Loving You With My Hands Tied ✔️

Kabanata 20: ...Come With Nightmares

Kabanata 20: ...Come With Nightmares

"Have you lost your mind?"

It was silence before Karine's words that are full of anger.

Everyone's eyes were on us and mom almost dropped the glass of wine she was holding dad was shocked, but he didn't say anything.

Cerine looked confused and Elijah looked as confused as her and everyone else inside the mansion.

"K-Karine... cal--"

"No, no!" Tinulak ni Karine si Cerine na sinusubukang pakalmahin siya but Karine's anger tonight blew the roof.

"What the fuck are you talking about? Engaged? With Silas?"

Naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Silas sa kamay ko, hinawakan niya yung ng mahigpit bago siya bumulong sa tenga ko.

"What are you doing, Aster?" he whispered.

I am doing what is right, Silas. Hindi ko alam kung gaano pala kadelikado ang Villanueva na 'to until I read that fucking letter. That was a letter to kill him, to kill his whole fucking family.

Tiningnan ko lang si Silas at kinagat ko ang babang labi ko sa sakit, ang sakit lang na malaman na kailangan niya 'tong maranasan kahit na wala naman siyang ginawang kasalanan.

He's my friend, he's like my brother, and for him to go through this pains me.

And I knew I had to do this.

I had to.

And the icing on the cake was when I met Dominic's eyes, he was right behind yaya Maria and it killed me, those eyes struck my heart, my broken fragile heart.

It's not just Silas, it's also Dominic, this is for me to protect the man I love. I have to do this so I can catch them off guard, Silas will help me and I'm just starting this whole plan.

"Yes, sister." I smiled at Karine.

"I am engaged with Silas. We've been thinking about it for a while now and... I also realized how good of a man he is. Well, not as a friend but as a potential husband, I saw him as a man and here we are." I chuckled.

Karine is furious, I know that, I understand why. But she will never understand what I'm doing, she would never understand.

"No, no. That's not a good fucking excuse, Aster."

"This is a good fucking excuse, Odelette." I made an emphasis on her first name without any more hesitation.

Nagulat ulet si Elijah at pati na rin si Cerine sa sinabi ko, I even said her first name.

I've never fought back like this against Karine, Karine has always been the leader among us siblings kahit na si Elijah ang panganay.

We know better than talk back to Karine, I would never talk back to her like this but... I have to.

I'm sorry, Karine. I am so sorry.

"And besides, this is good for me, for Silas, and for both families, right? Love?" binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Silas at napalitan ang gulat sa mukha niya ng ngiti pero alam kong naguguluhan pa rin siya.

"Yes, Aster."

"Geneva." Dad spoke that left chills in my body.

"Yes, dad?"