scanned the area. Her manager, Ming, was beside her, checking the schedule for the day. Richard,

now, without much rest, they were heading straight to Zambales, where the next p

breath hitch wasn'

e hotel.

Hotel a

ike a stone tossed in still water, c

name "Sandoval" in bold print, she stared at it for a long time, unable to tear her eyes away.

t was close, she w

he did

ver wanted to

f Manila. The long drive ahead lulled her into a restless sleep, while Ri

s later, they arrived

furniture screamed wealth and status. And that view-an island coastline that looked straig

felt lucky to

ntruder walking into a past

he scheduled mall show. The moment she lay down, anxiety pressed h

lready wild by the time they arrived-fans screaming, taking photos, waving placards with her

iness in her chest t

views-before they were whisked back to the hotel for a quick rest befo

irror, fixing her hair and doing he

ally doing here?

own that hugged her figure perfectly. It made her f

ead, jazz music filled the air, and people in suits and

y, grabbing a glass of w

oon as she entered, camera flashes sparked. She smil

n-she s

u

d, and devastatingly more handsome than she remembered. Broader.

eyes l

ond, but it felt like

quickly, her h

man she loved. And nothing

room for Ming but

r, swirling the wine she couldn

elf as Addison Sandoval. She gave a short speech, then introduc

ntlemen, Mr. D

holding her breath or had si

r with a warm smile. "Hi, Selene! I'm Addiso

" Selene replied w

e here

's somewher

around, then w

dropped as Duke

eep you company," Addison said cheerfully, befo

mile. He didn

em both a wink

ike the whole room

le. "You don't have to stay. I'll just k

le behind when I'm told to take care of them. I

ht. That wasn't

eant

d her gaze

he snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Spotlight

s not

ing without a singl

ly, but firmly-and led her t

ched. Came

dn't

one arm around her wa

and returned to her spot. She saw that her manager had ret

s now surrounded by guests, smiling, nodding, a

e toward him, but his eyes n

n't co

en a g

er fingers tightening

hat dance meant to her, it clea

ly he carried himself, how his laughter seemed genu

her manager and whispered, "I think

e, too distracted to notice the shado

m the function hall, e

him, to talk to him again after all these

, they di

the

rp, cold, and laced wi

some

e than the si