The Billionaire's Contracted Wife

Elowen Pov___

Elowen stood in the middle of the grand hallway, her small suitcase in one hand, staring at the towering doubl doors that would lead her to her new lifr The house was beautiful cold, grsnd, silent exactly like the man she was marrying.

It was an arranged marriage. A business deal. Nothing more.

The heavy doors opened, and there he was. Kaelian Vance. Tall, sharp, devastatingly handsome and looking at her like she was nothing more than a piece of furniture he’d been forced to buy.

“Elowen Reina,” she introduced herself softly, extending a hand.

He didn’t take it. Just glanced at her for two seconds, then walked past her like she was air.

“I know who you are. The contract says it all. That’s more than enough,” he said, voice flat, no warmth at all. “One rule: stay out of my way. This is my house. You’re here only because your father failed. Don’t forget that.”

His words hit her like a slap to the face. But she swallowed the lump in her throat, straightened her back, and nodded.

Okay, she told herself. Just one year. Just endure one year. Then you’re free.

“Noted,” she whispered.

For the first mpnth, they lived like strangers under the same roof. He’d leave before she woke up. He’d come home late, reeking of expensive cologne and exhaustion, never glancing her way. They ate dinner at the same table but never spoke. It was a silence so heavy it felt like it was crushing her.

She’d leave him coffee on the counter every morning. He’d never touch it.

She’d ask him how his day was. He’d never answer.

One rainy Tuesday, she wsited for him. She made dinner his favorite, according to the files she’d studied and sat at the dining table until 10 PM. When he walked in, he saw the food, saw her waiting and walked straight past the dining room without a single word.

“Kaelian,” she called out, voice trembling. “Can’t we at least… be civil?”

He stopped in his tracks, turned slowly, and looked at her really looked at her for the first time since their wedding day.

“Civil?” he scoffed, cold and sharp. “You think this is a friendship, Elowen? This is a transaction. You’re here to secure my family’s name. That’s it. Don’t ask for things that aren’t part of the deal.”

He walked away, leaving her alone in the dim light, the food cold on the table, her heart shattering into tiny pieces.

Right, Transaction. Not a mqrriage, Not a partnership, just Nothing.

She stood up, cleared the table, and threw everything in the trash. That night, she promised herself no more trying. No more hoping. No more caring. From tomorrow on, she’d be just as cold as he was.

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Kinabukasan, gumising na ako nang walang kahit anong pag-asa sa puso ko. No more coffee to prepare. No more questions waiting for him to come home. Wala nang Elowen na handang magmahal nang walang kapalit.

Bumaba ako ng hagdan, suopt ang simpleng damit na ibinigay ng pamilya niya not really for me, just to make me look like I belong in this house. Pagpasok ko sa kusina, nandoon ang mga katulong, tahimik na naghahanda ng almusal. Walang umimik. Walang bumati. Para akong anino na naglalakad sa sarili kong tahananl or should I say, a house that feels more like a workplace than a home.

Alas-siyete ng umaga, bumaba si Kaelian. Nakasuot siya ng pinakamagandang suit, mukhang handang lupigin ang buong mundo habang ako, parang basahan na handang itapon. Tumingin siya sa akin nang mabilis, at akala ko magsasabi siya ng kahit ano. Pero dumiretso lang siya sa kape na inihanda ng katulong, kumuha ng pirasong tinapay, at naglakad papunta sa p***o. Bago siya lumabas, huminto siya sandali nang hindi lumilingon.

“From now on,” malamig niyang sabi, tila yelo ang boses, “huwag kang lalabas ng kwarto kapag hindi ko sinabi. We’re having guests this Saturday. Make sure you look presentable nd stay quiet. Don’t draw attention to yourself. The people coming don’t need to know the details of our agreement.”

At lumabas na siya, iniwan akong nakatayo sa gitna ng kusina, habang ang mga katulong ay nag-iwas ng tingin na parang sanay na sanay na silang makita akong binabalewala.

Kinabukasan, mas lalong sumama ang trato niya. Umuwi siya nang hatinggabi, lasing at galit not because of me, but because of business pero ako ang nasa harap niya, kaya ako ang pinagbuntunan ng lahat ng galit.

“Where’s my water?” sigaw niya pagpasok pa lang ng p***o. “Why are you so slow? All of you are so slow!”

Agad akong kumuha ng tubig at inabot sa kanya. Pero imbes na tanggapin, tinabig niya ang kamay ko nang malakas. Nahulog ang baso at nabasag sa sahig, at ang malamig na tubig ay nabasa ang paa ko and my heart, too.

“Do I really have to wait for you?” mariin niyang sabi, nakatingin sa akin na parang ako ang pinakamalaking abala sa buhay niya. “Wala ka bang ibang alam gawin kundi ang tumayo diyan at magmukhang kawawa? If it weren’t for the contract, I wouldn’t even let you step inside this house.”

Hindi ako sumagot. Lumuhod ako at dahan-dahang pinulot ang mga bubog, habang ang luha ay pilit kong pinipigilan na bumagsak. Masakit sobrang sakit pero alam kong wala akong karapatang magreklamo. Binili nila ako. The price was my father’s company, my family’s future. Kaya kahit ano pang itrato nila sa akin, wala akong magagawa kundi tanggapin ito.

Ilang araw ang lumipas, at tila naghanap na siya ng dahilan para pagalitan ako. Isang hapon, nagpunta ako sa hardin para huminga nang maluwag just five minutes, five minutes away from the cold of this house. Pero pagbalik ko sa loob, nandoon siya sa pasilyo, nakakrus ang mga braso, at ang mukha ay seryoso at galit.

“Where were you?” tanong niya, mababa ang boses pero puno ng banta.

“Sa… sa hardin lang po,” mahina kong sagot. “It was too hot in the room and—”

“I don’t care,” putol niya. “As long as you’re in this house, I need to know where you are at all times. You are part of this family’s property, Elowen. Hindi ka pwedeng maglakad-lakad kung saan-saan nang walang paalam. Did you think you could be free? You’re not. Until the contract ends, every move you make is mine to know.”

Lumapit siya nang dahan-dahan hanggang sa halos magkatabi na kami. Amoy ko ang mamahaling pabango niya the scent of power and wealth I could never claim. Tinitigan niya ako nang matalim, parang sinusuri kung may halaga ba ako kahit kaunti.

“Remember this,” bulong niya, sapat lang para marinig ko. “I never loved you. I never respected you. And I will never do anything to make you happy. You’re only here because your family needed you and I needed a wife for my image. Don’t expect me to change my mind. Not ever.”

Umalis siya, at naiwan akong mag-isa sa gitna ng malawak na pasilyo, nanginginig ang buong katawan. Ang bawat salita niya ay parang patalim na tumatagos sa puso ko. Gusto kong sumigaw. Gusto kong umalis. But where would I go? If I leave, my family loses everything. Kaya kailangan kong manatili. Kailangan kong tiisin ang lahat kahit na unti-unti na akong nasisira.

Sumunod na linggo, dumating ang ina ni Kaelian si Madam Elara Vance. Isang babaeng matangkad, matikas, at ang tingin sa akin ay parang dumi sa kalsada. Pagpasok pa lang niya, tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa nang may pagkasuklam.

“This is who you chose?” sabi niya kay Kaelian, nang hindi man lang tumitingin sa akin. “She seems so ordinary. Are you sure she’s fit to be your wife? Isn’t she too… plain?”

“I didn’t choose her, Ma,” sagot ni Kaelian nang walang emosyon. “It’s just business. Nothing more.”

Tumingin sa akin si Madam Elara, matalim ang mga mata. “Listen to me, girl. You’re only here because your family needed help. Huwag kang mag-aakalang tatanggapin ka namin nang buong-buo. You are not one of us. And don’t you dare make my son fall for you because he will never love you. Never.”

Bumigat ang dibdib ko. Gusto kong magsalita, ipagtanggol ang sarili ko pero alam kong walang saysay. Sa paningin nila, isa lang akong sakripisyo. A thing that was bought and paid for.

“Opo, Madam,” tanging nasabi ko na lang, habang pinipigilan ang pagpatak ng luha. “I understand.”

Nang umalis na ang ina niya, naiwan kaming dalawa ni Kaelian sa sala. Tumingin ako sa kanya, umaasa kahit kaunti lang na sasabihin niyang mali ang ina niya. Na may halaga ako kahit paano. Pero imbes na ipagtanggol ako, tumalikod lang siya at naglakad papunta sa hagdan.

“She’s right,” bulong niya bago tuluyang umakyat. “You mean nothing, Elowen. Don’t you ever forget that.”

Nang makaalis na siya, dahan-dahan akong naupo sa sahig ng sala malamig at matigas, katulad ng pagturing nila sa akin. Doon ko na pinakawalan ang lahat ng luha na matagal ko nang itinatago. Tahimik akong umiyak, walang boses, walang kasama dahil sa bahay na ito, kahit ang pag-iyak ay tila kailangan pang humingi ng pahintulot.

Tumingin ako sa kisame, pilit na binibigyan ng lakas ang sarili. Kaya mo ‘to, Elowen. Just one year. One year and you’re free. Kaya mong tiisin ang lahat. You can endure the lack of love, the disrespect, the way they treat you like you’re worth nothing. Dahil pagkatapos nito pagkatapos ng isang taon makakauwi ka na. And you’ll never come back here.

Pero habang patuloy na bumabagsak ang luha ko, may maliit na boses sa loob ko na bumubulong: What if before the year ends, you’re no longer the same person who can leave? What if every day that passes slowly kills the girl you used to be?

Pinunasan ko ang mukha ko, tumayo nang tuwid, at huminga nang malalim. Hindi ako pwedeng sumuko. Not yet. May pamilya akong kailangang iligtas. Kaya kahit gaano pa kasakit, kahit gaano pa kalamig ang pagturing nila sa akin  mananatili ako. I will endure it all. Hanggang sa matapos ang kontrata. Until the day comes when I can walk away and never look back.