"Mahal kita...kahit bawal." *** Hindi akalain ni Celeste Rockwell na ang isang simpleng pagkakamali ay magiging simula ng pinakamalaking gulo sa buhay niya. Isang gabi lang… pero bakit hindi niya ito matakasan? At paano kung ang lalaking kasama niya nang magising siya ay walang iba kundi ang kanyang Ninong Chester Villamor—ang cold-hearted billionaire doctor na hindi kailanman naniwala sa pag-ibig? Ngunit isang balita ang tuluyang nagpagulo sa lahat—buntis siya. At ang solusyon ng kanyang Ninong? Isang secret contractual marriage. Maitatago ba nila ang sekreto nilang dalawa? Mananatili ba silang propesyonal kahit pilit nang pumipintig ang puso? O itataya nila ang lahat—reputasyon, respeto, at emosyon—para sa isang pagmamahalang hindi nila inakala?
view moreThe cool night, silent and luxurious in the presidential suite.
Caitlin Lewis had a black blindfold over her eyes, her small hands tightly gripping the sheets, filled with tension and anxiety.
The mattress beside her suddenly sank under a heavy weight pressing down.
She could feel the man reaching out, and Caitlin quickly grabbed his wrist.
“Don’t look at my face!”
The man’s deep, magnetic voice spoke, “Don’t you want to know who you’re giving your first time to?”
Caitlin’s heart ached, warm tears spilling out as she shook her head. “I don’t care who you are. You’re my savior, thank you!”
She couldn’t let anyone know who she was!
If word got out that the eldest daughter of the Lewis family had fallen so low as to sell herself for $200,000, how much ridicule would she face?
Giving her most precious self to a stranger, she felt helpless and sorrowful.
But she had no choice. Her mother was lying in a hospital bed, waiting for money to save her life.
If it weren’t for her father’s coldness and her boyfriend’s betrayal—stealing her shares and kicking her out—she wouldn’t have to resort to this.
A faint, seductive scent filled the air.
The girl was clean, and she smelled good!
The man made another request, “I can give you two million, but I want you to have a baby for me. Would you agree?”
With two million, her mother could be saved!
“I agree…”
“Good girl.”
The man curved his lips into a charming smile, leaning in closer.
Eight months later, one night.
Caitlin was jolted awake by the pungent smell of smoke. She opened her eyes to see flames outside the window, long tongues of fire licking through the frame, igniting the curtains.
Fire!
Realizing the danger, Caitlin, with her large belly, struggled to get up and escape the room.
The living room on the first floor was already ablaze, thick smoke billowing. Caitlin covered her mouth and nose, struggling to move forward.
The worst part was, all the doors and windows in the villa were sealed shut. She managed to find the landline phone, but the line had already been cut.
Outside, she could faintly hear familiar voices. “Once her mother dies, my mom will marry into the Lewis family, and Caitlin will probably never know that I’m also a Lewis daughter.”
Her cousin Jasmine was actually her father’s biological daughter?
“Everything that belongs to her is already in your hands. She has nothing now!”
That was Scott Gilbert’s voice?
He stole her shares and conspired with Jasmine?
“Pour more gasoline. Make sure the fire burns brighter. It’s best if she and that bastard in her belly are burned to ashes.”
“She has to die, only then will we be truly safe.”
It was them. They wanted to silence her!
The chaotic footsteps finally faded, leaving only the roaring fire and suffocating smoke.
The flames licked at her skin, and fear consumed her.
Thinking of her mother still lying in the hospital, she couldn’t die…
Caitlin smashed the window glass, shouting desperately for help. “Help… Fire… Help!”
She didn’t know how much time had passed. Lying on the ground, Caitlin could barely breathe.
In that moment of crisis, the villa door was kicked open, and an elderly figure rushed into the inferno. “Miss! Miss!”
“Dominic, I’m here…”
Hearing the old butler’s voice in her despair, Caitlin was moved to tears.
Dominic kicked aside burning furniture, braving the danger to find the nearly suffocating Caitlin. “Miss, hurry, come with me…”
With Dominic’s help, Caitlin cradled her belly as they headed toward the door. Just as they were about to make it out, a beam fell toward Caitlin.
Seeing this, Dominic pushed Caitlin out of the door, taking the blow himself and becoming trapped under the beam.
Caitlin crawled up from the ground, turning to see Dominic engulfed in flames.
Tears overflowed from her eyes as she cried out in agony, “Dominic! Dominic…”
“Run, Miss… Go as far as you can… Never come back…”
“Dominic…”
Caitlin’s eyes were bloodshot, the flames devouring everything, leaving nothing but a burning inferno.
*
Half a month later, in the 59th-floor office of Vanderbilt Enterprises Group.
Sebastian Vanderbilt was dealing with work when his assistant, Xavi, rushed in to report, “Mr. Vanderbilt, our people found a premature newborn at the gate of the villa.”
“What?”
No one else knew the villa’s address, only that girl. Realizing what it meant, Sebastian stood up abruptly. “Where is the baby now?”
“The baby is very weak and sick. I’ve already sent him to the hospital for treatment.”
“To the hospital!”
In the hospital’s incubator, Sebastian saw a baby boy, tiny and delicate, so small and adorable. The moment he saw the baby’s face, his heart softened.
Though the baby was small, his features bore a slight resemblance to Sebastian’s. There was no doubt this was his son.
He had paid two million to have that woman, Camellia, bear him a child, and she had fulfilled her promise!
Thinking of this, Sebastian immediately instructed Xavi, “Go, I need to know where the baby’s mother is now. Bring her here.”
“Yes, sir!”
Xavi led a team to search, and three days later, he returned with a report. “Sir, we’ve searched all over New York, but we couldn’t find a woman named Camellia. We even checked every maternity ward, but there’s no record that matches.”
“Keep looking. I must find that woman!”
Sebastian’s brow furrowed deeply. Where had she gone after giving birth to his child?
Pagkapasok namin sa hotel lobby, ramdam ko ang paninigas ng panga ni Killian. Halata sa mukha niya ang galit at inis na kanina pa niya pinipigilan. Nasa harapan namin si Larkin, nakaupo sa lounge area kasama ang dalawang bodyguard. Nakatitig lang siya kay Killian, parang nanunukso pa.Humigpit ang hawak ni Killian sa kamay ko.“Stay here, Claudette. Don’t get involved,” mahinahong sabi niya pero ramdam kong nanginginig ang boses niya sa galit.Umiling ako. “Killian, I can’t just watch. I need to hear this too.”Lumapit si Killian kay Larkin. Tumayo naman ang ex-husband ko at ngumisi.“Well, look who decided to finally come home. The forgotten grandson.”Hindi nagpatinag si Killian. “Cut the crap, Larkin. Alam nating pareho kung anong ginawa mo. You think you deserve Nicolaj Group?”Umiling si Larkin, tumawa ng mahina. “Deserve? Killian, don’t fool yourself. Ikaw lang ang gustong-gusto ng Lolo mo pero ngayon? He chose me. Ako ang may hawak ng lahat ngayon.”“Because you manipulated hi
Pagkalapag ng eroplano sa Pilipinas, ramdam ko ang bigat sa dibdib ni Killian. Tahimik lang siya buong biyahe, kahit ilang beses ko siyang kinakausap. Nasa mukha niya ang pagkadismaya at galit. Hindi ko na kinulit, alam kong may mabigat siyang iniisip.Pagdating namin sa bahay, agad siyang naupo sa sofa, hawak ang ulo at parang hindi makapaniwala.“Clau,” mahina niyang sabi, halos bulong, “pinamana lahat kay Larkin. Wala akong nakuha. Lahat ng shares, lahat ng properties under Nicolaj Group... nasa pangalan niya na.”Umupo ako sa tabi niya, hinawakan ang kamay niya. “Paano nangyari ‘yon? Akala ko nakasequester ang mga ari-arian ni Don Rafael.”“'Yun din ang iniisip ko. Pero apparently, bago siya tuluyang nakulong, naayos niya lahat ng papeles. He made sure na kay Larkin mapupunta. Legal daw lahat, at may mga board members na pumayag. Kahit galit sila kay Loli Rafael, pumirma sila dahil may mga kapalit.”“Killian, this doesn’t mean na wala ka na,” sabi ko. “Hindi mo kailangan ng mga ar
Pagod na pagod ako, pero masaya ang puso ko. Nasa private room na kami ng ospital, at katabi ko ngayon ang anak namin ni Killian — si Baby Alessandro. Katabi niya ang crib na kulay puti, may maliit na blanket na binili pa mismo ni Killian bago ako manganak.Tahimik sa loob ng kwarto. Si Killian ay nakaupo sa maliit na sofa sa tabi ko, pero hindi siya mapakali. Hawak niya ang bote ng gatas na hinanda ng nurse kanina, habang pinagmamasdan si Baby Alessandro na mahimbing na natutulog.“Babe,” bulong niya. “Grabe ka. Parang hindi ka lang nanganak.”“Killian, huwag mo akong simulan. Masakit pa ang tadyang ko.”“Hindi ko naman sinabing magpapagiling tayo, ‘di ba?” Ngisi niya. “Pero seryoso, Claudette... ang ganda mo pa rin kahit bagong panganak ka.”Pumikit ako sandali. “Pagod ako. Gusto kong matulog.”“Sige, matulog ka na. Ako bahala sa inyo ng anak natin.” Tumayo siya at inayos ang swero ko para siguraduhing hindi ito matatanggal.Pagkatapos ay lumapit siya sa crib ni Baby Alessandro at m
Claudette Aoife Villamor's POV ITALY "Killian, manganganak na yata ako!" sigaw ko habang hawak ang bandang puson at naramdaman kong may likidong lumabas sa pagitan ng mga hita ko. Nagulat si Killian. Kalalabas lang niya mula sa banyo, basang-basang buhok, nakasuot pa ng bathrobe. "Ano?" Nataranta siyang lumapit sa akin. "Baby, teka, kalma lang muna. Huminga ka." "Anong huminga lang? Killian! Ang sakit!" Halos mapasubsob ako sa sofa habang pinipigilan ang kirot. "Sige, sige. Sandali lang. Dito ka muna—no, no. Huwag ka munang tumayo!" agad niyang hinila ang wheelchair sa tabi ng pinto. "Upo ka muna, Claudette. Relax lang. I’m here, okay?" "Hindi ako makaka-relax! May lumalabas na sa akin!" "Oo na, oo na. Pasensya na, first time ko rin 'to, okay?" Hinawakan niya ang balikat ko habang pinapaupo ako. Nang makaupo na ako sa wheelchair, mabilis niyang binuksan ang pintuan, binuhat ako papasok ng kotse, tapos siya na mismo ang nagmaneho papuntang ospital. "Killian, bilisan mo! Baka d
Tahimik ang loob ng bahay. Tanghali na pero nakahiga pa rin si Killian sa kama, nakasandal sa headboard, may benda pa rin sa kanang balikat at paa. Halata sa mukha niya ang pagod pero hindi iyon naging hadlang para bantayan ang bawat kilos ni Claudette sa loob ng kwarto.Si Claudette ay abala sa pag-aayos ng tray na may pagkain. Kanina pa siya pabalik-balik sa kusina. Ayaw niyang tulungan siya ni Killian dahil gusto niyang magpahinga ito. Pero gaya ng dati, hindi pa rin talaga nagpapapigil ang binata.“Claudette,” mahinang tawag ni Killian.Hindi siya kaagad lumingon.“Pwede ba akong tumayo mamaya? Kahit saglit lang? Gusto ko lang maglakad kahit sa may hallway.”Napabuntong-hininga si Claudette bago sumagot. “Sabi ng doktor, huwag ka munang pilitin ang katawan mo. Hindi ka pa fully recovered.”“Sinasanay ko lang sarili ko. Ayoko naman maging pabigat sa'yo araw-araw.”Nilapitan siya ni Claudette habang hawak ang tray. “Hindi ka pabigat, Killian. Ginusto ko 'to. Gusto kong alagaan ka.”
Tahimik ang hallway ng korte habang hinahawi ng dalawang security personnel ang daan para sa isang lalaking nakaupo sa wheelchair. Matigas ang panga ni Killian habang tinititigan ang kahabaan ng daan papunta sa hearing room. Nakasando pa rin ang braso niya ng mga benda at may manipis na tubo na nakakabit sa kanang kamay niya para sa suplay ng gamot, pero hindi iyon hadlang para pigilan ang balak niyang pagpapatotoo laban sa sariling lolo.“Sir, dahan-dahan lang po tayo,” maingat na sabi ng nurse na sumasabay sa gilid niya.“Hindi ako papayag na makalaya ‘yung hayop na ‘yon sa pekeng medical condition,” malamig at matigas ang boses ni Killian. “Dapat niyang pagbayaran ang lahat.”Nang makarating sila sa hearing room, agad siyang sinalubong ni Claudette. Nilapitan siya nito at maingat na hinawakan ang kamay niya.“Okay ka lang ba? May sakit ka pa. Puwede naman akong magsalita sa ngalan mo,” mahinang sabi ni Claudette.Umiling si Killian. “Ako ang apo. Ako ang ginamit niya para sa lahat
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