Obsession

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

The Black Rose

The rain had finally stopped by morning, but the heaviness inside Pamela Alarcon’s chest remained.

She stood motionless near the balcony outside her bedroom while staring at the gray Manila skyline. Below the mansion, security guards continued their usual patrol, but instead of making her feel safe, their presence only reminded her how vulnerable she truly was.

Because Damien had already entered the house once.

And no amount of security could erase that terrifying truth.

Pamela wrapped her arms around herself tightly as the cold wind brushed against her skin.

She barely slept again.

Every creak of the mansion.

Every shadow.

Every vibration from her phone.

Everything made her anxious.

Behind her, the black rose still rested inside a glass vase on top of her vanity table.

She should have thrown it away hours ago.

Burned it.

Destroyed it.

But somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to touch it again.

It felt cursed.

Like Damien himself had already invaded every corner of her life.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Miss Pamela?” the maid called softly from outside. “Mr. Adrian is waiting downstairs.”

Pamela closed her eyes briefly.

Adrian.

For some reason, simply hearing his name slightly calmed the storm inside her chest.

“I’ll be down in a minute.”

After changing into a fitted beige blouse and white trousers, Pamela finally left her room.

The mansion smelled faintly of brewed coffee and fresh flowers as she descended the staircase. Morning sunlight now illuminated the luxurious interior, creating an illusion of normalcy that Pamela desperately wanted to believe.

But nothing felt normal anymore.

The moment she entered the dining area, she immediately saw Adrian Villafuerte seated near the long table while reading something on his tablet.

He looked calm.

Too calm.

Even after everything that happened last night.

Adrian glanced up the moment he sensed her presence.

“You should eat something.”

Pamela quietly sat across from him.

“I’m not hungry.”

“You haven’t eaten since last night.”

Pamela looked away. “I said, I’m fine.”

Adrian studied her silently for several seconds.

“You keep saying that even when it’s obvious you’re not.”

Pamela clenched her jaw slightly.

She hated how easily Adrian could read her.

The maid quietly placed breakfast in front of her before leaving them alone again.

Neither of them spoke immediately.

Tension lingered heavily between them.

Not just because of Damien—

But because of the truth, Adrian had hidden from her for months.

Pamela stared blankly at the untouched coffee in front of her.

“You should’ve told me sooner.”

Adrian sighed softly as if he already expected the topic.

“I know.”

“You let me fall in love with you while hiding the fact that your brother was the man who ruined my life.”

Pain briefly crossed Adrian’s face.

“I never wanted to hurt you.”

“But you still lied.”

Adrian leaned back slightly against his chair.

“I was trying to protect you.”

Pamela laughed bitterly.

“By hiding the truth?”

“If you knew Damien was my brother from the beginning, you would’ve pushed me away.”

Pamela looked directly at him.

“Maybe I should have.”

Silence instantly filled the room.

Heavy.

Sharp.

Painful.

Adrian’s expression hardened slightly, but his voice remained calm.

“Do you regret us?”

Pamela froze.

Because despite everything—

Despite the lies—

Despite the fear—

She still loved him.

And that was the problem.

Pamela slowly looked down.

“I don’t know anymore.”

Adrian stared at her quietly before finally standing from his seat.

“Finish your breakfast,” he said softly. “We’ll go somewhere afterward.”

Pamela frowned slightly. “Where?”

“Somewhere safer.”

Her chest tightened.

“You think Damien will come back?”

Adrian’s gaze darkened dangerously.

“I know he will.”

Meanwhile, across the city—

Damien Villafuerte lazily swirled whiskey inside his glass while watching footage displayed across the massive monitor inside his penthouse office.

His dark eyes focused entirely on Pamela’s face, shown through one of the hidden cameras installed outside the Alarcon mansion.

Beautiful.

Even terrified, she still looked beautiful.

Damien slowly smiled.

“She still remembers me,” he murmured softly.

A man standing beside him looked visibly uncomfortable.

“Sir Damien… maybe this obsession is becoming unhealthy.”

Damien glanced at him coldly.

“Unhealthy?”

The assistant swallowed nervously.

“She already filed a restraining order years ago—”

“And?” Damien interrupted calmly.

“She clearly doesn’t want contact with you anymore.”

Damien suddenly laughed.

A soft.

Dangerous laugh.

“You think love disappears just because someone asks for distance?”

The assistant immediately lowered his gaze.

Damien stood before slowly approaching the massive windows overlooking Manila.

“She belongs to me.”

His voice remained calm.

But beneath that calmness hid something terrifying.

“She just forgot.”

The assistant remained silent.

Damien suddenly smirked again.

“Adrian always ruins everything.”

At the mention of his older brother, darkness instantly filled Damien’s eyes.

“All my life…” he murmured bitterly, “he always takes what’s mine.”

By noon, Adrian brought Pamela to one of his private condominiums located in BGC.

Unlike his massive mansion, this place felt quieter.

More hidden.

Minimalist interiors decorated the luxurious penthouse while floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline.

Pamela slowly walked inside while observing the unfamiliar surroundings.

“No one knows about this place except a few trusted people,” Adrian explained calmly.

Pamela crossed her arms. “Including Damien?”

Adrian’s jaw tightened slightly.

“No.”

Something about the hesitation in his answer bothered her.

Pamela placed her bag down before turning toward him.

“You still think you can control him, don’t you?”

Adrian loosened his tie slightly.

“I know how Damien thinks.”

“That doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

For several seconds, Adrian remained silent.

Then he quietly said—

“You don’t understand how dangerous he becomes when he’s obsessed.”

Pamela stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re saying that to me?”

Adrian immediately regretted the words.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

Pamela looked away bitterly.

“No. You’re right.” Her voice softened painfully. “I probably understand him better than anyone.”

Adrian stepped closer.

“Pamela—”

“He violated me, Adrian.”

The words instantly silenced the room.

Pamela’s breathing became uneven again.

“He took away years of my life.” Tears slowly filled her eyes. “Do you know how hard it was for me to even let someone touch me again?”

Adrian’s expression darkened with guilt.

“You think I don’t hate myself for what my brother did?”

Pamela wiped her tears angrily.

“But you still protected him.”

Adrian remained silent.

And his silence gave her the answer she already knew.

Because despite everything—

Damien was still his brother.

No matter how twisted.

No matter how dangerous.

Blood remained blood.

Pamela suddenly felt exhausted.

Emotionally.

Mentally.

Physically.

She slowly sat near the couch before covering her face tiredly.

“I’m so tired.”

Adrian watched her quietly before approaching slowly.

Then carefully—

gently—

He knelt in front of her.

Pamela slowly looked up.

Adrian reached for her trembling hands.

“I know you hate me right now.”

Pamela said nothing.

“But I swear to you…” His voice softened deeply. “I will never let him touch you again.”

Something inside Pamela painfully weakened.

Because Adrian looked sincere.

Too sincere.

And that only made loving him more dangerous.

That evening, Pamela decided to shower while Adrian took an important business call from the living room.

Warm water poured against her skin as she closed her eyes tightly.

But even inside the bathroom—

She couldn’t relax.

Damien’s voice kept haunting her mind.

You belong to me.

Pamela immediately opened her eyes.

“No,” she whispered shakily.

She quickly finished showering before wrapping a towel around herself.

The bathroom mirror had slightly fogged from steam.

Pamela wiped part of it absently.

Then froze.

Written across the mirror were the words—

MISS ME?

Pamela’s blood ran cold.

Her breathing stopped completely.

“No…”

The message slowly dripped downward like fresh ink.

Her entire body began trembling violently.

“ADRIAN!”

The bathroom door instantly burst open.

Adrian rushed inside immediately.

“What happened?”

Pamela shakily pointed toward the mirror.

The moment Adrian saw the message, his entire expression darkened dangerously.

“Impossible,” he muttered.

Pamela backed away in panic.

“H-He’s here…”

Adrian immediately checked the bathroom windows.

Locked.

No signs of forced entry.

Nothing.

But the message remained there.

Mocking them.

Watching them.

Pamela suddenly felt dizzy.

Her knees weakened.

Before she could fall completely, Adrian quickly caught her.

“Hey.”

Pamela gripped his arms tightly.

“He found me.”

Adrian’s jaw clenched hard.

“No one entered this penthouse.”

“Then explain that!”

For the first time—

Adrian had no answer.

Because somehow—

Damien had already invaded the safest place Adrian could offer her.

Hours later, security teams completely searched the entire penthouse.

Nothing suspicious was found.

No fingerprints.

No break-in.

No evidence.

It was as if the message magically appeared.

Pamela sat silently near the couch while wrapping herself tightly in a blanket.

She felt numb.

Adrian stood near the windows while speaking angrily on the phone.

“I want every security footage reviewed again,” he coldly ordered. “Every single camera.”

Silence followed from the other line.

“I don’t care how impossible it seems. Find something.”

Pamela quietly watched him.

Adrian rarely lost control emotionally.

But tonight—

His anger was obvious.

After ending the call, Adrian ran a hand through his hair frustratedly.

“This doesn’t make sense.”

Pamela hugged herself tighter.

“He’s playing with us.”

Adrian looked at her immediately.

“No. He’s provoking me.”

Pamela’s chest tightened slightly.

Because she knew Adrian was right.

This wasn’t only about obsession anymore.

This was also about rivalry.

Damien wanted Adrian angry.

Jealous.

Unstable.

Just like him.

Pamela slowly stood.

“I should leave.”

Adrian frowned immediately.

“What?”

“He’s targeting you because of me.”

“I don’t care.”

“But I do.”

Adrian walked toward her slowly.

“You think leaving will stop him?”

Pamela remained silent.

Because deep inside—

She already knew the answer.

Damien wouldn’t stop.

Not until he completely destroyed them.

Adrian stopped directly in front of her.

“You’re safer with me.”

Pamela looked up at him quietly.

Then softly asked, haunting her mind since last night.

“What if one day… you become just like him?”

The question instantly froze the atmosphere between them.

Adrian stared at her silently.

Long enough to make Pamela nervous.

Then finally—

He answered quietly.

“I won’t.”

But something about the darkness behind his eyes made Pamela wonder—

If even Adrian himself truly believed that.

Later that night, Pamela couldn’t sleep again.

The penthouse remained eerily quiet except for distant city sounds outside.

She slowly walked toward the kitchen to get water.

But the moment she entered the dimly lit space—

she froze.

A black rose rested on the counter.

Fresh.

Beautiful.

Terrifying.

Pamela immediately stepped backward.

“No…”

Beside the rose sat a small folded note.

Her hands trembled violently as she opened them.

You look prettier when you sleep beside my brother.

Pamela instantly covered her mouth.

Fear completely consumed her chest again.

A sudden vibration echoed from her phone.

Unknown Number.

Pamela stared at it in horror.

Then slowly answered.

Silence greeted her first.

Then—

Damien’s soft chuckle.

“Did you like my gift?”

Pamela’s entire body shook.

“How did you get in here?”

“I told you before,” Damien whispered smoothly. “You can’t hide from me.”

“Stay away from me.”

“But I missed you.”

Pamela’s breathing became uneven.

“You’re insane.”

Damien laughed softly.

“Maybe.” His voice darkened slightly. “But you still remember me every night, don’t you?”

Pamela instantly ended the call.

Tears filled her eyes again.

Moments later, Adrian entered the kitchen after hearing movement.

The moment he saw Pamela crying beside the black rose—

His expression immediately changed.

“He called again?”

Pamela nodded weakly.

Adrian grabbed the note aggressively before reading it.

Something dangerous instantly entered his eyes.

Without warning—

He punched the kitchen counter violently.

Pamela flinched.

The loud crack echoed across the room.

Blood immediately dripped from Adrian’s knuckles.

But Adrian barely seemed to notice.

“He wants a war?” Adrian muttered coldly.

Pamela stared at him fearfully.

Because for the first time—

She saw something terrifying in Adrian Villafuerte.

Not calmness.

Not control.

But rage.

Pure.

Violent.

Rage.

And suddenly—

Pamela realized something horrifying.

Damien wasn’t the only dangerous Villafuerte brother.