Chloe stared blankly at the bouquet samples spread out on the table. White peonies, pale roses, tulips — all beautiful, all soulless now.
"Para saan pa 'to kung may mas mabaho pa sa bulaklak na 'yan?" bulong ni Denise habang umupo sa harap niya.
Chloe didn't laugh. She couldn't. The events of the past few days wrapped around her chest like barbed wire.
"Wala ka na sa mood magplano?" Denise asked gently, taking a rose and twirling it between her fingers.
"Hindi ko alam," Chloe whispered. "Pakiramdam ko... nilaro lang ako."
Denise leaned closer. "Chlo, bakit hindi mo ipaglaban?"
"Ipaglaban?" Chloe looked at her best friend, confused. "Yung lalaki may fiancée. Yung fiancée, kabit ng kapatid niya. Ako? Planner lang."
Denise's eyes narrowed. "Planner ka nga. But you're also the girl who fixes chaos. The girl who brings dreams to life. Bakit sa sarili mong kwento, hindi mo kayang gawin 'yan?"
"Because this isn't my story, Den. It's Bella's wedding. Vince's life. And I'm just..."
"A pawn?" Denise interrupted. "Yeah, I heard. And maybe you were. Pero hindi ibig sabihin mananatili kang ganoon."
Chloe's throat tightened. "I don't want to ruin things."
"Gising ka, 'no? Hindi ikaw ang sumira. Hindi ikaw ang may lihim. Hindi ikaw ang nanloko. You were just... collateral."
"Masakit," Chloe admitted. "Alam kong mali. Pero totoo — Vince made me feel seen."
Denise softened. "Then fight for that. I'm not saying agawin mo siya, pero ipaglaban mo 'yung totoo. Kasi kung hindi mo gagawin, sino pa?"
That night, Chloe walked alone in the garden of the wedding venue. The fairy lights blinked like distant stars — mocking her. Sa bawat sulok ng hardin, naaalala niya ang mga tahimik na lakad nila ni Vince, ang mga sulyap na parang lihim, at mga salitang hindi man sinabi, pero naramdaman.
She took out her phone. No message from him. Not since he found out.
But the silence spoke volumes.
Her fingers hovered above the screen. Message him? Say what?
"I'm sorry your life is a lie and I fell for you anyway?"
No. Hindi siya magiging weak. Denise was right — hindi siya background character sa sariling buhay niya. Kung hindi ito ang kwento niya dati, oras na para sulatin niya ang panibagong kabanata.
Kinabukasan, Chloe walked into the Crisostomo office building with purpose. Dressed in a white blazer and navy dress, she didn't look like someone heartbroken. She looked like a woman with a plan.
"Miss Beltran?" the receptionist blinked in surprise.
"I need to speak with Mr. Maverick Crisostomo," she said calmly.
Minutes later, Maverick appeared. "Chloe, what a surprise." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Didn't expect a meeting today."
Chloe straightened. "We won't take long."
They entered a conference room. The second the door closed, Chloe dropped the mask.
"Alam kong may kalokohan kayong dalawa ni Bella," she said flatly.
Maverick blinked. "Straight to the point. I admire that."
"I don't care kung may issue kayo sa negosyo n'yo. I don't care kung ginagamit n'yo si Vince para sa image ng company. But I care that you involved me."
Maverick's jaw clenched, but he kept calm. "You were just the planner."
"You hired me because I'm more than that," she snapped. "You knew I'd get close to him. You wanted to distract him. Or soften him."
He smirked. "And you played your part well."
Her eyes darkened. "Not anymore."
Maverick folded his arms. "What exactly do you want?"
Chloe held her head high. "To tell you this: If you think I'll sit back and watch you ruin him, you're wrong. If Bella still plans to go through the wedding, I'll step away. Pero hindi ko hahayaang magbulag-bulagan na lang ako."
"You love him," Maverick said with sudden realization. "That's dangerous."
"No," she said quietly. "What's dangerous is manipulating someone who actually loves with all his heart."
Then she turned and walked out.
That night, Denise was waiting at Chloe's apartment with a bottle of wine.
"So?" she asked the moment Chloe arrived.
"I told him," Chloe said, dropping her bag. "Everything but the part where I'm in love with his brother."
Denise handed her a glass. "That's progress. Ano plano mo next?"
"Hindi ko alam," Chloe admitted. "But I'm not hiding anymore."
"Good," Denise said. "Kasi Chloe, ilang kasal na ba ang naayos mo na sinukuan ng iba? If anyone can fix a mess like this... it's you."
Chloe smiled faintly. For the first time in days, hope didn't feel like a betrayal.
It felt like a beginning.
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