No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 31- I love you

But her mother only laughed, cold and mocking. "Why? Are you ashamed, Aiah?" she asked, tilting her head. Then her gaze flickered back to me, a smirk curling her lips. "You didn't even tell her, did you?"

My stomach dropped.

Tell me... what?

"Aiah," her mother continued, voice dripping with cruel amusement. "Why don't you tell your little girlfriend the truth? That you're already engaged."

The moment the words left her lips, I felt my entire world stop.

I froze.

It was like all the air had been sucked out of the room, the background noise of the office fading into nothing.

I turned to Aiah, my heart pounding violently in my chest.

Engaged?

No. No, that couldn't be true.

Aiah shook her head immediately, panic flashing in her eyes. "Mom, stop it. That's not-"

"Not true?" Her mother cut her off, raising a brow. "Then why haven't you told her? Are you afraid she'll leave once she realizes you've been lying this whole time?"

Lying.

The word hit me harder than I expected.

I took a small step back, unable to breathe. My mind was screaming at me to say something, to ask Aiah for the truth, but I couldn't get the words out.

I felt sick.

The image of the men trashing my apartment flashed in my head. The threats. The kiss I never asked about. And now this.

Aiah turned to me quickly, her face full of desperation. "Mikha, please, let me explain-"

But I couldn't hear her.

All I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat, hammering painfully in my chest.

Because for the first time... I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear the truth at all.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my hands trembling at my sides. My entire body felt cold, but I forced myself to stand straight, to meet Aiah's mother's sharp, judging gaze.

"If this is about power, about wealth, I don't have that," I began, my voice shaking but steady. "But what I do have is love. I love your daughter with everything I have. And I know-kahit hindi niyo po gusto, kahit tingin niyo hindi ako bagay sa mundo niya-I will never stop loving her."

Aiah's mother scoffed, crossing her arms. "Love? Love won't get you anywhere, Miss Mikha."

I shook my head, blinking back the sting in my eyes. "But love is what makes life worth living, isn't it? Hindi ba yun ang pinakaimportante? If Aiah is happy with me, why would you take that away from her?"

Her mother's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Because happiness is temporary, but duty is forever. You don't belong in her future."

I turned to Aiah, my heart breaking at the helplessness on her face. "Aiah... sabihin mo sa kanila. Tell them this isn't what you want. Tell them you choose me."

Aiah opened her mouth, but no words came out.

That silence... it hurt more than anything.

Tears welled in my eyes as I turned back to her mother, my voice desperate now. "Please. Please don't do this. Hindi niyo po ba nakikita kung gaano niya ako kamahal? Gaano ko siya kamahal? I'll do anything-" My voice cracked. "Just don't take her away from me."

Aiah's mother only sighed, shaking her head as if I was nothing more than a foolish child. "You think begging will change anything? You think your love is enough?"