Chapter: CHAPTER 19CHLOE FONTANILLANaglaga ako ng tubig para sa tsaa habang si Manang Celia naman ay abala sa pag-aayos ng grilled salmon at asparagus sa isang malaking ceramic plate. Saktong alas-sais y medya ng gabi nang marinig namin ang tunog ng sasakyan na pumasok sa malawak na garahe. Alam kong si Sir Alex na 'on. Ewan ko ba, parang automatic na naging pamilyar na sa pandinig ko ang ugong ng makina ng sasakyan niya."Chloe, pakihanda na 'yung tsaa ni Sir, ha? Doon daw siya dumeretso sa library, hindi na sa dining room," utos ni Manang Celia habang maingat na tinatakpan ng aluminum foil ang pagkain para hindi lumamig."Sige po, Manang. Ako na po ang mag-aakyat nito," sagot ko.Inilagay ko ang bagong timplang chamomile tea sa isang maliit na tray, kasama ang ilang piraso ng biscuits na paborito niyang papakin habang nagtatrabaho. Pag-akyat ko sa ikalawang palapag, medyo madilim ang hallway maliban sa sinag ng ilaw na nanggagaling sa bahagyang nakabukas na pinto ng libr
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-07-06
Chapter: CHAPTER 18CHLOE FONTANILLAKinaumagahan, saktong alas-siyete pa lang ay gising na ako para mag-ayos. Ngayong araw ang opisyal na simula ng bago kong setup bilang assistant, kaya naman pinili kong suotin ang isa pang set na iniwan ni Riri—isang beige na tailored slacks at simpleng white button-down shirt. Simple lang pero nung tingnan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin, ang layo na talaga sa hitsura ko nung unang araw na pumasok ako rito.Paglabas ko ng quarters, dumeretso agad ako sa dining hall para i-check kung handa na ang agahan ni Sir Alex. Pero laking gulat ko nang makitang nakahain na ang lahat at si Sec. Santos na ang nandoon, may hawak na folder habang kausap ang isa sa mga driver."Good morning, Chloe," nakangiting bati sa akin ni Sec. Santos nang mapansin niya ang paglapit ko. "Huwag mo nang alalahanin ang breakfast ni Sir ngayon. Papaalis na rin kami papuntang main office para sa isang emergency board meeting. Kaya dumaan ako rito para ibigay sa 'yo ang mga kai
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-07-06
Chapter: CHAPTER 17CHLOE FONTANILLA Hawak ko pa rin ang baso ng mocktail habang nakatanaw sa dambuhalang view ng Bonifacio Global City mula sa rooftop na ito. Ang sarap ng malamig na hangin sa mukha, nakakabawas ng bigat sa dibdib. Pero mas lalong nagpabilis ng tibok ng puso ko 'yung mga binitawang salita ni Sir Alex.Hanggang sa pumasok ka sa mansyon ko at napatunayan mong may mga bagay na hindi nabibili ng kahit anong halaga ng shares sa kumpanya.Ano raw? Napainom ako ng malaki sa lemon-mint mocktail ko para lang maitago ang biglaang pag-init ng mga pisngi ko. Grabe, kung magsalita si Sir Alex, parang wala lang sa kanya, pero sa akin, parang may sumasabog na fireworks sa loob ng utak ko. Ano ba ang ibig niyang sabihin doon? Na mahalaga ako sa kanya? O baka naman ang ibig niyang sabihin ay na-appreciate niya lang 'yung katapatan ko bilang employee? Ayaw kong mag-assume, seryoso. Mahirap na. Baka mamaya assuming lang ako, tapos business principle lang pala para sa kanya 'yun. Katulong pa rin naman ang
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-07-05
Chapter: CHAPTER 16ALEXANDER VALDEMAR Pinanood ko si Chloe habang maingat niyang inilalagay ang iPad sa loob ng kanyang bag. Kung titingnan mo siya ngayon, walang mag-aakalang nagmula siya sa hirap o kamakailan lang ay hinarap ang pinakamasamang gabi ng buhay niya. Ang navy blue blazer na pinili ni Riri para sa kanya ay perpektong lapat sa kanyang tindig. Nagmukha siyang matapang, elegante, at higit sa lahat, kagalang-galang.Naalala ko noong unang beses ko siyang makita sa pinto ng opisina ko. Mukha siyang basang sisiw, puyat, at bugbog sa bigat ng buhay. Noong nahilo siya sa library ko dahil sa pagod at gutom, doon ko napagtanto na hindi siya tulad ng ibang mga aplikante na naghahanap lang ng madaling pera. May determinasyon sa kanya na bihira kong makita sa mga taong nasa paligid ko. At lalo na nung gabi ng gala, nang makita ko ang ex-boyfriend niyang si Marcus na hinahablot ang braso niya, may kung anong galit ang sumiklab sa dibdib ko. Hindi ko pinapayagang madumihan ang pangalan ng kahit sinong st
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-07-05
Chapter: CHAPTER 15CHLOE FONTANILLAThe ride back from the restaurant was different. The silence inside the Maybach wasn't just cold anymore; it felt heavy with the aftermath of what had just happened. I stared out the window, watching the pedestrians hurrying along the rain-slicked sidewalks of Manhattan.My phone vibrated again in my pocket. It was a text from Sienna this time: *Clara, please call me. Julian is losing his mind. Dad is screaming at everyone. We need to talk.*I locked the screen without replying and slipped it back into my pocket."You handled that well," Alexander said from beside me. He hadn't looked away from his tablet, his fingers typing out a rapid sequence of commands. "Most women in your position would have cried or made a scene.""I spent three years trying to be the perfect match for Julian because my father wanted it," I said, my voice quiet but firm. "I don't have any tears left for him. I'm just angry.""Anger is more useful than
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-06-26
Chapter: CHAPTER 14CHLOE FONTANILLA"Oh, Chloe, tamang-tama ang baba mo. Patapos na ako rito sa pagluluto ng paboritong beef salpicao ni Sir Alex," bungad sa akin ni Manang Celia pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko sa kusina.Sinalubong agad ako ng amoy ng toasted garlic at mantika, 'yung amoy na nakakagutom kahit busog ka naman talaga. Lumapit ako sa counter at kumuha ng tray para tulungan si Manang na ihanda ang mga gagamitin ni Sir Alex para sa hapunan.Habang nag-aayos ako ng kubyertos, paulit-ulit pa ring nag-e-echo sa utak ko 'yung huling sinabi niya sa library. *His career is done, and he will never be able to reach you again.* Seryoso talaga siya nung sinabi niyang wawasakin niya si Marcus. Isang araw pa lang ang nakalilipas, pero ramdam na ramdam ko na ang bagsik ng kapangyarihan ng isang Alexander Valdemar. Parang nilinis niya ang daanan ko para wala na akong iisiping multo mula sa nakaraan.Pero kasabay ng gaan sa loob ko, may kaunting kaba pa rin na dahan-dahang gumagap
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-06-25
Chapter: CHAPTER 18Clara Montgomery POVThe boardroom went completely still, save for the heavy, ragged breathing coming through the speakerphone. I stared at the device on the glass table. For years, just hearing that specific tone in my father’s voice would have made me shrink back, trying to figure out how to smooth things over. Today, it didn't do anything to me."Clara?" my father’s voice came through again, the rage slightly replaced by a sudden, sharp confusion. "What is he talking about? What did you do?"I stepped closer to the table, looking down at the screen. "I didn't do anything behind your back, Dad. I just reinvested my mother’s money. Fifty-two percent of Astra Shipping belongs to me now. The transactions are cleared and fully registered with the exchange.""Are you insane?" he roared, slamming something heavy against his desk on the other end of the line. "Astra controls the entire docking grid for the eastern ports! I am in the middle of
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-07-06
Chapter: CHAPTER 17Clara Montgomery POVThe morning light felt cold as it filtered through the blinds of the guest suite. I woke up at seven, my mind already clear and focused on the trading floor meeting. I chose a sharp, cream-colored pantsuit from the wardrobe—something that looked professional but distinct from the dark, heavy tones Alexander usually wore. I wanted to look like an independent partner today, not just an extension of his legal team.When I walked out into the kitchen, Alexander was already dressed in a dark gray suit, reviewing a printout of the Astra Shipping financial ledger. He didn't look up immediately, but he pushed a freshly brewed cup of black coffee toward my side of the counter."The funds officially cleared your primary account ten minutes ago," he said, his voice carrying its usual quiet authority. "The brokers are on standby at the firm’s downtown branch. We leave in twenty minutes.""Did Marcus Sterling’s flight land?" I as
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-07-06
Chapter: CHAPTER 16Alexander Sterling POVThe drive back to the penthouse was completely silent. Clara sat across from me in the spacious cabin of the Maybach, her head resting against the glass window as she watched the city lights streak past through the heavy downpour. The midnight-blue dress shifted slightly with the movement of the car, the silk reflecting the dim interior lighting.She looked exhausted, but her jaw remained tightly set. She hadn't let her guard down once, not even when her stepsister confronted her in front of the entire gallery crowd.I looked back down at my tablet, but the financial figures on the screen didn't register. My mind kept looping back to the report Marco had delivered. Marcus Sterling. Just hearing that name made a bitter, familiar taste rise in the back of my throat. For fifteen years, my uncle had been a ghost, living off the millions he stole from my mother's estate while she spent her final years working two jobs to keep us afloat in a cramped Queens apartment.
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-07-05
Chapter: CHAPTER 15Clara Montgomery POVThe VIP lounge of the gallery was tucked away behind a thick velvet curtain, effectively cutting off the sharp flashbulbs and the prying eyes of the main hall. The space was dimly lit, featuring low-profile leather sofas and a private bar made of dark, polished granite. Only a handful of high-profile guests were allowed inside, and they all had the decency to pretend they weren't tracking our every move.Alexander led me to a corner sofa, his hand dropping from my waist as soon as the heavy curtain fell shut behind us. The sudden absence of his touch left a strange, cool sensation on my back, a quick reminder of where the performance ended and reality began."Sit," he said, signaling the private bartender. "You need a minute to breathe."I sank into the soft leather, my legs slightly weak from standing in heels for two hours straight under a microscope. "Is Sienna always that reckless?""She’s desperate," Alexander replied, taking a glass of neat bourbon from the
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-07-05
Chapter: CHAPTER 14Clara Montgomery POVThursday evening arrived with a heavy downpour that rattled against the glass windows of the penthouse. I stood in front of the vanity mirror in the guest suite, adjusting the thin strap of the midnight-blue silk gown. The fabric felt cool and heavy against my skin, pooling beautifully around my ankles. I had left my hair down this time, falling in soft waves over my shoulders, a stark contrast to the severe, tightly pinned bun I wore to the boardroom meeting.When I walked out into the foyer, Alexander was already waiting by the door. He was adjusting the cufflinks on his tailored tuxedo shirt. He stopped when he saw me, his dark eyes tracking my movement from the hallway to the center of the room. For a brief second, his hands went completely still."The dress works," he said, his voice deep and entirely level, though his eyes lingered on the asymmetrical neckline for a fraction of a second longer than usual. "The media will have a hard ti
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-06-30
Chapter: CHAPTER 13Clara Montgomery POVThe rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of incoming emails and official notifications. By five o'clock, my phone lit up with a formal confirmation from my legal team. The temporary lock on my mother’s trust fund was gone. Seeing the digital statement showing the fully restored balance under my sole name felt surreal. For months, my father had used that money as a leash to keep me compliant. Now, the leash was snapped, and the freedom felt heavy, almost frightening.Alexander was working late in his private study, the door firmly shut. I stayed in the living room, sitting on the massive velvet sofa with my laptop, looking through the details of the trust assets. My mother hadn't just left me cash; she had left shares in a boutique logistics firm called Astra Shipping. It was small compared to Montgomery Holdings, but it was entirely independent.My phone rang, cutting through the quiet hum of the penthouse. The screen showed an unsav
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-06-29
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