BILLIONAIRE SERIES4: ARRANGED MARRIAGE TO MY ENEMY: ETHAN HARRIS MONTELLO

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

I spin on the bed, finding a wild look in his eyes. His chest heaves as he pants for air. He smiles and kissed me deeply. “I love you, wife.” napalunok ako, I know he always showed me that he really loves me pero ito ata ang unang beses niyang sinabi sa akin na mahal niya ako.

“I love you too..” ngumiti ito at inayos ang pagkakahiga ko and kumuha lang siya ng wipes para linisan niya ako and siya na din ang nagbihis sa akin. “Give me a hug.” paglalambing ko ng maupo ito at may binabasa ata siya sa cellphone niya, natawa ito ng mahina saka inayos ang kumot sa akin. We settle under the covers together, with Ethan’s warm arms circled tight around me, I rest my head on his strong chest. “Goodnight, wife, sleep tight.” I drift off to sleep with Ethan’s heartbeat in my ear.

Our relationship may not be conventional, but there’s something between us. A passion I never thought could be possible for an arranged marriage...

I stir a little while later, hearing Ethan quietly talking on the phone. Medyo nagising ang diwa ko nang marinig ko ang kanilang pinaguusapan.

“I asked her if she wants a divorce and she said no. I said we could have the marriage annulled, but she didn’t agree to that either. What am I supposed to do? I want her, and I won’t leave her unless she wants me to.” rinig kong sabi niya sa kausap. He’s talking about me, pero sino ba ang kausap niya sa cellphone niya?

Medyo nahigit ko ang hininga ko ng ilang sandali, habang pilit pinakikinggan ang kaninang usapan dahil mas humihina ang boses ni Ethan. But I know he sounds annoyed now, his voice strained.

“You were there when we made our vows. Till death do we part.” there’s a pause while whoever he’s talking to responds. Anger flashes across Ethan’s face as he listens.

“Well then... if you really want this marriage to end, I guess you’ll have to kìll me.” para naman nanlamig ang buong katawan ko sa usapan nila, but then Ethan ends the phone call, and slips back into bed with me.

Rinig ko ang malakas na kabog sa dibdib niya nang yakapin niya ako, pinilit kong ipikit ang mata ko para lang hindi niya mahalatang gising pa ako. Maya-maya lamang ay ramdam ko na ang malalim na paghinga niya tanda na patulog na siya kaya naman unti-unti akong humarap at tiningnan siya. Nakatitig lamang ako buong gabi sa kaniya, ni hindi talaga ako hinila man lang ng antok kagabi dahil sa pagaalala kung sino ba ang kausap ni Ethan. May gustong mapaghiwalay kami pero sino? Si Kuya Enzo ba? Pero kilala ko si Kuya, hindi nito ugali ang secret phone calls, mas sinasabi nito ang saloobin niya kahit pasa harap ng maraming tao.

Maybe it’s Katrina. She thinks I’m the reason Ethan isn’t her husband. Or maybe the Morettis family have something to do with it because of what happened to Rocco, to their heir. Hindi ko na talaga alam, sumasakit na ang ulo ko kakaisip kung sino nga ba ang kausap ni Ethan kanina.

MORNING finally comes. It feels like I’ve been pacing back and forth forever before Ethan wakes up. “You’re up early. You left me all alone in bed this morning.” pinilit kong ngumiti sa kaniya.

“I know. I’m sorry, hindi lang talaga ako makatulog ng maayos kagabi.” saad ko kaya agad siyang lumapit sa akin at hinaplos ang buhok ko.

“There’s nothing wrong, is there?” pinilit kong ngumiti uli saka tumango.

“Wala naman, medyo sumakit lang talaga yung ulo ko.” pagsisinungaling ko kaya agad niya akong niyakap saka bumulong sa tainga ko, para naman akong kinikiliti sa mainit niyang hininga.

“You know what’s good for headache? Orgásm. Lots of orgásm.” natawa na lamang ako ng mahina habang hinahalikan nito ang leeg ko.

“Looks like someone wake up on the hórny side of this bed morning.” pangaasar ko at tiningnan naman niya ako.