Novel-novel oleh Miss Rayi

KEIRA’S POVTwo months later...Drake and I made sure that Draven was completely healed before we started planning our wedding. There was no engagement at all—why would we go through the engagement process when he already had two children on installment?During these two months, I truly found happiness while Draven was recovering and we were preparing for our wedding with Drake. I no longer had any lingering pain or anger in my heart, and I knew the people around me felt the same way.Today was the wedding day. It was the most anticipated day of my life, because right after this day, I would officially become Mrs. Drake Ashford. It was a dream I never thought would come true. I was chosen and loved by this possessive monster. Yes, he was still incredibly possessive even though we already had two children, and yes, he was a true monster in bed."Keira, are you ready?" My mom Noreen asked me. She was the one assisting me, and we were at the Peninsula Hotel, as this is where we would dep

KEIRA’S POVWhen we arrived at Ashford Medical Hospital, Draven was immediately admitted to the ICU. Sean informed us that our son needed close monitoring until he regained consciousness.In silence, Drake and I watched over Draven through the large glass panel that separated us. From there, we could see the multitude of medical devices attached to his body. His pulse rate and oxygen levels were still being monitored."Don't worry too much, because I'm sure he'll wake up. He got that trait from me, so I know he won't give up," Drake reassured me, trying to boost my spirits as he patted my shoulder. Even though I could sense his continued concern."I just can't find peace until he wakes up. I didn't know that because of a simple piece of chocolate, our child's life would be in danger," I said, tears welling up again."Just stay strong, Keira. Sean assured us that he'd be fine," he replied.I looked at him and smiled. Our parents were approaching at that moment. Drake's father, both my

KEIRA’S POV"What happened?" Sean asked, breathless, as he approached us. I was on the verge of collapsing to the floor from crying so hard. He didn't wait for us to respond and immediately went to Draven. "Hey! I'm a doctor; please state his condition!" he ordered, displaying his license."But you're not a doctor here," another nurse interjected."It's a matter of life and death, nurse! You should know how to prioritize what you're talking about! I'm a pediatric doctor, and he's my nephew!" Sean couldn't contain his shout. "PLEASE REPORT!""I'm the Code RN; we just shocked him at 2 J/KG for a v-fib arrest. He still appears to be on V-Fib. The last shock was delivered a minute and a half ago.""Have you given him any medication yet?" Sean asked as a follow-up question."No, not yet, but we've administered an IV.""Okay, let's give him EPI!" Sean ordered again."0.01 milligram of EPI in," the nurse he instructed said."Good compression." I wanted to commend Sean for remaining calm in s

KEIRA’S POVWhen we arrived there, they immediately prepared food for us."Isn't it funny, Edward? I never thought we'd become in-laws. Even though Sabina didn't end up with Drake, I'm still happy that my niece will be with him," Uncle Fred happily said to Dad."I'm also happy, especially now that I have grandchildren through them. I thought I'd die without ever seeing Drake have any kids," Dad said with a smile as we ate."Thank you, Catherine, for taking care of my child," Mom Noreen said, her eyes welling up."You don't need to thank me because the truth is, Keira brought color into my life back then, so I should be the one thanking your child. If it weren't for her, I might have gone crazy, or worse, I might not even be alive today," Mom Catherine replied."I envy you because you took care of her, but because I've seen how well you raised her, I think I should be thankful instead of envious. Maybe if she had grown up with me during that time, I wouldn't have taken care of her prop

DRAKE’S POV"Dad?" I called softly, trying to get his attention. He looked up from the papers he had been signing, his brow slightly furrowed in curiosity. "You know that I am filled with resentment towards you," I continued, my voice steady but carrying the weight of years I had carried alone."Yeah, I know, son," he replied solemnly. There was a pause before he spoke again, and I could hear the heavy tone of regret in his voice. "And the truth is, I don’t know how I can make up for all my shortcomings toward you."I swallowed hard. His words hit me like a distant memory of old arguments, of lonely nights in this mansion when I was just a kid and had nobody to lean on. I remembered feeling invisible, feeling abandoned. But then I looked past him to the twins—Draven and Drianna—racing across the room with uncontainable energy, their laughter bouncing off the walls, and I felt a warmth I hadn’t experienced in years."But everything changed when the twins came into my life," I said, my

KEIRA’S POVWhile the kids were playing with their grandfather, I approached Drake. I just couldn't stay quiet, and I knew it was something I had to do."Drake, I think I want to talk to Mom," I hesitantly said to him, and he furrowed his brow slightly."Are you serious, Keira?" He asked incredulously, realizing who I was referring to. "She doesn't even want to see you here, and you want to talk to her?""I believe, Drake, that even though she's not my biological mother, she did love me genuinely. I just want to fix everything between us before we start planning our wedding," I explained sadly, and he sighed. "I just want her to be there too.""Go ahead, I know that no matter what I say, I can't stop you from doing what you want," he said with a shrug and tapped my face."Thank you." Afterward, I smiled at him before turning to look for my mom."Keira!" Edward called out to me, so I turned back to him. "Where are you going?""I would like to talk to Mom," I replied. He nodded and walk

PAIGENapatigil ako. Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. It was just my name—spoken softly—but I knew exactly whose voice it was.“I was here. Kanina pa…” may halong panunumbat ang boses niya, kaya dahan-dahan akong lumingon sa kaniya.And there he was half-shadowed by the dim light spilling from the end of the corridor. He looked the same, maddeningly calm and unreadable, but his eyes burned with something sharp.“W-why?” Hindi ko napigilang tanungin. “Kung gusto mo lang pala akong makausap, hindi mo na ‘ko kailangang i-prank!” Naiinis na dagdag ko.Napaatras ako nang humakbang siya palapit sa ‘kin.“Why?” ulit niya. “And for the record, I don’t do pranks, Paige.”“Huwag kang lalapit,” banta ko sa kaniya.“Then what? Sisigaw ka?” Hindi siya nagpatinag, patuloy lang siya sa paghakbang.Napatigil ako sa pag-atras nang maramdaman kong pader na ang nasa likod ko.“I don’t like seeing you lingering with another man.” Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa sinabi niyang ‘yon or more likely mas nainis ako.

PAIGE “Great! You look absolutely gorgeous, Paige,” Papa greeted me with a proud smile. I was wearing no less than an Alexena Chavez gown—a dark red evening dress that flowed elegantly with every step.“Thank you, ‘Pa!” nakangiting sabi ko.They originally wanted me to wear white, but I chose red—to show my boldness, to show that I’ve grown, that I’m no longer the little girl they used to protect.“Anyway, someone’s waiting for you by the grand staircase,” he said, his tone turning serious. “Is he your suitor?” His expression shifted instantly—protective, just like Kuya Trace. Honestly, they’re exactly the same in that way.“No, Pa. That’s Beckett—he’s just my escort for tonight,” I explained at napatango naman siya.“Good to hear that!” Pagtapos ay humakbang siya palapit sa ‘kin. “Happy birthday, Paige! I know you’re at the right age to start accepting suitors—just promise me you’ll introduce the guy to me first before anything else.”“Don’t worry, Pa! ‘Yan naman talaga ang gagawin

PAIGEThe mansion smelled like fresh flowers and polished wood. I walked from room to room, checking every detail—tables, chairs, floral arrangements, even the little name cards. My fingers itched to fix everything myself, pero sabi ni Louisianna, it’s supposed to be stress-free for me.“Paige, we need to finalize the catering menu,” Louisianna said, holding her tablet like it was a shield.I glanced at the list again.“Okay, we go with La Première for the appetizers and Casa Celestia for the main course. But I want the dessert tasting tomorrow. I need to try the chocolate soufflé myself.”Harriet piped up, “I’ll schedule the tasting. And the cake—Ms. Joanne already has the sketch for the final design.” Then pinakita niya rin sa ‘kin ang phone niya kung saan nando&rsq

DAMIRA“Hey, have you heard the news?” Tanong sa ‘kin ni Kate. Nandito kami ngayon sa condo niya, having girl’s night out.“What news is that?” tanong naman ni Guia. “‘Yong about sa engagement ni Damira at Jeru? Eh, hindi ba tayo nga ang naglabas no’n in public.”“No! Not that one, syempre hindi ‘yon ang tinutukoy ko.” Naiiling na sabi naman ni Kate kaya napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya. “Jeru will finally speak about the engagement issue. At ang daming naghihintay ng side niya regarding sa issue.”“Wait. Which channel?” excited na tanong ni Mau at mabilis niyang kinuha ang remote ng TV “Saka saan mo ba ‘yan nalaman?”“Kay Jacob, syempre nasa news industry siya tapos sa kaniya pa galing yung scoop about sa engagement, so nakabantay talaga sila sa bawat galaw ni Jeru. Then finally nga, sabi ay magsasalita na nga raw siya.”“So, saang channel nga?” tanong ulit ni Mau.“Walang channel, sa L.A. kasi siya nagpa-interview hindi naman dito sa atin kaya link lang ang binigay sa ‘kin.”“Wait,

JERU“Are you kidding me?” buntong-hininga ko habang hawak-hawak ‘yong phone ko. Walang tigil ang patunog ng phone ko dahil sa notification — reporters, managers, sponsors. Lahat nagtatanong. Lahat naghahanap ng sagot tungkol sa kumalat na engagement namin ni Damira.Napipikon ako. Tāngina. Hindi ko talaga alam na ‘yong paglapit ko ulit sa mga Esquivel ay magbibigay pa ng mas malaking problema sa ‘kin.If I have to burn everything to get what I want, I will. But not without taking down whoever started this.Kaya sisiguraduhing kong tatapusin ko kung ano man ang sinimulan nila.Binaba ko ‘yong cellphone ko sa lamesa, nagsasawa na ko sa walang tigil na tunog at vibrate no’n.Napatingin ako sa malaking salamin sa harap ko, pero parang hindi ko na kilala ‘yong taong nando’n. Nakasuot ako ng dark red suit na pinili ng stylist ng PR team—pero kahit anong ayos nila, hindi no’n natatakpan ‘yong pagod sa mata ko.Halos wala pa akong tulong mula nang bumalik kami dito sa L.A. Dahil paglapag nami

DAMIRA“WHAT happened, Damira?” Naguguluhang tanong ni Dad. “Bakit ang lumabas sa news ay engage na kayo ni Mr. McBride? Saan naman kaya galing ang balita na ‘yon?”“I’m not sure, Dad,” pagsisinungaling ko. “Alam mo naman na hindi ko gusto ‘yong idea nang pagpapakasal naming dalawa. Malamang ang Jeru na ‘yon ang may kagagawan nang lahat. Since siya naman ‘tong nasa showbiz industry.”“No, imposible na siya ang gumawa niyan. Mahigpit na bilin sa amin nang assistant niya na huwag munang sasabihin kahit kanino ang tungkol sa deal na ‘yon hangga’t hindi tuluyang pumapayag si Mr. McBride, dahil hindi pwedeng may ibang taong makaalam,” nag-aalalang sabi naman niya. “Ang inaalala ko baka lalo lang siyang hindi magpakasal sa ‘yo nang dahil sa news na ‘yan.”“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m sure na pakakasalan ako ni Jeru McBride kahit na anong mangyari. Lalo ngayon kalat na kalat na ang tungkol sa relasyon naming dalawa,” sabi ko naman then I look to my phone.Kanina ko pa nga hinihintay ang tawag ni J