His Forbidden Heiress: Tempting the Devil

Batangas Summer Festival The night smelled of roasted corn and fireworks. Sa ilalim ng makukulay na ilaw ng karnabal, Selena Alcaraz stood in her crimson dress, clutching the edge of her shawl as if it could hide the shame burning her skin. Lahat ng mata ay nakatutok sa kanya — the Governor’s daughter on her knees, in front of him. “Damien…” Her voice broke, trembling as the words escaped. “Please, huwag mo akong iwan. Kahit ngayon lang… kahit ngayong gabi lang, piliin mo ako.” The crowd gasped. Whispering voices spread like wildfire. Anak siya ng pinakamakapangyarihang tao sa probinsya, yet here she was — begging, humiliated, broken. Damien Vergara stood tall, jaw clenched, eyes flat and dark. His white barong was immaculate, untouched by her tears. When he spoke, his words cut sharper than any blade. “You were never mine to begin with, Selena. Don’t beg for something I can’t give you.” Parang sinampal siya ng malamig na hangin. Her heart shattered, her pride crumbled, and the laughter of those around her pierced deeper than any insult. The laughter cut deep. Mga bulungan, mga matang mapanghusga — lahat iyon ay parang mga sibat na tumatama sa dibdib ni Selena. She rose slowly, wiping her tears with trembling hands. The once-proud daughter of the Governor now stood like a ghost of herself. Damien’s cold eyes didn’t waver. In that moment, Selena felt it — wala na. “Never again,” she whispered to herself, the music and fireworks swallowing the words. “Hindi na ako luluha. Hindi na ako magmamakaawa. Hindi na ako muling luluhod para sa kahit sino… kahit para sa kanya.” That night she swore one thing: she would rise from her knees. She would bury the girl who begged. When she returned, she would be the woman he could never touch — and yet could never resist. Years later, fate was cruel. When their paths crossed again, Damien’s eyes still burned for her… only darker, only more dangerous. And this time, it was not her begging. It was the devil himself. — The heels of her stilettos clicked against the marble floor of the courthouse. Heads turned as she entered — crimson lipstick sharp as her gaze, a tailored suit that hugged every curve with authority. “Attorney Alcaraz,” a clerk offered, bowing slightly in respect. Selena nodded once without breaking stride. The timid girl from Batangas was gone. What remained was a woman carved by betrayal, strengthened by ambition, untouchable to the world that once mocked her. Inside the courtroom she argued with fire. Her voice was calm and commanding, each sentence precise, each objection a blade. When the judge ruled in her favor, a small, private smile curved her lips. Another victory. Another reminder that she no longer begged — she conquered. But as she stepped outside, a new case name on the docket caught her attention. Vergara Estate. Her chest tightened. After all these years… destiny had put her in front of the man she swore she would never kneel to again. The sound of polished shoes on marble echoed behind her — mabigat, pamilyar. Selena turned slowly, and there he was. Damien Vergara. He looked more dangerous than the boy who broke her: broader shoulders, a jaw carved harder by years, presence that owned the space. Dark suit, tie loosened, eyes fixed on her with that same intensity that used to drown her. “Selena.” His voice was low, rougher than she remembered. “Attorney Alcaraz now, I see.” Her pulse betrayed her — skipping, racing — but she didn’t flinch. She straightened, clutching her folder tighter against her chest. “Vergara,” she said coolly, tone precise. “Hindi ko in-expect na dito pa tayo magkikita.” His mouth tipped with half amusement and half challenge. “And yet, here we are. Facing each other again. On opposite sides of the law.” Silence hung between them, thick with unspoken things. Memories she thought buried clawed back — the humiliation, the broken fireworks-night, the taste of betrayal. Selena didn’t let it show. She refused. “You should prepare, Damien,” she said, steady. “Because this time… I won’t be the one kneeling.” His gaze darkened, holding her like a flame. He stepped close enough she could smell his cologne — rich, metallic, maddening. “Be careful what you promise, Selena,” he murmured, low and intimate, dangerous. “You might find yourself back on your knees… but not in the way you expect.” Her breath caught. She held his stare. She wouldn’t look away. Not anymore. She lifted her chin higher, forcing herself not to step back as he invaded her space. His closeness was suffocating and intoxicating; every nerve in her body screamed to remember—how it felt to want him, to need him. But she was not that girl. “Kung sa pananakot ka magaling, Damien, you’ll have to do better than that,” she whispered, voice steady but laced with fire. A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips. “Oh, I don’t need to threaten you, Selena. You’ve always been brave.” His eyes dipped to her mouth for a breath, then met hers again. “But brave doesn’t mean immune.” Her fingers tightened on the folder; the leather pressed into her palm. She hated how her body betrayed her — the quickened breath, the heat crawling up her neck. “I’m not here to play your games,” she said sharply. “This case is about justice, not… whatever this is.” Damien chuckled, low and deliberate. “Justice?” He leaned in, breath brushing her ear. “Don’t lie to me, Selena. I can feel it — you still want to play. You just don’t like losing.” Her jaw locked. Summoning every bit of control, she stepped past him, brushing his arm as she moved toward the exit. Before she could leave, his hand caught her wrist — firm, possessive, the old ownership she despised. “Let go,” she hissed, eyes flashing. For a heartbeat he didn’t. His thumb traced the inside of her wrist as if daring her to admit the pulse under his touch. Then, deliberately, he released her. Their eyes met — fire against fire. “This isn’t over, Selena,” he said softly, almost a promise. “It never was.” Selena walked away without turning back. Her heels clicked louder now, each echo a vow. She would fight him. She would dismantle him in court. And she would never — never — let Damien Vergara see her beg again.