Chapter 4

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 lips swollen. She hadn’t washed her face. She hadn’t brushed her teeth. She hadn’t even combed her hair.

She looked like a walking hangover.

And she was alone.

Auri scanned the room again, pulse racing. No sign of Ian. No sound of footsteps. No movement downstairs.

Did he leave? Saan nagpunta ang lalaking 'yon?

A fresh wave of humiliation washed over her. She scrambled out of bed, wincing as the cold floor hit her bare feet. She spotted her dress from last night draped over a chair and hurriedly pulled it on, not even bothering to check if it was inside out.

She searched for her underwear.

Nothing.

She checked under the bed, beside the nightstand, even inside the sheets.

Still nothing.

“Seriously?” she muttered, mortified. “Of all things to lose…”

She didn’t have time to panic about it. She needed to get out before Ian came back or the owner of this house whoever that is and saw her like this—hungover, disheveled, and half‑dressed like a walk of shame gone wrong!

She grabbed her bag from the floor—thank God her keys were inside—and tiptoed down the stairs. The living room was just as modern and immaculate as the bedroom. A leather couch. A glass coffee table. A minimalist kitchen. A sliding door that opened to a balcony overlooking the lake.

It was beautiful... and intimate. Like a random, luxurious Airbnb. Ian cannot possibly own something like this. But she didn’t have the luxury to think about that now.

She slipped out the front door, squinting against the bright morning sun. The cool Tagaytay breeze slapped her awake as she hurried down the driveway, hugging her bag to her chest. She must’ve looked insane—hair wild, makeup smeared, dress wrinkled, and no underwear.

She flagged down the first cab she saw.

“Sa The Velvet Lounge po,” she croaked.

The driver glanced at her through the mirror, eyebrows raised, but didn’t comment. Thank God.

Auri sank into the backseat, burying her burning face in her hands.

“What did I do?” she whispered.

Her head pounded harder.

She remembered flashes—his hands on her waist, his breath against her neck, the way he whispered her name like it meant something. The way he held her afterward, warm and steady, as if she wasn’t broken.

She squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t think about that. Not now.

She needed her car. A shower. And to pretend last night never happened.

The cab pulled up in front of Lira’s bar. Auri paid quickly and rushed to her car, unlocking it with trembling hands. She slid into the driver’s seat and exhaled shakily.

She was safe.

She was alone.

She was—

Her phone buzzed.

Auri froze.

Unknown number: Did you get home safe?

Her blood ran cold.

She didn’t reply.

She couldn’t.

Not yet.

She started the engine and drove away, her heart pounding so loudly she could barely hear the radio.

***

Ian returned to the house ten minutes after she left.

He pushed the door open with his elbow, balancing two Starbucks cups and a paper bag. “Auri?” he called out, expecting her to still be asleep.

Silence greeted him. Naisip niya na baka mahimbing pa ang tulog nito kaya walang sumasagot.

He frowned, setting the drinks on the counter. “Auri?”

He checked the bedroom.

Empty.

The sheets were rumpled, the pillow dented where her head had rested. Nakita niya rin ang mantsa na tanda ng pagsuko nito ng sarili sa kanya kagabi. Even the shirt she’d worn was gone. Her scent lingered faintly in the air—vanilla and something soft he couldn’t name.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration simmering beneath his ribs.

He hadn’t expected last night to happen.

He definitely hadn’t expected her to be a virgin.

Wala naman s'yang balak na makipag-sex kay Auri kagabi. He knew she was hurting so he just wanted to comfort her. Ayaw din niya itong mapahamak sa kamay ng iba kaya binantayan na rin niya. 

He sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, replaying the moment he realized. The way she tensed. The way she whispered his name. The way she clung to him like he was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

He’d been careful. Gentle. Patient.

And she’d given herself to him anyway. Not because she was drunk or because she was reckless. But because she was hurting.

He exhaled sharply.

He wanted to see her again. He wanted to talk to her. He wanted to know her favorite food, her stupid office stories, her laugh when she wasn’t crying.

But she’d left without a note. Without a number. Not even her last name!

Without anything—

His gaze landed on something near the edge of the bed.

A small scrap of lace.

Ian picked it up slowly, and a slow, wicked smile curved his lips.

“Well,” he murmured, slipping the panties into his pocket, “at least she left me something.”

His phone rang.

He groaned when he saw the caller ID.

Mom.

He answered reluctantly. “Ma.”

“Cassian, where are you? We’re waiting for you. Lunch starts in thirty minutes.”

“I’m in Tagaytay, so I'll be late,” he said, rubbing his temple. “I’ll drive down now.”

“Good. And please behave. Your father invited guests.”

His jaw tightened. “What guests?”

There was a pause.

“Just business people."

His mood soured instantly. He did not want to talk to anyone about work today. He glanced at the bed again, at the faint imprint where Auri had slept. He wanted to be with her instead. Not with the family who pretended everything was fine. He didn't want to work for his family.

He stood, grabbed his keys, and headed for the door.

But before he stepped out, he paused.

Something tugged at him—an instinct, a pull he couldn’t explain.

He looked back at the bed one last time.

“Auri,” he whispered under his breath, “I’m going to find you.”

He didn’t know her last name which isn't going make it easy for him to find her.  He didn’t know where she lived either. He didn’t know anything—

Except that he needed to see her again.

And he would.

Sooner than either of them expected.