Semua Bab A BILLIONAIRE’S EXCEPTION : Bab 31 - Bab 40

Jasmine’s POV Tahimik lang ako buong biyahe. Hindi lang basta tahimik yung tipong halos lumulubog sa pagitan naming dalawa ang bawat hinga. Wala siyang sinabi. Wala rin akong nasabi. Pero magkahawak kami ng kamay, at sa sandaling ‘yon, parang iyon na lang ang natitirang koneksyon naming hindi nasisira. Pagpasok namin sa unit, sinalubong kami ng malamig na hangin, tahimik . Hindi pa umaandar ang air purifier. Walang TV. Walang din music. Pero sa wakas naramdaman kong nakahinga kami pareho. Parang unti-unting bumababa lahat ng tensyon na kanina pa nakadagan sa dibdib ko. Lumapit siya sa akin sa may sala. Hindi agad nagsalita. Hindi rin siya.. Nakatayo lang siya roon, parang nag-iipon ng lakas. Many seconds left before he asked, soft, gentle, halos pabulong. “Baby, can I hug you?” Hindi ako sumagot. Pero pumihit ako paharap sa kanya saka tumango bilang tugon. Niyakap niya ako mahigpit. ‘Yung tipong parang kailangan niyang idiin ang mga braso niya sa likod ko para mar

Alexander’s POV Second dinner sa Thompson Mansion. Tahimik ang buong mesa isang uri ng katahimikan na hindi normal sa pamilya namin. Hindi ito typical Thompson dinner. Ito ’yung klase ng katahimikan na may kasamang tensyon, apoy, at pakiramdam na may darating na bagyo. Clinking of utensils. Minsan tawa sa kabilang dulo. Pero sa side namin ako, si Jasmine, at ang ate ko mas maingay pa ang mga salitang hindi sinasabi. Mas maingay pa kaysa sa chandelier na parang nanginginig sa bigat ng atmosphere. Nakangiti ang Mom ko. Elegant. Polished. Perfect. Pero kilala ko ang ngiting iyon. Alam ko may binabalak siyang gawin “Jasmine,” sabi niya, malamig ang boses kahit nakangiti. “You look beautiful tonight.” Ngumiti si Jasmine, mahina pero magalang. “Thank you po.” “Kaya lang…” Dagdag ni Mama habang tumingin sa diamond necklace na bigay ko, “hindi lang ako sure kung bagay ang ganyang klase ng alahas sayo. Mukhang… bago pa sayo ang lifestyle na ’yan, isn’t it?”

Alexander’s POV I didn’t know the exact moment everything changed, but I do know that in just one week, the entire direction of my world shifted. I used to believe I had everything I needed. Control. Business. Money. Decisions only I had the power to make. But when we returned to Manila, I realized one thing one person Had the power to change every plan I ever made Jasmine. Life snapped back to its usual chaos Meetings, investors, boardroom wars, and contracts. Everything went back to normal. Except me. Because even in the middle of presentations and corporate numbers, there was one face I couldn’t stop thinking about. One smile that slowly tore down the walls I’d built around myself. One voice I preferred over the noise of the city. One dream I never imagined having… Until she was in it. And that was when I decided I want to build my world with her. For an entire month, I planned every detail of the proposal. The ring is custom-made in Swit

Alexander’s POV I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. Even after the doctor confirmed it, after the words “You’re pregnant” echoed in the room, it all felt surreal. My heart was racing, pounding like it was trying to escape my chest, but at the same time, there was a strange kind of calm settling over me. Jasmine… she was really going to be carrying our child. I watched her as she wiped her tears, still leaning against me, small and fragile in my arms. I felt a surge of protectiveness I didn’t know I was capable of. My mind immediately went into overdrive What do I need to do? How do I take care of her? How do I make sure she and our baby are safe and happy? “She’s going to be okay,” I whispered to myself, almost as if repeating it enough times would make it true. My hand tightened slightly around hers. “We’ll be okay,” I murmured, glancing down at her tear-streaked face. I could feel the weight of responsibility pressing on my shoulders, but strangely, it didn’t feel like

Jasmine’s POV Madilim. ’Yon agad ang unang bumungad sa akin nang dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang mga mata ko. Hindi ko alam kung gabi na ba o ako lang talaga ang nilamon ng dilim. Pakiramdam ko, kahit gaano kaliwanag ang mga ilaw ng ospital, wala na akong makita. Walang kulay. Walang buhay. Walang kahit ano. Kasunod nun, naramdaman ko ang mabigat na hangin. Ang malamig na temperatura. Ang matapang na amoy ng disinfectant. Pero higit sa lahat, naramdaman ko ang kawalan sa loob ko. At ’yun ang pinakamatinding sakit. Saglit akong hindi gumalaw. Pinakiramdaman ang katawan ko kung may kulang. Kung may mali. Kung may masakit. At saka ko naramdaman ang kirot sa puson ko, sa dibdib ko, sa buong katauhan ko. At doon ko naalala. Ang sigaw. Ang dugo. Ang takot. Ang kamay ni Alex na mahigpit na nakahawak sa akin. Ang pagod na pagod kong katawan. At pagkatapos noon… Wala na. Parang bumagsak ang buong mundo sa akin nang tuluyan kong maalala kung ano ang nawala. Hind