CHAPTER 5: The Grand Reveal

"Beauty is pain," sabi nila. Pero mali sila. Beauty is expensive. And terrifying. And apparently, it involves a woman named Madame Leona pulling my hair so tight I could feel my brain stretching.

"Chin up, darling! Don't slouch!" Madame Leona barked, slapping my shoulder lightly.

Nasa loob kami ng isang private dressing room sa penthouse ni Atticus. It had been three days since "The Deal." Three days of spa treatments, dental cleaning (masakit, bes), waxing sessions (sobrang sakit, bes), and walking lessons (bakit kailangan mag-aral maglakad?!).

Atticus wasn't kidding about the transformation. He didn't just want me to look rich; he wanted me to look untouchable.

"We are done," Madame Leona announced, stepping back to admire her work.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the full-length mirror.

Napatakip ako sa bibig ko.

The woman staring back at me wasn't Tin. She wasn't the housewife who wore loose t-shirts and messy buns. She wasn't the girl who cried in a 7-Eleven.

She was... breathtaking.

My hair, usually frizzy and unruly, was now a cascade of sleek, dark waves resting on my shoulders. My makeup was fierce—smoky eyes, sharp contour, and lips painted a deep, dangerous shade of crimson.

And the dress. Susmaryosep.

It was a midnight blue velvet gown that hugged every curve of my body before flowing down to the floor like liquid night. It had a slit that reached up to my thigh—high enough to be scandalous, low enough to be elegant.

"Is that... me?" I whispered, touching the cold glass of the mirror.

"Of course it's you," a deep voice answered from the doorway.

I spun around.

Atticus was leaning against the doorframe. He was wearing a tuxedo—black, perfectly tailored, with a bowtie that made him look like the next James Bond, only richer and meaner.

He stared at me. For the first time since we met, he didn't look annoyed. He didn't look bored.

He looked... stunned.

His eyes traveled from my heels, up to the slit in my dress, to my waist, and finally settled on my face. He stayed quiet for a solid five seconds.

"Well?" I asked, feeling self-conscious. "Masyado ba? Do I look like I'm trying too hard?"

Atticus cleared his throat, straightening his posture. The mask of indifference slid back into place, but I saw the flicker in his eyes.

"You look... adequate," he said coolly.

"Adequate?!" I frowned. "Ang sakit ng waxing ko tapos 'adequate' lang?"

He walked towards me, stopping just inches away. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace. Diamonds. Huge, glittering diamonds that probably cost more than Jason’s entire life existence.

"Turn around," he commanded.

Tumalikod ako. I swept my hair to the side, exposing my neck.

His fingers brushed against my skin—cold metal and warm fingertips. Kakaibang kuryente ang dumaloy sa katawan ko. Even though I knew this was fake, even though I knew he was just my "employer," my heart betrayed me.

Dug-dug. Dug-dug.

He clasped the necklace. "This is the Valderama heirlooms. Don't lose it."

"Yes, Sir," I rolled my eyes playfully.

He leaned closer, his breath fanning against my ear. "And Celestina?"

"Hmm?"

"You look beautiful."

Before I could react to the compliment, he stepped back and checked his watch. "Let's go. The sharks are waiting."

The event was the Valderama Annual Charity Gala.

It was the biggest event of the year. Politicians, celebrities, tycoons—lahat ng may "K" sa lipunan, nandito. The ballroom of the Grand Horizon Hotel (yes, the same hotel where I caught Jason) was dripping in gold and crystals.

Nanginginig ang tuhod ko habang pababa kami ng limousine.

"Atticus, di ko kaya," bulong ko, clutching his arm tight. "Baka madapa ako. Baka matapon ko yung wine. Baka mahimatay ako."

Atticus covered my hand with his. His grip was firm, grounding.

"Remember Rule #1 of being a Valderama," he whispered as the doorman opened the car door.

"Never show fear. Look at them like you own them."

"Do I own them?"

"Tonight? You own everything."

We stepped out.

Flash! Flash! Flash!

Cameras erupted like lightning. The paparazzi were shouting Atticus's name.

"Mr. Valderama! Over here!"

"Who is the mystery woman?"

"Is that your new girlfriend?"

I smiled. The smile Madame Leona practiced with me—lips closed, eyes mysterious. The Mona Lisa Smile but make it rich.

We glided through the red carpet. Atticus’s hand never left my waist. He guided me with possessive confidence, protecting me from the chaos.

Pagpasok namin sa ballroom, tumahimik ang paligid. Heads turned. Whispers started spreading like wildfire.

"Is that Atticus?"

"Who is she?"

"Ganda niya, shet."

I held my head high. Chin up, Tin. You are Celestina Valderama.

And then, I saw them.

Near the chocolate fountain (of course), Jason was standing there, holding a glass of champagne. He was wearing a tuxedo that looked shiny and cheap compared to Atticus’s. Beside him was Veronica, looking flashy in a sequined gold dress that looked a bit too tight.

They were laughing with some business partners. Jason looked proud, probably bragging about his "new investor."

Atticus leaned down to me. "Ready for the show?"

"Born ready," I breathed out.

We walked straight towards them.

Jason was the first to notice. He turned around, his smile freezing on his face when he saw Atticus. He immediately straightened up, eager to kiss ass.

"Mr. Valderama!" Jason exclaimed, extending his hand. "Good to see you, Sir! Thank you again for the investment. My company is—"

Then, Jason stopped.

His eyes drifted to the woman beside Atticus.

He blinked. He squinted.

Then, his jaw literally dropped.

"T-Tin?" he stuttered.

Veronica turned around, sipping her drink. She almost choked. "Who?"

"Celestina?" Jason looked at me, confusion and horror mixing on his face. He scanned me from head to toe. The velvet gown, the diamonds, the glowing skin. "Anong... what are you doing here? How did you get in?"

I looked at him. Really looked at him.

Three days ago, I thought I couldn't live without this man. Now? Looking at him in his ill-fitting suit, sweating nervously... he looked small.

I didn't answer him. I just smiled—a cold, polite smile.

"Do you know her, Jason?" Veronica asked sharply, eyes narrowing at my necklace. She recognized the diamonds. She knew what they meant.

"She's... she's my..." Jason stammered. He couldn't say "wife" because he is busted when that happens. Veronica don't know my face, kahit anino ko. Even though she's having an affair with my husband, hindi nya ako ni minsan nakita. He couldn't say "ex" because he was still technically married to me (or so he thought).

Atticus stepped in. Smoothly. Lethally.

He wrapped his arm tighter around my waist, pulling me flush against his side. A clear claim of ownership.

"Jason, I see you’ve met my fiancée," Atticus said, his voice loud enough for the nearby tables to hear.

Gasp.

The crowd went silent.

Jason turned pale. "F-fiancée? Sir? But... she's..."

"She's what?" Atticus dared him. His eyes bored into Jason’s. "Is there a problem with my future wife?"

Jason looked at me. I raised an eyebrow. Go ahead, Jason. Tell him. Tell him I'm your wife. Admit you’re a bigamist. Admit you cheated. Sige, sirain mo ang career mo.

Jason swallowed hard. He realized he was checkmated. If he claimed me, he exposed his lies. If he stayed silent, he lost me to the billionaire

.

"N-no, Sir," Jason choked out, sweating profusely. "No problem. Nice to meet you... Ma'am."

"Nice to meet you too," I said, my voice smooth like honey. "You look familiar. Have we met? Or do you just have one of those... forgettable faces?"

Atticus hid a smirk.

Veronica looked like she was about to explode. She glared at me, then at Atticus. "Atticus, you can't be serious. Her? She looks like a maid trying to play dress-up."

Atticus’s face turned into stone. The temperature in the room dropped below zero.

He turned to Veronica.

"Careful, Veronica," Atticus said softly, but it sounded like a threat. "You are speaking to the future Mrs. Valderama. Insult her again, and I’ll have security escort you out. Actually..."

Atticus looked around. He saw the microphone on the stage.

"Excuse me," Atticus said to them. "We have an announcement to make."

He took my hand and led me to the stage.

Iniwan namin si Jason at Veronica na nakanganga. Jason looked like he was about to vomit.

We walked up the stairs. Atticus took the mic. The spotlight hit us. Blinded by the light, I squeezed his hand. He squeezed back.

"Good evening, everyone," Atticus’s voice boomed through the speakers. "Thank you for coming. Tonight is special. Not just for the charity, but because I want to introduce someone to you."

He looked at me. And for a second, in front of hundreds of people, it felt like it was just the two of us.

"For a long time, I focused only on business. I thought I didn't need a partner," he continued. "But then I met Celestina."

He turned back to the crowd, his eyes locking specifically on Jason and Veronica in the back.

"They say behind every successful man is a woman. Well, I found the woman who deserves the world. And I intend to give it to her."

He raised my hand and kissed my knuckles.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my fiancée... and the future matriarch of the Valderama Empire... Celestina Mercado-Valderama."

Applause erupted. It was thunderous.

I looked down at the crowd. I saw Jason. He was slumping in his chair, defeated, terrified. He realized the "investor" he relied on was the man holding his "convenient" wife.

I looked at Atticus. He winked at me.

"Game on, Mrs. Valderama," he whispered.

I smiled, dazzled by the lights and the thrill of revenge.

"Game on, Mr. Valderama."