LOGINOn the night her world collapses, Aurelia Mercado sleeps with a stranger to forget the betrayal that destroyed her wedding. She never expects to see him again—until he walks into her office as the company’s new CEO. Cassian Villaverde remembers everything. At hindi ito makakapayag na iwan na naman s'ya ng babae sa pangalawang pagkakataon. But with jealous exes, toxic family secrets, and a scandal waiting to explode, falling for him might be the most dangerous mistake she ever makes.
View MoreAuri stepped into the office with a tight breath and a tighter chest, clutching her tote bag like a shield. Monday mornings were always chaotic, but today felt different—buzzing, electric, almost suffocating. Everyone was talking at once, voices overlapping in excited whispers.“May bagong CEO daw.”“Appointed from the board mismo.”“Baka foreigner? Or anak ng may-ari?”“Grabe, ang aga ng catering. Parang fiesta.”Auri kept her head down, walking straight to her cubicle. She’d been staying with Lira for the past week, avoiding the house she shared with Selene. Too many memories. Too much betrayal. Too much noise in her head.Her phone vibrated nonstop the moment she sat down.Emails.Texts.Voicemails.All from the same people– the wedding suppliers.Ms. Mercado, we need the remaining balance. Ms. Mercado, your cancellation fee is due. Ms. Mercado, please settle your account immediately.She closed her eyes, massaging her temples. She didn’t have the emotional bandwidth for this.
Auri woke with a violent throb behind her eyes, the kind that made the world tilt even before she opened them. The sheets beneath her were soft, cool, and unfamiliar. She blinked hard, vision swimming, and pushed herself upright.She wasn’t in her condo or a hotel.The room was modern, minimalist, and smelled faintly of cedar and expensive linen. Floor‑to‑ceiling windows framed a breathtaking view of Taal Lake, the morning sun spilling gold across the water. A sleek staircase led down to a living area she didn’t recognize.Her heart lurched.Where the hell am I?She pressed a palm to her forehead, trying to piece together the night before. Whiskey. Too much whiskey. Ian’s voice. His steady hands. His eyes that looked like they could see through her.And then—Heat rushed to her cheeks.“Oh my God,” she whispered, mortified.She looked down at herself. She was wearing a large white shirt—definitely not hers—and nothing else. Her hair was a tangled disaster, her mascara smudged, her lip
Auri stared at the message on her phone, her vision blurring as the words burned into her mind.We need to talk. Please. I love you. Let me explain.Damian.Of course it was Damian.Her grip tightened around her phone until her knuckles turned white. She wanted to throw it across the room, smash it against the bar counter, anything to silence the buzzing reminder of the man who destroyed her life in a single night.“You okay?” Ian’s voice cut through the noise, low and steady, like a warm hand on her back.Auri blinked rapidly, forcing the tears back. “I’m fine.”“You don’t look fine.”“I didn’t ask for your opinion,” she snapped, then immediately regretted it. “Pasens'ya na. I’m really… not myself tonight.”“Understandable,” he said, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “You just walked out of hell.”Auri let out a shaky breath. “You have no idea.”“Try me.”She looked at him then—really looked. His eyes were dark, steady, and strangely comforting. Hindi siya mukhang manyak, hindi rin
Hindi maramdaman ni Auri ang pisngi sa lakas ng sampal ng ina pero hindi 'yon sapat para manatili s'ya sa presens'ya nito. She would have slapped her back, but Selene was still her mother. Auri left the bedroom the grabbed her purse and car keys at the coffee table as soon as she got downstairs. Sumakay s'ya ng kotse na walang destinasyon. Ang naiisip na lang niya ay makalayo sa bahay nila at bahala na kung saan s'ya mapadpad. The Velvet Lounge was just recently opened by her friend, Lira. She was not able to attend the opening of her bar because Damian was not feeling well at ayaw nitong papuntahin s'ya na hindi kasama. Nagtampo si Lira dahil doon pero hindi rin s'ya nito natiis dahil makadalawang araw ay iniimikan na rin s'ya nito. She promised to visit the bar soon, but tonight, she needed a distraction from the chaos at home. The Velvet Lounge was making the waves. Narinig niya ang mga kasamahan sa trabaho na pinag-uusapan ang bar ni Lira at puro papuri ang mga ito. Hindi iisan












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