Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

The Man Behind the Name

“Hindi ako papayag.”

Iyon ang unang sinabi ni Criliah matapos ang ilang segundong katahimikan.

Her father sighed.

“Criliah, we've already discussed this.”

“No. You discussed it. You decided it. I was never asked.”

“Because this isn't something you get to decide alone.”

Napatawa siya nang walang humor.

“Exactly. That's the problem.”

Mabilis niyang kinuha ang bag niya at akmang aalis na sana nang magsalita si Kael.

“Let her go.”

Napahinto si Criliah.

Her father looked at him.

“Kael—”

“She needs time.”

Napalingon si Criliah sa kanya.

For some reason, mas nakakainis ang kalmado nitong boses kaysa sa galit ng kanyang ama.

“Don't act like you understand me.”

Kael simply looked at her.

“I don't.”

“Good.”

“That's why I'm not stopping you.”

Napakunot-noo siya.

Ano ba talaga ang lalaking ito?

Hindi ito katulad ng mga lalaking nakasanayan niyang makilala.

Most men around her either tried to impress her or tried to impress her family.

Kael did neither.

He simply stood there as if nothing could shake him.

“I need to talk to you,” he said.

“I don't.”

“You will.”

Napataas ang kilay niya.

“Excuse me?”

Kael glanced toward her parents.

“Privately.”

Her father nodded.

“Go.”

“Dad!”

“Five minutes, Criliah.”

Napapikit siya sandali.

Wala siyang choice.

She followed Kael into the adjacent study.

Pagkapasok nila, agad niyang isinara ang p***o.

Then she turned to him.

“Start talking.”

Kael leaned against the edge of the desk.

“You're angry.”

“Obviously.”

“You don't want this marriage.”

“Obviously.”

“You blame your family.”

“Obviously.”

“Then why are you angry at me?”

Natigilan siya.

“Because you're part of the problem.”

“How?”

“You're marrying me.”

Kael stared at her.

“So if I refuse, will that make you happy?”

“Yes.”

“Even if it creates a bigger problem between our families?”

Criliah crossed her arms.

“That's not my problem.”

“Isn't it?”

His question irritated her.

“You sound exactly like my father.”

“No.”

Kael straightened.

“Your father wants you to marry me because of business.”

“And you?”

“I have my own reasons.”

Napatingin siya sa kanya.

“What reasons?”

He didn't answer.

Instead, he walked toward the window.

“Do you remember everything from last night?”

The question caught her off guard.

Criliah swallowed.

“Why?”

“Just answer.”

She looked away.

“Not everything.”

“Good.”

Napatingin siya sa kanya.

“Why?”

Kael's expression became unreadable.

“Because there are things you don't need to know yet.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“What does that mean?”

“It means exactly what I said.”

“Kael.”

He turned toward her.

“What?”

“You're hiding something.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“So are you.”

Nanigas siya.

“What?”

“About last night.”

Criliah felt her face heat up.

“There was nothing.”

“I didn't say there was.”

“Then stop implying things.”

“I wasn't.”

“Then what are you saying?”

Kael remained silent.

And somehow, that silence was more terrifying than any answer.

Criliah took a step toward him.

“Tell me something.”

“What?”

“Why did you come to that bar?”

His eyes shifted slightly.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“I asked first.”

“I was there for business.”

“Business?”

“Yes.”

“At a bar?”

“Yes.”

She scoffed.

“That doesn't sound convincing.”

“You don't have to believe me.”

“Fine. I don't.”

Kael nodded.

“Then we're even.”

Criliah stared at him.

There was something about him she couldn't figure out.

Something he wasn't telling her.

And she hated the fact that part of her wanted to know.

She turned toward the door.

“I'll talk to my father.”

“About?”

“The engagement.”

Kael's voice stopped her.

“It's already decided.”

She slowly looked back.

“Not by me.”

“No.”

He walked closer.

“But you should know something before you make your decision.”

“What?”

His expression turned serious.

“If you refuse this marriage, your family won't be the only ones affected.”

Criliah frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

Kael said nothing.

Instead, he walked past her and opened the door.

“Ask your father.”

Then he left.

Criliah stood frozen.

Ask my father?

About what?

---

That evening, she found her father in his office.

“Dad.”

He didn't look up from his documents.

“What is it?”

“I want to know the truth.”

He slowly raised his eyes.

“About?”

“Kael.”

Silence.

Her father's expression changed.

“What did he tell you?”

“Nothing.”

“Then why are you asking?”

“Because I know he's hiding something.”

Her father leaned back in his chair.

“Criliah, there are things you don't need to concern yourself with.”

“I am marrying him. I think I have the right to know.”

Her father stared at her for a long moment.

Then he opened a drawer.

He pulled out a thick black folder.

He placed it on the desk.

Criliah's eyes immediately fell on it.

“What is that?”

“Kael's background.”

She slowly reached for the folder.

But before she could open it, her father spoke.

“Once you read that, you won't be able to pretend you don't know anymore.”

Her hand stopped.

“What does that mean?”

Her father didn't answer.

Instead, he looked directly into her eyes.

“Kael isn't the man you think he is.”

Criliah's heart skipped.

She opened the folder.

The first page contained his name.

KAEL VALERIANNE.

The next page showed his family background.

Business records.

Properties.

Companies.

Then she turned another page.

And her blood ran cold.

There was a photograph.

A photograph of Kael standing beside several men she had never seen before.

At the bottom was a single line.

CONFIDENTIAL — FAMILY INVESTIGATION

Criliah stared at it.

“Dad…”

Her voice trembled.

“What is this?”

Her father stood.

“That's the reason this marriage cannot be cancelled.”

“Why?”

He walked around the desk.

“Because your engagement to Kael isn't simply about business.”

Criliah looked at him.

“Then what is it about?”

Her father hesitated.

Then finally said—

“It's about a promise our families made twenty years ago.”

Criliah's eyes widened.

“What promise?”

Before her father could answer, her phone suddenly rang.

Unknown number.

She answered.

“Hello?”

No one spoke.

“Hello?”

Then a man's voice came through.

Low.

Calm.

Familiar.

“Stop asking questions about me, Criliah.”

Her blood ran cold.

She knew that voice.

It was Kael.

But the next words made her heart stop.

“Because if you discover why I chose you, you'll regret ever meeting me.”