LOGINThe coastal wind grew colder, carrying the sharp scent of saltwater and damp earth. On the edge of the cliff, standing beside the ticking engine of the cooling scrambler motorcycle, Percy and Celle remained wrapped in each other's arms, letting the reality of their escape sink into their bones."Where are we going tonight?" tanong ni Celle, her voice barely a whisper against Percy’s chest. The adrenaline that had carried them across the province was finally ebbing, leaving behind a deep, bone-weary fatigue.Percy stroked her back gently, his thumb tracing the line of her spine through her shirt. "May lumang rest house si Marcus malapit sa tabing-dagat ng Baler—isang oras pa mula rito. No paper trails, no credit cards, no digital footprints. Julian won't find us there."He pulled away just enough to look into her eyes, searching her face for any sign of regret. "Are you scared?"Celle reached up, her fingers gently tracing the hard line of his jaw. "Natatakot ako sa pwedeng mangyari...
Ang liwanag ng umaga ay sumunod sa tindi ng nagdaang gabi, filtering through the thin curtains of Celle’s apartment like a golden blade. Percy woke up first, his arm still wrapped possessively around her waist. Looking at her sleeping face, the reality of what he had abandoned—the glass towers, the boardrooms, the billions—didn't even cross his mind.He had traded a kingdom for this tiny room, and he would do it again in a heartbeat.When Celle’s eyes fluttered open, she didn't find the heavy silence of aftermath. She found Percy looking at her with a soft, dangerously addictive smile."Good morning," Percy , his voice husky from sleep. He leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, then her nose, and finally her lips—softly this time, a stark contrast to the feral hunger of the night before."Umaga na pala," Celle whispered, stretching her aching body. Every muscle reminded her of how completely he had claimed her. Sa kanya pa rin ang buong katawan niya. "I still can't belie
The adrenaline that had sustained them through the rebellion didn't vanish when they left the plaza; it simply mutated. Inside the cramped, dimly lit bedroom of Celle’s modest apartment, the roar of the triumphant crowd was replaced by the deafening sound of their own ragged breathing.The heavy wooden door had barely clicked shut before Percy pinned her against it.There was no hesitation. The golden cage of the Montefalco empire was gone, and in its place was a raw, primal hunger that had been suppressed for months under the threat of death and ruin."Percy..." Celle gasped, her hands immediately flying to his chest, bunching the fabric of his sweat-stained shirt.He didn't answer with words. His mouth slammed onto hers with a desperate, bruising intensity. It wasn't the gentle, comforting kiss they shared at the plaza. This was a reclamation. His tongue demanded entry, tasting the salt of her tears and the sweetness of her gasp, consuming her until she was completely breathless.An
The private elevator ascended in suffocating silence. Ang bawat palapag na nadadaanan ng indicator light ay tila tibok ng puso ni Percy—mabilis, matatag, at determinadong marating ang tuktok.When the elevator chimed at the 26h floor, the executive penthouse, the doors slid open to reveal the opulent, minimalist hallway of the Montefalco Group. It was eerily quiet. Ang mararahas na sigaw ng hustisya mula sa rali sa ibaba ay bahagya lamang naririnig bilang isang mahinang ugong sa likod ng makakapal at soundproof na salamin.Percy stepped out, his boots clicking softly against the Italian marble. His eyes scanned the corridors. His father’s secretary was gone, likely glued to the windows overlooking the protest or swept up in the chaos downstairs.He reached the heavy mahogany doors of Don Alfonso’s private office. Holding his breath, Percy pressed his thumb against the biometric scanner.Access Denied.A cold sweat broke out on his neck. "Of course," he muttered to himself. Kinuha niya
Ang tagumpay ng nakaraang gabi ay tila isang matamis na panaginip, ngunit pagsapit ng madaling araw, pinalitan ito ng malamig na realidad ng digmaan.Don Alfonso Montefalco was not a man who accepted defeat. If he couldn't freeze them out with darkness, he would choke them with the very law he used to control.Alas-siyete pa lang ng umaga nang magsimulang magkaproblema. Percy and Celle were reviewing court documents over a shared tin of sardines and pandesal when Marco—Percy’s former assistant who had been laying low—called the burner phone."Sir Percy," Marco’s voice was frantic, muffled as if he was hiding. "Hindi lang court injunction ang hinarap ng ama niyo. He went to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the city licensing office. They are freezing the market cooperative’s bank accounts due to 'alleged tax fraud and laundering of illegal funds.' Pipirmahan na ng meyor ang temporary closure order within 48 hours."Percy’s grip on the phone tightened. Hina-hunting ng ama niya a
Ang unang gabi ni Percy sa labas ng mansyon ay hindi naging madali. He traded his king-sized bed for a folding cot inside the market’s cooperative office. The air smelled of dried fish, fresh produce, and old cardboard, a far cry from the lavender and mahogany scent of his old life. Yet, as he watched Celle sleep soundly on a plastic chair nearby—exhausted from organizing the night watch—he had never slept more peacefully.But the peace didn’t last long.By 8:00 AM, the corporate empire struck back.Celle was woken up by the loud honking of a sleek, black sedan parked right outside the market gates. A man in a tailored suit stepped out—not Don Alfonso, but his ruthless corporate lawyer, Atty. Rivera.Percy stepped forward, shielding Celle behind him. "Rivera. Anong ginagawa mo rito?"Atty. Rivera smirked, handing Percy a thick envelope. "Formal notice from your father, Percy. All your bank accounts have been frozen. Your corporate credit cards are deactivated. Even the car you left at
Ang selebrasyon ng team sa isang Korean restaurant ay naging maingay at masaya, pero para kay Celle, parang may sariling mundo ang isip niya. Habang nag-iihaw si Sir Mike ng samgyupsal at nagkwekwentuhan ang iba tungkol sa mga susunod nilang gagawin para sa Alcantara Holding Corp., si Celle ay nakat
The moment Percy sat down, the scent of his expensive cologne—a subtle mix of sandalwood and something distinctly masculine—mingled with the aroma of garlic rice and simmering broth from the kitchen. It was a clash of two different worlds, right there at their small wooden table. For a moment, Celle
The Feasibility Study Ang sahig ng coffee shop ay naging malagkit dahil sa natapong caramel macchiato at kahihiyan ni Celle. Mabuti na lang at mabilis na rumesponde ang isang barista para tulungan siya na maglinis. "Miss, okay lang po kayo?" tanong ng crew. "Okay lang," sabi ni Celle, kahit ang t
Caramel Macchiato Incident The world of Percy Trench Montefalco was a world of crisp suits, multi-million peso deals, and the persistent, low hum of a city he was determined to conquer. At 26, he was the young, formidable CEO of Montefalco Holdings, a real estate empire he inherited and was now exp







