His Hidden Wife [Borromeo Series Book 1]

Ethan Borromeo:

"I never believed in destiny… As everyone says… that when you meet your soulmate, the stars align, and the heavens open a door for a coincidence to meet the one you’re destined for.

It was just a childish, funny quote to me… before meeting Sophia… my wife. And being with her feels like everything falls into the right place. Sleeping next to her…

Watching every smile on her lips…

Protecting her from pain…

It’s my fulfillment. I’m content.

If that isn’t called destiny… I don’t know what is."

Sophia Soledad:

"I really wanted to believe every word coming from your mouth… every sweet gesture you’ve made for me… but how can I, Ethan? Because I know you’ve said all those things to Sabrina too… everything you’ve done for me, you’ve done for her as well. Do you really love me? Or do you love me just because you feel guilty for what you did to me back then?! Who am I compared to the woman you love? I’m not the one who owns your heart, Ethan! I’m just your wife…"

Sophia’s POV:

Yes, I’m only a wife on paper. Legally bound, but not in the way we live our lives. Seven years have passed… and nothing has changed between us. Except that I no longer need to work to fund my studies or feed my family. I live in a beautiful home and no longer fear my father, who does nothing but drink and hurt people.

Other than that… nothing has changed. I’ve lived like a single woman. But the truth is, I’m tied to reality. There are people watching over me so I don’t make mistakes, while he… continues his life as if nothing happened in the past six years. Different women. Traveling the world. Living his bachelor life.

While me… I’m stuck in this reality. Educated… yet powerless to escape this paper prison. I just want to be happy. And to see the man I loved first… whom I know I will never see again.

How can I ever escape this kind of life?

"Ms. Soledad?" Ms.? I smiled bitterly. Six years already married. A husband who doesn’t truly exist.

"Yes?" I asked, smiling.

"Please come in, said the Vice President," the secretary said.

I smiled sweetly and thanked her. I stood from my seat and was guided by one of the security personnel. My grip on my bag strap tightened. My heart always does this when entering this enormous mansion. This is where I last saw him—the man who brought chaos into my life and changed it forever.

"Good morning, Ms. Sophia," greeted the Vice President’s personal bodyguard.

"Good morning, Steve," I replied. He opened the door, and my heart seemed to stop just like before. The room hadn’t changed at all.

"Good morning, Sophia," greeted the President himself.

"G-Good morning too, Vice President," I stammered. He stood from his seat and walked toward me, hugging me, and I hugged back.

"Vice President?" I asked with a smile.

"Sorry, D-Daddy," I said shyly. Yes, he’s my father… the truth is, he’s the father of my husband. Crazy, right? My father-in-law is the Vice President of the Philippines.

"Good. It’s been almost three weeks since we last met. How have you been?" He accompanied me to the nearby sofa.

"I’m okay, Daddy. Thank you so much for your help. Vanessa is done. Only Rebecca left, but I think I can handle teaching her—with Vanessa’s help."

"Sophia, you never change. All the help I’ve given you and your siblings still isn’t enough compared to what happened before—"

"Dad, don’t worry about that. It was a long time ago, and besides, you’ve helped me more than enough."

"That’s what I love about you. I don’t know about Ethan… why hasn’t it worked out yet? Before you know it, you’ll meet someone else and leave my child." I smiled at what he said.

"I know Sophia will never leave Ethan," I heard someone say. I turned and saw my mother-in-law.

"Good morning, Mommy."

"Good morning, Sophia. By the way, thank you for the amazing work you did for my charity event last week. And… our university is doing great! Top-ranking for two consecutive years!"

"It’s nothing," I said, sitting down. Honestly, I still feel awkward around my husband’s family. They’re extremely wealthy and well-known. My father was only a senator when I first came into their lives.

"Your hard work is paying off. When Carra finally retires, I hope you can take over." Carra is the head of the university.

"Oh Mom, I don’t think that’s for me."

"Think about it. It’s still a long way off. You’ve helped a lot in planning and building it."

My mother-in-law is known for her generosity. Many charity events, schools, and even hotels where I work are five-star establishments. Her family is influential in the Philippines.

One of the universities she built, famous among this generation, is Moonlight Royalties University. A college offering every course.

For rich and influential families—and families seeking a silver lining—they’ve acquired many scholars, most of whom I manage. Though only seven years old, the university’s name is already widespread.

I wasn’t close to my mother-in-law before. My life was chaotic, probably because of my family.

"Wait, Dee. How could it be said she wouldn’t leave our child?"

"Well! If Sophia wanted, she would have long ago. That’s why I knew she was the right one for our child."

"Ah, so that’s why back then—" Dad teased.

"Stop it, Ed!" We laughed. She really didn’t like me back then. Not only did she not show it to me, she even told me. "Sophia and I already talked about it ages ago. And I’m sorry," my mother-in-law said seriously.

"For what?"

"About those old articles about you and your Dad."

I sighed. Those worthless articles had only made me resent my father more.

"We know they weren’t true."

"Even so, hija," I read the guilt in her eyes. "We know you’ve struggled with your life."

"I just laughed at that issue. Others might think it’s

true because they don’t know the facts. But we know the truth."

"I don’t know how you handled that issue, Sophia! Other woman of my husband? Oh God!" Dad and I laughed.

"Maybe it’s because we always saw each other at events or even at your mansion. When you went to Italy for your golden wedding, I was there too," I explained, laughing.

"Those people… they’re so quick to judge. I really regret hiding you from them," my mother-in-law said, holding my hand.

"That’s why I came up with a way to stop my political enemies from attacking me."

We both looked at Dad.

"What?" Mom asked curiously.

"Let’s introduce Sophia properly. Who she is and what she means to our lives. It’s about time."

"Great idea!" Mom said happily. "He’ll be in Dubai and financing my charity event, which you’ll organize. You two can finally talk. It’s been… like seven years since you last met."

It felt like my world stopped spinning. I swallowed hard several times. Nothing sank into my mind. But one face kept appearing… my husband, Ethan.

How will he react? Especially now that I know he’s serious about the woman he’s obsessed with—the woman he’s loved from then until now. My hands clenched. My chest suddenly ached. I shouldn’t feel pain… but why does it still hurt?

To be continued....