All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE IN DISGUISE : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Late morning sa Vale Dominion Headquarters, puno ng energy ang buong floor — phones ringing, assistants rushing, at sa gitna ng lahat, si Celestine Alaric, nakatayo sa harap ng conference table, composed at fierce.Nasa kabilang dulo si Lysander, nakaupo sa wheelchair niya, tahimik na nakamasid habang binibigay ni Celestine ang final pitch sa mga foreign investors via video conference."If we adjust the campaign launch sa third quarter," sabi ni Celestine, confident and calm, "we can expand the global reach without compromising the Vale image. Strategy with substance — as it should be."Pagkatapos ng meeting, nagsimula ang bulungan ng mga executives — halatang impressed. Celestine just smiled at nilapag ang tablet niya."Well, that's how you close a billion-dollar deal before lunch."Tumikhim si Lysander, amusement sa boses nya."Remind me again why I'm the CEO?""Because you pay the bills," sagot ni Celestine, sabay ngiti. "Pero admit it, Mr. Vale... mas okay na may boss kang maganda

Rain poured over the city like an omen. Vale Corporation's glass tower glowed against the storm, and somewhere inside, chaos was about to begin.Cassandra smirked at the photo on her phone — Celestine and Aiden walking out of the café together, laughing, Aiden's hand brushing Celestine's arm. A perfect shot. A perfect lie.She uploaded it to an anonymous gossip page — "The Billionaire's Wife Moving On?" — and hit send."Let's see how perfect she still looks after this," she whispered, eyes glinting.A few minutes later, her phone buzzed — Lucienne."You really are enjoying this too much," Lucienne's voice purred."You told me to make her suffer," Cassandra replied, smirking. "I'm just delivering results.""Just remember," Lucienne warned, "if Lysander finds out you're behind this, you'll regret it.""He won't," Cassandra said confidently. "He's too blinded by jealousy to think straight."Celestine was in the boardroom when her phone started buzzing like crazy.Dozens of notification

Vale Mansion — 6:32 a.m.“Ma’am, kailangan niyo po itong makita.” Nanginginig na tinig ng housemaid habang hawak ang cellphone niya.Napakunot ang noo ni Celestine habang hawak pa ang tasa ng kape.Celestine: “Ano ‘to?”Pagtingin niya sa screen — doon niya nakita ang headline.“Mrs. Vale caught in hotel scandal with foreign investor!” At may video — blurred pero halatang siya.“Celestine Vale spotted entering hotel room—”Tumigil ang mundo niya. Parang bang may matigas na bagay na bumara sa lalamunan niya.“Who did this…” she murmured Halos mabitawan niya ang cellphone. Sumabog ang notification sa social media:#CelestineValeScandal — top 1 trending.Sa kabilang banda ng mansion, kumukulo ang dugo ni Lysander. His jaw clenched, his fist slammed against the marble desk.“Who leaked this?! WHO?!”Nakatayo sa tabi niya ang mga tauhan ni Vale Corporation — nanginginig.“Sir, we traced the upload sa isang dummy account, pero nag-originate po sa—”“Say it.” sigaw niya“From inside… the

Malakas ang ulan nang gabing ‘yon. Mga patak na parang bala sa salamin ng kotse habang nakatulala si Celestine, hawak pa rin ang cellphone na may nakasulat na text:“Next leak: your mother’s secret. – L.I.B.”Paulit-ulit. Parang echo sa isip niya, habang humahalo ang tunog ng ulan sa tibok ng puso niya.“Celestine.” Boses ni Lysander, Nasa likod siya ng manibela, mata sa daan pero ang atensyon—lahat nasa kanya.“Don’t look at that again,” sabi niya, pang kokombinse nito “Gusto ko lang malaman kung sino ang nagpadala.”“You won’t like what you’ll find.”Napatingin siya kay Lysander. Basa ng ulan ang buhok nito, may bahid ng pagod at galit. Pero ang mga mata—protective, intense, at may halong takot.“You’re hiding something,” sabi ni Celestine, diretso. “And you think I’ll just sit here and do nothing?”Tahimik si Lysander. Hanggang sa bigla niyang itinabi ang kotse sa ilalim ng tulay. Binuksan niya ang ilaw sa loob—dim lang, pero sapat para makita ni Celestine na seryoso siy

Tahimik ang buong penthouse.Tanging tunog ng ulan sa salamin at mahihinang tik-tak ng orasan ang naririnig.Si Celestine, nakatayo sa may balcony, suot lang ang oversized na white shirt ni Lysander.Wala siyang make-up, wala ring camera — just herself. Vulnerable. Real.Mula sa loob, si Lysander ay tahimik na nagmamasid.Nakasuot ng black shirt, may hawak na basong whisky pero hindi niya nilalagok.Para bang, sa tagal ng panahong pinagkait sa kanya ng mundo ang katahimikan, ngayon lang siya huminga.“Hindi mo na kailangang bantayan ako,” mahina ang tinig ni Celestine, hindi lumilingon.“Hindi ako nagbabantay,” sagot ni Lysander, lumapit. “I’m memorizing the only thing that makes sense.”Napangiti siya, mapait. “Smooth talker.”“Hindi ako smooth,” bulong nito, tumigil sa likod niya. “Sobrang gulo ko nga, ‘di ba?”Huminga siya nang malalim, ramdam ang init ng katawan nito kahit may distansya pa silang dalawa.“You scare me sometimes,” sabi ni Celestine, halos pabulong. “’Cause I don’t