Chapter 9 (Mature Content)

The entire house is quiet when we return. Too quiet. I glance around instinctively as we step inside. The lights are dim, the air still, and there’s a strange emptiness that settles over everything. “It’s already ten,” I murmur, more to myself than to him. Then I look at Fabien. “Do you think your father isn’t here?” “I guess so,” he replies casually. “They usually do business at night.” I nod slowly. “That makes sense… but your father is kind of scary,” I admit. “He seems really strict. Your uncle, though—he punches people out of nowhere, but he’s nice to you.” “He’s more concerned,” Fabien says simply. I study him for a moment. “Why does it feel like there’s a gap between you and your father?” I ask carefully. “I’m not trying to gossip or anything… but it really feels like you’re different. Like you want different things in life.” “You’re right,” he says after a brief pause. Then he glances at me. “But it’s better if you sleep now. It’s getting late.” I nod, th

Chapter 10

I woke up in the morning still clutching my phone, and I jolted upright. I must have fallen asleep while waiting for my father to call or reply. I had also been waiting for Fabien, but I never felt him come back. Maybe he really didn’t return. He even said he would tear my underwear—did he? No. Probably not. Maybe they just had sex in the car. That must have satisfied him last night, so he didn’t bother me anymore. That’s fine with me anyway, because I wasn’t in the mood. I have too many problems to deal with.I quickly checked my phone and saw a message.“We’re here at Prime Hospital because there are no available rooms at the government hospital, child. Can you visit?”I couldn’t reply right away. I still had to ask permission from Fabien.“What’s bothering you?” he asked.I immediately turned around. He was behind me, and it looked like he had just come from the balcony.“How long have you been there?”“Since last night,” he said, making me frown. “You were asleep when I climbed up

Chapter 12

Saying goodbye to the household staff who had treated me kindly was harder than I expected. There was a quiet sadness in the way they looked at me, as if they knew I was leaving not just the house, but a chapter of my life I could never return to. I didn’t let myself linger. If I did, I might not have the strength to walk away. I went straight to the hospital after that. I told myself it was so my father could finally get some rest, but maybe I just needed a place where I could sit still and pretend everything hadn’t fallen apart. The day passed slowly. I stayed inside my brother’s room, watching television just to keep my mind occupied. Old dramas played one after another, and for some reason, I found myself drawn into them more than usual. Every heartbreak, every betrayal—it all felt too familiar. There was one old show in particular. The male lead wasn’t even that handsome, not someone I would normally notice, but somehow, I kept seeing Fabien in him. It didn’t make sense. The

Chapter 11

I felt an overwhelming wave of pity as I looked at my older brother one last time before turning away. His condition made my chest ache, as if something inside me was slowly breaking apart.“Take care, my child,” my father, Romeo, told me gently. “Don’t forget the USB. Update me as soon as you can… and I’m sorry.”I forced a small smile, even though my heart felt unbearably heavy. “Yes, Dad. Please take your medicine on time. And keep me updated about Kuya, okay?”He simply nodded, unable to say more. That was enough for me to know he was trying to stay strong—for me.I stepped out of the room, my shoulders slumped as if the weight of everything was finally crushing me. I wasn’t just tired. I felt shattered.As I walked through the hallway, I suddenly stopped when I noticed Fabien sitting on a stainless steel bench nearby.“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked, slightly startled. “Isn’t it dangerous? You’re alone.”“I have a gun,” he replied casually.“That doesn’t make it better,”

Chapter 13

Catie felt a deep, painful pity as she took one last look at her older brother before turning away. “Take care, my child,” Romeo told her. “Don’t forget the USB. Keep me updated right away, okay? And… I’m sorry.” She forced a smile. “Yes, Dad. Please take your medicine, and let me know about my brother, alright?” Romeo simply nodded in response, so she stepped out of the room. Her shoulders felt heavy, as if they were about to collapse—not just slumped, but completely weighed down as she walked. She stopped when she noticed Fabien sitting alone on a stainless steel bench. “Hey, what are you doing here? Isn’t it dangerous for you to be alone?” “I have a gun.” “Even so. You should just stay in the car. Come on, let’s go home.” He stood up. “Maybe you want to hold my arm for support.” She looked up at him, confused. “You look so tired and sad,” he added. She let out a long sigh. “My brother still hasn’t woken up. The doctor said he only has seventy-two hours. If he doesn’t wake

Chapter 14

Catie’s farewell to the household staff she had grown close to was filled with deep sadness. They had treated her well, and leaving them wasn’t easy. She went straight to the hospital afterward so her father could finally get some rest. She spent the entire day watching television, mostly dramas. She found herself relating too much to the shows, and strangely, she kept seeing Fabien in the lead actor of an old series, Innocenti de Ti. The actor didn’t even look like him, but somehow, it felt like Fabien’s face was plastered in every corner of the room.She knew she should forget him quickly. After all, he had left her alone with nothing but a small sticky note with a number on it. She saved it, but she doubted she would ever call. She also still had the USB, though the file was corrupted. It was useless now, yet she kept it anyway.Two weeks felt like only two days. Fabien had already decided it was over. Maybe that was for the best, so she wouldn’t invest any more emotions in him.Wa