Chapter 2 : The Rule We Never Wrote

XYENA'S POV

I woke up before sunrise.

Hindi dahil sanay akong gumising nang maaga.

Actually, halos wala akong tulog.

Every time I closed my eyes, naaalala ko ang photograph ni Astaroth Valcieri.

The missing woman.

The woman whose picture was somehow nasa possession ng grandmother ko.

And most of all, naaalala ko ang reaction ni Cael nang makita niya iyon.

He wasn't just surprised.

Mukha siyang natakot.

And somehow, mas lalo akong natakot dahil doon.

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

Tahimik pa rin ang city.

I wrapped my arms around myself habang nakatingin sa labas.

"What are you hiding, Cael?"

Biglang may kumatok sa p***o.

"Miss Ashworth?"

Lumingon ako.

"Yes?"

"Breakfast is ready."

"Thank you."

Naghintay ako hanggang sa marinig kong lumayo ang footsteps bago ako nagpalit.

Pagharap ko sa salamin, napatingin ako sa wedding ring na nasa daliri ko.

One year.

That's all.

Isang taon lang ang kontratang ito.

But somehow, after only one night, parang naging complicated na agad ang lahat.

And I didn't even know why.

CAEL'S POV

Nasa dining table na ako nang pumasok si Xyena.

She looked different from yesterday.

Simple white blouse.

Loose pants.

Casually tied ang buhok niya sa likod.

No expensive jewelry.

No makeup.

Walang kahit anong bagay sa kanya ang nagsasabing bahagi na siya ngayon ng Valcieri family.

And somehow...

Napansin ko.

I immediately looked down at my coffee.

Don't.

This was a contract.

Nothing more.

"Good morning," she said.

"Morning."

Umupo siya sa tapat ko.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then she looked at me.

"Did you sleep?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

Tumingala ako.

"Why?"

"You look like you haven't slept at all."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Pinagmamasdan mo ba ako?"

She rolled her eyes.

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

I almost smiled.

"Fair."

Isang servant ang naglagay ng breakfast sa harap niya.

Nagpasalamat siya sa babae bago kinuha ang fork niya.

But she didn't eat.

Instead, tinitigan niya ako.

"What?"

"We need to talk."

I placed my coffee down.

"About?"

"Last night."

Biglang tumigas ang expression ko.

"The photograph."

Tumango siya.

"I haven't forgotten."

"Neither have I."

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I'll investigate."

"By yourself?"

"Yes."

Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Why?"

"Because it's my family."

"And it's my family too."

Tiningnan ko siya.

"What?"

She leaned forward.

"My grandmother."

Naging seryoso ang boses niya.

"If there's a connection between our families, may karapatan din akong malaman."

I couldn't argue with that.

"Fine."

Tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Fine?"

"We investigate together."

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"Good."

Tinitigan ko siya.

"You agreed too quickly."

"Why?"

"I expected you to be afraid."

She simply shrugged.

"I'm curious."

"Curiosity can be dangerous."

"So can marrying a billionaire."

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko.

A small laugh escaped.

Agad akong tinitigan ni Xyena.

"Did you just laugh?"

Mabilis akong bumalik sa usual expression ko.

"No."

"You did!"

"I didn't."

"You absolutely did."

Kinuha ko ang coffee ko.

"You should eat."

She smiled.

"I knew it."

XYENA'S POV

That was the first time I saw Cael laugh.

And honestly?

Nagulat ako.

For a moment, hindi siya mukhang ruthless CEO na pinag-uusapan ng lahat.

He looked normal.

Human.

Agad kong itinulak palayo ang thought na iyon.

Don't.

This man was my husband only because of a contract.

Hindi ko dapat siya tinitingnan nang iba.

"So," sabi ko.

Tumingin siya sa akin.

"What?"

"About the rules."

"What about them?"

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

"Correct."

"Kasama ba roon ang pagtatanong kung saan ka pumupunta?"

"Yes."

"Kung sino ang kasama mo?"

"Yes."

Nag-atubili ako bago itanong ang susunod kong tanong.

"Whether you have a girlfriend?"

He paused.

Then looked directly at me.

"I don't."

Napakurap ako.

"Really?"

"Really."

Tumango ako.

"Good."

Tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Why?"

I shrugged.

"No reason."

"You're curious."

"Maybe."

"About me?"

Agad akong umiwas ng tingin.

"Don't flatter yourself."

He gave me a faint smile.

I hated how much that smile affected me.

After breakfast, nagdesisyon akong libutin ang mansion.

Hindi naman sa curious ako.

Okay.

Maybe I was.

Napakalaki ng Valcieri Estate.

May mga hallway pa roon na hindi ko nakita kahapon.

I walked through one of the eastern corridors.

Pero habang palayo ako nang palayo, mas nagbabago ang atmosphere.

It became darker.

Quieter.

And strangely cold.

Old portraits lined the walls.

Mga miyembro ng Valcieri family.

Generation after generation.

Then I saw her.

Huminto ako sa paglalakad.

Astaroth.

Mas malaki ang portrait niya kaysa sa iba.

She looked young.

Happy.

Alive.

Lumapit ako.

May maliit na plaque sa ilalim.

ASTAROTH VALCIERI

Born: June 14, 1979

Missing: September 3, 2004

Nanikip ang dibdib ko.

Twenty-two years.

Tinitigan ko ang date.

Then I noticed something.

May maliit na gasgas sa wooden frame.

Halos hindi makita.

I reached toward it.

"You shouldn't be here."

Napatalon ako.

Mabilis akong lumingon.

Isang matandang babae ang nakatayo sa likod ko.

She was wearing a dark uniform.

Seryoso ang expression niya.

"Sorry."

Lumayo ako sa portrait.

"I was just looking."

Napunta ang mga mata niya kay Astaroth.

"You shouldn't."

"Why?"

Hindi siya sumagot.

Instead, lumapit siya.

"Mrs. Irish?"

Tumingin siya sa akin.

"Stay away from this wing."

"Why?"

Tumigas ang expression niya.

"Because some doors are better left closed."

Then she walked away.

Pinanood ko siyang mawala sa hallway.

Malakas ang kabog ng puso ko.

What the hell?

Bakit parang lahat ay kumikilos na para bang bawal banggitin ang pangalan ni Astaroth?

CAEL'S POV

Nakita ko si Xyena sa eastern hallway.

The moment I saw where she was standing, nagbago ang expression ko.

"Xyena."

Lumingon siya.

"Oh."

Lumapit ako sa kanya.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was exploring."

"This area is private."

Itinuro niya ang portrait.

"Astaroth."

Tiningnan ko ang 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."

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

"You don't understand."

"Then explain."

Nanatili akong tahimik.

Mukha siyang frustrated.

"Cael."

"What?"

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

Lumapit siya sa akin.

"That makes me want to know even more."

Tinitigan ko siya.

"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.

A very big problem.

XYENA'S POV

"Can I ask you something?"

Tumingin sa akin si Cael.

"What?"

"Why did Astaroth disappear?"

Naging seryoso ang expression niya.

"We don't know."

"That's not what your family believes."

Umiwas siya ng tingin.

"Lolo believes the Ashworth family was involved."

Tumigil ang puso ko.

"What?"

"That's what I was told."

"And you believe him?"

"I used to."

"Used to?"

Tumingin siya sa akin.

"Now I'm not sure."

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

"My grandmother never told me anything."

"Maybe she didn't want you involved."

"Or maybe she was hiding something."

Tumango si Cael.

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

Tiningnan ko ang portrait.

"Then let's start with my grandmother."

"How?"

"I'll call her."

Nag-atubili siya.

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

"Why?"

"I don't want to alert anyone."

Tinitigan ko siya.

"You're starting to sound paranoid."

"Maybe I am."

That afternoon, tinawagan ko si Grandma Charlotte.

Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko.

"Hello, Grandma?"

"Xyena? Kumusta ka, anak?"

"I'm okay."

Tumingin ako kay Cael.

Nakatayo siya ilang feet ang layo, tahimik na nakikinig.

"Grandma..."

"Yes?"

"May I ask you something?"

"Of course."

Huminga ako nang malalim.

"Do you know the Valcieri family?"

Silence.

Complete silence.

Biglang tumigil sa pagsasalita ang grandmother ko.

"Grandma?"

"Why are you asking me that?"

Iba ang tunog ng boses niya.

Nervous.

"Because..."

Tumingin ako kay Cael.

"...I married Cael Valcieri."

Sinundan iyon ng isa pang katahimikan.

Then I heard her whisper—

"Anak, listen to me carefully."

Umayos ako ng tayo.

"Yes?"

"Get out of that house."

Bumagsak ang puso ko.

"What?"

"Leave the Valcieri family."

"Grandma, why?"

"Don't ask questions. Just leave."

"Why?"

Nanginginig ang boses niya.

"Because the Valcieri family destroyed our family once."

Natigilan ako.

"What did they do?"

Bago pa siya makasagot—

Biglang naputol ang call.

"Grandma?"

Agad akong tumawag ulit.

No answer.

Tinitigan ko ang phone ko.

Malakas ang kabog ng puso ko.

Lumapit sa akin si Cael.

"What happened?"

Tumingin ako sa kanya.

"My grandmother told me to leave."

Dumilim ang expression niya.

"What exactly did she say?"

"She said your family destroyed ours."

Natahimik siya.

Then his phone rang.

Tiningnan niya ang screen.

Lolo Davon.

Sinagot ni Cael.

"Lolo?"

Malamig ang boses ni Davon.

"Where is Xyena?"

Tumingin sa akin si Cael.

"She's here."

"Keep her away from the eastern wing."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Kumunot ang noo ni Cael.

"Why?"

"There are things she shouldn't see."

Natapos ang call.

Dahan-dahang ibinaba ni Cael ang phone niya.

Tinitigan ko siya.

"Did he just say the same thing?"

Tumango siya.

"Yes."

I crossed my arms.

"Now I'm definitely investigating."

Napabuntong-hininga siya.

"I knew you'd say that."

CAEL'S POV

That evening, mag-isa akong nakaupo sa study ko.

Paulit-ulit sa isip ko ang warning ni Lolo.

Keep her away from the eastern wing.

Why?

Ano ang nakatago roon?

And why was Xyena's grandmother afraid?

Binuksan ko ang lumang family records.

May mga dokumento tungkol kay Astaroth.

But several pages were missing.

May nagtanggal sa mga iyon.

I searched through another file.

Nothing.

Then I found something.

Isang lumang newspaper clipping.

The headline read:

VALCIERI HEIRESS DISAPPEARS WITHOUT A TRACE

Sa ilalim ng headline ay may photograph ni Astaroth.

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

Three words.

She wasn't alone.

Tinitigan ko ang message.

Who wrote it?

And what did it mean?

Bigla akong nakarinig ng footsteps.

Mabilis kong isinara ang file.

"Cael?"

Tumingala ako.

Pumasok si Xyena sa study.

"I need to tell you something."

"What?"

Itinaas niya ang isang lumang photograph.

Nanlamig ang dugo ko.

"Where did you get that?"

"My grandmother sent it."

Kinuha ko ang photograph mula sa kanya.

It was Astaroth.

But she wasn't alone.

May isang batang lalaki na nakatayo sa tabi niya.

An Ashworth.

And written on the back were four words.

Meet me at midnight.

Mas bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

"Xyena..."

"What?"

"This changes everything."

XYENA'S POV

Mukhang totoong natakot si Cael.

"Who is that man?"

Tanong ko.

Hindi siya sumagot.

"Cael?"

Sa wakas, tumingin siya sa akin.

"My grandfather."

Natigilan ako.

"What?"

"That's my grandfather."

Muli kong tiningnan ang photograph.

Isang batang Davon Valcieri ang nakatayo sa tabi ni Astaroth.

And beside them...

naroon ang grandmother ko.

Charlotte Ashworth.

Magkakasama silang tatlo.

Twenty-two years ago.

Parang bumagsak ang sikmura ko.

"My grandmother knew your grandfather."

"Apparently."

"But why would they hide this?"

Tinitigan ni Cael ang photograph.

"I don't know."

Then he turned it over.

Biglang nagbago ang expression niya.

"What?"

Tanong ko.

Ipinakita niya sa akin ang likod.

Written in faded ink were the words:

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

Sa ilalim nito ay may isa pang sentence.

If they find out, we're all dead.

Tinitigan ko ang mga salita.

"Who wrote that?"

Umiling si Cael.

"I don't know."

"Then we find out."

Tumingin siya sa akin.

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

Nakangiti akong kinabahan.

"Apparently not."

Napabuntong-hininga siya.

"Tomorrow."

"What?"

"We go to the old chapel tomorrow."

"Together?"

"Together."

Ngumiti ako.

"Okay."

Tinitigan niya ako nang ilang sandali.

Then his expression softened.

"Xyena."

"Hmm?"

"If something happens..."

Huminto siya.

"What?"

"Stay behind me."

Tumaas ang kilay ko.

"You think you can protect me?"

"I know I can."

May kung anong bagay sa boses niya na nagpalakas ng tibok ng puso ko.

Mabilis akong umiwas ng tingin.

"Okay."

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

May nakikinig.

May hawak itong phone.

And recording everything.

UNKNOWN POV

"They found the photograph."

May sumagot sa kabilang linya.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"And the chapel?"

"They're going tomorrow."

Nagkaroon ng mahabang 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?"

Lalong lumamig ang boses.

"Make him choose."

"Choose what?"

"His company..."

Sinundan iyon ng mahinang tawa.

"...or his wife."

Natapos ang call.

Sa labas ng Valcieri Estate, umalingawngaw ang kulog sa buong kalangitan.

Sa loob ng mansion, nanatiling walang kamalay-malay sina Cael at Xyena na may nagpaplano na ng susunod nilang galaw.

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.