She Carries The Billionaire’s Heir

SIMULA

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.