Lahat ng Kabanata ng His Hired Lover: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

SOFIA’s POVI don’t know what to make of this unfortunate situation. What Rios and I shared in this city felt truly magical and unforgettable for a honeymoon. But now, I sat sobbing and desperately trying to ease the cold biting my skin and the wound in my arm.I was just crying the whole time we were huddled in this small cave. Valeria wasn’t saying anything, but her presence somehow proved comforting for my wretched soul. I wish I could take back what I said about not needing a bodyguard. Right now, this lady felt like heaven sent to me.I stifled a sob before heaving a deep sigh. Indeed, Valeria was right. We were in a misfortune, and I needed to get my shit together.“I’m sorry,” my words spilled, mingling with the sound of cackling from the small bonfire.“For what, Miss Sofia?” she replied. Her voice sounded gruff and already tired.“For dragging you into this mess. And for saying I didn’t need a bodyguard. Now, here we are.”A faint smile tugged at her lips. “No worries, Miss So

SOFIA’s POVMy memory of being sick or having a brutal fever always brings back the feel of my mother’s gentle hands brushing my burning forehead, only to be replaced by a cold compress or a cloth soaked in water and vinegar. She would then gather wild leaves and plants only she knew the names of and boil them into a lukewarm natural medicine for me to drink. They always tasted bland, sometimes bitter, but my young heart never dared to complain. My mother had always been so good to me and lived her life wanting what was best for me.Today, instead of waking up to the warmth of her hands, my fluttering, hazy eyes caught two bodyguards, who were sitting in each corner of a room that smelled like rubbing alcohol and was painted white from floor to ceiling. I felt my head resting on a soft pillow while my back sunk into a firm cushion.Kyle was slouched in a chair, dozing with a hanky over his face and arms crossed over his chest. Valeria sat to my left, flipping through a pamphlet that re

(TRIGGER WARNING: torture)It took them a minute to speak after the father-and-daughter tandem exited the house. Now that the problem had been laid out, the cunning Rodulf Sandoval made it clear that Rios had to give up his marriage with Sofia and tie the knot with Beatrice instead.But Rios stood firm. It hadn’t been his plan to get serious with the aspiring actress, but she’d already cast her spell on him, pulling him in deeply. Now, he was stuck at the precipice, staring into a future that made sense only if she was in it. A few months ago, he wouldn’t have pegged himself as the hopeless romantic type. But here he was. Still, no matter how badly he wanted to escape this life, reality always came to push him to the edge of the cliff. He looked at his beloved family, the word beloved rolling through his head like a bitter joke. Their faces looked grim and defeated. But who could blame them? Twenty percent was twenty percent. And he was sure those greedy and manipulative Sandovals wou

Thea had been in this police station for almost an hour. The plastic chair beneath her was starting to bite into her skin, and the white walls weren’t doing her any favors.Across the table, the police officer leaned back in his chair, one eyebrow ticking up as his fingers drummed a sharp, impatient rhythm against the clipboard. The silence between questions was starting to stretch too long.“So, again,” SPO2 Eli said in a calm but thinning voice, “when was the last time you saw your uncle alive?”Thea crossed her arms. “I already told you. I saw him last Monday. At dinner. He wanted fish, so I cooked fish. We didn’t talk much. It’s always like that between us.”Eli nodded slowly. “And you didn’t notice anything strange? Nobody was lurking around, no fights, or no weird calls?”“No.”He flipped a photo onto the table, making Thea flinch at the image before her. Her uncle’s face was barely recognizable. It was swollen, and the skin stretched and marbled with the early signs of decay. M

SOFIA’s POV“That was a great shoot, Miss Sofia.” I looked over my shoulder and met the beaming face of the photographer, Derek. Hugo had set up this photoshoot for a special magazine issue, and I’d been more than happy to do it.“I’m glad I pulled it off, with your guidance, of course,” I said, giving him a demure smile.“Do you want to grab a coffee before you—”“Ah, no. I have another appointment,” I cut in. Rios had promised me dinner, but it was only 2:30 in the afternoon. I could still grab coffee with sexy Derek, but I’d rather reserve the free hours preparing for my contract husband. Besides, Derek may be oozing with muscles and great biceps, but guys my age just weren’t my type.“Oh, you’re a busy woman, I see,” he said with a chuckle. Right then, Valeria appeared and gave me a subtle gesture toward the car.“I didn’t know you had a knack for boudoir shoots,” Derek said, still lingering, even as my lady bodyguard was practically dragging me out of SCS.“It’s called talent,