Chapter 5- Owned by Him

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Caspian POV

Jealous

I pushed the kitchen door open harder than necessary.

Tahimik.

Too quiet.

Napaatras ang babaeng nasa loob, halatang nagulat sa presensya ko.

“Who are you, young man? Ikaw ba ang kinuha ng asawa ko for my birthday event today?” she asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

Good.

So she didn’t change the date.

I straightened my tie, forcing a calm I didn’t feel.

“I’m Luciano Moretti. Your husband told me may event nga po,” I replied smoothly.

A lie—but necessary.

A soft laugh escaped her lips. Hindi ko agad ma-gets kung bakit.

Lumapit siya sa sink, then turned to me again—this time, mas matalim ang tingin.

“Sino ang Daddy mo? Kasi may kamukha ka—”

She didn’t get to finish.

The door opened again.

And just like that—everything inside me cracked.

“Mom?! Buhay ka? Gosh—halos mabaliw kami kakaisip bakit mo kami iniwan—”

Cassiane.

Damn it.

I moved fast—too fast.

Hinawakan ko agad ang kamay niya, dragging her out before she could say more.

We didn’t stop until we reached the garden.

Pareho kaming humihingal.

“The hell, sis!” I snapped, voice low but sharp. “Sisiraan mo ba ang plano ko? She doesn’t even remember me. I need to know what really happened.”

It was the first time.

The first time I lost control in front of her.

All my life, I was the strong one.

Pero ngayon—

“Kuya…” her voice trembled. “Ganun ba talaga kahalaga sayo ang babaeng ‘yon? She lied to us. She left us… para sa lalaking traydor.”

She dropped to her knees, the weight of years crashing down on her.

I followed.

Pulled her into my arms.

Tight.

Too tight.

“Shh…” I whispered, softer now. “I promise… I’ll fix this. Just let me handle it.”

She nodded against me.

That’s when I noticed—

Someone watching.

I looked up.

Then smiled.

“Miss Everett,” I called casually. “Come here. I need to rush my food today—I need your help sa lasa.”

I stood, helping Cassiane up.

Lumapit kami kay Camille.

She rolled her eyes, amused.

“May dalawang chef na dumating. Cousins mo daw,” she said, a hint of teasing in her voice.

I exhaled slowly.

In this city…

names are dangerous.

We hide them.

Or we lose everything.

Late afternoon came fast.

The villa buzzed with laughter, clinking glasses, and whispers of admiration as we served dish after dish.

Then I saw her.

Camille.

She changed.

A fitted dress hugged every curve, a high slit teasing with every step she took.

Heads turned.

Every single one.

Including mine.

Damn.

I walked toward her without thinking.

My hand found her waist, pulling her just a little closer.

A silent claim.

Mine.

She leaned in, lips brushing my ear.

“Don’t be jealous, love,” she whispered. “Halika na sa garden.”

And just like that—

I followed.

The night wrapped around us.

Dark. Quiet.

But she—she glowed.

Like she owned the stars.

Then it happened.

No warning.

No hesitation.

Our lips crashed.

Hungry.

Desperate.

Mas lumalim ang halik—messy, consuming.

She fell back onto the grass, pulling me with her.

I shrugged off my coat, then my top, not breaking the contact.

Her skin was warm beneath my hands.

Too warm.

Too addictive.

My lips trailed down, slow, deliberate—memorizing every inch.

Her breath hitched.

Soft.

Dangerous.

I wanted more.

Needed more.

Every movement, every touch—it wasn’t just desire anymore.

It was something deeper.

Something reckless.

“So tell me, love…” I murmured against her skin, voice rough. “Satisfied ka na?”

She smiled.

That damn smile.

“Of course,” she whispered. “Just promise me one thing.”

My chest tightened.

“Anything.”

Her teeth caught her lower lip.

“This… won’t just be a game anymore.”

I exhaled slowly.

So that’s it.

I already knew.

Just like Dad—

People like us don’t fall.

We play.

We win.

We survive.

Still—

I didn’t stop.

By nightfall, the celebration was in full swing.

Laughter echoed.

Music filled the halls.

But I stayed moving—talking, observing, calculating.

Always watching.

My back ached slightly.

A reminder.

Of her.

Of us.

I wandered deeper into the house—

Until I found it.

A gray room.

Quiet.

Unfamiliar.

I opened the door slowly.

Something felt off.

Then I saw it.

A photo album.

Old.

Hidden.

I reached for it—

“Long time no see.”

Uncle Thorne.

I didn’t turn.

“Ano ang utos ni Arden?” he continued, voice sharp.

I smirked faintly.

“Uncle… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

A bitter laugh.

“You son of a bitch. Ang lakas ng loob mong pumasok dito.”

Still—

I didn’t move.

Didn’t flinch.

Because I was ready.

Always ready.

The tension snapped when the door opened again.

“Auntie Claire?”

Her eyes widened.

“Cousin—your wife is kinda strange, oh my g—”

She froze.

Too late.

“Be careful,” I said quietly, turning to them. “About ruining my family.”

My voice didn’t rise.

But the threat lingered.

Heavy.

Real.

I left them there.

And went to find her.

I found Camille in the kitchen.

Without a word, I wrapped my arms around her from behind.

She stilled.

Then relaxed.

“Love… let’s go,” I murmured.

She waved casually at the guests before turning to me, looping her arm around mine.

We left.

Together.

Inside the limousine—

Silence.

Thick.

Heavy.

I looked at her.

Really looked.

Then reached for her face.

“Can I kiss you?” I asked softly.

She nodded.

“Basta ikaw.”

That was all it took.

We lost ourselves again.

Slow this time.

Deeper.

My lips traced her neck, her jaw, her lips—

downward—

until her breath broke into quiet moans.

She pulled me closer.

Like she needed me too.

Not just my touch—

but me.

And for the first time—

it didn’t feel like just desire.

I wanted to claim her.

Not out of hunger.

But something else.

Something dangerous.

Something real.

“Do you trust me?” I asked, voice low.

She met my gaze.

No hesitation.

“As long as you’re with me… I will.”

And yet—

one question stayed.

Loud.

Unanswered.

What’s the price…

of choosing someone you barely know?

Is this love—

or just another war waiting to happen?

---

Mabilis naming inayos ang mga damit namin.

Still catching our breath.

Still too close.

Too dangerous.

Then—

*shhk—*

May humawi sa harang.

Malakas.

Biglaan.

I froze.

Camille stiffened in front of me.

And then I saw him.

Nakatayo sa di kalayuan.

Eyes locked on us.

Dark.

Burning.

Galit na galit.

“Camille!” his voice thundered. “Sino siya?!”

The way he said it—

wasn’t just anger.

It was an authority.

Ownership.

He started walking toward us.

Slow.

Controlled.

But every step felt heavy.

Threatening.

Like each second—

he was holding himself back from doing something worse.

Dangerous.

Powerful.

The kind of man you don’t cross.

“Sir— I can explain—”

I didn’t even finish.

A solid punch landed straight on my face.

My head snapped to the side.

Metal filled my mouth.

I barely had time to recover—

when he grabbed my collar.

Tight.

Violent.

“The audacity to touch my daughter!”

Everything went still.

Daughter.

The word echoed in my head.

Behind him—

Camille moved fast.

“Stop!”

Puma gitna siya sa amin, pushing him back slightly.

Her hands were shaking.

But her voice—

was firm.

Too firm.

“I am choosing him,” she said.

Clear.

No hesitation.

“So better leave us alone.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Deadly.

My brows furrowed.

A cold realization creeping in.

Mag-kakilala sila?

No—

Not just that.

Something deeper.

The way he looked at her—

wasn’t just anger.

It was personal.

Possessive.

Like losing her wasn’t an option.

His jaw tightened.

Eyes flicking between us.

Then slowly—

he laughed.

Low.

Dangerous.

“You’re choosing him?” he repeated softly.

Would she choose me over a man?