āđāļāđāļēāļŠāļđāđāļĢāļ°āļāļROURICK KAELAN MONTENEGRO "After you, wife." She looked ready to murder me. Then she marched inside without another word. I followed, still carrying her shopping bags. The hostess greeted us and led us to a table near the window. I placed the bags on the empty chair beside me before taking my seat opposite Vienrielle. She immediately picked up the menu. I watched her scan the choices, her expression growing more serious with every page. It was almost amusing how she could look so fierce while deciding what to eat. "What?" tanong nito bigla habang nakatitig pa rin sa menu. "Wala naman," "Wala? Eh kanina ka pa nakatitig sa 'kin..." aniya. "Hindi ko mapigilang titigan ka. Masyado ka kasing maganda para balewalain," tugon ko kahit na alam kong maaasar lang siya doon. She slowly lowered the menu. "I'm warning you, Montenegro." "Noted." She slammed the menu onto the table. "I'M GOING TO THROW THIS AT YOU!" Several people turned to look at us. I calmly
ROURICK KAELAN MONTENEGRO Hindi ko kailanman naisip na darating ang araw na maglalakad ako sa loob ng isang mall habang may bitbit na napakaraming shopping bags sa magkabilang kamay. Mga paper bag mula sa iba't ibang boutique. Mga kahon ng sapatos. Mga damit. Mga accessories. At kung anu-ano pang bagay na, sa totoo lang, hindi ko naman kailangang malaman ang pangalan. Pero narito ako ngayon. Tahimik na sumusunod sa aking asawa habang abala siya sa paghahanap ng susunod na tindahang papasukan. Napangiti ako nang bahagya sa kaisipang iyon. Vienrielle Geae Valderama Montenegro.... The woman who had threatened to kill me more times than I could count, even before we got married. At ngayon, legal na siyang nakatali sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako o hahanga sa sarili kong desisyon. Marahil pareho. "Rourick!" Napatingin ako sa babaeng ilang hakbang na ang layo sa akin. "What?" Kumunot ang noo niya. "Are you even listening to me?" "You were talking about
Vienrielle Geae Valderama "You're my daughter, sweetheart. You're my only daughter. I may have agreed to consider this alliance, but I never wanted you to rush into a marriage just because our family was in danger. I let you meet him so you could think about it clearly. Pero hindi ako umaasa na papayag ka." I looked at him. And for a second, I felt a small pang of guilt. I knew he was worried about me. I knew he wanted to protect me. But the decision had already been made, and I was too tired to go through the entire conversation again. "Pa... ayos lang. Kaya ko at alam mo iyon. I'm not someone he can easily manipulate. He knew that if dare mess with me he'll be dead. And i already made it clear to him," sabi ko, nagbabakasakaling gumaan ang pakiramdam niya. "How can you be fine? You married a man you barely know!" "I know enough." "ENOUGH TO MARRY HIM?" "Yes." He looked at me as though he desperately wanted to understand what had happened inside my head.
Vienrielle Geae Valderama "DAD!" Malakas ang boses kong umalingawngaw sa buong sala ng Valderama Mansion nang tuluyan akong makapasok sa bahay, hawak ang isang dokumentong nasa loob ng brown envelope. Napalingon sa akin si Papa, na kasalukuyang nakaupo sa sofa habang may binabasang mga papeles. Agad na kumunot ang noo niya nang makita ang ekspresyon ko. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Did something happen?" Hindi ako sumagot. Sa halip, dumiretso ako sa harap niya at inihagis ang envelope sa ibabaw ng mesang nasa pagitan namin. Napatingin siya roon. "What's this?" "Open it." Muli siyang tumingin sa akin bago dahan-dahang kinuha ang envelope. Binuksan niya iyon at inilabas ang dokumentong nasa loob. At sa sumunod na ilang segundo, nakita kong unti-unting nagbago ang ekspresyon niya. His eyebrows furrowed. His lips parted slightly. Then his eyes widened. "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" Napangiti ako nang pagod. "A marriage certificate." Bigla siyang tumayo mula sa p
VIENRIELLE GEAE VALDERAMA THE RESTAURANT Maaga akong dumating sa restaurant na sinabi ni Rourick. Mga limang-minuto pa bago mag alas-syete ng gabi. Hindi ko inagahan dahil lang sinabi niya, inagahan ko para kapag naging late siya ay may dahilan ako agad na umalis.. nang hindi siya hinihintay. The restaurant was an elegant establishment tucked inside one of the city's most exclusive hotels. Warm lights illuminated the interior, while soft music played in the background. The place was expensive, quiet, and clearly designed for people who preferred discussing business without having strangers listen to every word. Syempre, pipiliin niya talaga ang ganitong lugar. Napakawalang-class niya naman kung mga cheap na restaurants ang piliin niya para sa dinner naming 'to. I gave my name to the receptionist, who immediately led me toward a private dining area. At nasa malayo pa lang ako ay natanaw ko na siya. He sat at a table near the floor-to-ceiling windows, dressed in a perfectl
VIENRIELLE GEAE VALDERAMA I stared at my father, trying to process everything he had just told me. A war. An alliance. And apparently, my marriage was supposed to be the solution to all our problems. Great. Just absolutely fucking great. "So, let me get this straight, Dad," panimula ko, at patuloy na sinusubukang maging kalmado. "There's a war coming, our enemies have five allied families, and because we're outnumbered, gusto mong magpakasal ako kay Montenegro... para sa karagdagang kakampi ng pamilya natin?" Tumango ito kaagad. "That's right." "And the price for getting their help is me marrying Rourick Kaelan Montenegro?" His expression tightened. "I never said you were the price, Geae." "Pero parang ganoon din naman ang mangyayari!" asik ko. "Sweetheartâ" "No, Dad! You can't tell me that you don't want to force me into this marriage, then turn around and tell me that our family might die if I refuse to do it!" Huminga ako nang malalim nang marinig ko a
SABRINA DE VERA'S POV Napapikit ako nang mariin habang pilit inaagaw ang braso ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya. âLet go of me!â galit kong saad, pilit hinahablot ang sarili ko habang hinihila niya ako papunta sa kotse niya. Ngunit parang wala siyang naririnig. Mas lalo lang humigpit ang hawak niy
SABRINA DE VERA'S POV (Continuation....) Nanlaki ang mata ko. Hindi agad pumasok sa utak ko ang nakikita ko. It doesn't make sense. How does this even happen? âWhatâĶ?â mahina kong bulong. Mga pangalan. Lahat bf detalye maging ang perma ay naroon. Pati na ang pangalan ng taong nag kasal
SABRINA DE VERA'S POV Tinapangan ko ang ekspresyon ng aking mukha kahit gulat na gulat pa din ako. Napairap ako, pilit pinipigilan ang inis na unti-unting umaakyat. âThen maybe you should,â malamig kong sagot. âBecause whatever that wasâĶ shouldnât have happened.â Bahagya siyang natahimik. At d
SABRINA DE VERA'S POV (Continuation....) Dahan-dahan akong nagmulat. At doon ko siya nakita. Nakaupo na ito sa silya sa tapat ko. Salubong ang kilay at kitang-kita ang iritasyon sa mukha habang nakatingin sa akin. Siya iyong lalaking nasa kama ko kaninang umaga. Biglang bumilis ang tibok







