I subtly pushed Marius away from me. I felt like I was melting like ice cream because of the warmth of the kiss he gave me. Given the reality that I wanted to subtly convey that his proposed idea was not a good one, I thought of a way. "I think I heard a knock on the door," I lied. Marius' eyes questioned me, staring at me intensely. Then he moved and headed towards the door. I quietly watched Marius approach me. As he did, I noticed the increasing pace of my heartbeat. I was nervous, and I knew why. Why did I even ask him how the baby was conceived? In reality, I already knew the answer. And because he claims the child, it's only natural that something happened between us. "Do you know that we filled your house in Baguio with passionate moments?" he asked me. My face immediately warmed up at his statement. I wasn't sure if he was asking in a way that he wanted me to remember everything we did or if he was just saying it because he wanted to. Because I initiated the conversation

"I don't think so. Do you think, after what you did to my sister, I would allow her to be with you?" Andrew said, followed by mocking laughter. "I think that matter should stay between me and your sister," Marius replied. Andrew raised his thick eyebrows and stared sharply at his opponent. "I might not know or have no idea about what happened. But Sam is my sister, and as her brother, it is my duty to protect her!" he emphatically stated. At that moment, it became even clearer to Marius how serious his mistake with Sam was. "If not for you, my sister wouldn't be in this situation now. I entrusted her to you because you are my wife's best friend. But I was wrong," Andrew continued, his firm words resonating deeply in Marius's thoughts. "But I love her. So I want to make amends. I want to correct my mistake," he added, followed by a deep sigh. Andrew fixed an intense gaze on Marius. After a moment, he spoke again. "No, my decision is final. My sister and her future child don't need you,

As beautiful as the exterior of the house was, I could say that it paled in comparison to what awaited Marius and me inside. It felt like I had been transported back to the times of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo because of everything I saw. There was no TV in the living room, but there was a beautiful grand piano. An old grandfather’s clock and numerous antique furniture pieces captivated me. "Wow" was all I could utter while freely taking in the breathtaking surroundings. "Do you like it?" Marius asked, pulling me back to the present as if a rope had tugged me. I turned to him and looked up, smiling. "I love it. I mean, I love everything about this house," I honestly expressed. For countless times, I saw the glint in Marius's dark eyes brighten due to what I said. I couldn't deny that there was something about those eyes of his that made me lose myself every time our gazes met. Not long after, we heard the approaching footsteps heading our way. I immediately smiled when a

I quickly released a deep sigh as Marius managed to capture my lips swiftly. Simultaneously, he pushed me against the door. I closed my eyes firmly, savoring the delightful sensation of Marius's kiss, slowly losing myself in the moment. It felt as if the wings of a bird were delicately caressing my heart. Marius's kiss was far from gentle. In fact, it was fervent, as if it had no intention of running out of time. I tightly clung to Marius's neck. I felt that if I didn't do that, my knees would give in to the intense weakness I was experiencing. It seemed like Marius understood what I was going through at that moment, as he firmly held my waist, providing support. "Sam, are you sure about this?" he asked, momentarily breaking the kiss. I didn't answer him. Instead, I bridged the small gap between our lips once again, resuming our interrupted kiss. I knew Marius understood what I meant. I sensed that he, too, was eagerly desiring me. So, I wasn't surprised when he lifted the hem of

That evening was truly delightful. Though we were just three, we managed to fill the entire kitchen with laughter that echoed throughout the house. I helped Nana Lourdes clean up after our meal. Honestly, even though it was my first time meeting her and spending time together, I felt a genuine connection with Nana Lourdes. I had a strong sense that we would get along well. She shared a lot with me about Marius, but not about the women who had been a part of his life. I was more curious about that aspect and wanted to hear it from Nana Lourdes. "Doesn't Nana Lourdes stay here overnight?" I asked when Marius and I found ourselves sitting side by side on a long bench on the veranda of his room. The night sky was already dark, adorned with numerous stars and a round, luminous moon. Stargazing was delightful, especially with Marius. "No, she doesn't. She has her own house, not far from here," Marius answered, gently cradling my head and leaning it on his shoulder. "Does she have someon