Chapter 3: Claiming the Lie

Chloe’s POV

Ang ingay sa loob ng Villafuerte Gala Ballroom ay nakakabingi, pero sa pandinig ko, parang naging muffled background noise na lang ang lahat. All the lights and the judgmental eyes of the elite were fixed on us, trying to peel off my skin and see the "fraud" underneath.

Pero mas nararamdaman ko ang init ng kamay ni Leo—nakapulupot ang kanyang mga daliri sa akin. Masyadong mahigpit para sa isang pagpapanggap.

 “Smile,” bulong niya. Hindi ito utos; it sounded almost like a plea. 

Ngumiti ako kahit gusto ko nang tumakbo palabas at magtago sa pinakamalapit na sulok. My heart was racing, and for the first time, alam kong hindi na ito dahil sa kaba o sa takot na mabuking.

 “Ladies and gentlemen,” Leo’s voice boomed, cold and authoritative, claiming the entire room. 

“This is Chloe. My soon to be Bride.”

The word ‘Bride’ sent a strange heat through my veins. Dapat acting lang, 'di ba? Pero bakit parang may kuryenteng dumaloy sa akin? Before I could even catch my breath, biglang bumukas ang dambuhalang pinto ng ballroom. The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly.

A woman. Elegant, tall, and looking like she stepped straight off a luxury magazine cover. Ngumiti ito, but it wasn't a friendly smile. Diretso ang tingin niya kay Leo, tila naging hangin lang akong nakatayo sa pagitan nila.

“Leo,” she said softly. Naramdaman ko ang lalong paghigpit ng hawak niya sa kamay ko ng banggitin nito ng mahina ang pangalang “Sophia”. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng mga daliri niya—hindi ko alam kung bakit ganun na lamang ito, simula ng lumapit ang babae. 

“Who is she?” tanong ni Sophia, looking at me like I was just a piece of trash.

Hindi agad nagsalita si Leo. That silence was the heaviest thing in the room. 

Ramdam ko ang insecurity ko na unti-unting lumalabas, mocking me that I don't belong here. But then, bigla akong hinila ni Leo palapit sa kanya. I wasn't prepared for the force of it, or the way my breath hitched nang magdikit ang mga balat namin.

“Chloe is my fiancée,” ulit niya, mas matigas ang boses. Ngunit ngayon, hindi na ito tunog ng isang business deal. It sounded like a confession. 

He moved so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin, making my knees feel weak. My heart went wild. I knew I should stop this. Pero nang tumingin siya sa akin—yung tingin na puno ng determinasyon—na-realize ko ang isang bagay na pilit ko ring itinatago.

“You’re making a mistake, Leo,” Sophia interrupted, her voice sharp and bitter. I felt Leo’s body tense up, but he kept me pinned to his side, his arm like a shield around my waist.

“You don’t get to come here and question my life, Sophia.” His voice was controlled, pero ramdam ko hinanakit sa loob niya. Humarap siya nang bahagya sa akin, his lips almost brushing my ear as he whispered-“Stay with me. Huwag kang aalis.”

I didn't let go of his hand. Not even once. Dahil alam ko na—masyado na kaming nadadala para magpanggap pa. I was ready to burn with him in this ballroom, as long as he kept holding me like I was the only person that mattered.

The drive away from the Villafuerte Hotel was suffocatingly quiet. The tinted windows of Leo’s Maybach blurred the flashing lights of the paparazzi, but the image of Sophia’s stunned, bitter face was still burned into my mind.

I looked down at my hand. Leo was still holding it. His grip wasn't as tight as it was on the ballroom floor, but he hadn't let go either. Ano ba itong pinasok ko?

“You can let go now,” I whispered, my voice sounding small against the hum of the engine. “The cameras are gone.”

Leo stiffened. He slowly retracted his hand, resting it on his lap. The sudden loss of his warmth made the leather seat feel ice-cold. He didn't look at me, he was staring straight ahead.

“I’m sorry,” he finally said, his voice back to that deep, professional baritone. “For the announcement. It was the only way to silence the press—and Sophia.”

“So, Ginamit mo lang ako para saktan siya?” I asked, trying to ignore the slight sting in my chest.

Leo finally turned to look at me. The shadows of the passing streetlights danced across his sharp features. “It started that way. Pero nung nakita kita sa gown na 'yan... and when I saw her looking at you like you were nothing...” He trailed off, his jaw tightening. “No one looks at what’s mine like that.”

“I’m not yours, Leo,” I said angrily.  I rushed to reach for the door handle as the car slowed down in front of my apartment complex. 

“Wait,” Leo called out as I opened the door. He reached into his coat and pulled out a black credit card. “For your mother’s treatments. Alexa told me.”

I froze. My pride flared up, hot and fast. “Hindi ako nagpapabayad para sa acting, Leo.”

“It’s not payment,” he said, his eyes softening for a split second. “It’s an investment for my fiancée. The world is watching now, Chloe. You can’t live like this if you’re going to be by my side.”

“Then maybe I shouldn't be by your side,” I retorted, stepping out into the humid night air.

I didn't look back as I hurried up the stairs, but I could feel his gaze on my back. When I reached my room, I pressed my back against the door, my heart hammering. I touched my lips, his presence still lingering there.