The youngest billionaire of the Aragon Empire is in disguise! With a broken heart, Garett freed his fiance from a miserable engagement and let her marry the one she truly loved. They were trapped in an arranged marriage and desperate to save their family's company ay napilitan silang ipagkasundo. Garett finds himself slowly falling in love with her and in fear that his dad will successfully manipulate his life. He ran away and was nowhere to be found... Gamit ang ibang pagkakakilalan ay walang hirap na naitago niya sa publiko ang kanyang tunay na pagkatao hanggang sa makilala niya ang dalagang si Corine Almeda. Unti-unti ay nasanay siya sa mundong ginagalawan ng dalaga na nagpabago sa araw-araw niyang pamumuhay bilang ordinaryong tao. When he learned about her family was similar to her ex-fiance situation. He offered her marriage to save her father's blowing hospital bills Ito ang tanging nakikita niyang paraan upang lalong galitin ang ama sa kabila ng pagpipilit nito maipakasal siya sa katulad nilang nasa mataas na estado. But Corine didn't know he is a true billionaire, will Corine get mad at him when he finds out the truth na ginamit lamang niya ito upang mapaglaruan ang sariling ama niya? Mniniwala kaya ito kung aminin na may namumuo ng pag-ibig sa kanilang pagpapanggap?
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~~SLOANE~~ *** I've been in love with my best friend, Finn Hartley, since we met in college ten years ago. It's not like I'll ever tell him I have feelings for him. I know he doesn't see me that way. He probably won't ever see me that way. Right now, we’re in his living room, and I’m holding him to my chest, listening to him sob. That damn girlfriend of his has broken his heart again, the third time this year. "I can't believe she did this to me, Sloane," Finn says. I run my fingers through his hair, trying to ignore how good it feels. "What exactly did she do?" I ask. "You still haven't told me." "I don't know how to say it." "Well, start from somewhere." My patience is wearing thin. I've been here for hours, sacrificing my Saturday to watch him disintegrate. I don't know why he bothers crying when he'll be back in her bed by next week anyway. They do this every damn time. I should be more sympathetic, I know. But ten years of watching him chase after the same toxic woman tends to erode a person's sympathy. "Delilah's not coming back, Slaone," he says. “She left me for good this time.” "You know that's a lie." "It's true. She's engaged. She sent me this digital wedding invitation, and I've been thinking about running my phone through a meat grinder." That actually surprises me. Engaged? Delilah's getting married? Finn pulls away from me, and I can finally see his face. The stubble on his jaw has grown past the sexy phase into something wilder. His white t-shirt is rumpled and stained with what might be yesterday's dinner. I've never seen him this wrecked, and that's saying something. He fumbles for his phone, fingers trembling as he pulls up the screen. Then he thrusts the phone at me. There it is—a nauseating rose-gold invitation with flowing script announcing the union of Delilah Crestfield and some guy named Hunter. Eight weeks from now. My heart skips several beats, a fluttering sensation spreading through my chest. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. This is the best news I've heard in years. The witch is finally, actually, genuinely out of the picture. "Poor baby," I say, trying to sound sympathetic. "Did you know she was dating someone else?" "I mean, it's Delilah. When has she ever been faithful?" "You've got a point." I hand him back his phone. "I just can't believe she's leaving me, Sloane." He collapses back into the sofa, staring at the ceiling like it might offer some cosmic explanation. "I find it hard to believe myself," I say. My eyes trace his strong jaw, his lips, the eyelashes spiked with dried tears. I've memorized every inch of his face over the years, cataloged every expression. This one is new—complete and utter defeat. It should make me sad to see him so broken, but all I can think is, ‘This is my chance.’ They've been lovers since high school, way before I came into Finn's life. Sometimes I wonder if that's the key to her hold on him—she knew him before I did, when he was just a boy with a fragile heart. I've watched Delilah string him along, always knowing she'd come back for another round. The thought that she's finally cut him loose is both thrilling and terrifying. What happens to us now? "Who am I without her, Sloane?" Finn asks. "You're Finn Hartley. You'll be alright." I reach over to squeeze his knee. “I can't be alright without Lila.” "There are over eight billion people in this world, statistically. Just pick someone new." "Statistically? You're such a nerd." His words hurt. He's said it a million times before, his usual teasing about my cybersecurity analyst job, my love for random facts, and my collection of vintage sci-fi novels. But today it lands differently. A nerd. That's all I am to him. Not a woman. Never a woman. I stand abruptly, smoothing down my jeans and adjusting my glasses. I’ll show him just how wild I can be. "You know what?" I say. "Let's go to a club and get wasted." Finn looks at me like I've suggested we rob a bank. "You want to go to a club?" "Yes." "Have you ever been to a club before?" He sits up straighter, some of the fog clearing from his eyes as he takes me in—plain Sloane in her weekend uniform of jeans and a faded band t-shirt, hair in its usual bob and bangs. "Not exactly. But there'll be drinking and dancing. I bet it will be fun." I sound more confident than I feel. The truth is, clubs are my personal hell—loud music, sweaty strangers, overpriced drinks. But I'd walk through actual fire if it would make Finn smile again. A slow grin spreads across his face. "Great," he says. "You're right. I need a distraction." He stands up, suddenly energized. "I’ll go put on something appropriate, and then we'll stop by your house so you can change out of whatever the hell you have on right now." I look down at my outfit, suddenly self-conscious. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" "Nothing, if we were going to a library book sale." He disappears into his bedroom, calling back, "Trust me, Sloane. Let's show Delilah what she's missing!" I sink back onto the couch, already regretting my impulsive idea. What have I gotten myself into? ~~~ The club is everything I feared and worse. The dress Finn insisted I wear—pulled from the back of my closet, a relic from a cousin's wedding three years ago—is too tight, too short, and making me painfully aware of body parts I usually manage to ignore. We've been here for forty minutes. Forty minutes of watching Finn transform into someone I barely recognize—throwing back shots at the bar. Twenty minutes ago, he found a girl—a tall, willowy blonde in a dress that looks spray-painted onto her body. Amber. That's her name. I stand awkwardly at the dance floor, nursing a watered-down vodka soda, watching Finn and Amber grind against each other in a way that should probably be illegal in public. Her back is to his chest, her arms raised above her head, fingers tangled in his hair. His hands are on her hips, guiding her movements, his face buried in her neck. I feel sick. I feel stupid. I feel painfully, obviously alone. "Sloane?" Finn calls out. "You can't just stand there. Dance!" "I don't know how to," I shout back. Amber frowns at me. "Then why are you here?" "To keep an eye on my best friend." "Like a chaperone?" "Yes," I say. "In case you try to slip him a roofie or something." Finn looks embarrassed. "Just ignore her," he says to Amber, his arm tightening around her waist. "She's a control freak." Amber snorts. "More like your mom." "Big sister would be more appropriate," Finn corrects. Amber's eyes rake over me in a way that makes my skin prickle. "She's hot though, with her bangs and screw-me glasses. A hot nerd." Finn grimaces. "That's not a very comfortable image." “Come on. Don't you see it?” “See what?” “You don't find her nerdish vibes stimulating?” Finn is thankfully avoiding my eyes. “More dancing, less talking.” "Seriously? You're not even a little tempted to see Sloane naked?"GARETT: Two hours ago…“What are you doing here, fucker?” Garett got a regular greeting from his brother, Gunner, when he saw him hanging out on the balcony. He spent his night at their penthouse. This was the place where they usually hung out. The four of them had their own rooms here in case they didn’t want to spend the night in their mansion. Ito ang nagsisilbing bahay-bahayan nila.They always gather here whenever they want to bond or catch up with one another. They don’t usually do that anymore as time goes by. Bihira rin silang magkasama-samang lahat simula ng mag-asawa ang pinakapanganay nilang kapatid na si Gael Aragon.At sa tuwing magkakaroon nagpagkakataon ay madalas na may kulang ng isang.It was his first time stepping into their safe haven after running away for four months. Ang pagbati mula sa pangalawang nakakatandang kapatid na si Gunner ay hindi na bago sa kanya. This was his way to catch a little thing happening in his life.“All geared up?” He was watching his br
CORINE: Hindi nakapagtimping inirapan ni Corine si Garett sa lumabas sa bibig na matabil nito. Tila natauhan naman si Garett na naisabulas iyon ay pagkwa’t napakisap mata.He composed himself again and brush off his neck. Eksaktong bumukas naman ang elevator na kanilang pinanggalingan. Muling bumati ang nakasakay na operator sa loob ng elevator na iyon.“Good—”Ngunit ito na rin ang kusang tumigil sa pagbati ng maramdaman yata ang namumuong tension sa pagitan nila ni Garett.“Corine, I’m sorry—”Ngunit bago pa matapos ni Garett ang litany anito ay inirapan niya at pumasok sa loob ng elevator. Kaagad naman siyang sinundan ni Garett sa elevator.“Corine,” Muli nitong tawag ngunit mas gugustuin niya pang baliin ang leeg huwag lamang tignan ang gagong si Garett.“Down please!” Mariin niyang utos sa operator, hindi man sinasadyang masungitan din ito ay hindi niya kayang pekein ang nararamdamang pagkainis sa lalaking ito.“No, can you please step outside for a minute?” Masuyong tanong ni Ga
CORINE: Corine couldn’t stop fidgeting with her foot while sitting quietly in the remote area of the security office. Ang tangi kasama niya ay isang gwardya na nakatingin lamang sa kanya na waring nakabantay sa kanya. Her bag was not with her dahil kinuha iyon ng mga humila sa kanya papunta sa opisinang iyon.Hindi niga niya alam kung bakit siya narito at ano ang ginawa niya bukod sa sinabi ng mga ito na may nakapasok sa magnanakaw?Were they accusing her of being a thief?Sa cute niyang ito?!Hell no.“Uhm— Ano hindi ba ako pwedeng makitawag?” Binasag niya angkatahimikan sa mukhang tuod na security guard na nasa kanyang tapat. The was just standing there and didn’t make any motions. Mukhang mga tigasin ang mga ito.Nakashades lamang ito na may cable na headset na nakasuot sa teynga. Mukhang hindi basta-bastang security guards ang mga ito. Mukhang nga body guards ng mga mayayamang pulitiko or whatever.Tinapunan laman siya ng malaking mama at hindi man lang kumibo kahit ang bibig nito
GARETT: “Just put it on my tab.” Utos niya sa dalagang kasabay niyang lumabas sa fitting room upang sabihin na i-wrap na ang mga napiling mga damit.“Sir, where do you want to deliver it?” Agad nitong tanong habang nakasunod sa kanya papalabas.“At the penthouse.” Ngunit ang atensyon niya ay wala sa kasama. He was confused when he saw no one outside the fitting room. “Where is the woman?” He asked. Ang tinutukoy niya ay si Corine.Wala rin ang isa pang kasamahang empleyado na naiwan kasama ni Corine. The fitting room was soundproof kung kaya’t wala siyang maririnig na ingay mula sa area na ito kapag nasa loob.Nagkibit-balikat naman ang babaeng kasama niya na tila hinahanap rin ang nawawalang kasamahan.“Sir!”Hindi pa man siya nakakapagreact ng maayos sa pagkawala ni Corine ay kaagad namang pumaosk muli mula sa labas ang babaeng kasamahan ng empleyado. She looked worried.Kaagad itong lumapit at bumulong sa kanya.“Yung kasama niyo po, nasa security department ng mall sa upper floor”
CORINE: “Ahhhhh— Ah!...Ah…Ahhh. Wow, Ang ganda?” Mula sa maingay na pagsigaw ng hilahin siya si Corine ni Garett ng tuloy-tuloy hanggang sa maigaya siya sa naghihintay na isa malaking double swing door. Muli ay nakakita na naman siya ng dalawang nakaunipormeng babae na katulad na nasa front deskt.Malugod silang sinalubon ng dalawang babaeng nag-aabang sa kanila papalapit upang pagbuksan sila ng double swing door.“Get in first.” Corine heard him commanded her while tossing her inside the room. Ang tili niya ay unti ngang napalitan ng pagkamangha dahil iba sa iniisip ay hindi isang hotel room ang pinagdalhan sa kanya ng binata.The room was painted bright white na para kang nasa ospital. There were a luxury couch made in a fine leather fabric and it was in the center of that room. It was spacious enough—No, Mas sobra pa sa malaking room ng isang private hospital na walang hospital bed. Sa tapa ng mga couches at mga salaaming hiwa-hiwalay na parang sa mga fitting room ng isang Korean d
CORINE: Isang bugtong hininga ang pinakawalan ni Corine nang marahan niyang apakan ang break ng kanyang kotse. Hindi niya alam kung saan parte matutuwa?Sa parting humupa naman ang mga red spot at rashes ng binate dahil nadaan sa ice pack ang mga ito? O matutuwa siyang malaman na mas mamahalin pa ang itinurong lugar ni Garett kesa sa alam niyang pag bibilhan ng mga original na damit.“Nandito na tayo.” Mahinang bigkas niya upang ipagbigay alam sa katabing binate na naroon na sila sa may drop off ng mall. Mahigpit nitong bilin na idaan ang kanyang sasakyan sa pinakabasement na parking area ng building na iyon.Nilingon niya ang binata ng mapagtantong hindi ito sumasagot. Garett was asleep. Nakatulog na yata ito sa tindi ng traffic na kanilang dinaanan. Biruin mo, Malapit lamang iyon sa pinanggalingan nilang lugar ngunit halos isa’t kalahating oras ang iniikot niya upang makahanap ng mas mabilis na route upang makarating sa A-pire mall.Yes!A-pire MallThe most prestigious mall in this
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