Chapter 3

Estrella, one of Señora Rosario's granddaughters, took the list of gifts from the Montecillo family. Her eyes widened, and her hands trembled as she read what was on the list.

"Beach Resort…" she said. "And a title deed!"

"The key to a Bugatti La Voiture Noire..."

As the list of gifts was being read, the people present couldn't help but exchange glances. Who wouldn't? The gifts for Señora Rosario Lazaro seemed more like wedding gifts for a bride from ancient times.

"And a cash gift… 500 million," she uttered in disbelief, almost fainting at the sight of the sum.

All the members of the Lazaro family were speechless when the black bag filled with bundles of cash was placed in front of them. The entire living room, where the Lazaro family gathered, fell into a stunned silence, with only the sound of heavy, rapid breathing filling the room.

For an elite family like the Lazaros, such an enormous sum of money was nothing short of a miracle and a significant boost to their business.

Señora Rosario suddenly stood up, her movements unsteady as she walked slowly in front of the crowd.

"What is your name, and which woman from the Lazaro family do you love?" the Doña eagerly asked the man wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and black trousers.

Several of her younger, unmarried female cousins from the Lazaro family blushed with excitement. Although they didn’t know who the other party was, the thought of marrying into a wealthy family made all of them dream big. They could also receive such extraordinary wedding gifts.

Hadrianna’s heart raced with anxiety when she heard Señora words. Her face turned pale. She was the only woman from the Lazaro family who had married a poor, unknown man. This meant that all her cousins had a chance, but not her.

"My name is Flavio," the man said, glancing slightly at Hadrianna. His face showed no emotion. "I'm only responsible for delivering the gifts. I’ll take my leave now." He bowed slightly in front of the Doña and left, ignoring the women who were expressing interest in him.

Everyone in the Lazaro family stared at the gifts from the Montecillos and the black bag containing 500 million pesos. Many of them began to salivate. The Lazaro family had a peculiar way of doing things. It was customary for each member to marry into a wealthy family to expand their connections and grow their business.

Marcella stood up abruptly. "Since I am the eldest and most beautiful woman in the Lazaro family, it’s me, Grandma," she declared, her perfect figure accentuated by her red dress.

Estrella laughed sharply and adjusted her posture. "You're too full of yourself, Sister Marcella. For now, only the Montecillos can decide whom to choose. Should I grow impatient?" She smirked mischievously.

Felicia picked up a magazine from the table. "Yes, we all have a chance, but what about you?" She cast a challenging glance at Hadrianna, who remained silent. "I think this rich Montecillo heir is keeping a secret because of me."

Several younger women exchanged sharp words about the mysterious Montecillo.

"Stop fighting; you all have a chance, but unfortunately, some of you will only be spectators," Frederick said, deliberately glancing at Hadrianna.

Everyone present knew who Frederick was referring to, and they burst into laughter.

"At least one less competitor," Geneva remarked, laughing.

Laura sneered at Hadrianna and looked at Desmond. "All yours, trash. If it weren't for you, we'd have one more rival for the Montecillos."

Desmond lowered his head, his expression unreadable. Sadness, mixed with a hint of unbearable pain, filled his face. These people didn’t know who the Montecillo family was, but he did. He knew them all too well.

Desmond couldn’t understand why families like these could be so divided. It had been three years since he married Hadrianna.

'Do I need Desmond Montecillo now?'

"Don’t worry, I'll keep these gifts safe for now. When the man who delivered them shows himself in person, I'll know who he favors and to whom I’ll give these dowries," Señora Rosario said, ending the discussion.

After lunch at the Lazaro mansion, Hadrianna’s family left without waiting for Desmond. The incident between him and Frederick had further diminished their status and sunk them deeper into shame.

Since Desmond became a member of the family, he had not contributed financially to their wedding or any other events, such as dowries. How could they not feel envious of their relatives when they saw the enormous amount of money the Montecillos had gifted? Hadrianna laughed bitterly at the thought. Her family would always look down on her because her husband, according to her grandmother Agatha, was a worthless man.

Hadrianna ran into her room and locked herself in. She collapsed onto her bed, letting her tears flow down her cheeks. She couldn’t understand why money seemed more important than family. Her grandfather Placido, who was Señora Rosario's husband, was kind. Like them, his marriage to Agatha was also an arrangement.

Isabel angrily threw her small bag onto the bed and confronted Alberto, Hadrianna’s father.

"Look at how your family is humiliating our daughter! When will you have the courage to defend us?" she yelled.

Alberto remained silent, watching his wife’s face fill with regret.

"If you hadn’t agreed to your father’s wish to marry her off to Desmond, this wouldn’t have happened! Hadrianna wouldn’t be suffering because of that freeloader husband of hers!” Isabel’s eyes filled with tears. Despite her pain, she couldn’t bring herself to disobey her mother-in-law, Agatha.

She sank to the floor, covering her face with her hands.

“I was a fool for agreeing to marry into your family. I was blind back then. I thought I’d live a good life by marrying into the Lazaro family, but I didn’t expect to fall into this abyss. You’re the eldest son, but they don’t plan to pass any of your family’s wealth down to you because you allowed Hadrianna to marry Desmond.”

Alberto approached his wife and wrapped her in his arms.

“Your father said all I had to do was marry you, and I wouldn’t have to worry about anything else. But what is this hell we’re living in now? Your entire family lives in a vast villa near the mansion, yet why don’t we?”

“I’m sorry…” He gently stroked his wife’s back. “Forgive me, Isabel…”

“You’re a worthless husband. Only God knows how bitter my life and our daughter’s life have been because of your family!” Isabel pushed Alberto, causing him to sit on the floor.

His fists clenched, and he lowered his head. He didn’t resist or deny any of his wife’s accusations. He knew deep inside that he was useless, unable to stand on his own two feet, far from his family’s shadow. He couldn’t bring himself to get angry in front of Isabel because he loved her too much.

"Even if not for me, Alberto. Just give our daughter her freedom..." Isabel looked at her husband.

Alberto shook his head. "You know I can't do that."

Isabel stood up. "I don’t care! Let Hadrianna divorce that worthless Desmond. I just want a peaceful and good life with you and our daughter."

"My father warned me never to allow them to divorce, and the entire Laguna knows it," Alberto said softly. "Divorce isn’t taken lightly, Isabel. They’ve only been married for three years…"

Isabel began slamming her fists on the bed as she sat down. Tears streamed down her face as she listened to her husband. "Alberto, don't you feel sorry for Hadrianna, who’s constantly mocked by your family? Why was I blinded by my love for you? What did I do in my past life to deserve this suffering? Do you want to ruin our family for the sake of the Lazaro family’s image and destroy Hadrianna’s life while she’s tied to her worthless husband? Every day, Hadrianna runs to the construction site owned by your family. Don’t you pity her? She’s a woman who should be at home, but her life has become dirty and exhausting because you allow her to be oppressed and humiliated by your relatives. If you don’t feel sorry for me… please, feel sorry for your daughter!"

Because Hadrianna hadn’t married into a wealthy family, she was considered the lowest in the Lazaro family. While her cousins worked in the office, Hadrianna was assigned to the field. Alberto couldn’t hide the pain in his eyes as he listened to his wife’s grievances. He knew there was nothing he could do. His father had made it clear that no one in the family was allowed to separate the two, no matter what happened. The Lazaro family held marriage sacred and wouldn’t permit anyone to divorce or seek an annulment. The entire family would be forever shamed if there were a failed marriage.

Desmond walked into the house quietly but heard the shouting inside. He leaned against the stair railing, slightly lifting his right foot. He pulled out a cigarette and took a long drag, playing with the smoke as he stared into the distance. After finishing his cigarette, he straightened up, ready to head to the second floor, but then he heard Hadrianna's hoarse voice from where her parents were.

"I won’t leave him," she said boldly to her parents.

Desmond could see from the bottom of the stairs the redness in his wife’s eyes. His jaw clenched at the sight.

Isabel approached Hadrianna and held her hand. "Are you crazy, my child?! Will you keep your useless agreement with your grandfather for the rest of your life?"

"I'm not crazy, Mama." Hadrianna lowered her head, taking a deep breath. She bit her lip to stop herself from crying. "I married him because I love him. Whether he loves me or not, that's my business. Don’t worry, I won’t let you or Papa suffer any further embarrassment because of me. Just give me some time, Mama. I'll handle it."

Her tears welled up but didn’t fall. Desmond saw it all. His hand trembled as he clutched the stair railing, his eyes filled with anger. He quickly lit another cigarette, hoping the nicotine would calm his racing heart.

For three years, Hadrianna had never asked for anything from him. In front of his eyes, she had always remained silent, even when others humiliated her.

Now, hearing her say she loved him brought a sense of irony.

---

Isabel couldn't believe what she had heard. Her eyes widened in shock as she shook her head.

Slowly, Desmond climbed the stairs while continuing to listen to Hadrianna's words.

"And grandma won't allow us to divorce. Family reputation is more important than anything… and I love Desmond," she said softly.

When Desmond reached the door, he took a deep breath and smiled. It was the first time he realized that he was in Hadrianna's heart despite her poor treatment of him. His feelings for his wife had been hidden for a long time. He never imagined the day he would hear this from the woman he loved. It turns out that extreme hatred can generate love.

"Child, I’m so sorry…" Albert said to his daughter, sighing deeply, unable to look Hadrianna in the eye.

Hadrianna shook her head while wiping her tears. "You didn’t make a mistake, Papa. You and Grandpa were right. The day will come when I will fall in love with him, no matter how much I try to stop it..."

In their three years together, she had tried to convince herself that she would divorce Desmond sooner or later. But loving her husband was never part of her plan. When she thought about the day they would separate, she felt a pang in her heart. They had never held hands and had even maintained a certain distance in public. But this man, who had slept under her bed for three years, represented a relationship that no other man could offer.

"I’ve fallen in love with your most enigmatic son-in-law…" she said, biting her crimson lips as if holding back a smile.

Desmond walked into his in-laws' room, surprising the couple. He pulled Hadrianna's wrist, cupped her face with both hands, and wiped the tears from her eyes before burying her face in his broad chest.

"I'm here... my beloved," he whispered and kissed Hadrianna's hair.

Hadrianna smiled at what Desmond did and suddenly remembered one of their conversations.

"Desmond, you stated that I was the one person who could change you. Why me?" she asked, confused.

Hadrianna felt Desmond's arms wrap around her waist. "Hmm, sort of."

She bit her lower lip. "I don't want to be belittled, I don't want to be a joke to others. I want to make those who look down on me, on us, regret their judgments."

Hadrianna looked up to see Desmond's expression. But it seemed that her own self had evaded her as she saw her husband's cold, jet-black eyes up close for the first time.

"Good," Desmond replied shortly and quickly kissed his wife's lips before turning and leaving their home without looking back.