Nina Mason Seder thought she knew what family meant—until her own family put a price on her future. At eighteen, Nina is an ordinary Grade 12 student whose world revolves around school, friends, and the adoptive parents who raised her after she was orphaned. Marsha Mason and Primitivo Seder gave Nina everything she needed growing up. A home. An education. A comfortable life. So when their family business begins collapsing under massive financial pressure, Nina believes she should help them however she can. What she never expects is to become the price of their survival. Without asking for her permission, her adoptive parents arrange her marriage to the son of their wealthy and influential business partner. Nina refuses. But her refusal means nothing. The marriage agreement has already been made. To Marsha and Primitivo, Nina is their daughter—but when their company is on the verge of collapse, she becomes their greatest bargaining piece. With nowhere else to go and no relatives to turn to, Nina is forced to face the terrifying reality that the people she trusted most may have never truly seen her as their daughter. Then she meets the man she is supposed to marry. Cold. Powerful. Unapproachable. He has no interest in marrying a girl chosen by his family, and Nina quickly realizes that he has secrets of his own. He doesn't promise her love. She doesn't ask for it. Their only agreement is simple: They will survive the marriage on their own terms. But living under the same roof changes everything. The arguments become lingering glances. The resentment slowly becomes understanding. And the two strangers who were forced together begin discovering a connection neither of them expected. Just when Nina starts believing that perhaps her unwanted marriage could become something real, she discovers a secret that threatens everything. The financial crisis surrounding her adoptive parents may not be the whole truth. The business agreement may have been planned long before Nina knew about it. And the reason she was chosen for this marriage may have nothing to do with saving a company. Someone knows something about Nina's biological family. Someone has been hiding the truth from her. And the man she is beginning to fall for may know more than he is willing to tell her. Now Nina must decide whether to continue trusting the people who raised her—or finally choose herself. Because the marriage that was supposed to be her prison may become the key to discovering who she really is. But when the truth finally comes out, Nina will have to face the hardest question of all: Was she ever truly adopted out of love, or was she always meant to become someone else's bride?

CHAPTER 1 ''Tarra Maniego is one of the most beautiful girl at the campus where she's currently studying.But she has to hide this beautiful face of hers.Para hindi siya pinagkakaguluhan ng mga manliligaw at mga kaaway na babae dahil feeling nila inaagaw niya attention ng mga crush nila. Gusto niya ng tahimik na environment.'' Gaya ng ibang kabataan ay may mga problema din siya sa family niya. Dahil hindi rin naman sila mayaman. Marami pang utang ang nanay niya kung kani-kanino na hindi na niya malaman kung papano nito mababayaran. ''Puro sugal kasi inaatupag minsan gusto na din niya talaga magrebelde sa nanay niya.'' Kaya pinapapanget niya din itsura niya ay dahil baka kung ano pang maisip ng nanay niya na gawin o ipagawa sakanya.' "Baka maisipan pa ng nanay niya na maibenta siya sa isang matandang mayamang madali matsugi." ''Hindi naman sa hinuhusgahan niya ang nanay niya pero parang ganon na nga." Tarra!uy! Pagulat na tawag ni kiesha sakanya ang kaibigan niyang classmate niya. Na nagpagising sa pag-iisip niyang lumilipad. "Kiesha,andyan ka pala.Nakakagulat ka naman!Grabe ka! Eh papanong hindi ka magugulat girl,jusko lutang na lutang ka naman! "Ilang truck ba ng problema yan at dala dala mo hanggang dito sa school kaloka ka."Lagi ka na lang lutang. "Ano nanaman bang iniisip mo? nanay mo nanaman na sandamukal ang kautangan." Kilalang kilala mo talaga ako girl hahahaha minsan naiisip ko psychic ka ba? Nababasa mo lagi iniisip ko eh.