Bound by Bullets and Vows

CHAPTER 7

ALARIC had brought Reese to the Volkov mansion. Now, they were sitting in the living room. Pareho silang tahimik at pinapakiramdaman ang isa’t-isa. Pinagmasdan niya si Reese. Her silver mask shone against the light.

Tumikhim siya upang kunin ang atensiyon ni Reese.

“I assumed you already knew about our engagement.” Sabi ni Alaric.

Finally, Reese looked at Alaric and nodded. “Just recently.”

Napatango si Alaric. “That’s fine. It means hindi lang ako nakakaalam.” Aniya.

“And I guess, our engagement was made by our parents ten years ago.”

Alaric nodded once again. “I was already twenty-three at that time.”

“I was seventeen.” Sabi naman ni Reese at napatigil ng ilang sandali. “And I was already being prepared to disappear.”

Umayos ng upo si Alaric. “Disappear?”

“To exist without being seen,” tugon ni Reese. “To matter without being visible.” Her fingers brushed the edge of the mask, a habit more than a gesture. “That’s why this stays on.”

Alaric didn’t ask her to remove it. He never would. He had long heard about the two children of the Sinclair Family. The eldest is seen, and the youngest exists without being seen. At mas lalong naging misteryoso nang umalis ito ng bansa limang taon na ang nakakaraan pagkatapos mamatay ang nakatatanda nitong kapatid.

Sumandal si Reese sa kinauupuan. “Our parents didn’t ask,” she said. “They negotiated. Sinclair Systems and Volkov operation. A union on paper. Not two people.”

“I never met you,” Alaric said.

Reese forced her smile. “I saw you once.” She tilted her head slightly. “From afar.”

Then silence fell on them. Both think that choices made under pressure are all pressed into the space between them.

“When my parents died,” Alaric said, breaking the silence, “the agreement ended. Or I thought it did. I had no reason to look for a woman who didn’t want to be found.”

“That was intentional,” sabi ni Reese. “If no one knows my face, no one knows where to aim.”

Nakinig si Alaric at hind na muna nagsalita.

“This marriage was never about love,” Reese said in a plain voice. “It was leverage, security, and power. Influence too.”

“Yes.”

“Pero ngayon nandito na tayo.” Reese looked at Alaric. “Do you want to continue this arranged marriage, or cancel it? We won’t suffer any loss because it hasn’t been made public. No one will lose face.”

Alaric crossed his arms. He had a purpose why he wants this marriage to happen—the Sinclair System. Iyon na lang ang natitirang pag-asa niya upang malaman ang mga nasa likod ng pagkamatay ng kaniyang magulang. He had been investigating but found nothing. The murderer was deeply hidden, so he would use a tricky method to find the murderer.

But his plan, no one should know about it except him.

And the Sinclair System—one of the most advanced systems developed in the world will help him to investigate the truth.

“Of course, we will continue this marriage. We’ll keep it public.”

“And privately?” Reese asked.

“That’s ours to decide. But no feelings. Separate rooms and no touch.” Sabi ni Alaric.

Pumayag agad si Reese. A wife’s obligation won’t pressure her. By then, she could focus on designing weapons. “Then If I choose to leave one day?”

“I won’t stop you,” Alaric answered immediately. “I’ll make sure no one follows.”

“And if I stay?”

“Then I don’t treat you like an asset. I stand beside you. Of course, you can use the leverage of being Mrs. Volkov.”

Reese’s lips curved into a smile. “Don’t worry, I have read the engagement left by my parents. After the wedding, I will give you the code to access the Sinclair System.”

Tumango si Alaric. “My family had a motto.” Aniya. Mas mabuti ng sabihin na niya ngayon ang mga dapat niyang sabihin.

“Oh?”

“Never abandoned your wife. Never backstab her. Respect her. Listen to her and never make her cry. There’s a lot. Iyon lang ang maalala ko. I’ll memorize later. It was made by my grandfather, followed by my father, and now it is my turn. Walang pagmamahalan sa pagitan natin, but I should be responsible as a husband after the wedding.”

Natawa ng mahina si Reese. If she didn't know the truth, she would think that Alaric was in love with her.

Nagpatuloy si Alaric. “Honestly, I have someone whom I wanted to marry, but considering that we were getting married, I won’t cheat. That’s a promise.”

Curious si Reese kung sino ang tinutukoy ni Ashriel na ‘someone’ nito pero hindi na niya tinanong. Wala na siyang pakialam pa doon. “And if you cheat?”

“We will get annul, and you will get half of my property.”

Ngumiti si Reese. “Deal.” Iyon lang naman pala.

Nagkamay silang dalawa.

‘Her hand was soft.’ Alaric thought.

“Kailan natin i-a-announce ang tungkol sa engagement natin?” tanong ni Reese.

“Are you in a hurry?”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Reese. “Whatever makes you sleep soundly at night,” she said.

Alaric shook his head. He reached for his phone on the table. “I’ll call Julian. But one-word spreads, there was no pulling it back.”

Tumango si Reese. “Alam ko.” Aniya saka ipinikit ang mata pero naririnig niya si Alaric na nag-uutos. His issuing of instructions sounded more like chess moves than announcements.

“Schedule a press briefing.” Alaric paused. “Yes. Tomorrow.”

Tinapos ni Alaric ang tawag at tumingin kay Reese. “I heard that many from wealthy families wanted to marry you.”

“I don’t know,” Reese said flatly.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Alaric. He studied her, this woman hidden behind a silver mask and silence, who wielded power without raising her voice. “Once this goes public,” he said, “you’ll be under constant watch. My people, cameras, and threats.”

“My family protected me, not until they all left this world.” Wika ni Reese at nagmulat ng mata. Kalmado lamang siya. “At least this time, I get to choose who’s watching.”

Reese looked at Alaric. “Mr. Volkov, I have one condition, though.”

Tumaas ang kilay ni Alaric. “Go on.”

“No public affection,” she said. “No performances that invite speculation. We stand together, nothing more.”

“That works in my favor,” Alaric replied.

“And the mask stays on.” Itinuro ni Reese ang suot na maskara.

Tumango si Alaric. “I wouldn’t ask otherwise. But won’t you remove it when you are inside the house?”

Umiling si Reese. “No, unless I fall in love with you.”

Sandaling natigilan si Alaric kapagkuwan natawa ng mahina. “You’re kidding.”

Reese didn’t say anything. But behind her silence, she hopes and prays that everything will be alright.