Chapter 4

Anastasia's POV

By 5:00 PM, parang sunog na ang utak ko. At least, hindi na ako umiyak pa. I was reviewing the final rendering for a diamond choker when my phone vibrated violently against the wooden tabletop. An unknown international number flashed on the screen.

My stomach dropped. Muntik ko na itong hindi sagutin. Alam ko sa sarili ko kung sino ang tumatawag sa akin. With a deep sigh, kinuha ko ang aking phone. I swiped the screen at sinagot ko ang call.

"Hello?" I said, keeping my tone ice-cold.

"Is that how you greet your long-lost husband?"

Sa tunog pa lang ng kanyang boses, kumulo agad ang dugo ko... Kristian. The arrogant, selfish prick I was tied to by a piece of paper.

"What do you want, Kristian?" I spat, not hiding the sheer disgust in my tone. "Busy ako. Make it fast."

He let out a dry, irritating chuckle over the static of the line.

"Still as charming as ever, I see. Well, wife, I'm calling to let you know that we just landed. Nakalimutan mo yata na babalik na kami."

My hand tightened around my pen until my knuckles turned white. Two years. He had been gone for two full years, living like a king in Europe, carelessly flaunting his lifestyle while completely neglecting his duties here.

"And why should I care?" I hissed sarcastically. "Anong gusto mong gawin ko? Magpa-tarpaulin ng Welcome Home?"

"Don't be bitter, Anastasia. It doesn't suit you," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Nandito na kami sa airport. Send the car, or better yet, fetch us yourself. We have a lot of bags, at madaling napapagod si Elena sa mahabang waiting time.”

Elena. His shameless little mistress. The woman he ran off with, the woman he rubbed in my face every single chance he got. A cruel, bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"Did I hear you right? Pinapapunta mo ako sa airport para sunduin ka... kasama ang querida mo? Are you out of your mind, Kristian?!"

"Watch your language, Ana," he warned, his voice darkening. "She's tired from the flight. As my wife, the least you can do is make sure my arrival is smooth."

"Gagawin mo pa akong driver ng kabit mo?!" I snapped, standing up from my chair, my chest heaving with rage. "Ang kapal din naman ng mukha mo, 'no? Dalawang taon kang nawala, nagpakasarap sa pera ng pamilya natin habang kasama 'yang babae mo, tapos ngayon babalik ka rito at ie-expect mo na susunduin kita? Para ano? Para maging katulong niyo?"

"Anastasia, simple lang ang hinihingi ko—"

"No, Kristian! Pakinggan mo 'ko nang mabuti," I cut him off, my voice sharp enough to cut glass. "If you want a ride, call a cab. Or better yet, crawl your way back to your house. Huwag na huwag mo akong maitawag-tawag para lang sa kabaliwan ninyong dalawa. Hindi ako ang taga-linis ng madudumi mong kalat!"

"Ana, don't you dare hang up on—"

I didn't let him finish. I slammed the end-call button and shoved the phone onto the desk.

My whole body was shaking with fury. Tears of anger burned at the corners of my eyes. Two years of freedom, two years of building my own life, and in just a three-minute phone call, that bastard managed to ruin everything. The audacity! The absolute, sickening nerve of that man!

I slammed my palms onto the desk, taking deep, ragged breaths. I couldn't stay here. Kapag nag-stay pa ako rito nang matagal, mababaliw ako! Kinuha ko ang aking bag, ang aking phone, and stormed out of my office.

"Woah! Saan ang sunog?" Napatayo si Kate mula sa lounge area nang makita niya akong nagmamadaling lumabas. She took one look at my flushed, furious face and immediately knew something was horribly wrong. "Ana, ano na namang nangyari? Sino 'yung tumawag?"

"It's Kristian," I squeezed out through clenched teeth, my voice shaking with raw hostility. "Bumalik na ang hayop na 'yon."

Kate’s eyes widened in shock.

"What?! Bumalik na siya? Kasama si..."

"Yes. Kasama ang kabit niya," I snapped, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "And the bastard had the nerve to ask me to pick them up at the airport."

"Gago ba siya?!" mabilis na nag-init ang ulo ni Kate para sa akin. "Seryoso ba 'yon?! Ang kapal naman ng mukha niyang gawin sa'yo 'yon!"

"I told him off, but I swear, pakiramdam ko sasabog ang dibdib ko sa galit," I said, rubbing my temples as a pounding headache started to form behind my eyes. I looked at Kate, my eyes pleading for an escape. "I can't go home yet, Kate. I really can't. Kung uuwi ako sa bahay na 'yon ngayon, baka makapatay lang ako."

Kate looked at me sympathetically, catching the distress hidden beneath my rage. She walked over, placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, and gave me a firm nod.