The days after the pamamanhikan blurred into a flurry of excitement, nervous laughter, and endless lists. For Sabina, it felt as though time itself had quickened, each sunrise nudging her closer to her eighteenth birthday—closer to her wedding day.
The Valencia household buzzed with constant movement. Ariane, Jude’s mother, became the unspoken general of the preparations, her sharp eyes scanning every detail, her hands working tirelessly. Paolo balanced her energy with calm practicality, visiting the parish priest and processing paperwork with quiet diligence. Princess, ever bright and excitable, threw herself into every task with gusto, often to Sabina’s amusement.
Sabina herself felt like she was drifting through a dream. At seventeen, she had once imagined her debut to be a celebratio
