Lahat ng Kabanata ng IN LOVE WITH MY BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

ANDREA The flash of the camera kept going off, one after another, as I changed my pose and adjusted the tilt of my chin. The studio was warm from the lights, and my makeup artist hovered nearby, waiting for a chance to fix my hair or makeup. “Perfect, Andrea,” the photographer called out. “Hold that look! Just a little more attitude. Yes, that’s it!” I did as he said, forcing a smile that I knew looked convincing enough for the camera. Inside, though, I was exhausted. We had been shooting for almost three hours, and all I could think about was going home and curling up in bed. “Okay, that’s a wrap for now!” he finally said, lowering his camera. “Take ten, everyone.” I breathed a sigh of relief as I grabbed a bottle of water from my assistant, twisting the cap open and taking a long drink. My throat felt dry, and the cool liquid was refreshing after standing for so long under the hot studio lights. “Good work today,” my stylist said as she came over to fix a loose strand of my ha

ALEXANDER The afternoon was quiet, just the faint sound of the air conditioner and the sound of papers rustling as I flipped through another file on my desk. My head was already pounding from back to back meetings, but I still had a few reports to review before the day ended. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing the bridge of my nose, when I heard a soft knock on the door. “Come in,” I said, not looking up right away. The door opened, and the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor made me glance up. My pen froze in mid air when I saw who it was. Sandra. For a moment, I thought I was imagining things. She stood there, wearing a fitted beige dress and her usual red lipstick, her expression a mix of confidence and something else...something that made my jaw tighten. “Alex,” she said with a small smile, closing the door behind her. “It’s been a while.” I straightened in my seat, my face hardening. “Sandra.” She tilted her head, walking toward my desk like she owned the ro

ANDREA Sitting in on the chair in front of Andrew, I watched as his expression changed by the minute. He had called me this morning and asked me to come, saying he had something to show me. He didn’t say what it was over the phone, but the tone of his voice had been serious enough to make my stomach clench with worry. Now, sitting across from him in his office, I could tell whatever it was...it wasn’t good. Andrew didn’t say a word at first. He just opened the drawer beside his desk and pulled out a thick brown file, setting it down gently in front of him. The movement alone made my heart beat faster. “What’s that?” I asked quietly, my eyes glued to the folder. He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he opened it and flipped through a few pages before sliding one toward me. His expression was tight, his jaw clenched like he was trying to hold himself together. “This,” he said slowly, “Is the original report from the night of Mom’s accident.” I froze, my hand hovering a

ANDREA The studio was already filled with energy when I arrived. Lights were being adjusted, cameras tested, makeup artists rushing around with brushes and palettes. The air smelled faintly of hairspray and coffee...the usual mix that came with long hours of work. Today’s photoshoot was for a new campaign, and we had a fresh face on set, Kate. Her name had been floating around the office for a while, mostly in quiet whispers when people thought no one was listening. “I heard she was dirt poor before this.” “Yeah, and now she’s modeling for High Rise? Must’ve gotten close to the boss.” It was the kind of gossip that spread fast, ugly and shallow. I never liked judging people based on rumors, but hearing them so often made it hard not to wonder who she really was. Then I saw her. Kate stood by the mirror as the stylist adjusted her outfit. Her long brunette hair flowed down her back, soft waves catching the studio lights. Her skin was clear, her features delicate, an

ANDREA I took a deep breath before stepping back into the room, trying to steady myself. Kate turned as soon as I walked in, her expression soft but a little concerned. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, her eyebrows drawing together. "You took a while, and you're out of breath." I forced a small smile, hoping it would mask the chaos spinning inside of me. "I'm fine," I said quickly, handing her the bottle of water. "I just thought I saw someone I knew, but I was wrong." Kate looked at me curiously for a second, as if she wanted to ask more, but then she nodded and smiled. "Well, thanks for the drink. Mom was just telling me she wants to go home soon," she said, glancing fondly at her mother. I nodded, pretending to listen, even though my mind was somewhere else. The image of that person in the hallway kept replaying in my head, and the scent lingered faintly in my memory. As I sat down beside them, I forced myself to stay calm and focus on their laughter and light chatter. But ben