All Chapters of The Contract Bride: Chapter 61 - Chapter 63

DAMON'S P. O. VThe humid air of the Philippines clung to us like a second skin, a comforting embrace after the long flight. We were home, back in the place where our love story began, a place that held the echoes of our laughter and the whispers of our dreams. The house we rented was small, a modest bungalow perched on a hill overlooking the ocean. It wasn't fancy, but it was ours, a haven away from the world's chaos. The air was thick with the scent of salt and jasmine, a symphony of smells that filled me with a sense of peace I hadn't felt in years.I chose this small place over my mansion for so many reasons. Una na ro'n ang peace of mind ni Soirye. Especially when she said that she is not yet ready to face the paparazzi. Hindi pa s'ya handang bumalik sa mga mata ng publiko. And I want to keep it that way either. At least, hanggang sa gumaling lang s'ya. I also don't want her life to be feasted by media. Dahil baka lalo lang makasama sa kanya.Darkon, our son, was a whirlwind of

1 year later… DAMON'S P. O. VThe air hung heavy with the scent of lilies and the damp earth of the cemetery. I placed the basket of flowers, a vibrant splash of color against the grey headstones, in front of the grave. "It's been almost a year. I'm still missing you. I still miss you…” I whispered, my voice hoarse with unshed tears.I stood there, staring at the inscription, my mind a jumbled mess of grief and guilt. I should have been beside her sooner. I should have been beside her every day, holding her hand, telling her how much I loved her. But I was lost in my own world, oblivious to the pain she must have felt in her final days.I turned away, my eyes searching the horizon, as if looking for someone who was no longer there. The sun, a pale disc behind the clouds, cast long shadows across the cemetery, making the world feel even more desolate.Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind, a familiar warmth radiating through my body."Damon," a voice, soft as a whisp