THE CROWDED MARRIAGE

Book 1: Epilogue Part II

Theo Castellano Raviello
- Epilogue Part II-

Since the first day I met Maeve Dominique, I always believed I liked her.

Aside from my only family, which was my mother... she was the only one who ever showed me kindness.

She made me feel seen in a life where I had always felt like an outsider. She took me in as a friend. She showed me that there was still something in this world waiting for me.

When I left, I swore to myself to be a better man, someone worthy of her. Because for goodness' sake, she's Maeve Dominique Valencia... na kahit ang makausap o makasama siya sa isang grupo ay malaking pribilehiyo na.

Maeve was one of my reasons to become a better person. So when I got the opportunity to go abroad and continue my studies, I grabbed it... even if it meant accepting the help from the person I hated that most—my father.

I knew I could never get close to Maeve in the future if I didn't set aside my pride. She was everything I wasn't, so much more than I could ever be... and all I wanted was to be enough to stand beside her.

So without ever confessing my feelings for her, I left with only one thing in my mind—I would pursue her once I became successful.

All I did was work so hard that I almost forgot the reason why I started this.

I flew to Japan for a seminar. An opportunity to advance my career. But before I could even reach my hotel, I saw a woman standing up and leaving something behind.

"Miss! You forgot your book!" I called out, trying to run after the girl who left her book. But before I could reach her... before I could even see her face, she had stepped into the train.

Napatingin ako sa book na nasa kamay ko ngayon. Napakunot ang noo nang mabasa ang familiar na salita sa likod ng libro. That woman was definitely a Filipina.

I went to my hotel with the book still in my hand. And out of curiosity and boredom while waiting for the seminar and training to begin, I decided to open the book and start reading.

That was how it started—my addiction to PillowAnn's work. Even when I was in the US, I made sure to buy all her published books. I followed all her socials. I also read her ongoing stories online.

But PillowAnn never showed herself. Still, I became addicted to her words and the wisdom woven into them. Most of her characters resonated with me so deeply, as I read her beautifully articulated lines, I couldn't help but feel as if she somehow knew my story.

Aside from Maeve, who was my first reason to become better and successful, it was PillowAnn's words that kept me sane through the loneliness.

I even tried reading works from other authors, but none of them hit me the way she did. PillowAnn's words already carved something deep inside me that I really wanted to meet her. If she ever held a book signing event, I'd be there... just to hear her words of wisdom in person. From all my quiet stalking of her social media, I kne she was kind. She genuinely loved her readers.

My life continued, until...

"You need to come back, Theo. Father needs you for a big project."

My half brother was the one who called me. We're not really close, we're just civil because we share the same blood. Baka nga ay may galit pa sila sa akin nang malaman na may kapatid sila sa labas.

"Alright." I just agreed because did I even have a choice?

So my so-called father had finally made me an important chess piece, not just a pawn in his game. A big project, huh? Was this his way of telling me that he was proud of what I'd become?