Chapter 1

"We lost the regional account! Should we celebrate this incompetence?"

Matindi ang tensyon sa Glass Boardroom ng Lucero Prime Holdings sa mga oras na yun. Lahat ng board members ay tikom-bibig, pigil ang hininga at hindi man lang magawang makipag-eye contact.

"Sino ang nag-approve ng 12% ad spend increase para sa flop na campaign na 'to? Do you think my money grows on—"

*beep... *boop... *beep...

Isang kakaibang tunog ang biglang bumasag sa seryoso nilang meeting, na nanggagaling mismo sa laruan ng isang super cute na nilalang.

"I am looking for you, Mr. Gavinn Lucero!" sigaw nito sa harap ng CEO. Maliit ang boses, pero looking cool and composed.

Agad natahimik ang CEO, maging ang atensyon ng buong board ay nabaling din. Umirap pa ang bata habang naka-cross ang mga maliliit nitong braso across his chest.

"This is extremely urgent. Mommy is getting married soon, and I strongly recommend your immediate intervention, daddy."

The entire room gasped. Sino ba namang hindi magugulat sa sinabi ng bata? Walang nakakakilala nito, even the CEO mismo ay nagtaka at nabigla kung bakit siya tinawag na daddy.

*****

"Bro, mukhang it's time to say goodbye sa single era mo. Your wedding is just three days away."

Matindi ang pagdagundong ng bass sa buong penthouse ng Luxoir Tower, tanging mga LED lights lang ang nagbibigay-buhay sa mausok na sky suite, palatandaan na hindi lang ito basta ordinaryong event.

Isang elite celebration ang naganap sa gabing iyon, Gavinn Lucero's bachelor party to be exact. The ultimate countdown bago ang kasal ng 'The Golden Boy of Philippine Business.' Sa mga oras na iyon, todo-celebrate silang mag-tropa. At ang initial agenda nila? A groom's night out with a twist. Kapag mga trust-fund babies talaga at young billionaires ang magiging core circle mo, tiyak there was no such thing as 'decent' sa kahit na anong party.

“Time to explore other flavors, Gavinn. Dahil once ikinasal ka na, bawal ka nang tumikim ng iba."

“Agree! Grab the chance, bro. Hindi na kasi pwedeng madungisan ang pangalan ng Lucero kapag certified husband ka na.”

Sa gitna ng intense at wild energy ng kanilang usapan, pumasok si Shelly Mendoza. She was one of the exotic dancers for the night, part ng elite entourage na magbibigay entertainment to keep the party vibe alive and on-point. She was wearing her signature cat woman outfit suot ang black masquerade mask.

Nang sumayaw na siya sa gitna kasama ang ibang girls, she instantly clocked her dynamics and directives. Agad namang nakipag-flirt sa kanya ang mga elite boys. But amidst the immediate attention, her eyes unexpectedly landed on the center of attraction: Gavinn Lucero, who was looking totally unbothered and dangerously charming.

Sino ba naman ang tangang tatanggi sa isang visually striking business tycoon? Gavinn was devastatingly appealing, literal na walking sin siya sa gulo ng sarili niyang party. Pero si Shelly? Auto-pass kaagad. Kailangan niyang iwasan si Gavinn kasi alam niyang ikakasal na ito. Kaya lang, she was still trapped under his strong presence, hanggang unti-unting binasag nito ang buong katinuan niya.

Then, biglang tumayo si Gavinn at lumapit kay Shelly, as if he was just picking a 'favorite player' in the game. In that moment, Shelly couldn’t afford showing any hesitation. Ang natatangi niya lang gawin was to play with him along and act like she was in control. Dahil once lumabas ang kahit na anong resistance, she would end up nothing for sure.

Akala niya ay simpleng 'meet and greet' lang ang mangyayari, just like how Gavinn and his circle treated the other girls. Pero mapaglaro talaga ang tadhana. Unexpectedly, bigla siyang dinala nito sa mas tahimik na private room ng penthouse. There, everything felt like it slipped out of focus.

"Mr. Lucero," sambit niya, nanginig ang buong katawan niya sa sobrang pangangamba. Pero pinigilan siya ni Gavinn nang sandaling nilapat nito ang hintuturo sa kanyang mga labi.

"Mr. Lucero... please." paki-usap niya ulit, kaso hindi nakinig si Gavinn sa kanya. Bigla siya nitong hinalikan sa labi, yung halik na parang gusto nitong angkinin ang buong pagkatao niya.

The door clicked shut immediately, locking out the world she thought she still had control over. Sa loob ng isang master bedroom ng penthouse, lahat ng linya na dapat malinaw ay unti-unting naglaho. And that night, her simple performance turned into a reckless mistake she would never be able to undo.

Kinabukasan, bago pa man mag-vibrate ang alarm ni Gavinn, Shelly was already out of the door at umuwi agad na parang walang nangyari. She was certain of it. Inisip niya na part lang yun ng trabaho niya.

Gavinn was a red flag with a multi-billion dollar trust fund, at wala siyang balak maging collateral damage sa magulong buhay nito. Ginalaw niya agad ang baso. She blocked the memory, deleted any trace of that night, and focused fully on rebuilding her life and outrunning her past.

Until exactly one month later, nagulat nalang siya sa panibagong kabanata ng buhay niya.

"Congratulations, Miss Mendoza. You are approximately six weeks pregnant."

Halos gumuho ang mundo niya sa sinabi ng doktor. Six weeks pregnant. Hindi niya ito matanggap. Magulo pa ang buhay niya at wala siyang panahon para sa pagiging ina na hindi niya pinaghandaan.

"I’m sure your husband will be thrilled kapag nalaman niyang buntis ka. First baby niyo ba?"

Husband.

Dito na tuluyang nagsink-in sa kanya ang lahat. Agad siyang nanlamig habang unti-unting nilalamon ng takot ang kanyang buong pagkatao.

That Gavinn incident was the only one she actually crossed the line and slept with. And right now, there was only one possibility she couldn’t ignore. Gavinn Lucero was the father. Kaya lang, kinasal na ito three days after what happened between them.

"May anak ako kay Gavinn? No! Hindi pwede 'to. Isang malaking kahihiyan 'to sa mga pamilya namin," wika niya sa sarili.

Nasa sinapupunan ni Shelly ang tagapagmana ng Lucero Prime Holdings and the next 'Golden Boy of Philippine Business.' At hindi lang basta lalaki si Gavinn sa buhay niya. Siya ang klaseng lalaki na kailangan niyang iwasan at kalimutan.

Mas mabuti kung mamuhay lang ang bata sa normal at hindi sa marangyang paraan. At mas mabuti kung lumayo sila sa gulo. Aksidente ang nangyari, at hangga't maaari, ililihim niya ito.

Now that Gavinn Lucero went on to live his married life, Shelly's world, on the other hand, was officially turned upside down.