Five years ago, I was rejected and humiliated in front of countless eyes by Hugo Maximiliano Cassilas. After that, his fans treated me cruelly because of my geeky appearance. To them, I was shameless and completely out of place. But none of that justifies the bullying that left me emotionally scarred and forced me into years of therapy. Now, I’ve returned—transformed, and ready for revenge. Every humiliation I endured, I will repay. And Hugo Maximiliano is the prime target of my most ruthless reckoning. But fate has a twisted sense of humor—my thirst for revenge has trapped me in a marriage… with Hugo himself. Can I carry out my revenge while bound by marriage? Or will I end up falling for Hugo all over again?
Lihat lebih banyak“May I join you?”
A baritone whisper brushed my ear, jolting me amid the nightclub’s pulsing music. I spun around and found Dario, the senior once notorious as a playboy during our college days. Two years had passed, yet nothing about him had changed. Revolting.
“You’ve grown even more enchanting… and sexy, Ana,” he praised softly.
Compliments like that have followed me for years. But instead of feeling flattered, I only felt disgusted. With how I look now, people treat me differently. I’m offered friendships, blind dates, even casual hookups. The world has gone mad. This was actually my first time in a place like this. Not because I’m trying to act virtuous, but because I have a dark past that’s made me draw strict boundaries, especially socially. Thankfully, I have four friends who are genuinely good to me.
My name is Tatiana Horrison Maradona. Five years ago, I was the victim of cruel bullying. My parents moved me to another country almost immediately. The trauma never really left. I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which forced me to avoid the people and places connected to that event. Even now, I still go to therapy, though not as frequently as in the first year. I also still rely on sedatives to calm the anxiety whenever those painful memories try to return.
In this new place, I rebuilt myself. My appearance changed, and I started going by a new name. Tatiana became Ana, all to conceal my identity and protect myself from reliving the same nightmare.
“I’m sorry, but I’m exhausted,” I said, trying to walk away. But he caught my wrist.
“Can’t you stay with me just a little longer?” he asked, holding me back. I shook my head and tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong.
“No one gets to say no to me, Ana,” he muttered as he pulled me against his chest.
“And I still say no,” I snapped, kicking his shin and slamming my heel down on his foot.
“Sorry,” I added, entirely unapologetic as I walked away, leaving him groaning in pain.
“Psycho,” I muttered, heading to the bar. I saw my friend Cecil, completely unconscious, slumped halfway across the counter. I looked around for my other friends. Only Grace was visible. She waved, and a few minutes later she stood beside me, slightly out of breath.
“I’m leaving after this,” she said before sipping her wine.
“Are you okay with handling her on your own?” she asked, looking at Cecil.
“Go ahead. I’ll have my assistant handle it.”
“You’re always this sweet. I’ll call you later.” She kissed both my cheeks and reached for her clutch.
“Oh wait, I almost forgot,” she turned back. “Cecil’s cousin called. He asked me to inform him if she ended up drunk and unconscious. So, if a handsome guy with a great body shows up asking for her, just hand her over. You don’t have to trouble your assistant.”
“That sounds more troublesome to me. I’ll just call Holly.”
“Ana, come on. I already told him Cecil is in your care.”
I muttered under my breath and blinked at her words. But she didn’t care and kept tapping on her phone. “He’s just her cousin. Harmless. I’ve met him a few times and had decent conversations.”
She then showed me her phone. It was a photo of me, taken without my permission, sent to Cecil’s cousin. The photo only showed my outfit, not my face. Then Grace leaned in and whispered, “He’s very attractive.”
I pulled away from her mischievous grin.
“Go. I’ll wait for him,” I said with a sharper tone. Grace just laughed at my annoyance.
“All right, all right, I’m leaving.” She walked away, still laughing at me.
“Damn it. What’s his name?” I muttered. I scanned the room again, but Grace was gone. How could I forget to ask about Cecil’s cousin’s name? I quickly reached for my phone to call her.
I sighed in frustration when she didn’t respond. I stared at my screen over and over, but there were no messages or missed calls. I forgot one crucial detail. When Grace is with her boyfriend, even an earthquake wouldn’t distract her.
“Grace…” I mumbled, irritated. What if the person coming for Cecil wasn’t her cousin at all? What if it was an ex-boyfriend she always described as a jerk who couldn’t accept her breakup? I never really knew much about Cecil’s love life. Among all four of us, she was always the most private about it.
I started typing a message to my assistant. But before I could even process the delivery confirmation, a tall, well-built man appeared in front of me. I tilted my head to meet his eyes.
I blinked several times, then swallowed hard. Every muscle in my body stiffened. I stood frozen in front of the man I could never forget. Hugo Maximiliano Cassilas. The man responsible for the most traumatic bullying I endured five years ago. He stood right in front of me, dragging me back into the shadows of that time.
My heartbeat raced. I instinctively pulled my trembling hands behind me. My vision blurred. I was grateful for the dim lighting, hiding my now pale face.
“Thank you for watching over Cecil. I’m sorry if I made you wait too long.”
Cecil? He was the cousin Grace was talking about? What kind of cruel twist of fate is this?
I forced a stiff smile. As his muscular arm reached for Cecil, I managed to summon the energy to stop his hand.
“I’m sorry, but I have to look after my friend. She’s involved with someone incredibly disrespectful. I don’t know the man, and I know nothing about Cecil’s family either. So, would you mind showing me something that can confirm who you are?” I asked, avoiding eye contact. It wasn’t easy.
Hugo chuckled at my words. His dark eyes remained fixed on me. He reached into the inside pocket of his suit and took out his phone.
“Would this be enough?” he asked, showing a photo of his extended family. Cecil and Hugo stood clearly in it with other relatives. It was convincing.
“You may take her,” I said, stepping aside. But instead of moving toward Cecil, Hugo walked straight toward me, closing the distance.
“Don’t you recognize me?” he asked, forcing me to lift my head and meet his gaze.
Doña Graciela opened her arms and embraced me the moment I stood before her. She smiled at me."Come. I want to see my foolish son at once."We spent the ride exchanging light conversation. Just like a grandmother who hadn’t seen her grandchild in a long time. Until the car stopped in front of the Cassilas mansion."Walk lightly. Let no echo give away our arrival before I begin," said Doña Graciela as she stepped out of the car, of course with the help of the attendants who had opened the door for her."No one is to announce my arrival," she called out. All the staff bowed in respect.I followed behind her, my steps cautious but steady. Today was no ordinary day. This was the day sides would be chosen. The day I had to make it clear that I was not only part of the Cassilas family, but one of its forces.We passed through the long hallways of the mansion, lined with portraits of ancestors and crystal chandeliers swaying gently in the breeze. I could feel the slight trembling in my hand
I sat in my dad’s study. The old Spanish leather chair hadn’t changed in the past two decades. Neither had the scent of the room, which still carried the fragrance of old books, bourbon, and a faint trace of cedar from the cigars he used to smoke in secret from my mom.Dad stood near the large window overlooking the back garden of the Cassilas mansion. His arms were folded across his chest. At the far end of the room, my mom sat with a neutral expression, though her eyes clearly showed barely contained anger.“Celeste. Your sister. And you didn’t even discuss it with us first?” My dad’s voice finally broke the silence. It was calm, yet firm.“Because if I had discussed it, I already knew the answer would be exactly what it is now,” I replied evenly, trying to keep my tone composed.“You’re protecting that woman,” my mom added. “Ana. A woman who hasn’t even been part of this family for long.”I looked at her, my gaze sharp. “Ana is my wife. And this isn’t about her. This is about justi
Hugo looked at me as I helped him fasten the top two buttons of his T-shirt.“Ask me to stay,” he said. His hands, which had been loosely wrapped around my waist, gave a gentle squeeze.“Never. You have to go. Don't you dare make me, and possibly the baby we may have made last night, live in poverty because of your laziness.” I gave him a sly smile, then kissed his lips lightly.A deep sigh escaped his mouth, for what felt like the hundredth time this morning.“My fortune could last a hundred generations,” he muttered, as if trying to convince himself.I chuckled softly and caressed his cheek, where fine stubble had begun to grow, trimmed neatly. “Go. You’ve already marked me as yours. What has gotten into you?”His forehead rested against mine. Silent. Then the words slipped gently from his lips.“Our first night. My first night. Your first night too.” He closed his eyes, as though the gravity of emotion was too heavy to resist.I froze.“What…?” I whispered, barely audible.“Did you
And that morning…Between kisses on my shoulder, our bodies moved once more in a rhythm only we understood. There was no music in the room, but the ticking of time seemed to fade. All that remained were slow movements, drawn breaths, and heartbeats syncing like a symphony no one ever taught.He treated me as if I were the most beautiful secret he wished to unravel, piece by piece. His lips moved over my skin with reverence, as though treading sacred ground. And I allowed myself to soften, to yield.On the floor of the living room, surrounded by gently swaying white curtains and birdsong from the garden, we built a small world where wounds seemed to have no power.“Hugo…” I whispered between shallow breaths.He looked at me, his eyes clouded with desire. But behind it, there was a tenderness that made me tremble, not from fear, but from falling too deep into something I could no longer pull away from.“Don’t close your eyes when you’re with me,” he said softly, almost pleading. “I want
I shook my head softly, but I couldn’t hide my smile. His gaze was like that of a satisfied wolf, still wanting to play with its prey. Not out of hunger, but because he enjoyed every second of what had happened the night before.“You never get tired, do you?” I murmured as I picked up a knife and began slicing fruit. Hugo only smiled at me briefly, then turned to the ingredients he had gathered, moving with ease as he began preparing our breakfast. He’d become addicted to cooking for me ever since we stayed at the old Cassilas villa in Spain.He came closer and placed the dish he’d just made in front of me. His left hand found my waist, and his chin rested once again on my shoulder. This time, his breath was warm against the skin of my neck.“I’m tired,” he whispered, “but it’s the kind of tired I’ve longed for. And I know I’ll keep longing for it every time I wake up.”My hand slipped, the blade nearly grazing the tip of my finger. I hissed quietly.“Careful,” he said quickly, taking
His scent still lingered on my skin, like warm incense, quiet yet persistent. Sunlight spilled gently across the marble floor, and the coffee cup in my hands did little to warm the fingers that were still trembling. Not from the cold, but from everything I felt inside.I glanced at Nicky’s message once more.“Has it begun? Then be prepared. There’s no turning back now.”I let out a long breath and tucked my phone into the deepest drawer. This morning, I didn’t want to be the Ana consumed by vengeance. I just wanted to be me. The woman who had just surrendered a piece of her heart to the man who had always stood at the center of the storm in her life. But in the end, it was all part of perfecting the character I was building. The role of a good wife, played to perfection.Soft footsteps echoed from the hallway. I turned around.Hugo stood in the doorway, wearing nothing but fitted boxers and a sleepy smile. His hair was tousled, but his face... his face was like a canvas of peace I nev
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