Chapter Fifteen
2334 Words
IT'S been seven days since the revelation. Seven days since Jace found out the truth. Seven days of silence.
Walang text. Walang call. Walang sign from Jace.
Si Luna—she's been staying at Hart Estate. Hindi bumalik sa penthouse niya. Para hindi siya makita ng media. Hindi makita ng nga friends niya.
She’s been hiding, grieving and waiting.
Every day, she checks her phone. Hoping. Praying. Begging the universe na mag-text si Jace. Na mag-reach out ito sa kanya.
Pero wala.
Dead silence.
Ang mundo sa labas tuloy-tulog lang. Pero ang mundo niya para itong huminto sa pag-ikot simula no’ng araw na nalaman lahat ni Jace ang totoo.
Dumating ang ika-walong araw. Naka-upo si Luna sa balcony ng guest room, tulala sa kawalan. Kumatok si Don Felix at pumasok dala ang tray ng pagkain na madalas ay hindi naman nagagalaw ng apo.
Luna, iha," boses ni Don Felix. "Pwede ba akong pumasok?"
"Come in, Lolo," sagot ni Luna nang walang sigla.
Inilapag ng matanda ang tray at lumapit sa kanya. "Kumain ka muna. Hindi ka kumakain ng maayos. You need strength."
"Wala akong gana, Lolo," pag-amin ni Luna. For the past week, halos hindi siya kumakain o natutulog. "Lolo, what if he never forgives me? What if I lost him forever?"
Hinawakan ni Don Felix ang kanyang kamay nang may pag-alo. "Then you'll survive. You'll heal. Masakit. Very painful. But you'll survive. Kasi you're a Hart. We survive. We endure. We rise again."
"But I don't want to just survive," basag ang boses na sabi ni Luna habang muling umaagos ang luha. "I want to be happy. I want to be with him. I want—" Hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin sa tindi ng sakit
Niyakap siya nang mahigpit ni Don Felix.
"I know, iha," bulong niya. "I know. But some things—we can't control. We can only control ourselves. Our actions. Our choices moving forward."
Tumango si Luna. Pero ang puso niya hindi parin nababawasan ang sakit na nararamdaman nito.
---
Meanwhile.
Sullivan Corporation.
Si Jace—he's been throwing himself into work. Meetings. Projects. Paperwork.
Trying to forget. Trying to numb the pain.
Pero hindi gumana. Every corner of the office reminds him of Celeste. Of Luna. Same person. Different masks.
Ang desk niya—naalala niya kung paano mag-organize si Celeste. Perfect. Efficient. Color-coded.
Ang pantry—naalala niya kung paano mag-brew si Celeste ng coffee. Exactly how he likes it. Black. Hot. Italian roast.
Ang conference room—naalala niya kung paano mag-prepare si Celeste ng presentations. Flawless. Professional. Beautiful.
Everything reminds him of her.
And every memory ay may kasamang pain. Betrayal. Anger.
But also—longing. Missing her. Wanting her back.
Ang emotions niya—conflicted. Sobrang magulo.
Binasag ni Atty. Mendoza ang katahimikan sa opisina ni Jace. "Jace, we need to talk. About your father."
"About what?" tanong ni Jace, cold at professional.
"Don Ricardo is making moves. He heard about what happened. About Luna. About the revelation. And he's using it," paliwanag ng abogado. "He's planning to accelerate the merger. He's threatening Hart Industries. Saying that since you and Luna had a relationship—even though it was under false pretenses—the engagement is still valid. The marriage should proceed immediately."
Napatayo si Jace sa galit. "What? That's insane. We're not getting married."
Inilapag ni Atty. Mendoza ang mga dokumento. "He's already filed legal papers. He's claiming breach of contract if the marriage doesn't happen within sixty days. At ang penalty—full acquisition of Hart Industries. Zero compensation.”
Dumilim ang mukha ni Jace habang binabasa ang mga documents na binigay ni Atty. Mendoza.
"He's threatening to destroy them," bulong ni Jace. "He's using the situation to destroy Luna's family."
"Yes," sagot ni Atty. Mendoza. "Unless the marriage happens. Or unless we find a way to void the contract completely."
Napatahimik si Jace at malalim na nag-isip.
Luna, she tried to warn him about this. She tried to protect her family. At ngayon, because of the mess they're in, her family is in danger.
"What are our options?" tanong ni Jace.
"Limited," sagot ni Atty. Mendoza. "We can fight it legally. But it'll take months. Maybe years. At in the meantime, Don Ricardo can cause damage. Freeze assets. Tank stock prices. Hurt Hart Industries badly."
"Or?" tanong ni Jace.
"Or you proceed with the marriage," sagot ni Atty. Mendoza. "Within sixty days. Fulfill the contract. Save Hart Industries."
"Basically, I'm forced to marry Luna," sabi ni Jace. "Whether I want it or not."
"I'm sorry, Jace," sabi ni Atty. Mendoza. "But yes. Unless we find another option."
Tumahimik si Jace habang nag-iisip parin kung ano ang dapat nitong gawin.
Luna. The woman who lied to him. Who deceived him. Who broke his trust.
But also—the woman he fell in love with. The woman who made him laugh. The woman who saw past his walls.
The woman who—despite everything—he still loves.
Damn it.
He still loves her.
"Let me think about it," sabi ni Jace. "Give me time."
Tumango si Atty. Mendoza at tuluyan na itong umalis.
Naiwan si Jace mag-isa sa loob ng opisina niya. Kinuha niya ang phone. Nag-scroll sa messages.
May saved messages siya. From Celeste. From before everything fell apart.
*"Good morning! Don't forget your nine AM meeting. Coffee is ready on your desk."*
*"You did great today. Proud of you."*
*"Thank you for dinner. Best night ever."*
*"I love you."*
The last message was sent the night before the revelation.
I love you.
Did she mean it?
Or was it part of the lie?
Pero naalala niya—yung mga mata niya when she said it. Yung sincerity. Yung fear. Yung vulnerability.
That wasn't fake.
He knows acting. He knows manipulation. He's seen it in business. In society. In his father.
But Luna—when she said I love you—that was real.
Damn it.
He believes her.
Despite everything. Despite the lies. Despite the pain.
He believes her.
---
Nakatanggap si Luna ng tawag mula kay Atty. Suarez. "Luna, we have a problem. Don Ricardo is forcing the marriage. He filed legal papers. Sixty days. Or Hart Industries will be destroyed."
Nanlumo si Luna. "So I have to marry Jace. Whether he wants to or not. Whether he forgives me or not."
"Yes," sagot ni Atty. Cruz. "To save your family's company, yes."
Tumahimik si Luna.
Marry Jace. The man she loves. But under force. Under threat. Without love. Without forgiveness.
That's worse than not marrying him at all.
"What if I refuse?" tanong ni Luna.
"Then thousands of employees lose their jobs," sagot ni Atty. Suarez. "Your grandfather's legacy—destroyed. Hart Industries—gone. Can you live with that?"
Tumahimik si Luna. Can she?
"I need to talk to Lolo," sabi niya.
Dinala ni Luna ang balita sa kanyang Lolo. Pareho silang napatitig sa kawalan. Ang tanging paraan para maisalba ang kabuhayan ng libu-libong empleyado at ang legacy ng mga Hart ay ang ituloy ang kasal.
Nag-dilim ang mukha ni Don Felix. "Don Ricardo is playing dirty. Very dirty."
"Ano po ang gagawin natin?" tanong ni Luna.
Huminga si Don Felix ng malalim. "We have two choices. Fight—legal battle, long, expensive, uncertain. Or comply—you marry Jace, fulfill the contract, save the company."
"But Lolo, si Jace—he hates me," hikbi ni Luna. "How can I marry someone who hates me?"
"You won't be the first person to marry without love," malungkot na sagot ni Don Felix. "It's a sacrifice, iha. For the family. For the legacy.”
"But it's not fair," sabi ni Luna. Tears streaming. "It's not fair to me. It's not fair to Jace. We're being forced. Manipulated."
"Life isn't fair, iha," malungkot na wika ni Don Felix. "But we make choices. Hard choices. Painful choices. For the greater good."
Marry Jace. Save the company. But live in a loveless marriage. Live with someone who resents her. Who doesn't trust her.
Or refuse. Destroy the company. Ruin thousands of lives. But be free.
What kind of choice is that?
"I need air," sabi ni Luna. Lumabas siya ng study.
Naglakad siya sa garden para makahinga, para makapag-isip pero tuloy-tuloy parin ang mga luhang naglalandas sa kaniyang mukha.
She's trapped.
Completely trapped.
There's no good option. No happy ending.
Just sacrifice. Just pain. Just duty.
---
Jace made a decision. He called Atty. Mendoza. "Set up a meeting. With Don Felix Hart. And Luna. Tomorrow. Here in my office. Ten AM."
"Are you sure?" naniniguradong tanong ni Atty. Mendoza.
"Yes," sagot ni Jace. "I'm sure. We need to talk. All of us. We need to figure this out."
"Okay. I'll arrange it."
Friday morning.
Ten AM.
Hart Estate car arrived sa Sullivan Corporation. Bumaba si Don Felix at Luna.
Si Luna—she looks better. She cleaned up. Nag-makeup. Nag-ayos. Simple pero presentable.
But her eyes—may takot at kaba pero umaasa parin siyang magiging maayos din ang lahat, na babalik sila sa dati kahit alam niyang malabo na itong mangyari.
They went up to the 30th floor.
Jace was waiting. Sa conference room. Not his office. Neutral ground. When Luna entered, their eyes met.
For a few seconds, walang nagsalita. Puno ng tensyon at hindi masabing pangungulila ang ang mga mata nila.
Then si Jace broke the silence.
"Sit," maikling utos ni Jace.
Umupo sila. Nasa dulo nang lamesa si Jace samantalang sila Don Felix at Luna ay nakaupo sa gilid nito.
May isa pang tao sa room. Si Atty. Mendoza.
"Thank you for coming," simula ni Jace. "I asked for this meeting because we need to address the situation. My father's threat. The forced marriage. The timeline."
Tumango si Don Felix. "We received the papers. Sixty days."
"Yes," sabi ni Jace. "And I've made a decision."
Napatigil si Luna at naghihintay sa mga susunod na sasabihin ni Jace.
"I'll marry Luna," sabi ni Jace. Flat. "As per the contract. To save Hart Industries. To stop my father's manipulation."
Gumaan ang loob ni Luna, pero agad din itong sinundan ng hapdi sa susunod na sinabi ni Jace..
"But," tuloy ni Jace, diretso ang tingin sa mga mata ni Luna. "This will be a business arrangement. Nothing more. We'll fulfill the contract. We'll present as a married couple publicly. But privately—we'll live separate lives. Separate rooms. Minimal interaction. This is to save your company. Not because I forgive you. Not because I want this. Understood?"
"Understood," mahinang sagot ni Luna
"We'll marry in sixty days," tuloy ni Jace. "Simple ceremony. No big production. After that, we maintain appearances for one year. Then we revisit. See if we can find legal grounds for annulment or divorce without destroying either company."
"That's acceptable," sabi ni Don Felix malungkot dahil alam niyang masasaktan ang apo niya, pero alam din niyang masakit din ito para sa Jace kaya naiintindiha niya ito.
Tumango si Jace. "Good. Atty. Mendoza will prepare the paperwork. Prenuptial agreement. Terms. Conditions. Everything legal and binding."
"Jace," maalumanay na tawag nito sa kaniya parang first time niya ulit itong kakausapin. "Can we talk? Privately? Please?"
Tumingin si Jace sa kanya may pag-aalinlangan pero kalaunan ay pumayag din ito.
"Five minutes," sabi niya. "Atty. Mendoza, Don Felix, please excuse us."
Lumabas na sila at naiwan sina Jace at Luna sa loob nang conference room..
"Jace," simula ni Luna. "Thank you. For doing this. For saving my family's company. I know you don't owe us anything. But—thank you."
"I'm not doing it for you," malamig na turan nito. "I'm doing it because thousands of innocent people will suffer if I don't. Employees. Families. They don't deserve to pay for our mistakes."
"I know," sabi ni Luna. "But still—thank you."
Tumahimik si Jace. Then—
“Did you mean it?" biglang tanong ni Jace, ang boses ay kakikitaan ng kahinaan. "When you said you love me. Did you mean it?”
Diretsong nakatingin si Luna sa mga mata nito saka niya ito sinagot.
"Yes," mabilis na sagot ni Luna. "Every word. Every time. I love you, Jace. I fell in love with you. Real. Deep. Painful love. At kahit galit ka sa akin, kahit hindi mo ako mapatawad—I'll always love you."
Nakita niya ang konting kislap sa mga mata ni Jace. Pero bigla rin itong nawala at bumalik sa walang emosyong mga mata.
"Love isn't enough," sabi niya. "Not without trust. Not without honesty."
"I know," sabi ni Luna. "And I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. For everything. For the lies. For the pain. For breaking your trust. Kung may way lang na bawiin ko—"
"But there isn't," putol ni Jace. "What's done is done. We move forward. As business partners. Contractual spouses. Nothing more."
Tumango na lamang si Luna, dahil alam niyang totoo naman ang mga sinabi nito.
"Okay," sagot niya. "If that's what you want. I'll respect it. But Jace—know this. I'll spend every day trying to earn back your trust. Trying to prove that my love is real. Kahit one year lang tayo together. Kahit loveless marriage ito. I'll try. I won't give up on us."
“Five minutes is up," pagtatapos ni Jace. "We should go back."
Tumango si Luna.
Don Felix and Atty. Mendoza returned to the conference room and they fnalized the arrangements.
Sixty days from now, they'll marry.
Not out of love.
But out of duty.
Out of sacrifice.
Out of necessity.
But Luna—she holds on to hope.
Hope that maybe, just maybe, within that one year, she can fix this.
She can earn back his trust.
She can prove her love.
And maybe—just maybe—they can have a real happy ending.
Not perfect.
Not without scars.
But real.
And that's worth fighting for.
No matter how long it takes.
- Writer
