Chapter 3 — The Will and the Wheelchair

The Alaric family gathered inside the grand study — tahimik pero mabigat ang hangin.

The walls were lined with portraits of ancestors; all those sharp eyes seemed to watch every move.

At the head of the table sat Attorney Valera, hawak ang makapal na sobre na may gintong tatak ng Beatrix Alaric Foundation.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” he began, voice steady.

“As per the late Duchess Beatrix Alaric’s instructions, this meeting concerns the reading of her final will and testament.”

Sa kabilang dulo ng mesa, si Lady Lucienne ay nakasandal sa upuan, wine glass in hand, habang si Callista ay abala sa phone.

Si Don Leandro, tahimik lang, pero halata sa mata ang kaba.

At sa gitna nilang lahat, si Celestine, nakaupo nang maayos — composed, kahit halatang pinipigilan ang kabog ng dibdib.

---

“To my son, Leandro Alaric,”

basahin ni Attorney Valera,

“I leave my shares in Alaric Holdings — on one condition: that he leads with integrity, not influence.”

Tahimik.

Lucienne’s smile faltered a little.

“To Lady Lucienne, my daughter-in-law…”

Sandaling nagtaas ng kilay ang abogado.

“…I leave nothing, for I have already given her enough — patience.”

May umubo sa gilid, pilit na tinatago ang tawa.

Namula si Lucienne, pero pinilit magpaka-poise.

“To Callista Alaric, I leave the art collection — for beauty suits her well, even if it lacks depth.”

Tumingin si Callista sa paligid, offended. “Excuse me?”

At doon, tumingin si Attorney Valera kay Celestine.

“And to my beloved granddaughter, Celestine…”

Tumigil siya, bahagyang ngumiti.

“…I leave the majority of my estate, including my personal trust shares in Alaric Holdings — for she alone carries the blood of my true heir.”

Tahimik.

Sumabog ang kwarto sa bulungan.

“What nonsense is this?”

sigaw ni Lucienne, agad na tumayo.

“She’s adopted! This is outrageous!”

“That’s impossible!” sabat ni Callista.

“Dad, tell him! Tell them she’s not even—”

Pero hindi makasagot si Don Leandro.

Nakatingin lang siya kay Celestine — gulat, pero may halong… takot.

“The Duchess left clear evidence to support this,” dagdag ni Attorney Valera.

“DNA records, birth certificates, and a letter.

According to the documents, Celestine Alaric is the biological daughter of the late Isabella Monteverde-Alaric — Leandro’s first wife.”

Parang nahulog ang buong mundo.

Celestine froze.

“W-What?”

Ngumisi si Lucienne, pero may luha ng galit.

“No. No, this is a lie! She forged this!”

“These files came directly from the Duchess herself,” sagot ni Valera, mahinahon.

“And one more thing — before she passed, the Duchess finalized an agreement to protect Alaric Holdings.”

Lahat ay napatingin.

“What kind of agreement?” tanong ni Leandro.

“A merger,” sagot ng abogado. “With Vale Dominion — the world’s largest tech conglomerate.

The contract requires an official alliance through marriage — between an Alaric daughter and Mr. Lysander Evander Vale.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Callista.

“Wait, ako dapat ‘yan, di ba?!”

Ngumiti si Valera.

“Originally, yes. But the Duchess changed it days before her death — naming Celestine as the chosen representative.”

Tahimik ulit.

At doon, bumukas ang pinto.

---

A tall man entered — sleek black suit, sharp gaze… and a wheelchair.

Every head turned.

Celestine’s breath hitched.

Hindi siya puwedeng magkamali.
Ito ‘yung lalaking binangga niya kagabi.

Ngunit ngayon, nakaupo siya sa mamahaling custom wheelchair, calm, expression unreadable.

“Good afternoon,”

mahina pero malinaw ang boses niya.

“Apologies for being late. Traffic can be… paralyzing.”

“Mr. Vale,” bati ni Attorney Valera. “Thank you for coming. This is Miss Celestine Alaric, the Duchess’s granddaughter and your—”

“—fiancée?” putol ni Lysander, sabay ngiti, half-teasing.

“So this is the woman I’m supposed to marry to save her family’s empire.”

Celestine blinked, jaw tightening.
He’s the same man. The arrogant stranger from last night. But… he was standing then. Not in a wheelchair.

“We’ve met,” sabi niya, malamig.

“You seemed quite capable of walking last time.”

The room fell silent.

Lucienne looked scandalized.

Callista’s jaw dropped.

Leandro frowned.

Lysander’s lips curved slightly, that infuriating smirk again.

“Ah, yes. Coffee Girl.”

Celestine’s eyes narrowed.

“You should’ve told me I was spilling on the world’s richest hypocrite.”

“And you,” sagot niya, mahina pero may halong tawa,

“should’ve told me you’d end up my bride.”

The lawyer cleared his throat nervously.

“A-hem… as you can see, the merger details are already set. The wedding… is to take place in three weeks.”

Lucienne almost screamed,

“This is absurd! She can’t marry him—”

Pero hindi na nila pinansin.

Celestine and Lysander just stared at each other — a silent battle of pride and disbelief.

For the first time, Celestine felt her pulse quicken — not out of fear, but something sharper.

“Fine,” sabi niya, malamig,

“but don’t expect me to play along with your games.”

Lysander leaned slightly forward in his chair, that smirk never leaving his face.

“Games? Oh, Miss Alaric…

this is just the opening move.”

------------------

Kinabukasan, sa top floor ng Vale Dominion Tower, tahimik lang ang buong opisina — halos maririnig mo lang ang tunog ng fountain sa lobby.

Pagpasok ni Celestine, diretso siya sa boardroom, dala pa rin ‘yung irritation kahapon.

Sa loob, naroon na si Lysander Vale, naka-wheelchair, nakatalikod habang nakatanaw sa panoramic window ng lungsod.

Ang secretary niyang si Mr. Han, agad lumapit.

“Miss Alaric, Mr. Vale has been expecting you.”

Ngumiti si Celestine ng pormal.

“Tell him I wasn’t expecting him.”

Halatang natawa si Mr. Han pero tumalikod na lang at umalis.

---

Nang maiwan silang dalawa, saka lang bumaling si Lysander.

Relaxed, nakasandal, hawak ang isang tasa ng kape na parang hindi siya ‘yung lalaki na kakasal for business.

“Miss Alaric,” bati niya, pino pero may halong ngisi.

“You look less angry than yesterday. I’d call that progress.”

Umupo si Celestine sa tapat niya.

“Don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Vale. I’m just here to discuss the merger terms, not your personality.”

“Pity,” sagot ni Lysander. “My personality’s more interesting than corporate paperwork.”

“I doubt that,” balik niya, sabay kuha ng folder sa table.

“So, about the contract—”

“We can discuss that later,” putol niya. “First, I’m curious.”

“You didn’t seem surprised about the engagement. No screaming, no fainting… just that polite little glare.”

Celestine crossed her legs, steady ang boses.

“I work in live television, Mr. Vale. I’ve mastered the art of pretending everything’s fine.”

Tumawa si Lysander, mababa pero may halong genuine amusement.

“Touché.”

Tahimik silang pareho sandali.

Celestine flipped through the contract, habang pinagmamasdan ni Lysander ang bawat galaw niya.

“You don’t like me very much,” sabi niya sa wakas.

Hindi siya tumingin.

“You’re arrogant, secretive, and obviously hiding something.”

“Hiding something?”

Inangat ni Lysander ang kilay.

“Like what?”

“Like the fact that yesterday, you were standing when we bumped into each other,”

diretsong sagot ni Celestine.

“So either you healed miraculously overnight… or you’re faking it.”

Tahimik.

For a split second, may kumislap sa mata ni Lysander — amusement mixed with danger.

“Interesting observation,” sabi niya, mabagal.

“Do you always accuse your fiancé of fraud on the first meeting?”

“Only when they deserve it.”

Lumapit siya ng bahagya, halos magdikit na ang table sa pagitan nila.

“Tell me, Miss Alaric,”

mahina pero matalim ang tono niya,

“if I were pretending, what would you do?”

“I’d expose you,” sagot niya, walang alinlangan.

Ngumiti si Lysander.

“Then I’ll have to make sure you don’t.”

Napakurap si Celestine, bahagyang natawa.

“Wow. That almost sounded like a threat.”

“Oh, no,” sabi niya, bahagyang yumuko.

“That was a promise.”

---

Tahimik ulit.

Pero ‘yung hangin sa pagitan nila parang kuryente — hindi mo alam kung maiinis ka o mapapatingin.

Lysander leaned back, bumalik sa composed posture.

“Relax, Miss Alaric. I’m not your enemy. This is just business.”

“Business that involves marriage,” sagot ni Celestine.

“You really think I’ll agree that easily?”

“You already did,” paalala niya, nakatingin diretso sa kanya.

“Your father signed the preliminary papers last night.”

Parang nabingi siya.

“What?”

“It’s done,” sabi ni Lysander, calm as ever.

“Now all that’s left is for you to play the part — the charming, dutiful bride.”

“And if I refuse?”

Ngumiti si Lysander, halos malungkot pero mapanglaro.

“Then your family’s company falls… and I don’t think you can handle losing another family, can you?”

Celestine froze — tinamaan ng salita niya, pero hindi siya papayag magpakita ng kahinaan.

Tumayo siya, kinuha ang folder, at marahang ngumiti.

“You really are a cruel man, Mr. Vale.”

“No,” sagot niya, mahina.

“Just a man who’s been lied to too many times.”

For the first time, nawala ‘yung smirk.

May lungkot sa mata niya — mabilis lang, pero totoo.

Bago pa makasagot si Celestine, bumukas ulit ang pinto.

“Sir, the press conference schedule is ready,” sabi ni Mr. Han.

Lysander nodded.

“Perfect. Let’s show them the happy couple.”

Celestine gave him one last look — sharp, unreadable.

“If this is your game, Mr. Vale,” sabi niya, sabay lakad palabas,

“then I hope you’re ready to lose.”

Lysander smirked faintly, watching her go.

“Oh, Miss Alaric,” bulong niya,

“I never play games I don’t intend to win.”