Lahat ng Kabanata ng Love Doesn’t Cost A Dime : Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 15

Darius leaned in a bit. "Let’s not waste any more time." His fingers gently tapped the desk as he asked, "Tell me everything you know about what happened on the stairs." Juliana slightly furrowed her brow. "Nothing” she replied. "I only heard that Selina slipped.”Melissa let out a quiet breath, almost like a scoff. Juliana glanced at her briefly before returning her gaze to Darius. “I don’t see why I’m being questioned,” she added. Darius didn’t react right away. Instead, he reached for something on his desk. A piece of paper. He slid it toward her. “Look at it.” Juliana’s hand moved slowly as she picked it up. The moment her eyes landed on the image, her heart skipped a beat. It was blurry. But clear enough.She stood beside the stairwell, her fingers gripping the page slightly. She managed a small laugh. "This?" she asked softly. "I walk that hallway almost every day." Darius kept his gaze fixed on her face. "You were there minutes before the incident." "That doesn't prove anything.

The mall's automatic doors slid open as Selina and Stormy exited. Selina adjusted her shopping bags while Stormy walked beside her, clutching her princess doll tightly. "Mommy, can we come back again?” Stormy asked, gazing up eagerly. Selina beamed. “Of course. But not every day, okay?" Stormy giggled happily.Selina moved to the side and retrieved her phone. “I’ll call a ride,” she said. In a few minutes, a car was assigned. She meticulously checked the details—license plate, driver’s name—just as she always does. Cautious.“That’s our car,” she said softly as it pulled up a few meters ahead. The vehicle slowed to a stop. Selina took a step forward, her eyes scanning the plate number again. Match. She nodded slightly. “Come on, Stormy.”They approached it. Selina leaned slightly to check the driver through the window. “Good afternoon—”“Mommy,” Stormy suddenly interrupted.Selina paused. “Yes?”“My shoe…”Selina looked down and noticed the lace was loose, dragging a little on the gro

Standing at the doorway was Juliana. For a brief moment, nobody spoke, Juliana looked just as surprised to find them together. Her gaze moved from Darius to Selina, then back again. “Juliana?” Darius’s voice turned cold instantly. “What are you doing here?” Juliana swallowed.Unlike her usual polished appearance, she looked exhausted. Her makeup was gone, her hair slightly disheveled, and there were dark circles beneath her eyes. “I need to talk to you,” she said quietly. Darius folded his arms. “At my house?”“I know I shouldn’t be here,” Juliana exclaimed “Then why are you by this time of the day?”Juliana’s eyes briefly landed on Selina before returning to Darius. “Because you’re not answering my calls.” The room became tense. Selina stood there silently, observing.This wasn’t the confident Juliana she had met at the mart today nor the Juliana she used to know at the office.This woman looked desperate.Darius’s expression remained unmoved. “You were suspended,” he said. “Tha