Chapter: 20 Lucien's POV I had expected her to be late. Not because Alice recommended someone unreliable, but because first days were usually chaotic. People got lost, missed elevators, forgot documents, or simply froze under pressure. It happened more often than most would admit. So when I glanced at the time on my wristwatch and realized it was still twenty minutes before eight, I continued signing the contract in front of me without giving it another thought. Three acquisitions, Two board meetings, One conference call with Singapore. That was today's schedule. My pen moved across the paper while Khairro stood a few feet away, reading my itinerary from his tablet. "You have the shareholders' briefing at nine, sir." "I know." "The legal department wants your signature before lunch." "Leave it on my desk." "And the construction division—" Three firm knocks interrupted him. Khairro stopped talking. "So she's here," he muttered with a grin I didn't miss. I looked up from the document.
Last Updated: 2026-08-14
Chapter: 19CallieHindi ko alam kung ilang beses akong nagpalit ng damit bago tuluyang makuntento sa suot ko. First day ko ngayon bilang secretary ni Sir Lucien Montenegro, at kahit paulit-ulit kong sinasabing trabaho lang ito, hindi ko pa rin mapigilang kabahan. Nakaharap ako ngayon sa salamin habang pinapantay ang laylayan ng light pink blouse na pinili kong isuot. Hindi ito sobrang sosyal, hindi rin sobrang simple. Tamang-tama lang. Ipinartner ko iyon sa puting slacks at nude heels na binili ni Miley noong isinama niya ako sa shopping. Napangiti ako nang bahagya habang inaayos ang blonde kong buhok sa likod ng tenga. Ewan ko ba, pero parang gusto kong magmukhang presentable ngayon. Hindi para magpaganda. Hindi para magpapansin. Kundi dahil gusto kong maging maayos sa unang araw ko sa kumpanyang pinagtatrabahuhan ng isa sa pinakamayamang tao sa bansa. Ayokong mapahiya si Sir Lucien sa pagpili niya sa akin. Temporary employee lang ako, tatlong buwan lang ang kontrata ko, pero gusto kong patuna
Last Updated: 2026-08-01
Chapter: 18Lucien Hindi ko maipaliwanag kung bakit napakagaan ng pakiramdam ko habang pauwi ako. Tahimik lang ang biyahe, nakatutok ang mga mata ko sa kalsada, ngunit ang isip ko ay paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa tanghalian namin ni Callie.It had been... fun.I smiled to myself.That was unusual.Napailing ako habang marahang tinatapik ng mga daliri ko ang manibela. Kailan pa ba ako huling nagsabing fun ang isang lunch meeting? Kadalasan, puro investors ang kaharap ko. CEOs. Lawyers. Politicians. Financial advisers. Palaging may numbers, contracts, negotiations, at pressure. Kahit ang mga business lunch, nauuwi lang sa usapang trabaho.Pero ngayong araw...Hindi ko halos napag-usapan ang negosyo.At sa unang pagkakataon sa loob ng napakahabang panahon...Hindi ko hinanap iyon.Instead, I found myself listening to her stories.Simple lang.Walang halong pagpapanggap.Walang agenda.Hindi niya sinubukang purihin ako dahil ako ang CEO. Hindi rin niya sinubukang magpasikat para mapansin ko. She was s
Last Updated: 2026-07-30
Chapter: 17Halos apatnapung minuto kaming bumiyahe bago tuluyang bumagal ang sasakyan. Napatigil ako sa pagtingin sa labas nang huminto kami sa harap ng isang gusaling halos puro salamin ang harapan. Hindi man kalakihan, kitang-kita naman ang elegante nitong disenyo. May mga nakapaso na olive trees sa magkabilang gilid ng entrance, habang ang gintong pangalan ng restaurant ay nakaukit sa itim na marmol sa itaas ng pintuan.Napalunok ako.Hindi ko pa man nababasa ang menu, pakiramdam ko umiiyak na ang wallet ko.Huminto ang sasakyan sa harap ng valet. Agad na lumapit ang isang lalaking naka-puting long sleeves, itim na vest, at puting gloves."Good afternoon, Mr. Montenegro," magalang nitong bati habang bahagyang yumuyuko."Good afternoon," kalmado niyang tugon bago iniabot ang susi ng sasakyan.Pagkababa ko, halos automatic na napatingala ako sa restaurant. Sa labas pa lang, ramdam mo nang hindi ito iyong lugar na basta-basta lang pinapasukan. Sa loob ng floor-to-ceiling windows, tanaw ko ang mg
Last Updated: 2026-07-29
Chapter: 16Callie'sHindi ko alam kung ilang beses akong humarap sa salamin simula nang maligo ako. Kanina ko pa inaayos ang buhok ko, pinapalitan ang lipstick, at paulit-ulit na tinitingnan ang mga damit na nakasabit sa walk-in closet. Nakakatawa lang isipin na dalawang linggo na ang nakalipas, ang problema ko lang ay kung alin sa tatlong blouse ko ang hindi pa gusot. Ngayon, halos hindi ko na alam kung ano ang pipiliin dahil halos pare-pareho silang mukhang mamahalin.Napabuntong-hininga ako habang isa-isang hinihimas ang mga hanger."Hindi ka naman pupunta sa fashion show, Callie," bulong ko sa sarili ko. "Lunch lang 'yan."Lunch.Kasama ang boss ko.CEO.Ang lalaking halos hindi ko pa rin maintindihan hanggang ngayon.Masyado siyang mabait para sa isang taong kagaya niya.Masyado siyang kalmado.At higit sa lahat...Masyado siyang mapagbigay.Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano ko babayaran ang lahat ng ginawa niya para sa amin ni Calix. Hindi ko nga alam kung magkano ang nagast
Last Updated: 2026-07-29
Chapter: 15Callie Napabalikwas ako nang maramdaman ko ang malakas na pagbavibrate ng cellphone ko. Pupungas-pungas na dahan-dahan kong inabot iyon mula sa bedside table. Halos nakapikit pa ang isang mata ko habang ina-unlock ang screen. Face recognition pa more. Ipaalala ninyo sa akin na magpapalit na ako ng password sa susunod. Sinipat ko ang oras bago ko pinindot ang message notification. 7:03 A.M. Sinong gago ang magmemessage sa akin ng ganto kaaga? E wala nmn akong boyfriend, si Calix mangangatok pag gutom— e nagtatampo so magkukusa. Si Thea naman, nasan na nga ba si Thea? Ilang araw nang walang paramdam ang babae na 'yon, buhay pa kaya siya? Feeling ko ay kay Thea ang message, mukhang nakaramdam na siya. Nang pindotin ko ang message icon ay hindi BESTY THEA ang nakalagay sa sender. Ang text message ay... Mula kay... Sir Lucien. Agad akong napatuwid ng upo, parang biglang nawala ang antok ko. Binuksan ko agad ang mensahe. Good morning, Miss Mercado. I hope you
Last Updated: 2026-07-28
The Billionaires Ex Wife
For six years, Erixia Vianca Salvatore-Fullerton was married to billionaire businessman Grant Anderson Fullerton, a man who loved her with unwavering devotion.
He gave her everything a woman could ask for—his loyalty, trust, and unconditional love.
But Erixia betrayed him.
Not once.
Not twice.
Three times.
Unable to break free from the toxic patterns she unknowingly inherited from her unfaithful father, Erixia repeatedly destroyed the very relationship she cherished.
After the third affair, Grant finally chooses to let her go, filing for divorce despite still being deeply in love with her.
As Erixia discovers that the men she risked everything for never truly loved her, she is forced to confront the painful truth about herself.
While Grant slowly rebuilds his life, Erixia embarks on a journey of accountability, healing, and redemption.
Will love be enough to earn a second chance, or are some mistakes simply too devastating to forgive?
Read
Chapter: 26GRANTTo tell you the truth, matagal bago ako humantong sa naging desisyon ko. Hindi ito isang bagay na pinagdesisyunan ko sa loob ng isang gabi lamng. Hindi ito dahil sa galit lang ako. Hindi rin dahil sa gusto ko lang na parusahan si Erixia. Kung ganoon lang sana kadali, matagal ko na itong ginawa noong unang beses kong malaman ang tungkol kay Baron, hindi ko na sana hinintay pa na pumangatlo, na dumanak pa ang dugo ng dalawang beses matapos ni Stanley.Sa dalawang beses na panloloko niya ay hindi ko nagawa na iwanan si Erixia dahil sa mga oras na nalaalaman ko ang tungkol sa kasalanan na ulit-ulit niyang ginagawa, ang unang naramdaman ko ay hindi poot kungdi sakit.Isang sakit na hindi ko maipaliwanag dahil ang taong sumira sa akin ay siya ring taong gusto kong protektahan. Ako ang tipo ng taong sanay gumawa ng desisyon. Sa negosyo, hindi ako nagdadalawang-isip. Kapag may problema, hinaharap ko. Kapag may kailangang isakripisyo, ginagawa ko. Hindi ako pinapatumba ng kahit anong
Last Updated: 2026-08-02
Chapter: 25.ERIXIAAbala akong nagluluto ng almusal sa kusina habang paminsan-minsan ay sinusulyapan ang wall clock. Mag-aalas nuwebe na ng umaga ngunit mahimbing pa ring natutulog si Grant sa taas. Simula noong nakaraang linggo, halos hindi na siya pumapasok sa opisina nang maaga. Madalas niyang ikansela ang meetings o kaya nama'y ipalipat sa hapon. Kapag tinatanong ko siya kung may sakit ba siya, ngumingiti lang siya at sinasabing gusto lang niyang magpahinga. Pero kilala ko ang asawa ko. Hindi siya ang lalaking inuuna ang pahinga kaysa sa trabaho. Kung may nagbago man, hindi ko lang alam kung ano iyon."Ay, Ma'am, kami na po rito," ani Ate Fe habang inaabot ang hawak kong sandok. "Kayo na po ang umakyat kay Sir. Baka magising na po iyon."Ngumiti ako at marahan akong umiling. "Okay lang po, Ate Fe. Gusto kong ako ang magluto ngayon. Matagal na rin akong hindi nakakagawa nito."Napabuntong-hininga siya bago ngumiti. "Talagang wala kaming laban sa inyo kapag gusto ninyong magsipag sa kusina."Na
Last Updated: 2026-08-01
Chapter: 24ERIXIANaalimpungatan ako sa kakaibang pakiramdam. The first thing that I know I'm aware of is that I'm wet... I felt something warm and wet between ?my thighs that made me gasp. Agad kong itinaas ang comforter, it was Grant. His mouth was already working over, slow, deliberate, as hi tongue dragging through my folds with the kind of hunger that had me arching off the bed."Fuck—Grant, Jesus," I whimpered, my fingers tangled his hair before I even had time to wake up fully. Heb didn’t answer.I think he couldn’t. How? His focus was too sharp, too greedy. He flattened it against my clit, pressing just enough to make my hipsjerk, then dragged it lower, fucking me with slow, deep strokes that had me biting down my moan."F-Fuck... ""You’re gonna make me—" my voice broke as I pulled bac, the vibrations making me shudder."Come on my tongue," My husband, look at me and ordered, then sealed his mouth over my country again, this time with hisb fingers working you open.Isa, dala
Last Updated: 2026-07-31
Chapter: 23ERIXIAOne week.Pitong araw pa lang ang lumipas, pero pakiramdam ko ay parang ilang buwan na akong nabubuhay sa katahimikang hindi ko maintindihan. Hindi naman nagbago si Grant sa paraang mapapansin ng ibang tao. Pareho pa rin siyang magalang, maalaga, at responsable. Hinahatid pa rin niya ako ng good morning kiss sa noo bago siya umalis, tinatanong kung nakakain na ba ako, at sinisiguradong maayos ang lahat ng kailangan ko. Pero ako ang asawa niya. Ako ang pinakamalapit sa kanya. At ako rin ang unang nakapansin na may unti-unting namamatay sa likod ng mga ngiting pilit niyang ipinapakita.Hindi na siya katulad ng dati. Dati, kapag umuuwi siya galing opisina, ako agad ang hinahanap ng mga mata niya. Kahit pagod na pagod siya sa maghapong meetings, nagagawa pa rin niyang ngumiti sa akin na para bang ako ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa buong araw niya. Ngayon... ngumingiti pa rin siya, pero hindi na umaabot sa mga mata niya. Para bang ginagawa na lang niya iyon dahil iyon ang nakasana
Last Updated: 2026-07-30
Chapter: 22. The Man Behind The NameGRANTI used to believe that the hardest decisions in life were made inside a boardroom. I thought the pressure of handling billions, negotiating with powerful people, and carrying the name Fullerton on my shoulders was the heaviest burden I would ever have to carry. I was wrong. Nothing compares to the weight of knowing the person you would choose every single day is the same person who slowly broke the one thing you trusted the most.I sat inside my office, staring at the city through the glass window in front of me. The same view I had looked at countless times before, but today everything felt different. The buildings were still there, the people were still moving, the world continued as if nothing had changed, yet mine had stopped the moment I opened that email.I thought I was prepared for anything. I thought being a businessman taught me how to control my emotions, how to analyze situations, how to make decisions based on facts instead of feelings. But no amount of experience p
Last Updated: 2026-07-29
Chapter: 21. A SCANDALAZI Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla kong naisipang buksan ang email ni Sir. Nasa executive office ako, tahimik na inaayos ang schedule niya para sa buong linggo. Sunod-sunod ang kailangang i-reschedule matapos niyang kanselahin ang halos lahat ng meetings niya nitong nakaraang mga araw. "Mr. Claveria... moved to Friday." Mahina kong bulong habang tina-type ang confirmation. Pagkatapos noon ay nagcheck namn ako ng mga e-mail, agad na napansin ng mga mata ko na may 1 sa spam, takang tinignan ko iyon. hindi muna ako gumalaw, ngunit ang mga kamay ko ay agad na napunta sa spam folder. Kunot-noo kong titigan iyon dahil sa loob ng ilang taon kong pagiging executive secretary ni Sir Grant, halos wala akong natatandaang pagkakataong nagkaroon siya ng spam emails. Kabisado ko na ang lahat ng galaw niya pagdating sa company e-mail, lalo't higit sa kanyang personal executive email. Mas lalong bihira niya yong buksan niya. Napahinto ang kamay ko sa mouse "Hindi naman siguro..." Marahan kong pin
Last Updated: 2026-07-28
Bound by Billion-Dollar Vows
People call Natalie a gold digger.
What they don't know is that marriage is simply her profession.
Beautiful, intelligent, and fiercely independent, Natalie has built a secret career as a professional contract bride. Wealthy heirs, closeted billionaires, and influential men hire her to become their temporary wife so they can fulfill family conditions, secure their inheritance, or protect their identities. Once the contract ends, she walks away with a signed divorce, another successful job completed, and a heart she swore would never belong to anyone.
After nine flawless contract marriages, Natalie accepts what should be her easiest—and final—assignment.
She is hired to marry Luca Elios Hernaez, the ruthless billionaire CEO of Hernaez Holdings.
There's just one problem.
Luca isn't a stranger.
He's the boy who grew up beside her, her childhood best friend, and the first person she ever loved in silence.
Bound by his late grandfather's billion-dollar will, Luca has no choice but to marry if he wants to inherit the empire built for generations. To him, marriage is nothing more than another business deal. Love is a weakness he cannot afford.
But living under the same roof with Natalie begins to crack the walls around his heart.
The woman he thought he had forgotten is no longer the carefree red-haired girl from his childhood. She's now a mystery carrying countless secrets behind practiced smiles and divorce papers.
She entered the marriage expecting another signature.
He entered expecting another contract.
Neither of them expected to fall in love.
When the contract expires and the divorce papers are finally placed on the table, one question remains—
Can a marriage that started as a business arrangement become the forever they never believed they deserved?
Read
Chapter: 26Natalie's POVBy the time we got home, the house smelled nothing like the meals we usually made on ordinary days, and I knew immediately that Luca had something to do with it. The dining table, which normally had mismatched plates and whatever food we could stretch between the five of us, was suddenly covered with neatly arranged dishes, warm bread in a woven basket, roasted chicken, creamy mashed potatoes, vegetables seasoned with herbs, a bowl of fresh salad, and a large pot of soup that sent steam curling toward the ceiling. There were even little desserts arranged on a porcelain tray that I was almost certain had never belonged to us. I stood at the entrance of the dining room with my purse still hanging from my shoulder, staring at everything while Migo practically dropped himself into his chair."Okay, I officially forgive Luca for being rich," Migo declared, pulling a plate toward himself as he stared at the food.I turned toward him with a disbelieving look. "You were mad at h
Last Updated: 2026-08-14
Chapter: 25Natalie's POVOne week later, Olie finally walked out of the hospital with Mama holding one of her hands and me carrying the small bag of medicines the nurse had instructed us to keep within reach, and even though she still moved carefully because of her injuries, seeing her outside those hospital walls felt like something I had once prayed for and never thought I'd actually witness.As expected, every bill had already been settled, every surgical expense, medication, room charge, and follow-up arrangement paid in full by Luca, and when I asked the billing department how much remained, the woman behind the desk simply smiled and told me, "Mr. Hernaez took care of everything, Miss De Dios," as if paying an enormous hospital bill for someone else's family were the most ordinary thing in the world. I stood there staring at the receipt in my hands, feeling gratitude, guilt, and something far more complicated twisting together inside my chest because Luca had never once stood over me deman
Last Updated: 2026-08-14
Chapter: 24NatalieI had stopped counting the number of times I whispered Olie's name.Every time the monitor changed its rhythm, my eyes immediately flew toward the screen. Every time a nurse entered the room, I sat straighter in my chair, afraid that the next words I heard would change everything again. I had spent what felt like an eternity sitting beside her bed, holding her small hand between both of mine, refusing to let go even when my fingers had gone numb."Come on, Olie," I whispered, gently rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb. "Didi's here."The room was quiet except for the steady beeping of the monitors. I leaned closer, resting my forehead against the edge of her mattress. "You promised me we'd go home together."My voice trembled. "You still owe Migo fifty dollars, remember?"And sitll nothing.I swallowed hard and forced a smile even though she couldn't see it. "And you still have that Disneyland trip to collect." I laughed softly at my own words, but the sound broke halfwa
Last Updated: 2026-08-09
Chapter: 23LUCA"Miss De Dios is asking for you."Sebastian's words followed me all the way back to the car.I stood beside the precinct entrance with my phone pressed against my ear, staring at the traffic moving across the street. For a man who had faced hostile takeovers, courtroom battles, and boardrooms filled with people waiting for me to fail, I had never understood why one sentence from Natalie could make my heart beat faster."Where is she?" I asked, opening the rear door of the Rolls-Royce."She's in the PICU with Olivia," Sebastian answered. "She asked the nurse if they could reach you, and the nurse contacted me."I slid into the back seat and leaned against the leather."How long ago?""About ten minutes.""Drive."The moment Sebastian ended the call, the car pulled away from the curb. I loosened my tie and glanced at the time on my phone. I had been gone longer than I intended, and suddenly every minute felt like an inconvenience.I should have stayed.I knew that.But Mackenzie ha
Last Updated: 2026-08-05
Chapter: 22LucaThe moment I stepped out of the elevator leading to the underground parking garage, Sebastian was already waiting beside the black Rolls-Royce. The moment our eyes met, he opened the rear passenger door without saying a word. That alone told me whatever news he had received couldn't wait.I slid into the back seat, loosened the knot of my tie, and leaned my head against the leather seat. "Drive," I instructed calmly, watching the hospital disappear through the tinted window as Sebastian settled into the passenger seat.The vehicle pulled away from St. Mercy Medical Center in complete silence.I let out a slow breath. Leaving Natalie behind wasn't easy, every inches of my instinct is telling me to stay.To wait.To be there when Olivia opened her eyes.But there were responsibilities that couldn't be ignored.Sebastian finally broke the silence. "Sir," he said as he turned halfway in his seat, "Detective Leon Coleman called while you were inside the hospital."I lifted my gaze."T
Last Updated: 2026-08-02
Chapter: 21Natalie's POVI had never realized how loud silence could be.Every second that passed outside the operating room felt heavier than the last. My eyes remained fixed on the red OPERATING sign above the double doors, silently begging it to turn off. Around me, Mama continued praying with her rosary clutched tightly between her fingers while Migo sat beside her, his head lowered and his hands clasped together. Sasha stayed close enough to catch me whenever my knees threatened to give out. A few steps away, Luca stood quietly near the window with Sebastian. He wasn't speaking to anyone, but every now and then, I'd catch him looking in my direction just to make sure I was still standing.I didn't know how many hours had passed.Time had completely lost its meaning.Then, without warning, the red light above the operating room disappeared.The doors slowly opened.Every one of us stood at the same time.My heart pounded so violently against my chest that I could hear it in my ears.The fir
Last Updated: 2026-08-01
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