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"One agreement. One year of pretending. No emotions to get entangled." In an agreement she couldn't refuse, Emma Sinclair was forced to pretend to be the wife of renowned CEO Chase Donovan. Their relationship was just a show - no emotions, no complications. But as the months passed, everything changed. The fake embraces left real heat, and the pretend kisses left marks on her heart. However, not all love stories end in a beautiful fairy tale. Emma thought she had found something real - until she discovered the truth. From the very beginning, she was just a pawn in Chase's game. Their marriage was never meant to last; it was just a step to protect Chase's power, a contract she unknowingly became a part of. And when their agreement ended, the illusion ended too. But behind the lies and deception, Chase had a secret that could never be revealed. He loved Emma; but if he admitted it, he knew he would have sealed his own death sentence.
Chapter 1
"FINAL NOTICE."
Emma Sinclair stared at the document in her hand, her jaw agape. It felt like a sharp knife piercing her chest.
Final notice.
It meant that if she couldn't pay within thirty days, she would lose her house-the only thing left of her family.
She gasped, her vision blurring. She reread the document, desperately searching for a loophole. Maybe she misunderstood something. Maybe there was still a way to escape this.
But the words were clear:
-"We regret to inform you that due to your failure to settle the remaining balance, the property located at Lot 23, Greenfield Subdivision, Quezon City, will be foreclosed within thirty (30) days."
This was followed by details of the exact amount she owed-an amount impossible for her to pay within a month.
Her knees weakened, causing her to fall onto the old sofa. Trembling, she clutched the paper, as if its magic could change what was written on it.
"No... I can't lose this house."
She looked around. Even though it was an old house, it was full of memories. Her mother's old piano was still there, the table where her father used to read the newspaper, and their family portrait hanging on the wall-one of the few things she hadn't sold despite her dire need.
Her chest tightened. Tears welled up in her eyes.
FLASHBACK – A TIME OF HAPPINESS
"Emma, come here!" her mother called cheerfully as she laid out freshly baked bibingka on the dining table.
She immediately rushed to the kitchen, where her father smiled as he stirred hot chocolate in a mug.
"Sweetheart, do you want to play outside after you eat?" her father asked, stroking her head.
She nodded with a smile. "Yes, Daddy!"
Her mother giggled. "Just don't go too far, okay? Or Grandma will scold you again!"
Laughter. Joy. Love.
That was her family then. Complete. Happy.
And above all, they had a business to be proud of-a successful chain of restaurants built from nothing by her parents.
The name of the restaurant? Monte Sinclair Café.
The Monte Sinclair Café was a well-known name in the industry. They had five branches in different parts of Manila, known for their signature chocolate lava cake and homemade bibingka. Emma grew up in the restaurant-learning to count using receipts, learning to cook with their chef, and learning to smile at customers, making her business acumen seem innate.
She knew that one day, her parents would pass it on to her.
Until the day of the downfall arrived.
One blow after another came.
It started when a major food scandal implicated their business. A customer filed a complaint after allegedly suffering food poisoning at one of their branches. Even though they were innocent, it became a major issue on social media. Fake reviews further worsened the situation.
Their once-thriving restaurant gradually went bankrupt.
But even when things got tough, she didn't lose hope-because her family was still there.
Until the most painful thing happened.
One rainy night, her parents announced they were leaving for a business trip.
"Don't forget to study, okay?" her father said, kissing her forehead.
"And pray before you sleep," added her mother.
"Yes, Mommy! Yes, Daddy!" she replied before they left the house.
But that was the last time she would see them alive.
The next morning, she woke up to news that turned her world upside down-her parents' car had been in an accident, and they didn't survive.
In an instant, she lost her family.
And now, would she also lose their house?
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Emma returned to the present, unable to hold back her tears.
"I won't let them take this house," she whispered to herself.
But how?
EMMA'S STRUGGLE: A FRUSTRATING JOB HUNT
Three months without a decent job.
After her family's business went bankrupt, she tried to fight for it-but to no avail.
Now, she had no business, no decent job.
For three weeks, she applied online, submitted resumes, lined up at job fairs-but no one hired her.
"I'm sorry, Miss Sinclair, but we need someone with more experience."
"We'll call you if there's an opening."
"I'm afraid you're overqualified for this role."
Where would she go?
Once, she was forced to buy the cheapest food at a convenience store-a cup of noodles and bottled water. While eating on a park bench, she sighed.
Was this how low her life had become?
A LAST HOPE
Her phone rang.
UNKNOWN NUMBER CALLING.
She quickly answered, hoping this was the answer to her problems.
"Hello, this is Emma Sinclair speaking."
"Good evening, Miss Sinclair," a deep, formal voice answered on the other line. "I received your application for the matchmaking position. Are you available for an interview tomorrow at Donovan Enterprises?"
Her eyes widened.
Donovan Enterprises?!
This was one of the largest companies in the country!
She gripped her phone. She didn't yet know what kind of job she would be taking, but one thing was certain-this was her last hope to save her house.
And she had no intention of failing.
A marriage built on lies. A past buried in secrets. A love that never should have existed. Isabella Ramirez never wanted to marry Sebastian Villafuerte, the cold and ruthless heir to a billion-dollar empire. But to save her family, she had no choice. Their marriage is nothing but a contract-a forced union meant to settle an old debt. She vows to keep her distance, but Sebastian's possessiveness and unpredictable rage make that impossible. Sebastian loathes Isabella, believing she is just another pawn in their families' dangerous game. Yet, every time he looks at her, something stirs inside him-something dark, something undeniable. When a single moment of weakness ignites a fire between them, he realizes that keeping her at arm's length might be the hardest battle of all. But neither of them knows the truth that binds them. A past filled with betrayal, shocking family secrets, and a twisted fate threaten to shatter everything. As they fight to resist the pull between them, their forced marriage begins to blur the lines between love and hate, drawing them into a storm that neither of them can escape.
Pagkatapos itago ang kanyang tunay na pagkakakilanlan sa kabuuan ng kanyang tatlong-taong kasal kay Colton, buong pusong nangako si Allison, para lamang makita ang kanyang sarili na napabayaan at itinulak patungo sa diborsyo. Nanghina ang loob, nagsimula siyang muling tuklasin ang kanyang tunay na sarili—isang mahuhusay na pabango, ang utak ng isang sikat na ahensya ng paniktik, at ang tagapagmana ng isang lihim na network ng hacker. Nang mapagtanto ang kanyang mga pagkakamali, ipinahayag ni Colton ang kanyang panghihinayang. " Alam kong nagkamali ako. Please, bigyan mo ako ng isa pang pagkakataon." Gayunpaman, si Kellan, isang dating may kapansanan na tycoon, ay tumayo mula sa kanyang wheelchair, hinawakan ang kamay ni Allison, at nanunuya, "Sa tingin mo, babalikan ka niya? Mangarap ka."
Upang matupad ang huling hiling ng kanyang lolo, pinasok ni Stella ang isang madaliang kasal sa isang ordinaryong lalaki na hindi pa niya nakikilala. Gayunpaman, kahit na pagkatapos na maging mag-asawa sa papel, ang bawat isa ay humantong sa magkahiwalay na buhay, halos hindi nagkrus ang landas. Makalipas ang isang taon, bumalik si Stella sa Seamarsh Lunsod, umaasa na sa wakas ay makilala niya ang kanyang misteryosong asawa. Sa kanyang pagkamangha, pinadalhan siya nito ng isang text message, sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon na nagsusumamo para sa isang diborsyo nang hindi pa siya nakikilala nang personal. Nagngangalit ang kanyang mga ngipin, sumagot si Stella, "So be it. hiwalayan na natin!" Kasunod nito, gumawa ng matapang na hakbang si Stella at sumali sa Prosperity Group, kung saan siya ay naging public relations officer na direktang nagtrabaho para sa CEO ng kumpanya, si Matthew. Ang guwapo at misteryosong CEO ay nakatali na sa matrimonya, at kilala na hindi matitinag na tapat sa kanyang asawa nang pribado. Lingid sa kaalaman ni Stella, ang kanyang misteryosong asawa ay ang kanyang amo, sa kanyang kahaliling pagkakakilanlan! Determinado na mag-focus sa kanyang career, sadyang iniwasan ni Stella ang CEO, bagama't hindi niya maiwasang mapansin ang sadyang pagtatangka nitong mapalapit sa kanya. Sa paglipas ng panahon, nagbago ang loob ng mailap niyang asawa. Bigla siyang tumanggi na ituloy ang diborsyo. Kailan mabubunyag ang kanyang kahaliling pagkakakilanlan? Sa gitna ng magulong paghahalo ng panlilinlang at malalim na pag-ibig, anong tadhana ang naghihintay sa kanila?
Labindalawang taon nang magkakilala sina Claudia at Anthony. Pagkatapos ng tatlong taong pakikipag-date, itinakda na ang petsa ng kanilang kasal. Ang balita ng kanilang balak na kasal ay yumanig sa buong lungsod. Mataas ang emosyon dahil maraming babae ang nagseselos sa kanya. Noong una, hindi mapakali si Claudia sa galit. Ngunit nang iwan siya ni Anthony sa altar pagkatapos makatanggap ng tawag, nalungkot siya. "Nagsisilbi sa kanya ng tama!" Lahat ng kanyang mga kaaway ay nasiyahan sa kanyang kasawian. Kumalat na parang apoy ang balita. Sa kakaibang pangyayari, nag-post si Claudia ng update sa social media. Ito ay isang larawan niya na may isang sertipiko ng kasal na kanyang nilagyan ng caption na, "Tawagin mo akong Mrs. Dreskin mula ngayon." Habang sinusubukan ng publiko na iproseso ang pagkagulat, si Bennett—na hindi nag-post sa social media sa loob ng maraming taon— gumawa ng post na may caption na, "Ngayon ay may asawa na." Ang publiko ay naligaw.Binansagan ng maraming tao si Claudia bilang ang pinakamaswerteng babae ng siglo dahil siya ay nakakuha ng ginto sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakasal kay Bennett. Kahit isang sanggol ay alam na si Anthony ay isang langgam kumpara sa kanyang karibal./Si Claudia ang huling tumawa noong araw na iyon. Natuwa siya sa mga gulat na komento ng kanyang mga kaaway habang nananatiling mapagpakumbaba. Inisip pa rin ng mga tao na kakaiba ang kanilang pagsasama. Naniniwala sila na ito ay kasal lamang ng kaginhawahan. Isang araw, matapang ang loob ng isang mamamahayag na humingi ng komento ni Bennett sa kanyang pagpapakasal na sinagot niya ng may pinakamalambot na ngiti, "Ang pagpapakasal kay Claudia ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa akin."
Dalawang taon pagkatapos ng kanyang kasal, si Ximena ay nawalan ng malay sa isang pool ng kanyang sariling dugo sa isang mahirap na panganganak. Nakalimutan niyang ikakasal nga pala sa iba ang dating asawa noong araw na iyon. "Maghiwalay na tayo, ngunit ang sanggol ay nananatili sa akin." Ang kanyang mga salita bago natapos ang kanilang diborsyo ay hindi pa rin nawawala sa kanyang isip. Wala siya roon para sa kanya, ngunit gusto niya ng buong kustodiya ng kanilang anak. Mas gugustuhin pa ni Ximena na mamatay kaysa makitang tawagin ng kanyang anak ang ibang ina. Dahil dito, isinuko niya ang multo sa operating table na may dalawang sanggol na naiwan sa kanyang tiyan. Ngunit hindi iyon ang wakas para sa kanya... Pagkalipas ng mga taon, naging dahilan ng muling pagkikita ng tadhana. Si Ramon ay isang nagbagong tao sa pagkakataong ito. Gusto niyang itago siya sa sarili niya kahit na siya ay ina na ng dalawang anak. Nang malaman niya ang tungkol sa kasal niya, sumugod siya sa venue at gumawa ng eksena. "Ramon,Namatay ako minsan, kaya wala akong pakialam na mamatay ulit. Pero sa pagkakataong ito, gusto kong sabay tayong mamatay," siya sumigaw, nanlilisik ang tingin sa kanya na may nasasaktan sa kanyang mga mata.//Naisip ni Ximena na hindi siya nito mahal at masaya na sa wakas ay wala na ito sa buhay niya. Ngunit ang hindi niya alam ay nadurog ang puso niya sa hindi inaasahang pagkamatay niya. Matagal siyang umiyak mag-isa dahil sa sakit at hapdi. Palagi niyang hinihiling na mabawi niya ang mga kamay ng oras o makita muli ang magandang mukha nito. Sobra para kay Ximena ang drama na dumating mamaya. Ang kanyang buhay ay napuno ng mga twists at turns. Hindi nagtagal, napupunta siya sa pagitan ng pakikipagbalikan sa kanyang dating asawa o pag-move on sa kanyang buhay. Ano ang pipiliin niya?
"Si Rena ay nasangkot sa isang malaking pagbaril nang siya ay lasing isang gabi. Kailangan niya ang tulong ni Waylen habang naaakit siya sa kagandahan nito sa kabataan. Dahil dito, ang dapat ay isang one-night stand ay umusad sa isang seryosong bagay. Maayos ang lahat hanggang sa natuklasan ni Rena na ang puso ni Waylen ay pag-aari ng ibang babae. Nang bumalik ang kanyang unang pag-ibig, tumigil siya sa pag-uwi, iniwan si Rena na mag-isa sa maraming gabi. Tiniis niya ito hanggang sa makatanggap siya ng tseke at farewell note isang araw. Taliwas sa inaasahan ni Waylen na magiging reaksyon niya, may ngiti sa labi si Rena habang nagpaalam sa kanya."Masaya habang tumatagal, Waylen. Nawa'y hindi magtagpo ang ating mga landas. Magkaroon ng magandang buhay." Ngunit gaya ng mangyayari sa tadhana, muling nagkrus ang kanilang landas. This time, may ibang lalaki na si Rena sa tabi niya. Nag-alab sa selos ang mga mata ni Waylen. Dumura siya, "Ano bang problema mo? Akala ko ako lang ang mahal mo!" "Keyword, mahal!" Napabalikwas si Rena ng buhok at sumagot, "Maraming isda sa dagat, Waylen. Tsaka ikaw yung humiling ng breakup. Ngayon, kung gusto mo akong ligawan, kailangan mong maghintay sa pila." Kinabukasan, nakatanggap si Rena ng credit alert na bilyun-bilyon at isang singsing na diyamante. Muling lumitaw si Waylen, lumuhod ang isang tuhod, at nagwika, "Puwede ba akong pumila, Rena? gusto pa rin kita."
Natigilan si Madisyn nang matuklasan na hindi siya biological child ng kanyang mga magulang. Dahil sa pakana ng tunay na anak, siya ay pinalayas at naging katatawanan. Inaakala na ipinanganak sa mga magsasaka, nagulat si Madisyn nang makitang ang kanyang tunay na ama ang pinakamayamang tao sa lungsod, at ang kanyang mga kapatid na lalaki ay mga kilalang tao sa kani-kanilang larangan. Pinaulanan nila siya ng pagmamahal, para lang malaman na may sariling negosyo si Madisyn. "Tigilan mo nga ako sa panggugulo!" sabi ng ex-boyfriend niya. "Kay Jenna lang ang puso ko." "Ang lakas ng loob mong mag-isip na may nararamdaman ang babae ko sayo?" pag-angkin ng isang misteryosong bigwig.