Chapter 2 : The Rule We Never Wrote

Xyena's POV

I woke up before sunrise.

Hindi dahil maaga akong sanay gumising.

Actually, halos wala akong tulog.

Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered the photograph of Astaroth Valcieri.

The missing woman.

The woman whose picture was somehow in my grandmother's possession.

And most of all, I remembered Cael's reaction when he saw it.

He wasn't just surprised.

He looked scared.

And that scared me even more.

Dahan-dahan akong bumangon at lumapit sa malaking window ng bedroom.

The city was still quiet.

I wrapped my arms around myself.

"What are you hiding, Cael?"

A knock suddenly came from the door.

"Miss Ashworth?"

I turned.

"Yes?"

"Breakfast is ready."

"Thank you."

I waited until the footsteps disappeared before changing.

I stared at myself in the mirror.

The wedding ring on my finger caught my attention.

One year.

That's all.

But somehow, after only one night, it already felt complicated.

Cael's POV

I was already at the dining table when Xyena entered.

She looked different from yesterday.

Simple white blouse.

Loose pants.

Her hair was tied casually behind her.

No expensive jewelry.

No makeup.

Nothing that suggested she was now part of the Valcieri family.

And somehow...

I noticed.

I immediately looked down at my coffee.

Don't.

This was a contract.

Nothing more.

"Good morning," she said.

"Morning."

She sat across from me.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then she looked at me.

"Did you sleep?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

I looked up.

"Why?"

"You look like you haven't."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You've been watching me?"

She rolled her eyes.

"You're sitting right in front of me."

I almost smiled.

"Fair."

A servant placed breakfast in front of her.

She thanked the woman before picking up her fork.

But she didn't eat.

Instead, she stared at me.

"What?"

"We need to talk."

I placed my coffee down.

"About?"

"Last night."

My expression hardened.

"The photograph."

She nodded.

"I haven't forgotten."

"Neither have I."

"So what are you going to do?"

"I'll investigate."

"By yourself?"

"Yes."

She frowned.

"Why?"

"Because it's my family."

"And it's my family too."

I looked at her.

"What?"

She leaned forward.

"My grandmother."

Her voice became serious.

"If there's a connection between our families, I have the right to know."

I couldn't argue with that.

"Fine."

Her eyebrows lifted.

"Fine?"

"We investigate together."

She smiled.

"Good."

I stared at her.

"You agreed too quickly."

"Why?"

"I expected you to be afraid."

She shrugged.

"I'm curious."

"Curiosity can be dangerous."

"So can marrying a billionaire."

I couldn't stop myself.

A small laugh escaped.

Xyena immediately stared at me.

"Did you just laugh?"

I returned to my usual expression.

"No."

"You did!"

"I didn't."

"You absolutely did."

I picked up my coffee.

"You should eat."

She smiled.

"I knew it."

Xyena's POV

That was the first time I saw Cael laugh.

And honestly?

It surprised me.

For a moment, he didn't look like the ruthless CEO everyone talked about.

He looked normal.

Human.

I immediately pushed the thought away.

Don't.

This man was my husband only because of a contract.

I shouldn't be looking at him differently.

"So," I said.

He looked at me.

"What?"

"About the rules."

"What about them?"

"You said there would be no unnecessary questions about your personal life."

"Correct."

"Does that include asking where you go?"

"Yes."

"Who you're with?"

"Yes."

"Whether you have a girlfriend?"

He paused.

Then looked at me.

"I don't."

I blinked.

"Really?"

"Really."

I nodded.

"Good."

His eyebrow lifted.

"Why?"

I shrugged.

"No reason."

"You're curious."

"Maybe."

"About me?"

I immediately looked away.

"Don't flatter yourself."

He gave me a faint smile.

I hated how much that smile affected me.

After breakfast, I decided to explore the mansion.

Hindi naman sa curious ako.

Okay.

Maybe I was.

The Valcieri Estate was enormous.

There were hallways I hadn't even seen yesterday.

I walked through one of the eastern corridors.

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

It was darker.

Quieter.

And strangely cold.

Old portraits lined the walls.

Members of the Valcieri family.

Generation after generation.

Then I saw her.

I stopped walking.

Astaroth.

Her portrait was larger than the others.

She looked young.

Happy.

Alive.

Lumapit ako.

There was a small plaque underneath.

ASTAROTH VALCIERI

Born: June 14, 1979

Missing: September 3, 2004

My chest tightened.

Twenty-two years.

I stared at the date.

Then I noticed something.

A small scratch on the wooden frame.

Almost invisible.

I reached toward it.

"You shouldn't be here."

Napatalon ako.

I turned around.

An older woman stood behind me.

She was wearing a dark uniform.

Her expression was serious.

"Sorry."

I stepped away from the portrait.

"I was just looking."

Her eyes moved toward Astaroth.

"You shouldn't."

"Why?"

She didn't answer.

Instead, she came closer.

"Mrs. Irish?"

She looked at me.

"Stay away from this wing."

"Why?"

Her expression hardened.

"Because some doors are better left closed."

Then she walked away.

I watched her disappear down the hallway.

My heart was pounding.

What the hell?

Why was everyone acting as though Astaroth's name was forbidden?

Cael's POV

I found Xyena in the eastern hallway.

The moment I saw where she was standing, my expression changed.

"Xyena."

She turned.

"Oh."

I walked toward her.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was exploring."

"This area is private."

She pointed toward the portrait.

"Astaroth."

I looked at the portrait.

Then at her.

"You shouldn't come here alone."

"Why?"

"Because my family doesn't like people asking questions."

She crossed her arms.

"That's exactly why I want answers."

I sighed.

"You don't understand."

"Then explain."

I remained silent.

She looked frustrated.

"Cael."

"What?"

"Everyone keeps telling me to stay away from Astaroth's story."

She stepped closer.

"That makes me want to know even more."

I stared at her.

"You're stubborn."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I'll take it anyway."

I almost smiled.

This woman was going to be a problem.

Xyena's POV

"Can I ask you something?"

Caelvaris looked at me.

"What?"

"Why did Astaroth disappear?"

His expression became serious.

"We don't know."

"That's not what your family believes."

He looked away.

"My grandfather believes the Ashworth family was involved."

My heart stopped.

"What?"

"That's what I was told."

"And you believe him?"

"I used to."

"Used to?"

He looked at me.

"Now I'm not sure."

I swallowed.

"My grandmother never told me anything."

"Maybe she didn't want you involved."

"Or maybe she was hiding something."

Caelvaris nodded.

"That's what we need to find out."

I looked at the portrait.

"Then let's start with my grandmother."

"How?"

"I'll call her."

He hesitated.

"Don't tell her about the investigation yet."

"Why?"

"I don't want to alert anyone."

I stared at him.

"You're starting to sound paranoid."

"Maybe I am."

That afternoon, I called Grandma Charlotte.

My hands were shaking.

"Hello, Grandma?"

"Xyena? Kumusta ka, anak?"

"I'm okay."

I looked toward Cael.

He was standing several feet away, quietly listening.

"Grandma..."

"Yes?"

"May I ask you something?"

"Of course."

I took a breath.

"Do you know the Valcieri family?"

Silence.

Complete silence.

My grandmother stopped speaking.

"Grandma?"

"Why are you asking me that?"

Her voice sounded different.

Nervous.

"Because..."

I looked at Cael.

"...I married Caelvaris Valcieri."

Another silence.

Then I heard her whisper—

"Apo, listen to me carefully."

I straightened.

"Yes?"

"Get out of that house."

My heart dropped.

"What?"

"Leave the Valcieri family."

"Grandma, why?"

"Don't ask questions. Just leave."

"Why?"

Her voice trembled.

"Because the Valcieri family destroyed our family once."

I froze.

"What did they do?"

Before she could answer—

The call suddenly disconnected.

"Grandma?"

I immediately called again.

No answer.

I stared at my phone.

My heart was pounding.

Cael approached.

"What happened?"

I looked at him.

"My grandmother told me to leave."

His expression darkened.

"What exactly did she say?"

"She said your family destroyed ours."

He became silent.

Then his phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

Davon Valcieri.

Cael answered.

"Grandfather?"

Davon's voice was cold.

"Where is Xyena?"

Cael glanced at me.

"She's here."

"Keep her away from the eastern wing."

My eyes widened.

Cael frowned.

"Why?"

"There are things she shouldn't see."

The call ended.

Cael slowly lowered his phone.

I stared at him.

"Did he just say the same thing?"

He nodded.

"Yes."

I crossed my arms.

"Now I'm definitely investigating."

He sighed.

"I knew you'd say that."

Cael's POV

That evening, I sat alone in my study.

Davon's warning kept repeating in my mind.

Keep her away from the eastern wing.

Why?

What was hidden there?

And why was Xyena's grandmother afraid?

I opened the old family records.

There were documents about Astaroth.

But several pages were missing.

Someone had removed them.

I searched through another file.

Nothing.

Then I found something.

An old newspaper clipping.

The headline read:

VALCIERI HEIRESS DISAPPEARS WITHOUT A TRACE

Below the headline was a photograph of Astaroth.

But someone had written something on the bottom of the page.

Three words.

She wasn't alone.

I stared at the message.

Who wrote it?

And what did it mean?

Suddenly, I heard footsteps.

I quickly closed the file.

"Cael?"

I looked up.

Xyena entered the study.

"I need to tell you something."

"What?"

She held up an old photograph.

My blood ran cold.

"Where did you get that?"

"My grandmother sent it."

I took the photograph from her.

It was Astaroth.

But she wasn't alone.

A young man stood beside her.

An Ashworth.

And written on the back were four words.

Meet me at midnight.

My heart started beating faster.

"Xyena..."

"What?"

"This changes everything."

Xyena's POV

Cael looked genuinely shaken.

"Who is that man?"

I asked.

He didn't answer.

"Cael?"

He finally looked at me.

"My grandfather."

I froze.

"What?"

"That's my grandfather."

I looked at the photograph again.

A young Davon Valcieri stood beside Astaroth.

And beside them...

was my grandmother.

Charlotte Ashworth.

All three were together.

Twenty-two years ago.

I felt my stomach drop.

"My grandmother knew your grandfather."

"Apparently."

"But why would they hide this?"

Cael stared at the photograph.

"I don't know."

Then he turned it over.

His expression suddenly changed.

"What?"

I asked.

He showed me the back.

Written in faded ink were the words:

September 3, 2004. Midnight. The old chapel. Come alone.

Below it was another sentence.

If they find out, we're all dead.

I stared at the words.

"Who wrote that?"

Cael shook his head.

"I don't know."

"Then we find out."

He looked at me.

"You really don't know how to stay away from danger, do you?"

I smiled nervously.

"Apparently not."

He sighed.

"Tomorrow."

"What?"

"We go to the old chapel tomorrow."

"Together?"

"Together."

I smiled.

"Okay."

He looked at me for a moment.

Then his expression softened.

"Xyena."

"Hmm?"

"If something happens..."

He stopped.

"What?"

"Stay behind me."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You think you can protect me?"

"I know I can."

There was something in his voice that made my heart beat faster.

I quickly looked away.

"Okay."

Neither of us noticed the shadow standing outside the study door.

Someone had been listening.

Someone was holding a phone.

Recording everything.

Someone's POV

"They found the photograph."

A voice answered through the phone.

"Are you sure?"

" Yes."

"And the chapel?"

"They're going tomorrow."

There was a long pause.

Then the voice spoke.

"Then we have to move."

"What about Xyena?"

"She cannot know the truth."

"And Cael?"

Another pause.

"Cael is becoming a problem."

"Then what do we do?"

The voice became colder.

"Make him choose."

"Choose what?"

"His company..."

A quiet laugh followed.

"...or his wife."

The call ended.

Outside the Valcieri Estate, thunder rolled across the sky.

Inside the mansion, Cael and Xyena remained unaware that someone was already planning their next move.

The marriage that began as a contract was slowly becoming something else.

Something dangerous.

Something real.

And neither of them knew that the person standing between them and the truth...

was much closer than they thought.