The Missing Billionaire (ENGLISH)

"ERINA ISABEL TUAZON POV"I'm just heading in, Faye. I woke up late. My alarm didn’t go off this morning," I spoke into my phone as I unlocked the chain from my bicycle.I always secure my bike like this because I don’t trust the people in this neighborhood. There are a lot of snatchers here—especially thieves. My apartment has a gate, but I still have to be extra cautious.[Are you serious, Erina? It’s already noon! Your boss is definitely going to lecture you again. Hurry up! You know he gets to work early, yet you still couldn’t wake up on time.]I just laughed at what my friend said. She seemed more stressed about it than I was. It wasn’t my fault that my phone alarm didn’t go off—or maybe I was just too exhausted that's why I didn't hear it?"I'm hurrying, but this bike you gave me isn’t cooperating," I joked, and I heard Faye sigh deeply on the other end of the line.This bike was her gift to me on my birthday last year. It has been my only mode of transportation to work every d

None of us dared to speak. I wasn't looking at him, but I'm sure he was looking at me now. I didn't want to talk to him, but he asked Boss Yuki for permission, so I had no choice but to leave the counter and go to him. But until now, we still haven't acknowledged each other and he hasn't started talking yet. As if I'm going to talk to him. Over my dead body! But I looked at him when he placed something in front of me. An envelope, and I know it's filled with money. "Take it, it will help with your daily expenses," he said, and suddenly, my mood shifted. He did this last week too. He handed me money, but I refused to take it. My brother never learns. He knows I won't accept it and that he won't get anything from me, yet he keeps coming here and trying to give me money. "We're just going in circles, Kuya. Aren't you tired of this?" I said in frustration, crossing my arms. "No, I'm not." "Then why?" "Because you're my sister!" Sister, my ass! I suddenly smiled bitter

"Sit down first…" I said as I slowly guided him to sit on the small sofa.I immediately let out a breath once he was seated, but I made sure not to let him notice. He was tall, big body, and well-built—completely different from my physique. It felt like I had just carried a sack of rice because of how heavy he was. Not that I was complaining, I was just exhausted from helping him get here to my apartment.Yes, to my apartment because he refused to be taken to the hospital. I insisted, especially since he had a wound on his forehead that needed to be treated by a doctor. But he was adamant about not going and insisted that I bring him to my place instead. I had no choice but to agree. I couldn’t just leave him alone, or I’d be the one to blame if something worse happened to him."I’ll just get my first-aid kit," I informed him before heading straight to my room."Tss, why did you even bring him here, Erina?" I muttered to myself in frustration. I was talking to myself again out of shee

*ERINA ISABEL TUAZON'S POV"Are you serious? You let him stay in your apartment?" Faye asked in shock when I told her what happened yesterday and that I let Louie stay at my place.I slowly nodded in response, and her jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe what I did because she knows I don't usually agree to favors right away."It took a whole month before you let me stay at your apartment temporarily. But that guy—who you don’t even really know—you let him stay just like that? That’s kind of hurtful, you know?" she said with irritation, then rolled her eyes at me and crossed her arms."I'm sorry, but your situations are different," I quickly replied, but that only made her more annoyed."Wow, are you actually defending him? Erina, I’m your friend here," she snapped, then took a sip of her coffee. I couldn’t help but laugh silently and shake my head at her reaction. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to tell her about this right now."I was already stressed from my exam earlier, but your st

What happened there? Why did she suddenly panic? She wasn’t like that earlier, before Louie showed up.Could it be...?“Do you two know each other?” I asked, looking at Louie in confusion.He was surprised and confused by my question, but I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that I was shocked by Madam Dolores’ reaction when she saw Louie.“E-Erina... I don’t remember us meeting before. I don’t recognize her face,” Louie responded, but his expression still held some confusion.Why did I even ask if he knew Madam Dolores? He doesn’t remember her at all. I can be such an idiot sometimes and forget things so quickly.“Sorry, I was just curious about the—uh, never mind. Don’t think about it, it might just confuse you. Um, please don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way.”I stopped and waited for his response. But he nodded in agreement, so I figured it would be okay to tell him, since he’s staying here temporarily and he’s new to the place."Next time, if you want to go out or pl