Lahat ng Kabanata ng Take Me: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

Aster~"Oh my gosh, Mom and Dad, I've missed you both so much," I exclaimed, pulling them into a tight hug. They smiled at me, and I could feel the emptiness inside me slowly start to fade. "How have you been, Mom?" I asked as I stepped back."It's just not the same without you, sweetheart," she said with a sad smile, though she finally seemed content and happy. "And you, Dad?" I waited for his response. The last time I saw him was on my wedding day, and his mood and expression from that day flashed through my mind.I was searching for answers, but all I could find was the same guilt that had surfaced during my wedding. "Dad?" I called out, and he looked at me for a moment longer than usual before smiling, pushing away the regret that had started to reappear."I've been doing well, love," he said, pulling me closer and kissing the top of my head. But before I knew it, he was gone. He walked away, disappearing into the crowd. What happened to Papa?I didn't want to ask my mother about i

A smirk tugged at his lips. Aster intrigued him, yet memories of his darkest days kept resurfacing, erasing any hint of affection he felt toward her. Those memories reminded him he was only trapped here because of her.Countless times, he’d tried to keep his true self hidden from her, yet it always found a way to break free, as if it were desperate to escape. He was torn between wrapping things up quickly and dragging them out just a bit longer, savoring each moment with her before it all inevitably fell apart. The day when untold truths and unspoken words would surface, breaking down every fragile brick of the bridge she was trying to build to close the distance between them, was coming—but it didn’t have to be so soon, right? Right? "I love playing baseball." He smiled a little, and it surprised her. Beneath the guy who buried himself in work and took everything so seriously, there was someone who just wanted to enjoy the little things. When they first met, she thought h

It had been three days since I visited Matt, yet the questions still lingered, unanswered. That strange feeling from our last meeting hadn’t faded, and no matter what I did, my mind kept drifting back to the mystery I couldn’t let go of. Even with these thoughts weighing on me, I managed to make some progress in launching my business. It wasn’t easy, but having this distraction kept me grounded, pushing me to take small but steady steps toward turning my dream into a reality. I've just come home from my evening run, and I'm about to head out to scout a new location for my business. I have an appointment with my broker at 5 p.m., and it’s already 4:15 p.m. Just enough time to shower and get ready—perfect timing.As I stepped into the house, I was startled to see a familiar figure. Adagio was here—home early for once. Ever since that dinner, he hadn’t come home until 1 a.m., so seeing him now was a surprise. My heart skipped a beat as I walked toward him, unsure of

"I've had enough of this nonsense in this house," I said firmly, my voice sharp and my gaze fixed on him. He remained unfazed. "Apologize," he demanded again, and I let out a scoff of disbelief. "What makes you think saying it again will make me apologize? I'm not apologizing." I shot him a sharp look. The girl beside him seemed to be enjoying the drama a little too much."You have ten seconds," he said, ignoring everything I had just said. My eyes softened with disappointment and disbelief. I hadn't expected to be let down like this, especially in front of a nobody like her.I stood there, unsure of how to respond, feeling the lump in my throat blocking the words I wanted to say.However, I had to stand up for myself. "Adagio, I am your wife, and even if you don’t see me that way, at least respect me as a person. Whatever is happening here isn’t my fault.""Wife on paper." His words hit me hard. Memories of how he treated me just days ago flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t beli

The house was too quiet.Not the kind of quiet that brought peace—but the kind that watched you. Followed you from room to room. Settled into your bones and stayed there.By the next day, it had already begun.The war.Not loud. Not obvious.Controlled.—I sat by the window in my room, one leg tucked beneath me, a book resting open in my hands. The words blurred more often than not—not because I couldn’t read them, but because my mind kept circling back to him.To yesterday.To that shift.I turned a page anyway.Forced calm.Outside, the sky was dimming into evening, shadows stretching long across the floor. The golden light slipped through the curtains, brushing against the pages, against my fingers.Stillness.Deliberate.Maintained.Until—A knock.Soft.Once.Then the door opened before I could answer.Of course.I didn’t look up immediately. Let him step in. Let him feel the same quiet he’d been feeding me since yesterday.Let him wait.Footsteps. Slow. Unhurried.Measured.I t