Chapter 3

"You may now kiss the bride."

Nag-echo ang boses ng judge sa loob ng maliit at tahimik na courtroom.

For a moment, Alessandra Rivera simply stood there, frozen.

Bride.

Umaalingawngaw sa utak niya ang salitang yon. Napakabigat pakinggan at tila ba parang sinasaksak ang dibdib niya nang marinig niya yon. It felt strange kasi di niya inakalang ganito ang eksena ng kasal niya. Akala pa naman niya masayang-masaya siya magiging kasal niya. May pa dream wedding pa nga siya dati eh. Pero natatawa na lang siya kasi hindi na kailanman mangyayari pa ang kasal na yon. Ito na yon eh, kiss the bride na nga. Mababago pa ba?

Dahan-dahan niyang nilingon ang lalakeng nakatayo sa tabi niya, na noon ay nakatingin na rin sa kanya.

Patrick Blackwood. Her husband. Her contractual husband. Yeah, whatever it is. What the fuck! What the fuck na lang talaga. Gusto niyang murahin ang lalaking to kasi pinagkait nito sa kaniyang mangyari ang dream wedding niya. Akala pa naman niya noon, magiging katulad siya ng mga Disney princess kapag kinasal. Hindi pala. Putangina!

Ilang hakbang lang mula sa kanila, tahimik na nakaupo sa isang wooden chair ang kaisa-isang taong saksi sa buong seremonya, walang iba kundi si Marcus Reed, ang secretary at trusted confidant ni Patrick.

That was it. Walang pamilya. Walang kaibigan. Walang flowers, grand reception, o kahit mga photographers na kumukuha ng pictures. Not even a proper wedding cake.

Just the judge, Marcus, Patrick, and her.

Napatanong pa siya kanina ng “ito na ba yon?” Ikakasal na ba talaga siya? Legit?

Magrereklamo na nga sana siya eh. Gusto niyang isigaw na dapat ikasal siya sa simbahan. Yong tipong may flower girl, may bride’s maid, yong magsusuot siya ng napakagandang wedding gown. Pero putek, bigla niyang naalala. Nagpakasal nga pala siya para milyones.

Oo nga pala. Wala pala siyang karapatang mag-demand. Wala pala.

Alessandra swallowed hard, pilit nilulunok ang bara sa lalamunan niya. This was supposed to be the happiest day of a woman's life. Pero habang nakatayo siya doon, pakiramdam niya ay pumirma lang siya ng isa na namang business document.

The judge looked between them expectantly. "Mr. Blackwood?"

Hindi agad gumalaw si Patrick. His dark eyes rested on her. He was calm and unreadable. Katulad ng lagi nitong ekspresyon. Pero kasi naman, bakit ganito? Hindi ba talaga siya pwede mag-demand? Gusto niya lang humingi ng flowers eh. Yong tipong maghahagis siya ng flower para malaman kung sinong next na ikakasal. Pati ba naman yon, ipagdadamot pa sa kaniya?

Then, he leaned closer.

Alessandra instinctively held her breath. Naamoy niya agad ang mamahaling cologne nito, a mix of cedar and something dangerously masculine. His lips barely brushed hers. Isang mabilis na dampi lang iyon and nothing more.

But somehow, even that tiny, warmthless gesture made her heart beat wildly against her chest.

Nang lumayo si Patrick, the expression on his face was exactly the same. Cold as always and composed. Para bang katatapos lang nitong mag-close ng isang multi-million deal.

Well, yeah. Million din naman ang nilabas nito para lang magpakasal siya rito.

"Congratulations," the judge said with a polite smile.

Alessandra forced one in return. "Thank you."

Tumayo si Marcus at lumapit sa kanila. 

"Well," sabi nito, palipat-lipat ang tingin sa mga bagong kasal, "that was probably the fastest wedding I've ever attended."

Mabilis na nga, baduy pa, bulong ng isip niya. Tama rin naman kasi ang sinabi ni Marcus eh.

Alessandra gave him an awkward, tight-lipped smile. "I'm sorry you had to witness this."

Marcus chuckled lightly. "I've worked for Patrick for six years. Trust me, I've witnessed worse."

Patrick shot his secretary a sharp, warning look. Marcus immediately raised both hands in surrender. "I'm just saying."

Alessandra almost smiled. Almost.

Ibinaling niya ang tingin sa simpleng singsing na suot niya ngayon. A thin band of white gold, beautiful, expensive, and disturbingly real. Malamig ang metal sa balat niya, parang isang paalala.

She was married. Really married. Sa pinaka-aroganteng lalakeng nakilala niya. And no one in her family even knew.

"Let's go," basag ni Patrick sa katahimikan.

Napatingin siya dito. "Saan tayo pupunta?"

"Our house."

Biglang sumikip ang dibdib ni Alessandra sa narinig. "Our house? You mean the mansion?"

"Yes."

She hesitated, humigpit ang hawak niya sa maliit niyang bag. "I need to go home first."

"You don't."

Alessandra frowned, naguguluhan. "What?"

"Your things have already been packed."

Her mouth fell open in disbelief. "You packed my things?!"

"I instructed my staff to."

"You had no right!" tumaas ang boses niya.

Patrick looked at her calmly, walang kahit anong reaksyon sa galit niya. "The wedding is done."

"That doesn't mean you can decide everything for me!"

Umiwas ng tingin si Marcus at umatras ng bahagya, clearly trying not to get involved in the crossfire.

Humakbang palapit si Patrick. He was so tall that Alessandra had to tilt her head up just to glare at him. "You agreed to the contract."

Alessandra's jaw tightened. "I agreed to the marriage. Not to become your prisoner."

Something flickered in Patrick's cold eyes. Isang emosyon na hindi niya mabasa, pero mabilis din itong nawala.

"You're not a prisoner."

"Then let me choose when I leave."

"You can."

"Really?"

"Yes."

She blinked. Nakakapanibago na agad itong pumayag.

"Then I'll go home tonight," matapang na sagot niya.

Patrick nodded once. "You can stay with your family tonight." Naiwan siyang medyo nakahinga ng maluwag, until he spoke again. "But tomorrow, you'll move into Blackwood Mansion."

There it was again. That quiet, controlling tone that left no room for arguments.

Alessandra rolled her eyes. "Of course."

Marcus cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'll have the car ready."

"Thank you," Patrick said.

As Marcus walked away, Alessandra studied her new husband. May kung anong unsettling kay Patrick. She still couldn't figure him out. One moment, he was controlling and impossible. The next, he gave her exactly what she asked for without a fight.

Pero bago pa siya makapag-isip nang malalim, nag-ring ang phone niya.

Dad.

Her heart immediately tightened. Mabilis niya itong sinagot at lumayo ng kaunti. "Dad?"

"We're okay."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "What?"

"The bank called. They said the payment has already been made."

Napatingin siya kay Patrick. Ang lalake ay naglalakad na palabas ng courtroom doors, his broad shoulders looking imposing even from behind.

"Everything?" mahinang tanong niya.

"Everything, anak." Her father's voice cracked with emotion. "I don't know how you did it, but the house is safe. Your mother's hospital account has been settled too."

Alessandra's eyes slowly filled with hot tears. Tumalikod siya para siguraduhing hindi siya makikita ni Patrick. "Okay."

"Alessandra…"

"Yes?"

"Whatever you did, thank you."

She closed her eyes tightly, pinipigilang pumatak ang luha. "It's okay, Dad."

She ended the call. For several seconds, nakatayo lang siya doon.

The debt was gone. Her family was safe. For the first time in months, pakiramdam niya ay nakakahinga na ulit siya ng maayos. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to celebrate. Because she knew exactly what this freedom had cost her.

She looked down at her wedding ring again.

A year. Kailangan niya lang i-survive ang isang taon. Then she would be free. Or at least, that was what she kept telling herself.

By the time they arrived at Blackwood Mansion, the sun was already setting, casting long, dark shadows across the grounds.

Alessandra stared out the tinted car window. Ang laki ng property. The massive estate looked even more intimidating than it had the first time she saw it. Pero ngayon, may isang malaking pinagkaiba.

Hindi na siya basta bisita. She was the wife of the owner.

Bumukas ang malalaking iron gates at dahan-dahang pumasok ang sasakyan. As soon as they stepped inside the grand foyer, naka-line up na ang ilang staff members para salubungin sila.

"Good evening, Mr. Blackwood."

Patrick just nodded. Tapos, sabay-sabay na lumipat ang tingin ng mga staff kay Alessandra.

"Good evening, Mrs. Blackwood."

Muntik na siyang lumingon sa likuran niya. Hindi pa rin siya sanay na siya ang tinatawag sa pangalang 'yon.

"Good evening," she answered softly, feeling out of place.

Patrick walked ahead toward the grand staircase without waiting for her. Napilitan siyang sumunod. Sa paanan ng hagdan, huminto ang lalake.

"You'll stay in the east wing."

Alessandra looked around the massive house. "The east wing?"

"Yes."

"Where's your room?"

"West wing."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "So we're not sharing a room?"

"No."

She wasn't sure whether she felt immensely relieved or slightly insulted. "Good."

Patrick slowly turned toward her. "Why do you sound disappointed?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa gulat. "I don't! Tuwang-tuwa nga ko eh. Para akong nabunutan ng tinik. If you know what that means."

A faint, almost invisible smirk appeared on his lips. For the first time all day, she saw something almost human in his expression. Marunong din pala sa ganiyan ang lalaking to. Akala niya kasi puro kasungitan lang ang alam nito.

"Good night, Mrs. Blackwood." He turned and casually walked away, disappearing up the sweeping staircase.

Alessandra stared after him, naiinis sa naging reaksyon nito. "I cannot believe him."

Marcus, who had just entered the foyer carrying some folders, laughed softly. "Believe me, Mrs. Blackwood. That's only the beginning."

She turned to the secretary. "Is he always like that?"

"Worse."

She sighed heavily. Perfect, just perfect. Nakipagkasal siya sa isang bilyonaryo na ubod ng yabang at akala mo sa kanya umiikot ang mundo. And somehow, she had just become his legal wife. What she didn't know was that the hardest part of the contract hadn't even begun.

Dahil sa loob ng makapal na dokumentong pinirmahan niya, may mga rules pa siyang hindi lubos na naiintindihan. Rules that Patrick fully expected her to follow.

And one of those rules was already waiting for her inside her bedroom.