Hiding the Billionaire’s Son (HCS 1)

PROLOGUE"SAY 'Your loss, big guy'.""Your lo—""Akihiro Shion Huang! Ano na namang kayabangan 'yang itinuturo mo sa anak ko!" pagputol ko sa akmang sasabihin ni Max.Paakyat pa lang ako ng hagdan patungo sa main hall ng gallery ay naririnig ko na ang kung ano-anong banat na itinuturo ng lalaking 'to sa anak ko. Paano ba ako nagkaroon ng kaibigang ganito? Kung hindi ko lang talaga utang sa kanya ang buhay namin ni Max, baka matagal ko na siyang ipinakain sa pating. Shion has been my rock for the past four years, but his influence on my seven-year-old son is sometimes... questionable."Ang high-blood mo, Lucy! Para 'pag nagkita sila nung tatay niyang bilyonaryo, alam ng anak mo kung paano mag-inarte nang may level! You know, strike a pose, then tell him he missed out on a masterpiece! Classy and savage, 'di ba?" Halakhak nito sabay kiliti sa tiyan ni Max."Shion, umalis ka na nga rito bago ko pa maipalamon sa 'yo 'tong palette ko!" Kulang na lang ay batuhin ko ng tsinelas ang nakangisin

CHAPTER 2EgregiousI turned away, my heart aching with a familiar pain. The escape was over. The cage was closing in. Habang maingat kong itinitiklop ang dinosaur pajamas ni Max at inilalagay sa bag, bawat hibla ng tela ay tila nagpapaalala sa akin ng lahat ng hirap na pinagdaanan ko para lang mapanatili siyang ligtas at malayo sa mundong ito.I am not the same Lucy he broke seven years ago. Kung inaakala ni Felix na pabalik ako sa mansyon bilang isang bilanggo na walang laban, he's in for a masterpiece of a surprise."Momma? Are we going on a trip po?"Nilingon ko si Max. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing his eyes with his small fists. He looked so small, so fragile, and yet he was the center of this storm."Yes, baby. We're going to a big house. Remember the king we saw last night? We're going to stay with him for a while," pilit kong pinasigla ang boses ko, kahit na ang totoo ay gusto ko nang humagulgol."The king po? Will there be a garden? And a dragon?" Max's eyes w

CHAPTER 4InvokedI locked my door and collapsed against it, sliding down to the floor. I touched my lips, still swollen from Felix's kisses. Ang hapdi niyon ay tila isang permanenteng marka ng aking pagkatalo sa gabing ito.I was officially contracted. I was a prisoner in the Creed Mansion. But as I looked at the dark shadows of the room, I made a silent vow. He might own my body, and he might own my time... but I will never, ever let him own my heart again. Seven years ago, I was a victim. Tonight, I am a survivor. And in this house of dragons, I will learn how to breathe fire.Pero ang luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan ay tuluyan nang pumatak. I bit my lip to stifle a sob. I felt so used, yet so frustrated because a part of me—that traitorous, weak part—actually missed the way his hands felt on my skin."Momma?"Napatingin ako sa kama. Naalimpungatan si Max. Mabilis kong pinunasan ang mga mata ko at lumapit sa kanya."Yes, baby? Go back to sleep," bulong ko, hinahaplos ang kanyang noo

CHAPTER 6BrokenNaramdaman ko ang higpit ng yakap ni Felix sa akin habang ang unang silahis ng liwanag ng umaga ay unti-unting s********p sa makakapal na kurtina ng aming silid sa mansyon. Ang kanyang hininga ay kalmado na—isang banayad at ritmikong tunog na malayo sa bagsik at desperasyong ipinakita niya kagabi sa balcony. Ngunit sa kabila ng init ng kanyang katawan na nakadikit sa akin, may bahagi ng isip ko na tila isang saranggolang pilit na lumilipad pabalik sa madilim na bahagi ng nakaraan.Pitong taon.Pitong taon kaming namuhay sa ilalim ng isang malaking kasinungalingan. Pitong taon naming dinala ang galit na tila isang mabigat na krus, ang pait na parang lason sa aming mga sistema, at ang mga piraso ng isang relasyong akala namin ay sadyang itinapon at niyurakan ng isa't isa. Pero habang nakahiga ako rito, sa gitna ng katahimikan ng madaling araw, isang masakit at nakakapanginig na katotohanan ang unti-unting lumilinaw sa aking paningin: hindi kami ang sumira sa amin. Kami a

CHAPTER EIGHTThe Second MorningThe sound of clattering metal startled me awake. For a second, I thought I had overslept—but then the scent of garlic rice and fried eggs drifted into my room, and I realized it was just Yaya Mely already working her magic in the kitchen.The thin curtains in the bedroom glowed pale gray as dawn broke over Kowloon. Outside, I could hear the hum of the city beginning its day: the low rumble of buses, the distant horns of ferries leaving Victoria Harbour, and the occasional squawk of birds darting between apartment balconies.Beside me, Max was still fast asleep, curled up into a little ball with Captain Rocket tucked under his chin. His hair stuck out in tufts, a cowlick refusing to behave. His tiny snores were soft, steady, and impossibly comforting.I reached over, brushing a hand over his warm cheek. My reason for everything.Pulling myself out of bed, I padded into the small bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. The mirror above the sink refl