Cassandra’s POV Buntis si Ivana. At posibleng si Dominic ang ama. The envelope was still on my bed. The paternity test results were due today. I felt sick to my stomach. Hindi lang dahil sa posibilidad na magiging ama si Dominic ng anak ng ahas—kundi dahil pinayagan niyang mangyari ito. He let her close. He let her mark him.DOMINIC’S POV — DEATH ROW FEELS LIKE THIS9:59 AM.Nag-ring ang phone ko. Jared.“Test results are in. Gusto mo bang ikaw ang unang makaalam—o si Cassandra?”Tumingin ako sa salamin. Namumutla na ako sa kaba.“She deserves to know first,” I said.Kahit anong resulta pa ‘yan… I already feel like I’ve lost her.CASSANDRA’S POV — SPITTING FIRENasa office ako nang dumating ang email. With trembling hands, I opened the document.DNA RESULT: 0.00% Paternal Match.Dominic Velasquez is NOT the father.I screamed.Not out of relief—But out of rage.I was played.By Ivana. By fear. By my own insecurities.SSPG SCENE — CONTROLLED COLLISIONPagpasok ni Dominic sa opisi
Cassandra’s POVTumindig ako sa harap ng boardroom. Malamig ang aircon pero pawis ang palad ng bawat director.“I am Maria Cassandra Velasquez Ramirez,” I announced.Jared placed the original will on the table. Nakalagay roon: Ako, si Lucian Dela Cruz Velasquez, ay inihahayag na ang aking tagapagmana sa lahat ng assets ay ang aking anak kay Maria Ramirez—“Kung may objections kayo,” I smirked, “speak now... or watch me burn your careers one by one.”Tahimik.Tagumpay.Pero hindi pa tapos ang laban.DOMINIC’S POV — DAMNED IF I DO, DEAD IF I DON’TI watched her walk out of the boardroom like she owned the universe.She didn’t even look at me.And I deserved it.Kahit hindi ko hinalikan si Ivana, I let her near me. And that made me weak.Pero hindi ‘yon ang kinakatakutan ko ngayon…Ang kinakatakutan ko ay ang isang bagay na hawak ni Ivana: a positive pregnancy test.At ako raw ang ama.SSPG SCENE — WRATH AND LONGING COLLIDEThat night, Cassandra came to my place.“Take off your clothes,”
Cassandra’s POV6:00 AM. Trending ang pangalan ko sa Twitter. Hindi dahil sa video na ako ang naglabas.But because of a leaked photo.Dominic. Ivana. Magkayakap. Magkalapit. Halos maghalikan.My breath caught in my throat.Hindi ko alam kung mas masakit ba ‘to kaysa sa ginawa ni Lucian. Kasi sa pagkakataong ito… si Dominic ang pumili.FLASHBACK — NIGHT BEFOREHe kissed me on the forehead.“Rest. I’ll handle Lucian,” he said.Naniwala ako. Kumalma ako. Nilabanan ko ang trauma. Sinugal ko ang tiwala.Pero ito ang sinukli niya?DOMINIC’S POV — GUILT IS A POISONSumabog ang phone ko sa notifications.Cass: “We’re done. Don’t come back.”Cass: “You chose her.”Cass: “I survived rape. I won’t survive betrayal again.”Putang ina.Hindi ko siya ginusto halikan si Ivana. But I let her get close. I let her use me as a pawn.And now... the queen is burning everything.CASSANDRA’S POV — SSPG WRATHI went straight to his condo. Di ko alam kung umiiyak ako o galit lang. Pero ang alam ko, gusto kon
Cassandra’s POV “We know your secret.” Tumambad ang anonymous email sa harapan ko habang nakaupo ako sa executive office ng Dela Cruz & Velasquez International. May attached file. I double-clicked. And then I saw her. Ako. Seventeen. Halos walang malay. At si Lucian… nakatayo sa likod ko habang tinatakpan ang CCTV camera. No. Not again. Hindi ko namalayan na tumulo na pala ang luha sa pisngi ko. But I didn’t cry because of fear. I cried because I was angry. They thought they could silence me with the past. DOMINIC’S POV — THE WOMAN I CAN’T SAVE Nakita ko siyang nakaupo sa sahig ng opisina. Tulala. Basag. “Cass...?” I knelt beside her. Hinarap niya ako. Red ang mata niya. But her lips were coldly smirking. “They recorded everything,” she said. “Lucian sent it to a third-party blackmailer. May countdown.” “Countdown?” “In 72 hours... my rape video goes live on the dark web.” BOOM. Like a dagger in the chest. Tumayo siya, umayos ng suot, at tinapik ako sa balikat. “Do
Cassandra’s POV “Legal stepmother?” Dominic whispered, habang hawak ang hawak ang file na ibinigay ko. His hands trembled. Oo, ganito kabangis ang ginawa ng pamilya nila. “Yes,” I said, coldly. “My mother was your grandfather’s legal wife. Before Lucian forged the annulment.” “And that makes you...?” “Next in line. Not you. Not your father. Not even your uncle.” FLASHBACK — MANILA REGISTRY ARCHIVES Two months ago, sinugod ko ang City Hall. Andoon ako sa loob ng madilim na archive section, habang basa ng pawis ang palad ko. I found it — the original marriage certificate. My mom, Angelina Ramirez, was married to Don Rafael Velasquez. My mother… wasn’t just a mistress. She was the forgotten queen. And Lucian destroyed her to take her crown. Dominic stared at me like I had stabbed him. “You played me,” he said. “No. I protected myself.” DOMINIC’S POV — CRASHING TRUTH Nang gabing iyon, hindi ako makatulog. Nakatingin lang ako sa chandelier ng penthouse. Paulit-uli
(Cassandra’s POV) Tumambad sa harapan ko ang lalaking huli kong nakita sa loob ng ospital — habang tinatahi ang sugat ko sa hita, at ang sarili kong ama ang dahilan. Lucian Dela Cruz. Ang halimaw sa mga alaala ko. Pero ngayong nakaupo siya sa harap ko, may hawak siyang wine glass na parang hindi siya ang sumira sa pagkatao ko. “Anak,” he said. “You’ve grown into a queen.” “Too bad you’re still a f*cking pig,” I said coldly. Tumawa lang siya. “At kahit ganyan ka kabastos, I’m still proud. You remind me… of me.” FLASHBACK – CASSANDRA’S NIGHTMARE I was sixteen. Nakakadena ako sa loob ng basement. “Mag-practice ka ng submission, Cassandra,” Lucian whispered. “Para pag minahal ka ng boss mo balang araw, hindi ka tatakbo. Hindi ka lalaban.” Sinampal niya ako. Tinakpan ang bibig ko. Pinaiyak ako nang paulit-ulit — hindi sa sakit ng katawan, kundi sa pagkawasak ng pagkatao. BACK TO PRESENT – DOMINIC’S POV I was watching them through the one-way mirror of Cassandra’s