Lahat ng Kabanata ng MARRIED TO MR POPULAR : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Cynthia sat cross-legged on her bed, her hair loosely tied up as her eyes scanned the lines of her textbook for what felt like the hundredth time. The words blurred together until she finally sighed and pushed the book aside. Ever since the incident at the party, her mind had been a storm of thoughts Xavier, the beach house, that morning breakfast, his quiet glances. She’d replayed it more times than she’d admit even to Louisa.She was about to pick up her highlighter when a soft knock came on her door.“Cynthia, dear,” her mother’s voice called. “Can you come downstairs for a moment? We have guests.”She frowned. Guests? On a quiet Saturday morning?“Coming, Mum!” she called back, slipping into a simple blue dress and running a brush through her hair.When she descended the staircase, the sight that greeted her made her pause mid-step. Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez sat elegantly on the living room couch, their poise commanding the room. Her father was smiling broadly, making polite conversati

Cynthia stood by her window, watching the morning sunlight spill over the front lawn. Her suitcase sat neatly by the door, every item inside carefully folded from the shopping spree two days ago yet her mind felt anything but organized.The air was crisp, carrying that quiet hum of excitement and nerves she couldn’t shake. Xavier hadn’t told her where they were going. Not even when she asked three times.“It’s a surprise,” he’d said, his tone calm but his eyes giving nothing away.Now, as she adjusted the strap of her shoulder bag and checked her phone for the fifth time, her heart thumped a little harder at the sound of tires crunching against the gravel outside.She peeked through the window the sleek black car was unmistakable.“Cynthia!” her mother called from downstairs. “He’s here!”Her pulse jumped. “Coming!” she yelled, grabbing her small handbag before heading down the stairs.Her mom met her halfway, beaming from ear to ear. “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”Cynthia smoothed

Cynthia woke to the soft glow of the morning sun streaming through the whitewashed shutters. She stretched and blinked, trying to remember where she was. The memory of the previous night the plane, the villa, the breathtaking view flooded back, and her lips curved into a small, incredulous smile.Xavier was already awake. She could hear faint movement in the kitchen. Quietly, she slipped out of bed and padded down the steps. The villa was bathed in golden light, the Aegean Sea glittering endlessly through the wide windows.Xavier stood at the counter, effortlessly preparing breakfast. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, casual yet perfect, and his hair fell slightly damp over his forehead from an early morning swim. Cynthia paused, catching herself staring longer than intended, and quickly turned away, though a warmth spread across her chest.“Morning,” Xavier said, not looking up from the fresh coffee he was pouring.“Morning,” Cynthia replied, clearing her throat as she walked to t

The day after the incident at the beach, the weather was just as perfect bright sun, soft wind, the sea glittering like liquid glass. Cynthia felt more herself again, her strength returning, though something in her heart was still unsettled.Xavier had been careful with her all morning. He’d cooked breakfast, checked on her every hour, and even offered to cancel their plans for the day. But Cynthia refused. She wanted normalcy, or at least something close to it.“Let’s go into town,” she said, fastening the clasp of her bracelet. “We need to get souvenirs. You promised your mother something from Greece.”Xavier looked up from where he sat, tying his shoes. “You sure you’re okay?”“I’m fine,” she said, smiling faintly. “Let’s go before you change your mind.”They left the villa and walked hand-in-hand through the narrow cobblestone streets of Fira. The air smelled of sea salt and citrus, and bright bougainvillea flowers cascaded down from white walls. Street vendors called out cheerful

The heaviness in the house was suffocating.Cynthia felt it pressing on her from every corner the tight silence, the awkward side glances, the way Xavier had been moving around as if unsure whether to give her space or approach her. She didn’t know which irritated her more: the fact that he seemed unbothered by Sophia clinging to him at the mall, or the fact that she was bothered at all.Jealousy was not an emotion she liked. It made her feel weak. Irrational. Vulnerable.So she did what she always did when her head felt too full: she decided to swim.The house was quiet when she walked through the hallway. No Xavier pacing somewhere. No forced conversation. Just the dull humming of the air conditioning and the pressure of her own thoughts. Maybe that was why she didn’t hesitate to pick her favorite bikini sky blue with delicate straps—and a thin robe to throw over it.She needed calm.She needed water.She needed space from him.The sliding door opened with a soft click, and warm eve