Fire&,Lie

Chapter 16: The Queen Beside the King

Hindi na tahimik ang Villarreal Mansion. Sa bawat sulok, may abala: mga abogado na nagdadala ng makakapal na folders, accountants na nag-a-update ng financials, at mga bodyguard na halos hindi magkandaugaga sa pag-double check ng seguridad.

Gwen sat quietly sa gilid ng opisina ni JV, pero hindi siya mapakali. Nakatingin siya kay JV habang ito’y nakatayo sa harap ng malalaking salamin, hawak ang telepono, boses na malamig at mapanganib. Kahit nasa gitna ng gulo, ang presensya niya ay parang isang hari na walang kayang yumanig sa kanya.

“Freeze my assets?” JV’s tone was razor-sharp. “Let him try. Villarreal Holdings is untouchable.”

Pagkababa ng telepono, lumapit si Gwen. “JV, hindi siya nagbibiro. Papa ko… he has connections, he can make this worse. Kung tumuloy ang kaso, pwede ka talagang makulong.”

Dahan-dahang lumingon si JV sa kanya. Nang magtagpo ang mga mata nila, parang tinamaan siya ng kuryente. Lumapit ito, hawak ang kanyang baba, pinilit siyang tumingin sa kanya.

“Gwen, kahit anong gawin ng tatay mo… kahit sunugin niya ang buong mundo, hindi niya makukuha ka sa’kin. Do you hear me? Ikaw lang ang hindi niya pwedeng nakawin.”

Napasinghap siya. “Pero JV, nawawala na sa’yo ang lahat dahil sa akin…”

Nagdidilim ang mga mata nito, puno ng apoy. “No, Gwen. I’m not losing. I’m conquering. And you—” he pressed his forehead to hers, voice low but dangerous, “—you’re the reason I’ll win.”

The Court Summons

Kinabukasan, headline sa lahat ng balita:

“Billionaire JV Villarreal Faces Fraud and Embezzlement Charges — Possible Arrest Pending.”

Niyayanig ang stock market, investors nagpa-panic, at sa harap mismo ng Villarreal Tower, may mga nagpo-protesta.

Dumating ang summons — JV needed to appear in court.

Sa war room ng mansion, punong-puno ng mga abogado, accountants, at advisors. Maingay ang diskusyon, kanya-kanyang opinyon. Gwen sat still, listening. Pero habang tumatagal, lalo siyang nadidismaya.

Finally, bumangon siya at malakas na binagsak ang kamay niya sa mesa.

“Enough.”

Tahimik ang lahat. Lahat ng mata, nakatingin sa kanya.

“You’re talking about contracts, numbers, technicalities… pero wala ni isa sa inyo ang nakakakilala kay Papa. Hindi siya naglalaro ng patas. He bribes, he manipulates, he fabricates. Kahit anong katotohanan meron tayo, gagawan niya ng paraan para baliktarin.”

Tahimik ang mga abogado, halatang hindi makasagot. JV, however, leaned back on his chair, arms crossed, at nakatitig sa kanya na parang may nakikitang bago. A dangerous, proud smirk tugged at his lips.

“Go on, sweetheart,” bulong niya.

Huminga nang malalim si Gwen. “Kung ganun siya maglaro, then we need to fight smarter. Ako lang ang nakakakilala sa mga galaw niya. Kung gusto nating manalo, kailangan ninyo ako.”

Nag-umpisa na namang magprotesta ang mga abogado. “It’s too risky—” “She’ll be the target—”

Pero JV raised a hand, silencing them all. His voice was absolute. “She’s not a pawn in this war. She’s my queen. And if Gwen says she’s fighting by my side, then she fights.”

Nag-init ang mata ni Gwen, both from fear and pride. For the first time, hindi siya helpless. JV wasn’t just protecting her. He was raising her—making her his equal.

The Strategy

Magdamag silang dalawa ni JV nagtrabaho. Gwen revealed secrets ng business deals ng tatay niya, mga taong tinatago nito sa likod ng power, pati ang mga maduming taktika na gamit na gamit na ni Don Emilio. JV’s lawyers eagerly took notes, building their defense from Gwen’s knowledge.

One late night, habang nakayuko si Gwen sa laptop, rubbing her eyes, napabuntong-hininga siya. “JV… do you ever think this will end? Yung magigising tayo na walang laban, walang intriga… just peace?”

Lumapit si JV sa likod niya, hands resting on her shoulders, massaging them gently. “Peace isn’t given, Gwen. It’s taken. And I’ll take it for us.”

Umikot siya, tumingin sa kanya. “You sound like a king preparing for war.”

Bahagya itong ngumisi, dark and possessive. “That’s because I am. And you’re my queen. Together, we don’t just survive—we rule.”

The Bed Scene – Power and Devotion

That night, JV was fire.

Wala ng pasakalye, wala ng pinalambot. Binuhat siya nito papunta sa kama, lips crashing down on hers, kissing her hungrily, almost desperately.

“Mahal kita, Gwen,” he whispered hoarsely habang dinadama ang bawat bahagi niya. “And I’ll make sure you’ll never forget you belong to me.”

Her breath hitched as his hands explored her, his body pressing her into the mattress. Every kiss was a claim, every touch was possession.

“Do you feel this fire?” JV growled, lips trailing down her neck. “It’s not just desire. It’s power. You and I, Gwen—together, we’re unstoppable.”

She gasped, clutching his back, her voice breaking. “JV… you make me feel like I can fight the whole world.”

His lips captured hers again, fierce, dominant. “Because you can. With me, you can do anything. Hindi ka na maid, hindi ka pawn. You’re my queen—in my bed, in my empire, in my war.”

And when they moved