LOGINI remained silent, my eyes deliberately avoiding his as he fastened my seatbelt.“I’ll go back to the market later—”“Why? Because of your cousin and your ex?” I cut in bluntly, finally turning to face him. “Why did you even pull me away from there? Focus on what you should be focusing on. I’ll just go back to Raf.”I was about to open the door when he suddenly pinned me back against the seat.Fear flickered in my chest at the way he looked at me, but I refused to show it. Instead, I met his gaze, stubborn and unyielding.“Why?” he asked, clearly irritated. “Do you like that man?”I swallowed.His voice was cold. Empty. Whatever warmth I had seen earlier was gone. The aura surrounding him was sharp, dangerous, enough to make my skin prickle.How did I end up like this?“W-Why does it matter to you?” I finally said, turning away because I couldn’t endure his stare any longer. It felt as if he was draining my energy from me. “It wouldn’t matter to me if you chose them over me. I’m just
“What are you doing here? I thought you were in Canada? When did you come back?” Raze fired off question after question, clearly unable to believe the woman was standing there. “Why didn’t you call me? I should’ve picked you up at the airport.”The woman chuckled. “That’s exactly why. You’re always the one picking me up. I wanted something different for once.”Raze’s hand tightened, as if he didn’t like what she said. “Then who picked you up? Ashel?”She shook her head. “No. Your cousin, Nicole. She’s actually with me… oh, there she is.” She waved. “Girl, here!”“Surprise, coz!”Raze let go of my hand when the woman hugged him from behind.“Do you like my surprise?” she said with a smile, even pinching his cheek. “You can finally continue the wedding.”I froze.W-Wedding? If that was the case, then the woman standing in front of us now was supposed to be the one he would marry?I took a small step back when I almost got bumped by his cousin, then decided to move farther away.I wanted
“S-Stop it,” I said, lightly pushing his face away. “Whatever it is you think I’d be ‘tasting,’ you can keep it. I’m not interested.” “Will you still be able to say that once we’re married?” he said after lowering my hand. “I’m just kidding, Lyl, but it looks like I like whatever’s going on in your head.” “You’re so annoying!” I snapped. He burst out laughing. “So what’s in your head really is annoying?” I froze. I was caught, oh God. “No!” I protested, eyes widening. “Move away! I can’t breathe properly!” “Fine, fine… stop pushing me,” he said, laughing as he stepped back. “I didn’t know you knew about those things. You’re not that innocent. You pass.” I glared at him. “What do you mean, I pass? Do you really want a taste? A punch, you mean? Is that what you want?” “I already offered earlier. You were the one who turned me down,” he said with a grin. I shot him a sharp look. “One more word, Raze. You still owe me.” “For not coming back last night? Like I said, I was taking c
“Yiee! Lylia’s getting flirty now! You were arguing just a while ago, and now there’s kissing involved? What kind of stunt is this?” Love teased.I figured I’d tell them about it later.“Stop making an issue out of nothing. It’s not like that,” I snapped. “What were you talking about earlier? Why did you suddenly go quiet?”Love and Lira exchanged knowing looks. “We were just curious about what’s really going on between you and Captain. I mean, we’re in a VIP room now, and I heard the doctor say earlier that he paid for Lira’s bills and medicines, and now he’s even buying our food. Spill the tea,” Love teased, nudging Lira as they giggled.I let out a long sigh. Might as well just tell them and get it over with.I told them about the deal Raze and I made. Both of them stared at me, mouths hanging open in disbelief.“Shocks!” Love exclaimed. “You actually agreed?”“I had no choice,” I said, scratching my head.There was no point hiding it from them anyway. They’d find out eventually. I
“I agree.”Even now, my agreement to his deal keeps echoing in my head. I wasn’t even in my right mind when I ended up holding his hand as we walked toward the pharmacy. People who recognized us immediately started whispering.“A-Aren’t you uncomfortable?” I asked shyly.I wanted to hide behind him because of the eyes following us, as if it were some grave sin to see us holding hands.I glanced down at our joined palms, and when I was about to pull away, he tightened his grip.I felt my face heating up in embarrassment. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. I kept my head down the entire time we were together.I didn’t know if this was part of what he wanted, the so-called deal, but I let it be rather than force myself away.“Let them overthink,” I heard the amusement in his voice. “They’re just gossipmongers.”I secretly laughed. I didn’t expect him to know that term, something I often heard from millennials.“What if they spread rumors that—”“That we’re in a relationship?” he con
I narrowed my eyes at him before stepping away. “Have you lost your mind?”He stared at me seriously, then moments later the corner of his lips lifted as if he were holding back a smile.“If I said yes, would you believe me?”“You really are crazy,” I muttered.“I heard that, miss,” he said, letting out a soft laugh.I caught him staring at my sweat-dampened chest. He quickly looked away and cleared his throat.Even I suddenly felt embarrassed when I realized that my cleavage was visible.“Look, I’m offering you a deal. The demolition should’ve started earlier, but because I’m kind—”I laughed. “Wow. Kind? You call that kind, Captain?” I asked sarcastically.His brows furrowed and he crossed his arms, meeting my gaze head-on.“Aren’t I? So I shouldn’t have informed you first, then?” The smirk playing on his lips only irritated me more. “Very well…”He pulled out his phone from his slacks pocket, but I quickly snatched it before he could call anyone.I shot him a sharp look when he bur







