Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Woman He Broke: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

*Arlene’s POV*The office was silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the sound of Mago flipping through paperwork. He was focused, his brows furrowed, his fingers tapping idly against his desk as he read. I watched him from the corner of my eye, pretending to be busy, but every glance in his direction made my heart pound.The tension between us was unbearable.It had been there since last night—thick, suffocating, charged with something neither of us wanted to name. There were moments when our eyes met, but we both looked away too quickly, as if acknowledging it would set something uncontrollable into motion.I wanted to speak, to break the silence, but words failed me.Finally, when lunchtime rolled around, we both opened our mouths at the same time.“Aren’t you going to eat?”“How are you?”The awkwardness slammed into us like a tidal wave. I bit my lip, looking away. Mago exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. The air felt heavier, thicker, and then—he moved.In

I didn’t expect what Mago had in mind—not here, not now—but the adrenaline coursing through my veins made it impossible to resist. After that heated encounter in the office, I kept replaying the moment, wondering when it would happen again. I didn’t imagine it would be this soon—or inside a cabinet—while the on-the-job trainees were being oriented just a few feet away.Part of me screamed to stop. But a louder part, the one that ached for his touch, didn’t want to. The thrill of secrecy, the danger of discovery—it was maddening. My fingers trembled as I fumbled with my belt, breath catching when Mago did the same. From the crack in the cabinet door, I could see flickers of light and movement in the bar. But in here, it was just us. A tight, dark space with no air and too much electricity.He caught my gaze. His eyes were fire and shadows. No words passed between us. Just breath and urgency. Mago gently lifted my leg, anchoring it against his arm, steadying me with one hand at my waist

 *Mago’s POV*I stared blankly at the ceiling, my arm resting behind my head as dim light bled through the room, casting faint, flickering shadows across the walls. The air was warm and thick with the remnants of what we’d just done—our heat still lingering on the sheets, on my skin, in my chest.Beside me, Arlene slept—peaceful, vulnerable, tangled in the chaos we had just created.Her body was curled toward mine, like it belonged there, like this bed was her home. Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing soft and steady, as if she was dreaming of something tender—something I would never give her.And I hated it.I hated how easily she could rest next to me, trust me. I hated the way my chest ached just looking at her. Because this wasn’t supposed to happen. It was never meant to feel like this.I wasn’t supposed to fall.I was supposed to use her.Ruin

*ARELEN’S POV*They always say timing is everything.But no one ever warns you what to do when your body says yes at the exact moment your mind whispers, This is dangerous.I thought I was just playing the game Patricia taught me. A subtle move. A flick of the wrist, a calculated sway of the hips, a sideways glance that promised mischief and dared him to chase. She said if I ever wanted to grab Mago’s attention—really grab it—I had to stop acting like I didn’t know what I was doing.I tried it.And Mago noticed.God, did he notice.One second, he was watching me from across the ballroom like he always did—eyes smoldering, jaw set like he was grinding down temptation between his teeth. The next, his hand was wrapped around mine, firm and silent, and he was pulling me out of that hall like I had just flipped the kill switch on his restraint.He didn’t speak. He didn’t ask.He just took.And I let him.Maybe I should’ve felt nervous. Maybe I should’ve been smarter. But the way he dragged

ARLENE’S POV: Janine was already waiting at the dining table when I arrived, her hands wrapped tightly around a mug that had long gone cold. The moment our eyes met, her shoulders sagged—like she had been bracing herself for me, like she already knew how shattered I was before I even opened my mouth. There was worry in her gaze, thick and unguarded, and I hated myself for bringing it with me again. Still, I couldn’t pretend. Not with her. Not tonight.“Budz.”The word broke out of me before I could stop it. I crossed the room and collapsed into her arms, my body shaking as if it had been holding itself together for too long. “I’m scared.”Her arms closed around me instantly, firm and familiar, the kind of embrace that had carried me through a thousand silent breakdowns. “That’s exactly what Pat and I have been telling you,” she said softly, but her voice cracked anyway. “Budz… you’re tired. You’re bleeding. It’s time to let go.”I pulled back just enough to shake my head, my chest tig