoughts, I kept walking. Then, out of nowhere, a small ball rolled and hit my foot. I bent down to pick it up—only to be met by a little girl.

My chest tightened as I looked at her. There was something about this child. She stared at the ball in my hand, then up at me.

“Is this yours?” I asked softly.

She nodded and smiled and my breath caught. She had deep dimples on one cheek. Her pigtails and bangs framed her small face perfectly.

“Sky!”

We both turned at the sound of someone calling her.

“Sky! What are you doing here? I was dizzy looking for you!” the woman called out, catching her breath.

“Sorry, Miss,” she added.

I stood up and looked at her. And when our eyes met, my world tilted.

“Z?” she said.

“George?” I echoed.

We both said each other's names at the same time, stunned.

My chest rose and fell rapidly. I glanced at the little girl again Sky, and before I could speak, George scooped her up.

“Let’s go, Sky,” she said and quickly turned away.

Her face had gone pale, like she’d seen a ghost. I wanted to run after her. I wanted to ask questions. Was that little girl her daughter?

“G-George!” I called out.

But she didn’t look back. She just walked away straight into someone waiting for her.

Brandon.

My ex.

The father of my baby.

The one I lost five years ago.

“Let’s go home! I’ll cook dinner tonight. Are you excited, Sky?” George asked the little girl cheerfully, like nothing had just happened.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I watched the three of them.

They were together. They had a child.

Before my tears could fall, I turned and walked away.

He’s happy now with his new family.

But the next time our paths cross…

I’ll make sure he remembers all the pain he left behind.