CHAPTER 1

*TITLE: BOUGHT BY THE VIRGIN BILLIONAIRE -

CHAPTER 1

The GenSan Public Market was noisy as usual. Maingay, mainit, amoy isda at mangga. Pero si Elara Santos, 23 years old, hindi niya iniinda ang init. She was busy arranging her tomatoes and mangoes. Her white t-shirt was already wet with sweat, pero maganda pa rin siya. Maputi, long black hair, matapang ang mata.

"Elara, wala pa ka nakabayad sa utang?" sigaw ni Aling Nena, the loan shark collector. "Tomorrow po, Aling Nena. Promise," sagot ni Elara, nanginginig ang kamay. "Tomorrow mo mukha mo! P300k yun!"

Then a black Range Rover stopped. Lahat napatingin. A man went out. Matangkad, 6'2, wearing expensive black shirt. His eyes were cold like ice.

"Elara Santos?" His voice was deep, baritone. "O-opo... Ako po..."

"I'm Draven Valiente. I own Valiente Airlines and Valiente Farms. Your mother borrowed P300k from my company. Ginamit niya ang 2 hectares na lupa sa Bula as collateral. And she missed 6 payments. So now, the land is mine."

"What?! Hindi pwede yan! Pinaghirapan ng Papa ko yun!"

"Then pay me. Now. P300k," Draven said calmly. "Saan ako kukuha ng P300k ngayon?! Barya lang benta ko dito sa kamatis, Sir!"

Draven looked at her lips, then at her eyes na namumugto na. He stepped closer. Naamoy ni Elara ang pabango niya — expensive, woody.

"Okay. I'll make you a deal. I will pay your P300k debt. I will give you another P200k for your mother's hospital. And I will not take your farm. In return..."

"In return ano po?"

"Marry me. One year contract marriage. You will live in my mansion in Lagao. You will be my wife in papers. You will cook for me, you will sleep in my bed — but don't worry, hindi kita gagalawin unless pumayag ka. I just need a wife for one year to get my inheritance. My grandfather said I need to marry to get his 10 billion. And I choose you."

"Marry you?! Hindi kita kilala!" "And you don't need to know me. You just need to obey me. Rule number one: No other men. No texting other men. No smiling at other men in this market. You are Mrs. Valiente. Akin ka lang."

"Ang kapal mo! Hindi ako for sale!"

But Draven grabbed her wrist gently and pulled her against the crates of tomatoes. His body pressed against hers. "You are already bought, Elara," he whispered. "The moment you said you need P300k, you were already mine." And then he kissed her. It was hard, possessive, punishing, but also desperate — like a 34-year-old virgin billionaire who finally found a woman he wants to keep forever. Elara tried to push him, pero natunaw siya. Her first kiss.

When he let go, Elara was panting. "So... deal?" Draven asked, holding out a black credit card. Elara looked at her mother's picture in her wallet, at the farm behind. She had no choice. "O-opo... Deal po..." Draven smiled — a dangerous, handsome smile. "Good girl. Welcome home, Mrs. Valiente."

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