Shadows of a Loveless Marriage

Chapter one

The Beginning of Suffering

Alea adjusted the straps of her simple white apron as she wiped the counter of the small café she worked at. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the air, a comforting contrast to the storm that loomed over her life. She loved this place—the laughter of the regular customers, the soft clinking of mugs, and the sense of accomplishment she felt with every satisfied smile.

But today was different.

"Anak," her father's voice echoed in her mind, the words from last night still heavy on her chest.

"Kailangan mo kaming tulungan. Ito na lang ang paraan para mailigtas ang pamilya natin."

Alea sighed and stared out the window, watching the raindrops race down the glass. She had heard the desperation in her father's voice and seen the exhaustion in his eyes. Their family business was on the brink of collapse, weighed down by insurmountable debt.

"Pero Papa..." she had pleaded, her voice breaking.

"Bakit ako? Bakit hindi tayo maghanap ng ibang paraan?"

Her father had looked at her with guilt and helplessness.

"Ang kasal na ito ang tanging solusyon. Kung hindi ka pumayag, mawawalan tayo ng lahat."

And so, here she was, caught in the crossfire of duty and dreams, tethered to a fate she didn't choose.

"Miss Alea," called Lucas, her co-worker and best friend. "Okay ka lang ba? Parang ang lalim ng iniisip mo."

Alea forced a smile and shook her head. "Okay lang ako. Busy lang sa maraming bagay."

Lucas narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Kung kailangan mo ng kausap, andito lang ako."

"Salamat," she replied softly. Lucas had always been her safe space, the one person who could make her smile even in her darkest moments.

Before Lucas could press further, the café door swung open, and a middle-aged man in a crisp black suit entered. His presence was commanding, the kind that made people stop and stare. Alea recognized him immediately—Mr. Guillermo Montemayor, one of the wealthiest businessmen in the city.

"Miss Alea Valverde?" His deep voice echoed in the quiet café.

Alea froze, her heart pounding.

"Opo, ako po iyon," she replied, her voice shaking slightly.

He stepped closer, his expression unreadable.

"Ako si Guillermo Montemayor. Gusto kitang makausap tungkol sa magiging kasal mo sa anak ko."

Lucas stiffened beside her. "Kasal? Ano'ng ibig niyang sabihin.

Alea blinked, her mind racing to process the words that just hit her like a wave. Was this man really talking about her marriage? A marriage she had no part in choosing?

"I—hindi ko po alam ang ibig niyong sabihin," Alea stammered, stepping back slightly, confusion and fear evident in her eyes. She had no idea what this man was implying. Was this a joke? Or something far worse?

Mr. Montemayor's gaze softened for a moment, but it quickly returned to its cold intensity. "Wag kang mag-alala, Miss Flores. Hindi ko po kayo pinipilit. Ngunit may isang bagay na kailangang mangyari para mapangalagaan ang inyong pamilya." He glanced towards Lucas, who had already moved behind Alea protectively.

"Puwede ba kitang makausap ng mas pribado? Kung hindi ka pa handa, naiintindihan ko."

Alea's heart raced. The weight of her family's situation crushed her chest like a vice, and the burden of what her father had told her the night before felt heavier than ever. She had no choice. The family's future, their very survival, depended on the impossible decision she might be forced to make.

"I... I don't understand. Bakit ako?" Alea whispered, her voice quivering.

Mr. Montemayor studied her for a long moment before speaking again.

"Kailangan ko ang tulong mo, Miss Alea. Ang kasal sa anak ko ay makikinabang tayo pareho."

The thought of marriage—her, with someone she barely knew—was too much to comprehend in that moment. Her emotions churned with a mixture of disbelief, anger, and helplessness. But in the face of overwhelming uncertainty, the path ahead seemed inescapable.

Lucas put a gentle hand on her shoulder, offering her comfort, but even he knew that the words her father had said, the desperate plea to save their family, were now looming over her like an unstoppable storm.

She nodded silently, trying to steady her breath, though her heart was in turmoil. She had no idea what the future held, but one thing was certain—her life, and perhaps even her heart, was about to change forever.

Later that evening, Alea sat across from her father in their small, dimly lit kitchen. Her hands gripped the edge of her seat, her thoughts swirling. Her father's face was full of worry, the lines of age and stress deepened over the years. He had always been strong, always been the one to hold their family together—but tonight, his usual certainty was shaken.

"Papa, I... I don't know if I can do this," Alea whispered, her voice breaking.

Her father placed his hand over hers, his grip tight and desperate. "Alea, anak, this is our last chance. I don't want you to feel like you're sacrificing your life, but this is what we have to do to survive. I'm sorry, anak... I'm sorry."

Tears welled in Alea's eyes. She had always dreamed of a life where she could choose her own path, her own future. But now, it seemed like all those dreams were slipping through her fingers, replaced by the weight of an arranged marriage to a stranger.

The next day, Alea found herself standing outside the Montemayor family mansion. It was a grand, imposing estate, a world away from the small café she had grown up working in. The cold breeze blew against her face as she stared up at the mansion's towering gates, her heart heavy with fear and uncertainty.

She hadn't been given a choice. She knew what her father's desperate request had cost her—her own freedom. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. When she opened them, she saw the butler standing at the door, watching her with a polite yet distant expression.

"Alea Valverde?" the butler asked, his voice stiff but courteous.

"Po," Alea said softly, stepping forward. "Ako po."

The butler nodded and stepped aside, opening the door to the mansion. Her heart pounded in her chest as she took her first steps into the unknown. The future that awaited her was uncertain, and the man she was about to marry remained a mystery. But she had no choice now. This was her reality.