aced Xia in gratitude one last time

ng umaandar ang sinasakyan kong bus palayo s

like faded photographs, blending moments from my past with Dorian alongside blurry glimpses of the

tigue soon overcame me, and I slipped into an uneasy sleep. Faceless figures cr

ng. I instinctively placed my hand on

basta nandiyan ka anak may rason ako pa

fear of the unknown. I glanced down at the simple gold band ador

ang pagmamahal at tiwal

at honesty and time would

aged to save some money from my work at the local eatery, and Xia h

tructed the driver, "Kuya sa

my mind wandered through various thoughts. Gently resting my hand on

ang taxi sa gilid ng daan, hudyat

g nakalimutan ay inabot ko ang t

I said to

agpatuloy sa paglalakad patu

. This exclusive neighborhood was known for being

ry's most affluent businessmen, but my lo

n just a billio

ko kilala ang mga ito dahil palaging bago ang mga guwardiya sa village. Ito ang kanilang ginagawa para masigurong mai

ne Adhira Maximus," I gre

were trained to be that way—unable to engage in casual conversation, but rather focuse

et where I needed to

ed the tablet to them

n, makakapaso

nned from this location, and attempting to enter would be cons

raso, bigla akong na

kung saan kami nangarap bumuo ng pamilya

ng bahay namin?" h

r habang buhat ang mabigat kong bag. Hindi na ako nagpu

gkakataon ay pum

pened the car door w

so sa company ni Dorian. Iyon na lang ang paraan na naiisip ko para makita s

ero alam ko na despera

es, we arrived at m

MUM

t marvel at the impressive structure of the building. The compan

ressions of the people as I

angyari parang

hang kat

nasa ginto na nag

ng me, but I chose to ignore them as

sang manliit s

na lang ako n

t that I feel dizzy and nauseous is jus

s, gusto ko munang itago ang baby bump ko. Hindi ko ikinakahiy

alalaman ni Dorian. I can accept insults from them, but

ead down towards t

st. "Gusto ko sanang makausap si Dorian uhm–mm pwede

, na para bang may nasabi akong hindi k

hindi ko tatangkain,"

ko s'yang makaus

ve, huh?" the receptionis

aladkarin ni boss palabas ng c

" tila wala ako sa kanilang harapan

ng kasalanan nila sa'kin, ganoon ako kabait. Kinuha ko ang pa

the top floor, where Do

or, huminga ako nang malal

o, hudyat na narating ko na ang floor ku

ang lakas sa akin, humakba

tarya ng asawa ko. However, what hurt me was the disappointment I saw on her face. I can't blame them—that

w him better than anyone, galit siya sa'yo," s

w deep inside she still care for me, a

ko siyang makita, kahit sandali lang. Desperad

doors, steeling my nerves. My next w

lang kasi bumalik

sagutin ang tan

o ng pagkakataon makap

eyes– wanting to protect me, yet respecting my cho

someone's looking for him,

welling belly. A reminder of what was at stake - our

him - behind that impassive facade lay a volatile storm."D-Dorian..." My voice shook as I took a tentative step forward. "

rrible mistake