POV: ErickaRumors about her and Monte are circulating in the office. Some raise eyebrows, thinking she's a gold digger, while others believe they are destined to be together. She observes the conversations around them with her own eyes.As usual, their assistants welcome her at the entrance of the building. She notices whispers at the reception, and one bold-faced person makes a remark audible to her. This person is a manager in one of their departments."Oh, come on, why don't you just find rich men who'll take care of you, like others out there!" they sarcastically comment.She can't bear it anymore. Taking a deep breath, she smiles and goes back to address them."What did you say?" she asked."I said, we better find a rich man who will lift us from dirt, just like what you did," they boldly replied."And who might that be?""You!""Oh really," she smiled, "Are you accusing me of something I didn't do?""How do you explain your relationship with Mr. San Miguel? Are you Cinderella?

Monte felt a mix of excitement and frustration as everything was set. Despite the simple desires of his bride, his grandfather's influence altered their plans. The makeshift office celebration was a compromise, with a large monitor and departmental buffets replacing the intended grandeur. The change of venue from a Batangas resort to the church added unexpected media attention, yet they embraced the situation, limiting press access to the outskirts of the ceremony and reception.Monte San Miguel, the eligible bachelor, is tying the knot today with his fiancée, Miss Ericka Reyes, who also serves as his executive assistant in their company.Initially expected to marry socialite Almira Madrigal, Monte's choice of his office secretary, Ericka Reyes, has rewritten the script of his romantic fate.Sources reveal a past separation between San Miguel and Madrigal, attributing it to alleged attitude issues on her part, prompting Monte to distance himself.Whispers suggest that Monte still hold

Suddenly, someone rang the doorbell, interrupting what they were doing. The woman was startled, so she separated from him, seeming embarrassed."D@mn!" she muttered in frustration.The woman got up to answer the door. It was the roomboy from earlier, holding a gift box."Ma'am, this was left earlier," he said, handing her the gift."Thank you," Ericka smiled. She approached him, took the gift, and closed the door, locking it."Stop bothering me, remove the lock behind me, there are so many buttons!" she irritatedly responded."Are you going to undress me?""Monte, if I really get annoyed with you...""You'll strip me?""I'll wrestle you!""Oh, that's the type," he teased, acting flamboyant."What's happening to you? We've known each other for a long time, I didn't expect you to be like this.""Like what?""That you're gay.""I'm gay, huh!"He pushed him into the bathroom and undressed him, tossing his clothes outside."Oh, get out!" he shouted."Who the heck could have sent this darn

"Oh right, forgot to mention, Marie went home. She's excited to fix up her new place. It's near your address, Ericka," Bernard said."I really let her stay in my house because no one's living there now, it's a waste," Ericka explained."You're really kind," the man smiled."My WIFE is really kind," she emphasized, hugging Ericka."Yeah, no one's competing anyway," Bernard replied."Enough of that," Monica scolded, "you're like kids arguing over candy. Bernard, cousin, Marie is pretty, don't you think?""Oh, am I a cradle snatcher? She's too young for me," he replied before taking a spoonful of pasta."Is 23 too young?" Harry furrowed his brow."We have a ten-year gap. I might end up getting a caretaker. I want to be the one babying someone," he hugged himself."You just like being mischievous," she teased."That's one thing. That young girl has such a babyish body. Too skinny," Bernard shook his head."Bombard her so she'll gain weight," Monica teased.They all laughed at her joke. It

The man hurriedly fetched water, raised the hospital bed for her to sit up, and gave her a drink. The doctors arrived and examined her."She was just poisoned by smoke, and there were other chemicals she inhaled, including ammonia. But she's out of danger. Luckily, you acted quickly. If she stayed there for even an hour, she might not have survived. Take a rest, Mrs. San Miguel," the doctors and nurses excused themselves after checking her."How are you?" Bernard asked."I'm okay now," she replied.The two men were left agape, looking at her."If it's not her, then who?" Monte asked."Khaye," she replied."What? Khaye? Are you sure?" Bernard questioned. "Maybe you just saw things wrong. They look alike; you might have mistaken her. Not Almira?""No," she shook her head. "I talked to Khaye.""How did it happen?" Monte asked.She narrated the details from the beginning to the end—how they met, how she was deceived, and how Khaye threw away her cellphone. The two men listened attentively