Too Late To Regret, Mr. Billionaire のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 81 - チャプター 90

HABANG binubuhat ni Caden si Talia pabalik ng manor, napansin niya ang biglang pagdikit nito sa dibdib niya, soft, warm, at medyo mabigat ang paghinga. The wine was clearly taking effect.Her eyes were closed, long lashes trembling lightly. Then she whispered, voice small, broken na parang mula sa malayong bahagi ng nakaraan."Kuya..."Caden stiffened.The word hit him like a cold gust of wind. "Kuya... bakit ang tagal mo..."Her lip trembled. "I've been waiting... two years..."Caden's steps slowed. A faint sting rippled through his chest."Talia..." bulong niya, but she didn't hear him.Her next words were softer, fragmented, parang mga pinaghugot mula sa lalim ng alaala na hindi niya alam."But you forgot... Aliyah..."Caden froze."Aliyah...?"He whispered the name, brows tightening. Hindi niya ito kilala at wala siyang idea kung sino ito. But Talia said it with so much pain, so much longing...that the sound of it made something twist inside him."How could you forget Aliyah..."

TAHIMIK pa rin ang living room nang marinig ni Talia ang mahinang paghinga ni Caden. She slowly lowered her gaze, naiipit sa pagitan ng hiya at kaba, pero bago pa tuluyang lumubog ang mukha niya sa sahig, biglang kumilos si Caden.Maingat siyang inalalayan nito paupo sa sofa, para bang walang nangyaring eskandalong robotic diagnostics report na halos ikamatay nila sa hiya. The silence was dense, charged, electric, pero si Caden ang unang nagsalita.“Let’s eat first.”Ang boses niya ay mababa, steady, halos parang pinipilit maging kalmado.Umupo ito sa coffee table sa harap niya at inilapag ang maliit na wooden tray. Nandoon ang isang pabilog na puting plato at isang set ng mini bread creations, mga bilog at makukulay na tinapay na parang “ulap” sa itsura, soft-looking at may subtle pastel hues. Parang gawa ng high-end pastry kitchen dito sa Manila.“This was developed by our executive bakery team,” paliwanag ni Caden, voice gentler than usual. “Cloud bites ang tawag. Light, soft, mada

“WHO are you?”A chilling silence followed. Walang sagot mula sa kabilang linya, pero ang paghinga ng taong hawak ang telepono ay mabigat, deliberate, parang sinasadya talagang maramdaman ni Caden ang presensya niya.Then the stranger finally spoke. “So ikaw pala ang kinakapitan niya.”The voice was low, menacing, na parang tao na sanay magbigay ng utos na sinusunod nang walang tanong. Caden’s grip on the phone tightened, knuckles turning white.“Sabihin mo kung sino ka,” malamig niyang sagot.May mahinang tawa sa kabilang linya ang narinig ni Caden na nakakapanindig-balahibo.“Hindi mo na kailangan malaman.”Bago pa siya makapagsalita, nag-iba ang tono ng boses, mas mababa, mas nanunuot. “Kung ayaw mong may masamang mangyari sa babae mo, pumunta ka sa pantalan ng Maynila...ngayon. Hindi bukas, hindi mamaya, ngayon.”Caden’s eyes darkened, jaw locked.“Touch her and—”“Or else?” putol ng lalaki, may mapanghamong tawa. “Mas magandang dumating ka kaysa magpa-deliver ako ng katawan.”Ma

FOR A MOMENT, Lyndon just stood there, frozen, unsure if he heard her right.“Ma’am… someone to take you home?” he repeated quietly, parang nagbabakasakaling mali ang narinig niya.Talia didn’t blink. Her pale face remained unreadable, voice steady and unnervingly calm.“Yes. Please.”Lyndon swallowed hard. “But, Ma’am, you’re injured. Hindi pa kayo stable. The doctor said—”“Take me back,” putol niya sa sinasabi nito, matipid, pero may bigat na hindi kayang salungatin. “Ngayon.”The tone left no room for negotiation.Lyndon hesitated one last time.“What about Sir Caden—”Talia slowly turned her head toward him, her eyes cold, exhausted, but unwavering.“If you don’t want anything else to happen to me,” she said softly, “and if you don’t want a bigger problem explaining this to him, then arrange a car. I need to leave now.”Hindi na nagtanong si Lyndon. There was nothing left to argue, not with that tone, not with those eyes.He bowed his head slightly.“Yes, Ma’am. I’ll arrange it.”

THE MOMENT Caden saw her, para bang may automatic switch sa katawan niya. His feet moved before his mind could catch up.“Talia.”His voice wasn’t loud, pero ramdam ang bahagyang pigil na panic, isang magkahalong pag-asa at takot na matagal niyang kinuyom.Lucas paused mid-step. Saglit siyang tumingin kay Caden, then leaned slightly toward Talia, whispering something low and unreadable.“Mauna na ko sa loob,” sabi ni Lucas, calm and controlled.After that, naglakad siya papasok kasama ang ilang delegates. Naiwan sina Caden at Talia sa mahabang hallway, just the two of them, enclosed by cold fluorescent light and thick silence.Talia slowly lifted her gaze. Walang galit sa mga mata niya. Wala ring init. Just distance, sharp, polite, and painfully unfamiliar. It felt like facing a stranger.Caden’s throat tightened. “Talia… I’m sorry.” Mahina, at basag ang boses niya. “That night… hindi ko sinadyang makarating. I was late. And you got hurt. How’s your injury?”Talia’s expression didn’t