FamilyInilagay ko ang maleta sa likod ng sasakyan. Malakas na isinirado ko ang pinto ng sasakyan at pumasok sa loob. Umupo ako sa shotgun seat habang ang anak ko naman ay nasa likuran. Nilingon ko si Rhysand bago mag salita. “Let's go, we are already late.” saad ko at sinuot ang seat belt. Tumango naman siya at ka agad pinaansar ang sasakyan. He then, started driving. Malayo-layo ang pupuntahan naming resort. It's 2 hours drive from the house. Hindi ko rin naman talaga alam kung saan iyon at kung gaano lang kalayo ang alam ko. They planned this family trip since last week. All of them. O baka nga sila lang din mag pipinsan ang nandoon. “Mommy, maganda po ba ang place na pupuntahan natin?” Vanilla asked. Lumingon ako sakaniya at ngumiti. “I don't know, love.” sabi ko. Tumango-tango siya at pinipigilang hindi pumikit. I chuckled. “You can sleep while we are on our way there, it seems like gustong-gusto na ng mga mata mong pumikit.” She yawned. “Okay, mom.” tiningnan niya ang da
PROLOGUEI wasn't sure if going back to the Philippines will be okay. I am still vague about it. But of course I needed to go back because I already accepted the contract last month.Maingat na kinuha ko ang maleta sa kama at lumabas ng kwarto. Austin was waiting for me at the living room. Pumunta pa talaga siya dito sa New York para sunduin ako pabalik sa Pilipinas. Nakakahiya nga dahil hindi ako nakapunta noong kasal nila ni Grace tapos siya pa ang sumundo sa akin dito. If only I was ready before I could have attended their special day but I wasn't.“You ready, Leur?” he asked, tiningnan niya ang kabuoan ko at ngumiti “You look beautiful.”I don't know if I'm already ready. I just know that I needed to.Tipid na tumango ako sakaniya at ngumiti rin. “I can go home on my own naman, but thank you for fetching me, Austin.”Napatawa naman, “Wala 'yon! I actually don't want to fetch you but my wife wanted me to, so...”Pabirong inirapan ko siya. Ang sama niya kahit kailan.“Kidding. Of co
CHAPTER 1Did I just hear that right?My forehead creased because of what she said. So I crouched a little so that our heights would match at para na rin hindi ako mahirapang kausapin siya. Naiilang man ay ngumiti ako sakaniya. I held her shoulders smoothly before clearing something about what she just said.“Hey, do you know me?” marahang tanong ko sa bata.She nooded confidently with a big smile plastered on her face.“Yes! You're Fleur Garnet, the in- demand super model! I am your biggest fan. That's why I am happy and excited that you will be my future mommy!” puno ng saya ang boses niya habang nakangiting sumagot sa tanong ko.“That's right, I am Fleur Garnet the in demand super model, just like what you said. But... I think you're mistaken about me being your future mommy.” saad ko. Gosh. I was never this kind of woman who will use her title.Her cute forehead formed into lines. “But daddy said you will be my mom,” mahinang sabi niya at nag pout pa. Palihim na napangiti ako s
CHAPTER 2I just found myself looking lost while standing infront of their mansion. The Cousins mansion to be exact. What the heck am I even doing here? I took deep breathes before going in.Seriously, wala talaga akong ka alam-alam bakit napapayag niya ako na maging temporary mom ng anak niya. Its just that something is pushing me to. “Ano po ang gusto niyong inumin, ma'am?” their maid asked. Tumingin ako sakaniya at ngumiti gamit ang mga mata. “Water will do,” I answered. Didn't know that they hired a maid. Noon kasi wala sila maid at sila lang rin ang gumagawa ng gawaing bahay. I even remembered the way they're all fighting when they were doing the general cleaning. Nilibot ko ang paningin sa kabuoan ng bahay nila. It's still the same. Kahit ang sofa at ang ibang furniture nila ay hindi nag bago. Napadako ang tingin ko sa isang sulok sa mansion. My face heated when I remember something. Pupunta na sana ako sa kusina para kumuha ng sariling tubig kasi hanggang ngayon hindi p
CHAPTER 3Matalim lang ang tinginan naming dalawa habang kumakain na may sama ng loob. Vanilla didn't even notice the awkwardness at our table. She's just enjoying her food, hindi man lang niya kami tinatapunan ng tingin. On the other hand, Rhysand looks like a wild lion who desperately wanted to eat his prey.I rolled my eyes at him. Para bang sinasabi ko sakaniya na hindi niya ako matatakot aa mga madilim niyang tingin. 'Cause who will? Pusa lang ang matatakot sakaniya. “Mommy,” napahinto ako sa pag hakbang ng biglang may kumalabit sa damit ko. I tilted my head down to look at Vanilla who has sleepy-eyed but still looking cute. “Yes, love?” “Dito ka po ba matutulog?” Mas lalo akong napahinto dahil sa tanong niya. Tumingin ako sa tatay niya na nakahalukipkip habang hinihintay rin ang sagot ko. I cleared my throat and bent my knees. “No love. I'll be staying at my house, but I'll visit you everyday.” nakangiting sagot ko sakaniya. Nakita ko kung paano lumungkot ang mukha niya.
CHAPTER 4Nakahalukipkip akong naka upo sa sofa nila. I still didn't removed my black shades. My arms are crossed on my chest while I am sitting with my legs crossed. Naiinis akong hinihintay siya habang may kinukuha sa itaas. We are still not in his house. Nasa mansion pa nila kaming magpipinsan.I am still fuming in anger, thinking what happened and how he dragged me earlier. He was never like this. Hinahayaan niya lang akong mag desisyon noon at hindi niya pinapakiki-alaman 'yon. He was the reason why I left. If I clearly remember siya ang nakipag break matapos ang nangyare noon. I was left with no choice, my mother was very angry at him, too. That's why we flew to Germany. I rolled my eyes to dismissed the thoughts. Stop accusing him. You're both at fault. But I am not at fault, that's what I know. “Excuse me but who are you?” napalingon ako dahil sa ma arteng boses na biglang nagsalita. I tilted my chin up. Kahit naka shades ako ay napataas pa rin ako ng kilay. Bago pa ako m
CHAPTER 5I woke up when I felt that wala na akong katabi sa kama. I looked at my side and saw no one. Rhysand is probably already at his work.Bumangon ako na may ngiti sa mga labi. Napadako ang tingin ko sa sticky note na nasa mini table rito sa kwarto niya. Kinuha ko ito at binasa. “I prepared breakfast for you. Vanilla already went to school and I am at the company if you need something.”Iyon ang nakasulat. I scoffed. Ano kami newlyweds? He shouldn't be this sweet. We are not a thing. O baka naman, akala niya... I shook my head. Stop being assuming, Leur. I took a shower and dressed myself bago ako bumaba at nag prepare ng sarili kong pagkain. I chose not to eat the meal he prepared for me. After that I prepared my car. I want to visit her. This would be my first time visiting her. Nang makarating ako sa cemetery ay sinalubong ako ng malamig na hangin. I slowly sat down at the grass. Wala akong dalang mat at tanging pagkain at bulaklak lang. I bit my lip as I stared at her
CHAPTER 6I wonder what are they doing upstairs in his office. It's been one minute pero hindi pa rin sila bumababa. Aljier's face kanina is dead serious as if he's furious about something or maybe he was outrage at Rhysand.“Mommy, I'm gonna dump po.” napalingon ako sa may ari ng mahinang boses na 'yon, kay Vanilla.I held her hand and pulled her up to stand. Sinamahan ko siya sa cr itaas.“Call me when you're done, baby.” sabi ko bago isinirado ang pinto at nagtungo sa labas ng opisina ni Rhys.I walked slowly to his office out of curiosity. Kakatok na sana ako para tingnan kung ano ang kinababalaan nila pero may narinig akong sumigaw. I know it's rude to listen to other people's conversation but I can't help it. “For goodness sake, Rhysand! She still didn't know anything!” Aljier's voice roared.My eyebrows furrowed. Who are they talking about? “She will know it soon, Aljier! I just want to make her suffer!” Rhysand retorted.“Tell her the truth as soon as possible!! Don't act l