All Chapters of Twisted Ties: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

When Ainara got home Friday night, she couldn’t take it anymore. Three days of Andres avoiding her at the office. Three days of cold “Good mornings,” emotionless emails, and glances that treated her like a stranger. But with other women? Laughter, stories, compliments. And Isabella—silk blouse, perched on Andres’s desk like a scene from a soap opera every time she visited. They even left the door open for everyone to see. She kicked off her heels, tossed her bag onto the couch, and muttered, “I’m not letting my weekend go like this.” She changed into pajamas—Snoopy print, messy bun, no makeup. Comfort mode activated. In the kitchen, she started cooking. Garlic, onions, soy sauce, vinegar. Chicken adobo. No recipe, just instinct and irritation. While she cooked, she played a rom-com on her laptop—the kind with a brooding architect who was secretly sweet. She laughed at the absurdity. If only real life were that easy. She was eating on the couch, plate balanced on her knees, when

Sunday evening, Manila. The city lights flickered through the car window as Ainara leaned back on her pillow, phone pressed to her ear, a sleepy smile on her lips. “You’re so snobby,” she teased. “Excuse me?” Andres replied, mock-offended. “I just have standards.” “Standards that are all linen and leather?” “Standards that don’t include Snoopy pajamas at dinner.” She laughed. “You liked those pajamas.” “I liked what was inside them.” “Hey!” He chuckled. “I’m kidding. Mostly.” They’d been talking for over an hour—about the villa, the food, the way the moonlight hit her cheek. Sweet nothings, punctuated by teasing and quiet sighs. “Aling Rosa was right,” Andres said. “You make me feel like I can breathe.” Ainara felt the sincerity in his voice, and it made her happy that she could do that for him. “You make me feel happy.” Silence followed, but the kind that wrapped around them like a blanket. “Go to sleep,” he whispered. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Good night, Andres.” “

Andres arrived early at the office the next day. The place was quiet, and deep down, he was thankful for Ainara’s three-day site visit in Palawan — it gave him a bit of breathing room. Not because he wanted to get away, but because they needed time to think. To rest. To clear things up.He hadn’t slept well. Not because of Isabella — but because of the way Pilar looked at him yesterday. Not angry. Not yet. But there was a chill. A distance.He sighed and opened his laptop.“Good morning, hijo.”Andres looked up. Standing in front of his desk were Celia and Jaime — both freshly tanned from their trip, both smiling, but with very different energies.“Aunt Celia. Dad. Good morning.” His voice was almost mechanical. He hadn’t expected the two of them to show up this early at the office.Celia leaned slightly on the edge of his desk. “We missed the chaos.”Jaime chuckled. “And the coffee.”Andres stood to greet them. “We haven’t had time to chat since you got back. How was your trip?” He i

When Andres got home from the office, he collapsed onto the couch. The day had been long, and the silence from Ainara was louder than anything else. He opened his phone and stared at their last thread. “Site’s beautiful. Wish you were here.” That was yesterday. He hadn’t replied right away. He was distracted. Isabella had dropped by. Celia had been watching. Everything felt like a chess game.Now, he typed: "I wish I was there too. Hope the visit’s going well. Miss you.” He hit send.No reply.He waited. Ten minutes. Thirty. Nothing.He tried calling.Ringing.Then voicemail.He sighed, leaned back, and stared at the ceiling.She’s upset.Or she’s busy.Or both.He didn’t blame her.But he hated the distance.** Back in Palawan, the sun was beginning to set, casting golden light over the construction site. Ainara stood with her clipboard, checking off the final items for the day.“Girl,” called Tasha, her co-lead on the project. “Let’s go out tonight. Just us. Drinks, dinner, no spre

When they arrived in Batangas, the surroundings were quiet. The ancestral house stood proud and familiar, with its wide windows and sprawling garden. Ainara stepped out of the rental car first, her heart thudding. Andres followed, trying to look casual — like he wasn’t secretly terrified of Celia.As the door opened, Santino immediately greeted them.“Older sister!” he said, hugging her. “Finally!”“Hi, buster,” Ainara smiled, hugging him tight.Then Santino turned to Andres. “Older brother.”Andres smiled. “Hi, Santino.” He tapped Santino's shoulder.Celia appeared from the hallway, elegant in her silk blouse and linen pants. Her eyes scanned the scene — her daughter, her son, and Andres.“You’re here,” she said to Ainara.“Sorry, Mom. I got delayed.”Celia’s gaze shifted to Andres. “And you?”Andres cleared his throat. “Her car broke down. I offered to drive her.”Celia raised an eyebrow. “How thoughtful.”Ainara jumped in. “He was nearby. It was easier.”Celia nodded slowly. “Well,