CHAPTER 7

PRESENT TIME

Selene stood at the arrival bay of NAIA, her fingers curled around her passport and phone as she scanned the area. Her manager, Ming, was beside her, checking the schedule for the day. Richard, her on-screen partner, was already on a call with his wife, grinning while talking to their child.

They had just landed from a promotional tour in Toronto for their new film. And now, without much rest, they were heading straight to Zambales, where the next phase of promotions would happen, coinciding with the grand opening of a new mall.

But what made her breath hitch wasn't the event itself.

It was the hotel. The venue.

Sandoval Hotel and Resort.

The name alone had power over her, like a stone tossed in still water, creating ripples of memory and emotion.

She only found out two weeks ago that Zambales was part of the itinerary. And when she saw the name “Sandoval” in bold print, she stared at it for a long time, unable to tear her eyes away. She had wished—prayed, even—for a chance to see Duke again, no matter how impossible it seemed.

Now that the moment was close, she wasn't sure anymore.

What if he didn't care?

What if he never wanted to see her again?

She closed her eyes and leaned against the car window as they drove out of Manila. The long drive ahead lulled her into a restless sleep, while Richard kept chatting on the phone, unaware of the storm building inside her.

Three and a half hours later, they arrived at the Sandoval Hotel.

It was stunning. Five-star elegance. Everything from the high glass walls to the imported furniture screamed wealth and status. And that view—an island coastline that looked straight out of a magazine: white sand, crystal-blue waters, and palm trees swaying like dancers.

She should’ve felt lucky to be staying here.

Instead, she felt like an intruder walking into a past she never fully let go of.

After checking into their rooms, Selene took a short rest before the scheduled mall show. The moment she lay down, anxiety pressed heavily on her chest. She was tired, yes—but her mind was wide awake.

By five in the afternoon, they were headed to the mall in the hotel shuttle. The crowd was already wild by the time they arrived—fans screaming, taking photos, waving placards with her and Richard’s names. She smiled, waved, and posed for photos. It was her job. It was routine.

But there was a heaviness in her chest that wouldn’t go away.

Two hours passed like a blur—song numbers, photo ops, and staged interviews—before they were whisked back to the hotel for a quick rest before the evening event: a Thanksgiving party hosted at the function hall.

As she sat in front of the vanity mirror, fixing her hair and doing her own makeup, she stared at herself.

“What are you really doing here?” she whispered.

She slipped into a deep purple V-neck, a backless gown that hugged her figure perfectly. It made her feel strong… even if her insides were anything but.

The function hall was grand—chandeliers glittered overhead, jazz music filled the air, and people in suits and gowns mingled like they belonged to some elite society.

Selene stepped in quietly, grabbing a glass of wine from a passing waiter.

She had no intention of stealing attention, but as soon as she entered, camera flashes sparked. She smiled faintly and nodded, acknowledging them with grace.

And then—she saw him.

Duke.

Standing at the center of the room in a navy tuxedo, tall, poised, and devastatingly more handsome than she remembered. Broader. Sharper. Like the years had carved him into something unshakable.

Their eyes locked.

It was only for a second, but it felt like a punch to the chest.

She looked away quickly, her heart thundering.

He looked exactly like the man she loved. And nothing like the boy she left behind.

She searched the room for Ming but couldn’t find her.

So she stood quietly in a corner, swirling the wine she couldn’t even bring herself to drink.

A few moments later, a woman took the stage and introduced herself as Addison Sandoval. She gave a short speech, then introduced the man behind the success of the Sandoval Group of Companies.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Duke Sandoval.”

Selene didn’t know if she was holding her breath or had simply forgotten how to breathe.

After the applause, Addison walked toward her with a warm smile. “Hi, Selene! I’m Addison. Thank you so much for gracing the event.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Selene replied with a polite smile.

“You’re here alone?”

“My manager’s somewhere, I think.”

Addison glanced around, then waved at someone.

Selene's stomach dropped as Duke approached them.

“Here’s my cousin, the ever-handsome Duke, to keep you company,” Addison said cheerfully, before giving Duke a look that dared him to object.

Duke didn’t smile. He didn’t even speak.

Addison gave them both a wink and walked away.

Suddenly, it felt like the whole room faded into silence.

Selene cleared her throat, forcing a smile. “You don’t have to stay. I’ll just kill time and leave quietly after a bit.”

Duke’s voice was low, cold. “I don’t leave people behind when I’m told to take care of them. I’m not like some people who move on so easily.”

Her breath caught. That wasn’t a random remark.

He meant it.

She lowered her gaze. “Duke…”

“What? You’re a star now. Isn’t this what you wanted?” he snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Spotlight. Applause. All eyes are on you. Lies wrapped in smiles.”

“That’s not fair—”

“Neither was vanishing without a single damn explanation.”

He reached for her hand—gently, but firmly—and led her toward the center of the room.

People watched. Cameras clicked.

He didn’t care.

He pulled her close, one arm around her waist, the other gently

When the music finally stopped, Selene gently pulled away and returned to her spot. She saw that her manager had returned, chatting animatedly with someone from the event team.

Duke, meanwhile, had already walked away. He was now surrounded by guests, smiling, nodding, and exchanging pleasantries with practiced ease.

The crowd seemed to gravitate toward him, but his eyes never searched for her again.

He didn’t come back.

Not even a glance.

Selene sat quietly, her fingers tightening around her wine glass.

The moment was over. Whatever that dance meant to her, it clearly meant something else to him.

She watched him from across the room—how effortlessly he carried himself, how his laughter seemed genuine, how far away he felt from the man she once knew.

Before midnight, she leaned over to her manager and whispered, “I think I’ll head back to the room and rest.”

The woman gave a nod and a small smile, too distracted to notice the shadow that had fallen over Selene’s face.

As she walked away from the function hall, every step felt heavier.

She should’ve felt relieved to finally see him, to talk to him again after all these years. But the pain was worse than before.

Back then, they didn’t talk.

Now, they did—

But his words were sharp, cold, and laced with a quiet kind of fury.

And somehow…

That hurt more than the silence ever did.