Semua Bab SEAL OF LOVE: Bab 101 - Bab 110

Maagang dumating si Veronica sa opisina.Tahimik ang buong floor, at ang mga salamin ng Hearts of the City Headquarters ay kumikislap sa unang liwanag ng araw.She was trying to focus trying being the keyword dahil simula pa kagabi, hindi na siya mapakali.Ang huling tinitigan ni Jarred bago sila maghiwalay ay hindi niya makalimutan: iyon bang parang gustong sabihin ng mga mata, “Stay,” pero ang mga labi, “Go.”“Get it together, Veronica,” bulong niya sa sarili habang binubuksan ang laptop.Ngunit bago pa man siya tuluyang makapagbukas ng files, pumasok ang isang lalaki sa main floor naka-white shirt, rolled sleeves, may bitbit na clipboard, at may ngiting hindi mo basta-basta malilimutan.“Excuse me,” sabi nito, mahinahon pero confident. “New logistics staff reporting in. I was told to check in with you, Miss Veronica Smith?”Napatingin siya, bahagyang nagulat.At doon niya ito nakita nang buo matangkad, may matangos na ilong, at mga matang puno ng kapilyuhan.“K-Kenny?” halos hind

Napangiti si Kenny, pero hindi umatras. " Okay, boss, you win, but it doesn't mean that I give up on Veronica. Don't you think sinasakal mo si Veronica, boss? " Lahat ng tao sa kompanya nagbubulungan habang pinapanood sila. Bahagyang napahinto si Jarred. May ilang segundo ng katahimikan bago siya ngumiti-isang mapanganib na ngiti. "She breathes just fine with me." At bago pa makasagot si Kenny, hinawakan ni Jarred ang kamay ni Veronica, marahas na parang pagmamarka ng teritoryo. "Come on, honey. We're done here." Inside the elevator, tahimik si Veronica. Hawak pa rin ni Jarred ang kamay niya-mahigpit, halos hindi siya makagalaw. "Jarred..." mahinahon niyang sabi. No response. Nakatingin lang ito sa harap, nakasandal sa malamig na pader ng elevator. "Jarred, you're hurting me." Doon lang niya binitiwan. Pero hindi pa rin siya tumingin. Tahimik. Mabigat. "Why didn't you tell me?" tanong niya bigla, mababa pero may halong kirot. "Na kilala mo si Kenny noon pa?" "Because it doesn't matte

“So it means no more contract… is that what you mean, Jarred?”Humigpit sandali ang hawak ni Jarred sa kamay ni Veronica, pero hindi para pigilan siya kundi dahil parang biglang nanikip ang dibdib niya sa tanong.The question hit him like a direct shot.No more contract.Words he never thought he’d hear from her.Words he never imagined she’d even consider asking.Dahan-dahan siyang huminga, at sa ilalim ng malumanay na ilaw ng hardin, lumingon siya nang buong seryoso.“Veronica…”mahina pero buo ang boses niya,“…kung kaya ko lang, I would tear that contract right now.”Nagulat si Veronica.Hindi niya inaasahan ang sagot—ngunit mas lalong hindi niya inaasahan ang itsura ni Jarred habang sinasabi iyon.No arrogance.No sharpness.No control.Just honesty.“Jarred… what are you trying to say?”may halong kaba sa salita niya.Lumapit pa siya, dahan-dahan, halos marinig na ni Veronica ang tibok ng puso niya.“I’m saying… I don’t want to be tied to you because of a contract anymore.”His

Sumisilip pa rin si Madam Venus sa bintana, halos nakadikit pa ang ilong niya sa salamin.Nanginginig. Literal na nanginginig sa saya.“My babies… oh my god… they are so in love they don’t even know it…”Para siyang nanonood ng finale ng paborito niyang teleserye—pero live. At exclusive. At siya ang direktor.Bigla siyang pumalakpak nang malakas.“Loring!” tawag niya na parang excited na batang naka-discover ng bagong toy.“Bukas—PHASE. TWO.”Napahinto si Loring sa pag-aayos ng kandila, napatingin, kumurap ng tatlong beses.“Madam… ano naman po yung Phase Two?” tanong niyang may halong kaba, kilig, at slight fear for humanity.Ngumiti si Madam Venus.Not just any smile.Yung ngiti na parang may ilalabas na secret weapon.Yung ngiti na kapag nakita ni Jarred, baka mag-book ng flight papuntang Antarctica para lang makatakas.“Honeymoon 2.0.”Nalaglag ang panga ni Loring.“As in… yung—yung full setup po? Yung parang sa movies?”“Exactly,” sagot ni Madam Venus, proud na proud. “Hot spring

Later that afternoon, si Veronica was finally sitting at her desk, trying to catch up on emails and reports. The bouquet of pink roses was still on her side table, ignored. Her fingers lingered over the petals briefly, remembering Jarred’s words: “So he doesn’t even know you. Not really.”Suddenly, a soft knock.“Miss Veronica, Sir Jarred is in the boardroom,” Marco said quietly, “He wants you there… alone.”She hesitated. Alone with Jarred. Heart racing. Breath shallow.As she walked toward the boardroom, Kenny’s presence lingered in her peripheral vision. He smiled, just a slight tilt of the lips. Parang nagha-hint ng challenge.But Veronica’s attention was all on Jarred. She entered the boardroom.Jarred was already there, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the city skyline. Naka-dark gray suit siya, open collar, sleeves rolled slightly. Hands in his pockets. Breath controlled. Dangerous, powerful, yet… quietly tender.When he turned to her, his eyes softened