Torn Between Two Heartless Billionaires

“YOU ARE perfect. Just simply perfect, my dear,” the gay designer remarked. “And I’m already dying of jealousy because you are such a perfect bride for Aiden.” His name was Shawie. He was smiling from ear to ear as he took her measurements for the wedding gown. She was at Aiden’s villa in Tagaytay, the man she will marry in three months.

From the villa’s living room, she could see the beautiful view of Taal Lake. Aiden was preparing for the wedding. From her expensive wedding gown to the fairytalelike ceremony that would be held in his villa’s garden. She could not believe that she would be getting married in three months. A month ago, it was not part of her plan. But in just a snap of a finger, things changed, and she will be having a grand wedding. A wedding that was every lady’s dream.

“Hey, why aren’t you smiling?” Shawie asked as he measured her neck. “Brides are supposed to be always smiling.”

She flinched at the sound of his voice. She forced a smile as she saw the worry on his face. “I’m thinking about the wedding gown I prefer.”

“Yeah, that’s indeed a big problem,” he said and put the tape measure around her neck. Then he noted her measurement in his notebook. “Because you’ll find it hard to decide which of my gown you will wear from my amazing designs. Of course, you want a perfect fairytale gown.”

People told her that she was a modern Cinderella. She was just a mere seamstress from the town of San Luis. But now, she would be Mrs. Aiden dela Merced. She will marry the man of every girl’s dream. Aiden owned the luxury around her. He was also one of the heirs of Brava International Hotels that had branches abroad.

But she could not feel any joy in her heart, unlike other soontobebrides, despite the luxury waiting for her or her almost perfect groom. Something was missing. She was not in love with her future husband.

“Shawie, has Esmeralda chosen a wedding gown yet?” Lexie, Aiden’s personal assistant, asked. She was perfect from her pixie haircut, ruffled white blouse, navy blue pencil skirt, and black pumps. She was more suited in that elegant villa than a province girl like her.

“Not yet,” Shawie replied. “I was just done taking her measurements.”

Esmeralda plopped down on the sofa weakly. It was as if she was already exhausted from standing as she got measured. She could only imagine her head exploding when it was about time to choose the design of her gown. It was one of the few things she’d have to worry about and the guests to invite since Aiden’s wedding coordinator already took care of everything.

“Can you help me choose a gown, Lexie?” Esmeralda asked Lexie softly.

“Sure. Aiden sent me here to help you out. Any designs in mind?” she asked in a formal tone as she sat beside her and opened the collection of Shawie’s design. “I am sure you have a dream wedding gown in mind.”

“Tthe truth is I don’t have anything in mind. I’m too preoccupied. I just wanted a simple wedding gown.” And cheap, if possible. She did not want Aiden to spend that much. She had her own design because she was a seamstress, but nothing looked like Shawie’s design at all.

“No. A simple wedding gown won’t do. Aiden wants to make this as grand as possible. I think this offshoulder ballgown is perfect for you.”

She smiled blandly and nodded in submission. When it comes to fashion and anything luxurious, it was up to Lexie. Aiden’s assistant was great at that. Though it looked grand to her taste, she could not do anything about it. Lexie always had the final say. It was her job to make sure that her wedding with Aiden would look expensive. It was not about her as a bride.

“Excuse me, Ma’am Esmeralda,” a helper carrying the cordless phone interrupted. “You have a call.”

Her brows furrowed. “From who?” she asked. If it was Aiden, he would have directly called her cell phone.

“From Sir Amadeus,” the helper replied, already looking pale.

Esmeralda felt cold. She could not reach for the phone when she found out who was on the other line. Amadeus dela Merced was Aiden’s brother, the CEO and President of Brava International Chain of Hotels. The helpers and Lexie could prove how cruel and rude he was. He was very different from his brother Aiden who was kind to his employees and calm most of the time.

She still did not know what to say to him when she meets him. But she was not hoping he would accept her as a sisterinlaw. Because he was the reason why she and Aiden had to get married in the first place.

She stared at Lexie as if asking for help, whether she should talk to Amadeus or hide. When she nodded at her, she accepted the cordless phone. “Excuse me,” she told Lexie and Shawie.

She sauntered to the villa’s balcony, where she could see the green fields and the blue lake and sky. Somehow, her anxiety lessened. “Hhello.” A simple word gave her away.

“Esmeralda Solomon?” said a baritone voice. “This is Amadeus dela Merced, Aiden’s brother.”

Her hand trembled at the sound of his voice. It was hypnotizing and full of authority. Very manly. That if he told her to jump into the crater, she would jump without hesitation. She did not know she would get affected by just simply mentioning her name.

“Hhi, SSir Amadeus!” she said in a cheerful voice. “Aiden’s not here. He was taking care of something in Manila, but he will be home a while later.”

She needed to treat him well because she did not want him to criticize her. Aiden, too. If a problem would occur between them, she will make sure it was not because of her.

“I know,” he snarled. “It’s you that I want to talk to.”

She leaned on the railing for support. His tone indicated that she wouldn’t like what he’s about to tell her. “About what?”

“Stay away from my brother, opportunist!”

She straightened her back. “Wwhat?” she uttered, unable to absorb his words.

“I said stay away from my brother,” he stressed. “An opportunist like you does not belong in our family. I know you are after my brother’s money. You are just a goodfornothing bitch that he picked up somewhere. You are unworthy.”

She tightened her grip on the phone. “Hang on, Mr. dela Merced! I think you have crossed the line,” she said in a controlled tone. “Just because I’m poor doesn’t mean you can insult me. You don’t even know me.”

She was already anticipating he’d ask her to stay away from Aiden, but she was not expecting that he was this cruel. What she hated the most were rich people who act like they own the world. And poor people were just as small as ants that could be crushed easily.

“I already know you, Esmeralda Solomon. I have no idea where my brother picked you up. But I know you don’t belong together. You don’t even have a college diploma,” he mocked.

She took a deep breath as she controlled the rush of anger. She had not finished college because she was still a freshman in Education when her parents died in a huge flood, leaving her and her younger brother Jeremy orphaned. She had to raise him and set herself aside. She needed to cultivate the piece of land their parents left to survive.

“Well, that is not the basis of being a good person, Mr. dela Merced,” she said firmly. “If you have a problem with your brother’s wedding to me, it’s best that you talk to him. If you wanted to stop the wedding, it should come from him and not me. It was your brother who wanted to marry me.”

Accusing her of not being in love with Aiden may be right, but she had a heavy reason why she needed to marry him. It was the same case for Aiden. He was not in love with her, too.

If Aiden was marrying her, it was Amadeus who pushed his brother to do something that would make him mad. And she should fight for whatever interest she had with Aiden. She won’t let anyone ruin their plan.

“How much do you need to stay away from my brother?” he asked. “Five million? Ten million?”

If she was a different person, she would probably be tempted by his offer. It was more than enough to solve all her problems. She did not have to marry the man she did not love.

“That’s not enough to buy me.”

“How much, you greedy bitch?”

“If you could not convince Aiden to cancel the wedding, we’ll just see you, then. You’re invited to the reception.”

“Everyone has a price. Don’t be so pompous about this, or you won’t even get a red cent!” he snarled.

“Thank you, Mr. dela Merced. Don’t bother giving as a gift,” she said in a light but mocking tone.

“You had just declared a war, Esmeralda Solomon,” he said in a dangerous tone. The silent warning in his voice brought shivers all over her body. “I’m going to destroy you until you return to the mud you came from.”

She turned the cordless phone off because she did not want to argue with Amadeus further. Good thing she’d live with Aiden only for a while. She would not want Amadeus to become a part of her life forever.

“JEREMY, let’s get inside. It’s foggy in here,” Esmeralda implored when she checked her brother at the balcony. “The doctor said you should rest and avoid staying outdoors, especially when it’s cold.”

“Sister, I’m just watching the castle from here.” Aiden had a huge telescope on the balcony. “Can we go there with my friends? I know they’ll be happy.”

From Aiden’s villa in Tagaytay, they could see Fantasy World, a theme park that was not fully constructed. It was supposed to be the Disneyland of the Philippines. They went there when they transferred to Aiden’s resthouse in Tagaytay. He lived in Manila, but he said it would be best for Jeremy’s health to be exposed to fresh air.

They used to stay at Childhaus that served as a home for children with cancer and their families while undergoing treatment in Manila. He had become friends with the kids there. That was why he still went to see his friends even after leaving the facility. There were no other kids around the place. Maybe that’s why he was lonely.

“I’ll have to check first, okay? After the wedding maybe,” Esmeralda said and hugged him from behind.

He frowned. “Sister, that’s not going to happen sooner.”

“We’ll tell Miss Laly if you want to visit Fantasy Land with your friends.”

They both turned to the voice that came from behind. “Brother Aiden!” Jeremy ran and hugged him. “Are we really going to take my friends to Fantasy Land? I wanted to show them a castle.”

“Of course. Leave it up to me. For now, go shower so we can have dinner.”

“Let him enjoy his youth. Let him have fun with his friends. I’m sure that there are things in life that they could not enjoy much because of their illness. I’ll get him a private tutor so he could catch up with his lessons. He is bright. He can catch up.”

“You already gave us too much help. I don’t’ think I can take it…”

He shook his head. “I’m not helping you alone, remember? You’re helping me break away from my brother Amadeus, too. Lexie mentioned that he called you.”

Esmeralda closed the door of the balcony. She suddenly felt colder when she remembered the conversation with Aiden’s brother. “He called me a gold digger,” she said casually. As if it did not hurt her when Amadeus said it a while ago.

“I’m sorry for what my brother did,” he said meekly. “He always contradicts everything that I wanted to do. He meddles with the business that I dream of. Of course, he won’t agree to this wedding. He thinks I still have no right to manage my inheritance from Grandpa. I have to wait until I am thirty. Fuckin’ thirty. I can’t wait for three more years.”

That’s why Aiden already wanted to be independent. He planned to make his piece of land in Tagaytay into a flower farm. That had been her deceased mother’s dream. But to make that happen, he needed money. He tried to get a loan, but investors wanted to make Amadeus the guarantor.

When he asked for his brother’s help, he only laughed at him. He told him that Aiden should just focus on managing their hotels rather than waste his time doing things he had no experience of. Since he failed to secure Amadeus’ support as a guarantor, it was hard for him to acquire loans from banks even though the project is viable. He had no one to turn to anymore because banks won’t make any move without Amadeus’ help.

His only hope was the trust fund his grandfather left him, which he will only be eligible to when he turns thirty or gets married. And because he was still focused on work, he had no time to date or got into a relationship.

She met him when Jeremy passed out while they were crossing the street on the way to the bus station. Nothing was left from the money she got from their pawned land in the province at that time. She was not earning enough as a seamstress to finance his treatment.

Aiden’s car happened to pass by, and he helped her bring Jeremy to the hospital. Because she had no enough money left, he also paid the hospital bill. When she told him she still did not know how to pay him back, he proposed to her. He would continue helping them if she agreed to marry him.

“Is our plan really right?” Esmeralda uttered as she stared blankly ahead.

She was aware that many women wanted to trade places with her—women from high status in life. But he chose to marry a stranger because he did not want the marriage to be forever. After a year, they will go their separate ways. If only he had a choice, he did not want to get married in that kind of situation. But he had something to prove to his brother.

“Let’s help each other. We may not be real husband and wife, but we’ll be good friends.”

She looked up at Aiden. “Thanks for your help. I don’t know what could have happened to us without you.”

She could not afford to let Jeremy’s illness worsened and cowered home to the province. They had nothing to return to if she failed to redeem their farmland and house. Aiden already took care of everything.

“Enough of the thank yous. We may not get done with that. Let’s have dinner.” He smiled and held her arm. His phone suddenly rang. “Yes, Lexie. What? Palawan for one week and another week in Bangkok. Why me?”

Aiden shut her eyes tight. It looked like he was just welcomed with bad news. Esmeralda strolled away to give him space. She went to the kitchen to brew his favorite coffee. It was all he needed to relax. He needed it badly.

“Yes. Of course. This is just a trick to get me.” He caught his head when she returned to the living room with his coffee. “Thanks for giving me a heads up, Lexie. Bye.”

“Have some coffee first. The dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes,” she said as she put the cup on the glass center table. “Is there a problem?”

Aiden turned to her with a weary look on his face. “I’ll have your things packed. You and Jeremy need to go home to San Luis tomorrow.”

“WHY? WHAT’S the matter?” Esmeralda asked, confused. Just a while ago, he had a lot of plans for her and Jeremy.

Aiden gently held her shoulders. “Amadeus is coming home to the Philippines.”

“Why do I have to go home to San Luis? Don’t you want me to meet your brother?” she asked and sat on the sofa.

He caught his forehead. “I won’t be around for two weeks. My brother asked me to go to Samui and Palawan. They’re huge projects. He wants me to check out the progress. According to his message to Lexie, this is his way of showing me that he trusts me. But I know better. He’ll take this opportunity to meet you without me to help you.”

“I’m not scared of him,” she said in a stern tone.

She wanted to show Amadeus dela Merced that she was not easily intimidated by someone like him. She had gone through a lot. If she showed weakness, he might think that he could easily bully her and Aiden. He might stop pressing Aiden if he realized she was defiant.

“I can’t just let you face him alone. You have no stand against him. You don’t know my brother. He would do everything to stop our wedding. You’ll stay in San Luis for the meantime, so he could not follow you.”

She was already aware that Amadeus dela Merced was a dominant man. He gets what he wants, and he does not stop until victory was his. She would not let it happen. The wedding will push through no matter what he does. Unless Aiden himself decided not to marry her anymore.

“What would happen to the wedding preparations if I leave?” she asked. Aiden had been preparing for it because he wanted to convince everyone that their wedding was real. He did not want Amadeus and other people to suspect them.

“That’s what a wedding coordinator is for. You can just supervise the house you are building there,” he said and paced in front of her like a restless tiger.

He insisted on expanding their simple hut in San Luis. He built a twostory concrete house. As his future wife, he did not want her to look miserable in the eyes of other people because she was marrying a dela Merced.

“After your appointment with the doctor tomorrow, Berto will take you to Aurora. You’ll stay there until I return and have you collected. Do we understand each other?” Aiden continued.

Esmeralda put her hands on her waist. “I’m not scared of your brother. I can face him alone. You don’t have to hide me from him,” she insisted.

She wanted to confront Amadeus. She was not a coward to hide and go back to where she came from. If he would become her brotherinlaw, she must get used to his attitude. She would show him that she does not simply back away. She hated being challenged.

Aiden nodded. “I know you’re not scared of him. But I don’t want to give him the opportunity to ruin my plans. This wedding is important to us, remember?” he said, his tone asking for understanding. “Maybe Jeremy misses your home and his other friends.”

“WE ARE now flying over the Philippine Sea. In less than an hour, we will land at the Fort Magsaysay Airfield in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija,” the pilot announced, catching Amadeus’ attention from reading a report in his laptop. He was boarding his own private jet. He just got back from his meeting in Istanbul for an old building that he would transform into a hotel and spa.

He pressed the intercom that was connected to the pilot. “Why are we landing in Palayan City? That is a far cry from San Luis. I thought there are airstrips nearby where we can land.”

“The airports are closed due to the storm. The airfield in Palayan is the safest place for landing, Sir,” the pilot explained.

“Darn it!” He was not expecting it. He thought he would get closer to his destination that was an hour or two from the airport. He quickly instructed his temporary assistant, a fresh graduate from De La Salle University and a company scholar. “Bring my car there. I want it ready when I reach Fort Magsaysay, Marjayrie.”

“Yes, Sir,” she said and frantically dialed on her cellphone. “Sir, do you want me to find a hotel near the fort?”

“No. I want to reach Costa Aurora before nightfall. I have some important matters to attend to.”

“Sir, that would be a fourhour drive from the airbase. Maybe you could consider a hotel near the…”

“Did you hear what I said? I must get to Costa Aurora tonight. I can’t afford any more delays. Are we clear?”

She looked down. “Yes, Sir.”

Amadeus hated being opposed. And it was bad enough that the weather was against him. But nature was not enough to stop his plans. And his subordinates could not change his itinerary. He would be there by hook or by crook.

He used vacation as an excuse to come to the Philippines. He was checked in at Costa Aurora for a week. He was hoping his problem would be resolved before his break ended. The real reason why he came to Costa Aurora.

He opened his iPad and reviewed one of the files in his secret folder. A photo of a woman was on the file’s first page. The woman looked plain. There was no makeup on her face. Her long straight here was flowing freely. According to his file, the woman stood 5’3” and had a slim figure. She looked innocent. A countryside girl who could not even break a plate. Who would have thought that she was a moneysiphoning whore?

Esmeralda Solomon. A barrio lass who got his younger brother wrapped around her finger. She had only known his brother for a month, yet she had convinced Aiden to redeem her pawned land, renovated her house, and paid for her sick brother’s treatment, and who knew what other things she asked his brother to do. In one month? What an expensive whore!

His softhearted brother had no experiencing dealing with women like her. Amadeus had seen them all—from virginal to foxy women; they were all manipulative. They would use their charms and feminity to get what they want. Esmeralda must have played the virginal damsel in distress card, and his brother fell right into her trap. He won’t let his brother suffer. As his brother, it was his responsibility to protect him.

He was not close with Aiden. His father married Aiden’s mother when he was only eight years old. His mother had just died when his father married his stepmother. And even before his mother’s first death anniversary, Aiden was born. No, he was not stupid. When he could not get along with his stepmother, his father sent him to a boarding school in the United Kingdom. Even his younger brother was a stranger to him because he rarely came home.

While he was trained to take over the family business, his brother never had the same training he had gone to. His brother was weak. He was just like his father, who a woman can easily manipulate. He was influenced by Aiden’s mother to separate from him and start his own business. Now, Aiden was being controlled by an opportunist woman to marry her. He won’t just stand and watch his brother marry a gold digger. He won’t let Esmeralda Solomon become a part of the family.

The old Mustang was ready when he arrived at the airbase. He used it whenever he was in the Philippines and traveling alone. He had it equipped with the latest GPS at programmed it for his trip to Costa Aurora. He took the keys from the driver. “See you in a week.” And he gave a salute to his people before driving off.

He had not got that far when his cellphone rang. His personal assistant was calling. “Hello, old lady,” he greeted teasingly to Florida, his secretary, who was passed on to him by his father. “I am off to a vacation. It’s my policy to avoid distracting me unless it’s an emergency.”

“This is an emergency. Don’t go to Costa Aurora. You are heading straight to a storm.”

He only smirked. He was not bothered by the gustiness of the wind outside. “It’s just a rain shower. It’s nothing compared to our storm race in the Atlantic before. Remember that I won that one.”

During his free time, he would sail on his own yacht. He also joined international competitions where the weather was harsher, and the waves were massive. What was there to fear for signal #1 in the Philipines? He could not be shaken off easily.

“Amadeus, don’t do what I think you’re going to do. You’re not going to confront your brother’s fiancée, are you? You will only make matters worse if you bother them,” Florida warned.

He sighed. The old woman really knew what’s on his mind. “This is a family matter, old woman.”

“Esmeralda is a kind lady, son. Aiden’s maid mentioned when I saw her at the grocery store that she was very caring of your brother. Why don’t you just let them be? Your brother is old enough.”

“I must concentrate on driving. I will call you once I reach Costa Aurora. Goodbye,” he said in a cold tone and removed the Bluetooth in his ear. He wanted no more distractions from now on. He wanted to focus on his trip and his mission. He was ready to face Esmeralda Solomon.

He was more determined to meet that woman. She had fooled not only his brother but also the person he trusted. How would he know if Esmeralda was going to manipulate more people?

The rain was getting stronger each time. He noticed that the water on the road was beginning to rise. But he went on despite seeing a few people walking away from the direction of his destination. The weather was getting worse and worse.

He kept driving. In other countries, if the roads were not passable, they were usually being blocked. The police or other officers stopped vehicles from coming. It meant he could continue driving.

The storm had gotten worse. The rain poured harder, his windshield almost drowning. The wiper was not working properly anymore. It was already zero visibility, yet it was only three in the afternoon.

“What the fuck! The news said it’s only signal number one.” The amount of rainfall was not normal.

He will face Esmeralda. He could never take a break unless he confronted her. He wanted to make sure that before Aiden could return to the Philippines, that opportunist woman was out of his life.

The water level rose and reached the wooden bridge. He tried to cross until he heard a loud sound. His grew wide as he saw a massive wave rushing in his direction. He tried to speed up to leave the bridge, but it was too late. The storm surge had grown stronger and quicker. It shook the bridge like a toy until it was swept away. Amadeus could feel his car being shaken like a child’s plaything.

He tried to escape from the car and climbed on top as he fought against the strong current. He looked up at the sky to ask for help, but the answer he got was a stronger rainfall. He stood no chance against the current.

He held the necklace given to him by his deceased mother as he glanced at the sky. He was not scared to die. He was used to thriving in danger. He lived dangerously in and out of the boardroom. The sad part was he failed to save his brother Aiden before he died, and he will be left in the hands of the opportunist Esmeralda Solomon.

ESMERALDA hurriedly grabbed the blankets from the closet. Holding the lamp in her hand, she went out of the room. There was a blackout because of the strong wind caused by the typhoon. She was heading downstairs when she saw her neighbors evacuating.

They were temporarily staying in the living room and in the spaces below. The place was still not crowded because there was no other furniture except for the old bamboo couch. Her house stood on an elevated area where flood could not easily reach. It had been her family's practice to let their neighbors, who had no place to go in their home or in the barn.

“I’ll help you, Esmeralda,” Cynthia Lyn, her best friend, offered. She was with her family. They were deeply affected by the flood since they lived by the river.

“Thank you,” she said. “Do you think we’ll have enough food?”

She shook her head. “There’s more than enough for us. We have already prepared for the typhoon, so we brought our own food.”

Esmeralda sighed in relief. The people who took shelter in their home before starved, and she did not want it to happen again. Even though they survived the flood, people left with nothing to eat and got sick because they lack food and medicine. They learned their lesson now.

It was a huge thing that the house was built on time. It was not plastered yet, but the roofs were durable, the windows were fine, and since the house was spacious, it could accommodate more evacuees.

San Luis was a small and underprivileged town. Help from the government and NGOs could not reach them right away whenever there are calamities because bigger cities that were easy to reach were more prioritized. Esmeralda was not expecting from politicians who only served their allies during elections even though they all pay taxes just the same, either.

Kadyo appeared, panting, together with other men. Behind them was the last family who lived along the river. “We’re here,” he said and took off his raincoat.

“Cynthia Lyn, give them some hot soup,” Esmeralda said. “Please come in.”

“Help me!” Topher, her childhood friend, shouted frantically. “Nana Ising was left alone in her hut. She was sick and could not walk anymore. She needs to be evacuated before the river sweeps her away.”

She nodded at Kadyo. “Let’s get her,” she told him and the rest of the men. Nana Ising had no relatives left. She lived alone in her small hut. She was already weak, and they could not leave her just like that.

“You can just stay here,” Topher said.

“Bbut you don’t have to go with us. Leave it up to us men.”

“I can’t just relax until I make sure that Nana Ising is safe.” Esmeralda grabbed her thick jacket and donned a hat. She walked past Tophe. “Let’s go,” she said and led the group.

She was close to Nana Ising because she used to take care of her when her parents were at the farm. She used to tell them scary stories. She wanted to make sure that she’ll be all right.

“Just leave it up to us,” Topher insisted.

"Hurry up. The rain is getting stronger. It might be difficult for us if we waste more time," she said without throwing a glance, completely ignoring what he said.

Kadyo and the rest of the men followed quietly. They were too tired to argue with her. They all knew that once she decided to do something, there’s no backing out.

Esmeralda was strong. She was not yet tired of taking care of the people because she was at her house the whole time. While the men had been busy helping the evacuees. If a problem occurred, she could be of help.

They walked along the river. The rain was pouring hard. Her eyes did not miss the logs from the mountain and the remains of houses that got swept by the flood. Just like the day her parents died.

"Look!" Topher shouted that pulled Esmeralda back from reminiscing that painful day. Her eyes reverted to the blue object that he was pointing. It was carried away by the water, but it was trying to move. "Is that a person?"

“Indeed,” Kadyo said as he watched the blue object that was coming toward them. “Where did that came from?”

She ignored their murmurs and quickly pulled the rope that was coiled in Topher’s arm. She was sure that the floating object was a person. She saw it moved. She was sure it was still alive. But it was not easy for the man to fight the strong current of the water to reach the bay. He needed help.

“What are you trying to do?” Topher asked who was shocked when she snatched the rope from him.

“I’ll save him,” Esmeralda replied and tightened the rope around her waist.

His eyes widened. "Are you crazy? You could die if you jump into the water. The current is strong, and…"

He paused when she threw the other end of the rope in his hand. “Tie it around the tree. I have no time to argue with you.”

Her company was left stunned when she ran. She calculated her distance from the person and hit upon a chance, then jumped into the river.

Right. It was a crazy idea to jump into the cold, flashing water. But she had no time to worry about her own safety. She needed to save the person. She could not just stand there and watch someone die when she could have done something.

Esmeralda stroked with her hands. She fought the strong current. She was a good swimming athlete from elementary to college. But her actual skill in swimming was tested at the moment.

She ignored the warnings of her company. All she could hear was the sound of flashing water and her loud heartbeat. A few moments later, she caught the arm of the person. She did not waste more time. She hooked her arm around his neck and swam back to the shore with all her might.

But she was running out of strength. She had given all her energy swimming. She sighed in relief when her neighbors carefully pulled her back to the shore. They were now safe.

She was desperately gasping for air when she was finally out of the water. They pulled her up. Esmeralda dropped her body on the ground out of exhaustion. She did not care if the rain wet her eyes.

“He’s still alive!” Kadyo uttered as he helped her stand up. She heard the person she saved cough. When she turned, Topher and the rest had laid him flat on the ground. He was choking the water out of his system.

“Who are you?” the man asked in a weak voice.

Esmeralda scrunched beside him and stroked his lengthy hair. The man had stubbles around his mouth like he had not shaved for a month. Was he a monk who got swept by the flood? “Don’t worry. You’re safe now. Don’t sleep for now. Is your head hurt?”

“No. But the rest of my body feels…”

A sophisticated monk. Where could he come from?

When he opened his eyes and met her gaze, her heart beat as if logs were rushing in her chest.

Coffee. His eyes had the color of coffee. One of the prettiest pair of eyes she had ever seen in her life. Despite his weakness, his eyes seemed to have the power to tug at her heart. His eyes showed different emotions as he gazed at her. She did not know if it was fear or hatred.

She studied his face carefully. He must be around thirty or thirtytwo years old. His nose was tall, and he had the face of an angel. He was tan, and his skin was smooth. He did not look like the type of man who worked heavy loads like farming. And she was sure that he was not from there based on his gray slacks and blue long sleeve shirt.

“YYou?” he uttered helplessly before his eyes closed.

Esmeralda was seized with fear when she heard his voice. The kind of fear she did not feel when she jumped into the river to save him. His voice, it felt like she already heard it somewhere. The voice that brought a thousand shivers through her being.

But his eyes. They were hypnotizing. One look, and she was put under his spell.

She tilted her head to the side. He was a stranger. She had only seen him for the first time. She only heard his voice for the first time. She had no reason to be scared of him. It must be the effect after swimming. Her brain somehow got affected.

Esmeralda stood up. “Go save Nanang Ising, Kadyo. Topher, get another hammock at the house. Let's put him there because we could not just lift him. We have to make sure that no severe damage was caused when he was swept by the river and know who his family is. We have to bring him back to them because they're worried for sure." She stroked the man's hair as they stood under the tree. "Don't worry. You're safe now. We will take care of you."

AFTER CHANGING into dry clothes, Esmeralda went to check on the man she saved a while ago. He was temporarily laid in one of the empty rooms in her house. She knew he would not be comfortable in the crowded living room. After realizing that he was still asleep, she went down to the kitchen.

She saw Cynthia Lyn preparing a hot soup. Her eyes did not miss the smile on her face as she put some into a bowl.

The men who collected Nanang Ising finally arrived. Everything was fine. The children were sleeping, and the women were talking while the typhoon continued to lash outside.

“You know I helped put clothes on the man you saved at the river,” she whispered. “And he was gorgeous!”

“Shhh!” she scolded. “It’s embarrassing.”

Cynthia Lyn rolled her eyeballs. “What’s wrong with that? He really was gorgeous. And he had a great body. He had strong arms.”

Esmeralda could not help blushing at what Cynthia Lyn meant. She turned her back at her and grabbed a spoon for the soup to be served to the visitors. She was not comfortable talking about the aspects of her stranger guest. Even Aiden, her future husband, was also gorgeous, but she could not feel any attraction toward him. How much more with that stranger?

"Watch yourself, Cynthia Lyn. I did not save him from drowning, so you could drool at him all you want. Don't fantasize about him."

She put her hands on her waist. “Why are you so against it? I’m not lusting over your boyfriend. Be mad if I’m fantasizing about Aiden.”

“Where’s the food for our guest?” Esmeralda asked. “I’ll bring it upstairs.”

Cynthia Lyn frowned. “Don’t you trust me?”

She smiled tauntingly. "I don't. I'm afraid you'd take advantage of him if I let you do it. I don't want our town's reputation to get ruined because of you," she retorted.

“If I had not known you’re getting married, you’d probably take advantage of him, too,” she said as Esmeralda exited the kitchen.

When she entered the room, she was surprised to find the man awake. He was trying to stand up despite his weakness.

“DDon’t force yourself yet,” she scolded.

But it was too late because he already got up. The blanket covering his body slipped and fell. His broad chest with thin hair was revealed before her eyes.

CYNTHIA Lyn was right. The man Esmeralda saved was wellbuilt. Like he could lock her in his warm embrace and protect her from harm, always ready to warm her in this cold weather.

For a moment, Esmeralda was glued in place as she marveled at the sight of his body. If she was not alert, she would have dropped the tray of hot soup by now.

She frantically put the tray on the small table beside the wooden bed. Then she helped him sit. He groaned. It must be the pain he felt all over his body.

“Where does it hurt?” she asked.

He caught his head. “I’m hurting all over,” he said in a rich baritone voice. Even in pain, his tone was still full of power. “Wwhere am I?”

"You're in my home, here in San Luis. We brought you here after I saved you at the river. At first, we thought you're dead."

The man shut his eyes tight and leaned on the headboard of the bamboo bed. “I was driving my car. I was crossing the bridge. The flood was strong, and it reached the bridge, but I ignored it. I did not know the bridge was weak, and it was torn in half. I fell down the river with my car.” His eyes flew open in shock. “Damn! Where the hell is my car?” he roared.

She pushed him back to the headboard. “Forget about your car. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

How could he manage to think about his car more than his safety? It was only a material thing. It can be easily replaced.

“But that is my favorite car,” he argued.

“You know what? If I happened to see your car at the river, I wouldn't save it. Life is more important because that can’t be replaced. Just be thankful that you’re still alive,” she retorted.

His forehead knotted, completely displeased with her statement. His eyes fixated on her. His coffeecolored eyes. She had never felt awkward or conscious in front of a man before.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“Esmeralda Solomon,” she said. “I’m the one who saved you.”

His lips parted as if he was in disbelief. "Yyou saved me?" He shut his eyes tight and groaned in pain. "Why did it have to be you?" he asked like he was not pleased with the news. "Why?"

Her eyebrow raised. She had no idea if he was one of those men who hated getting help from women or he was just simply ungrateful. He was so dramatic.

“It just so happened that none of my male company wanted to risk their lives for you. So I jumped into the water and rescued you,” she said, her tone laced with irritation.

He opened his eyes once again and stared at her in pain. He began to get up. “II need to go.”

She came to his rescue at once because he could not stand up straight. “Don’t force yourself. You’re still weak. You can’t just leave right away, anyway, because the typhoon is strong...”

Esmeralda stopped when she got close to his almost naked body. He was only wearing the shorts that Topher lent him. She had never been this close to a man before, especially to an almost bare stranger. She felt a different kind of heat. The kind that does not go away easily.

When she looked at his face, she found him staring at her. He was towering. He stood at least six feet, as tall as Aiden.

His eyes bore into her. She could feel different emotions all at the same time—fear, anxiety, and… lust? She had the urge to pull away.

Esmeralda looked away and helped him sit on the bed. “It would be best if you have some soup for now. You have to fill your stomach. You can’t just leave if you’re still weak.”

He did not resist and obeyed though he was not really happy about that decision. It was as if he could not wait to leave that place, far from her.

“I don’t want to be a bother to you anymore,” he said and leaned.

Esmeralda pulled a chair toward his bed and took the bowl of hot soup. “You’re not a bother to me. I can’t just neglect someone who needs help.”

She brought the spoon of soup to his mouth, which he gladly took. He did not say a word when she was feeding him like he was a small child. Maybe he eventually got tired of arguing because he was weak, and he would not win over her.

“Esmeralda,” he called after she gave him water.

She turned. “What is it?”

He smiled. “Thank you for saving my life,” he said. “A while ago, I thought I’m not going to make it, that God won’t hear my prayers anymore. Thank you. And I hope you will forgive me for being crass. I am just not used to being helpless before. II was used to doing things alone.”

Esmeralda felt like she was enchanted as she looked into his face. In his low voice and the absence of arrogance, he looked like an angel. And he was smiling.

That was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. He already looked handsome in her eyes a while ago, but now he looked even more gorgeous. She could not believe this grumpy guy knew how to smile and be grateful.

“You’re welcome...” She stopped when she realized she did not know his name yet. “What’s your name, by the way?” she asked shyly.

She watched him for a moment. He was silent as if he did not know what to say. She thought he might have forgotten his name, and he was suffering from partial amnesia. It would be a big problem for her.

“Richard. Richard Infante,” he uttered and closed his eyes.