Chapter 3

Nagising si Karolina na mabigat ang ulo at nanlalabo pa ang paningin. The first thing she noticed was the sound of waves crashing outside the huge glass windows beside her. Slowly, she sat up from the massive bed, agad napansin na wala na siya sa port.

The room looked luxurious. Too luxurious. Black marble floors, dim lights, expensive furniture. Para siyang nasa isang five-star hotel, pero bakit parang kulungan ang pakiramdam niya?

Then she saw him.

Alejandro stood near the balcony doors, one hand inside his pocket while calmly staring outside.

“You’re awake,” he said without looking at her.

Biglang bumalik lahat sa isip ni Karolina, ang island, ang malamig niyang tingin, at yung cloth na pinasinghot sa kanya bago siya mawalan ng malay.

“What the hell did you do to me?” she demanded, mabilis na bumangon.

Alejandro finally looked at her. Calm. Cold. Untouched.

“You passed out,” he answered simply. “You’re safe here.”

“Passed out?” she snapped. “You kidnapped me!”

“Oh come on, nothing happened to you. It’s just for the love of the game,” he said, amusement flickering in his eyes while his expression remained dangerously calm.

Karolina let out a hollow laugh, disbelief flashing across her face as she slowly stepped away from him. “A game?” she whispered. “Because I’m the one trapped in it.”

“Anyway, you’re staying here for now,” he said. “And one more thing, Karolina,” his eyes darkened slightly. “Do not leave this room. Don’t wander around the estate, and don’t try to escape.”

Nakunot noo niya. “Why?”

“Because I said so.”

That only irritated her more.

After Alejandro left, naiwan siyang mag-isa sa napakalaking kwarto. Tahimik. Suffocating.

Hours passed, and curiosity slowly started eating at her. Bakit siya binabantayan? Bakit parang preso siya rito? Nandito siya para mag perform, hindi para maging bilanggo. At anong klaseng tao ba talaga si Alejandro Delgado?

So despite the warning, she left the room.

Tahimik ang mansion habang naglalakad siya sa mahahabang hallways. The place was massive, almost maze-like, with expensive paintings, dark walls, and armed guards stationed outside certain doors.

Her chest tightened.

Something was wrong in this place.

Habang pababa siya sa likod na hallway, may narinig siyang mahinang sigawan mula sa isang open door downstairs. She hesitated, but moved closer anyway.

And that was her mistake.

The moment she peeked inside, her blood ran cold.

A man was kneeling on the floor, bruised and bleeding badly while two guards held him down. And standing right in front of him was Alejandro.

Calm. Expressionless. Dangerous.

“Please… I swear, I didn’t say anything,” umiiyak na sabi ng lalaki.

Alejandro slowly crouched in front of him, almost relaxed. “But you were going to,” he replied quietly.

Then without hesitation. He pulled out a gun. Nanlaki mata ni Karolina. A loud gunshot echoed across the room. The man’s body dropped lifelessly to the floor.

Karolina gasped softly, mabilis na natakpan ang bibig niya, but it was too late. Alejandro looked up. Diretso sa kanya. For a second, nobody moved. Then his expression darkened.

“Shit,” she whispered.

Mabilis siyang tumakbo paatras, nanginginig buong katawan niya habang habol-habol ang hininga. Pero bago pa siya makalayo, may humawak agad sa braso niya.

“Let me go!” sigaw niya habang nagpupumiglas.

Pero walang epekto.

Within seconds, dinala ulit siya pabalik sa parehong kwarto, this time with Alejandro already waiting for her inside.

Tahimik lang ito habang nakaupo sa couch, parang walang nangyaring pagpatay ilang minuto lang ang nakalipas.

Karolina backed away from him, nanginginig. “You killed him,” she whispered.

Alejandro looked at her calmly. “I warned you not to leave the room.”

“You’re insane!”

“No,” he replied coldly. “I’m careful.”

Tahimik na bumagsak ang luha ni Karolina habang unti-unting nagsisink in ang realidad.

She saw too much. And now she knew exactly why he didn’t want her wandering around.

Alejandro slowly stood and walked toward her. “Normally,” he said calmly, “people who witness things like that don’t stay alive long enough to speak about it.”

Biglang nanlamig buong katawan niya. “But,” he continued, stopping inches away from her, “I’m willing to give you another option.” Napatitig siya sa kanya. “A contract marriage.”

Her breath caught.

“You become my wife,” Alejandro said, his voice low and terrifyingly calm, “and in return, I protect you, your children, and I pay for every treatment your son needs.”

Nanlaki mata niya. Nagtataka kung paano nito nalaman ang sitwasyon niya at anak.

“But there’s a condition.” His gaze darkened. “You obey everything I say. No questions. No disobedience.” Lumapit pa siya nang bahagya. “Because if you don’t,” he murmured, “I’ll keep you locked up here until you do.” His jaw tightened slightly before delivering the final blow. “And your son will die in that hospital with no one left to save him.”

Karolina felt her knees weaken. Pagdating sa mga anak niya gagawin niya lahat mapabuti ang lagay ng mga ito.

Then Alejandro slowly pulled a folder from the table beside him and placed it in front of her.

A marriage contract.

Already signed by him.

All that was missing was her name.