LOGIN“We missed all of you!” he chimed cheerfully. “We missed you too, buddy,” Dino called out, stepping forward with a wide, excited grin. “We even built hammocks and a treehouse at the orchard. You should check them out later.” “Yey! We have a treehouse and hammock!” Atlas’s face lit up instantly,
Four years later— The convoy slowed as it entered Sta. Cristina, the once-quiet town now alive with movement and color. Gone were the uneven dirt roads. In their place stretched smooth pathways that wound through thriving fields—rows upon rows of crops swaying beneath the sun, their greens deeper,
The wedding celebration slowly softened as the sun dipped behind the mountains of Sta. Cristina. Laughter still lingered in the front yard of the humble Greene home—warm, unrestrained, filled with the joy of a union long awaited. But somewhere between the laughter and the fading light—Cassie and A
A breath. “Every day.” Her smile deepened through her tears. “Every lifetime.” Their gazes remained locked—quiet, unwavering—despite the swell of applause rising around them. It filled the chapel, warm and thunderous, echoing against the wooden walls. Pride shone in the men’s eyes, steady and u
"Cassie…” His voice came out quieter than anyone had ever heard it—stripped of authority, stripped of control. Just Ashton. Just a man standing before the woman he loved. After her slow, soulful walk toward him… after Eliseo and Celia had gently, tearfully placed her hand in his— He held her now.
Cassie allowed herself to be pulled forward, though her expression remained stunned, her mind still trying to grasp the sheer extravagance hidden beneath what she thought was simplicity. Behind her, Eliseo and Carmel exchanged a glance. Then, almost in unison, their gazes drifted back to the gown.
"Yeah… you’ve told me that countless times.” She gave a small, hollow chuckle and nodded, as if agreeing with something long settled, something she no longer had the strength to argue against. Turning away from him, she faced the lagoon. The water was calm, the surface reflecting the quiet sky—but
But no matter how hard she hit, the storm inside her did not ease. “Why?!” she demanded, her voice breaking as her fists continued to fall. She no longer cared where she was hitting—his chest, his shoulders, his arms. All she knew was the overwhelming need to release the chaos tearing through her
"Mirriam’s words…” she murmured, the sound barely more than a breath. “…are true,” Ashton finished quietly, holding her gaze. The confirmation hit her harder than she expected. Cassie did not move. She did not flinch. On the surface, she appeared calm—almost detached—but inside, everything was un
Her words echoed, sharp and desperate. “Cassie!” The glass doors slid shut. Her voice faded on the other side. Silence fell. Heavy. Uncomfortable. The staff standing nearby lowered their eyes, anxiety written plainly across their faces as they cautiously glanced toward Ashton. No one spoke. No







