LOGINVerity Sinclair is a gifted contemporary painter trapped in a marriage that has been dying for a long time. But the final blow comes when she catches her husband in bed with her older sister—in their matrimonial home. Humiliated and heartbroken, Verity walks away from the life she once tried to save. Then she makes one reckless decision. She seduces Quentin Langford—her ex-husband’s older brother. The ruthless billionaire with a sinful reputation, a dangerous charm, and a world filled with secrets she never wanted to understand. Quentin was supposed to be nothing more than revenge. One night, no emotions, no consequences. But after the divorce, Quentin offers her a life-changing contract: six months of exclusivity. What begins as desire quickly turns into something far more dangerous. Because beneath Quentin’s cold control is a man capable of giving Verity everything she never knew she needed—passion, freedom, and a love intense enough to consume her completely. But just as she begins to fall for him, the past returns to destroy everything. Her ex-husband suddenly wants her back, claiming he cannot live without her. At the same time, a woman from Quentin’s past reappears, threatening the fragile relationship they built together. Now Verity is caught between the man who broke her heart… and the man who awakened her soul. When forced to choose between familiarity and desire, betrayal and passion, Verity must decide where her heart truly belongs, before love destroys her completely.
View MoreMalamig ang simoy ng hangin sa deck ng Blue Ocean Cruise Ship. Walang ibang naririnig si Cherry kundi ang banayad na tunog ng alon na bumabangga sa barko. Ngayong araw, sa wakas ay day-off niya mula sa trabaho bilang passenger crew. Suot ang simpleng t-shirt at shorts, nagpasya siyang gumala sa paligid ng barko, nagbabakasakaling makahanap ng tahimik na lugar kung saan puwede siyang mag-relax.
Sa isip niya, ito na ang pagkakataong magpahinga mula sa magulong mundo ng kanyang trabaho. Pero ang hindi niya alam, isang gulo ang naghihintay sa kanya.
Habang abala si Cherry sa pagkuha ng litrato ng malawak na dagat gamit ang kanyang cellphone, bigla siyang nakaramdam ng tapik—hindi sa balikat kundi sa kanyang puwet! Gulat na gulat siyang napalingon, ang kanyang mukha’y namumula sa halong galit at hiya.
“Excuse me?!” sigaw niya, halos sumabog sa galit.
Ang salarin, isang matangkad, gwapo, at tila mayabang na lalaki, ay nakatingin sa kanya na may nakakalokong ngiti. Ito si Jal, ang kapitan ng barko na hindi niya pa nakikilala nang personal. Ngunit sa mga oras na iyon, wala siyang alam tungkol sa pagkatao nito. Para sa kanya, isa lang itong bastos na lalaki.
“Oh, ikaw pala 'yan,” sabi ni Jal, tumatawa pa. “Kagabi pa kita hinahanap, ah. Hindi ko akalain na nandito ka rin sa deck. Late night hangout ulit mamaya?”
Nagtama ang kilay ni Cherry. “Ano?! Ano'ng sinasabi mo?” Napakapit siya sa baywang, ang mga mata’y nanlilisik. “Hindi kita kilala, at paano mo nagawang bastusin ako?!”
Natigilan si Jal. Kita sa mukha nito ang pagtataka, ngunit agad din itong ngumiti na parang hindi seryoso ang sitwasyon. “Teka, hindi ba ikaw yung... sa bar kagabi?” tanong nito, sabay turo sa mukha ni Cherry. “Ikaw yung sumayaw sa stage, ‘di ba?”
Halos mauntog si Cherry sa sobrang inis. “Stage? Bar? Ano’ng pinagsasasabi mo?!” Sigaw niya. “Hindi ako kung sinuman ang iniisip mo! Bastos ka!”
Sa puntong iyon, napansin ni Jal ang suot ni Cherry—malinis, simple, at wala ni katiting na bakas ng pagiging party girl. Napakamot siya sa batok, mukhang napagtanto ang pagkakamali. Ngunit imbes na mag-sorry, ngumisi ito at humalukipkip.
"Well, my bad," sabi niya na parang wala lang. "Pero aminin mo, hindi ka ba nagagwapuhan sa akin? Ang cute mo kasi, eh."
“Ang kapal ng mukha mo!” bulyaw ni Cherry. Pakiramdam niya’y gusto niyang sabuyan ng tubig ang lalaki sa sobrang inis. “Kung hindi lang ako day-off ngayon, matagal na kitang isinumbong sa management!”
Tumalikod si Jal at naglakad palayo, ngunit bago ito tuluyang mawala sa paningin niya, muli itong lumingon. "Relax ka lang, Miss. sayang ang ganda mo, nakasimangot ka. Don't worry, hindi kita makakalimutan. Malakas ang dating mo."
Naiwang tulala at nagngangalit si Cherry. "Sino ba ’yon? Napakayabang at Napakabastos! Dapat makarma agad!" bulong niya sa sarili.
Habang bumalik siya sa kanyang upuan sa deck, hindi niya maiwasang magtanong sa sarili kung sino ang lalaking iyon.
Ang hindi alam ni Cherry, ang lalaki palang iyon ay walang iba kundi ang may-ari at kapitan ng barko. At ang maling tapik na iyon ang simula ng alon ng emosyon at pagkakagulo na magbabago sa buhay niya magpakailanman. "Hindi," bulong niya. "Hindi ko akalain may mga bastos na lalaki talaga kahit saan."bulong ni Cherry sa kanyang sarili. Habang si Cherry ay abala sa pagdedesisyon kung paano magpapakalma, si Jal naman ay bumalik sa kanyang opisina sa pinaka-itaas ng barko. Nakatitig ito sa salamin, pinapanood ang mga alon sa ibaba."Hindi ba siya 'yon o namamalikmata lang ako?" bulong niya sa sarili, tumatawa nang mahina. "Pero napaka- interesting niya."
Pumasok ang kanyang assistant na si Marco, bitbit ang ilang dokumento. "Sir Jal, ito na po ang mga reports na kailangan ninyo para sa weekly evaluation."
"Thanks," sagot ni Jal, ngunit halatang wala ang isip niya sa trabaho. "By the way, kilala mo ba ang mga crew members sa deck?"
Natigilan si Marco. "Crew members, sir? Ah, hindi po lahat. Bakit po, may problema ba?"
Umiling si Jal. "Wala naman. May nakilala lang akong... interesting." Ngumisi siya, at hindi maikakailang may kung anong naglalaro sa kanyang isipan.
Kinabukasan, nagpasya si Cherry na huwag nang magpakita sa deck. Sa halip, nagpunta siya sa canteen ng mga crew para doon magpalipas ng oras. Ngunit tila mapaglaro ang tadhana dahil pagbalik niya sa kanyang kabina, nakatanggap siya ng mensahe mula sa supervisor niya.
Supervisor: Cherry, pumunta ka sa meeting room sa deck 5. May ipapakilala akong bagong directive mula sa management.
Napabuntong-hininga si Cherry. "Sana naman hindi na baguhin ang shift ko o malipat ako ng ibang departamento; malaking hassle iyon para sa akin . "bulong niya habang inaayos ang uniporme.
Pagdating sa meeting room, laking gulat niya nang makita kung sino ang nasa harapan, nakatayo at nakangiti sa lahat ng crew.
"Good morning, everyone," ani Jal, suot ang kanyang unipormeng pang-kapitan na nagpapatingkad sa kanyang tindig at kisig. "Ako si Jal Pereno, ang kapitan ng Blue Ocean Cruise Ship at CEO ng Pereno Shipping Lines."
Napalunok si Cherry. "Siya?!" bulong niya sa sarili. Mabilis niyang iniwas ang tingin, umaasang hindi siya mapapansin.
Ngunit tila hindi siya pinalampas ni Jal. Habang nagsasalita ito, bigla nitong itinuro si Cherry. "Ikaw," sabi nito, may bahid ng ngiti sa kanyang boses. "nagkita na naman tayo."
Nagtinginan ang ibang crew kay Cherry, na ngayo’y halos gusto nang magtago sa ilalim ng mesa. "Sir," sagot niya, pilit na kalmado. "Ano pong kailangan niyo sir?"
Ngumiti si Jal, ang kanyang mga mata’y parang nang-aasar. "Wala naman. Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa mainit na pagtanggap mo kahapon."
Hindi alam ni Cherry kung maiiyak o magagalit. Ang buong meeting room ay napuno ng mahihinang tawanan mula sa iba pang crew. Ngunit sa halip na magpaapekto, tumindig siya nang maayos at ngumiti nang peke.
"Welcome po, Sir," sagot niya. "Next time po, mas mainit pa."
Natawa si Jal, ngunit sa kabila ng kanyang panunukso, may bahagyang paghanga sa tapang ng dalaga. "I’m looking forward to it," sagot niya, bago bumalik sa pagpapaliwanag sa mga bagong polisiya ng kumpanya.
Habang umuusad ang pagpupulong , si Cherry ay nananatiling tahimik, ngunit sa loob-loob niya'y punung- puno ng emosyon at pagkapahiya. Sa unang pagkakataon, naramdaman niya na ang simpleng day-off ay nagdala sa kanya ng alon ng komplikasyon. At sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, ang galit niya sa isang lalaki ay tila humahalo sa isang bagay na mas mahirap intindihin.
Neither Quentin nor Verity spoke for several seconds. Dr. Mercer looked between them before smiling. “I assume this was not planned.” Verity blinked. “No.” Quentin still had not moved. But Verity slowly turned toward him. His eyes remained fixed on the pregnancy test. “Quentin?” He finally looked at her, and for the first time since Verity had known him, Quentin Langford appeared completely speechless. “You’re pregnant.” Verity almost laughed. “That is what he just said.” “With my child.” Dr. Mercer cleared his throat. Verity looked at Quentin. “Yes, unless there is something you would like to tell me.” That finally broke whatever had frozen him. A smile appeared on his face. It was not the controlled expression he used at business dinners or the small smile Verity often had to earn from him. This one changed his entire face and made him look younger. He turned toward the doctor. “How certain is that test?” “Positive home tests are generally very reliable, but I have a
The following morning was supposed to be Quentin’s first proper day back at work. By eight o’clock, he was already dressed in a dark charcoal suit with a perfectly pressed white shirt and a neatly secured tie. After several days of loose clothes, doctor’s instructions, and Verity confiscating anything that looked remotely related to work, he finally looked like himself again. Verity found his obvious satisfaction amusing. “You look very pleased with yourself.” Quentin glanced up from the message he was reading. “I am going to my office.” “You say that like you have been released from prison.” “I have.” Verity pulled out the chair across from him. “You spent five days in a mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean.” “Without my laptop.” “Tragic.” “And under constant supervision. Thanks to you.” “You needed supervision.” Quentin placed his phone beside his plate and studied her. “I am beginning to suspect you enjoyed having control over me.” Verity smiled as she settled into her
Three mornings later, Quentin had decided he was completely recovered. But Verity disagreed. “I feel better now.” Verity stood beside the bed with both hands on her hips. Quentin looked perfectly comfortable beneath the sheets, which irritated her because he was arguing as though someone had imprisoned him there. “The doctor said several days.” “It has been several days.” “He has not cleared you to return to work.” “I am the CEO. I can't stay away for too long.” “You are also a patient.” “I dislike that word.” “But it is the truth.” Quentin reached toward the bedside table for his laptop. But it was gone. He looked at Verity. “Where is it?” “I don't know.” “Please.” “I have no idea what you're talking about.” “Verity.” She walked toward the door. “Breakfast is downstairs.” “I am asking for my laptop.” “Missing.” “My phone?” “Also tragic.” Quentin stared at her. Verity smiled. “I'll see you downstairs.” She walked out before he could respond. Ten minutes later,
The complete blood results arrived the following afternoon. Quentin was already in a bad mood before the doctor entered the bedroom. Two days away from his office had apparently convinced him civilization was collapsing without him. He had spent the morning answering calls until Verity took his phone and placed it inside one of her bedside drawers. “You are abusing your position as my wife,” he told her. Verity sat in the armchair near the windows..“I haven't even started.” Quentin looked toward the drawer. “Give me my phone.” “No.” “I own several companies.” “And somehow they survived before you woke up this morning.” “They require decisions.” “They employ thousands of people. Surely one of them knows how to make a decision.” Quentin stared at her. Verity smiled sweetly. The doctor entered before he could continue arguing. Quentin's expression became serious immediately. The physician took a seat across from them and opened the report. “We've identified two separate fo
Verity stood in the kitchen of the Central Park West penthouse, stirring a pot of pasta she had no intention of eating. The simple act of cooking had always calmed her, but tonight the sauce simmered untouched while her mind refused to quiet. She had spent the entire day trying to push yesterday’s
Verity barely remembered the drive from her parents’ house. The moment she got home, the tears she had held back finally broke free. She sat still in her car in the driveway, sobbing so hard her chest hurt. Her phone rang. It was Monica. “Vee? Where are you? I’ve been calling you for hours.” The
Verity pulled up to the grand Sinclair family home at Marpleton Drive in Bel Air just after sunset. The sprawling Mediterranean-style mansion glowed warmly under landscaped lights, but tonight it felt more like a battlefield than a sanctuary. She sat in the car for a long moment, gripping the steer
Verity Langford stood near the center of the gallery, smoothing down the front of her black silk dress for what felt like the hundredth time. Soft lighting illuminated her paintings on the white walls of West 24th Street in Chelsea. This was her first exhibition in two years, and the turnout had be






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