As usual, Rome woke up that morning to find the other side of the bed empty, the neatly tucked sheets and absence of warmth confirming what she already suspected; Cayson had slipped out long before the sun had fully risen. She didn’t need to guess. By now, it had become routine. He was most likely outside, pushing through another intense workout, channeling whatever thoughts haunted him into movement and sweat. There was a strange comfort in the consistency of his absence; it was predictable, almost like a rhythm her body had grown used to.The night before had been quiet. After he stepped out of the bathroom, he said nothing and simply climbed into bed to sleep. Rome had remained seated, sipping the warm glass of milk Althea had sent up to her room. She continued reading until drowsiness overcame her. Once she felt sleepy, she got up to brush her teeth, then returned to bed and lay down in silence.For the first time in many nights, she had fallen asleep with ease. No tossing or turn
Out of sheer frustration, Rome refused to come down for lunch, deliberately avoiding any opportunity to dine with Cayson. He had summoned her through the maid, but she stood her ground and didn’t budge. Instead, she asked the maid to bring her a glass of milk and a bowl of cut-up fruits, which became her only nourishment for the day.As expected, Cayson didn’t make any further effort. He didn’t even check in on her or glance her way the entire day, which only worsened her mood.She wanted to get out of the house, do something to lift her spirits. She called Jiggy and invited her friend to hang out that afternoon, but She was swamped with work and couldn’t make it. Connie was also busy with her final exams approaching, overwhelmed with lesson plans and study materials. Rome understood how demanding that could be, so she didn’t insist.With no one else available, she had no choice but to stay inside the mansion and wallow in her feelings alone in their bedroom.Around six in the evening
That day, Rome threw herself into reading. She needed something to anchor her. The changes in her body were no longer subtle; they were overwhelming. So she spent hours scrolling through online articles and personal blogs, absorbing every piece of information she could about pregnancy. She wanted answers. She wanted understanding. Especially about cravings— paglilihi, as the elders called it.And what she discovered opened up a new layer of awareness.She learned about the tidal wave of hormones that surged through a woman’s body during the first trimester. How each pregnancy was different. How cravings weren’t just whims, they were unpredictable, powerful, and sometimes irrational. No two women experienced the same symptoms, and even the same woman could have wildly different pregnancies. She discovered that the first trimester was considered the most brutal, emotionally taxing and physically disorienting, while the second was often described as the “honeymoon phase,” a short-lived p
That day, Rome threw herself into reading. She needed something to anchor her. The changes in her body were no longer subtle; they were overwhelming. So she spent hours scrolling through online articles and personal blogs, absorbing every piece of information she could about pregnancy. She wanted answers. She wanted understanding. Especially about cravings— paglilihi, as the elders called it.And what she discovered opened up a new layer of awareness.She learned about the tidal wave of hormones that surged through a woman’s body during the first trimester. How each pregnancy was different. How cravings weren’t just whims, they were unpredictable, powerful, and sometimes irrational. No two women experienced the same symptoms, and even the same woman could have wildly different pregnancies. She discovered that the first trimester was considered the most brutal, emotionally taxing and physically disorienting, while the second was often described as the “honeymoon phase,” a short-lived p
Cayson stood silently at the foot of the bed, his eyes fixed on Rome’s sleeping form. The dim light from the bedside lamp cast soft shadows across the room, highlighting the curve of her face and the gentle rise and fall of her breath. She lay curled on her side, clutching his pillow as if it was a lifeline in the quiet darkness. The blanket, patterned with tiny red and pink hearts that matched the crisp, white bed sheet beneath her, was pulled up only to her waist.He took a slow, deliberate breath, his gaze drifting downward to her stomach. Because she was positioned on her side and wore loose, faded pajamas, it was difficult to tell if her belly had grown at all. To him, she looked the same. But perhaps he had never truly noticed her before. Usually, when they spoke, his eyes locked onto hers with intensity and never wandered elsewhere. Their conversations were brief and often clipped, the kind wh
"Ah, shit," Cayson muttered as the rain began to pour. He had just reached the gates of the mansion when the heavy downpour started. The weather had already been terrible while he was still in Palawan, but he assumed the storm was isolated there. He didn’t expect it to stretch all the way to Manila.Yes, he had been in Palawan with one of his women, but he didn’t go there solely for leisure. It was also a business trip. An investor from Hong Kong had flown in, and Cayson took him to a beautiful resort in Palawan because the man brought his wife along. The Chinese businessman wanted to invest in Montemayor Travellers. He was the first foreign investor to ever show interest in Cayson’s company.They sealed the deal, and the rest of the day was spent with their respective partners. Cayson, of course, had been more than pleased with his. Leyla was