THE HILARIOUS HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #2)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CONSEQUENCES

❥ ELISSE GARCIA ❥

"What?" hindi makapaniwala kong bulalas matapos ipaliwanag sa 'kin ni Attorney Salvacion ang breach of contract. Ang tagal bago mag-register sa utak ko ang sinabi niya, but the weight of their meaning sank in slowly, like a lead stone pulling me under.

"Hope won't receive his inheritance from Don Adolfo," pauna niya sa kalmadong boses na tila ba business lang ang pinag-uusapan namin. "But the house you both own will go entirely to him. Mawawala ang karapatan mo rito sa bahay n'yo, as well as any standing in the company. Hope will automatically ascend as the new CEO once you separate because the board will no longer see you as part of the Lee family, but as a stranger to the company."

The words felt like a punch to the gut. I knew walking away from this marriage wasn't going to be easy, but I hadn't realized the magnitude of what I'd be losing. Hindi lamang pala 'yong bahay namin—which I had never considered home anyway—but the company.

The idea of being reduced to nothing but an outsider in the company I had tried to save felt like betrayal. Matapos kong isakripisyo ang kaligayahan ko para sa kasal namin ay wala rin palang maiiwan sa akin, while Hope stepped into the role I'd been dreaming for.

I stared at Attorney Salvacion, her expression unreadable, as if this was just another routine case. But to me, it felt like my entire world was crumbling. Sumakit ang ulo ko at para akong nanlambot sa mga sinabi niya.

Napalunok ako, sinubukan kong panatilihing matatag ang boses ko. "So... if we divorce now, I lose everything?"

She nodded, her expression softening just slightly. "Legally, yes. You'll lose your claim to the house and any influence in the company. It's all part of the contract you signed."

Nasapo ko ang dibdib ko dahil tila hindi ako makahinga. It felt like all the walls were closing in, and suddenly, I wasn't just losing a marriage I never wanted—I was losing everything else along with it.

Ang alam ko lang ay 'yong tungkol sa mamanahin ni Hope na hindi niya makukuha kapag naghiwalay kami. Pero 'yong tungkol sa bahay na 'to at sa rights ko sa kompanya ay ngayon ko lang nalaman. Hindi ko kasi masyadong na-review ang kontrata namin ni Hope bago ko 'yon pirmahan at wala akong ibang dapat sisihin ngayon kundi ang sarili ko.

Kung hahayaan kong mawala sa 'kin ang bahay namin ni Hope, saan ako tatakbo? Matapos ang ginawa sa 'kin ni Daddy sa opisina niya, sinumpa ko sa sarili ko na hindi na ako babalik sa kanila kaya hindi p'wedeng mawala sa akin ang bahay na 'to.

"Pero..." Attorney Salvacion's voice trailed off, catching my attention again. I turned back to her, sensing that what she was about to say was important. "Kapag si Hope naman ang nakipag-divorce sa 'yo," she continued, her words measured, "bukod sa mapapasa'yo ang bahay n'yong ito, ay mapupunta rin sa 'yo ang mamanahin niya mula kay Don Adolfo as compensation. Iyon ay kung... may anak kayo."

I felt my breath catch. My mind immediately raced at the implications. If Hope filed for divorce, not only would I get the house, but I would also receive his inheritance—if we had a child.

"Pero kung hihiwalayan ka niya nang wala naman kayong naging anak..." she paused, making sure I was following, "ang bahay lang na ito ang mapupunta sa 'yo, at 'yong mamanahin ni Hope ay babagsak sa charity."

I couldn't stop the soft gasp that escaped my lips. It was like a twist I hadn't anticipated, another layer of complexity in this already tangled mess. The possibility of having a child with Hope just to secure my future? It was something I hadn't even considered.