'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

9

Christmas break is fast approaching, and Aga’s parents decide to spend the holidays in the country. A wave of excitement hits them the moment they hear that Aga is finally ready to introduce his newly found love. His mom constantly nudges him about settling down and having children—the only milestones he hasn't checked off his list—but he refuses to rush the process. Lea isn't thinking about marriage yet, and he respects that boundary. Marriage is no easy commitment, nor is raising children; he knows the weight of those responsibilities and believes they aren’t even halfway there yet. Although he often fantasizes about a life with her—waking up next to the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and spending his nights tangled in her arms—he keeps those dreams to himself for now. Both are so absorbed by their heavy workloads that they seldom enjoy each other’s company, so Aga invites her to a formal business party tonight.

The night breeze kisses her smooth, fair skin as she steps out of his car. Aga slides his fingers into hers, glancing at her mesmerizing beauty with a possessive pride. His woman never fails to make the men around them drool, but he struts into the venue knowing she belongs solely to him. The party is a gathering of the city’s elite, an annual occasion Aga uses to negotiate with prospect investors and expand his empire. In the world of business, socializing is his fundamental stratagem, and being a risk-taker has always been his key to success. But as he looks at Lea, he realizes that success is hollow without a family to share it with.

He pulls her close, taking her hands and placing them on his shoulders as they sway to the classical music playing in the background. To him, she is beyond words. Making her happy is his only priority. He is falling deeper than he ever thought possible; she has knocked him off his feet before he even realized what was happening.

"Are you happy with me?" he asks, the question slipping out by instinct.

She takes a moment to absorb the weight of the question, though her heart already knows the answer. If loving him is the biggest risk of her life, she will take it a thousand times over. "I am, babe."

His heart flutters, and he pulls her closer to plant a tender kiss on her forehead. She is his haven, his solace from every misfortune. For a moment, the world goes silent, and the only thing they hear is the synchronized beating of their hearts against the chill of the night. She feels safe in his arms—her shelter from the rain of doubts—but a nagging fear persists. She knows Aga deserves the best, and if this ends in heartbreak, she will have no regrets for the time they spent together.

They are cut off when the host begins the announcements. Lea excuses herself to the women’s comfort room. As she walks down the quiet hallway, her eyes catch a familiar figure leaning against the wall with crossed arms. Her heart sinks. He looks like he’s been waiting for her.

"The world is indeed small," he smirks. It is Walter, her ex-fiancé. She hasn't heard from him since their supposed wedding day, the day he ran off after discovering her past. She can’t blame him; she had buried the truth, terrified that honesty would make him leave. It was a miscalculation that led to one of her deepest heartaches.

"Yeah. Indeed," she says, trying to roll her eyes and walk past, but he quickly blocks her path.

"Is he your new target?" he scoffs, his eyes cold.

"Walter, ano ba?! What do you want?!"

He scans her entire body, his gaze lingering on her curves. "You never changed. In fact, you look more amazing, hon. I'm bored tonight... name your price."

She flashes a bitter smile. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I belong to a real man now. Not someone who has no balls to respect a woman."

He chuckles darkly. "Don't be so full of yourself, Lei. What else does he know about you aside from your real name, Lea?" He reaches out and pulls her arm, leaning in to sniff her shoulder. "You really smell good, hon."

She struggles to free herself from his iron grip. "Walter, ano ba?! Let me go!"

He pins her against the wall, his voice a low hiss. "How much? Say it, hon. Fifty thousand? Seventy? One hundred? Name it."

Her eyes turn glassy as she pushes against his chest. He fondles her thigh, his touch making her skin crawl. "I miss your moans. We can enjoy the night. Don't worry... he won't know." He sniffs her neck and licks the skin there. "Taste better."

Gathering every ounce of strength, she manages to shove him away. "Stay away from me! I'm not the same woman you looked down on before, asshole!"

She runs back to the ballroom, her chest heaving as she tries to release the tension. She finds Aga, who is talking to an elite group.

"Oh, there she is. I'd like you to meet my babe, Ms. Maria Leanne Salazar," he says, introducing her to an old couple. Lea freezes. She recognizes the old man immediately. He was once a client, years ago—the richest client she ever had, the one who gave her a massive check after two nights on a yacht. Her heart pounds against her ribs as the man stares at her.

"Leanne? Your name isn't familiar, but your face... I think we met before, I just couldn't recall," he says, his forehead creasing as he tries to place her.

"Well, the world isn't that big. Probably you met her before," Aga butts in, smiling. Lea forces a smile to save face, but her knees feel weak.

"Yeah. I couldn't agree more," the old man says, sipping his champagne, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Babe, this is Mr. and Mrs. Salvador. The owners of two big hotels in the city. Well, you know what I mean."

"Y-Yeah," she nods, but Mr. Salvador’s gaze gives her a chill. Things go from bad to worse as she scans the room to avoid the old man’s eyes, only to find other men she had been with in the past. Her chest tightens. She chokes back tears, the reality of her past slapping her in the face. This night is a cruel reminder of the gap between her and Aga. Happiness, it seems, was never meant for her.

"Babe, I... I'm not feeling well. I think... I have to go ahead," she whispers to him, her voice trembling.

"Yeah. Yeah, sure. Come on. I'll drive you home."

"No, babe. I can manage. Just stay here, I'll just update you once I get home," she says, her lips trembling as she turns to leave. Aga looks at her with such genuine concern that it only adds insult to her injury. She doesn't wait for him to respond; she just runs.

Aga chases her out to the foyer. "Babe! Wait up. Lea, ano ba?! Sandali nga lang!"

He catches her arm, spinning her around to face him. She searches for words, but her throat is tight. She wants to tell him everything, but the fear is too great. "Babe, I just want to go home."

"Lea, what's happening? Come on, babe. Tell me," he says softly, reaching up to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

"Y-you know how much I love you, Ags," she sobs, staring into his confused eyes.

"You're scaring me, babe. What's wrong? Why are you crying?" He squeezes her hand, desperate for an answer.

"I... I was..." She wants to scream the truth, but the words die in her throat. All she has are tears. "L-Let's just talk some other time, babe. Bumalik ka na sa loob. I just need a rest."

"Babe," he calls out, but she is already stepping into a cab. He watches her disappear into the night. As the taxi moves away, Lea’s mind is a storm of agony. If she can't say it to his face, she knows she has to set him free. Loving him with the lies of her past is a burden she can no longer carry.