All Chapters of Owned By Contract : Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

Ingrid Alessia's Point of View The next day came too fast.Halos hindi ako nakatulog. Ang bigat sa dibdib, ang gulo sa isip. Pagod na ang katawan ko, pero mas pagod ang utak ko sa kaiisip kung paano ko haharapin ang lalaking pilit na itinutulak sa’kin ng pamilya ko. Blind date daw, sabi nila, pero para sa akin, para akong papunta sa sariling bitayan.I wore my best armor a white silk blouse na perfect ang fitting sa katawan ko, tailored black trousers, and a lipstick shade called Power Play. Matagal ko nang binili ang lipstick na ’to pero ngayon ko lang ginamit. I needed to look like I had it all together, kahit totoo, durog-durog na ako sa loob.My driver opened the car door and I stepped out in four-inch heels na parang kutsilyo sa bawat hakbang. The hotel lounge was dimly lit and luxurious, with mahogany panels, gold accents, ambient jazz music, and crystal chandeliers na parang lumulutang sa ere. Every detail screamed wealth, status, and power. It was the kind of place where deal

Ingrid Alessia’s Point of View Two days later, I found myself in a penthouse suite turned into a war zone of makeup brushes, designer gowns, and camera tripods. The air was thick with perfume, hairspray, and tension. “Final touch-ups!” sigaw ng makeup artist habang hinihila ang mukha ko pabalik sa center. I sat still, letting them paint me into the perfect image of a bride-to-be. Hindi ako humihinga masyado. One wrong move and they’d think I was fragile. But I wasn’t. I was just tired. “Ma’am, your stylist sent the schedule,” sabi ng assistant ko, handing over a thin folder. “Whole day shoot for the announcement. Six looks. One couple shot by the rooftop.” I nodded, flipping through the neatly printed itinerary. My name, paired with his. Ingrid Alessia Romano-Moretti. Parang hindi pa rin totoo. I glanced at the mirror. The woman staring back wore elegance, her smile a weapon. Pero sa likod ng smoky eyes and bold lipstick, I saw it, the exhaustion, the disbelief, the quiet fury