Vixen Trap

"MARA DOXX—HOMEWRECKER? MISTRESS? OR VICTIM?" The flashing headline lit up every screen in the country. Phones. Televisions and all over social media platforms and feeds. Everywhere. Matunog na matunog ang pangalang Mara Doxx dahil sa kung anu-anong alegasyon patungkol sa kanya. A wildfire. Like a judgment. A sentence. Parang siya lang ang may kasalanan at may pagkakamali sa mga nangyari. Inside a dark hotel suite, the city lights bled through the glass windows. Alone. Cold. Distant. Very unforgiving. And there she was. The woman everyone wanted to destroy because of the sin she committed. She sat on the edge of the king-sized bed. Barefoot. She was still wearing last night's ruined makeup. Her lips were dry, eyes were swollen. Looking at her right now, the only word suites is miserable. A half-empty bottle of whiskey rested in her hand. The television played in front of her. Her own face plastered across the screen. Beautiful face. Perfect smile. Destroyed inside. "Vixen actress Mara Doxx remains silent amid allegations of being the mistress of Senator Lorgan Minor—" "Sources say the affair has been ongoing even after Minor's marriage to Sol Cayetano—" "Is this the end of Mara Doxx's career?" She can’t help but laugh. A bitter, broken sound. There are a lot of negative ones thrown at her. Stained her name. Fvck that love. Then threw the remote at the television. The screen cracked. But the noise inside her head didn't stop. Her mind clouded with the thought. How can she be okay? All she can do is love him. "Mara..." A hesitant voice came from the door. Her manager. Again. Always with bad news. She’s not ready for anything. Still not enough? There’s more? "Go away!" "Your parents are downstairs." That made her freeze. Her fingers tightened around the bottle. Her jaw clenched. Dahil kaya siya ay mapatingin. Ano ang ginagawa nila dito? "They said if you don't come home now..." A pause. Anne, the manager, swallowed hard. "...your father will disown you." No one dares to speak to break the long silence… Mara just stared at the shattered television. At her fractured reflection. At the woman she barely recognized. Selfish ba kung gusto mo lang namang makasama ang lalaking mahal mo? Masama na rin ba na hilingin na piliin din ng taong mahal mo. The word home makes her laugh. What a funny word. The word home flashes back. What a funny word. She had already lost that day, and she chose Lorgan. Senator Lorgan Minor. The man she loved. The man who promised her forever. The man who married another woman. Her breathing turned uneven. Her chest rising and falling too fast. Memories crashing into her like sharp glass. "Don't cry, baby... I'm still yours." Lorgan's voice. Warm. Possessive. A big lie. She tries not to dig the memories out of her head. She harshly shut her eyes, but the memories only got louder and louder. A wedding ring. A white dress. Sol Cayetano smiling in front of cameras. Lorgan looking at Mara in secret. A promise meant to be broken; she begged for nothing. Touching all over me, then keeping on lying. When does this stop! Flooding memories. Then another memory, Fresh. Sharp. Very cruel. "I'm pregnant." Sol's voice. Smug. Victorious. Standing on her set, destroying everything she has. Stealing her man. Having the life she dreams of Sol Cayetano is the one who stole everything. Memories flooding… flashing back in her head like a videotape. Para na siyang mababaliw. Mara screamed and threw the bottle across the room. She can’t help it. It shattered against the wall. Amber liquid dripped like blood. Her manager, Anne, flinched because of what she did. But I stayed. Because someone had to. I'm scared to lose him. "Mara... please..." She laughed again. This time louder and crazier. All this time, Anne just watched her go crazy. Then I looked up. Eyes red. Wild but dead. "Do I look like I need saving?" Silence. Anne didn’t dare to answer. She said nothing because they both knew the truth. She was just looking at me. Pity me. But she didn't need that. Mara Doxx didn’t need saving. She needed revenge. She stood slowly, her knees weak. Her heart rotted inside her chest. If the world wanted a villain— she would give one. She grabbed her sunglasses and her purse. Her shattered pride. There's nothing to lose. I walked toward the door. These people won't stop; she used to. Walked toward the door. Outside the hotel— the cameras were waiting. Flashing. Screaming. Hungry. "Miss Mara! Is it true you're the senator's mistress?!" "Did you destroy their marriage?!" "Are you pregnant?!" "Who is the man you were seen with last night?!" Mara stopped walking. That one question caught her attention. Who is the man you were seen with last night? Her brows furrowed, and her lips parted slightly. What man? Who's the man? I got myself in trouble because of the man, and now another man again? Then the camera flashes came harder. And for a split second— through the chaos— she saw him. Standing at the far end of the crowd. Tall. Still. Unbothered. A man in a white coat. Watching. Their eyes met. Just once. And in that moment— Mara Doxx had no idea— the stranger in white would ruin her plans... save her life... and become the father of her child. This is the story of a woman everyone called a vixen... ...and the man who never saw her as one.