Kio Soledad de Merced always kept his life quiet and private. He never wanted anything flashy and grand. Attention and spotlight were the two things he never wanted to have. Calm and easy, that's how he preferred his life. Shiloh Lumiere Bendia's life was far from what he wanted, she was born for the spotlight. Living under the scrutinizing eyes of the world, Lumiere's life consists of cameras and flashes following her whenever she moves. The world gravitates around her, and everyone who sees her is drawn to her light, including him. The moment he saw her on that stage with the spotlight shining on her, he knew he would spend his whole life admiring her from afar. But with the twist of fate and a little luck, his fate might have changed. A secret moment. A lingering stare. Quick stolen moments behind the camera that no one knows about. But to what extent can they sacrifice for a losing battle they knew they would never win? To love is to risk. To risk requires courage and courage is only found in places we're too scared to take. ---- Date Started: March 2025 Date Finished: June 15, 2025

Longing for peace in Isla de Vista, Amber is dragged back to the city when her father demands she marry a rich, dumb man to secure their business. But the moment she meets Elijah Buenavista-the "dummy" her father mocks-she realizes he's hiding secrets her family never saw coming. *** Isla de Vista's peaceful shoreline seemed to free Amber Paige Valencia from her father's demands. Yet peace never lasts. After being summoned back to the city, she is forced into an arranged marriage with a Buenavista, Elijah Luis, whom everyone calls a dumb heir. Amber anticipates a dummy. Instead, she meets a handsome, commanding man who's far too self-assured to be the dumb man her father mocks. And once the vows are spoken, the truth begins to unravel. Elijah Luis Buenavista is no simple rich boy. He is the youngest general in history, a strategist who battled in secret and planned their marriage for reasons only he knows. Will Amber embrace his deadly secrets or will loving him put her in greater danger than she thought? DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. COVER DESIGN: Louise De Ramos