Chapter 3

SERENA

“Are you out of your mind?”

Iyon ang unang bungad sa akin ni Mikaela nang makita niya akong nakaupo sa isang mamahaling café, kalmadong umiinom ng iced coffee habang binabasa ang kontrata ng kasal na ibinigay sa akin ni Adrian Monteverde.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Good morning to you, too.”

“Serena, I'm serious!”

Inilapag niya ang handbag niya sa bakanteng upuan at agad na hinablot ang mga dokumento sa mesa.

“Marriage contract? One year? Financial arrangement? Access to the Monteverde family's private business affairs?” isa-isa niyang binasa. “Ano 'to? Business merger o kasal?”

“Both.”

“Hindi ito nakakatawa! Alam mo ba talaga kung ano ang pinapasok mo?”

“I'm not laughing, and yes alam ko kung ano tong pinasok ko.”

She stared at me as if I had suddenly grown another head.

“Limang taon mong pinaghandaan ang paghihiganti mo. Limang taon mong inaral ang bawat galaw ng pamilyang iyan. At ngayon, ang gagawin mo ay tumira sa isang bahay kasama ang lalaking gusto mong pabagsakin?”

I took a slow sip of my coffee.

“Actually, that's the best part.”

“Serena!”

“Mika, think about it. Kapag naging asawa ako ni Adrian, magkakaroon ako ng access sa mga dokumentong hindi ko makukuha sa ibang paraan. Makakapasok ako sa mga private meetings nila. Malalaman ko ang mga sikreto nila. At kapag nahanap ko na ang ebidensiyang kailangan ko, wala nang makakapigil sa akin.”

“And what if he finds out?”

“Then I'll make sure he finds out when it's already too late.”

Napahawak si Mikaela sa noo niya.

“Hindi mo ba naiisip na baka may dahilan kung bakit ikaw ang pinili niya? You said it yourself. Hindi ka niya kilala.”

“Exactly. Which means he doesn't know what he's getting himself into.”

I smiled.

For the first time in five years, everything was finally falling into place. But Mikaela didn't look convinced.

“May isa pa akong tanong.”

“What?”

She leaned forward.

“Kung paghihiganti lang ang gusto mo, bakit parang ang saya-saya mo?”

Nawala ang ngiti ko, dahil alam ko ang sagot. Hindi ako masaya, I was relieved. For five years, I had been standing outside the gates of a world that had swallowed my whole family/ 

Now, someone had opened the door for me. At hindi ko palalampasin ang pagkakataong iyon.

“Because I'm finally getting what I want,” I answered.

Mikaela stared at me for several seconds before slowly handing back the contract.

“Just promise me one thing.”

I looked at her.

“Don't let yourself forget who you are.”

I took the documents and placed them inside my bag.

“Don’t worry, I won’t”

But even as I said those words, I had no idea how difficult that promise would become.

10:15 A.M. at MONTEVERDE GROUP

“Miss Vale, Mr. Monteverde is ready to see you.”

Tumango ako sa receptionist at inayos ang itim kong blazer.

I had spent the entire morning preparing for this meeting. Binasa ko ang kontrata nang tatlong beses, sinuri ang bawat kondisyon, at minarkahan ang mga probisyong maaaring magamit laban sa akin.

Hindi ako papasok sa kasunduang ito nang walang sariling proteksyon.

Especially not with Adrian Monteverde.

Pagbukas ng elevator, bumungad sa akin ang malawak na executive floor. Glass walls, polished marble floors, at mga empleyadong tila takot kahit bahagyang magkamali.

Typical billionaire environment,  I followed the assistant toward the last office at the end of the hallway.

“Mr. Monteverde is expecting you inside.”

I nodded.

Pagpasok ko, nakita ko agad si Adrian sa likod ng malaking mesa.

Nakatanggal ang kanyang suit jacket, nakatiklop ang manggas ng puting polo, at nakatutok ang atensiyon sa isang dokumentong hawak niya.

Hindi man lang siya nag-angat ng tingin nang magsalita.

“You're late.”

I glanced at my watch.

“I'm three minutes early.”

“Then I suppose I should be grateful.”

“I'm glad we agree.”

Sa wakas, tumingin siya sa akin.

And there it was again that faint, irritating smile.

“Sit down, Alessandra.”

Umupo ako sa tapat niya at inilapag ang kontrata sa mesa.

“I've read the agreement.”

“And?”

“I have conditions.”

He leaned back in his chair.

“I'm listening.”

“First, I want complete access to the company's financial records, including historical transactions involving subsidiaries.”

His expression didn't change.

“Granted.”

Napakurap ako.

That was too easy.

“Second, I want a separate bank account under my name. No restrictions on my personal finances.”

“Granted.”

“Third, I don't want your family interfering with my personal affairs.”

“Agreed.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Do you ever say no?”

“Frequently.”

“Not to me, apparently.”

He gave a short laugh.

“Don't flatter yourself.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

“There's one more thing.”

“Go on.”

I placed my finger on the final page.

“If either of us violates the agreement, the other party has the right to terminate the marriage without financial penalties.”

Adrian's smile slowly disappeared, for the first time that morning he look genuinely interested. 

“Why?”

“Because I don't intend to be trapped in a marriage I no longer want.”

“And what would make you stop wanting it?”

“That's none of your business.”

“I'm about to become your husband. I think it is.”

I met his gaze.

“Then perhaps you should reconsider the proposal.”

For several seconds, neither of us spoke. Then he reached for the contract. He crossed out a sentence, wrote something in the margin, and slid the document back toward me.

I looked down.

The clause had been revised.

Either party could terminate the agreement upon written notice, subject to applicable legal requirements and the agreed financial terms.

“Is that acceptable?” he asked.

I nodded slowly.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

He reached into his desk drawer and took out a black pen.

Then he signed his name.

ADRIAN MONTEVERDE.

The signature looked exactly as I remembered it from the court documents five years ago.My fingers tightened around the pen.

He noticed.

“Something wrong?”

I forced myself to smile. “Nothing.”

I signed my new name beneath his.

ALEXANDRA VALE.

One signature.

One lie.

One step closer to revenge.

Adrian collected the papers and placed them inside a folder.

“Congratulations, Alessandra.”

I looked at him.

“On what?”

“Your upcoming marriage.”

I gave him a cold smile.

“Let's hope you don't regret it.”

He leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk.

“That's funny.”

“What is?”

“That's exactly what I was going to say to you.”

Akala ko ay tapos na ang meeting.

I was wrong.

“There's something else we need to discuss,” Adrian said as he stood and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

I remained seated.

“What now?”

“My family.”

I almost laughed, of course. The Monteverdes. 

“My father expects us to announce the engagement at a private dinner tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes.”

“And you agreed without consulting me?”

He turned around.

“Would you have refused?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

Damn him.

He knew the answer.

I needed to enter that house. I needed to observe them, learn their habits, and discover which of them was hiding the truth. A family dinner was the perfect opportunity.