Semua Bab Bound by His Promise: Bab 1 - Bab 4

Rhea Pov:Akala ko ba… mahal mo ako?”The words came out soft, halos pabulong lang, pero sa loob-loob ko, parang sumabog ang dibdib ko.I was standing in the middle of Jake’s condo — the place that used to feel like home. Ngayon, parang bangungot na gusto kong takasan. Ang lamig ng aircon, pero pawis na pawis ako sa kaba at sakit.Sa harap ko, si Jake. Half-naked, his hair messy, at sa likod niya — a woman wearing nothing but his oversized white shirt. The same shirt I gave him last Christmas.“Rhea, please… let me explain—”“Explain?” natawa ako, pero ramdam ko ‘yung panginginig ng labi ko. “Anong gusto mong i-explain, Jake? Na nalasing ka lang? Na hindi mo sinasadya?”Tahimik siya. He couldn’t even look me in the eye. The silence between us was louder than any excuse he could’ve made.“You said you were busy with work,” tuloy ko, pilit na pinapakalma ‘yung boses ko kahit parang gusto ko nang sumigaw. “I believ

“Sometimes, the silence between two people is louder than any promise ever broken.” Recap I can still hear the soft click of his office door closing behind me. My hands were cold, gripping that brown envelope like it was the last thing holding me together. Lucas Monteverde’s words replayed in my head—steady, unreadable, almost cruel. He told me that every choice comes with a price. I didn’t even know what choice he meant. All I knew was that when I stepped out of that office, the world suddenly felt heavier. RHEA POV: The hallway smelled faintly of coffee and toner—ordinary things that somehow felt strange tonight. I walked faster, afraid that if I slowed down, I’d break down. My heels echoed on the tiles, each step reminding me of everything I was trying to escape. I hated that man. Or maybe I hated how calm he looked when I was falling apart. “Keep your head high, Ms. Santos.” That’s what Lucas said before I left. No emotion, no sympathy—just that. Outside, the city lights bl