The Rebellious Stepdaughter of Timothy Grey
Wala nang mas kinaiinisan si Elara Montesilva kundi si Timothy Grey—ang stepfather niyang masyadong bata, masyadong seryoso, at masyadong involved sa lahat ng bagay tungkol sa kanya.
Akala niya, noong namatay ang nanay niya ay tapos na rin ang koneksyon niya rito. Pero nang mapunta siya sa isang iskandalong muntik nang sumira sa pangalan niya, si Timothy pa rin ang unang dumating. Galit, tahimik, at determinadong ayusin ang lahat.
Ngayon, kailangan niyang bumalik sa buhay na matagal na niyang tinakbuhan.
At habang araw-araw ay nagbabanggaan ang pride nila, unti-unti naman niyang nakikita ang ibang side ni Timothy. Ito ‘yung lalaking hindi lang kayang magalit, pero marunong din mag-alaga... at umunawa.
Pero paano kung ang galit niya ay unti-unti nang napapalitan ng isang bagay na hindi dapat?
At paano kung sa likod ng lahat ng lihim ni Timothy Grey, ito rin pala ang tanging taong kayang sirain ang pader na itinayo niya?
Rebellion. Tension. Forbidden emotions.
Dahil minsan, ang taong gusto mong iwasan ay siya ring hindi mo kayang kalimutan.
Baca
Chapter: Kabanata 46Yssa and I decided to stroll around the local market to buy pasalubongs before we go back to Manila. My foot felt better after days of full rest. Kaya balak naman talaga naming dalawa lang, pero mapilit itong si Zach at sumama pa sa amin. Walang tigil tuloy ang bangayan ng dalawa habang nasa biyahe kami. “Ha! Akala mo kung sinong pa-cool, ampota,” naulinigan kong bulong ni Yssa. She was seated on the passenger seat, hindi mapakali at panay ang galaw sa upuan. Bahagyang natawa si Zach dahil paniguradong narinig niya ang sinabi ni Yssa. “Elara, hindi ko alam na may PA ka palang mas maangas pa kaysa sa amo niya,” pahaging niya, nakatingin sa side mirror. Alanganin akong ngumiti sa back seat at pareho silang sinulyapan bago inabala ang sarili sa phone. “Ah talaga?” ani Yssa. “Hindi porke’t pamangkin ka ni Sir Timothy, may karapatan ka nang pagsalitaan ako ng ganyan.” Zach scoffed. “What? Ikaw nga ’tong paulit-ulit na tinatawag akong pa-cool at ampota. Really?” “Tigilan niyo na, pl
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-06
Chapter: Kabanata 45“Is there something you need, hija?” Tinig ng matandang Grey ‘yon sa kalmadong paraan.I was caught off guard.Agad kong ibinuka ang bibig at pilit hinanap ang tamang salita. “I-I was just looking for—” naputol ang paliwanag ko nang mapatingin ako sa kamay ni Timothy na nakahawak pa rin sa bewang ko.Mabilis niyang inalis iyon, kasing bilis ng pagtuwid ko ng pagkakatayo.“May kailangan lang siya,” biglang sabi ni Timothy bago pa ako makapagpatuloy. “I asked her to come in,” aniya, saka maingat na iniabot sa’kin ang baso ng orange juice.Napatingin ako sa kanya, saka nanginginig ang kamay na kinuha ‘yon.Sir Arthur looked worried. “Ganun ba,” aniya, saka tumingin sa’kin. “You shouldn’t just stroll around, hija.” Bumaba ang tingin niya sa paa ko bago kay Timothy. “Allan, is this really okay? You shouldn’t let her roam around by herself,” puna ng matanda.Tumikhim ako. “Pasensya na po,” mahina kong sagot. “I thought—”“That’s on me,” putol ulit ni Timothy. “I told her I’d be here.”May k
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-05
Chapter: Kabanata 44“Ely…” sabi ng bumubulong sa’kin.I barely slept last night, kaya halos mag-aapat na ng umaga nang tuluyan akong makatulog. My mind was everywhere... my heart, too.“The sun is rising…” kanta pa ng kung sinong istorbo.Bahagya akong nagmulat sa inis at nadatnang nakapameywang si Yssa sa harap ko. She was smirking while checking out my bandage.“Muntik na ‘kong matanggal sa trabaho,” bungad niya. “Niyari ako sa sermon ni Sir. Ang sabi mo, susundan mo lang saglit. Bakit pilay ka na ngayon, girl?” Histerikal niyang dugtong.Umupo ako at halos mapairap. “Sprained ankle lang.”“Sprained ankle lang…” ginaya niya, maarte.Pero imbes na patulan pa siya, napabuntong-hininga na lang ako.“Wow,” puna niya. “Ang lalim no’n. So how are you?” Sinipat niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. “Akala ko sa kwarto na ni Sir kita madadatnan, eh.”Mabilis ko siyang tinapunan ng unan sa mukha. “He won’t do that. Hindi nga niya kayang magkagusto sa anak-anakan niya,” makahulugan kong sabi, saka sinubukang tumayo.“
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-03
Chapter: Kabanata 43“Good thing you didn’t push it,” sabi ng doktor. “Otherwise, mas malala pa ’yan.” Kung alam lang niya kung gaano ko pinilit ang sarili ko sa mas masakit na bagay. Para lang mabigo sa bandang huli. That’s why the pain it caused me was also severe. “Yeah,” sagot ko na lang. “Baka nga lumala pa.” Hindi ko alam kung para saan ’yon. Kung tungkol ba sa sprain o sa kung ano pa man. I didn’t want to clarify, because the clearer it gets, the worse feeling it brings. “Just follow the prescription,” paliwanag ng doktor. “Huwag mong pilitin ang paa mo. May mga bagay talagang kailangan munang magpahinga para tuluyang gumaling. You’ll be fine.” Napakurap-kurap ako sa sinabi niya. It hit a different angle in me. I smiled bitterly at my thoughts. “Yes. I just need to rest,” inulit ko. Pagkatapos ay itinulak na ng doktor ang wheelchair palabas ng pinto. Agad na tumayo si Timothy nang makita ang paglabas namin. They greeted each other shortly, then bid their goodbyes as well. At nang itutulak na
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-02
Chapter: Kabanata 42Pinilit kong idiretso ang lakad ko habang pababa, pero bigo ako sa huling hakbang ng hagdan. Napaigik ako nang bahagya nang hindi ko matantiya ang lalim ng aapakan.“Are you sure you’re okay?” bulong ni Zach.I forced a smile but refused to look at him. “Yeah,” I rasped.Nang makalapit kami kay Timothy, agad kong napansin ang atensyon niya sa paa kong natapilok. Pinilit kong magsalita at pasiglahin ang boses ko.“You’re here. Akala ko may business meeting ka,” sabi ko nang nasa tapat na niya kami.“Uncle,” bati rin ni Zach.Pero imbes na sumagot agad, matagal na tumutok ang mga mata niya sa paa ko. Maya-maya pa ay pinaglipat niya ang tingin sa ’min ni Zach, saka bumuntong-hininga.“Let’s have that checked,” aniya, patungkol sa napilayan kong bukung-bukong.Mabilis akong umiling. “A-Ayos ako,” pilit na saad ko.Pero hindi niya ako pinansin at hinarap si Zach sa halip. “You go ahead to the house first,” sabi niya rito.Nag-alangan si Zach at binalingan ako bago nagsalita. “But, Uncle—”“
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-01
Chapter: Kabanata 41“So, I heard you’re still in college?” tanong ni Zach habang binabaybay namin ang daan papunta sa lighthouse.Actually, magaan siyang kasama. He was very talkative. At parang kahit poste, kaya niyang kausapin. He could talk about everything under the sun.“Yeah. I chose not to study when my mom got sick. That’s why I’m still on my third year,” paliwanag ko.He nodded, then turned hard left to take a big curve. Malubak ang daan at matarik. I was just grateful that he offered to tour me around. Dahil baka kung si Tim ang kasama ko, mauuwi lang sa bangayan ang buong biyahe. I couldn’t imagine having a conversation with him after what happened.“I see. Sorry about your mom. Hindi kami nakapunta because Lolo was very ill that time,” paliwanag niya.Hindi ko masabi na I wasn’t aware of Tim’s relatives because I was busy hating him all this time. Ni hindi ko nga alam ang tungkol kay Sir Arthur... especially about his sickness.Natigilan ako sandali bago muling nagtanong. “Is he okay now?”Na
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-29
Chapter: Chapter 10San Felipe felt smaller when I returned for my second year. Not because it had actually shrunk. But because I already knew every corner of the Science Building.The noisy tricycles outside the gate, the covered court that used to intimidate me but now felt like just another familiar part of my day.“Finally, we’re not the baby batch anymore,” Lianne said cheerfully, while fixing the ribbon of her uniform in front of the library.“Finally,” RJ echoed with a grin. He was holding his huge tumbler. “At least we won’t always be the ones told to set up the lab.”I laughed, though there was still a flutter of nerves inside me. Second year meant heavier subjects, more fieldwork, and tougher pressure. But I also carried the quiet confidence I’d built from the previous year.By the second week, org activities were back in full swing. Green Circle had bigger projects this year. A barangay garden drives, composting workshops, and seedling distributions across different schools.“Ezra graduated la
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-11-11
Chapter: Chapter 9When I was discharged from the hospital, Nanay barely let me move a muscle. Every step I took came with a new reminder“Sweetheart, don’t tire yourself out.”“Aya, don’t go up the stairs yet.”“Stay here in the shade for now.”I just nodded to everything. I couldn’t blame them. I almost slipped away from them. So now, it felt like they didn’t want to let me out of their sight again.But no matter how close their watchful eyes were, the stillness of summer couldn’t hide the truth. That I came back here not just to recover. I came back to the place that once gave me a feeling I still couldn’t explain.“Aya!” Sofia called from the veranda, holding two glasses of cold juice. “Come here! Let’s draw together. I’ll paint while you sketch. Deal?”I laughed. “I’m always the one drawing.”“Then I’ll copy you,” she said with a grin.That was just like her. She was bright, carefree, and untouched by the heaviness around her.But this summer, I noticed something new. She seemed more comfortable wi
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-11-08
Chapter: Chapter 8The air was cool as we climbed into the jeep on our way to the falls. Lianne and RJ were already inside, laughing, while Paolo passed the fare up to the manong driver. Sofia sat beside me in a summer dress and a wide-brimmed hat. She didn’t look like she had just come from Manila at all. She looked like she belonged to San Felipe, that’s how happy she was. “Are you excited?” she almost shouted over the roar of the engine. I nodded. “A bit. It’s been a while since I last went there.” She was smiling like she had a light of her own. Paolo had been talking to her earlier about waterfalls in other countries. And even though I didn’t want to dwell on it, but the interest in her eyes was obvious. Me? I watched the trees along the roadside, while my hand gripping my bag tightly. I was smiling as I looked at everyone else’s smiles. When we arrived, the heavy rush of water crashing from the high rocks greeted us at once. Mist filled the air, and the sound of the falls sounded like it had a
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-11-06
Chapter: Chapter 7Time moved so fast. It felt like just yesterday I was carrying my old sketchpad under the Madriaga kalachuchi tree. Now, my first year of college was over. And with everything that had happened in a year, I felt like a different Aya had come back this summer.San Felipe College never ran out of noise. At noon, the covered court felt like a marketplace. Cheer practice, varsity training, org meetings. On the sides, org booths were set up. In the hallways, some people laughed, while others shouted.Me? I was usually off to the side, quietly sketching while looking at the plants by the science wing.“You’re always sketching,” Lianne teased one afternoon. She was sweaty from cheerleading. “That’s why every guy here is curious what’s going on in your head. You never shown any interest.”I shook my head while smiling. “I don’t need to.”“You don’t have to,” RJ cut in, stuffing fries into his mouth. “But a lot of guys want to show interest in you.”And that was true. Gio, Paolo, Ezra—each had
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-11-05
Chapter: Chapter 6If I looked back on the past year, it felt like a short film running endlessly at the back of my mind. All sunlight. All wind. All the scent of earth. And in the brightness of San Felipe, there were names I had slowly grown used to repeating quietly to myself.Sofia who always pulled me inside the mansion. And a… low voice, clear, with few words. But I could still feel it even now.I never said what or who it was. I never gave it a name. I never told anyone. But I knew it was real. Just like the lightness I felt every time I touched a newly sprouted plant.There were nights that stretched longer than others.On the veranda, I used to sketch while the light in the study stayed on. He sat there, head bowed over his papers. He never looked up, and I never looked directly. But I could feel it. We were both awake at the same hour, living in the same world.There were afternoons when my heart beat faster over simple things. Like when my pencil fell on the grass. Before I could reach for it
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-11-04
Chapter: Chapter 5Ever since the first night I faced the Madriaga family at the dinner table, something inside me had changed. Every time I stepped inside the mansion now, the air felt heavier, and I became more aware of every footstep I took. I didn’t want to admit it. But I could feel eyes following me.Not everyone’s. But one gaze was sharper than all the rest.Mrs. Celeste Madriaga’s.She didn’t have to say anything; I could feel it in the way she looked at me. Her movements were soft, composed, but her eyes. searched for answers she didn’t want to accept.Whenever I walked by carrying a tray, whenever I tended the plants with my head bowed, whenever I laughed quietly with Ma’am Sofia on the veranda, she was there. Watching. And every time our eyes met, I felt like my very existence was somehow wrong in her view.“Don’t mind Mama,” Ma’am Sofia whispered one afternoon as we lounged in the gazebo.She wore a sundress, her hair tied up loosely, looking as carefree as the wind. I sat beside her, quietl
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-29
Chapter: Kabanata 36The week moved fast, pero ramdam ko ang epekto ng meeting namin ni Don Alfredo. Hindi ko man sinabi kay Zed ang buong detalye, alam ko sa sarili kong kailangan ko munang maghinay-hinay. Hindi dahil nagduda ako sa pagmamahalan naming. Pero dahil alam ko sa sarili kong tama ang sinabi ng matanda.Sometimes, love needed room to breathe.Kaya nang sunduin ako ni Zed after work kinabukasan, I subtly held myself back. Hindi ’yong malayo o malamig. Pero mas maingat. Mas conscious sa paligid. Mas kontrolado.Napansin niya ’yon agad.“Are you okay?” bahagyang nakakunot noong tanong niya habang nagda-drive.I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Yeah. Pagod lang siguro.”Hindi ko sigurado kung pinaniwalaan niya ‘yon. But he didn’t push.Sa mga sumunod na araw, I kept the same distance. Hindi dramatic. Hindi biglaan, pero ramdam. Less hand-holding pag may tao, less leaning into him, less of the easy familiarity we once wore like second skin.And Zed… simply adjusted. Quietly. Respectfully.Kahit hindi
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-11-24
Chapter: Kabanata 35Monday noon kaya busy ang lahat sa panibagong week. I was typing on my computer when an email from Iris came in.Agad kong binasa 'yon. It was from her personal email, which immediately made me nervous. Iris rarely used that unless it was something off the record.From: Iris V.To: Aya R.Subject: Just a heads-upHi, Aya. I wanted to let you know that PR and Corporate Affairs have been discreetly monitoring social media chatter about you and Mr. Madriaga. Some board members and external partners have already noticed the photos from last week’s site visit and the dinner rumors. They’re not making formal statements yet, but the Board is becoming cautious. A few investors have started asking questions, too.I’m telling you this privately because I know how things can spiral fast. Please be careful with public appearances or shared events for now. You know how the higher-ups value “image consistency.”I trust your professionalism, but I also know how easily people can twist a story.Napati
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-11-04
Chapter: Kabanata 34Matapos ang mahabang araw ay kita ko kung gaano kapagod ang lahat. Ang iba ay pinilit pa ring umuwi sa Manila. Pero ako, balak kong bisitahin si Nanay at Tatay.Nakaupo ako sa ilalim ng puno ng chile nang lumapit si Zedrick sa’kin pagkatapos, not minding the eyes following his movements.Tumingala ako at bahagya pang nasilaw sa huling sinag ng panghapong araw.“Any plans?” tanong niya pagkaupo niya sa tabi ko.“Balak kong umuwi sa’min,” sabi ko.He opened the bottled water in his hand, then offered it to me. Tinanggap ko ’yon saka mabilis na uminom.“Salamat,” bulong ko saka ngumiti.“Then let me join you,” sabi niya pagkatapos.Pagdating namin sa bahay ay si Tatay agad ang nabungaran namin. Nasa labas siya at nagdidilig ng mga tanim niya. Nagtataka pa ang mukha nang tumigil ang kotse sa harap ng bahay.Sa pagkasabik ko ay hindi ko na nahintay na pagbuksan pa ’ko ni Zed. I noticed how he smiled before he went out of the car too.“Tay!” tawag ko.Nanliliit ang mata na tinanaw ako ni Ta
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-22
Chapter: Kabanata 33Lumipas ang ilang linggo matapos ang pagkikita namin ni Mrs. Madriaga. Pero kahit kailan, hindi ko nabanggit kay Zed ang tungkol doon.“Packed up na ba ‘yung gamit mo for the site visit?” tanong niya habang nasa biyahe kami pauwi galing opisina.Nilingon ko siya saka ngumiti. “Yeah,” mahinang sagot ko.“I’ll pick you up at 5 a.m. then,” sabi niya.Tumango ako, at bago ko pa maibalik ang tingin sa labas, inabot niya ang kamay ko saka marahang hinalikan iyon. The gesture was simple, but it was enough to quiet every noise in my chest.Pagdating namin sa tapat ng apartment, agad niyang inihinto ang sasakyan. Kinalas ko ang seatbelt, pero mabilis siyang bumaba para umikot at pagbuksan ako ng pinto.And there it was again—that consistent kindness. He never failed to make me feel seen.“Coffee ka muna?” alok ko, kahit alam kong baka tanggihan niya.Ngunit sa halip na sumagot, marahan niyang hinawakan ang pisngi ko.“I want to, but I need to wake up early for tomorrow,” malambing na sagot niy
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-16
Chapter: Kabanata 32By the time I got to the office, maaga pa rin ako. Tahimik pa ang paligid, at tanging tunog ng printer at pagbukas-sara ng mga drawers sa kabilang cubicle ang maririnig.Pag-upo ko sa desk, napansin ko agad ang reflection ko sa black screen ng monitor—still smiling. Napailing ako. “Get it together, Aya,” bulong ko sa sarili.Maya-maya pa ay dumating na sina Mira at Janus.“Uy, early bird,” bati ni Janus habang inaabot ang kape niya. “Ang aga mo ah. Nagbago na ang ihip ng hangin?”“Hindi naman,” sabi ko, pero ramdam ko ang init ng pisngi ko.“Hindi naman daw,” sabat ni Mira, halatang nakangisi. “Kahapon din ’to eh, nag-o-office overtime daw. Pero ‘yung ngiti, overtime din.”Natawa si Janus. “In love ‘yan, obvious na obvious. Spill na, Aya. Sino ang nagpapakilig sa’yo?”“Wala,” mabilis kong sagot, sabay inom ng kape. “Kape lang ‘to. Nagkataon lang na masarap ‘yung timpla.”“Sure,” sabay sabi nilang dalawa, sabay tawa.Napatakip ako ng mukha, at natawa rin pero pilit pinapakalma ang sar
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-13
Chapter: Kabanata 31Pero hindi natapos doon ang insidenteng ’yon.“Aya!” sigaw ni Sofia, isang gabi na nagdi-dinner kami ni Zed.Nagpaalam lang akong magbanyo, pero paglabas ko ay siya agad ang nasalubong ko.Paglingon ko sa mesa namin, nakita kong abala si Zed sa pag-check ng menu.“Nandito pala… kayo?” bati ko, agad kong binago ang tono ng boses ko.Sinadya kong ibaling ang tingin kay Zed. Sinundan niya ng tingin 'yon.“Oh, I was alone but I didn’t know Kuya’s here. Let’s join him,” mabilis niyang yaya, sabay hila sa akin. “Kuya! What a coincidence for us three,” dagdag niya sabay upo sa tabi ng kapatid.Shock was an understatement to describe his reaction. Nakita ko kung paano siya dahan-dahang bumaling sa akin, ang mga mata niya tahimik na nagtatanong.Agad akong umiwas ng tingin at hindi na nakaimik.Narinig ko ang mabigat niyang paghinga bago niya marahang pinakawalan ’yon.At imbes na tingnan pa ako, inabala niya ang sarili sa menu, habang si Sofia naman ay walang tigil sa pagkukuwento tungkol sa
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-07
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