CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

Paper Prison

He turned me around and pressed his hardness against my buttocks. He bit my ear while whispering something incoherent, a low growl that sent shivers down my spine. He unbuttoned his pants, tanging ang natira na lamang ay ang pang-itaas niyang saplot.

"Damn it, did you know I've wanted to taste you for a long time, Coleen!" he whispered. "At sa pangalawang pagkakataon, I am going to claim mine."

Then I felt two large hands cup my breasts. He turned me to face him and kissed me harshly, a bruising claim that tasted of desperation. Then, suddenly, he forced his massive cock into my entrance. Shit. Ang sakit. I cried out, the sudden stretch making me feel like I was being split apart again. He didn't stop, but he quickly found his rhythm, his hard, reddened shaft sliding deep. He began sucking my nipples, causing me to arch my back in a confusing mixture of agony and pleasure.

"Fuck..." he groaned, and my cheeks flushed crimson. "Fuck... Ahh... Shit... Coleen..." He moaned, his eyes closed, utterly lost in the pleasure he was feeling.

He continued devouring me with his gaze and his touch, licking my neck and trailing his tongue along the swell of my breasts. It caused me to arch back, my nails instinctively scratching his broad back because of the overwhelming sensation.

After a while, he pulled his cock out. He made me stand up and turn around, leaning me against the edge of the bed. I, ever obedient, just followed—helpless against the intense power he held over me. I felt his large cock resting against my folds, wet and slick with the evidence of our first encounter.

He stroked his large shaft, and moments later, I felt him piercing the entrance of my pearls again.

"Ahh..." I groaned when he thrust his cock fully into me from behind. It hurt badly, and fresh tears escaped my eyes. The sharp pain made my knees tremble, and I felt utterly drained of strength.

"Hmm... Sir Theo... dore, it's so big... and it-it's fucking hurt... fuck I don't think I can take it anymore..." I whimpered as he hugged me tightly from behind, his tongue licking my ear.

"You'll get used to it, Coleen. Araw-araw kitang gagalawin, aangkinin... until we make a baby," he said with a devilish smile. He kissed my lips before slowly beginning to thrust into me again.

He took it slow at first, even though I was twisting in pain and soreness. It felt like my body was a territory being conquered. In and out. In and out. Gradually, the pain was replaced by a strange sensation—the kind that hurts but makes you crave more. How could anyone not feel the weight of his eight inches of man-size deep inside for the second time in one day?

His lips found mine while he kept thrusting, stifling my moans. "Fuck, Coleen," he groaned, continuing his rough pace.

"Ahh..." I pleaded and moaned, biting my lower lip to keep from screaming.

I was shocked when he suddenly sped up his thrusts, the bed creaking under the force of his dominance. I cried out loudly, but he quickly covered my mouth with his hand, forcing me to take every inch of him in silence.

"Fuck, I'm so close," he muttered, staring up at the ceiling with a primal intensity. He pounded into me hard one last time, and suddenly I felt his cock swell inside me as he released his white liquid. I felt the heat of his semen deep within my womb—the literal seeds of the contract.

He finally pulled out, leaving me sore, trembling, and feeling utterly empty inside. I expected him to just walk away again, to treat me like a used asset—but he didn't. Instead, he cupped my cheeks with his calloused hands, forcing me to look up into his dark brown eyes.

He leaned down, pressing a softer, almost lingering kiss against my swollen lips. My breath hitched.

"You don't get it, do you?" he whispered, his thumb brushing against my lips. "Starting now... you belong to me. I own you, and you're mine."

Ang lamig ng aircon sa penthouse ay hindi sapat para pawiin ang init na naiwan sa balat ko. Nakahiga ako sa gitna ng malawak na kama, yakap ang puting duvet habang pinapanood si Zayne na naglalakad patungo sa banyo. He looked perfectly fine—hindi man lang hinihingal, hindi man lang bakas sa mukha ang pagod. Habang ako, pakiramdam ko ay nagkapira-piraso ang pagkatao ko sa bawat haplos at pag-angkin niya.

I looked at the digital clock on the side table. 2:00 AM. Ilang oras na lang, lilipad na si Tatay patungong Singapore para sa kanyang operasyon. Iyon lang ang tanging dahilan kung bakit hinahayaan ko ang sarili kong maging ganito—isang laruan sa kamay ng isang Montenegro.

Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto ng banyo. Lumabas si Zayne na may tuwalya lang na nakabalot sa kanyang baywang. Ang mga patak ng tubig ay dahan-dahang bumababa sa kanyang sculpted chest, pero hindi ko magawang humanga. Ang nakikita ko lang ay ang lalaking binuwag ang lahat ng pangarap ko sa loob ng isang araw.

"Don't just lay there, Coleen. Get up," malamig niyang utos.

Naupo ako, pilit na itinatago ang aking dibdib gamit ang kumot. "Sir—Theodore, gabi na. Kailangan ko pang mag-ayos ng gamit para sa flight ni Tatay."

"My staff already handled your father's luggage. Everything is set. But before you leave this room, there's one more thing you need to sign."

Naglakad siya patungo sa kanyang desk at kinuha ang isang folder. Inilapag niya ito sa ibabaw ng kama, direkta sa harap ko.

"Marriage Certificate?" bulong ko habang binabasa ang titulo ng dokumento. "Akala ko ba... akala ko ba sa susunod na buwan pa 'to?"

"I changed my mind. My cousins are starting to dig into your background. If they find out there's no official record of our union, they'll use it against us. Against you." Umupo siya sa gilid ng kama, ang kanyang presensya ay tila sumasakal sa akin. "Sign it now. A lawyer is waiting in the living room to notarize it."

"Sir Theodore, kasal 'to. Kahit peke, magiging asawa mo ako sa mata ng batas," giit ko, ang boses ko ay nanginginig.

"Exactly. And that marriage is your protection. Kapag asawa na kita, walang sinuman sa pamilya ko ang pwedeng humipo sa 'yo nang walang pahintulot ko." Kinuha niya ang isang fountain pen at iniabot sa akin. "Sign, Coleen. Isipin mo na lang na ito ang huling hakbang para sa kaligtasan ng tatay mo."

Ginamit niya na naman ang alas niya. My father. Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang sinusulat ang pangalan ko. Coleen Alexandra S. Enriquez. Sa tabi nito ay ang pirma niya—isang matapang at direktang Theodore Zayne V. Montenegro. It was done. I was officially Mrs. Montenegro. Pero bakit pakiramdam ko ay mas naging bilanggo ako? Isang papel lang ito, pero ito ang rehas ng aking kulungan.

"Good. Now, go to the closet. May nakahandang travel outfit doon. We're leaving for the airport in thirty minutes."

Ang byahe patungong airport ay tahimik. Nakatingin lang ako sa bintana, pinapanood ang mga ilaw ng syudad na tila mabilis na lumilipas—gaya ng buhay ko na biglang nagbago sa loob ng dalawampu't apat na oras.

Pagdating sa private hangar ng mga Montenegro, nakita ko agad ang medical jet. Doon, nakita ko si Tatay na nakahiga sa stretcher, may mga tubo sa katawan pero gising.

"Tatay!" mabilis akong bumaba ng sasakyan at tumakbo patungo sa kanya.

"Coleen... anak," mahina niyang tawag. Hawak niya ang kamay ko, ang kanyang mga mata ay puno ng pag-aalala. "Sabi ng mga doktor, ipapadala raw ako sa Singapore. Ang mahal niyan, anak. Saan tayo kumuha ng pera?"

Naramdaman ko ang pagtayo ni Zayne sa likuran ko. Ipinatong niya ang kanyang kamay sa balikat ko, isang pekeng pagpapakita ng suporta.

"Don't worry, Mang Nestor," Zayne's voice was surprisingly gentle, a complete contrast to the monster I knew in the bedroom. "Coleen and I... we're getting married. This is my gift to my future father-in-law."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Tatay. "Kasal? Totoo ba 'to, Coleen?"

Tumingin ako kay Zayne. He was smiling—a charming, perfect smile that could fool the world. I looked back at my father and forced a nod. "Opo, Tay. Mahal po namin ang isa't isa. Gusto niya lang po na maging maayos ang lagay niyo bago ang kasal namin."

Naiyak si Tatay sa tuwa. "Salamat... salamat, Sir Zayne. Napakabuti niyo."

Gusto kong sumigaw. Gusto kong sabihin kay Tatay na binenta ko ang sarili ko para sa kanya. Pero nanatili akong tahimik. Pinanood ko silang isakay si Tatay sa jet. Kasama niya ang isang team ng mga top-tier specialists.

Nang makaalis na ang jet, naiwan kaming dalawa ni Zayne sa gitna ng runway. Ang malamig na hangin ng madaling araw ay humahampas sa amin.

"Happy now?" tanong ni Zayne, ang kanyang boses ay bumalik na sa dati—malamig at walang pakialam.

"Nakuha mo na ang gusto mo. Kasal na tayo. Papunta na si Tatay sa Singapore. Ano pa ang kailangan mo?" tanong ko, pilit na itinatago ang lungkot.

"I need you to move your things to the Montenegro Mansion today. We're not staying in the penthouse anymore. The Council wants us under their roof para masiguro na hindi tayo naglolokohan."

"Sa mansion? Pero ang sabi mo—"

"Plans change, Coleen. Get used to it." Hinila niya ako patungo sa sasakyan. "And one more thing. My mother is coming home from Europe tomorrow. She doesn't know about you. And she hates surprises."

Lalong bumigat ang pakiramdam ko. If the cousins were vultures, Zayne's mother, the matriarch of the Vidalle-Montenegro branch, was known to be a dragon.

Pagbalik sa mansion, sinalubong kami ng mga katulong na nakayuko. Dinala ako ni Zayne sa master suite—isang kwartong mas malawak pa sa buong apartment ko.

"This is our room. Half of the walk-in closet is yours. My staff will bring the rest of your things later."

Naupo ako sa dulo ng kama, pagod na pagod ang isip at katawan. "Zayne... bakit ako? Maraming ibang babae dyan. Maraming mas maganda, mas mayaman, mas bagay sa 'yo."

Tumigil siya sa pagtanggal ng kanyang relo at tumingin sa akin. Lumapit siya at lumuhod sa harap ko, dahilan para magpantay ang aming mga mata. He took my hands in his, his grip surprisingly firm.

"Because you're the only one who doesn't look at me like I'm a bank account, Coleen," he whispered. "And because you're the only one who can handle the darkness of this family without breaking... yet."

"Gusto mo ba akong sirain?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he leaned in and kissed my forehead—a rare, soft gesture that confused my heart. "Sleep, Mrs. Montenegro. Our real war starts tomorrow."

Nang gabing iyon, habang magkatabi kami sa kama pero may malawak na distansya sa pagitan, hindi ako makatulog. I was legally his. I was carrying his legacy. But as I listened to his steady breathing, I realized that the hardest part of this contract wasn't the sex or the secrets.

It was the fact that despite everything he did, my body was starting to crave his touch. And in the world of the Montenegros, falling in love was the only sin that could truly get you killed.

Pumikit ako at nanalangin na sana, paggising ko, panaginip lang ang lahat. Pero ang bigat ng dyamanteng singsing sa daliri ko ay sapat na paalala—this was my reality. And there was no way out of the golden cage.