Prologue

Prologue

Amber’s POV

The elevator ride to the presidential suite was painfully silent. Ang tanging tunog lang na maririnig ay ang mahinang ugong ng elevator habang paakyat ito sa mas mataas na palapag and the faint rustle of my wedding gown whenever I shifted my weight.

Palihim akong sumulyap sa lalaking nakatayo sa tabi ko. Pierre—my husband. The title still felt foreign on my tongue.

Just this morning, I was Amber Natalie Veloso, and now, I was Mrs. Amber Sanvitores. I should have felt overwhelmed with happiness. Shouldn’t I? After all, ito ang araw na pinapangarap ng halos lahat ng babae mula pa noong bata sila. A beautiful wedding, a handsome groom, and a promise of forever. And I had all of that. At least... that’s what everyone believed.

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa diamond ring na nakasuot sa daliri ko. Kumikinang iyon sa ilalaim ng ilaw, dazzling enough to make anyone jealous. Yet to me, it felt heavier than gold.

Our wedding had been nothing short of spectacular. Ginanap iyon sa isa sa mga luxurious cathedrals sa Italy, and every corner looked as though it belonged in a fairytale. White roses and cascading orchids decorated every aisle. Crystal chandeliers reflected warm golden lights across the marble floor. A string quartet played softly as hundreds of distinguished guests watched me walk toward the altar.

The Sanvitores family hadn’t spared a single expense. Sobrang perfect ng lahat, exactly what everyone expected from two of the country’s most influential families.

Engrande rin ang reception. Guests congratulated us, toasted to our future, and admired what they called the perfect couple. I almost believed them too. Paano ba naman, Pierre played the role of the perfect groom flawlessly. Buong gabi siyang nanatili sa tabi ko at marahang nakapatong ang isang kamay niya sa baywang ko. He pulled out my chair before I sat down, offered me his hand whenever we walked, and danced with me during our first dance as husband and wife. His grip had been firm and gentle. I bet, anyone watching us would’ve think na sobrang in love namin sa isa’t-isa.

But they couldn’t have been more wrong. Because every time the cameras disappeared, so did Pierre’s warmth. Tahimik na bumibitaw ang kamay niyang nakapatong sa likod ko. Naglalaho ang ngiti sa labi niya as though it had never existed, and his eyes... those beautiful hazel eyes I’d secretly admired since college... turned cold and empty.

It hurt. God, it hurt. Still... I tried to understand. Baka pagod lang siya. Today had been overwhelming for both of us. This is new for him too. Maybe Pierre simply needed time. After all, our marriage wasn’t out of love.

The elevator chimed softly, pulling me from my thoughts.

Dahan-dahang bumukas ang pintuan ng elevator sa floor na exclusively reserved lang for the presidential suite. Naunang lumabas si Pierre at agad naman akong sumunod habang hawak ang laylayan ng gown ko upang hindi ako matisod.

A hotel attendant had already prepared everything. Fresh rose petals scattered across the floor in a romantic trail leading to the bedroom at may isang bote ng wine na nakalubog sa silver bucket na nakapatong sa coffee table. Agaw pansin rin ang floor-to-ceiling window na tanaw ang city skyline, and the lights had been dimmed, casting the luxurious suite in a soft golden glow.

It was breathtaking.

Pierre glanced around once before letting out a quiet scoff. “What a fucking mess.”

Napalingon ako sa kanya. Walang mabasang emosyon sa mukha niya, though the exhaustion in his eyes was unmistakable.

Without another word, he shrugged off his tuxedo jacket and carelessly tossed it onto a velvet armchair. Sunod niyang tinanggal ang bowtie.  Pagkatapos ay naglakad siya papunta sa coffee table at inabot ang wine. He poured himself a glass and took a sip.

Meanwhile, I stood there in the middle of the room, suddenly feeling small and out of place in all this luxury.

What should I do? Should I say something?

Humigpit ang kapit ko sa tela ng wedding gown ko as I looked at Pierre once more. Then tinipon ko ang lahat ng natitirang lakas ng loob ko.

“Pierre...” alanganing simula ko sa mahinang boses and gave him a timid smile. “Today was... beautiful. Thank you for everything. I know it must’ve been exhausting, but I—”

A short, humorless laugh escaped his lips, stopping me mid-sentence.

“Beautiful?” ulit niya, his voice low and cold enough to send a chill down my spine.

He ran a hand through his neatly styled hair, leaving a few strands out of place before finally turning to face me. The indifference in his eyes hurt more than anger ever could.

“Let’s not waste time with empty pleasantries, Amber,” he said flatly. “I don’t believe either of us actually wanted this marriage.”

Natigilan ako. For a second I couldn’t say anything and I just stared at him. Because I couldn’t completely agree with him. Yes, at first, ayaw ko rin sa arranged marriage na ito. Tinanggap ko lang iyon dahil wala akong ibang pagpipilian. Pero nang malaman kong si Pierre ang lalaking ipapakasal sa akin... I was relieved. Happy, even. Bakit naman hindi? Gusto ko na si Pierre mula college palang. Getting married to him is like a dream come true. But I guess, the feeling isn’t mutual. Aware naman akong hindi niya ako mahal, pero ang makita ang pagkadisgusto niya sa pagpapakasal sa’kin ay masakit pa rin.

Ibinaling ko ang tingin sa sahig at pilit pinakalma ang kirot na unti-unting bumabalot sa dibdib ko. “I... I know neither of us chose how this started. Our situation isn’t exactly conventional, but...” I lifted my head again at pilit na tumingin ng deritso sa mga mata niya. “I was hoping we could at least try. We’re husband and wife now. We’ll be living together, so I thought maybe... maybe we can make this marriage wor—”

“Stop.” The single word sliced through the room like a knife. Umawang ang labi ko pero walang salitang lumabas. Pierre stared at me with a look so detached it made my heart sink.

“Need I remind you, Amber,” he said, his voice calm but merciless. “This marriage is nothing more than a business arrangement. So don’t fool yourself into believing this is some fairy tale where we somehow make this work.” Isang mapait na ngiti ang sumilay sa gilid ng labi niya. “Dahil hindi mangyayari iyon. Hindi ko ginusto ang kasal na’to. I never wanted you in my life like this.”

His words hit me like one crushing blow after another. My chest tightened until it hurt to breathe, and I felt tears sting the corners of my eyes. I swallowed hard, desperately trying to keep them from falling.

“Pierre...” Halos pabulong kong sambit, nanginginig ang boses.

Without acknowledging me, he raised the crystal goblet to his lips at inubos ang natitirang wine sa isang lagok. He set the glass aside before turning to face me fully.

“Listen carefully, Amber, because I’m only going to say this once,” he said, his tone icy and deliberate. “I have no intention of staying trapped in this marriage forever. Three years... maybe four. Once my grandfather is satisfied and I’ve fulfilled my obligation, we’ll get a divorce. Amicably, if you behave yourself. Until then, stay out of my business. Don’t pry into my life. Don’t expect me to come home to you every night playing the doting husband. And most importantly...”

His voice dropped, cold and final, his eyes boring into mine without a flicker of regret.

“Don’t expect love from me. I’m not capable of it. Not with you. I’m not here to play house, Amber. I have my own life. My own… commitments. So the sooner you accept that, the easier this marriage will be for both of us.”

The silence that followed was deafening. I stood rooted to the spot, unable to move, unable to speak. It felt as though someone had reached into my chest and crushed my heart with their bare hands.

How could he be so heartless? Alam ko namang arranged marriage lang ito. I knew he hadn’t wanted it. Alam ko lahat ’yun. But... did he really have to destroy every ounce of hope I had on our wedding night? Why wouldn’t he even give us a chance? Did he hate the thought of being married to me that much?

“Do you understand me, Amber?” His voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I slowly lifted my head to meet his icy gaze. Nanlalabo na ang paningin ko dahil sa mga luhang pilit kong pinipigilan. Then makalipas ang ilang sandali ay bahagya akong tumango, a long tear cascading silently down my cheek.

“...Yes,” napipilitang tugon ko sa mahinang boses.

“Good.” That was all he said. Without another glance in my direction, he turned his back on me and walked toward the master bedroom.

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone in the lavish living room surrounded by rose petals that now felt like mocking reminders of a dream that had shattered before it even began.