THE BILLIONAIRE HEIR

8:00 A.M. | Sandoval Enterprise, ZambalesWhile most major companies established their headquarters in the buzzing capital of Manila, the Sandoval family deliberately chose Zambales—to stay close to the Hacienda, their ancestral land, and to maintain a quiet command post away from the spotlight.The building stood tall with twenty-five sleek floors, a modern architectural marvel against the lush, provincial backdrop. On the top floor was Duke Sandoval’s office, which gave a perfect view of the Sandoval Hotels and Resort—a crown jewel of the family empire.Inside the building were several company branches—Mining, Travel & Tours, and Manpower Services, among others. But this morning, all eyes were on the 19th floor, where the boardroom bustled in preparation for a high-stakes shareholders’ meeting.Meanwhile, the buzz surrounding the company’s latest project in Makati was impossible to ignore. A 30-story luxury condominium tower—Sandoval Residences—was set to launch next month. Despite i

Gil Puyat, Makati Five Years Ago"Hi, Sweetheart!" Duke greeted cheerfully as he handed Selene a single rose—one he had plucked from his mother’s small garden. His mother, Mama Rosalia, had long since developed a fondness for planting various kinds of flowers and greenery in their little yard. It was her way of bringing life and warmth into their home, something she had always dreamed of. Life had changed significantly for Duke and his family.They now lived in a subdivision in Salcedo—far different from their cramped, humble home back in Tondo, Manila. Things were much better now, and he knew he had his mother’s perseverance to thank for it. Selene eyed the rose in his hand with mock displeasure, crossing her arms as she smirked."Hmp! You took another flower from your mom’s garden again?" she teased, feigning irritation. Duke chuckled, shaking his head as he waved the rose in front of her."She has plenty of flowers. Why, don’t you like it? If you don’t want it, I might just gi

That evening, when his father arrived home, he delivered the disheartening news—he hadn’t been granted the loan at his office. Disappointment weighed heavily on him as the reality of their financial struggles set in. “The company is on the verge of shutting down, Rosalia,” Douglas said, his voice laced with concern. He lowered himself onto the worn-out chair, rubbing his temples as exhaustion seeped into his bones. “Sir Ali is getting old, and none of his children are interested in taking over the business. It’s failing, especially with cheaper imports from China dominating the market. I’ll try to borrow money from other contacts.” Duke swallowed hard, refusing to let despair take hold. “It’s alright, Papa. I’m a Cum Laude candidate—once I graduate, I’ll find a job immediately and help out.” Douglas looked at him, eyes glistening with emotion. He let out a shaky breath, nodding. “I’m proud of you, son. Despite everything, you’re still reaching for your dreams, even when tim

A loud, insistent knock roused Selene from her slumber much earlier than she had intended. Her eyes fluttered open to the dim light of dawn that filtered through the curtains. She glanced at the digital clock—6:42 AM.They were not supposed to return to Manila until eleven a.m., and the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Sandoval Condominium did not start until three p.m. So, why—?Still half-asleep, irritated, and disoriented, she grabbed her robe from the rack and slipped it over the sheer nightgown she had worn to bed.The knocking returned, more forcefully this time."I am coming!" she announced, groggily.But before her hand could fully twist the knob, the door was pushed open from the opposite side.She staggered back."G-good morning..." She stammered, stunned by the sight of Duke Sandoval standing at her doorway as if a storm had entered the hotel hallway.He did not respond. Instead, he strode past her, barely containing his rage, and threw two newspapers onto her bed.Philippines Ne

Duke's hand was firm on her small waist, their chests pressed tightly together.He was breathing hard, and she could smell the mix of mint and wine on his breath—intoxicating in a way that clouded her already spinning thoughts. She wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol in her system or the overwhelming presence of him that made her knees weaken.His eyes were fixed on her lips, as though weighing the consequences of his next move.And before she could even process what was happening, he kissed her—fierce, hungry, and unapologetically desperate. Her body betrayed her, melting into the kiss, her knees giving out completely.In one swift motion, he scooped her up and laid her gently on the bed. Her heart pounded in her chest as she braced for what might come next. But instead of joining her, he abruptly pulled away."Sleep it off. I’ll come back for you later," he said, his voice low and restrained, before he turned on his heel and exited the room.Selene shut her eyes tightly, the heat of h