Chapter 2: The Billionaire's Proposal

The rain continued to pour, soaking my dress until it clung to my skin.

Pero wala na akong pakialam.

Mas masakit pa rin ang nararamdaman ko kaysa sa lamig ng ulan.

I stared at the man sitting inside the luxurious Rolls-Royce.

Alessandro Montenegro.

His name sounded familiar, but I couldn't remember where I'd heard it before.

He looked calm.

Composed.

As if he already knew what my answer would be.

"I think you've mistaken me for someone else," I said, taking a step back.

"I don't marry strangers."

His lips curved into a faint smile.

"Good."

"I don't like women who marry without thinking."

Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Then why are you asking me?"

"Because you're desperate."

His words hit me hard.

I wanted to deny it.

I wanted to tell him I wasn't.

But he was right.

My fiancé had just cheated on me.

My savings were gone.

My mother needed surgery.

And I had nowhere else to go.

"I'm offering you a deal, Miss Valencia," he continued. "Not a fairy tale."

I folded my arms.

"What exactly do you want from me?"

He gestured toward the empty seat beside him.

"Get in first."

"I don't negotiate in the rain."

For a few seconds, I hesitated.

Every instinct told me to walk away.

But another part of me whispered...

"What if this is your only chance?"

I slowly got inside the car.

The warmth instantly wrapped around me.

A staff member handed me a clean towel.

"Thank you," I whispered.

The door closed.

The outside world disappeared.

Alessandro placed a brown envelope on the table between us.

"Open it."

I slowly did.

Inside were medical records.

My mother's records.

Including the unpaid hospital bill.

My eyes widened.

"How did you get these?"

"I have my ways."

I looked up at him.

"Are you stalking me?"

"No."

"I investigate people before doing business with them."

Business.

To him...

Even marriage was business.

"What kind of contract is this?" I asked.

"I need a wife for one year."

My eyes nearly popped out.

"One year?"

He nodded.

"You'll attend events with me."

"Live in my mansion."

"Act as my wife in public."

"No feelings."

"No unnecessary questions."

"And after one year..."

"We'll divorce."

It sounded ridiculous.

"This is insane."

"I know."

"So why me?"

He looked out the window before answering.

"Because you're exactly what I need."

"And what is that?"

"Someone who has nothing left to lose."

His answer made my chest tighten.

Maybe he was right.

But hearing it out loud still hurt.

I placed the envelope back on the table.

"There has to be another reason."

"There is."

He met my eyes.

"My family wants me to remarry."

"I have no interest in love."

"So I'll marry for convenience."

I laughed bitterly.

"Funny."

"So will I."

For the first time...

A small smile appeared on his face.

Before I could ask another question, my phone rang.

It was the hospital again.

My hands trembled as I answered.

"Miss Valencia," the nurse said.

"Your mother's condition is getting worse."

"We need to operate as soon as possible."

"But without the remaining balance..."

"I'm sorry."

I closed my eyes.

"Please..."

"I'll find the money."

"You have until tomorrow morning."

The line went dead.

I slowly lowered my phone.

Tears blurred my vision.

Alessandro silently handed me a handkerchief.

"I don't need your pity."

"It's not pity."

"It's timing."

He pushed another document toward me.

"This is the marriage contract."

At the bottom...

The amount caught my attention.

₱100,000,000.

My breathing stopped.

"One hundred million pesos?"

"You'll receive it after signing."

I looked at him in disbelief.

"You'd pay this much... for a fake marriage?"

"I'm not paying for love."

"I'm paying for peace."

I couldn't understand him.

No sane billionaire would marry a complete stranger.

Unless...

He was hiding something.

"Who are you really?" I asked.

He remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he finally answered.

"I'm the Chairman of Montenegro Holdings."

The name hit me like lightning.

Montenegro Holdings.

The biggest business empire in the country.

Even Liam admired its owner.

I remembered him saying countless times...

"If I ever get the chance to work with Alessandro Montenegro, my career is made."

Wait...

Liam knew him?

Before I could think further, Alessandro spoke again.

"I believe you've met someone from my family before."

"What do you mean?"

Instead of answering...

He handed me a photo.

I froze.

It was Liam.

Standing beside Alessandro.

Both wearing matching suits.

My fingers started shaking.

"W-Why do you have this?"

Alessandro looked directly into my eyes.

His voice was calm.

Cold.

Dangerously calm.

"Because..."

"He's my son."

The world stopped spinning.

"No..."

I whispered.

"That's impossible."

"Liam never told me..."

"He wouldn't."

Alessandro's expression remained unreadable.

"He has many things he doesn't tell people."

I couldn't breathe.

The man who had just proposed marriage...

Wasn't only a billionaire.

He was my cheating ex-fiancé's father.

And if I accepted his offer...

The man who destroyed my heart...

Would have to call me...

Stepmom.

End of Chapter 2