CHAPTER FOUR

Aria's POV

Nakatayo ako sa tapat ng bintana, suot pa rin ang wedding dress—still playing her role. My skin itched, my lungs refused to expand properly. I couldn't tell if it was the lace choking me or the man standing ten feet away, unblinking, unbothered, unreadable.

Damian Valtor.

Kakakasal ko lang sa isang estranghero. He loosened his tie, unbuttoned his cuffs, watched me, unable to handle the quiet I spoke up first.

"Why didn't you cancel the wedding?"

"Why? Because you're a fake?" sagot niya, may halong pangungutya. Bawat salitang binibitawan niya, parang nakakairita sa balat.

He stepped closer. Slowly. Parang isang predator na siguradong-sigurado sa bawat hakbang.

"I don't like to waste leverage." Napalunok ako.

"So that's what I am now? Leverage?"

Napatingin siya sa singsing na suot ko.

"No. You're a solution."

"To what?"

"To your sister's mess, your family's lie, and now...to my very plans." Kumibot ang kanang kilay niya, kaya napatawa ako—isang tawang punô ng pagod at desperasyon.

"How romantic."

"You want romance?" Tanong niya habang nakatagilid ang ulo.

"No. I want honesty. Freedom."

"Well, here it is." Biglang bumaba ang tono ng boses niya—mas malamig pa sa yelo.

"You're not her. And I don't want you." Napasinghap ako, pero hindi siya tumigil.

"You're not the woman I agreed to marry. You weren't raised for this, you weren't trained to wear a crown and keep it straight even when hungry wolves snap at your heels. You're a filler. A last-minute stand-in for a show no one wants to cancel."

Kinagat ko ang loob ng pisngi ko at halos malasahan ko ang dugo.

"And yet," tuloy niya, "you're here. Wearing her ring, sleeping in her penthouse, using her name."

"I never asked for that..." my hands curled into fists.

"But you accepted it." He punched my soul.

Lumapit pa siya. Hindi ako gumalaw. Naamoy ko ang cologne niya—mix with smoke, spice and steel.

"I could annul this marriage right now. End it before it stains any deeper."

"Then do it." I said immediately, almost excited.

"No," sagot niya, sabay smirk.

"What?"

"I have investors watching. Partnerships tied to this alliance. Cameras. Articles. Eyes. I can't afford to look like a fool."

"And I'm just supposed to help you save face?"

"Exactly."

"Let me guess... you want a deal?" I said as I stared at him.

"Smart girl," he raised his brow.

"Fine. Say it." I folded my arms.

"Six months."

"And in those six months, I'm what? Your doll? Your arm candy?"

"You're a stand-in. Not a prisoner." Tahimik pero mabigat ang tono niya.

"Feels the same." Napangisi ako ng mapait. He didn't argue.

Tinalikuran ko siya. Facing the city lights sa labas ng bintana—masyadong mataas, masyadong maganda para sa ganitong kasinungalingan.

"And what do I get?"

"What do you want?"

Humarap ako ulit. "Freedom. After six months, I walk away clean. You don't touch my family. You don't drag my name."

"Done." Walang pag-aalinlangan. Napaangat ang baba ko. Parang hindi totoo.

Pinagmasdan niya ako ng matagal. "Everyone has a choice. But you just picked survival." He said leaning on the wall, his hands tucked in his pocket.

"And you picked pride," sagot ko.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ng matagal—like two blades that threatening each other. Walang gustong mag-iwas ng tingin.

Sa huli, siya ang bumasag ng katahimikan.

"You smile when I need you to. Wear the gowns. Show up on my arm. Keep up the illusion. In six months we dissolve it quietly. No scandals. No blood. No mess. An amicable separation."

I chewed on the side of my cheek. "That's it?"

"No strings? No sudden rules? No weird billionaire clause where I sleep in your bed just because it's Tuesday?"

He nodded.

"I want it in writing." I demanded.

Bahagyang kumurba ang kanyang labi. "You really don't trust me, do you?"

"Do you trust you?" I snapped.

Another step he makes. Halos wala ng space sa gitna namin.

"I should warn you," he said, almost gently. "This world... it chews up girls like you."

"Then I'll chew back."

Nanatiling walang emosyon ang mukha niya—pero nakita ko ang maliit na pagbabago. Hindi amusement. Hindi gulat.

Respect, or perhaps that's just what I wanted it to be.

"We'll have the contract drafted by morning." Tumalikod siya, naglakad palayo.

"One more thing," tawag ko bago siya tuluyang makaalis. He turned to me. Napataas ang kilay niya, halatang nabubuwisit.

"No touching. No games. No lines crossed. I play the wife for the world. Not for you."

"You think I want to touch you?" His jaw clenched, at puno ng pagkasuklam ang boses niya.

"You're used to getting what you want."

Lumapit siya ulit. Sobrang lapit na nararamdaman ko ang hininga niya sa pisngi ko.

"I'm not your danger, Aria. You are." Napatigil ang paghinga ko.

"You're going to break in places you didn't know existed. And when you do, I won't be the one to put you back together."

"I won't break."

"We'll see." He smirked, turning away. "You want to stay?" tanong niya, habang inaalis ang polo. Dali-dali akong lumabas.

The train of my dress dragged behind me like shame.  I didn't stop until I found the guest room and slammed the door shut.

Ramdam ko ang nipis ng mga pader. At sa katahimikan, parang naririnig ko ang tibok ng puso niya mula sa sahig.

Hindi ako nakatulog ng gabing iyon.

Nakatingala lang ako sa kisame, paulit-ulit na tinatanong ang sarili kung paano ako nauwi sa ganito.  Married to a man hated the sight of me, and wearing the life that never belonged to me.

At sa kailaliman ng dibdib ko, may boses na pilit kong itinatanggi.

Hindi ako takot kay Damian.

I was scared I might start to like being the girl no one saw coming. Scared I might lose myself in this mess.

I found myself in, I didn't dig it but I accepted it. I was capable of holding out, smiling for the cameras even when my inside was dying.

But one thing is certain.

I'll never let myself fall for a man like him.