Chapter 1

The cold Manila breeze usually felt refreshing, pero ngayon, bawat ihip ng hangin ay tila nanunuot sa buto ko bilang isang babala. Nakatayo ako sa balcony ng aming penthouse, pinagmamasdan ang nagkikislapang ilaw ng Makati. It was the kind of view people killed for—the city lights flickering like diamonds on a black velvet cloth. My life was supposed to be perfect. Ako si Sofia Hatheaway—the socialite, the beloved daughter of Manuel Hatheaway. But in a single night, everything crumbled.

"Sofia..."

Nilingon ko si Papa. My heart sank. He looked like a ghost of the man I knew. His hair was messy, and his eyes were bloodshot from days of no sleep and too much whiskey. Maraming bote ng alak sa harap niya, scattered across the mahogany table like fallen soldiers. Napakasakit makita ang taong nagligtas sa akin mula sa orphanage noong pito pa lang ako na ganito ang kalagayan. He gave me everything—the best education, designer clothes, and most importantly, a name that commanded respect.

"Is it really that bad, Pa?" My voice was barely a whisper, thin and fragile.

"The creditors are coming, Sofia. The company is gone. Everything I built... it’s all gone. Even this penthouse, mawawala na sa atin bukas." He covered his face with his trembling hands, and I heard a choked sob. "I’m a failure, anak. I failed you."

"No, Pa. Don't say that." Lumapit ako at niyakap siya. The scent of stale alcohol and despair clung to him. My heart was breaking into a million jagged pieces. "May paraan pa. We can sell my bags, my jewelry, my car—everything I have is yours."

"It’s not enough, Sofia. We need millions. Billion, actually." Inangat niya ang ulo niya at tumingin sa akin nang may halo ng hiya at isang klaseng pag-asa na mas lalong nakakatakot. "But someone offered to help. A man named Riguel Scott."

Napakunot ang noo ko. I ran through the list of billionaires and power players I knew in the city.

"Riguel Scott? Never heard of him. Is he an investor from Singapore? Or maybe the States?"

"He’s a landowner from the province. A 'farmer' from some remote town in the north. He offered to pay all our debts and give us a fresh start. But he has a condition."

I felt a cold shiver down my spine, creeping up from my heels to the nape of my neck. Alam ko na kung saan ito patungo. It was a story as old as time, a trade of flesh for fortune. "What condition, Pa?"

"You have to marry him, Sofia. A three-month contract. Stay with him in the countryside for ninety days, and we are debt-free. After that, you can file for an annulment. He just wants... a wife."

I felt like someone punched me in the gut, stealing all the oxygen from my lungs. *A farmer?* Trading my freedom, my city life, and my dreams for three months with a stranger in the middle of nowhere? The thought of leaving my comfort zone—the galas, the fashion shows, the air-conditioned boardrooms—to live in the dirt was unimaginable. Pero nang tingnan ko ang matandang lalakeng nag-aruga sa akin, ang lalakeng kumuha sa akin noong wala na akong matakbuhan, wala akong nakitang ibang choice. I owed him my life.

"I'll do it," I said, the words feeling like heavy lead in my mouth. "I'll marry him."

Two days later, I was inside a dusty SUV, watching the tall buildings of the city disappear in the rearview mirror. It felt like I was watching my old life die. Habang tumatagal ang byahe, mas lalong nagiging rough ang daan. The smooth asphalt turned into gravel and dirt. Endless fields of corn and rice replaced the malls I loved. The humidity was thick, making my silk blouse cling to my skin in an uncomfortable way.

"Malayo pa ba tayo?" tanong ko sa driver.

"Malapit na, Ma'am," he replied without looking back.

When we finally reached the Scott Estate, my jaw dropped. It wasn't the small, humble farmhouse I had pictured in my nightmares. It was a massive, old stone mansion standing alone on a hill, surrounded by ancient trees that looked like they were guarding secrets. It looked like it belonged in a gothic movie—dark, cold, and lonely.

Pagbaba ko, ang amoy ng basa na lupa at damo ang sumalubong sa akin. It was overwhelming. I was wearing my favorite Chanel flats and a designer dress—outfits that screamed 'out of place.'

Isang babaeng naka-uniporme ng maid ang lumapit sa akin. Her face was stern, her skin like parchment, and her eyes were sharp like a hawk's. "I am Charlotte. The head maid. Master Riguel is busy in the fields. Follow me."

Walang "Welcome," walang "How was your trip?" Charlotte took my luggage with a heavy sigh, as if my very existence was a burden to her. Pagpasok namin sa mansion, lalong bumigat ang loob ko.

The place was grand but silent. Parang walang buhay ang mga dingding. The air inside was cool but carried a hint of dust and old wood.

Habang naglalakad kami sa mahabang hallway, may napansin akong maliit na bata sa gilid ng hagdan. She was wearing a faded dress that was too big for her and holding a doll with one eye missing. She was beautiful, with curls that looked tangled and unkempt, but her eyes were filled with a haunting fear.

"Lily! What did I tell you about staying in your room?" sigaw ni Charlotte.

The little girl flinched so hard she almost fell. She didn't say a word. She just stared at me with those big, watery eyes, her lips trembling. Napansin ko na medyo tabingi ang tayo niya, and she was leaning against the wall for support. Her leg seemed weak, dragging slightly as she moved.

"Sino siya?" tanong ko, feeling a surge of pity.

"Nobody," Charlotte snapped, her voice cutting like a knife. "She’s the Master’s niece. Ang anak ng yumaong kapatid niya. She’s a mute and a cripple—a total waste of space. Go back to your room, Lily! Now, before I lose my patience!"

Lily scrambled away, limping painfully. My heart squeezed with a mix of rage and sorrow. *How could she be so cruel to a child?* I wanted to run after her, to tell her it was okay, but Charlotte’s hand clamped onto my arm like a vice.

"Don't bother with her, Madam. Master Riguel doesn't like it when people meddle with the help or the 'extra' baggage in this house. This way."

Charlotte led me to a large wooden door at the end of the hall. "He’s inside. Don't keep him waiting."

Huminga ako nang malalim, trying to steady my racing heart, and entered. The room was a massive library, two stories high, filled with thousands of leather-bound books. Nakatayo ang isang lalake sa harap ng bintana, his silhouette framed by the late afternoon sun. He was wearing a simple white shirt and denim jeans, his sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular, sun-browned arms.

"You’re late," he said. His voice was like thunder—low, deep, and vibrating through the very floorboards under my feet.

"The roads aren't exactly city-friendly," I answered, trying to sound braver than I felt.

Nang lumingon siya, tila nawalan ako ng hangin sa baga. He was ruggedly handsome, but in a way that felt dangerous. Gulo-gulo ang itim niyang buhok, at may manipis na balbas siya na mas lalong nagpadagdag sa pagiging manly niya. But his eyes... they were the coldest shade of blue I had ever seen. Cold as ice.

"I am Riguel Scott," he said, walking toward me.

Every step he took was predatory, like a tiger marking his territory. He didn't look like a simple farmer. He looked like a king who had chosen to live in exile. "I assume your father explained everything. Ninety days. You follow my rules. You don't ask questions. And you don't go back to the city until the contract is signed and sealed."

"I know the contract, Mr. Scott. I'm just here to pay a debt. Don't think for a second I want to be here."

He smirked, a cruel twist of his lips that didn't reach his eyes. "A city princess like you in a place like this? You look like you're allergic to the very air you're breathing. Let's see if you can even last a week without your designer coffee and your fake friends."

He leaned in closer, invading my personal space. I could smell woodsmoke, expensive bourbon, and a hint of a cologne that cost more than most people's cars. My heart hammered against my ribs.

"Charlotte will show you your room. It’s far from mine. I don't like being disturbed, Sofia. Especially not by a 'wife' I had to buy."

I stood there, boiling with rage. I was a Hatheaway! My father might have lost his money, but I still had my pride. "I am not a possession, Riguel."

"You're here because of money, aren't you? That makes you a business transaction." He dismissively turned his back on me, looking out at the vast fields he owned. "Go. I have work to do."

Lumabas ako ng library na nanginginig ang mga kamay. I hated him. I hated his arrogance and his coldness. But as I walked back through the dark hallway, I saw a shadow move near the kitchen. It was Lily again, peeking through the doorway.

I reached into my silk pocket and felt the small **Sun & Moon necklace** I always carried. I remember a boy once told me it would keep me safe when the world got dark. Now, looking at this lonely mansion, the cruel maid, and my cold husband, I realized I was in the darkest place of my life.

I was in a cage. And the key was held by a man who was clearly more than just a farmer.

*Ninety days, Sofia,* I whispered to myself as I entered my cold, empty bedroom. *Just survive ninety days. For Papa. For your name.*

But as I heard the distant sound of Charlotte shouting at Lily again, I knew I couldn't just sit still. This house was full of monsters, and I was just the latest victim to be brought inside.