Chapter 4 THE ARRANGED MARRIAGE

"THE FALL OF THE CALIZ HEIRESS GRACE FIONA CALIZ COMMITS SUICIDE."

The newspaper stated that Grace jumped off the bridge because of the guilt. Sabi sa report, hindi niya kaya ang kahihiyan na siya ang naging dahilan kung bakit nacoma ang kanyang ama na si Don Gabriel.

Kalix POV:

When I read the newspaper in Italy, parang huminto ang tibok ng puso ko. I stared at the newspaper, hoping it was just a sick joke.

"No... Grace... hindi mo magagawa yan." I whisper.

I was ready to fly back. I was ready to forgive her. Kahit anong sakit ang naramdaman ko nung makita ko siya sa kwarto na may kasamang iba, mas masakit ang malamang wala na siya. The girl who I love the most was gone.

Three years passed, but the pain never left. I become mafia boss. My only goal was to find out what really happened. Dahil sa loob ko, alam kong hindi magpapakamatay si Grace. She promised me she wouldn't let them dim her light.

"Kalix, anak." tawag ng aking ama. "You need to fulfill the agreement. For the sake of their company(empire), you must marry Hailey."

"I don't love her, Dad." malamig kong sagot.

"It's not about love! It's a business arrangement na pinagkasunduan namin Ng matalik Kung kaibigan na si Gabriel noon pa. Now that Grace is dead, Hailey is the only choice."

"I said NO!" bulyaw ko habang hinahagis ang wedding invitation sa lamesa ni Dad. "I will never marry that woman. Over my dead body!"

Kalixto Desmond, ay nanatiling kalmado habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Dahan-dahan siyang humarap sa akin, ang kanyang mga mata ay puno ng seryosong timpla.

Nanahimik ako ng matagal na sandali. Ang galit sa dibdib ko ay parang bulkang handang sumabog, pero ang respeto ko sa alaala ni Grace at sa prinsipyo ng kanyang ama ang nagpahinahon sa akin.

"Fine" matigas kong sabi. "I will marry her."

"Good." sagot ni Dad. "But remember, keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Teresa and Marcus are not just greedy they are professional killers. They survived years under Gabriel nose without getting caught." I check their background marami na silang na biktima, hindi sila mapakulong dahil may tumulong sa kanila.

With that, I turned around and dialed Hailey number.

Author POV:

Ang hangin sa loob ng The Underground Bar ay puno ng usok, malakas na musika, at amoy ng mamahaling alak. Kalix was sitting in a VIP booth at the far end, his eyes cold as he watched the crowd. Pinapunta niya si Hailey rito para tapusin na ang diskusyon tungkol sa kasal, pero bago pa siya makapagsalita, dumating si Hailey na may dalang kakaibang aura.

Hindi siya galit. Hindi siya sumisigaw. Sa halip, ang kanyang mga mata ay tila naglulungkot, at ang bawat kilos niya ay dahan-dahan isang senyales na nagsisimula na ang kanyang laro.

Hailey POV:

I walked into the bar, feeling the eyes of the men on me, but my focus was only on one person: Kalix. I saw him sitting there, looking like a king who hated his kingdom. I sat down across from him, not waiting for an invitation.

Inunahan ko na siya bago pa siya makapagbitaw ng masasakit na salita.

"Bakit mo ako pinapapunta rito, Kalix?" mahinahon kong tanong, ang boses ko ay bahagyang nanginginig para magmukhang nasasaktan. "To embarrass me again? To tell me in front of all these people that you don't love me? O para iparamdam na naman sa akin na wala akong kwenta kumpara sa alaala ng kapatid ko?"

I saw him pause, the glass of whiskey halfway to his lips.

"Hailey, we need to talk about the wedding terms."

"No, Kalix. Enough." putol ko sa kanya. I looked down at my hands, acting like I was trying to hide a tear. "I get it now. All this time, I was forcing myself on you because I thought I could heal you. I thought if I stayed by your side, you’d finally see me. Pero kahit ano palang gawin ko, ako pa rin ang kontrabida sa kwento mo."

I stood up, grabbing my designer bag. This is the part where I pull back so he will lean in.

"That's why I'm stopping. I stop na ang pagpilit sa iyo. If you want to cancel the marriage, go ahead. I accept it." sabi ko sa kanya, boses na tila sumuko na. "Hayaan mo na kung bumagsak ang kumpanya ni Dad. Hayaan mo na kung mawala ang lahat sa amin. I’d rather be poor and alone than stay with a man who looks at me with so much disgust every single day."

I turned my back on him, counting in my head. 1... 2... 3...

Kalix POV:

I stared at Hailey’s back. For the first time, hindi siya nag eskandalo. Hindi siya nag-inarte. Her words felt... heavy. Is she really being sincere? O sadyang pagod na rin siya sa laro naming dalawa?

I knew the Desmond and Caliz merger was the only thing keeping the empire stable. If I let her walk away now, hundreds of employees would lose their jobs. My father’s reputation would be ruined.

"Hailey, wait." I said, my voice softer than intended.

She stopped but didn't turn around. Her shoulders shook slightly, as if she were sobbing silently. "Para saan pa, Kalix? Para saktan mo uli ako?"

"Sit down." I commanded, but without the usual bite in my voice. "I didn't say I wanted to cancel everything. I just wanted to make sure we understand each other."

Hailey POV (Inside her head):

Hook, line, and sinker.

I turned around slowly, my eyes red and watery. I saw the look on his face the guilt. Men like Kalix, no matter how cold they are, have a weakness for broken women.

"Talaga?" I whispered, sitting back down. "O baka naman naaawa ka lang sa akin? Ayoko ng awa, Kalix. I want respect."

I reached out and lightly touched his hand. "If we're going to do this, let's do it right. No more fighting. No more mentioning Grace. Let's just focus on us and the future of the company. Can you do that for me? For the sake of our fathers

friendship?"

I watched him hesitate, then finally, he gave a small, stiff nod.

"Good," I smiled, but inside, I was screaming in victory.

Grace is dead and buried, and now, I’ve finally tamed the beast she left behind.

"Wait for me here, honey." I said, standing up, "I'll just go to the restroom . I need to fix my face before we celebrate our... new beginning."

As I walked away, my "sad" face instantly vanished, replaced by a wicked, smug smile. I took out my phone and messaged my mother: "He finally accept the arranged marriage Mom. The wedding is on."