Chapter 19: Under His Rules

Jhoanna's POV

Nagising ako sa tunog ng machine at mahihinang bulungan sa paligid. My whole body felt heavy, at nung sinubukan kong gumalaw, sumakit bigla yung dibdib ko.

Wait, Ano'ng nangyari?

Dahan-dahan kong iminulat yung mata ko, at ang unang nakita ko ay ang puting kisame ng ospital. The strong smell of disinfectant filled the air. Saka ko lang napansin yung mga benda sa braso ko, pati yung mga wires na nakakabit sa'kin. I frowned. Bakit ako nandito?

Biglang bumukas yung pinto at pumasok si Ate Colet. She froze for a second nung makita niyang gising na ako.

"Jho?! Gising kana?!" Mabilis siyang lumapit at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "Piskit naman! Akala namin kung ano na mangyayari sa'yo!"

"Ate Colet... anong... ano'ng nangyari?" mahina kong tanong, ramdam ko yung panghihina sa boses ko.

She took a deep breath bago umupo sa tabi ng kama ko. "Naaksidente ka, Jho. Di namin alam kung paano at sino gumawa sayo neto"

Naaksidente?

Sinubukan kong balikan sa isip ko yung mga nangyari bago ako mawalan ng malay, pero blanko. Lalo akong kinabahan.

"Stacey?" Agad kong hinanap yung pangalan niya. "Where is she?"

Napakunot-noo si Ate Colet. "Ha? Bakit mo hinahanap yun?"

Napatingin ako sa paligid. "She should be here... she should be the first person I see... sh*t, and it's her birthday today." Biglang bumilis yung tibok ng puso ko. "Ate Colet, dumaan ba siya dito?"

She hesitated for a moment bago sumagot. "Oo... dumaan siya dito nung araw mismo na naaksidente ka ang weird nya nga ehh, pero pagkatapos nun di na ulit sya dumalaw."

A cold feeling spread through my chest. Huh? Di na sya bumalik?

"Ate Colet, did she say anything before she left?"

She shrugged. "Wala naman syang nabanggit. Ang sabi lang niya, ako na daw ang bahala sa'yo. Then she just walked away. Kahit anong pilit kong tanungin, she wouldn't answer. Jho... may something ba na hindi mo sinasabi sakin?"

My chest felt heavier. I quickly check my phone and dialed her number, pero nagulat ako when she already blocked me, This isn't right. Stacey wouldn't just leave me like that. I know there's a reason why she left, and I won't let her disappear just like that.

"I need to see her Ate Colet," I said weakly, trying to sit up, pero agad akong pinigilan ni Ate Colet.

"Piskit! Jho di ka pa pwedeng bumangon!"

"Ate Colet, you don't understand! I need to see her!" I struggled to move, but a sharp pain shot through my head, making me shut my eyes and gasp.

"Tsk! I told you not to move! Ano bang nangyayari, ha? Bakit parang sobrang worried ka sa boss mo, alam mo parehas kayong weird!?"

I froze.

Di nga pala nya alam.

How do I explain this? How do I tell her that this isn't just about concern-na hindi lang kami boss at empleyado?

But that doesn't matter right now. What matters is that I need to find Stacey.

"Ate Colet... let's go to her. Please," I pleaded, my voice breaking as tears started to fall. "Kailangan ko syang makita ngayon... and I'm scared that if I wait any longer, I won't be able to reach her."

She took a deep breath. "Piskit. Fine, pero hindi muna ngayon Jho. Mahina ka pa at hindi pa ako tapos sa pagtatanong ko sa'yo, magsabi ka nga ng totoo sakin" and by that I explained everything to her.

Stacey's POV

The bright lights, the elegant decorations, the sea of well-dressed guests-it was everything a grand birthday celebration should be. Pero para sa akin, isa lang itong palabas. A scripted spectacle orchestrated by the one man I feared the most-my father.

"Smile, sweetheart." Dad's voice was calm but firm as he leaned in, his grip on my arm tightening ever so slightly. "Tonight is a special night. We wouldn't want to disappoint our guests, would we?"

I forced a smile, kahit na gusto kong takbuhan ang lahat. Every second spent here felt like a slow suffocation. My eyes darted across the ballroom, looking for a way out, kahit alam kong wala naman talaga akong pupuntahan.

Gelo stood beside me, his posture confident, his expression unreadable. He played his role perfectly-the ever-supportive husband. A husband I didn't love. A husband I never wanted.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the host's voice echoed through the hall, catching everyone's attention. "Let us all raise our glasses to celebrate the birthday of none other than Mrs. Lindtsey Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja-Rivera!"

The crowd erupted into applause as I took a deep breath and stepped forward, feeling like a puppet on a string. Gelo placed a gentle hand on my waist as we smiled for the cameras. The flashes were blinding, and the weight of my father's expectations pressed heavily on my chest.

"And to make this evening even more special," Dad added, standing beside us with a smirk, "We have an announcement to make."

The air in the room shifted. The murmurs of curiosity turned into hushed anticipation. I gripped the champagne flute in my hand, feeling my pulse quicken.

"We are thrilled to share that Stacey and Gelo are now planning to expand their family," Dad continued, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Yes, you heard it right! We will soon have the next heir to the Sevilleja and Rivera empire."

The applause was deafening. I felt the blood drain from my face. This was it. My last chance to walk away-gone in an instant.

Gelo gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, playing along with the lie that we had agreed upon.

I turned my gaze to the TV cameras broadcasting this moment live. Somewhere out there, Jhoanna was watching this. And I couldn't even imagine the pain she must be feeling right now.

_

As soon as we stepped away from the stage, I pulled Gelo aside into a quieter corner of the ballroom. I could feel the weight of my father's gaze following us, but I no longer cared. My hands trembled as I grabbed his wrist, my voice barely above a whisper. "Gelo, this is getting out of hand, I'm sorry"

He sighed, running a hand through his neatly styled hair. "Wag kang magsorry Staku, I'm just confused kase nung last na nag usap tayo you said you're willing to fight right?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "He's forcing me into this, and threatened me again hys"

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palm. "I just-" My voice broke. "I just wish I could be with her."

Gelo's eyes darkened with sympathy. "I know." He hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Jhoanna's probably watching this right now. Have you thought about how she's feeling?"

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. Of course, I had thought about it. I had been thinking about nothing else since I heard the announcement. I pictured her sitting in front of the TV, her eyes filled with pain, betrayal. I could almost hear her voice-angry, broken, devastated.

"She hates me now," I whispered, my chest tightening. "And maybe that's for the best."

Gelo studied me carefully before shaking his head. "No, Stacey. Di yan yung gusto mo diba, hindi ito yung gusto natin. You're just convincing yourself that this is okay because it's the only way to keep her safe."

I let out a shaky breath. "If my father even gets a hint that I'm still holding onto Jho, he'll destroy her." I looked at Gelo, my eyes pleading. "I can't let that happen Gelo."

He nodded slowly. "I get it, Staks. But what about you? How much more of yourself are you willing to lose just to keep her safe?"

I didn't answer. Because the truth was, I had already lost too much. And I wasn't sure if there was anything left of me to save.

Jhoanna's POV

I was sitting in the hospital lounge, my fingers absentmindedly scrolling through my phone, still trying to reach out for Stacey while the TV played in the background. Wala naman akong balak manood, pero biglang tumigil ang daliri ko sa screen nang marinig ko ang isang pamilyar na boses.

Napatingin ako.

And there she was.

Stacey, standing in front of a grand stage, dressed in a stunning yet professional outfit, her hand intertwined with Gelo's. The banner behind them screamed in bold letters:

"SEVILLEJA CORPORATION HEIRESS STACEY SEVILLEJA AND HER HUSBAND GELO RIVERA ANNOUNCE THEIR PLANS TO START A FAMILY"

My entire body froze. Alam na ng buong mundo.

This... This can't be real.

My grip tightened around the remote as I forced myself to listen. The reporter's voice was full of enthusiasm, narrating every detail like it was the greatest love story ever told.

"We are so happy to share with everyone that we've decided to take the next step in our marriage. It's time for us to start a family," Stacey said, her voice steady, her expression soft as she looked at Gelo.

Tapos si Gelo naman, proud na tumango. "Yes, we've been talking about this for a while. And we feel that this is the perfect time to welcome a new chapter in our lives."

Parang may sumabog na bomba sa loob ng dibdib ko, scattering every piece of me in all directions. My hands trembled as I stared at the screen, hoping-praying-na mali lang ang narinig ko. Na baka nagkakamali lang ako. Na baka may ibang ibig sabihin 'yon.

Pero hindi.

The words kept repeating in my head like a cruel, never-ending echo.

"We've decided to start a family."

"It's time for us to have a child."

Bakit? Bakit niya ginagawa 'to?

Napansin ni Ate Colet ang pagbabago sa mukha ko. "Jho? Okay ka lang?"

Hindi ko alam kung paano sasagutin 'yon. My heart was pounding so hard, parang sasabog na sa sakit.

"She... she really did it," I whispered, barely recognizing my own voice.

Ate Colet frowned. "Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?"

Hindi ako sumagot. I couldn't. How could I even begin to explain?

All this time, I thought... I thought she was just being forced into this marriage. I thought she was playing along until she could find a way out. Until she could come back to me.

Pero ngayon?

She's planning to have a child with him? Napag usapan na namin toh ehh

That's not something you do out of obligation.

That's something you do when you actually want to build a life with someone.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko, trying to hold myself together, pero pakiramdam ko parang mabubuwag ako anumang segundo.

I stood up abruptly. "Kailangan kong umalis."

Ate Colet grabbed my wrist. "Saan ka pupunta?! Hindi ka pa nga fully recovered, antigas ng ulo mo!"

"I need to get out of here," I said, my voice cracking. "Hindi, kaya ko 'to, Ate Colet."

Sinubukan niyang pigilan ako, pero mabilis akong nakalabas ng lounge. My legs felt weak, but I kept pushing forward, not knowing exactly where I was going. I just needed to escape. I needed air.

I stumbled towards the exit of the hospital, my vision blurring. The world around me felt too loud, too bright, too suffocating.

Bakit ang sakit-sakit? Bakit parang hiniwa ako sa gitna? Alam ko namang wala akong karapatan magalit. Wala akong karapatan masaktan, pero tangina-

Mahal ko siya.

God, I love her so much.

I leaned against the cold wall outside the hospital, gasping for air. My hands were shaking, my mind spinning. Lahat ng alaala namin ni Stacey-

Those nights when we just laughed at the world while wrapped in each other's arms.

Our secret hand-holding, our stolen kisses, our promises never to let go.

And now, here she was.

Standing in front of the entire world, pretending that I never even mattered.

Na parang hindi niya ako minahal kahit kailan.

A lump formed in my throat. I wanted to scream, to break something, to make her feel even a fraction of the pain that was consuming me.

Pero anong magagawa ko?

She made her choice.

And it wasn't me.

Ate Colet suddenly appeared beside me, worry written all over her face. "Jho, ano ba? Tama na!"

Tumingin ako sa kanya, struggling to keep my emotions in check. "Kailangan ko siyang makita Ate Colet please, kailangan ko syang makausap"

Ate Colet's eyes widened. "Stacey? Jho, seryoso ka ba? Pagkatapos nung mga sinabi nya? Andito nanaman Tayo Jho! padalos dalos ka nanaman ng desisyon"

"She owes me an explanation," I said, my voice dangerously low. "Hindi pwedeng matapos 'to ng ganito lang."

Ate Colet looked at me like I had lost my mind. "Jho... ano bang gusto mo? Harapin siya? Ask her why? And then ano? Ano'ng mangyayari pagkatapos nun?"

I clenched my jaw. "I don't know. Pero hindi ko kayang hindi malaman kung bakit niya 'to ginagawa."

Ate Colet sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. "Alam mo kung anong dapat mong gawin? Magpahinga. Kasi hindi ka pa okay. Kung gusto mo siyang makita, magpalakas ka na Jho. Hindi kita pipigilan once na malakas kana"

Alam kong tama siya, pero ang bigat sa pakiramdam. Parang may malaking bato na nakadagan sa dibdib ko.

I closed my eyes and inhaled sharply, trying to calm the storm inside me.

But one thing was clear.

I couldn't just let this go.

Not without a fight.

Stacey's POV

The party was in full swing, yet I felt completely alone.

Gelo kept up the act, laughing with the guests, while Dad basked in the glory of his perfectly controlled world.

I, on the other hand, stood there, frozen in place, drowning in regret.

I knew Jhoanna was watching. I could almost feel her heartbreak through the distance that separated us. And that knowledge alone was enough to shatter me all over again.

But I had no choice.

Dad's warning echoed in my head.

"One wrong move, anak, and Robles won't be so lucky next time. Don't test me Stacey-."

I had made my decision the moment I walked away from her hospital room without looking back. It didn't matter that I was dying inside. It didn't matter that every time I looked at Gelo, all I saw was the life I never wanted.

Jhoanna's life was worth more than my happiness.

A waiter passed by, offering me a glass of wine. I took it, downing it in one go, hoping it would numb the ache in my chest.

But it didn't.

Because no matter how hard I tried to pretend, I knew the truth.

I would always love her.

Even if she would never forgive me.

"You don't look happy sa sarili mong party."

Napalingon ako. Mikha stood beside me, arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning my face. She knew me too well to fall for the act I was putting on.

I let out a dry chuckle. "I'm supposed to be happy, di ba?"

"Are you?" she challenged, raising an eyebrow. "Because you look like you're seconds away from falling apart."

I clenched my jaw, forcing a smile. "Mikha, I-"

"No bullshit, Staks." She grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards the balcony, away from prying eyes. "Ano bang ginagawa mo? Why you let this bullshit happened ?"

I exhaled sharply, turning away from her. "I don't have a choice Mikhs"

"You always have a choice," Mikha shot back. "Pero pinili mong sundin ang tatay mo kahit sinisira mo sarili mo."

"You don't understand Mikhs-"

"Argh- don't tell me that things." Her voice softened, but her gaze remained firm. "I know you love her."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, and just nodded

"Then why are you doing this Stacey?"

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Because I'd rather see her safe than see her by my side but in danger."

Mikha sighed, shaking her head. "You're choosing fear over love, Stacey. But let me ask, how long can you live like this?"

I looked away, unable to answer.

She placed a hand on my shoulder. "If you keep letting other people control your life, Stacey, One day, you'll just wake up and realize there's nothing left of yourself."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. Because deep down, I knew she was right.

But knowing didn't make it easier.

I forced a smile, blinking back tears. "Wala na akong magagawa, Mikha."

She studied me for a moment before sighing. "Then I hope you don't regret it when it's too late, Happy Birthday Sevilleja"

And with that, she walked away, leaving me alone with the weight of my choices.

⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── End of Chapter 19── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆