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Lahat ng Kabanata ng Guess What, Hubby? I'm Your Stepmom Now!: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

12 Kabanata

Chapter 1

"Mommy, I don't want to go to school."Eve's dress was wrinkled when she came home, and her hair was a little messy. I immediately knelt down and held her in my arms, asking what was wrong."The other kids said I don't have a dad... that I'm a child nobody wants."Her eyes were red from crying as she curled up against me. My heart ached for her."Didn't Daddy promise to attend Family Day at school today?"At the mention of her father, Eve's tears fell even harder."He came... but he brought Linda with him. He wouldn't let me call him 'Dad.' Linda said he's her dad. Mommy, does Dad not want me because I'm not a good girl?"I held her tighter.I had thought when Roy said he would go to school today, it was to attend Family Day with our daughter.I never imagined he would show up only to enroll Linda, the daughter of his deceased best friend.I wanted to comfort Eve, but the memory of Roy's cold indifference made the words stick in my throat.I regretted everything.Louis ha

Chapter 2

Fifteen years ago, my brother, caught up in his playful mischief, set off fireworks inside the house and accidentally ignited a fire. He ran out, leaving me trapped in the attic.Thick smoke filled my lungs, making me lightheaded. Flames licked at the wooden beams above, and just when I thought I would die there, Roy appeared. He climbed up to the attic, shattered the window, and carried me out. Then he gave me CPR.When my consciousness returned, the first thing I saw were Roy's eyes—a striking shade of green, filled with tension and urgency. From that moment, I was hopelessly drawn to him.I fell in love with Roy that day and nursed an unspoken affection for him over the next ten years. Later, we discovered Roy was the youngest son of the Reid Group's owner. Reid Group was the largest trading corporation in the region. It was clear we lived in entirely different worlds. My father often said that if his company could establish a connection with the Reid Group, our family coul

Chapter 3

I looked at Roy in confusion. He explained, "Sammy is planning to settle down in our community, closer to us. Participating in community activities will help her and Linda get familiar with the place. If you and Eve come along, it might make them uncomfortable. Besides, Linda doesn't like it when other people call me 'Dad.'"I felt a sharp anger rise in my chest. There were limits to how shameless a person could be, and Roy had crossed them. The words burst out of me before I could stop myself."Roy, do you even remember that Eve is your biological daughter?" My voice trembled. "Do you know what the kids at school are saying about her?"Roy frowned slightly, cutting me off. "Penny, I don't need you to remind me that Eve is my daughter. I'm sorry about what happened at school today, but I hope you can understand—Linda is an orphan. And you know how easy it is for orphans to be bullied at school. If I don't take her to school or let her call me 'Dad,' it would upset her."My heart

Chapter 4

Linda snatched the photo from my hand and tore it into pieces."Why do you have a picture of my dad? Everyone at school says you're a illegitimate child. You're not allowed to call him 'Dad.'"Eve stared at the torn fragments as they scattered into the muddy puddle, her small shoulders trembling before she finally broke down in tears.My heart ached. Without a word, I scooped her up in my arms and fixed a cold, unwavering gaze on Linda."Apologize."Roy immediately stepped in front of Linda, his face darkening. "Penny, that's enough. She's just a child. Why are you being so harsh?" His tone was laced with irritation, as if I were the unreasonable one."I warned you not to bring her here today," he continued. "Linda doesn't like anyone else calling me 'Dad.' And anyway, it's just a photo."I didn't move. My arms tightened protectively around Eve as I stared at Linda, who was smirking in Roy's embrace."Just a photo?" My voice was low and cold. "Do you know, Roy? While you hold s

Chapter 5

"Penny?"It took me a moment to register that Ryan was speaking to me. When I finally nodded, he bent down slightly, his gaze shifting toward the figure hiding behind me."And this must be little Eve?"Eve peeked out from behind my legs, her wide eyes fixed on him."Daddy?"I expected her to shy away, but to my surprise, she ran straight into his arms.Ryan reacted swiftly, catching her with ease. A warm, easy smile spread across his face as he held her close.I cleared my throat, feeling a flicker of awkwardness as I patted Eve."You've got it wrong, Eve. This isn't your daddy—he's your grandpa. He's your daddy's daddy. They look alike, that's all."But no matter how many times I tried to correct her, Eve refused to let go of Ryan.Ryan only chuckled softly, brushing aside my apologies with a wave of his hand as he carried Eve into the living room."I'm sorry," I said again, trailing after him. "She just… misses Roy too much."The moment I mentioned Roy, something heavy se

Chapter 6

"Don't joke around, Ryan. It's already late. Are you staying over tonight? Roy's room happens to be empty."Since Roy returned home, we had been sleeping in separate beds. Now, that arrangement was perfect for Ryan.Ryan nodded quietly. I turned and hurried away to prepare fresh bed linens for him. I didn't know why I was escaping—perhaps it was the intensity in his eyes, too warm, too much.He stayed for two days. No one was happier than Eve. Ryan's presence seemed to fill the void left by five years without a father.I overheard Eve whispering to him, "Can you be my daddy, Ryan? Come to my school's family day. That way, no one will call me a bastard again."I almost stepped forward to stop her. It was impolite—how could the CEO of the Reid Group have time to attend such trivial events? Besides, soon, Ryan would have nothing to do with us. My divorce from Roy was inevitable.But Ryan only smiled, lifting Eve into his arms. He placed a business card carefully into her small palm.

Chapter 7

Roy had followed us all the way and had been waiting at the door for two hours.At his feet, a pile of cigarette butts hinted at his restlessness."It's nothing. My documents expired—I just needed to renew them. Are you that free today? I heard Sammy's eyeing two properties in the neighborhood. She could probably use your help."Roy stared at me, his gaze sharp, searching for cracks in my facade.For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Then, with a cold laugh, he said, "Penny, this is a first for me—seeing a woman push her own husband toward another woman. Remember, you're the one who said it. As you wish."Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, not once looking back."Mommy, what's wrong with Roy?" Eve clung to my leg, her voice soft with curiosity."Nothing, honey. He's just busy," I said, brushing her hair gently, avoiding any discussion about how she addressed him.After all, in five days, Eve and I would be leaving. I hadn't expected that the very next

Chapter 8

Linda's hand was shattered—a comminuted fracture. Surgery was necessary.When Roy heard the operation had been successful and wouldn't affect her future mobility, he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. For two days, Sammy had been consumed by worry, but now, finally, she had fallen asleep.Roy instinctively reached for his phone. The emptiness in his chest spread to his fingertips.Since that day—after hanging up on my call—he had turned off his phone. When he powered it back on, he had braced himself for the flood of missed calls and messages from me. Instead, the screen remained stubbornly blank.Not a single call.He tried dialing my number and even sent me messages, but every attempt vanished into the void. A strange unease swelled in his chest, heavy and oppressive. He decided to go home and find me—but just as he turned to leave, he overheard two nurses chatting nearby."Did you hear? A couple of days ago, someone flew in a specialist by helicopter from th

Chapter 9

I had no idea what was happening back in the country I had just left.As soon as Eve and I landed, we went straight to my father's house. I rang the doorbell, and both of us hid behind the door, ready to jump out and surprise him the moment he opened it.The door swung open, and I sprang forward. "Dad!" I called out, a triumphant smile on my face, arms wide open, expecting his familiar embrace.But instead of his usual hearty laughter, I found myself wrapped tightly in someone else's arms—a warm, solid embrace that carried the familiar scent of cedarwood. A voice, smooth and teasing, drifted down from above my head."I suppose it wouldn't be too wrong if you called me Dad," it said.The voice was unmistakable. My breath hitched as I pulled back slightly."Ryan?" I blurted out, still dumbfounded."It's me. Long time no see, Penny," he said, flashing a lazy smile. "When I saw you with your arms wide open, it seemed a shame not to give you a hug."Before I could respond, Eve spo

Chapter 10

When I began my new life, I had no idea that Roy was already losing his mind back home.At first, he was just angry. He assumed my departure was another one of my games, a ploy to draw him back. He figured if he ignored me for a week, I would come crawling back, tail between my legs.So, he returned to Sammy.But after that news report, no matter where he and Sammy went, people whispered."Look, the domineering CEO and his wife. What a perfect couple."Words he had once dismissed now grated on him in a way he couldn't ignore.A week passed. Still no word from me. His irritation turned into unease. He reached out first, sending me a message.No response.He thought of asking my friends about my whereabouts, only to realize I had no friends in the country.I had lived in a world that consisted solely of him and our daughter.And now, he had lost me.In the end, he went to Eve's school."I'm here to pick up Eve," he said to the teacher at the front desk.The teacher frowned.

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