All Chapters of Husband For Rent: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The air in the living room was thick with tension. Aiden’s family had left earlier, still fuming over the events of the wedding, and now it was just my parents, Lexus, and me. The weight of the situation hung heavy over us, and I could feel my mother’s gaze on me, waiting for something—anything—resembling a solution.“Astrea,” my father began, his voice calm but firm, “we can’t just leave things hanging like this. You need to think about the future. Both of your futures.” He shot a look at Lexus, who was standing by the window, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.“Your mother and I have discussed it,” my father continued, his tone softening. “We believe it’s best if you both stay here, at the estate, until things settle down. It will be easier, and we’ll be able to help with any… complications.”Tinignan ko si Lexus, his jaw clenched as he looked out at the garden. I could see the muscles in his back tense, the familiar signs that he wasn’t happy with what my father was sugge

“Okay, tapos na,”I pulled the last of my clothes from the closet, folding them carefully into the suitcase, each motion deliberate as I tried to push away the frustration building inside me. Packing my things into this small, old suitcase felt almost symbolic. A life in a bag, ready to be uprooted once more.I glanced over at the unmade bed in the room I’d spent the night in—well, the room I’d been allowed to stay in. It wasn’t exactly home, but I’d done what I could to settle in, even if it was temporary.I tugged the suitcase closed, satisfied it was packed. The thought of leaving Lexus’s house hung over me like a cloud, but it was the only choice left. Things weren’t going to change. Not between us.As I stepped into the living room, dragging the suitcase behind me, I couldn’t help but notice how… empty it felt. The house, his house, was so quiet without the usual hum of his presence. Lexus had left early this morning, no doubt off on some photo shoot or project that demanded his

The sound of rain tapping against the windows set the tone for another quiet evening. I had my laptop open on the kitchen counter, trying to finish an essay that was due in less than 12 hours. My focus was razor-sharp until I heard a guitar chord strum from the living room.It started soft, almost pleasant, but it quickly turned into a cacophony of random notes. I sighed, closing my eyes to keep from snapping.“Lexus,” I called out without looking up. “Could you maybe not do that right now?”“Ang alin ba?” His voice floated in, dripping with faux innocence.“Turn the living room into a bad open mic night.”“Wow,” he said, suddenly standing in the doorway, guitar slung across his shoulder like a modern bard. “Ang lakas mo yata mag joke ngayon, teh.”I glared at him. “I’m serious. I need to finish this.”“Lagi ka naman talaga seryoso sa buhay mo,” he quipped, walking into the kitchen and plucking a grape from the fruit bowl. “Ever heard of a work-life balance?”“Says the guy who edited

“Morning, Sunshine,” he teased, grabbing an apple from the counter, “Mukhang pangit gising natin teh, ah?”I sat at the dining table, the untouched cup of coffee in front of me slowly growing cold. My mind swirled with anticipation and nerves, the weight of the upcoming competition pressing against my chest. I needed to tell him.“Do you ever take anything seriously?” I asked, watching Lexus stroll into the kitchen like he didn’t have a care in the world.Lexus strolled into the room, a towel draped around his neck, his damp hair tousled from a shower. His usual easygoing demeanor felt both comforting and infuriating as I tried to muster the courage to bring up the topic.“Sure,” he said, biting into an apple with an exaggerated crunch. “Breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day, nakakapangit ang pagpapalipas nang gutom,”I rolled my eyes, setting my coffee mug down with a little more force than necessary. “I’m serious, Lex. Can you stop joking for two seconds?”He leaned aga

Dalawang buwan pa lang kaming kasal ni Lexus, at sa mga oras na iyon, maayos na ang takbo ng buhay namin. Ang kasunduan namin na magpanggap na mag-asawa ay hindi naging komplikado; we kept it simple. We stuck to the terms, walang masyadong drama, at ang mga tao sa paligid namin ay hindi talaga nakahalata na hindi kami ganoon ka-close.We went about our daily lives, doing things that married couples do, pero ang lahat ng iyon was just for show. We’d talk, share meals, and help each other when needed—pero deep down, alam ko na hindi ito yung klase ng relasyon na gusto ko.Pero it wasn’t so bad. Sa ilang pagkakataon, Lexus would step up and be there for me when I needed him the most. Parang ganun na lang kami—nagmumukhang mag-asawa, pero hindi kami ganun ka-intimate.One of the biggest milestones for me came when graduation day arrived. Laking tuwa ko nang makita siya, nakasuot ng simpleng outfit, ready to support me.“Hindi mo na ako kailangan gawing best dressed, Astrea, okay lang. Bas