Novels by Claxiin

I woke with a jolt.For a split second, I didn’t remember where I was. Then the cold metal beneath me bit into my back, and everything came rushing back the failed escape, the suffocating tunnel, Dominic’s breath on my skin, and his voice still echoing in my ears.You're mine, Celeste.The air was warmer now. Someone must’ve closed the grate above us during the night. Dominic was gone. His coat still lay beside me, but his presence the heavy weight of his attention had vanished.Good.I sat up slowly, muscles stiff and sore. My throat burned from thirst, my body aching in places I didn’t want to acknowledge. I moved toward the open tunnel entrance and crawled out carefully.The hallway outside the hidden shaft was empty, eerily quiet. I expected guards. Instead, there was only silence and the scent of something sweet drifting from deeper inside the villa—perfume, expensive and sickly strong.Then I heard it. The unmistakable click of heels on marble.Voices followed. Laughter. Feminin

The world tilted and spun as I slammed into the cold floor, Dominic’s body crushing the air from my lungs. My mind screamed to run, to fight, to claw and tear and never stop until I was free but my body betrayed me. I was trembling, not just from fear, but from the fire that still burned on my lips from his kiss.I hated him. I hated that he could do this to me. That he could make me feel this much.“Get off me,” I hissed, my voice raw, shaking.He didn’t move. His gaze bore down on me, unreadable, terrifying in its intensity. His chest rose and fell, the heat of him pressing into every inch of my body. I could feel his heartbeatnsteady, possessive, relentless.“Stop pretending,” he whispered. “You want to fight? Then fight. But don’t lie to yourself.”“I’m not lying!” I spat, shoving at his shoulders, pushing back against the weight of him, the power of him. “I would rather die than be yours!”He flinched. Just for a second. A blink.But I saw it. That tiny crack in the mask.Good. L

The moment I stepped into the hidden chamber and saw the loose brick on the floor, I knew she had tried to run.Smart girl. Stupid move.My jaw clenched as I stared at the narrow passage she’d uncovered. She remembered. She actually remembered that tunnel something I built years ago as an emergency escape.Of course she would. She never forgot anything. Especially not the ways to defy me.“She’s in the tunnel,” I said coldly to the guards. “Stand down. She won’t get far.”I didn’t wait for anyone to react. I moved fast, slipping into the dark crawlspace, my body low, every sense alert. My thoughts burned with one name.Celeste.She never stopped testing me. Always pushing, always running. She still didn’t understand. This wasn’t just about keeping her close. It was about survival. Mine. And hers.The passage twisted, the walls pressing close, but I moved like a shadow through the dark. I knew every turn, every inch. She thought she could vanish? Hide from me?She belonged to me. Wheth

The cold stone walls of the villa’s hidden chamber pressed close around me, suffocating in their silence. Ten heavily armed men guarded every exit, their eyes sharp and unmoving, like wolves waiting for their prey to make a wrong move. My heart pounded violently against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat that filled the empty space, reminding me I was still trapped still a prisoner in Dominic’s ruthless game.  I pressed my back against the rough wall, closing my eyes for a moment. The dim light flickered overhead, casting long shadows that danced like ghosts around me. Each breath I took tasted stale, thick with desperation. I wasn’t going to be broken not like this. Not while a single spark of hope still burned inside me.  A soft murmur from the guards outside the door reminded me that time was running out. I couldn’t stay here forever, waiting for Dominic to decide my fate. I had to act. I had to escape.  When the moment came, it was sudden a shift in the guards’ attention as a new visi

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the villa. The golden light seemed almost cruel as it spilled across the polished floor, illuminating the cold silence that had settled in the room. I sat on the edge of the vast bed, the USB drive heavy in my hand, its weight a constant reminder of everything I had just learned. For hours, I had poured over the files—each document a fresh wound. Offshore accounts hidden in secret locations, gambling debts spiraling wildly out of control, contracts shredded without a second thought, and betrayal after betrayal piled up like a mountain of lies. Eduardo Madrigal, the man I had once called “father,” was nothing like I imagined. He was a stranger, a monster hiding behind a mask of respectability. The bitter taste of betrayal flooded my mouth as I replayed the words in my mind. How had I been so blind? How had I lived in his shadow, unaware of the darkness festering beneath? The weight of his sins pressed do

I didn’t sleep.How could I?After signing that contract, everything about my world shifted. I was no longer just Celeste Madrigal—I was the future Mrs. Villaraza.My last name would be tied to the man I feared… and, disturbingly, the man who haunted my thoughts.The morning sun peeked through the lace curtains as if mocking me for surviving another night in this golden prison. The bed was far too soft, too large. It felt like I was sinking in a dream I didn’t want to be in.A knock at the door pulled me from my spiral.Before I could speak, the door opened and a woman stepped in, not the maid from before—this one was different.She was tall, graceful, dressed in a sleek black pantsuit. Her hair was pulled back into a perfect bun and her eyes were sharp."Good morning, Miss Madrigal—rather, soon-to-be Mrs. Villaraza,” she said, her voice clipped but professional. “I’m Althea, the family’s chief coordinator. I’m in charge of your wedding preparations.”Wedding.The word hit me like a sl

Pagpasok palang sa hospital room ni mama ang masayang mukha niya agad ang bumungad sa akin. Alalay niya ang isang nurse habang naglalakad ng dahan-dahan. Tagal na rin pala ng madalaw ko si mama dahil naging abala din kasi ako kay Jayden. "Anak, mabuti naman at napadalaw ka? Ang akala ko ay tuluyan mo na akong nakalimutan. Maayos kana man ba sa bahay ng asawa mo?" nagulat pa ako sa tinanong ni mama dahil wala pa akong nababanggit sa kanya tungkol kay Jayden. Inilagay ko muna sa ibabaw ng lamesa ang mga dala kong pagkain para kay mama. Ang iba dito ay galing sa pera ni Jayden kaya kahit labag sa kalooban ko ay dinala ko na rin. "Anak, kumakain kaba ng maayos doon? Hindi ka naman ba nagiging sakit sa ulo ng asawa mo?" "Nay, naman, kailangan ba ako naging sakit ng ulo sainyo? Tapos magiging sakit ng ulo din ako sa asawa ko? Malabo iyon nay dahil ayoko maging pabigat,""Mabuti naman anak dahil napakabuti ng asawa mo. Utang na loob ko sa kanya kung bakit nagiging maayos na ako kahit papa

Maaga akong gumising upang makapagluto ng almusal para kay Jayden. Ilang araw na rin ang lumipas simula ng manggaling kami sa bahay ng mommy niya na malugod akong tinanggap. Ilang araw na ang nagdaan ngunit tanda ko parin ang gabing umamin ako sa kaniya na mahal ko na siya. Ilang araw kaming hindi nagpapansinan at ilang araw ko na rin siyang iniiwasan marahil dahil sa kahihiyan na nararamdaman ko ngayon. Pero napagtanto ko rin na hindi pwede ang ganito dahil kasalanan ko naman. Hindi ko napigilan ang bugso ng damdamin ko. “Aalis ka?” sambit bigla ng pamilyar na boses mula sa likuran ko. Napatigil ako sa pagluluto at hinarap siya saglit. Bumungad sa akin ang bagong gising na si Jayden. Suot pa niya ang isang pares ng panjama na mas lalong nagpa-gwapo rito. Idagdag pa ang kagigising lang na itsura, sino nga bang hindi mai-inlove? “I am asking you, aalis kaba? nakabihis ka, saan ka pupunta?” magkalasunod niyang tanong muli. Umiwas na ako ng tingin ng mapagtanto kong matagal na pala ak

Sampung minuto pa lang ako rito sa pamamahay ng pamilyang Deogracia pero pakiramdam ko isang taon na ako. Simula nang tumuntong ako rito naging mabigat na talaga ang pakiramdam ko. Kong noon ay hindi ako pinapansin ni Madam Leona ngayon ay ramdam ko ang matatalim niyang titig. Ni hindi ko ma-enjoy ang soup at steak na nasa harapan ko dahil pakiramdam ko ay pinapanood nila ang bawat kilos ko. “Son, care to explain kong paano kayo naging mag-asawa?” seryosong pagtatanong ni Madam Leona. Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa kubyertos dahil pakiramdam ko may ibang kahulugan ang pagkakatanong niya. “Mom, alam mo naman na matagal ko nang gusto si Amanda. Ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon para maging akin siya.” sagot ni Jayden na para bang saulo na niya ang katagang 'yon.Nakaramdam ako nang kaunting kirot sa puso ko dahil napakadali sa kaniya ang gumawa ng kwento. Hindi ko naman siya masisisi dahil pumayag ako sa kontratang ito. “No, son. I didn't know na matagal mo na siyang gusto. Ilang

“Dinah, sure kaba na isasama niyo ako sa family dinner niyo?” pang sampu ko na atang pagtatanong ito.Panay pa ang hila ko sa suot kong maikling dress dahil hindi ako komportable sa suot ko. “Susundutin ko talaga ang mata mo kapag binuklat mo ulit 'yan! Hindi kita malagyan ng eyeliner dahil sa likot mo!” hasik niya kaya napalabi ako.Siya kasi ang naglalagay ng make-up ko. Huling kita daw niya kasi sa make na ginawa ko ay sobrang pangit daw. Mukha daw akong aswang na sinuntok ng ilang beses. “Saka isa pa asawa kana ni kuya diba? Kaya dapat lang na kasama ka,” dagdag pa niya.Hindi na ako nagsalita at pinagmasdan na lang ang sarili ko sa harapan ng salamain. Simple lang ang make up ma ginawa niya sa akin. Basta na lang din inilugay ang buhok ko kaya mas lalong tumingkad ang mala nyebe kong balat. Napansin ko ang malawak niyang ngiti habang pinagmamasdan niya ako sa salamin.“Ang ganda mo talaga,” puri niya.Napangiti na lang din ako ng malawak ng sabihin niya sa akin 'yon. Ang swerte

“This will be your room. Dito kana titira kasama ako,” malalim ang boses nito ng sambitin niya ang katagang 'yon.Pinaikot ko ang paningin sa kabuo-an ng bahay niya gusto kong mamangha dahil napakaganda nito. Pakiramdam ko para akong dumi sa mala-palasiyong mansion na 'to. Ngunit bigla na lamang sumagi sa isip ko si inay na mag-isa lang sirang bahay namin. Matapos kasi ang gabing 'yon sa bar sa condo muna ako ni Dinah tumuloy at ngayon nga ay dinala ako ni Jayden dito sa bahay niya. Dito na raw ako titira dahil nga mag-asawa na kami.“Ayaw mo ba ng kwarto mo? Maraming kwarto dito pumili ka lang,” aniya pa.Pero kaysa sumagot napayuko na lang ako dahil hindi ko talaga maiwan si inay. Sino mag-aalaga sa kaniya? Hirap na hirap na 'yon tumayo dala ng sakit nitong cancer sa baga. “Tell me? Anong bumabagabag sayo?” banayad ang pagkakatanong niya sa akin.Pinanood ko siya kong paano siya lumapit sa akin gamit ang high tech niyang wheel chair. May kong ano lang siyang pinindut doon at kusa i

Amanda's Point of view“Ano na? Igiling mo pa, Amanda! Isang buwan kana rito pero hindi mo pa rin maisaulo ang sayaw na 'to!” sigaw ng bakla na nagtuturo ng sayaw sa akin.Isang buwan na talaga akong nagtatrabaho rito sa luxury bar pero ngayon lang niya ako isinalang sa entablado. Hindi ko gustong gawin ang bagay na ito ngunit kailangan dahil kailangan ni inay ng gamot sa sakit niya. Sa loob nang isang buwan back-up dancer lang ako o kaya ay waitress sa isang tabi. Ngunit ngayon gabi tinanggap ko ang paunang bayad ng baklang 'to para sa malaking halaga ng pera. “Igiling mo pa! Ano na? Ang tigas-tigas mong gumalaw!” muling sigaw niya sa akin.Hindi ko kasi alam kong paano ko igigiling ang balakang ko sa bangko na kinauupuan ko. Hindi ko rin alam paano ko sasayawan ang bakal na nakaturok sa gitna ng entablado. Mayroon na lang akong kalahating oras para matuto nito or else kailangan ko ibalik ang perang binayad nila.“Bwisit! Bahala ka sa buhay mo! Nakakairita kang turuan ni hindi ka mar