Chapter 2

Ang unang gabi ko sa Scott Estate ay hindi katulad ng mga napapanood ko sa pelikula. Walang romantic dinner, walang wine, at lalong walang warm welcome. Pagkatapos akong iwan ni Riguel sa library, dinala ako ni Charlotte sa aking silid—isang kwartong malayo sa main wing, malapit sa quarters ng mga katulong. The room was cold, the air smelled like old lavender and dust, and the bed was as hard as a rock.

Nakaupo ako sa gilid ng kama, pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili ko. I looked at my hands—my manicured nails looked ridiculous against the backdrop of this gloomy, stone-walled room. I wanted to cry. Gusto kong tawagan si Papa at sabihing ayoko na. Pero tuwing naaalala ko ang hitsura niya noong gabing iyon—ang panginginig ng kanyang mga kamay at ang takot sa kanyang mga mata—alam kong kailangan kong maging matatag.

"This is just a job, Sofia," bulong ko sa sarili ko.

"Ninety days. Isang mahabang summer vacation lang ito."

Kinuha ko ang maleta ko at sinimulang ilabas ang mga gamit ko. My designer silk pajamas felt like a joke. Habang nag-aayos ako, narinig ko ang isang mahinang kalampag mula sa hallway. It was a rhythmic sound—*thud, drag, thud, drag.*

Agad akong tumayo at binuksan ang pinto. The hallway was dimly lit by flickering wall lamps. Doon, nakita ko si Lily. Bitbit niya ang isang maliit na tray na may baso ng tubig. She was struggling to walk, her weak leg dragging slightly behind her. Dahil sa bigat ng tray, halos tumapon na ang tubig.

"Lily?" tawag ko sa mahinang boses.

Nagulat ang bata. Halos mabitawan niya ang tray nang makita ako. Her eyes widened in that same haunting fear I saw earlier. Lumuhod ako para maging kapantay niya, pilit na pinapalambot ang aking mukhaa.

"Tulungan na kita," sabi ko. Inabot ko ang tray pero mabilis siyang umurong, her back hitting the cold stone wall. Nanginginig ang maliliit niyang kamay.

"Don't be afraid. Hindi ako sasaktan," I whispered.

Bago pa man siya makasagot—kung makakasagot man siya—isang matalim na boses ang pumutol sa katahimikan.

"Lily! What are you doing out here? I told you to bring that to my room five minutes ago!"

Si Charlotte. Naglalakad siya patungo sa amin, ang mukha niya ay puno ng galit. Agad niyang kinuha ang tray mula kay Lily nang ganoon na lang kabilis, dahilan para mapatid ang bata at mapaupo sa sahig.

"Charlotte, she’s just a child!" I snapped, my protective instincts kicking in.

"She’s a servant's daughter who doesn't know her place, Madam," Charlotte retorted, her eyes flashing with malice. "At ikaw, Madam, huwag mong pakialaman ang disiplina sa bahay na ito.

Master Riguel doesn't like it when people are... soft."

"Soft? Disiplina ba ang tawag mo sa pananakit sa bata?" I stood up, my height giving me a bit of an advantage even in my silk slippers. "She’s limping, Charlotte. She needs help, not shouting."

Charlotte laughed, a dry, mocking sound. "Wait until you meet the real Master Riguel, Sofia. Dito sa estate, ang mahihina ay tinatapon. If you want to play hero, do it somewhere else."

Hinila niya si Lily sa braso—too hard, I saw the child wince—at kinaladkad ito palayo. I wanted to follow, to scream, to do something, pero alam kong bago pa lang ako dito. I didn't have the power yet.

Pagsapit ng alas-siyete, tinawag ako ni Charlotte para sa hapunan. I decided to dress up a bit—not for Riguel, but for myself. I wore a simple black slip dress and a cardigan. I needed to feel like the Sofia Hatheaway of Manila, even if I was trapped in a nightmare.

The dining room was massive. A long oak table sat in the middle, illuminated by a chandelier that looked like it cost more than a luxury car. At the head of the table sat Riguel. He had changed into a black button-down shirt, the dark fabric making his blue eyes stand out even more.

"Sit," he said without looking up from his plate.

Umupo ako sa kabilang dulo ng lamesa. The distance between us felt like miles. Charlotte served us in silence. Ang pagkain ay masarap—roasted meat and fresh vegetables—pero bawat subo ko ay tila bumabara sa lalamunan ko.

"Does the food meet your royal standards?" tanong ni Riguel, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"The food is fine, Riguel. It's the company that's a bit hard to swallow," I countered.

He finally looked up, his gaze intense. "You have a sharp tongue for someone whose life was just bought and paid for."

"You didn't buy me. You paid for a contract. There’s a difference."

"Is there?" he leaned forward, the candlelight casting shadows on his rugged face. "You’re here, aren't you? Living in my house, eating my food, carrying my name for the next three months. To the world, you’re the Billionaire’s Wife. To me, you’re a debt settled."

I gripped my fork until my knuckles turned white. "If I'm just a debt settled, then why do you let Charlotte treat Lily like a slave? She’s your niece, Riguel. Your own blood."

The air in the room suddenly turned cold. I saw his jaw tighten, his blue eyes turning into flint. "I told you earlier, Sofia. Do not meddle. Lily is... a complicated matter. She has everything she needs."

"Everything she needs? She’s terrified! She’s limping, she’s mute, and that woman treats her like garbage! Paano mo natitiis na makita ang batang iyon na nagdurusa sa ilalim ng sarili mong bubong?"

Riguel slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing like a gunshot. "Enough! You know nothing about this family or what has happened in this house. You are here to be a wife on paper, not a social worker. If you can't handle the rules, the door is always open—but remember your father’s debt."

He stood up, his towering figure casting a long shadow over me. "Don't ever mention Lily to me again."

He walked out, leaving his food untouched. I sat there in the silence, my heart racing. He was a monster. A beautiful, powerful, and heartless monster.

After dinner, I couldn't sleep. The mansion felt like it was breathing—creaking floorboards, the wind howling through the cracks, and the distant sound of the forest. I decided to walk around, hoping to find where they kept Lily.

I reached the kitchen area and heard voices. I hid behind a large pillar, my heart hammering.

"Did you see her face? Akala mo kung sinong reyna," Charlotte’s voice was unmistakable. She was talking to a man—one of the farmhands, I assumed.

"Hayaan mo na, Charlotte. Magtatagal ba 'yan? Tatlong buwan lang naman ang kontrata," the man replied.

"Kahit isang araw, hindi ko gusto ang presensya niya. She’s already asking about the brat. If she finds out what we’re doing... if she tells Riguel..."

"Riguel doesn't care about that kid. He’s too busy with the empire and the guilt of his brother’s death.

Just keep the kid quiet, and keep the wife out of the way."

My blood ran cold. *What were they doing?* I looked through the gap and saw Charlotte holding a small bottle. She looked satisfied, a wicked glint in her eyes.

I backed away slowly, my mind racing. Riguel might be cold and distant, but Charlotte was something else entirely. She was dangerous. And she was using Riguel’s grief and negligence to hurt a helpless child.

I reached my room and locked the door. I took out my Sun & Moon necklace and held it tight. The metal felt warm in my palm.

I'm not just here to save my father anymore, I thought.

I looked at the calendar on the wall. Day 1 was almost over. Eighty-nine days left. I wasn't just a "Paper Wife" anymore. I was a witness.

Riguel Scott might think he bought a silent doll from the city, but he was about to find out that Sofia Hatheaway doesn't stay quiet when someone is in pain. Even if I have to face a billionaire, a cruel maid, and the ghosts of this house, I will find out the truth.

But first, I have to survive the man who is now my husband. The man who looks at me with hatred, but whose touch—when he accidentally brushed my hand at dinner—felt like fire.