All she wanted was to be loved. What she got was betrayal. Amara Syd is an independent business woman who everyone always expects to be a perfect daughter. She just wanted to feel unconditional love and build a happy family that she hadn’t experienced. But love, she learns, has a cruel way of revealing its true face. Instead of receiving the love that she deserves and always dreaming of, she was being betrayed by her beloved fiancé, Sebastian Calloway. Kicked out from her own company by her own father. And got easily replaced by her stepsister, Isabella Vale. After being betrayed and losing everything she has fought so hard to achieve, Amara is left to fight for herself during the ruins of her once perfect world. The people she trusted the most abandon her in a single night, and the foundation she constructed crumbles beneath her feet. How long will she be able to cope with the problems that will come to her? She runs—not to escape, but to feel. To forget. To burn. And that’s when she meets him. In a haze of rage and ruined dreams, she stumbles into the arms of a mysterious man who will change her life forever–Draven Montelare, a mysterious guy who’s going to offer her a life changing contract. An heir in exchange for taking back her company, her name, and her dignity. He is dangerous. She is lost. Together, they are a storm that can’t be undone. In this perverse game of power, passion, and revenge–can love endure, or will it become another victim of betrayal?
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My stylist put the last pin to my hair to make it strong and stable during the ceremony. Nang matapos na sila ay nanatili akong nakaupo habang pinagmamasdan ang sariling repleksyon sa salamin. The woman staring back at me is the woman I dreamed of when I was a child–perfect, flawless, and glowing with love. This is exactly how I picture this scene to be.All the other stylists and bridesmaids buzz around me, telling me how perfect my look is. I smiled hearing their compliments. Bumalik sa isip ko kung paano nga ba ako napunta sa sitwasyon na ‘to. How the fairytale-like love story I only dreamed of came true.Sebastian, my fiancé, was my childhood sweetheart. Syd and Calloway are really close friends and have strong business ties. We were already aware that our parents had arranged for us to get married in order to continue our company’s relationship.Growing up, he always made me feel secured and wanted, he was my safe place especially in our world where I was expected to be ‘perfect’ all the time, kaya hindi naging mahirap sa ‘kin ang gano’ng setup, marrying Sebastian Calloway is part of my dream life coming true.A soft poke broke my thoughts, it was my wedding organizer.“Miss Syd, Your dad was asking for you. And..” she pauses, hesitated about what to say but continued anyway.“I can’t find Mr. Calloway anywhere, but I’m sure he’s just somewhere there.”“Oh. Okay, thank you.” I forced a smile and stood.Wearing my silk robe and wedding slippers, napagdesisyunan kong lumabas muna ng kwarto para mag-unwind. I want a time for myself alone before I enter this new journey of my life.My family owns this luxurious banquet hall where we will hold our wedding. This has three floors, the upper level is a hotel that holds ten rooms, followed by the banquet hall and at the bottom is a subterranean type bar. Sa rooftop naman nito ay isang mini garden na puno ng mga paborito kong bulaklak. My mom and I planted it ourselves.Dahan-dahan akong naglakad sa gitna ng pasilyo. I took a deep breathe as I continue walking in the middle of the empty aisle. Nadaanan ko rin ang groom’s suite, it was empty. No best man or wedding organizer or even the tuxedo jackets. Just a pure silence. Ipinagkibit balikat ko na lamang ito at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad papunta sa rooftop.Habang papalapit ay bigla ring kumabog ng malakas ang dibdib ko sa hindi malamang rason. My hand was trembling as I reached the antique brass door knob and slowly pushed the door open.My legs were now also trembling and my heart pounds even more–harder. My breath caught in my throat. On the velvet chaise, entwined in cream sheets and pleasure, lay Sebastian and Isabella, my dear stepsister.His shirt was open and her dress was gathered at her waist. At first, neither of them saw me. Masyado silang abala na punan ang init ng laman ng isa’t isa.But then, Isabella’s gaze flicked up and fell on me.“Oh,” that’s the only word she said and that caused Sebastian to look at me.“Amara–” he started but it seems like he doesn't know what to say next. It’s just my name but guilt and panic was laced in every syllable.Hindi ako sumagot. Hindi ako nagsalita. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. I just stand there, didn’t even have a strength to scream or shout at them. Ni luha ay walang lumalabas sa mga mata ko. I just stared at them.Blankly.As if my world was shattered into a thousand pieces and I couldn’t decide which one to pick up first.I blinked once. Then again. As if blinking a couple of times might erase the thing I just saw a while ago.But it didn’t.“Say something!” Sebastian said, hurriedly pulling away.Mababakas sa tono niya ang bahagyang pagtaas ng boses niya, it was full of frustration mix of shame–as if I am the one interrupting something sacred.Isabella pulled her dress down to cover herself. Her lips curl into something between pity and triumph.“Amara, it’s not what it looks like,” she said, but I can hear the insincerity in her tone.“Then please,” my voice cracked, “Please, tell me what exactly it is.” pagpapatuloy ko.“You don’t understand, Amara–this isn’t about you.” Sebastian stood while fixing his shirt.THIS isn’t about me?“W-what?! What do you m-mean by that?” hindi ko na napigilan ang panginginig ng boses ko kasabay ng panginginig ng mga kamay ko.“I loved you, Seb. Ginawa ko ang lahat para sa ‘yo and I was even ready to give you everything–” hindi ko na natapos pa ang sasabihin ko. He cut me off with the most painful words that I’ve ever heard from him.“I never ask for all that, Mara. And.. I am just using you for your money. I mean–” he stopped on what he was saying and looked at me from head to toe before continuing.“Look at you–I don’t even loved you, sa tingin mo ba talaga may magmamahal sa isang uto-u***g kagaya mo? People only loves your money not y–”“Enough!” I stepped back matapos kong buong pwersa na sabihin iyon. I feel like I used all my strength just to let go of that one word.I feel so weak. I feel like there’s a lump in my throat. My chest was heavy.Nakarinig ako ng mabibigat na yabag mula sa likuran ko. I turned to see who it was, it was my dad.“Dad..” for the second time, my voice cracked again.“They–”“I know,” he interrupted, looking around the room, at Sebastian and Isabella. But his face wasn’t promising when he turned to face me. It served as a warning.“And this wedding will proceed whether you like it or not.” he said firmly.“E-excuse me? What?!” I froze in shock.“You will walk on that aisle, do what is expected, and you will not embarrass this family.” he said in low voice but you can sense the authority in his tone.“You can’t be serious, dad. He cheated on me–with her!” naramdaman ko na ang unti-unting pag-init ng sulok ng mga mata ko.“And what? You want to call off the wedding? With half of the nation’s elites waiting at the hall? Are you prepared to be labelled spoiled and crazy by headlines?!” he hissed.I shook my head not because I agreed with what he said, but because of disbelief.“Then, swallow your ego. Smile. Sign the papers and fulfill your obligation.”Para akong sinampal ng reyalidad sa mga narinig ko. My vision became blurry because of tears. Unti-unti akong tumalikod. I can't handle what I've heard and learned anymore. Without any word, I ran to the banquet hall. I ran as fast as I could.Smudge makeup, heart broken, still on my bridal robe while wearing my slippers, I faced all the guests waiting in the hall. My presence silenced everyone. I stood up into the spotlight, watching their confused glances. I took a deep breath before speaking.“I, Amara Syd, is calling this wedding off.” pagsisimula ko. Gasps and whispers rippled across the hall. I can see my father walking towards the crowd, his expression twisted into panic–but I didn’t stop.“This celebration of vows and promises were founded on lies. I just discovered that the trust was already broken before any vows were spoken.”Feeling broken, I took a moment to pause, letting the weight of my words sink in to the crowd, as murmurs gradually spread around the hall.“I sincerely appreciate your efforts and support. But, I’d rather be called a runaway bride than a foolish wife.”The once-elegant atmosphere of the wedding hall turned into a battlefield of whispered insults and outrage. Hindi pa man nagsi-sink in sa lahat ang sinabi ko, my stepsister suddenly appeared from nowhere. Her eyes was full of triumph at wala man lang makikita ni katiting na bakas ng pagsisisi sa mukha niya na lalong nagpaliyab ng galit ko.She walks slowly towards Sebastian. The sound of her stilettos caused by her steps seemed to have an authority that silenced everyone. She stooped up beside my fiancé, or should I say ex-fiancé, confidently, placing her hands around his arms possessively.“With the truth that is now laid bare, it seemed only fair that someone worthy of love should take her place. Why would we need to waste a dress, ring, and a future–on silence and shame?” the hall fell even quieter as the guest leaned in, waiting for her next words. She smiled before continuing.“So I, Isabella Vale, the stepsister of the bride, will marry him–what's done is done and tonight, I claim what is rightfully mine.” pagkatapos niyang sabihin ang huling linya ay nasimula nanamang umingay ang paligid. The gasps of the guests turned into clapping and cheers with joy, showing support for what she just said.As if they had been anticipating this. Like I was the inconvenience who ruined this so-called ‘perfect’ event.I turned my back on them in disbelief and disappointment. I felt like my stomach was twisting. No one stops me. Not my dad. Not Sebastian nor even the people who claimed to love me. They didn’t care why I was walking away. They only cared that someone stepped in to continue this fairy tale.And by the time the door of the hall closed behind me. I wasn’t the bride anymore.I was the scandal.KABANATA 36Nang bumukas ang pinto, hindi na ako nagulat. Hindi ako nagtanong. Hindi ako kumurap.Alam ko na.Even before I saw his face, I already felt it—‘yung bigat sa dibdib na parang biglang gumaan, ‘yung hangin na naging mas mainit, mas buo. ‘Yung presensya na kahit gaano ko pa pilitin noon na kalimutan, hindi kailanman nawala sa mga bitak ng puso ko.Draven.He stood there in silence, as if afraid to take a step forward. Sa gilid ng pintuan, nakatayo siya na parang pinipigil ang sarili niyang huminga. His dark hoodie clung to him in places, the edges damp, as if he’d run through rain. May mga gasgas sa braso at kamay niya, hindi halata kung galing sa pagmamadali o sa galit na pilit niyang tinatago.But none of that mattered, because his eyes—those dark, searching eyes—were locked entirely on one thing.Sa amin.Sa akin.At sa maliit na nilalang na nakadikit sa dibdib ko, mahimbing na natutulog, balot sa pink na kumot.Draven’s gaze softened in a way I’d never seen before. Walan
KABANATA 35Ramdam ko pa rin ang init ng halik niya sa noo ko. Pero unti-unti na itong lumalayo.The light that had felt like home began to fade, slipping between my fingers like sand. I wanted to hold on, to anchor myself in that warmth, in her arms, but something stronger was pulling me away.“Go back, my brave Amara.”Her voice was the last thing that clung to me before everything dissolved.Parang bigla akong nahulog mula sa malayo. Hindi mabilis, pero sapat para mahulog ang sikmura ko at mawalan ng direksyon.Nang dumilat ako, or maybe half open lang, sumalubong sa akin ang puti. Hindi ‘yung malambot na puti ng ulap, kundi ang malamig, matapang na puti ng fluorescent lights sa ospital.The air was different here—sterile, cold, sharp with the faint sting of antiseptic.Napakabigat ng mga mata ko, parang may humahawak dito pababa. Ang buong katawan ko ay mabigat, parang pinuno ng tingga. May kiliti ng malamig na metal sa braso ko, the IV line, taped in place.I blinked again, slow
KABANATA 34Maliwanag.Hindi ‘yung nakakasilaw na liwanag ng ospital o ng araw sa tanghali, kundi ‘yung banayad at malambot na liwanag na bumabalot sa ‘yo na para bang niyayakap ka.I opened my eyes to find myself standing barefoot on soft grass—the kind that feels like velvet under your skin. The air was warm but crisp, carrying the faint fragrance of sampaguita and newly fallen rain. Somewhere in the distance, I heard laughter.Before me stretched an endless garden. The flowers glowed as if kissed by sunlight from a gentler world. The sky was pale gold, like morning caught forever in its first breath.Naglakad ako. Wala akong naririnig kundi ang mahinang hampas ng hangin sa mga dahon, hanggang sa may marinig muli akong tawa—magaan, musika sa tenga, pamilyar sa paraang hindi ko maipaliwanag.Hinila ako ng tunog na ‘yon. Tinabig ko ang mga bulaklak na halos kasing taas ko hanggang sa bumungad ang isang hardin. Sa gitna nito, may isang babae.She looked to be in her early to mid twenti
KABANATA 33The next contraction hit like lightning. Not a dull ache, not the gradual tightening I’d felt earlier in the day—this was a deep, bone-deep tearing that stole my breath before I could even cry out.I doubled over, my grip on the delivery bed’s rails turning white-knuckled. Halos ibaon ko na ang kuko ko sa padded handle at halos maglawa na rin sa pawis ang mga palad ko.The fetal monitor beside me beeped erratically, too fast, then dipping lower than it should. The sound sliced through me sharper than the pain.The nurse glanced at the monitor, then at me, her polite smile faltering. “Doc..” the nurse’s voice was low but urgent.Dr. Vergara stepped closer, her white coat brushing softly against the bed as she scanned the monitor. Her gloved hand rested briefly on my wrist, grounding me.“Amara,” she said, her tone calm but deliberate. “Your contractions are coming very close together, and your baby’s heart rate is dropping in between. That tells me she’s getting tired in th
KABANATA 32Mula madaling-araw ay hindi pa tumitigil ang ulan.It was the kind of rain that clung to everything—light enough to blur the air into a constant haze, but steady enough to seep into the bones. Every drop against the roof was a soft percussion, a heartbeat for the quiet day.From my bedroom window, the world looked muted under a curtain of gray. The sampaguita vines drooped with beads of water clinging stubbornly to their petals. Even the distant hum of the road was muffled by the weather, as though the town had chosen to breathe slower.Umupo ako at yumukyok sa armchair na malapit sa bintana, a wool shawl draped loosely over my shoulders. Hawak ko sa aking dalawang kamay ang umuusok pang tasa ng salabat, ang init nito ay tumatagos sa aking mga daliri. My daughter shifted lazily inside me, as if restless from the weather. I rested my palm against the swell of my belly, feeling the faint push from within.Tita Livia had gone early, mamimili raw siya sa palengke ng mga sariwa
KABANATA 31Apat na araw na rin ang lumipas magmula nang makapag-usap kami ni Draven. Four days since his voice shook as he told me he loved me. Four days since I told him that if he truly wanted me, it had to be his choice, not the contract’s.I thought the air would clear after that conversation. But it didn’t. It only thickened into silence.The days after Draven’s visit passed in a strange, quiet rhythm. He had left without promises, without pressing me for answers. But every night when I lay in bed, the echo of his confession would creep back in, stirring a storm I wasn’t ready to face.Alam kong napapansin ni tita Livia ang malayo kong tingin na parang may malalim na iniisip. But she never asked. Pero ang mga tingin niya ay nagsasabing alam niya, may alam siya. Instead, she kept me grounded with small, ordinary things—tea in the morning, fresh flowers in the vase by the window, and more stories about my mom.Until this morning.Nasa veranda ako, doing my usual sketching in my no
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