Jessa turned her head towards the floor-to-ceiling glass window beside her. From there, she could see the vast ocean, the waves crashing onto the shore, and the breathtaking blend of orange and crimson hues from the setting sun. Birds soared freely across the sky.
It's calming and beautiful. But she couldn't bring herself to appreciate the view. Because she had a huge problem! She woke up in a room she didn't recognize, with no idea whose place this was or where she even was. She didn't remember going on a trip! The last thing she recalled was stopping by a 7-Eleven to buy siopao—when suddenly, two men in black ski masks approached her and forcibly shoved her into a van. She fought back. She kicked, scratched, and even pulled hair. But before she could do more, they made her inhale something foul—a chemical so strong that it knocked her unconscious. And when she woke up... she was here. The sound of the door unlocking made her snap to attention. She immediately pressed herself against the headboard. The door swung open, revealing a man carrying a tray of steaming hot food. He wore Hawaiian board shorts and an open polo, leaving his broad, chiseled chest completely exposed. Her gaze drifted lower—right to those mouthwatering abs that looked so—Wait! No, no, erase that! She should not be ogling this man. No matter how sinfully delicious his body looked, promising all sorts of forbidden pleasures! Shit. Forcing herself to look up, her blood boiled the moment she saw the smirk on his lips. He looks like a devil. A devil with a body that could make anyone worship him. He stepped into the room, moving closer to her. In a flash, she grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him. He dodged with ease—but in doing so, the tray slipped from his hands, sending its contents crashing to the floor. "Fuucckk!!" His roar was so loud it practically shook the entire room. Jessa bit her lip, instantly regretting her reckless move. And when she saw the way his eyes darkened, his breathing ragged like a beast ready to charge, she knew—she was screwed. Smoke might as well be coming out of his nostrils. He took a step forward. She instinctively lifted herself off the bed. He cracked his neck and took another step. She jumped off the mattress. This is it. I'm dead. There was nowhere to run. No matter which way she bolted, he would catch her. Her eyes darted to the glass window, then back to the enraged man stalking toward her. Then back to the window. I won't let him catch me alive! And so, without a second thought, she ran and slammed her body against the glass. A moment later... she found herself sprawled on the floor, seeing stars dance in her vision. What the hell? She didn't break through the glass?! Why is it that in movies, glass windows always shatter when the protagonist crashes into them? But her? She got nothing but a bump on the head and a full-body ache! "What the hell are you doing?" he asked mockingly, standing over her. She wanted so badly to claw that smug look off his face. But her vision was already darkening. "Don't bother running," she heard him say before everything faded into nothingness. "I never let go of what's mine, pussy doll..."Jessa had barely reached the staircase when she caught a whiff of something burning. Thick black smoke was already seeping out from the kitchen door. Her heart pounded in her chest. Without thinking twice, she bolted down the stairs and ran toward the kitchen, yelling at the top of her lungs. "Fire! Nana! Papa! Oh my God, FIRE!" The moment she stepped inside, a thick cloud of smoke greeted her, making her cough violently. "Papa!" she called out, spotting her father standing helplessly in front of the stove, frantically trying to put out the flames. "Sweetheart, get out of here! It's too smoky!" her father shouted back. Jessa rolled her eyes. Obviously! The thick smoke filling the air was a dead giveaway that they were seconds away from burning alive! Without wasting another moment, she rushed to grab the fire extinguisher hanging behind the door. Quickly, she pointed the hose at the stove, pulled the pin, and squeezed the lever. A burst of white chemical sprayed out, smothering
Xyrius Dale Smith. The absolute worst person to mess with. The most arrogant, insufferable, and notorious bully in the entire university. He had no limits. No one was safe from his pranks—not even the professors. There were rumors that some teachers had resigned because of him, and there was even talk of a student who had try to take their own life after being targeted by his bullying. Her entire body tensed. Even her esophagus and small intestines seemed to tremble in fear. Xyrius was glaring at her, brows furrowed, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "S-s-s-sorry..." she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Of all the people she avoided in Westwood University, he was at the top of the list. For two years, she had gone out of her way to take detours just to avoid crossing paths with him. She had never dared to meet his eyes—until now. But now that she was looking straight at him... she found herself unable to look away. His eyes were a striking shade of gray. Long,
It was already late when she finally got home. She had to spend extra hours at the library just to use a computer for her thesis since her laptop had broken down, and she couldn't afford to get it fixed yet.As she approached their house, her heart pounded at the sight of two black vans parked outside. Several men—tall, broad-shouldered, and radiating an intimidating presence—stood near the gate, looking like they belonged in a crime syndicate. A heavy sense of unease settled in her chest, making her quicken her pace. Her first thought was of her father."E-Excuse me... I need to pass," she said hesitantly to one of the men blocking the entrance.The man furrowed his brows, glancing at her with cold scrutiny. She swallowed hard, forcing a nervous smile. "I-I live here, FYI..." she added awkwardly.The man stepped aside, allowing her through. The moment she entered the house, her breath caught in her throat.Her father was kneeling on the floor, his face battered—one eye swollen shut,
Jessa trudged home, shoulders slumped in defeat. She had just come from visiting her Aunt Beth—her mother's sister—only to be turned away like all the others. No matter how much she pleaded, her aunt refused to lend her money. It was the same with every relative she approached. Not one of them was willing to help.It stung. She could still remember how these very same people used to run to her parents for financial assistance, borrowing money and pawning off valuables whenever they were in trouble. But now that she and her father were the ones in need, no one was willing to extend a hand.The rejection was one thing, but the insults cut deeper. Some even called her father a fool, a gullible man too naïve for his own good. All she gained from the exhausting day was heartbreak and wasted fare. She had spent hours desperately seeking help, hoping at least one of their relatives would show some compassion—but in the end, she got nothing.There was only one option left.Sell the house.The
Jessica sat motionless in front of her vanity mirror, staring blankly at her own reflection.There were no more tears left to cry. She had drained herself dry.She needed to find a way out of this mess. She couldn't just stand by and watch her father suffer. Losing their house or the hardware store—those were things she could accept, even if she blamed him for their downfall. But letting him waste away, watching him be stripped of his dignity, of his health? She couldn't stomach that. The mere thought of him losing a kidney or any part of his body was enough to make her chest tighten in agony.Taking a deep breath, she reached into her drawer and pulled out a business card—the one Mr. Guiller Moretti had given her.He had told her he was willing to offer her a job.She didn't know what kind of work he had in mind, and a part of her feared she wouldn't be able to stomach it. But what choice did she have?If it came down to it, she would sell her own organs before she let her father go
The entire 13th floor was exclusively Mr. Guiller Moretti's office, as confirmed by the woman who greeted her—his executive secretary.She stepped inside, her gaze sweeping across the expansive space. The walls were made entirely of glass, giving an illusion of openness, while at the center sat an imposing office desk. In front of it was a long conference table, surrounded by twelve chairs spaced apart just enough to maintain an air of authority.Behind the glass desk sat Mr. Guiller Moretti himself."I didn't expect you to come this early, Ms. Chongson," he greeted with an easy smile. "Ms. Tenorio, get us some drinks," he instructed his secretary before gesturing to the chair across from him.She sat without hesitation, her eyes locking onto his."I don't have the money to pay my father's debt, Sir," she stated outright. There was no point in stalling, no room for shame. She had to get straight to the point before she lost the nerve to say it. Her stare remained steady, unwavering. T
She rushed home, her heartbeat matching the frantic pace of her footsteps as she made her way to her parents' bedroom. Without hesitation, she grabbed a suitcase and began pulling out her father's clothes, folding each item with mechanical precision. She was midway through packing when the door creaked open.Her father stood there, his gaze filled with quiet confusion.She spared him only a brief glance before turning back to the closet, carefully unhooking the neatly hung clothes. One by one, she laid them on the bed, folding them with the same care she had seen her mother do so many times before."Are we leaving?" His voice was laced with uncertainty.A sharp pain stabbed at her chest, but she forced herself to stay composed. "Only you, Pa," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't look at him."H-Huh?" His brows furrowed. "But I have nowhere to go."She swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in her throat. When she finally turned to face him, she held his gaze, even
"Ma'am, we're here," the taxi driver's voice broke through her spiraling thoughts.She blinked, startled. The car had already come to a stop. She hadn't even noticed.Taking a deep breath, she slowly lifted her gaze. The towering five-star hotel loomed before her, its golden lights shimmering against the night sky. It looked luxurious, almost otherworldly—so different from the life she had known.This was where she would sell her virginity.Her stomach twisted violently. The overwhelming urge to cry clawed at her throat, but she swallowed it down. No. She couldn't break. Not now.Not when her father was counting on her."Ma'am?" the driver called again, concern lacing his voice."S-Sorry..." she mumbled, fumbling for her wallet with trembling hands. She handed him the fare and stepped out of the taxi, her legs feeling like they could give out beneath her at any moment.The moment she crossed the threshold into the hotel, the air changed. The scent of expensive cologne and freshly poli
He didn't let Jessa leave his side no matter what Emma said or threatened.He wasn't afraid—he was used to Emma. It wasn't the first time she had driven away women she saw with him.Emma is just being Emma. A spoiled, rotten b*tch. And her tantrums wouldn't work on him.He was more hard-headed than she was.He wondered why Emma was even there. As far as he knew, the Arcegas were business rivals of the ones hosting the charity ball—but it seemed Emma didn't care. Even with the media taking constant photos of them.Their attention shifted when the emcee spoke on stage. The auction was about to begin. Each guest was given a placard with a number.Jessa nudged him, then tiptoed and whispered in his ear. Her warm breath on his ear gave him a ticklish sensation."Can I bid too?" she asked with a smile. He could smell the alcohol on her breath, and that only added to the arousal he was already feeling.He couldn't stop her from taking the drink Percy had offered. Damn his cousin—he hadn't le
She suddenly felt small when they arrived at the charity ball. Prominent businessmen and celebrities were there. She even spotted a socialite she had just read about in the newspaper earlier that day.She knew not everyone in attendance was there purely for charity—some were clearly there to attract potential investors.Many people greeted and tried to talk to Xyrius, but he simply waved them off with a raised hand. A number of women were also staring at him, full of admiration.From what she knew, Xyrius had already been helping his father run their business since high school. The Smiths were in the wine business, based on what she'd heard on campus.Even before she had met Xyrius in person, she already knew how wealthy he was. Would he really be part of the elite group that included the Sandovals and the Altierra family if he weren't from a billionaire clan?The three families seemed to be in constant competition for wealth. At present, the Altierras were at the top, while the Sando
She was wearing a black cocktail dress. The neckline was plunging, and the back was low-cut, exposing her smooth back. It also had a high slit on the right thigh, revealing her long legs with every movement. Thankfully, she inherited that from her mother, who was also long-legged.She styled her hair in a messy bun with full bangs. Her makeup was simple, paired with dark matte lipstick.She smiled at herself in the mirror, satisfied.To be honest, she missed dressing up like this. She also really wanted to attend parties.A part of her envied those who could enjoy life without having to worry about anything.She grabbed her silver clutch bag just as she heard the doorbell ring.She went downstairs and found Xyrius in the living room, with his back turned to her. When he sensed her presence, he immediately turned to look.His lips parted slightly when he saw her, and she could clearly see the admiration in his eyes."Shall we go?" she asked, snapping him out of his daze.He blinked sev
She woke up with her whole body aching. It felt like she had been in a fight. Her eyes felt heavy too. And really, who wouldn't feel sore after being used all night?That beast Xyrius really took full advantage of her body. If she hadn't complained, he wouldn't have stopped. It was like he never got tired.He was no longer beside her. She looked at her alarm clock — it was almost noon. The sunlight pouring through her bedroom window was harsh on her eyes. Her stomach was already growling, but she still didn't want to get up, so she buried her face in the pillow again and planned to go back to sleep — until the door to her room opened.She sat up abruptly. She saw Xyrius standing in the doorway holding a tray with food."You haven't left yet?" she asked irritably.The man scowled and stepped closer to her. He was wearing only jeans, the button still undone, making the bulge in front very noticeable. He had no shirt or shoes on."This is my house. Why would I leave my own home?""Hey, w
She had just finished cleaning the floor. She was still annoyed because of Xyrius. Annoyed and afraid. Xyrius was well-known at school, and she was afraid he'd spread the story of how they met.Of all the people in the world, why did Xyrius have to be her customer?She rinsed the rag she had used, threw away the plastic cups, got another cup of noodles, carefully poured in hot water, and sat at the table."You are not done yet?" said Xyrius—again—she could only roll her eyes. Why was he still here? She ignored him.She just removed the lid of the cup noodles and stirred its contents."I am talking to you!" he shouted again."What do you even want?" she asked him wearily. She was exhausted from everything that had happened all day. She just wanted to eat, shower, and sleep because she still had work tomorrow.He walked over to her and grabbed the cup noodles."Why are you eating this trash?" he said with a furrowed brow. "You'll get sick eating this!" His jaw clenched in anger.She sna
"Your friend is already stable. You should go home too, hija, so you can get some rest," said Tita Melody, Mina's stepmother.She looked at Mina again. Her friend was still unconscious, but the doctor said she was already stable. It was a panic attack—that's what caused her to have difficulty breathing and lose consciousness.She couldn't bring herself to tell the couple what really happened, so she just let the Dean explain it to them.After all, she didn't even know exactly what Kenobi had said to Mina that triggered the panic attack."I'll get going now, Tita, Tito," she said to the De'Marco couple."Alright, take care, okay?" said Tita Melody."Thank you."She walked over to Mina and gave her a kiss. Then she turned to Tita Melody and Tito Horacio to give them a respectful cheek-to-cheek farewell.She was startled to see Kristoff standing at the door with his arms crossed. He straightened up immediately upon seeing her."How is she?" he asked."She's okay now. Aren't you going in?
He had been wanting to lose it ever since he saw Jessa with another guy's arm around her—especially when he saw her giggle like that.He badly wanted to smash the face of the guy touching what was his.As he kept his eyes on Jessa, he started playing with the idea of what kind of punishment he would give her once he had her all to himself.No one else had the right to touch what belonged to him—only him. And it was an insult to see her with another guy draping himself over her like that, especially while he was around. Even if she didn't recognize him yet.He really did want to snap earlier.But when he saw the tears stream down her face for her friend, it felt like someone squeezed his heart. He wanted to go to her, to comfort her. He also wanted to punch Kenobi's face in, but he held himself back.He was following Jessa, trailing just behind her, so when she stumbled, he was quick to catch her."Calm down, doll," he whispered, feeling her trembling body. Her eyes were filled with te
She was restless while waiting outside the Dean's office along with the Sandoval brothers' teammates.Ycos was supposed to stay with her, but he got called in by the student council.She felt uneasy because Xyrius kept staring at her. She was afraid he might have recognized her.Where the hell did I put that damned shirt?! Sh*t, he might make me pay for it—it looked expensive!She scooted to the side near the door to get out of his line of sight. She and Mina were both startled when the latter suddenly came out of the office.Mina glanced quickly behind her before urgently pulling her away. She practically dragged her in such a hurry that she almost tripped from trying to keep up with Mina's long and fast strides. It was like she was running away from a demon. Well, Kenobi was handsome, but he was still a demon."Hey, wait up!" she complained, struggling to keep pace, but Mina ignored her and kept pulling her until they reached the Engineering building.They stopped in front of the En
She was in a daze as she walked around the campus. It had been two days since she met the masked man—her first customer.He had taken her home. He also returned her belongings, and before she got out of the car, he told her something."You have a year to pay me, with your so-called 'services'," he said with a smirk. His Tagalog was somewhat slang, but it wasn't funny—it just made him even hotter. "You are mine for a year. But don't worry, I'm generous—I'll give you everything money can buy."She didn't say anything. She neither agreed nor refused. She felt like she had no choice anyway. She just stared at him, then got out of his car.She called Mr. Moretti, who confirmed what the masked man said—that he had already bought out her contract from Black Enterprises.Until now, she hadn't heard anything from the man. His number was saved on her phone. He said he would call when he needed her.She stopped walking when she saw Mina peeking through the gym entrance.She shook her head. Mina