All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE IN DISGUISE : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"Five seconds, Miss Alaric."Seraphina Celestine Alaric smiled — that kind of perfect, practiced smile na parang laging ready for the camera. The kind that said poise, confidence, control.Sa loob ng limang taon bilang primetime news anchor ng Alaric Network, sanay na sanay na siya. No matter what happens behind the camera, she had to look untouchable."Good evening. This is Seraphina Alaric, bringing you tonight's headline—"Smooth. Precise. Impeccable.Pero sa ilalim ng news desk, paulit-ulit na nagvi-vibrate ang phone niya. Hindi na niya kailangan tingnan kung sino — isa lang naman ang tatawag ng ganitong oras.Lola Bea.Beatrix Alaric — the matriarch, the legend, the only woman who ever treated her like real family.Pagkatapos ng broadcast, tinanggal niya ang earpiece at huminga nang malalim. Sa reflection ng salamin, she saw the same woman the public adored — polished, confident, perfect.Pero sa loob, pagod na pagod siya sa pagiging "perfect."Paglabas niya ng studio, sinalubong

The Alaric family gathered inside the grand study — tahimik pero mabigat ang hangin.The walls were lined with portraits of ancestors; all those sharp eyes seemed to watch every move.At the head of the table sat Attorney Valera, hawak ang makapal na sobre na may gintong tatak ng Beatrix Alaric Foundation.“Good afternoon, everyone,” he began, voice steady.“As per the late Duchess Beatrix Alaric’s instructions, this meeting concerns the reading of her final will and testament.”Sa kabilang dulo ng mesa, si Lady Lucienne ay nakasandal sa upuan, wine glass in hand, habang si Callista ay abala sa phone.Si Don Leandro, tahimik lang, pero halata sa mata ang kaba.At sa gitna nilang lahat, si Celestine, nakaupo nang maayos — composed, kahit halatang pinipigilan ang kabog ng dibdib.“To my son, Leandro Alaric,”basahin ni Attorney Valera,“I leave my shares in Alaric Holdings — on one condition: that he leads with integrity, not influence.”Tahimik.Lucienne’s smile faltered a little.“To

The Fracture Beneath the MaskIsang linggo matapos ang engagement, magkasama na sina Celestine at Lysander sa Vale estate — isang tahimik na mansion overlooking the city. Hindi ito romantic setup. It’s an agreement, plain and cold.Tuwing gabi, halos di sila mag-usap. Si Celestine abala sa trabaho, si Lysander naman sa mga business calls. Pero sa mga sandaling tahimik, parang may kakaibang kuryente sa pagitan nila — a pull neither of them wants to name.One night, bumuhos ang ulan. Celestine came home from the newsroom, pagod, may bahid ng luha sa mukha na hindi niya inamin.Pagsara niya ng pinto, nandoon si Lysander, tahimik, may hawak na wine glass.“You missed dinner.”“I wasn’t hungry,” sagot niya, habang hinuhubad ang heels.He studied her quietly.“You’ve been crying.”“I wasn’t.”“You were.”Tahimik. Napa-upo siya sa gilid ng couch, parang biglang naubusan ng lakas.“Do you ever get tired, Lysander?” bulong niya, halos hindi marinig. “Of pretending you’re fine?”Matagal

Kinabukasan pagkatapos ng scandal, viral pa rin ang headlines:"News Anchor Fiancée Arrested for Art Theft!""Lysander Vale Walks — Literally!"Pero bago pa kumalat nang tuluyan, isang utos lang ni Lysander — at lahat ng mga balita, videos, posts, vanished.Inside a private conference room, nakaupo ang lahat ng high-profile guests from the charity gala — mga businessmen, reporters, at artists na nandoon sa gabing iyon.Tahimik. Walang kumikibo.Harap nila si Lysander Vale — in full control, calm but terrifying."Let's make this simple," panimula niya, malamig."You were never at that gala. You saw nothing, you recorded nothing, and you will speak nothing."Isang matandang negosyante ang sumubok magsalita."Mr. Vale, we respect you, but—""No buts."Lysander leaned forward, eyes glinting like a blade."If even one whisper of last night leaves this room, your companies will collapse within twenty-four hours. You will lose your contracts, your banks, your suppliers — everything you own w

“W-where am I…?”Mahina ang boses ni Celestine habang dahan-dahan siyang nagmulat ng mata.Masakit ang ulo niya, mabigat ang kamay — nakatali.Amoy kalawang, alat ng dagat, at usok ng gasolina.The place was dark — only one dim bulb flickering above her.Somewhere in the distance, may mga alon na sumasalpok sa pier.She tried to move, but the ropes dug into her skin.“Hello?”“May tao ba diyan?!”Tahimik.Then, a slow clap.“Well, look who’s awake.”That voice.Cold, elegant, venomous.Lucienne.Lumabas ito mula sa dilim, nakasuot ng dark trench coat, may hawak na wine glass — like she was watching a show.Sa likod niya, si Callista, arms crossed, deadly ang tingin.“You ruined everything, ate,” Callista hissed.“Because of you, bumagsak ‘yung stocks ng Alaric Group. You embarrassed us in front of the entire country!”Celestine blinked back tears, trying to keep calm.“Wala akong ginawang masama, Callista. Hindi ako ‘yung nagpasimula ng—”“Enough!” sigaw ni Lucienne.“You were never m