6

I’ve lost count of how many times I sighed today. It’s becoming a habit ever since Sebastian started living here. I asked Niu about it, but he would just shrug and say he didn’t know. It’s frustrating because I don’t know what to do around the house anymore. Every time he’s around, I get so self-conscious—and it’s stressing me out. I notice his every move, and I get conscious of myself, how I look, how I smell when he’s nearby.

“Claire, Mom’s here!” Niu called out.

I developed this habit of locking myself in the bathroom whenever I need to think. It’s become my personal space ever since I married Niu. In here, I can be honest with myself—I don’t have to pretend I’m happy in front of everyone. Here, I can talk to myself in the mirror and pour my heart out.

I heaved a deep sigh and turned to the door.

“Go ahead, I’ll be out in a few,” I said, cracking the door open just slightly to let Niu know he should go down first.

I quickly took off my nightgown and stepped into the shower. My mother-in-law was visiting for her gown selection for her upcoming 65th birthday party. She’s an icon in the country—being the first Filipina crowned Miss Universe. Her beauty is ethereal, and she truly passed it on to her children.

After showering, I blow-dried my hair and tied it into a messy bun. I wore a white spaghetti strap maxi dress with floral details. I skipped the makeup, opting only for red lipstick to add color to my bare face. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. Simple yet elegant—that’s what my mom always said. A woman who wears less reflects elegance. Content with how I looked, I stepped out and headed to the grand staircase. They were all gathered in the receiving area; my mother-in-law was speaking with a woman, while Sebastian and Niu were on the sofa, deep in conversation.

Mama saw me coming down the stairs and greeted me with a wide smile. I glanced at Sebastian—he was staring intently at me. His face was blank, but I caught a flicker of admiration in his eyes.

“Claire, hija!” Mama hugged me tightly as I approached. She looked me over and her smile grew even wider. Her beauty and warmth were timeless. Amalia Altamirano—still stunning. Like an antique, she only grew more precious with age. She had always been one of my inspirations back when I was joining pageants.

“Hello po, Ma,” I greeted her politely. I returned her hug and kissed her cheek.

“You’re truly beautiful, hija,” she said admiringly. Her compliment made me blush. It meant so much coming from someone I looked up to.

“Thank you, Ma. And you—you don’t look anywhere near sixty-five.” I stepped closer and whispered.

She laughed heartily at that. I was amazed by how she laughed. So graceful, so queenly. Every move she made was deliberate, like true royalty. I wished I could have the same poise and elegance she had.

“You always flatter me, hija,” she said with a laugh. “By the way, this is Tasya, the top designer from Rattle,” she introduced me to a petite woman.

“Hi,” I said with a smile and reached out my hand. She was cute with her bobcut hair, which gave her a sweet and approachable look. She had a friendly vibe, and her smile was disarming. Her outfit was a bit revealing, but not in a distracting way.

“Tasya, darling. This is my beautiful daughter, Claire,” Mama said.

“Hi, nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you,” Tasya said. I caught a meaningful glance she gave Sebastian before turning back to me with a smile.

“And these are my boys, Sebastian and Niu.”

“Hi,” she greeted the two men sitting on the couch. Her wide smile raised an eyebrow from me. I noticed the way she looked at Seb—it felt like there was something between them. I looked at Seb again and saw him smirking at me. I rolled my eyes. So arrogant.

“We meet again,” Seb said. So, they do know each other.

“You two know each other?” Mama asked curiously, eyes flicking between the two of them.

“Uhh, yeah.” Tasya seemed unsure how to respond. She gave an awkward smile, and in that moment, I knew—there was something between them. They shared something I didn’t know about. And I don’t know why, but I felt betrayed.

Suddenly, my chest tightened at the thought. The idea that Sebastian was into someone else stirred something painful inside me. And I didn’t like it—because I knew what it was. And I shouldn’t be feeling this way about my brother-in-law.

Stop it, Claire!

This is shameful!

“So, let’s start,” Mama said. I turned to her and gave a smile before nodding. I sat on the sofa beside Niu. Sebastian was across from us, legs crossed, arms spread out on the back of the sofa. I avoided looking at him and focused on the catalog Tasya placed on the center table.

“Darling, the motif of the party is gold and black, so I want our gowns to be the same. But I think I’ll go with gold. How about you, dear?” Mama asked.

“I think black with gold details will look good on me,” I replied as I continued browsing the designs in the catalog. Rattle designers really knew how to create beautiful gowns. There were so many to choose from. One design stood out—a simple bodycon dress with a dramatically scooped back. The sleeves were made of lace with gold details.

“I think I like this one,” I said. I showed the design to Mama and she agreed.

“That’s perfect, dear,” she said. I let her and Tasya talk about the gown she wanted for herself.

“You look good in everything you wear,” Niu said from beside me. I turned to him and saw he had been staring at his brother before turning to me and wrapping an arm around my waist.

“What?” I asked, puzzled.

I let out an awkward laugh. Niu wasn’t usually like this. Sure, we sometimes acted like a real couple in public, but we definitely didn’t do this at home.