جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 9

The Contract "You have two choices, Cael." Tahimik ang buong study habang nakaupo si Davon Valcieri sa likod ng malaking mahogany desk. Sa labas ng floor-to-ceiling windows, makikita ang city lights na parang libo-libong bituin na nakakalat sa madilim na kalangitan. But there was no trace of admiration on the face of the man standing in front of him. Caelvaris Ethaniel Valcieri. Twenty-nine years old. Youngest CEO of Valcieri Holdings. A billionaire. Powerful. Untouchable. Sa business world, kilala siya bilang isang lalaking hindi marunong umatras sa kahit anong laban. Pero ngayong gabi, for the first time, parang may taong nakahanap ng paraan para siya ang ma-corner. Cael crossed his arms. "What are my choices?" Dahan-dahang sumandal si Davon sa kanyang upuan. "Marry the woman I've chosen for you..." Huminto siya sandali. "...or lose Valcieri Holdings." Napatawa nang mahina si Cael. Not because it was funny. But because he couldn't believe what

Xyena's POV I woke up before sunrise. Hindi dahil maaga akong sanay gumising. Actually, halos wala akong tulog. Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered the photograph of Astaroth Valcieri. The missing woman. The woman whose picture was somehow in my grandmother's possession. And most of all, I remembered Cael's reaction when he saw it. He wasn't just surprised. He looked scared. And that scared me even more. Dahan-dahan akong bumangon at lumapit sa malaking window ng bedroom. The city was still quiet. I wrapped my arms around myself. "What are you hiding, Cael?" A knock suddenly came from the door. "Miss Ashworth?" I turned. "Yes?" "Breakfast is ready." "Thank you." I waited until the footsteps disappeared before changing. I stared at myself in the mirror. The wedding ring on my finger caught my attention. One year. That's all. But somehow, after only one night, it already felt complicated. Cael's POV I was already at the dinin

Cael's POV The entire drive back to the estate was silent. Hindi ako makapagsalita. Neither could Xyena. The letter from Astaroth was sitting between us, folded carefully inside its envelope. But somehow, it felt heavier than anything I had ever carried. "If they ever marry, the truth will return." Those words kept repeating inside my head. Why us? Why Xyena? And why did my grandfather seem to know more than he had ever told me? Pagdating namin sa estate, agad kong napansin na bukas ang main entrance. There were no guards outside. I frowned. "Something's wrong." Xyena looked at me. "How do you know?" "Because my grandfather never leaves the main entrance unguarded." I stepped out of the car. "Stay beside me." She nodded. We entered the mansion. Tahimik. Too quiet. "Lolo?" No answer. I walked toward the study. The door was slightly open. I pushed it. "Lolo?" Davon was standing beside the window. His back was facing us. "You're late." I frowned. "You to

Xyena's POVDarkness.That was the first thing I noticed.Then silence.My heart was pounding as I tried to understand what had happened.Someone had entered my room.Someone had covered my mouth.But before I could see their face—The lights came back on.I immediately turned around.No one.The door was wide open.I stood frozen beside the bed.My breathing was uneven."Cael..."I rushed out of my room."Cael!"No answer.I ran down the hallway.Then I saw him.He was coming from the opposite direction, wearing a black shirt, his expression tense."Xyena?"I ran toward him."There was someone in my room."His expression immediately changed."What?""Someone came inside.""Did you see who?""No."He stepped closer."Are you hurt?"I shook my head."No.""Are you sure?""Yes."He looked past me toward my room."Stay here."He walked inside.I followed him.The room looked completely normal.Nothing was broken.Nothing was missing.Except—I noticed something on my desk.A small black

Xyena's POVHindi ko alam kung ilang beses kong binasa ang message.“The truth isn't about one daughter. It's about both of them.”Both?Ivy and me?Impossible.I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the old photograph Daerion had recovered from the east wing.Two little girls.One was clearly Ivy.The other...looked like me.My hands trembled."Cael."He was standing beside the window, reading through the documents Daerion had brought.He looked at me."What?""Look."I handed him the photograph.His eyes narrowed."Where did this come from?""Daerion found it behind the portrait."He studied the two girls."That's Ivy.""And the other one?"He looked at me."I don't know."I swallowed."She looks like me."He didn't answer.That silence was enough."Cael..."He walked closer."Don't jump to conclusions.""But what if I'm connected to Astaroth too?""We'll find out.""How?"He placed the photograph on the table."DNA would answer the question."I looked at him."You're serious?""