BROKEN BACHELORS SERIES 1: MY HUSBAND'S WRATH (Complete Ver. Available in VIP)

Simula

Simula

Lyneth

Marriage is something that I take as a big deal. Sa loob ng dalawampu't limang taong mag-asawa ang mga magulang ko, nabuo ang konsepto ng kasal sa aking isip. I knew that when love does not serve as the foundation of a relationship, it will never stand the test of time, yet here I am now, dressed in white and holding a bouquet of flowers, about to exchange vows with someone whom I know doesn't have an ounce of affection for me.

"Lyneth, you can still back down," my Dad said with tears building up in the corners of his eyes. "Hindi biro ang kasal."

I know. I grew up knowing that marriage should be taken seriously, but if I will not do this, Dad will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

I could never let my Dad end up in prison just because of a false accusation. Naniniwala akong inosente siya, ngunit kilala ko ang pamilya Monteverde. They're not business tyrants for nothing. Hindi ako papayag na maging biktima si Daddy ng galit ni Nicandro kaya kung kailangan kong kalimutan ang konsepto ko ng kasal at ang pangarap kong magkaroon ng masayang buhay pamilya, handa kong gawin huwag lang makulong si Daddy.

A weak smile found its way to my lips. "I love you, Daddy."

His eyes flickered with guilt. "Ly-ly. . . "

I pursed my lips. When was the last time my Dad called me by my nickname? Hindi ko na maalala, at ang sakit na ngayon ko pa iyon maririnig sa mismong araw ng kasal na hindi ko naman pinangarap.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga't tuluyang iniangkla ang aking mga braso sa kanya. Nang siguro ay napagtanto niyang hindi na magbabago ang isip ko ay suminghot siya't tuluyan akong sinabayan sa paglakad.

Nagtama ang tingin namin ng lalakeng nasa harap ng altar. His bushy brows are furrowing right now while his defined jaw is clenching so hard I'm scared he'd break his perfect set of pearl-white teeth. Ang matalim niyang mga mata ay nananatili lamang sa akin. Kung dala ba ng galit ang dilim ng kanyang ekspresyon ay hindi ko na masabi.

Maybe he's mad because I cannot stop my tears anymore. Hindi naman niya ako masisisi. I'm about to lose my freedom to someone I don't see myself spending my forever with, at alam kong iyon din naman ang tingin niya sa akin.

This marriage is just a mere play he needed to do so he'd inherit all the things his father had left behind. Dahil kung hindi pa siya maikakasal sa loob ng isang linggo, mapupunta sa kanyang ina ang lahat ng pinaghirapan nila ng Daddy niya.

Of course, I am the best choice. Nicandro Monteverde knew how much my father loves me, and taking me away from my Dad is the best revenge he could do to my father. After all, we only have each other. Without me, my Dad will be nothing but a lonely man now that my mother is gone.

Tuluyang ibinigay ni Daddy ang kamay ko kay Nicandro, o mas kilala bilang Sixth dahil siya ang pang-anim na Nicandro sa pamilya Monteverde. Some said the number six suits him well, because it was the devil's number. Nicandro is the most ruthless Monteverde, and I am about to seal my faith with the devil. Great.

"Stop crying. You're embarrassing me," Sixth whispered with firmness. He even squeezed my hand in a controlled manner as he narrowed his eyes while looking at me.

Humugot ako ng hininga't pinunasan ang aking mga luha. Nang magsimula ang seremonya ng aming kasal, wala akong ibang ginawa kung hindi ang kumbinsihin ang sarili ko na tama ang ginagawa ko.

Our wedding ceremony ended, and when it was time for Sixth to kiss me, he held me by my nape and kissed me in a rough way. Halos masugat ang aking labi sa diin ng kanyang halik, at nang makita niya ang naging pamumuo ng mga luha ko dahil sa sakit na naramdaman, umangat ang sulok ng kanyang mga labi na tila natutuwa siyang makitang nasakan niya ako.

I swallowed the lump in my throat before I left the church with him. Ngunit hindi tulad ng tipikal na kasal na diretso sa reception ang bagong mag-asawa, pinasakay ako ni Sixth sa kotse at ipinahatid sa driver.

"Huwag daw ho kayong lalabas, Ma'am Lyneth," paalala pa ng driver nang makababa ako ng kotse.

"Saan pupunta si Sixth?"

"May meeting ho ngayon si Sir. Baka madaling araw na rin ho iyon makakauwi. Ang mabuti pa ay huwag na ninyong hintayin."

I pursed my lips and nodded. Sumakay naman ulit ang driver saka na umalis para siguro magtungo sa kumpanya nina Sixth. Nang maiwan akong mag-isa sa malaking bahay, bagsak ang mga balikat ko na lamang na hinubad ang aking mga sapatos saka ako naupo sa sofa.

Hindi pa nag-si-sink in sa akin noong una na kasal na ako, ngunit nang matitigan ko ang wedding ring sa aking palasingsingan, kusa na lamang pumatak ang aking mga luha. The next thing I knew, my shoulders are already drastically shaking as I sob.

I'm married. My dream of having the kind of marriage my parents had is officially gone.

Hinayaan ko pa ang aking sariling umiyak nang umiyak hanggang sa mapawi ang bigat ng aking dibdib, at nang tuluyang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko, hinanap ko ang kwartong ipagagamit sa akin ni Sixth. Naroroon na ang mga maletang galing sa bahay namin, kaya nang mahanap ko ang kwarto ay sinimulan ko ang pag-aayos ng mga gamit ko.

I changed into my indoor clothes and kept my wedding gown inside my closet. Hinilamusan ko rin ang aking mukha saka ako lumabas ng silid at naghanap ng basahan at walis.

The moment I found the utility room, I tied my hair in a messy bun before I started cleaning. Inubos ko ang maghapon ko sa paglilinis at pag-aayos ng bahay ni Sixth, kaya nang dumating siya ay halos malukot ang kanyang noo matapos akong maabutang kina-carwash ang isa sa mga sasakyan niya.

He checked his wrist watch. "It's twelve fucking thirty in the evening, Lyneth. What do you think you're doing?"

I sighed and continued scrubbing the windshield. "You don't want me to work, you don't want maids to stay here, and you refused to give me permission to leave your house. I want to keep my sanity, Nicandro so leave me alone and let me do what I want."

His jaw clenched, but instead of putting up a fight with me, he breathed out a heavy breath then headed inside. Napailing na lamang ako nang wala nang lingon-likod siyang dumiretso sa loob. At least despite his rough attitude, he didn't force me to sleep with him, right?

Nalunok ko ang sarili kong laway. Tama. Maswerte pa rin akong hindi rapist ang taong pinakasalan ko . . .