Chapter: CHAPTER 20GEORGINA VALDEZHilahil na naupo si Kenneth sa lumang wooden chair ng coffee shop. Ako naman, dumeretso sa tapat niya at umupo nang nakataas ang isang kilay. Si Alejandro, parang gwardya sibil na tumayo lang sa gilid ko, nakapamulsa habang ang matatalas na mata ay nakatutok sa ex ko. Hindi man lang siya nag-abalang umupo. Siguro dahil madumi sa paningin niya ang upuan, o baka naman gusto niya lang talagang iparamdam kay Kenneth kung gaano ito kaliit sa harap namin."Georgina... bakit kasama mo siya?" nauutal na tanong ni Kenneth habang sumusulyap kay Alejandro na parang natatakot na baka bigla siyang sakalin nito. "Sabi ko mag-usap tayong dalawa lang. Para sa atin 'to, eh.""Para sa atin?" muntik na akong matawa nang malakas, pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Nilagay ko ang siko ko sa lamesa at sumandal. "Kailan pa nagkaroon ng 'atong dalawa,' Ken? Noong iniwan mo ako sa baha para sumama doon sa Samantha na 'yun, may 'atong dalawa' ba sa utak mo? At saka, fiance
Last Updated: 2026-07-20
Chapter: CHAPTER 19GEORGINA VALDEZNanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko habang nakatitig sa screen ng phone ko. Pagkatapos ng lahat ng panloloko niya, ng pag-iwan sa akin sa baha, at ng pakikipag-kuntsabahan niya kay Samantha para hiyain ako sa mamahaling restaurant na 'yun—ngayon ay may kapal pa siya ng mukha na mag-text at magmakaawa?Kapal din ng mukha ng isang 'to, ah.Naramdaman ko ang mabilis na pag-init ng ulo ko. Gusto ko sanang i-delete ang text at i-block ang numero niya, pero may kung anong bahagi ng utak ko ang nagsasabing hindi pa kami tapos. Noong iniwan niya ako, wala akong nagawa kundi umiyak at tanggapin ang kabiguan. Pero ngayon? Iba na ang sitwasyon."Sino 'yan?"Bahagya akong napatalon sa gulat nang marinig ang boses ni Alejandro mula sa likod ko. Masyadong tahimik ang paglakad niya kaya hindi ko napansing nakatayo na pala siya malapit sa kitchen island.Mabilis kong ibinaba ang phone ko sa lamesa, pero huli na ang lahat. Nakita ko ang mata
Last Updated: 2026-07-19
Chapter: CHAPTER 18GEORGINA VALDEZMaaga pa lang, gising na ang buong diwa ko. Kahit sabihin nating paid leave ako ng anim na buwan at hindi ko kailangang mag-log in sa shift ko para sumagot ng mga galit na kustomer, hindi pa rin ako mapakali. Paano ba naman, ngayon ang dating ng sikat na production team na kinuha ni Alejandro para sa engagement party namin.Lumabas ako ng kwarto na naka-oversized white t-shirt at cycling shorts, gulo-gulo pa ang buhok ko. Sakto namang bumukas ang pinto ng elevator ng penthouse at iniluwal si Jojo na may kasamang tatlong tao. Dalawang babae na naka-all-black pantsuit at isang lalaki na may hawak na makapal na folder at kulay gintong panulat. Mukha silang mga direktor ng pelikula na handang mag-shoot ng award-winning film.Napatigil ako sa gitna ng sala. Tiningnan nila ako, tapos tumingin sila kay Jojo na parang nagtatanong kung ako ba ang katulong o ang fiancée ng boss nila."Good morning, Ms. Georgina," mabilis na bati ni Jojo, tila
Last Updated: 2026-07-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 17GEORGINA VALDEZMuntik ko nang mayakap si Alejandro sa gitna ng hallway. Mabuti na lang talaga at may bilyonaryo akong back-up. Isipin mo, production team ng mga sikat ang gagawa ng trabaho habang ako, tagatango lang at tagapili ng kulay? Pwede na. Kayang-kaya ng powers ko ’yan.Matapos ang tanghalian namin kay Lola Remedios na thankfully ay naging payapa naman—bukod sa panaka-nakang pagtatanong ng matanda tungkol sa kung anong kulay ng kurtina ang gusto ko para sa bulwagan—ay mabilis kaming nagpaalam ni Alejandro. Sabi niya ay marami pa siyang kailangang i-check sa opisina bago matapos ang linggong ito.Sumakay na kami sa kotse kung saan naghihintay si Jojo na mukhang kanina pa nakatutok sa kalsada. Pagkaandar ng sasakyan, kinuha ko agad ang phone ko para i-check kung may bago sa social media. Halos mabitawan ko ang cellphone ko nang bumungad sa screen ang isang balita mula sa isang sikat na business and lifestyle website.*“Spotted: Martinez Group of Companies CEO Alejandro Martinez
Last Updated: 2026-07-17
Chapter: CHAPTER 16GEORGINA VALDEZKung may Olympic sport lang sa pinakamabilis mag-ayos ng sarili habang may mini-heart attack, siguradong nakuha ko na ang gintong medalya ngayon. Sa loob ng saktong sampung minuto, nakaligo ako nang mabilis, nagsuot ng isang simpleng asul na sundress na kasama sa mga ipinamili ni Jojo, at mabilisang tinalian ang buhok ko. Walang makeup-makeup, lip tint lang at dasal na sana ay hindi kami itakwil ni Lola Remedios sa mansyon."O, gora na, boss. Buhay pa naman ako," hingal kong sabi pagkalabas ko ng pinto ng guest room.Tiningnan ako ni Alejandro mula ulo hanggang paa. "You look decent enough. Let’s go."Hindi ko na nagawang magreklamo kahit walang almusal. Buong biyahe patungong Forbes Park, parang may nagrarasahang karera ng kabayo sa loob ng dibdib ko. Tinititigan ko lang si Alejandro na busy mag-scroll sa tablet niya. Sobrang kalmado ng mukha niya, parang sanay na sanay na siyang may sumasabog na bomba sa pamilya niya araw-araw. Pero ako? Isang ordinaryong mamamayan l
Last Updated: 2026-07-17
Chapter: CHAPTER 15GEORGINA VALDEZSeryoso nga si Alejandro. Huminto talaga kami sa isang 24-hour drive-thru sa may BGC. Habang umo-order si Jojo sa labas gamit ang speaker, ramdam ko pa rin ang kakaibang aura sa loob ng kotse. Pero imbes na tensyon, parang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. Paano ba naman, katabi ko ang isang bilyonaryo na pormal na pormal ang suot pero ang pinapabili sa driver ay dalawang malaking pamilyang sako ng french fries, apat na cheeseburger, at naglalakihang baso ng coke."O, boss, baka naman atakihin ka sa cholesterol niyan ah," biro ko sa kaniya habang inaabot ni Jojo ang mga paper bag mula sa bintana. "Sabi mo dalawa lang, bakit naging parang pang-buong barangay ’to?""I figured you didn't eat much doon sa restaurant," sagot niya habang kinukuha ang isang supot ng fries. Binuksan niya ito at inilapag sa pagitan naming dalawa sa backseat. "At mas gusto kong busog ka bago kita ihatid sa penthouse. Ayaw kong isipin ni Lola na pinapabayaan kita."
Last Updated: 2026-07-17
Chapter: CHAPTER 10SCARLETT FOSTERThe drive back from the gala was wrapped in a thick, heavy silence.Caleb sat beside me in the back of the Maybach, his posture rigid and his dark eyebrows drawn together in a tight line. He stared out the window at the passing streetlights, but I could tell he wasn't really seeing them. His mind was miles away, calculating threats, analyzing Marcus Thorne, and playing out worst-case scenarios.I looked down at my hands in my lap, feeling the soft silk of the emerald gown against my fingers. My heart was still hammering against my ribs. Seeing Marcus on that terrace had shaken me more than I wanted to admit, but seeing the pure, unadulterated terror in Caleb's eyes when he thought I was in danger... that had shaken me even more."You're quiet," Caleb said softly, breaking the silence without turning his head."I'm just processing," I replied, my voice barely louder than the quiet hum of the luxury engine. "It's been a long night."
Last Updated: 2026-07-26
Chapter: CHAPTER 9SCARLETT FOSTERThe temperature on the terrace seemed to plummet ten degrees in an instant.I stood behind Caleb, my hand resting instinctively against his back. Underneath the fine wool of his suit jacket, his muscles were coiled tight, like a wire stretched to its absolute breaking point.The man who had stepped out of the shadows looked to be in his early thirties. He was tall, dressed in an impeccably fitted dark suit, with sharp features and a slick, calculated smile that didn't reach his cold blue eyes. He held a glass of champagne casually between two fingers, taking a slow sip as he evaluated the two of us."You look like you've seen a ghost, Caleb," Marcus said, his tone dripping with fake amusement."You're not on the guest list, Marcus," Caleb replied, his voice deadly quiet and dangerously steady. He didn't budge an inch, keeping his frame squarely between me and the newcomer."Oh, please. A little thing like a guest list has nev
Last Updated: 2026-07-25
Chapter: CHAPTER 8SCARLETT FOSTERBy six-thirty the following evening, my small apartment looked like a tornado had hit it.Dresses were scattered across my bed—most of them old, casual, or completely unsuitable for a high-society charity gala. I had spent nearly an hour panicking over what to wear until a courier knocked on my door at five o'clock, delivering a sleek black box wrapped in a silk ribbon.Inside was a floor-length evening dress in a deep emerald shade, made of heavy, liquid silk that fell effortlessly over my curves. There was no note inside, but I didn't need one. The understated elegance of the dress had Caleb’s signature written all over it.I had almost sent it back with the courier out of pure stubbornness. But looking at my alternative—a faded cocktail dress with a tiny tear along the side seam—I had to swallow my pride once again.When the black sedan pulled up to the curb at seven sharp, I stepped out onto the sidewalk,
Last Updated: 2026-07-24
Chapter: CHAPTER 7SCARLETT FOSTERThe ten o'clock board meeting went on for two excruciating hours.I sat at the smaller side desk inside the grand conference room, my fingers flying across my laptop keyboard as I took detailed minutes. Across the long mahogany table, Caleb presided over the meeting with effortless authority. He shot down weak proposals with quiet efficiency and dismantled aggressive questions from older investors without missing a beat.Sitting directly to his right was Julianna Vance. Every time Caleb spoke, she watched him with a proprietary gleam in her eyes, leaning in just a little too close whenever she presented her department’s slides.I kept my head down and focused entirely on my screen. I told myself I didn't care. Julianna was a wealthy heiress, a senior board member, and part of the high-society world Caleb now belonged to. It made complete sense for her to be by his side. But every time her laughter echoed softly across the room at one of his subtle remarks, a tiny, anno
Last Updated: 2026-07-23
Chapter: CHAPTER 6SCARLETT FOSTERI didn't sleep a single wink that night.Every time I closed my eyes, Caleb’s confession echoed in the dark space of my tiny apartment. His words about his father’s debts, the threats against my life, and the sheer agony in his gray eyes kept looping in my head like a broken recording.Part of me—the hurt, bitter part—wanted to believe it was just a smooth excuse crafted by a powerful man who always got what he wanted. But another part of me knew Caleb. I knew the tone of his voice when he was laying his soul bare. He hadn't lied to me. He had sacrificed his own happiness to keep a target off my back.By seven in the morning, I was already standing in front of my bathroom mirror, carefully applying extra concealer under my eyes to hide the heavy dark circles."You are here to do a job, Scarlett," I told my reflection, smoothing down the lapels of my tailored beige blazer. "You need the paycheck. Keep your head down, do your work, and don't get swept up in the past."Wh
Last Updated: 2026-07-23
Chapter: CHAPTER 5SCARLETT FOSTERThe light tap from the driver on the front window snapped the intense spell hanging between us.Caleb slowly pulled his hand back, though his burning gaze lingered on my face for a heartbeat longer before he turned toward the door. The driver slid into the front seat, quietly offering a brief apology before turning the key in the ignition.The engine hummed to life, and the Maybach pulled away from the rain-swept harbor overlook, gliding smoothly onto the freshly cleared highway.Neither of us spoke a word for the rest of the drive. The weight of his confession hung heavily in the air, thick and suffocating. My head was spinning. Five years of bitterness, grief, and self-doubt had built a solid wall around my heart, and Caleb had just completely dismantled it with a single truth.I leaned back against the leather headrest, staring out at the blurred streetlights. Every instinct I had urged me to protect myself, to keep that wall up at all costs. But how could I treat h
Last Updated: 2026-07-21
The Billionaire's Ex-Wife Is The Real Heiress
For two long years, Vivienne believed she was the legally wedded Mrs. Montemayor. To be the perfect, submissive wife Ethan needed, she endured the cold stares of high society and swallowed the endless humiliations from his elitist family. She loved him with everything she had, believing his promise that they would eventually accept her.
Until she accidentally tore their marriage certificate.
When Vivienne went to the city hall for a certified replacement, her entire world collapsed. There was no record of their marriage. The document was a complete fake. The man she called her husband had trapped her in a beautifully constructed lie, using her to secure his grandfather’s massive inheritance—all while secretly protecting his true love, his former university professor.
Worse, everyone around her knew. His family, his friends—they all kept the lie alive, planning to discard her and brand her as mentally unstable once the money was secure.
Drowned in ultimate betrayal, Vivienne receives a life-changing call from the nation's top law firm. She isn't a penniless orphan. She is the long-lost daughter and sole heir of Alexander Valderama—the richest tycoon in the country.
With the entire Valderama empire backing her, Vivienne reveals her true identity. The quiet, obedient wife is gone. The real heiress has returned, and she is ready to burn the Montemayor dynasty to the ground.
Ethan thought he could just use her and throw her away, but what happens when he realizes she is the one who controls his entire future?
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Chapter: CHAPTER 10Vivienne POVThe glass doors of the executive elevator closed with a soft, quiet chime, cutting off the noise from the forty-fifth floor. Thomas stood slightly behind me, giving me space to breathe.I looked at my reflection in the polished steel doors. The woman staring back at me looked composed, her hair perfectly in place, her posture upright. But inside, my chest felt hollow, like a sudden vacuum had opened up where two years of desperation and pleading used to be.I had done it. I had actually torn up their contract.For months, Ethan had complained about how difficult the negotiations with Valderama Shipping were, coming home stressed and demanding silence while he worked in his study. I used to make him chamomile tea and leave it quietly by his door, hoping to make his life just a little bit easier. I had worried so much about his success, and in one afternoon, I had destroyed it with my own hands.It was terrifying how easy it was to break
Last Updated: 2026-07-20
Chapter: CHAPTER 9Vivienne POVThe silence that followed the sound of tearing paper was loud. It filled the massive boardroom, heavy and suffocating.Ethan stared at the two neat halves of the contract lying on the polished wood. His hands stayed hovered in the air, his fingers twitching slightly as if he wanted to reach out and try to piece the fibers back together. He looked completely frozen. For two years, I had seen him angry, annoyed, and indifferent, but I had never seen him look utterly powerless.It was a strange feeling. I expected to feel a massive rush of adrenaline, or maybe a sense of panic. Instead, I just felt cold, quiet, and incredibly focused."Vivienne," Ethan whispered. He finally looked up at me, his eyes wide and dark with a mixture of disbelief and desperation. "You can't do this. This is a mistake. We're talking about a business deal that has been in the works for six months. You don't understand how these things work."He was still doing it
Last Updated: 2026-07-19
Chapter: CHAPTER 8Vivienne POVThomas opened the double glass doors, and the soft click of the latch immediately drew everyone’s attention.Ethan didn't even look up properly at first. He was shuffling a stack of printed contracts, his brow furrowed in that familiar, impatient way of his."You're late, Miller," Ethan said, his voice flat and commanding. "My father and I have a tight schedule today, and we’d like to get this signing over with so we can—"He stopped talking. The papers in his hands froze mid-air.As I stepped fully into the room, the temperature seemed to drop. Ethan’s eyes widened, his jaw slackening slightly as his gaze traveled from my polished leather heels, up the sharp lines of my navy blue suit, and finally settled on my face.Beside him, Richard Montemayor’s frown deepened. He looked confused, then annoyed, clearly trying to place why the girl who used to wash his dinner plates was standing in a high-securi
Last Updated: 2026-07-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 7Vivienne POVThe black pen felt heavy in my hand, but it was a good kind of heavy. For two years, my signature didn’t mean a thing. I couldn't even sign a lease or a utility bill without Ethan’s lawyers looking over my shoulder, reminding me that I had nothing of my own.Now, with a few strokes of ink, I held fifty-one percent of the country’s largest shipping conglomerate."Is there a specific way you want to handle the board meeting tomorrow, Vivienne?" Thomas asked, leaning forward. His voice was hushed, respecting the quiet atmosphere of the restaurant. "The Montemayor Group thinks they are walking in to sign a done deal with our board directors. They have no idea Alexander Valderama has a daughter, let alone that she now has the final say."I stared at my signature on the smooth white paper. The ink was still drying."Who is representing the Montemayors at the meeting?" I asked."Ethan himself," Thomas replied. "Along with his father, Richard, and their lead financial consultant,
Last Updated: 2026-07-17
Chapter: CHAPTER 6Vivienne POVI did not pack the designer handbags lined up on the glass shelves. I left the diamond tennis bracelet Ethan bought me for our first anniversary on the vanity table, right next to the torn pieces of our marriage certificate. I didn’t touch the silk dresses, the expensive shoes, or the wool coats filling the massive walk-in closet.None of those things belonged to me anyway. They were just clothes Ethan bought so his friends wouldn't embarrass him for marrying a girl who grew up in a state orphanage.Slowly, I pulled the gold wedding band off my ring finger. It felt surprisingly light. I placed it directly on top of the torn paper on the table.In the end, all I took was a single canvas duffel bag. Inside were three pairs of old jeans, a few faded t-shirts, my favorite worn-out sneakers, and the uniform from the bookstore where I used to work. These were the exact things I had with me when I first walked into this house two years ago.I stood in the center of the master be
Last Updated: 2026-07-17
Chapter: CHAPTER 5Vivienne POVThe cool night air felt amazing against my skin the second I walked out of the Montemayor mansion. Behind me, the muffled sound of the party was still going, but I didn't care. I walked down the sweeping stone steps, my heels clicking loudly in the quiet driveway.Two blocks away, just like Arthur had said, a sleek, black luxury sedan was idling under the shade of a large acacia tree. The headlights were dimmed, but the car looked like a shadow waiting to swallow the night. As soon as I approached, the driver’s door opened. A man in a sharp black suit and an earpiece stepped out, instantly bowing his head."Miss Valderama," he said, opening the passenger door for me. "Mr. Pendelton sends his regards. We are ready whenever you are."Hearing that name again made my chest tighten. Miss Valderama. It still felt surreal, like a jacket that was a few sizes too big, but I climbed into the back seat anyway. The door closed with a solid, heavy thud, cutting off the outside world c
Last Updated: 2026-07-12
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