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Chapter 22
Huling Na-update:
2025-03-31 21:27:45
Kaugnay na kabanata
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 23
RUBBY'S POV I woke up with a dull, persistent throb pulsing behind my temples; my body was heavy with exhaustion as I forced my opens to open.Finally, my eyelids fluttered open, adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. For a minute or so, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, feeling the remnants of sleep clinging to me like a fog.Then, suddenly, it hit me.The club, The drink, The dizziness, And then… Alex.I sucked in a sharp breath as the memories rushed back in fragmented flashes. Cynthia’s laughter, the way my body had betrayed me, how the world had spun uncontrollably. The panic. The helplessness. And then those strong, familiar arms caught me before I collapsed.Alex.My fingers curled into the sheets as I forced myself up, wincing at the sharp ache in my head. Oouch my head.How did I get home? My last clear memory was of Alex holding me, his eyes locked onto mine in an unspoken conversation filled with things I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.H
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-31Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 24
ALEXANDER'S POV It was embarrassing to say that I had stalked her all day.From the moment she came to the office till that night at the club, thankfully my presence had saved her from danger.I couldn't take away my eyes from her face as I carried her to my car, even as I lay her down on her bed, I just stared at how peaceful she looked. The next morning, as I remembered all that had happened, I kept telling myself that I just cared about her wellbeing and nothing more; I would have helped any other girl in that condition.I exhaled deeply and went downstairs to the sitting room.The city lights stretched beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse, but they did nothing to distract me. My eyes flickered to my phone for what felt like the hundredth time, hoping, no, praying for a call or a text from Rubby.Nothing.I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over my jaw. She was still angry. I couldn’t blame her. After everything Mirabelle called her, after lying to her. What reason di
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-31Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 25
ALEXANDER'S POV I folded my arms and stared at Mirabelle, my face devoid of emotion, but inside, a storm brewed.She stood in the middle of my penthouse, arms crossed too, her expression carefully composed, but I could see the nervousness creeping in. She wasn’t expecting this.I leaned against the bar, my gaze never leaving hers. “Where were you last night? Please answer my question I'm sure you heard me.”She blinked, feigning confusion. “What do you mean?”“Don’t play dumb, Mirabelle.” My voice was cold and precise. “Where were you?”She let out a light laugh, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “I was at home. Why are you suddenly questioning me?”I didn’t react, didn’t give her the satisfaction of a response. Instead, I let the silence stretch between us.Her hands trembled slightly. “Alex, what is this about?”"It's about what I asked you, where were you? And before you think of lying, don't forget that I was still at home before you left. I sat in my car and watched your car p
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-31Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 26
RUBBY'S POV "Thank God you are here," the Matron exclaimed."What's happening?" I askedShe shrugged her shoulders and led me to the doctor's office.The hospital walls seemed colder than usual, their sterile white tones made my skin prickle. The air smelled like antiseptic and anxiety, thick and suffocating. I sat beside the little boy’s bed, watching his tiny chest rise and fall with difficulty. His breathing was shallow, his body too frail for someone so young. The sight of him, helpless and in pain, brought tears to my eyes. It broke my heart.The doctor’s voice earlier still echoed in my head.“He needs immediate surgery, but we can’t proceed unless his parents sign.”The matron and I had pleaded with them. We explained, over and over again, that he was an orphan and that there were no parents to sign for him. But the hospital stood firm. A couple must sign."We can't take such risk here, a couple must sign an undertaking," the doctor explained."He is from the orphanage downto
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-31Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 27
RUBBY'S POV "Sure," Alex nodded and together we walked to the doctor's office.Sitting in the doctor’s office beside Alex felt surreal. Everything that had happened in the past few hours, signing as guardians, waiting anxiously for the surgery to end, and embracing Alex in relief, had left my emotions tangled and twisted. I focused on the doctor’s words, forcing myself to ignore how attracted I was to the man seated next to me.“The next few days are crucial,” the doctor said, scanning the papers on his desk. “As his guardians, you’ll need to make sure he follows strict dietary rules. No heavy foods, nothing too oily, and he must stay hydrated. And don't forget, hydrated means just water, no juice at least not yet.”I nodded, gripping the edge of my chair to steady myself, Suddenly feeling like a grandma.Alex, sitting next to me, asked in a deep voice, “Is there anything else we need to be aware of? Any signs of complications we should watch out for?”The doctor gave him an approvin
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-01Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 28
RUBBY'S POV "You still want me to leave?" Mirabelle asked. "I've got other things I think you should listen to." That was when I stood up, I didn't want to hear any other thing.The walls of the hospital seemed to close in around me, the weight of Mirabelle’s words and Alex’s silence laid heavy on me. My hands trembled at my sides, my heart pounding so loudly I could barely hear anything else. “Rubby, please… just let me explain," Alex said. He really did have the guts to explain what was so clear and visible."Explain? Explain what?" I asked, pushing my chair slightly behind me.What did he want to explain? That he had been using me? That everything had been nothing more than a game to him, that I'm dirt? Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not now, I couldn't afford to let them see me cry.Mirabelle was still thrashing in the grip of the hospital security, screaming obscenities at Alex, and at me, but that was not my concern. I had gotten the a
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-01Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 29
ALEXANDER'S POV "Get her out of here!" I screamed at the security men."Listen to me, Mirabelle. The next time you meddle in my affairs, I will have you arrested, I promise," I warned and stormed out."Argh!" I screamed slamming my fist on my steering.My jaw clenched, my teeth grinding against each other as frustration burned through my veins.Rubby had walked away, and this time, I knew it was impossible to bring her back.The one woman who had somehow gotten past my walls, the one woman I never wanted to hurt, yet, I had. And it was all because of Mirabelle and that bastard Kevin.If only he didn't take that picture, this wouldn't have escalated like this.I swore under my breath and slammed my foot on the gas, the engine roaring as I sped down the streets. I needed to know why Kevin had done this. Why had he felt the need to destroy something, I had barely even gotten the chance to hold?I arrived at my parents’ house within minutes, my blood boiling. Without bothering to knock,
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-01Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 30
ALEXANDER'S POV I swallowed hard and moved away from him, clenching my fist by my sides. The tension in the room was suffocating.My mother stood between Kevin and me, her sharp eyes darting between us. “Enough,” she said sternly, her voice slicing through the thick atmosphere like a blade. “This childish bickering stops right now. You both need to man up; this is getting too much. Would you ever love yourselves?”Kevin scoffed, rubbing his jaw from where I had punched him earlier. “Childish bickering? Are you seriously taking his side? Well, I'm not surprised; he's always been the favourite child.”My father, who had been silent for most of our argument, finally spoke up. “This isn’t about sides, Kevin. This is about responsibility. And you’ve proven time and again that you’re not ready to handle the weight of this company. There are other small companies under your guidance, yet you've not done anything there not to talk of this one.”Kevin’s face turned red. “Excuse me?”My father
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-01
Pinakabagong kabanata
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 40
RUBBY'S POV My cheeks finally gave me away; it turned pink the instant he winked at me; thankfully, he was the only one who saw it."I should be the one protecting you, not the other way round," he said as we walked back to our various offices."And who said I was protecting you?" I asked feigning seriousness. "I was only doing the right thing, maintaining peace and order.""Now that's a chaotic way of maintaining peace and order," he smiled. "Just admit that you were protecting me.""You are so full of yourself young man," I tugged at his arm playfully."I like your pink cheeks," he whispered, sending cold shivers down my spine.The moment I got back to my office, I rushed to the email. It sat bold and unread in my inbox. I took a deep breath before clicking on it, my fingers slightly trembling against the mouse.Dear Mr. Wolfe,Your presence is required at the international business summit in Beijing, China, scheduled for January 9th. Please confirm your attendance at your earlies
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 39
RUBBY'S POV I was embarrassed on his behalf. I knew Alex did that intentionally; there were lots of staff that were lower than Nolan, yet he chose Nolan because he wanted to humiliate him."Why did you do that?" I asked when the hall became empty."Did what," he asked feigning ignorance."You know what I mean," I responded rolling my eyes."I do not know," he answered. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he looked more professional. "I will be in my office, you can start to work Miss Rubby.""Miss Rubby?" He nodded and walked out, leaving me alone in the conference hall.A few minutes later, I sat at my desk, and the rhythmic clicking of my fingers against the keyboard filled the silence of my new office. I had barely gotten used to this space, yet it already felt oddly familiar.A new email notification popped up on my screen.I reached for the mouse, my eyes scanning the subject line, only for my focus to shatter when a commotion erupted outside.There were voices outside, Yelli
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 38
ALEXANDER'S POV Her cheeks turned pink immediately, it made my heart swell with pride anytime I made her blush like that.To be honest, she did look breathtaking that morning; she wasn't on her usual trousers, shirt and Crocs; this morning, she wore a well-fitted blazer top with trousers that clung to her tiny perfect curves. My grin grew wider when my eyes fell on the necklace she wore, the same one I had gotten for her on the eve of the new year.The moment she said those words “I will be your personal assistant," I felt a rush of satisfaction unlike anything I had felt in a long time. Not just because she had accepted the role, but because of the reason behind it.She had seen those desperate women, all vying for a position that meant being close to me, and she had chosen to take her place instead.I smirked, then muttered to myself. Good choice, sweetheart.Adjusting my tie, I looked at her, arms crossed. “What changed your mind?”Rubby flicked her gaze towards the waiting room
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 37
RUBBY'S POV The new year had come and gone.I lay awake, staring at my ceiling, my mind spinning with thoughts about Alex’s offer. Work for him? In his company? As his personal assistant? It was tempting, too tempting, but there was one glaring issue.Nolan and Trisha. Their presence irritated me, and I didn't think I could function well with both of them in the same building as me.I sighed, rolling onto my side, clutching my phone as I debated texting Alex. The offer was a big one, and as much as I admired him, working as his personal assistant felt too close, too intimate, too risky.But then wasn't it what I wanted? There was no use lying to myself, I wanted that closeness, but on another thought, I remembered he wanted us to be just friends, so what's the need? Being his personal assistant required much professionalism, but I wasn't sure I could do that with him around.Still, the idea of working in a different role intrigued me. I could prove myself and make something of my car
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 36
TRISHA'S POVThe restaurant was alive with screams from kids and laughter from couples, the atmosphere buzzed with the joy of the New Year, but I felt none of it.I sat alone at a corner table, my hands wrapped around a cup of untouched coffee, my eyes scanning the entrance again.Still no sign of Nolan. Had he forgotten we were supposed to be together today?I exhaled sharply, glancing at my phone for what must have been the hundredth time.No text. No call. Nothing.The message thread was still the same; my last few texts were unanswered, and my calls were ignored.But I already knew, didn’t I?I knew where he was.With Rubby begging like the miserable fool that he was.A bitter laugh escaped my lips. How pathetic was I? Sitting here on New Year's waiting for a man who had never truly chosen me?I stirred my coffee absentmindedly, watching as the dark liquid swirled. It felt symbolic, like my own emotions, spiralling, mixing, drowning.How long could I keep up with such a miserable
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 35
RUBBY'S POV The moment my eyes landed on the man standing there, all the air rushed out of my lungs.Nolan.With a bouquet of fresh red roses in his hands. On New Year’s Day.My body stiffened. Why on earth was he here? Shouldn't he be spending it with his real love Trisha? Would they even allow me a moment of peace at all? Does my change of environment mean nothing to them? How did they even find me? Both he and Alex.He looked quite different. He wasn’t in his usual pressed suit, just a simple sweater and jeans. Mom had given him a chair and didn't even bother to call me; I loved how cold she was to him; she needed to make up for times she totally ignored me for his sake.Before I could open my mouth, I heard a familiar laugh behind me.I had totally forgotten that Alex was chasing me playfully from the back, likely still amused by my embarrassing exit from the bedroom earlier."Rubby, why are you running, we both know..."His voice died the moment he stepped into the front area an
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 34
RUBBY'S POV "Where is the room?" He asked."You were walking so bold as though you know where it was," I shot at him. "Over there," I said pointing towards the direction of my room.Minutes later, I shifted uncomfortably on the couch, hugging a pillow to my chest as I tried to find a position that didn’t make my back ache. This was a terrible idea.From across the room, I could hear Alex sigh dramatically from the bed."Rubby, come on. The bed is big enough for both of us."I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn’t see me in the dim light. "I’m fine here.""No, you’re not," he countered. "You’ve turned about a hundred times in the past five minutes."I pursed my lips, refusing to answer."You’re being ridiculous," he continued. "It’s just a bed. It’s not like I bite."I scoffed. "I wouldn’t be so sure about that."He chuckled. "Okay, you got me. But only when invited.""Alex!" I threw a pillow in his direction, but he only laughed harder."Fine, fine. Stay on the couch if you want,
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 33
RUBBY'S POV "What!" I stared at Alex, completely thrown off by his request. Spend the night? In my house?"Yeah," he replied casually as though he had not just asked for the most impossible thing.I opened my mouth, then closed it, struggling to find the right words. Why here, of all places? What happened to all the luxurious hotels around? Besides, he was the famous Alexander Wolfe, and all he needed was a phone call, and he would be home in minutes. Why choose here?"I know it’s a lot to ask," he said, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it. "But it’s late, and I don’t want to be alone tonight. Not on New Year’s Eve. I've always spent it alone; allow me to spend it with you and your family."The way he sounded melted my heart. He was so sincere and vulnerable.I hesitated, my heart warring with my mind. Every logical part of me screamed to say no, telling me there were better options, but then my little heart thought about how lonely he must be. How different he seemed tonight."W
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement Chapter 32
RUBBY'S POV I froze. My heart slammed against my ribs. That voice belonged to the man I thought I had left behind.I slowly turned around and my breath caught in my throat. Alexander Wolfe stood before me looking as effortlessly handsome as ever. His dark suit fit him perfectly, his sharp jawline more defined under the dim restaurant lights. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to find my voice."How did you find me?""Happy New Year in advance, Rubby," he answered in response."You weren't responding to your texts and you weren't taking your calls either, so I figured it was better to come in person."I blinked, caught off guard by his response. He had travelled all that way just to wish me a happy new year? Before I could press further, I noticed my mother watching us from a few feet away. Her lips curled into a soft smile before she turned and walked away, giving us privacy. I then glanced at the woman I had spoken to earlier, she grinned and gave me a thumbs-up before slipping ba
