The Rebellious Stepdaughter of Timothy Grey
Labinlimang taong gulang si Elara Montesilva nang pumanaw ang kanyang ama. At kasabay noon, ang tahimik na pagbagsak ng mundo niyang akala niya ay ligtas.
The Montesilva Company didn’t mourn. It waited.
Too young to lead, too unprepared to fight, Elara was pushed to the sidelines while powerful people quietly positioned themselves around what she was meant to inherit. Sa gitna ng kaguluhan, isang lalaki ang nanatiling nandyan.
Timothy Grey.
The man her father trusted. The man who stepped in when everything started falling apart.
Sa mata ng lahat, he was family. Untouchable. Off-limits.
Years passed. Elara grew up, graduated, and slowly stepped into the world she was once shielded from. But some truths don’t stay buried. Some lines blur when time, proximity, and silence stretch too long.
When the past resurfaces and old protections begin to crack, Elara is forced to face a reality she was never prepared for. One where power has a price, loyalty has conditions, and the heart refuses to follow rules.
Because in a world built on appearances, the most dangerous thing she could do… is choose who she loves.
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Chapter: WakasThe atmosphere in the room was heavy, and suffocating. Standard for a room where an empire is about to change hands. Lumapit ako sa bedside ni Juancho. He was a titan of industry, pero ngayon, he looked like a shadow of the man I respected."Allan..." his voice was a mere rasp. "Lumapit ka."Marahan akong humakbang palapit. Across the room, Attorney Ramos was holding the legal binders. It was the blueprints of the Montesilva transition. Habang si Elena naman ay mahigpit at nanginginig ang mga kamay na nakahawak kay Juancho."I’m here, Sir," kumpirma ko."The board... they’re vultures, Allan," Juancho coughed, but his eyes momentarily flashing with that old corporate fire. "They’re just waiting for the ticker to stop. Once I’m gone, they’ll liquidate everything. They’ll initiate a hostile takeover. And Elara... she’s the collateral damage. She’s too young to navigate this shark tank. Pipira-pirasuhin nila ang anak ko.""I won't let that happen, Sir. I’ll safeguard her interest."Humigpi
Last Updated: 2026-02-05
Chapter: Author's NoteHi, loves! Next chapter will be Wakas in Tim's POV. Kung nakarating kayo hanggang sa dulo ng kwento nila Timothy at Elara, maraming salamat po sa pagsubaybay. It was fun writing their story. Although, I know some parts could be improved. Hayaan niyo, mas gagandahan ko pa sa mga susunod kong kwento. At sana, nandyan pa rin kayo para suportahan ang bawat librong gagawin ko. Ihanda niyo na ang sarili niyo dahil mahaba-haba ang POV ni Tim. Happy reading, everyone~ Your dalahirang author, inksigned ♡
Last Updated: 2026-02-04
Chapter: Kabanata 62“Akala ko ba dinner lang ’to?” gulat kong tanong nang pagbukas ko ng pinto ng isang private lounge sa Makati, bumulaga sa akin sina Rina, Cristy, at si Yssa na may hawak na "Bride-to-Be" sash.“Surprise! Ano ka ba, Elara? Hindi pwedeng ikakasal ka nang walang bachelorette party!” tawa ni Cristy sabay suot sa akin ng sash at isang mini veil.The night was filled with drinks, non-stop chismis, at mga katrabaho kong todo-bigay sa sayawan. For the first time in weeks, nakahinga ako. Pakiramdam ko, hindi ako ang EVP ng Montesilva Holdings kundi isang normal na babaeng malapit nang ikasal sa lalaking mahal niya.Pero ang tawanan ay medyo nahinto nang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Zerina.Naka-ismid siya, suot ang kanyang usual designer outfit, at agad na umirap nang magtama ang paningin namin. Napahinto ang music.“Zerina? Anong ginagawa mo rito?” I asked, trying to stay polite.“Well, Tito Tim asked me to check if you’re already making a scandal before the wedding,” pabalang niyang sagot
Last Updated: 2026-02-02
Chapter: Kabanata 61Sa loob ng sumunod na mga araw, naging parang war room ng isang fashion house at logistics company ang penthouse. Dahil dalawang linggo lang ang palugit bago ang mismong kasal, everything was on double-time.“Ma’am, choice of flowers for the aisle. Peonies or Orchids? We need your decision in five minutes para ma-secure ang shipment from Holland!” sigaw ng head coordinator habang hinahabol ako sa walk-in closet.“Ma’am, the seating arrangement! Mrs. Reyes and her camp are demanding to be near the front, should we decline?” sabi naman ng assistant coordinator na may hawak na tatlong tablet.“And the gown, girl! The lace from France just arrived. We need one last fitting!” kantsaw ni Yssa na parang mas stressed pa sa akin.I rubbed my temples. Ganito pala ang wedding prep kapag biglaan—everything is fast, expensive, and overwhelming. Pero halos lahat ay plantsado na, kailangan na lang ng final approval ko bago i-execute ang lahat. It was a rush, pero dahil si Timothy ang groom, money an
Last Updated: 2026-01-29
Chapter: Kabanata 60Nagising ako na mas mabigat ang pakiramdam kaysa kagabi. The reality of my proposal. And the scandal brewing outside was finally sinking in. Pero pagdilat ko, naramdaman ko ang higpit ng yakap ni Timothy sa akin.“Did you sleep well?” paos na bulong ko.Timothy kissed my forehead, his presence grounded and calm. “Mm-hmm. I’ll handle the Board and the Grey Estate”“Fine,” I finished for him. “May interview rin naman ako today sa isang lifestyle live conference. I need to set things straight.”“Good luck, baby,” he murmured, though his eyes remained serious. “Magiging maayos rin ang lahat, Tine.”Tumango lang ako bago muling yumakap pabalik sa kanya.Puno ako ng pag-asa habang nag-aayos kami. I felt like we were a team... a fortress. Pero lahat ng kumpiyansa ko ay naglaho nang bumukas ang pinto ng penthouse.I expected the guards. I didn't expect the two people standing there with faces full of judgment.Mr. Arthur Grey was standing there, looking every bit the cold patriarch of the Gre
Last Updated: 2026-01-27
Chapter: Kabanata 59“Here,” sabi ko habang iniabot sa kanya yung paper bag mula sa mall kanina.Kinuha iyon ni Timothy, his eyes flickering with amusement. Hinubad niya ang suot niyang apron at binuksan ang box. He pulled out the deep crimson silk tie. “Red. Bold choice, baby.”“Bagay sa’yo,” maikli kong sagot, pero hindi ko kayang tumingin nang diretso sa kanya.“Test it on me,” hamon niya. He stepped forward hanggang sa magdikit na ang mga katawan namin. Inilagay niya ang mga kamay niya sa baywang ko, forcing me to deal with the knot of the tie.Habang seryoso ako sa pag-aayos ng collar niya, biglang dumapo ang kamay niya sa dulo ng silk scarf ko. In one swift motion, he untied it. Napasinghap ako nang maramdaman ko ang malamig na hangin sa leeg ko... at ang init ng titig niya sa mga markang iniwan niya kagabi.“Grabe ka. Pinagtinginan ako sa mall kanina dahil diyan,” reklamo ko, trying to sound annoyed pero bigo ako. “Kahit si Yssa, biniro na ako. Sabi niya kasing pula raw ng tie na 'to 'itong c
Last Updated: 2026-01-26
More Than The Marriage
Ang tagumpay ni Amaraiah “Aya” Reyes bilang Senior Marketing Manager ng Madriaga Enterprises ay patunay ng kanyang husay at sipag. This is what the public sees, her confident smile, her flawless image. Pero sa likod ng lahat ng iyon, she carries a secret that could change everything.
She is secretly married to the company’s CEO, Zedrick “Zed” Madriaga—ang lalaking una niyang minahal. It was a marriage born from complicated circumstances, isang kasunduang parehong nagbubuklod at naglalayo sa kanila.
Through the years, Aya learned to play the role expected of her—prim, proper, and untouchable. Kahit kapalit nito ang tunay niyang damdamin. But now, Zed wants more than shadows and silence. Gusto niyang mabuhay sa mundong hindi nila kailangang itago ang isa’t isa.
With Aya’s rising success drawing public attention—at may mga taong handang ilantad ang katotohanan—she must decide: will she keep living the perfect lie, o ipaglalaban na rin niya ang totoong siya… kahit ang kapalit nito ay lahat ng meron siya?
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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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 2025-10-07
More Than The Marriage (English)
Amaraiah “Aya” Reyes’s success as the Senior Marketing Manager of Madriaga Enterprises stands as proof of her skill and dedication. That’s what the public sees—her confident smile, her flawless image.
But behind it all, she carries a secret that could change everything.
She is secretly married to the company’s CEO, Zedrick “Zed” Madriaga. He was the man she first fell in love with.
It was a marriage born from complicated circumstances, a binding agreement that both connects and divides them.
Through the years, Aya learned to play the role expected of her—prim, proper, and untouchable even at the cost of her true feelings.
But now, Zed wants more than shadows and silence. He wants to live in a world where they no longer have to hide from each other.
With Aya’s growing success drawing public attention—and with people ready to expose the truth. So, she must make a choice.
Will she keep living the perfect lie, or will she finally fight for who she really is… even if it costs her everything?
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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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 2025-10-29
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