All Chapters of Hiding the Billionaire’s Son (HCS 1): Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

PROLOGUE Fragments of Us “Lucy’s POV” The L’Aurore Art Gallery shimmered under the soft glow of golden chandeliers, casting warm hues against the marble floors. Abstract paintings lined the pristine white walls, each a piece of emotion frozen in time, each bearing the signature L. Sander—my name. Dapat ay proud ako, dapat ay masaya ako dahil ito na ang mga sandaling hinihintay ko, na ang dating maid na pinandidirian ng mga tao ay tinitingala na nila ngayon. Pero habang mahigpit kong hawak ang champagne glass, may biglang kumurot sa dibdib ko. Isang pamilyar na pakiramdam—pakiramdam na may kakaibang mangyayari na nag-aabang sa akin sa araw na ito. Pakiramdam na tila may isang presenyang parang multo mula sa aking nakaraan na nakatitig, na isang tinging ramdam ko na kahit ‘di ko pa nakikita. Luminga-linga ako at napalingon, at sa ‘di kalayuan ay nandoon siya. A tall, dark, and handsome man standing at the right corner of the L’Aurore Art Gallery sipping at his cocktail at

CHAPTER TWO Hope “Lucy’s POV” Maaga pa lang, nakarating na kami sa Hong Kong International Airport. The flight was smooth—surprisingly calm—at salamat sa Diyos, tulog si Max halos buong biyahe. He needed the rest, and honestly, so did I. Buong gabi akong hindi nakatulog sa kaba, kakaisip kung tama ba ang desisyong ito. Hindi lang ito basta byahe—this was the escape. The beginning of something new... or maybe just a pause from the chaos we left behind. Habang bumababa kami ng eroplano at sumasabay sa agos ng mga pasaherong dumadaan sa arrival corridor, mas lalo akong ninerbiyos. Parang kumakabog ang dibdib ko ng sobrang lakas, at pakiramdam ko ay naririnig ito ng lahat. Each step felt heavier, like the weight of my past was dragging behind me kasama sa mga bitbit naming maleta. Mainit-init pa rin ang hangin kahit nasa loob kami ng airport. Amoy ko ang bagong lugar, amoy ng sanitized air, halong perfume ng mga dumadaan, at ang banayad na lamig mula sa central aircon na tila nagpapa

CHAPTER FOURI Belonged"Lucy's POV""Okay lang 'to, Lucy," mahina kong bulong habang sumasabay sa HR staff papunta sa elevator. "You've handled worse."Sa totoo lang, kinukumbinse ko lang ang sarili ko. Kasi hindi lang 'to basta bagong trabaho. Ito ang unang hakbang ko sa muling pagbangon, ang unang patikim ng panibagong buhay. I was starting from nothing in a foreign land, in a prestigious company, and in an industry, I hadn't touched in years. What could possibly go wrong? Well, everything. Pero hindi na ito ang oras para umatras.Pagbukas ng elevator sa 17th floor, para akong huminga ng bagong hangin. The space was open, bright, and buzzing with life. Parang hindi opisina—parang isang oversized art studio. May glass partitions, walls covered in concept boards and post-its, mismong sahig ay may painted lines and zones na may mga salitang "Inspiration," "Crit Room," at "Pitch Panic Room.""Welcome to Design," sabi ng HR staff. "You'll be with the Campaign and Visual Strategy team, p

CHAPTER SIXSaved"Lucy’s POV"I looked at my sketch — isang babae na may basag na mukha, mga pirasong tila nalalaglag isa-isa. Parang maskarang hindi na kayang manatili sa lugar.My tears fell off… Hinagod ko ng daliri ang linya, pero imbes na maging maayos, mas lalo lang lumabo.Huminga ako nang malalim, pero parang may bara sa lalamunan ko. My hands were trembling. At kahit pilitin kong mag-focus sa ngayon, dahan-dahan akong hinihila pabalik sa isang alaala na matagal ko nang tinabunan.Five years ago…Five years before Max, before Hong Kong, before the word escape even entered my vocabulary… It was just me. Luciandra Sander. Twenty-one, freshly graduated from the College of Fine Arts and Design, with a diploma that felt more like a question mark than a ticket to the future.The day I left the orphanage, my suitcase contained little more than a few clothes, my sketchpads, and the unshakable memory of a man who had once pulled me out of the water and into the sunlight.Felix Creed.