Chapter 3

The sapphire-blue earrings sat on Sophie’s vanity like two drops of frozen blood. Napakaganda ng mga ito, tipong mas mahal pa yata sa kotseng pinapangarap niyang mabili. They arrived in a velvet box with no return address, but only a note in that familiar, elegant script.

Wear them, Sophie. Let him see that you aren’t his to dress. - LJV

Habol-hininga siyang nakatitig sa salamin. She was already wearing the silver gown Jace had ordered her to buy. It was a masterpiece of liquid silk that clung to her curves like a second skin, mirroring the moonlight of that night five years ago. But Jace had also demanded she wear the Velez family diamonds—isang mabigat na kwintas na pakiramdam niya ay isang kadena sa kaniyang leeg.

With trembling fingers, tinanggal niya ang diamonds at isinuot ang asul na hikaw. The contrast was startling. Silver for the Ice King; blue for the ghost who watched her.

"Para sa'yo 'to, baby," she whispered, her heart aching. She had left Xavi with her trusted neighbor, telling him Mommy had to go to work to buy him the big robot he wanted. Ang inosenteng ngiti ng anak ang tanging nagbibigay ng lakas sa kaniya para hindi mag-collapse sa sobrang kaba.

The Manila Peninsula was a fortress of gold and flashbulbs. As the black SUV pulled up to the red carpet, the roar of the paparazzi was deafening. Jace sat beside her, his presence a dark, looming force. Hindi ito nagsasalita simula nang umalis sila sa opisina, but she could feel his eyes roaming over her profile.

Nang bumukas ang pinto, naunang bumaba ang lalaki. He didn't wait for her. He stood like a monarch, adjusting the cuffs of his tuxedo, letting the cameras feast on him. Ngunit ng bumaba si Sophie, mas lalong dumami ang mga camera na nakatutok sa kanilang gawi.

Jace reached back, his hand gripping her waist to pull her close for the photographers. The moment his palm touched the silk over her hip, Sophie felt a jolt of electricity so violent she almost stumbled. Muntik na siyang mawalan ng balanse kung hindi lang siya hinigpitan ng hawak ng binata.

Suddenly, Jace’s body went rigid. His gaze had moved from the cameras to her face. Specifically, sa mga asul na hikaw na suot niya.

His jaw tightened, a muscle leaping in his cheek. "I don't recall those being the Velez diamonds, Ms. Rodriguez."

His voice was a low, dangerous growl that sent shivers down her spine.

              Ramdam ni Sophie ang nanunukat nitong pagtingin sa suot na alahas.

"Masyadong mabigat yung kwintas, Sir," she lied, her pulse thundering. "I thought these suited the dress better."

"Suited the dress?" Jace leaned in, his lips inches from her ear, masking his fury with a cold, professional smile for the cameras. "I gave you an order. In this world, Sophie, your personal taste is irrelevant. You represent me. At wala akong matandaang ibinigay ko sa'yo ang mga 'yan."

"Maybe you don't know everything about me, Mr. Velez," hamon niya, a spark of defiance lighting her eyes.

Hinigpitan pa lalo ni Jace ang hawak sa baywang niya, his fingers digging into her skin through the thin silk. "I’m beginning to think I know exactly who you are. And I’m going to enjoy stripping away every lie you’re hiding behind."

Inside the ballroom, the atmosphere was a refined version of the night five years ago. But tonight, Sophie wasn't a guest; she was a shadow. She carried Jace’s tablet, managed his schedule, and stood two paces behind him habang tila kumakatay ito ng mga business rivals sa talas ng kaniyang pananalita.

"Smile, Sophie," he murmured during a break in conversation with a senator. "Para kang nasa funeral."

"Mahirap ngumiti kung pakiramdam mo ay may nakatingin sa'yo," she whispered back.

Jace’s eyes sharpened. He scanned the room, his protective instincts—primitive and dark—flaring up. "Kapag may nanggugulo sa’yo, sabihin mo lang sa’kin. You are under my protection tonight. Walang pwedeng humawak sa kahit anong pag-aari ng Velez Group."

Pag-aari? Isip-isip ni Sophie.

He still saw her as an asset. A tool.

              Tumatahip ang dibdib ng dalaga sa naiisip, ngunit pinanatili niyang walang emosyon ang kanyang mukha.

Habang tumatagal ang gabi, biglang nag-vibrate ang phone ni Elara sa loob ng kaniyang clutch.

He’s touching you too much. Pumunta ka sa balcony sa west wing. Alone. I have something for Xavi - LJV

The mention of her son’s name felt like a physical blow. Napatingin siya sa paligid. Nandito ba siya? Siya ba yung waiter? O yung lalaking naka-maskara sa tabi ng pillar?

"Sir, I need to use the restroom," she said, her voice thin.

Jace didn't even look at her. He was mid-negotiation. He waved a dismissive hand, but his eyes followed her as she walked away.

Instead of the restroom, Sophie slipped through the heavy velvet curtains toward the west balcony. The air was humid, smelling of rain and jasmine. The balcony was empty, save for the distant sound of the city traffic.

"Hello?" she called out, her voice trembling. "Ninong?"

Katahimikan.

              At ang malamig na hampas ng hangin ang tanging maririnig.

              “LJV?” Muli siyang umikot sa balcony, nagbabakasakaling makita ang “ninong” ni Xavi, ang kanyang guardian angel.

She turned to leave, thinking it was just a sick trick, when she saw it. Resting on the stone railing was a small, hand-carved wooden horse. It was exactly like the one Xavi had pointed out from a toy store window last week.

Nilapitan ito ng dalaga at hinawakan ang laruan.

Katabi nito ay ang isang litrato.

Sophie picked it up and gasped, her knees nearly giving out. It was a photo taken only an hour ago. It showed Xavi asleep in his bed, his small hand clutching his favorite blanket. But in the background of the photo, the bedroom window was open.

"No..." she sobbed, clutching the photo to her chest. "Xavi..."

"What are you doing out here?"

Napatalon siya sa gulat, muntik nang mahulog ang litrato. Jace was standing in the doorway, his silhouette blocking the light from the ballroom. He looked like an avenging god.

"Give that to me," he commanded, stepping toward her.

"No! Wala ito, Sir—"

He was faster. He snatched the photo from her hand before she could hide it. Sophie watched his face, her heart stopping. She waited for the recognition. She waited for him to see the boy in the photo—the boy with Jace’s exact eyes, Jace’s exact stubborn chin.

Matagal na tinitigan ni Jace ang litrato. His expression shifted from anger to a strange, haunting confusion.

"Sino ang batang ito, Sophie?" he asked, his voice no longer cold. It was hoarse.

Napahawak ng mahigpit ang dalaga sa suot nitong dress habang sinusubukan na patatagin ang sarili sa harap ng kausap.

"He's... he's my nephew," she lied, her voice breaking.

Jace looked from the photo back to her. He stepped closer, pinning her against the railing. He reached out, his thumb grazing her lower lip, his touch suddenly, terrifyingly tender.

"You're a terrible liar," he whispered. "You've been a terrible liar since the moment you walked into my office. Ang batang ito... he looks.. he looks like a Velez."

Sophie’s breath hitched. She was trapped between the truth and the terror of the Ninong. "Hindi siya sa'yo, Jace. Please."

"Is that why you ran? Kaya ka ba nawala ng limang taon?" He leaned in, his forehead resting against hers. For a second, the Ice King was gone, and the man from the garden was back. "Akala mo ba hindi ko gugustuhin ang sarili kong dugo?"

"Sabi mo balance sheet lang ang meron ka!" she cried out. "Sabi mo wala kang puso!"

Jace’s eyes darkened with a raw, primal hunger. "Maybe I didn't. Until I realized someone stole the only thing that could make it beat."

Magpapatuloy pa sana siya, but Sophie’s phone screamed with a ringtone she hadn't set. It was a video call.

She looked at the screen. It was a live feed of Xavi’s room.

A gloved hand entered the frame, gently stroking Xavi’s hair habang tulog ang bata. A voice, distorted and metallic, came through the speaker.

"He's so peaceful when he sleeps, isn't he? Pero masyadong lumalapit si Jace, Sophie. Ipaalala mo sa kaniya kung saan siya lulugar. Or I'll remind Xavi of mine."

Agad na inagaw ni Jace ang phone, his eyes widening as he sees the feed of the child. "Who is this?! Nasaan 'to?!"

"Don't!" Sophie screamed, grabbing his arm. "Kapag may ginawa ka, sasaktan niya ang anak ko! Jace, please!"

At that moment, the ballroom doors burst open. Zion ran out, looking pale. "Jace! Nandito ang mga pulis! They received an anonymous tip about a kidnapping... and they're looking for Sophie!"

Jace looked at the photo, then at the live feed, and finally at the terrified woman in his arms.

"Lock the doors," Jace ordered Zion, his voice returning to a terrifying, absolute calm. "And get my security team. If anyone—police or otherwise—tries to take her, they go through me."

Humarap siya kay Sophie, his grip possessive. "You're going to tell me everything. And then, I'm going to burn whoever touched my son."

As Jace pulled her back into the ballroom, her phone buzzed one last time. It was a text from a different unknown number.

The police didn't come for the child, Sophie. They came for the murder weapon found in your apartment. Check your closet. — LJV.

Sophie looked at Jace, realizing she was no longer just a mother hiding a secret. She was a pawn in a game where the Ice King was her only protector—and her greatest enemy.