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Kabanata 21

Author: Lenie Faigao
last update Last Updated: 2025-09-16 13:41:39

The next days blurred together in a haze of meetings and headlines. Every morning, more papers arrived. Every evening, more whispers.

“Monteverde’s New Jewel or Just a Rosales Pawn?”

“Cassandra’s Return: Manila’s Darling Back to Reclaim Her Crown.”

The last one stung the most. I didn’t need to read between the lines, they were already writing me as a placeholder, as someone Cassandra could outshine and erase.

I stared at the paper, my fingers trembling. Why does it feel like no matter what I do, she’ll always have the upper hand?

Hunter walked in, crisp in his suit, tie still loose. He caught sight of me gripping the paper too tightly. In two steps, he was at my side, taking it gently from my hands.

“Thaliya,” he said low, firm, his palm brushing over mine before setting the paper aside. “Don’t let her win here.”

My throat tightened. “You don’t see the way they look at her, Hunter. Like she never left. Like I’m just… temporary.”

His eyes darkened, his hand moving to cup my face, forci
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  • More Than Just A Marriage Deal   Kabanata 21

    The next days blurred together in a haze of meetings and headlines. Every morning, more papers arrived. Every evening, more whispers.“Monteverde’s New Jewel or Just a Rosales Pawn?”“Cassandra’s Return: Manila’s Darling Back to Reclaim Her Crown.”The last one stung the most. I didn’t need to read between the lines, they were already writing me as a placeholder, as someone Cassandra could outshine and erase.I stared at the paper, my fingers trembling. Why does it feel like no matter what I do, she’ll always have the upper hand?Hunter walked in, crisp in his suit, tie still loose. He caught sight of me gripping the paper too tightly. In two steps, he was at my side, taking it gently from my hands.“Thaliya,” he said low, firm, his palm brushing over mine before setting the paper aside. “Don’t let her win here.”My throat tightened. “You don’t see the way they look at her, Hunter. Like she never left. Like I’m just… temporary.”His eyes darkened, his hand moving to cup my face, forci

  • More Than Just A Marriage Deal   Kabanata 20

    Papa’s words stayed with me long after we left the hospital. Don’t let them take the Rosales name from you. They echoed in every corner of my mind, even as the city lights blurred past the car window. By the next morning, wala nang oras para magpahinga. The reports were waiting. The board was waiting. And this time, I refused to show up small. Hunter watched quietly from across the breakfast table, sipping his coffee habang ako naman, nakatutok sa laptop, reviewing the numbers Elena had sent. His eyes followed every move I made, and when I finally looked up, I caught the ghost of a smile on his lips. “What?” I asked, raising a brow. “You,” he said simply, setting his cup down. “You look like your father when you’re focused like that. Determined. Untouchable.” My chest tightened, but I held his gaze. “I can’t afford to be anything less, Hunter. Not now.” He reached across the table, his hand covering mine. “You don’t have to be less. But don’t forget you’re not alone. When you wa

  • More Than Just A Marriage Deal   Kabanata 19

    The gala lights still burned behind my eyes as we drove back to the Monteverde mansion. Kahit nakaupo ako sa tabi ni Hunter, tahimik lang akong nakatingin sa bintana, watching the city lights blur past. Kanina, I stood tall. Kanina, I didn’t let Cassandra or Benjamin see me bend. Pero ngayon, every word, every smirk, every subtle dagger replayed in my head. “Stop biting your lip,” Hunter’s voice broke through the silence, low and steady. Napalingon ako sa kanya. He was watching me, one hand on the wheel, the other reaching over to brush his thumb against my lip. My breath caught. “I wasn’t,” I whispered, though alam kong nahuli niya ako. “Thaliya.” His tone softened, but his eyes were firm. “You were perfect tonight.” A shaky laugh escaped me, bitter. “Perfect? Cassy practically ripped me open in front of everyone. Benjamin made the Rosales Group sound like it was already dead. How is that perfect?” Hunter’s hand tightened around mine, grounding me. “Because you didn’t run. You

  • More Than Just A Marriage Deal   Kabanata 18

    The clink of glasses, the hum of music, and the chatter of polished voices swirled around me, but all I could hear was the echo of Cassandra’s laugh. That laugh I knew too well, sweet on the outside, venom at its core.She stood in front of us, draped in emerald silk, her smile never faltering. To the crowd, it looked like a reunion of old friends. But I felt the sharpness underneath, the weight of every unsaid word between us.“Tell me, Thaliya,” Cassandra said, her voice lilting as she plucked a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, “isn’t it strange? All these years… and suddenly, you’re back in Manila. Back in the spotlight.” She sipped delicately, her eyes glittering as they pinned me. “It must feel… different, standing here as a Monteverde.”Gasps were subtle, but they rippled around us. People leaned in. They wanted to hear. They wanted to see if I would falter.My lips curved into a calm smile, though my chest tightened. “Different? No. It feels natural. Because this is wh

  • More Than Just A Marriage Deal   Kabanata 17

    I had just let my body sink into the leather chair when my phone buzzed on the table. Martina. Hunter glanced at the screen, then at me. “Answer it,” he said softly. I swiped to accept. “Martina?” “Ma’am,” her voice carried that mix of hesitation and urgency I knew too well. “I thought you should know right away… Cassandra Villareal is flying back to Manila tomorrow. She’s booked for a few campaigns here, and I heard she’ll also be attending the gala for Rosales’ upcoming charity event.” My grip on the phone tightened. Cassandra. Cassy. Once, she had been my closest friend in Madrid, more like a sister than anything. We started together, built dreams together, walked the same runways. But things changed. Fame changed her. Or maybe it was jealousy. Somewhere along the way, our friendship cracked, then shattered. Hunter noticed the way my expression shifted. “Who’s Cassandra?” I forced a smile, though bitterness burned in my chest. “An old friend. A supermodel. We… don’t really

  • More Than Just A Marriage Deal   Kabanata 16

    Hunter’s arm stayed around me for a while, steadying the storm inside me. I didn’t realize how tightly I’d been holding myself together until now, when the boardroom was finally empty, and it was just us.Napapikit ako sandali, letting the silence sink in. But the truth was, silence didn’t erase the weight on my shoulders. Rosales Group was still bleeding. My father was still too weak to lead. And Benjamin Alcazar was still waiting for me to fail.I pulled away gently, straightening in my chair. “We can’t just rely on hope,” I said softly. “We need a plan that doesn’t just sound strong in a boardroom it has to work.”Hunter’s gaze followed me closely, sharp yet steady. “Then we’ll build one. Piece by piece.”I nodded, glancing down at the folder in front of me. Elena’s numbers were brutal. The construction delays, the ballooning costs, the penalties, parang bawat linya ay isang sugat na hindi basta-basta maghihilom.I clenched my fists lightly against the table. If I let this company

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