07: The Deal Pt.3WESLEY"Can we still talk about this, Mr. Corpuz? You see, I can still find ways to solve the problem. Just... Just spare me some time to fix this."I was waiting for his reply. I knew this was going nowhere, but I still had to try my luck. I couldn't afford to lose another investor! I couldn't disappoint my parents!"I'm sorry, Mr. Borromeo. I know how important your company is to you, but it's also important for me to save my money. Almost everyone here knows your company's current situation. I don't want to go down with your company."I took a deep breath, trying hard to calm my nerves."I'm so sorry, Mr. Borromeo. I have to leave now." He gently tapped my shoulder before leaving the office."Fuck!" I frustratedly exclaimed, both hands clenched into fists. "Fuck this!" I threw the first thing I grabbed, causing a loud crash.It really frustrates me how people like Mr. Corpuz think that I could never save our company! Hell! I would do anything to save this damn com

08: The Unwanted Marriage Pt.2The ceremony continued, but I never looked at him again. I don't want to. Because if I see his eyes again, I might just run away from this place for good."Since it is your intention to enter into the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands and declare your consent before God and his Church," the priest continued. He then told us to repeat after him. My mind wandered elsewhere as I uttered the words. No matter how hard I tried to divert my thoughts from him, his face kept flashing in my head like a broken record meant to shatter my heart."Symphony, do you take Wesley to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and honor him all the days of your life?"I wanted this ceremony to end. I wanted to be alone and let out all the emotions I was feeling right now. Knowing that Red was just sitting on one of the benches behind me, watching me tie the knots with his cousin, mad

09: Life After the Wedding Pt.2I was awake the whole night. I struggled to fight off sleep, fearing that Wesley might suddenly enter my room and hurt me.I spent the rest of the night crying. I was starting to regret marrying him. If I didn't agree to marry him, I wouldn't feel this kind of fear. If I didn't marry a devil like him, I would have been sleeping soundly, with my mind and heart at ease.Do I have to continue living a life like this? What if he hurts me again? Seeing the intense anger in his eyes earlier, it's highly likely that he would hurt me again. Or worse... he might kill me.I sobbed again. My sobs echoed in the silent corners of my dark room. I held onto the wet pillow tightly, drenched in my tears, as if it could save my life from the danger that awaits outside my room.I have never been this scared before. I'm terrified to the point that I can't even breathe without trembling. That was the first time someone looked at me with so much hatred. I despise myself for

10: Lies In Her Eyes Pt.2Years ago, people kept telling me that I was so lucky to have all the privileges in life. They said they envied me because I was raised and provided for with a silver spoon, and I could simply have everything I wanted with just a snap of my fingers.Before, I thought that living a luxurious life was a blessing that only a few people could have. But as I grew older, I realized that having all of this was far from being lucky; it was more of a curse. A curse that kept me from reaching my dreams and hindered me from pursuing the things my heart truly desired.They say money can make people happy, but for me, money was the reason why I was living in hell. Money is indeed a terrible master. It turns people into devils who lust after never-ending wealth and power. Money can blind people. I know because I witnessed how money turned my father into its cruel servant.As I watched Red walking away from me, I couldn't help but blame my father for why we ended up like th

11: Empty Accusations Pt.2When I was still young, marriage was so magical to me. I thought that two people got married because they loved each other. Being married to the person you truly love will surely feel like heaven, I thought. But as I grew up and became aware of the realities of life, I realized that love is not the only reason for a union.There's this thing called arranged marriage that probably everyone hates. And because I was one of the luckiest humans in the universe, I was fated to have such a setup. A fate that was meant to make me suffer.A moment of silence enveloped us. Wesley continued staring at me as his lips slowly formed into a devilish grin."Annulment, huh? Do you think an annulment is enough to end all of this? You're wrong, Symphony! Because if that happens, you'll be the only one benefiting from it!" I took a deep breath as he once again approached me."Congressman Del Martin is the reason why our company is failing. He fucking did it on purpose! He trapp