My Cold Husband

Cold Breakfast

Janine POV

I woke up immediately when my phone started ringing, instinctively reaching for the side table to answer the call from my best friend, Cindy.

I already knew it was her. I had asked her for this favor even though I knew she wasn’t entirely comfortable with it.

She had to wake me up every day at five in the morning before heading home from her night shift.

She works as a call center agent, so after her shift, she calls me. I don’t trust alarm clocks—I’m a heavy sleeper. Whenever I hear an alarm, I end up turning it off and falling asleep again.

Unlike me, Cindy is reliable. She doesn’t stop calling until I’m fully awake, especially when I’m still half-asleep.

I’ve been asking her to do this for almost two years now, yet I’ve never heard her complain or get angry. Sometimes, I’m even the one snapping at her because she can be annoyingly playful.

“Hello, good morning, Mrs. Samaniego! It’s time for you to get out of bed and take a bath! Of course, you still need to cook breakfast for your beloved husband—the one who does nothing but scold and enslave you!”

There she goes again. I couldn’t even interrupt her because of her long speech. She wasn’t complaining about waking me up—she was ranting about how I kept serving my husband.

“Yes, I’m awake already! I’m talking to you now, aren’t I?” I replied sarcastically. I knew another lecture was coming.

“Oh? Really? Are you awake now? Wow! Amazing! But when will you wake up to reality and your own martyrdom? One day, you’ll replace the Rizal statue in Luneta because of how—”

I ended the call before she could finish. I knew her sermon would last forever, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

She never got used to it. She knew why I had to do this. She knew how much I loved Lucas. I would do anything just for him to love me back—especially to forgive me for what I did in the past… to him and to the woman he truly loved.

After taking a bath, I prepared Lucas’s breakfast. He would be coming down any minute now. He always goes to work early, even though we own the company.

Sometimes I wonder—does he also work as a guard? Kidding. He just has a lot to handle at the company, which is why he leaves early every day. He’s hardworking, and that’s one of the reasons I admire and love him even more.

I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

He’s here.

I hope he’s in a good mood today. Please, not grumpy.

I hurried toward the stairs to greet him, but he had already reached the bottom. I was too slow.

“Good morning!” I greeted him cheerfully, flashing a smile.

“What’s so good about the morning when I have to see you?” he replied flatly, his face cold.

“And why are you here? You’re ruining my day,” he said irritably.

“You should just go back to your room,” he ordered without even looking at me.

“Ahm, wait!” I said quickly as he was about to leave. I couldn’t show that I was hurt or giving up.

“I cooked breakfast for you. I hope you’ll eat,” I said gently.

I heard him curse under his breath. I felt nervous, but I couldn’t back down. I had to endure this.

“And who told you to cook for me?” he asked angrily.

“B-because Manang Lita is still asleep. I didn’t want to disturb them. They might be tired from following your orders around the mansion yesterday,” I explained. We had many house helpers. They were supposed to prepare his breakfast—pretend. They were secretly helping me because once he knew I had cooked it, he wouldn’t eat.

“So I volunteered to cook,” I added. I just wanted to try today.

Maybe he would eat it—even if he knew I was the one who made it. Today was special to me. It was the anniversary of the day we first met.

Flashback

Three Years Ago – Cafeteria

Cindy and I were eating together in the cafeteria. It was our break time, so we decided to eat there instead of going out.

And there she goes again—talking nonstop.

“Bes, that professor earlier was so handsome! And he teaches really well, that’s why I’m always inspired to study,” she said, her eyes sparkling. Shameless.

“All professors teach well. You just listen properly when you have a crush,” I replied irritably.

“Of course! Studying is fun when the face you’re looking at is handsome. Unlike you—you don’t even have a crush!” she teased.

“That’s why you’re so bitter!” she added loudly.

I just sighed and stood up to head to my next class. We weren’t classmates in that subject.

She wouldn’t stop teasing me, so I walked away even as she called my name.

Suddenly, someone bumped into me.

“Ouch!”

I fell to the floor in pain. Who was that?

“I’m sorry, Miss. I didn’t mean to,” the man said.

“Sorry—” I looked up at him, and my irritation instantly vanished.

“H-hi…”

He looked like an angel.

“Miss, are you okay? Do you need to be taken to the clinic?” he asked anxiously.

I couldn’t hear what he was saying anymore. I was too focused on his handsome face.

“Miss!”

“You’re so handsome!” I blurted out.

He laughed.

“A lot of people say that,” he said, scratching his head.

“I’m Lucas Samaniego. And you are?” he introduced himself.

“H-hi. I’m Janine Arenas,” I replied. Soon to be your wife, I thought.

We talked for a bit before he excused himself.

“Nice meeting you, Janine.”

“Nice meeting you too, Lucas. See you again!” I shouted as he walked away.

End of Flashback

We were already at the dining table. I poured coffee into his cup, arranged his plate, and even prepared water for him.

I glanced at him from time to time, trying to read his reaction, but his face remained expressionless.

“What are you doing?” he asked coldly.

“I’m going to sit and eat breakfast with you,” I replied hesitantly.

“Don’t eat yet. Call all the house helpers.

You’ll eat together,” he ordered.

I was surprised, but I obeyed.

A few moments later, our driver, Nilo, arrived.

“Sit down,” Lucas ordered him.

As they ate, I felt completely humiliated.

“If you want, Janine, you can sit here,” Manang offered kindly.

But Lucas spoke.

“If she sits there, I’m leaving.”

I forced a smile despite the pain.

“Just enjoy your meal,” I said softly.

Flashback

He has to be mine. I’ll do anything to stop their wedding…

“Go to your room. Come back only after I’ve left,” he ordered coldly.

I left quietly.

That’s how he is.

I’m used to it.

I’ll stay strong.

Because I know that one day, everything will be okay.

I love him.