His Forgotten Bride

Chapter 3

The party continued as couples slowly filled the dance floor while Terrence’s parents swayed gracefully to the music in the center of the hall. I couldn’t help but smile—and envy them a little. It was their fiftieth anniversary today, yet the love in their eyes remained untouched by time.

“You’re drinking too much,” a deep voice whispered beside me.

I slowly glanced at him and smiled bitterly. “So this is forbidden too?” I let out a dry laugh before emptying another shot of whiskey.

I was probably already drunk because I was answering him so sharply without even feeling nervous. Alcohol always did this to me. It felt like opening the door to the room where I kept all my emotions locked away.

I had already lost count of how many drinks I’d had. All I knew was that I was trying to drown every ounce of frustration inside me—toward my husband, the necklace, and our marriage itself.

“Oh, hijo. Why don’t you dance with Alliyah? The night is getting deeper. It would be a waste not to enjoy yourselves,” Terrence’s father said when they returned to our table.

It was already past midnight.

“Alliyah’s tired, Dad,” Terrence answered simply while wrapping an arm around my shoulder affectionately.

I wanted to scoff, but I stopped myself. The truth was, he simply didn’t want to dance with me.

“Excuse me. I’ll just use the restroom,” I said politely to everyone, including my husband.

“I’ll come with you,” he immediately offered while helping me stand.

“I can handle it,” I interrupted and gently pushed him away to create some distance between us.

Even with his mask on, I still noticed the way his jaw tightened.

“I will go with you,” he said dismissively before guiding me through the hallway.

I bit my lower lip and let him lead me. Once we reached the restroom, he allowed me to enter alone. He leaned against the wall outside as if silently telling me he would wait there.

I almost laughed at the sight.

I did what I needed to do before fixing my makeup a little. I wasn’t the type who cared too much about appearances, but I still had an image to maintain.

Once satisfied, I finally stepped out of the restroom.

The moment I did, my knees almost gave out.

A bitter smile formed on my lips as I slowly walked away, leaving my husband behind—kissing another woman right outside the restroom.

Instead of returning to the table where Terrence’s parents were seated, I headed straight toward the mini bar at the side of the venue. I ordered a margarita and immediately drank it the second the bartender placed it in front of me, ignoring the lime and salt completely.

I ordered more and more until the entire room began spinning around me.

A small laugh escaped my lips when I realized several minutes had already passed, yet my husband still hadn’t come looking for me.

Couldn’t he find me?

Or was he simply too busy doing something else with her?

With that thought, I drank another shot.

I was about to order again when a man suddenly approached me and offered his hand. I stared at him through my half-lidded eyes. A black mask covered half of his face, but it wasn’t the mask that caught my attention.

It was his ocean-blue eyes.

“Why don’t you dance with me, gorgeous lady?” he asked in a low, masculine voice. “I swear it’s more fun than drowning yourself in alcohol.”

I couldn’t answer immediately and simply stared into his beautiful eyes.

I was about to speak when a strong arm suddenly wrapped around my waist possessively.

I closed my eyes and instinctively leaned against him. Just from his scent alone, I already knew it was my husband.

“You are hitting on my wife, mister,” Terrence said coldly.

Silence settled between them. The only thing I could hear was the distant music surrounding us.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw the masked man staring at me instead of Terrence.

“You don’t deserve someone like him,” he said softly before walking away.

I could feel Terrence’s fury through the heaviness of his breathing. I was certain that if I weren’t leaning against him, he would’ve chased the man down and killed him on the spot.

I simply closed my eyes again and allowed myself to remain trapped within his arms.

Carefully, he lifted me into his arms. I slowly opened my eyes once more.

Our gazes met.

I couldn’t read the emotions behind his expression, so I simply offered him a faint smile.

“No one deserves you better than me,” I whispered before finally drifting into oblivion.

I woke up feeling as though someone had smashed my head open with a hammer.

“F*ck,” I cursed while massaging my temples.

Slowly opening my eyes, I froze when I saw Terrence standing beside my bed. One hand was tucked inside his pocket while his jaw remained slightly clenched.

“Get up and eat. I’m leaving for work,” he said emotionlessly.

I blinked several times while staring at him in confusion.

What?

Was I hallucinating?

Was he actually talking to me first?

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” he asked with a frown.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and avoided his gaze.

“B-Be careful,” I muttered softly.

I heard him scoff.

Before I could react, he suddenly leaned down and gently held my chin, forcing me to look at him.

“Is that all?” he asked while staring directly into my eyes.

I swallowed nervously.

“W-What…” I trailed off.

What was I even supposed to say?

“Bring me something?” I added weakly.

He raised an eyebrow before slowly releasing me. I heard him curse under his breath as he brushed his fingers through his hair.

“What are you planning to do today? I heard you cleared your schedule,” he asked casually.

I quickly looked away as I remembered why I cleared my schedule this entire week.

“Nothing. I’ll just rest here. I’m tired from all the consecutive shoots,” I lied.

He stared at me silently.

“I-I’ll get ready and head downstairs to eat,” I said quickly before standing up and escaping into the bathroom.

The moment I faced the mirror, my cheeks immediately flushed red after noticing that I was already wearing comfortable home clothes.

He changed my clothes again.

I jolted when I heard a knock outside the bathroom door.

“What?” I asked softly.

“I’m leaving,” he informed me.

I didn’t answer immediately.

I heard his footsteps walking away, causing me to hurriedly open the door. He stopped walking and turned around with a frown.

“U-Uhm…” I bit my lower lip before meeting his gaze carefully. “Will you come home early later?”

He didn’t answer right away. He simply stared at me as if I were some complicated puzzle he was trying to solve.

“I’ll try,” he replied shortly before finally leaving the room.

I couldn’t stop myself from smiling as I stepped back inside the bathroom.

Maybe he remembered what today was too.

Maybe that was why he was acting nicer than usual.

I happily took a bath and fixed myself up. Even while still inside my room, I was already planning what dishes I would cook for dinner tonight.

Terrence may have been a Mafia Boss, but he still had his legal business to manage. He was the CEO of ABCD Construction Corporation—a leading engineering and infrastructure firm in the Philippines.

I blow-dried my hair before finally leaving my room.

I was smiling and softly humming while walking through the hallway when I suddenly froze after seeing a woman step out of Terrence’s bedroom.

All the happiness inside me disappeared instantly.

The memory from last night came rushing back the moment I saw her face.

She was the girl.

The same woman he was kissing outside the restroom.

A bitter smile slowly formed on my lips as I continued walking without a word.

On my way downstairs, I even passed Terrence’s right-hand man, Jeremy, heading upstairs.

At that moment, I already knew Terrence had ordered him to kill the girl.

“Oh, hija! Come eat already. I cooked a lot today,” Manang greeted warmly the moment she saw me.

I forced a smile and sat down at the dining table.

She must have noticed how lifeless I looked because she sat beside me and gently rubbed my shoulder.

“Are you alright?” she asked worriedly.

I smiled faintly and nodded.

“Did your husband greet you already?” she asked carefully.

I froze while holding the spoon.

My trembling fingers slowly loosened around it as I turned to look at her.

Despite the tear sliding down my cheek, I still forced myself to smile.

“I don’t think he remembers that today is our wedding anniversary…”