جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 100

Xian’s POVHonestly, things have been a lot more peaceful lately. At ang gaan sa pakiramdam. I’ve come to accept that she really is the one I’m bound to marry—because of the contract, and wala na rin naman akong ibang pagpipilian. I figured it’s far better to treat her with kindness than to keep blaming her or saying hurtful words every single day. Truth be told, naaawa na rin ako sa kanya. It feels right to be decent, at least para hindi na rin ako nakakaramdam ng guilt tuwing naaalala ko kung gaano kasama ang pakikitungo ko sa kanya noon.While I was buried in work at the office, she suddenly crossed my mind. I pictured her at the anniversary party—wearing that elegant Emerald green gown, her hair and makeup done perfectly. She looked truly beautiful. I noticed how everyone’s eyes followed her, how people admired her the moment she walked in. She really is beautiful, no doubt about that, I admitted to myself. Pero… there is always that big but at the back of my head. I can never se

Xian’s POV To be honest, halos wala akong naging tulog buong magdamag kagabi. I kept checking on her every single hour, wiping her forehead with cool cloth hanggang sa dahan-dahang humupa ang init ng lagnat niya. I woke up extra early this morning— kahit puro idlip lang ang naging tulog ko—just to carefully prepare something light and nutritious that would help her regain her strength. Pero hindi ko na sinabi ang tungkol dito sa kanya. I didn’t want her to feel guilty or pressured, or think I was looking for gratitude in return. Pinili ko ring huwag pumasok sa opisina kahit may mga mahahalaga akong kailangang gawin doon; I’d rather set everything aside and stay right here, para masiguro kong tuluyan siyang gagaling at magiging ligtas. Naaawa kasi talaga ako sa kaniya. We were sitting quietly in the room, while Im feeding her, sharing small talk nang bigla kaming nabulabog ng malakas na sigawan at kaguluhan mula sa ibaba ng bahay. Moments later, one of the maids ran breathlessly to o

Xian’s POV My eyes stayed fixed on the passing scenery outside the car window, habang dahan-dahang bumabagsak ang bawat salitang binitawan ni Alexandra sa isipan ko. Sa una, parang ayaw pa ring pumasok sa sistema ko ang katotohanan—may parte pa rin sa akin na umaasa sa himala, na biglang bubuti ang lagay ng tatay ko, na magigising siya nang maayos at masisilayan pa niya ang araw ng kasal namin. Pero habang pinag-iisipan ko nang mabuti ang bawat punto niya, unti-unting gumuguho ang pader ng pag-asa na pilit kong pinanghahawakan. She’s right, I admitted to myself, a sharp pain stabbing through my chest. What if he takes his last breath before we even get the chance to arrange anything? What if he never wakes up at all? Doon ko muling naalala ang nakasaad sa kanyang huling habilin at testamento. It hurts to think that everything our family built over the years would just be given away to charity, at wala akong mamanahin—dahil lang sa kondisyong hindi ko natupad sa tamang panahon. N

Alexandra’s POVNakababad ako nang matagal sa loob ng bathtub, habang ang mainit na tubig ay dahan-dahang humahaplos sa balat ko. Napangiti ako nang mapait—isang ngiting puno ng lungkot na hindi ko namalayang namuo na pala sa aking mga labi. Paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa isip ko ang nangyaring kasal kanina, at hindi ko pa rin lubos na maunawaan ang lahat. Ako na pala ang ikinasal? Sa isang bilyonaryo pa, sa lalaking tinitingala at pinapangarap ng karamihan. Pero bakit ganito ang pakiramdam ko? Ang kasal namin ay parang isang mabilis na transaksyon lang—walang halaga. Naiintindihan ko naman ang dahilan, alam kong kailangang madaliin ang lahat para sa kalagayan ng tatay niya… pero bakit kahit tanggap ko na sa isip ko, masakit pa rin sa puso ko? Paulit-ulit kong sinasabi sa sarili ko: kinasal ka lang naman para sa pera. Lahat ng ito ay dahil lang sa pangangailangan at salapi.Habang nagpapahinga ako roon, bigla kong narinig ang mahinang kaluskos mula sa labas ng banyo. Parang bumukas ang

Xian’s POV I kept asking myself over and over—was this the right thing to do? Bringing her back here, into this house, into our room? Dapat sana ay nagmatigas na lang talaga ako at inihatid na siya nang tuluyan pauwi sa kanila, kahit pa sabihin ng nanay niya na responsibilidad ko siya. But this is far more difficult than I ever expected. She is a woman—soft, warm, and not just beautiful in an ordinary way. She carries this quiet, burning allure that wraps around you the moment you look at her. No matter how many times I repeated to myself that I would never give in to someone like her, that she meant nothing… I am still a man. And every man has his breaking point, especially when standing before someone whose face and body seem almost carved to perfection. I even thought of taking the easy way out. I would just adjust—ako na lang ang aalis. I could move my things to another room at the far end of this mansion, put walls between us so I wouldn’t have to feel this pull anymore. I wa