Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

The Promise

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

Napatigil si Criliah.

Parang biglang nawala ang hangin sa paligid niya.

“Kael?”

Walang sagot.

“Kael, what are you talking about?”

The line went dead.

“Hello?”

Tinitigan niya ang screen ng phone niya.

Call ended.

“Damn it!”

Mabilis niyang ibinaba ang phone sa mesa.

Her father was still standing in front of her, watching her carefully.

“Who was that?”

“Kael.”

Nanigas ang expression ng kanyang ama.

“What did he say?”

Criliah swallowed.

“He told me to stop asking questions about him.”

Hindi agad nagsalita ang kanyang ama.

“And then?”

“He said…” Huminga siya nang malalim. “He said I'd regret ever meeting him if I discovered why he chose me.”

Tahimik ang buong opisina.

“Dad, what is going on?”

Her father looked away.

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Nothing?”

Napatawa siya nang mapait.

“You literally told me that our families made a promise twenty years ago!”

“I said there was a promise.”

“Then tell me what it was!”

Her father's jaw tightened.

“Criliah, some things are better left in the past.”

“Not when the past is deciding my future!”

Tumayo siya nang diretso.

“I deserve the truth.”

Her father stared at her for a long moment.

Then he finally spoke.

“Twenty years ago, our family was facing bankruptcy.”

Criliah's expression changed.

“Bankruptcy?”

“Yes.”

“We were almost going to lose everything.”

She slowly sat down.

Her father continued.

“Your grandfather had made several bad investments. The family company was drowning in debt. Banks were already threatening to take our properties.”

“Then what happened?”

“Kael's grandfather stepped in.”

Criliah frowned.

“Why?”

“Because he knew your grandfather.”

Her father paused.

“He paid the debts.”

Her eyes widened.

“All of them?”

“Yes.”

“But why would he do that?”

“Because your grandfather gave him something in return.”

Criliah's heart began beating faster.

“What?”

Her father looked at her.

“You.”

She froze.

“What?”

“Not you personally.”

He quickly corrected himself.

“You were still a child then. But your grandfather promised that one day, the two families would be united through marriage.”

Criliah stared at him in disbelief.

“So this was decided before I even knew what marriage was?”

Her father didn't answer.

She stood up.

“That is insane.”

“Criliah—”

“No!”

Her voice echoed across the room.

“You're telling me my entire future was traded to save this family?”

“It's not that simple.”

“It sounds pretty simple to me!”

She wiped the tears threatening to fall.

“I was a child.”

“I know.”

“And none of you ever told me.”

“We were waiting for the right time.”

“Twenty years isn't the right time?”

Her father sighed.

“Your grandfather believed it was the only way to protect the family.”

Criliah shook her head.

“No. It was the only way to protect the family business.”

She turned away.

Her chest hurt.

For years, she had believed her family was strict because they wanted the best for her.

Now she wasn't so sure.

She had been promised before she was old enough to understand what a promise meant.

And the worst part?

Kael knew.

---

That night, Criliah couldn't sleep.

She sat by her bedroom window, staring at the city lights.

Her phone was beside her.

She had checked it several times.

No new messages.

No calls.

Nothing from Kael.

But his words kept repeating in her head.

You'll regret ever meeting me.

Why?

What did he know?

And why did he choose her?

She closed her eyes.

Suddenly, she remembered the bar.

The stranger sitting across from her.

The way he listened.

The way he seemed to know when she was trying to hide her sadness.

She had thought it was coincidence.

Maybe it wasn't.

Her eyes opened.

“What if he knew who I was that night?”

The thought made her uneasy.

She immediately reached for her purse.

Inside was the note he had left.

She unfolded it again.

You looked like you needed someone to listen.

She stared at the handwriting.

Something about it felt familiar.

Not the words.

The way the letters were written.

She had seen that handwriting somewhere before.

But where?

She couldn't remember.

---

The next morning, Criliah went downstairs.

Her mother was already having breakfast.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.”

Her mother looked at her.

“You look tired.”

“I didn't sleep.”

“Because of the engagement?”

Criliah sat across from her.

“Because everyone keeps hiding things from me.”

Her mother lowered her eyes.

“Your father told you.”

“Some of it.”

Silence.

“Mom…”

Her mother looked up.

“Did you know about the promise?”

A long pause.

“Yes.”

Criliah felt betrayed all over again.

“And you never told me?”

“You were young.”

“I was twenty-four yesterday too.”

Her mother sighed.

“I was afraid.”

“Of what?”

“That you would hate us.”

Criliah's eyes softened for a moment.

Then she whispered,

“I don't hate you.”

Her mother looked relieved.

“But I'm angry.”

“I understand.”

“Do you know anything about Kael?”

Her mother's expression suddenly changed.

“What do you mean?”

“Anything unusual?”

Her mother looked away.

“Kael is a complicated man.”

“That isn't an answer.”

“He lost his parents when he was young.”

Criliah blinked.

“Both of them?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

Her mother became quiet.

“An accident.”

Criliah noticed the hesitation.

“You don't sound convinced.”

“Because there were rumors.”

“What rumors?”

Her mother shook her head.

“Forget it.”

“Mom.”

“Criliah, please.”

Before Criliah could press further, the doorbell rang.

A servant hurried toward the entrance.

A few moments later, a familiar voice filled the hallway.

“Good morning.”

Criliah's entire body stiffened.

Kael.

She looked toward the entrance.

He walked inside carrying a small box.

Her mother immediately stood.

“Kael.”

“Mrs. Valerianne.”

His eyes moved toward Criliah.

Their gazes met.

There was something different about him today.

Colder.

More guarded.

He walked toward her.

“I came to see you.”

Criliah crossed her arms.

“Why?”

He placed the box on the table.

“Your engagement ring.”

Her eyes widened.

“You're serious?”

“Yes.”

“I haven't agreed to marry you.”

“I know.”

“Then why bring this?”

“Because eventually, you will.”

She glared at him.

“You're very confident.”

“I know what I want.”

“And what exactly do you want?”

Kael's gaze didn't leave hers.

“You.”

Her breath caught.

But before she could respond, he continued.

“Not your family's company.”

“Then what?”

“You.”

His voice was low.

Serious.

Almost frightening.

Criliah didn't know what to say.

Kael opened the box.

Inside was a beautiful ring.

She stared at it.

Then she noticed something engraved inside the band.

A small symbol.

Her eyes narrowed.

“I've seen that before.”

Kael's expression changed.

“Where?”

Criliah couldn't remember.

“I'm not sure.”

Kael closed the box immediately.

“Then don't worry about it.”

She grabbed his wrist before he could move away.

“Wait.”

He looked at her hand.

Then at her.

“Why that symbol?”

His face became unreadable.

“Let go.”

“Answer me.”

“Criliah.”

“Kael.”

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then he gently pulled his wrist free.

“You really shouldn't keep digging.”

“Why?”

“Because some truths don't set people free.”

He leaned closer.

“They destroy them.”

Criliah's heart pounded.

“What are you hiding?”

Kael stared at her.

Then, for the first time, the calmness in his eyes disappeared.

There was pain there.

And anger.

And something she couldn't identify.

“Ask your grandfather.”

Criliah froze.

“My grandfather?”

Kael stepped back.

“He knows everything.”

Then he turned toward the door.

“Wait!”

He stopped.

Criliah's voice trembled.

“What happened between our families twenty years ago?”

Kael slowly looked over his shoulder.

And his answer left her speechless.

“Your grandfather didn't save my family.”

A pause.

“He destroyed it.”