Dangerous Embrace

CHAPTER 19

ISABELLE dropped her bag on her bed and went straight into her bathroom. Hinubad niya ang lahat ng kaniyang kasuotan saka pumailalim sa shower. Habang nasa ilalim siya ng shower, pumasok sa isipan niya ang halikan nilang dalawa ni Elliot sa opisina nito.

Gusto niyang itulak ang binata sa mga oras na ‘yon, pero ayaw gumalaw ang kamay niya.

She looked at her own hand. “Why?” she muttered.

Why did her body betray her?

That kiss… she actually liked it. And she even responded.

Anong mayroon kay Elliot? At bakit parang kapag nasa malapit ang binata, ayaw na niyang lumayo ito sa kaniya.

This is wrong.

Hindi niya dapat ito nararamdaman.

She’s getting married—wait, didn’t Elliot propose to her?

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Isabelle.

She wanted Elliot’s proposal, but she had too many concerns.

What if Elliot’s family will make her suffer more than what she had suffered in her own family?

At paano kung ngayon lang mabait sa kaniya si Elliot?

Hindi niya ito gaanong kilala?

Is she willing to gamble her life? But James Ramos… she could already see she would suffer more than she suffered in her family.

Isabelle closed her eyes and let the water pour into her face.

Nang matapos siya, kinuha niya ang roba at isinuot. Napatigil pa siya nang matapat siya sa may salamin at nakita niya ang parte ng kaniyang leeg na namumula.

She didn’t expect Elliot to do this.

Pumasok sa kaniyang isipan ang mapusok nilang halikan sa opisina nito. It was indeed a torrid kiss, and yet, Elliot didn’t want to let go. He was holding her tight and kissing her as if he couldn’t get enough.

Ngayon, mas lalo siyang naguluhan kung ano ba ang dapat niyang gawin.

Napahawak siya sa tapat ng kaniyang puso. It was beating so fast.

And her mind was full of Elliot.

She was in trouble. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself as she lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

For the past few days, the name Elliot Amir Laurent Rios had been occupying far too much space in her mind.

Mas lalo na ngayon dahil sa nangyaring halikan nila kanina sa opisina nito.

She let out a frustrated sigh.

“What’s wrong with me?” she whispered.

Tinakpan niya ang sariling mukha ng kaniyang dalawang kamay.

Ever since Elliot came into her life, everything had become confusing.

As if their encounters were always coincidences.

They barely knew each other.

He was a stranger who happened to help her a few times. That’s all.

Kaya bakit palagi niya itong naiisip?

“It’s because he’s handsome,” she muttered to herself.

Mabilis siyang napabangon. “No! That’s not it.”

Well, technically, it was part of it.

Hindi siya bulag. Talagang may hitsura si Elliot. He was undeniably attractive. His sharp jawline, deep voice, and those eyes that seemed capable of making an entire boardroom fall silent were enough to make any woman look twice.

Pero hindi ‘yon ang problema.

Ang problema ay si Elliot.

She could see that Elliot was flirting with her. And she wasn’t stupid enough not to notice—the lingering looks, teasing remarks, and the way Elliot would lean closer whenever they talk, as though he wanted to see how she would react.

And the worst part?

Hinahayaan niya ito.

Minsan nga, parang umaasa siya na muli itong mangyari.

Lord, help me.

Isabelle grabbed a pillow and pressed it against her face.

“I’m getting married!” Aniya sa sarili. Hoping the reminded would somehow bring her back to her senses.

She was engaged to James Ramos.

Gustuhin man niya o hindi, palapit ng palapit ang kasal nila. The wedding preparations were underway.

She had no business entertaining another man’s attention.

Especially not Elliot’s. A man who could probably have any woman he wanted. A man who belonged to a world she had always tried to avoid. A man who made her feel things she wasn’t ready to understand.

And that was what frightened her most.

Dahil kapag tumitingin siya kay Elliot, hindi niya nararamdaman ang pagkabalisa na nararamdaman niya sa ibang tao.

Hindi niya maramdaman na kailangan niya agad lumayo sa tuwing nasa malapit niya ito.

She had actually felt safe around Elliot.

Ipinikit niya ang kaniyang mata.

How could she feel safe around a man she barely knew?

More importantly, why did her heart seem to welcome his presence when her mind kept warning her to stay away?

Naalala niya ang tanong sa kaniya ni Elliot.

What do you want, Isabelle?

Hanggang ngayon hindi niya pa rin alam kung paano sagutin ang tanong na ‘yon.

Nang tanungin sa kaniya ni Elliot tanong na ‘yon, gusto niyang sabihin rito ang lahat. Ang tungkol sa pamilya niya… about the way she was always expected to sacrifice her happiness. About how tired she was of living a life that had never truly belonged to her.

And somehow, the thought of telling Elliot didn’t frighten her as much as it should have.

That was dangerous.

Dahil nagsisimula na siyang magtiwala rito.

And trust was something she couldn’t afford to give away carelessly.

“Stop it, Isabelle.”

She was engaged. She was supposed to be preparing herself for a wedding, not wondering what it would feel like to be kissed by another man.

She didn’t know if what she felt was attraction, gratitude, or the simple relief of being treated with kindness after years of feeling unwanted.

Elliot proposed to her.

Hanggang ngayon napapatanong siya sa kaniyang sarili.

Why Elliot proposed to her? Is he interested in her? He could have said so if that was the case.

Hindi niya alam. Naguguluhan siya.

KINABUKASAN, pagkababa ni Isabelle ng hagdanan, nakita niya ang kaniyang ina na nakaupo sa may living room.

“Isabelle, James called me.”

Napatigil si Isabelle at tumingin sa ina. Her mother’s expression was cold as ever.

“You should quit your job.”

Kumunot ang noo ni Isabelle. “What?”

“Hindi mo ba ako narinig? I said you should quit your job. You’re getting married to the Ramos Family. Huwag mo kaming bigyan ng kahihiyan,” her mother said, leaving no room for negotiation.

Napatitig si Isabelle sa ina. Quit my job?

But working at the bakery was one of the few things that made her happy. That was the only place where she could forget, even for a little while, how miserable her life had become.

“Mom—” Isabelle tried to reason, but her mother cut off her words.

“Quit your job.”

“Pero—”

“I don’t want to hear any excuses, Isabelle.” Lucinda’s voice sharpened. “Once your’re married, you will be part of the Ramos family. Do you think they’ll allow their daughter-in-law to work in a small bakery like some ordinary employee?”

Nag-isang linya ang labi ni Isabelle. Gusto niyang sabihin na mahal niya ang trabaho niya. That baking was something she genuinely enjoyed rather than designing clothes. That Sweet Hazel Bakery wasn’t just a workplace. Iyon ang lugar kung saan ramdam niya na pinahahalagahan siya… ramdam niyang pamilya ang turing sa kaniya ni Hazel… and where she could be herself without constantly worrying about making a mistake.

But none of that mattered to her mother.

It never did.

“Besides,” Lucinda continued, “your father and I have already sacrificed so much to this marriage. The least you can do is cooperate.”

Sacrificed?

Gustong matawa ni Isabelle.

Ano ba ang isinakripisyo ng kaniyang magulang?

It was her future they were deciding.

Her happiness they were trading.

And it’s her life they were arranging as though she were nothing more than a business contract.

Yet somehow, she was the one his parents wanted to be grateful.

“Mom, puwede po ba akong tumigil bago ang kasal,” hiling ni Isabelle. “I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

Naningkit ang mata ng kaniyang ina. “Are you questioning me?”

Agad na nagbaba ng tingin si Isabelle. “Hindi po.”

“Then gawin mo kung ano ang sinabi sa ‘yo.”

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Isabelle. “Please, Mom. I really love my job.”

Lucinda sighed in irritation. “Must you always make everything difficult? You’re getting married soon. Start acting like a woman who understands her responsibilities.”

Nawalan na ng pag-asa si Isabelle. Unti-unti siyang tumango. “Yes, Mom.”

Her mother seemed satisfied. “Good. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Silence fell into the living room.

Naglakad na palabas si Isabelle ng kanilang bahay.

Tumulo ang luha sa kaniyang mata.

It wasn’t a job she will lose. It was another piece of herself she was being forced to surrender.

Habang naglalakad siya, pumasok sa kaniyang isipan ang mga sinasabi sa kaniya nina Hazel at Elliot?

Will I really able to have a choice of my own?