Semua Bab THE CEO WHO LEFT ME PREGNANT: Bab 21 - Bab 30

(Elise’s POV)Tahimik. Yun lang ang naririnig ko — tahimik na parang sinampal ng katahimikan ‘yung buong opisina.Si Adrian pa rin ang unang gumalaw. “Elise…” mahina niyang tawag, parang takot din sa maririnig ng iba. “I swear— hindi ko sinasadya ‘yon.”Pero hindi ko na siya narinig. Hindi ko rin kayang tumingin sa kaniya. Because all I could see was Gabriel’s face — the way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes darkened, the way he looked at me.Parang sinasabi ng tingin niya, “I trusted you.” Pero paano ko ipapaliwanag ang isang bagay na hindi ko rin maintindihan?Lumapit si Celeste, kunwari nag-aalala. “Elise, are you okay?” Pero kita ko ‘yung ngiti niya — ‘yung tipong gusto mong burahin gamit ang folder sa mesa.“Yeah,” I managed to say, kahit nanginginig ‘yung boses ko. “I’m fine.”Fine. The biggest lie I’ve ever told.A few minutes later, halos lahat umalis na sa conference room. Si Adrian, awkward na nagpaalam. “I’ll fix this, okay? I’ll explain kay sir.”“Wag na,” sagot

Gabriel’s POVThe conference room was blindingly bright — glass walls, high ceilings, and the tension so thick it could choke you. This wasn’t just any meeting. It was the meeting — the one that could secure a billion-peso partnership with an international VVIP client.Everyone was ready. Well, almost everyone.“Sir,” Lucas whispered, checking his watch. “Wala pa rin si Miss Elise.”I frowned, glancing at the empty chair beside me. “She confirmed last night,” I said tightly. “She’s leading the presentation.”“Yes, sir. Pero according to HR, she hasn’t checked in since this morning.”A cold unease crawled up my spine. “She doesn’t miss meetings.”Lucas nodded, uneasy. “Exactly.”Across the table, Marianne — flawless in her cream blazer and fake-sincere smile — leaned forward. “Maybe she overslept?” she said sweetly. “She’s been… under a lot of pressure lately.”My eyes snapped to her. “Pressure you helped create?”She blinked innocently. “Excuse me?”Before I could reply, the doo

Elise’s POV“Ma’am, pasensya na talaga pero kailangan niyo na pong umalis ngayon.” That was the third time the landlady said it, her tone already shifting from pity to impatience.“Please, give me just one more day,” pakiusap ko, halos mamalimos na sa luha. Nasa ospital pa si Sofia. Nakaratay. Mahina pa. “Babayaran ko po lahat. Promise, I just—”“Hindi ko po pwedeng hintayin pa. May bagong tenant na, ma’am. Orders from the owner.”‘Orders.’ Isa pang salitang pamilyar. Parang sa opisina — kapag may order, wala kang laban.Nanghina ako. Binuhat ko ‘yung maliit naming maleta, may ilan pang gamit ni Sofia. “Okay po,” mahina kong sagot. “Aalis kami.”Paglabas ko ng pinto, tinamaan ako ng malamig na hangin. Sa sobrang stress, parang nanlabo ang paningin ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan pupunta. Hindi ko rin alam kung sino pa ang tatawagan.Except one person. “Gabriel…”Kinuha ko agad ang phone. Dial. Ring. Ring. Then — voicemail.Tried again. Still nothing.“The number you are try

Tahimik ang buong condo.Langitngit lang ng wall clock at mahinang hangin mula sa aircon ang maririnig.Elise sat by the window, holding a mug of coffee na matagal nang lumamig.Magdamag siyang hindi nakatulog — paulit-ulit sa isip ang sigaw ni Gabriel kagabi, ang mga salitang ayaw niyang marinig pero nasaktan pa rin siya kahit alam niyang totoo ang ilan doon.“Wala kang karapatan magselos.”“Hindi mo ako girlfriend.”“Hindi ako ang babae sa Baguio…”Pinipilit niyang paniwalaan ‘yon. Pinipilit niyang wag umiyak.Pero bawat pilit niya, mas lalo lang bumibigat.Then, may marahang katok sa pinto.“Elise?”Si Adrian.Nakasando lang at may dalang paper bag.“Bumili ako ng breakfast. Alam kong di ka pa kumakain.”She tried to smile. “Salamat. Pero hindi ka na sana nag-abala pa.”“Hindi ‘to abala,” sabi ni Adrian, umupo sa tabi niya, parang walang distansya. “Besides, gusto kong makasama ka kahit five minutes lang. Lately kasi parang ang bigat mo ulit eh.”Elise chuckled softly, bitterly. “B

Umulan nang malakas nang gabing iyon — malalaking patak ng ulan na parang sinasabayan ang bigat ng dibdib ni Gabriel. Ang windshield ng kotse niya, halos hindi na makita sa kapal ng ulan, pero hindi siya humihinto. Para siyang hinahabol ng sariling konsensya.She’s in danger. Yun lang ang tumatak sa isip niya. Paulit-ulit. Parang sirang plaka.The wipers screeched across the glass as he turned into the dim road leading to the old warehouse. The headlights caught the outline of a forgotten building — kalawangin, luma, at tila ba matagal nang walang tao.Pagbaba niya ng kotse, sinalubong siya ng lamig at amoy ng lumang bakal. Tumalon din agad si Lucas mula sa passenger seat, may hawak na flashlight, halata ang kaba sa mukha.“Sir, sigurado po ‘ko dito ‘yung address,” hingal niyang sabi. “Pero sir… may kailangan akong sabihin—”“Later,” matalim ang tono ni Gabriel. “Hanapin muna natin siya.”Bumigat ang hangin sa loob ng bodega. Ang tunog ng ulan sa bubong, parang mga yabag ng takot. Ma