The Arranged Bride of the Moravilla

Mariott Hotel — Exclusive VVIP Room... Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Tatiana Millicent Jimenez sa strap ng handbag niya habang kasabay ang mommy niyang pumasok sa pribadong VVIP room ng Mariott Hotel. The place screamed power and wealth. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the luxurious room while expensive wines lined the glass shelves. Sa gitna ng mahabang table ay nakaupo na ang pamilyang Moravilla. Don Vicente Moravilla. Donya Elena Moravilla. At ang bunsong anak nila— Barrett Napoleon Moravilla. Ang lalaking itinakdang pakasalan ni Tatiana. Known for his reckless behavior, endless scandals, and notorious playboy reputation. Barrett lazily leaned against his chair habang umiikot ang whiskey glass sa kamay nito. Nang mapatingin ito kay Tatiana ay tila mabilis itong nawalan ng interes. “So she’s the girl?” tanong nito nang walang ka-emotion emotion. Napayuko si Tatiana at inayos ang makakapal niyang salamin. She was wearing a simple beige dress, flat shoes, and almost no makeup. Exactly how she wanted people to see her. Simple. Quiet. Forgettable. “Please, sit down,” eleganteng saad ni Donya Elena. Tahimik na umupo si Tatiana katabi ng mommy niya habang pilit kinakalma ang sarili. This marriage was never about love. It was about survival. Kapag hindi natuloy ang kasunduan, makukulong ang daddy niya dahil sa napakalaking utang nila. Bago pa man magsimula ang dinner— biglang bumukas ang malaking pinto ng VVIP room. At agad nanlaki ang mga mata ni Tatiana. A tall man entered wearing a black suit that perfectly fit his broad frame. His sharp jawline looked dangerously handsome beneath the dim lights, while his cold eyes immediately landed on her. And suddenly— Tatiana forgot how to breathe. “O, nandito na ang aking panganay,” masayang saad ni Donya Elena habang nakangiti. “He’s Aiden Maximus, kuya ni Barrett.” Nanigas si Tatiana sa kinauupuan niya. No. Impossible. Because she knew that man. Too well. Aiden Maximus Moravilla— the older brother of the man she was supposed to marry— was the same stranger she spent the night with after getting drunk a week ago. The same man who touched her like he already owned her. The same man who claimed her innocence in one reckless night. Umupo si Aiden sa bakanteng upuan habang matalim itong nakatingin kay Tatiana, parang sinusukat ang buong pagkatao niya. Tatiana immediately lowered her gaze. Kinakabahan na siya. Paano ba niya malilimutan ang lalaking iyon? The sinful kisses. The dangerous whispers. The way he made her lose control that night. “Interesting,” mahinang saad ni Aiden habang nakatitig pa rin sa kanya. Hindi na halos makahinga si Tatiana. “I-I’ll just use the restroom,” mabilis niyang paalam bago agad tumayo. Halos nagmamadali siyang lumabas ng VVIP room habang mabilis ang t***k ng puso niya. Pagkapasok niya sa eleganteng restroom ay agad siyang huminga nang malalim. This was bad. Very bad. Hindi pwedeng malaman ng mga Moravilla ang nangyari sa kanila ni Aiden. Especially Barrett. Pero biglang bumukas ang pinto. At tuluyang nanigas si Tatiana nang makita si Aiden na pumasok. Tahimik nitong isinara ang pinto bago mabagal na ngumiti. A dangerous smile. “A-Ano’ng ginagawa mo rito?” kinakabahang tanong ni Tatiana habang paatras. Ngunit mabilis siyang nahila ni Aiden palapit dito. Napasinghap siya nang maramdaman ang matigas nitong dibdib sa likod niya habang mahigpit siyang niyayakap nito. “You can’t hide from me by wearing simple dresses and thick eyeglasses, baby,” bulong ni Aiden sabay amoy sa leeg niya. Nanghina ang tuhod ni Tatiana. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” mahinang kaila niya habang pilit kumakawala. Aiden chuckled darkly. “Really?” bulong nito malapit sa tenga niya. “Because you sounded very different that night.” Namula nang husto si Tatiana. Mabilis siyang umiwas sa yakap nito. Ngunit bago pa siya tuluyang makalayo— “You can’t run away from me, baby,” habol na sabi ni Aiden habang nakangiting pilyo. Halos nanginginig si Tatiana nang makabalik siya sa table nila. Malalim siyang huminga bago pilit ngumiti. “Are you alright, Tiana?” tanong ni Donya Elena. Napatingin siya rito at pilit itinago ang kaba. “I’m fine po, ma’am,” magalang niyang sagot. Ngumiti si Donya Elena. “Call me tita, hija.” Tumango si Tatiana ngunit hindi na halos gumagana ang isip niya nang gabing iyon. Lalo pa’t hindi siya hinihiwalayan ng matalim na tingin ni Aiden. A dangerous stare filled with recognition. And desire. As if reminding her silently— that before she became Barrett Moravilla’s arranged bride… she already belonged to his older brother. Barrett glanced at Tatiana once more before silently scoffing. Plain. Simple. Too innocent for his taste. Sa mundong ginagalawan niya filled with luxury, models, and socialites, Tatiana looked completely out of place. Hindi ito ang tipo ng babaeng maipagmamalaki niya sa harap ng maraming tao. Napailing na lamang si Barrett bago muling uminom ng whiskey. “This arrangement is boring already,” bulong nito sa sarili. Samantalang si Aiden— hindi man lang inaalis ang tingin kay Tatiana. His eyes were dark. Possessive. Dangerously interested. Parang pag-aari niya na ito bago pa man maging fiancé ng kapatid niya. Every movement Tatiana made, sinusundan ng mga mata ni Aiden. The way she nervously fixed her glasses. The way she avoided his gaze. The way her lips slightly trembled whenever he stared too long. At iyon ang lalong nagpasaya kay Aiden. Because unlike everyone in that room— he knew exactly what kind of woman Tatiana becomes at night. Wild. Addictive. And unforgettable. No one noticed the tension between them. No one except Don Vicente Moravilla. The old man silently observed the dangerous exchange between his eldest son and Tatiana. Then slowly— his eyes narrowed.