It's the Same Old Song (The Runaway Girls Series #4)

Chapter 37

Trap

"Marry me."

Did I hear him clearly, or is he just out of his mind?

"What the fuck?!" Laura's tiny voice filled the small space. "Are you fucking out of your mind, kuya?!"

Carlos looked at me curiously, crossing his legs and tapping the table with his fingers like what he just said was no big deal. He's asking me to marry him! Inaaya niya ako na para bang walang Vance na nage-exist sa buhay ko! Akala ko nagbago na pero gago pa rin pala!

"Gago ka pala, eh!" I shouted.

"Gusto mo ng fifty million? That's a lot, Beatrice. Honestly, I don't even have that amount of money yet." He emphasized the word yet, which made my brows furrow.

Nahampas ko ang table dahil sa sinabi niya. Kung wala naman pala siyang gano'ng kalaking pera bakit pa siya nag-offer na tulungan ako?! Ang sabi niya nagbago na siya. Ano itong ginagawa niya sa akin? Pinapaikot niya lang ba ako para pagtawanan at ano? Kutyain dahil nakakaawa ang sitwasyon ko?!

"Then why did you offer to help me in the first place?! Ginagago mo lang ako, Carlos!"

"Kuya don't tell me... you're planning to do it?" singit ni Laura na lalong ikinakunot ng noo ko. May alam ba sila na hindi ko alam?

Carlos waved his hand in a way that seemed to dismiss her concern. Mukhang naunawaan ni Laura iyon kaya bigla siyang nanahimik. Hinila niya ang upuan sa tabi ko bago siya umupo.

"Laura, ano iyon? Anong binabalak ni Carlos? Anong alam mo na hindi ko alam?" sunod-sunod kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Mas okay po siguro kung si kuya na ang magsasabi sa inyo," nakayuko niyang sagot.

I turned to Carlos, whose expression was unreadable. What the hell is he thinking?!

"My parents died in a plane crash two years ago," he said flatly. "And I'm their only child, which means I'm supposed to inherit all their properties, money—everything. Or at least, that's what I thought." He chuckled humorlessly before taking a sip of his wine.

"Kuya..." Laura began hesitantly, but Carlos just nodded.

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ko sa narinig. Two years ago? Ni hindi ko man lang nalaman iyon. Kahit pasilip sa mga social media account niya at ni Laura, wala rin.

"Of course, it's shameless of me to assume I'll inherit everything without any consequences." He continued tapping the table. "Then a lawyer contacted me about my inheritance. He explained everything, and in their last will, it stated that I can inherit everything only on one condition."

"What is that condition?" I asked him.

I noticed his jaw clench before he answered. "I need to marry someone before I turn 30, or else everything they worked hard for will go to their secretary. Maybe it was their way of punishing me or whatever the fuck it is. Honestly, I could survive without that inheritance, but if you need that big amount of money, you'll have to marry me so I can give you what you need."

"Bakit kailangang ako? Pwede ka namang magpakasal sa iba!"

"Huh?" He laughed in disbelief. "So you're suggesting I should voluntarily chain myself to a lifetime commitment just to help you?"

"Why not? Ikaw naman ang makikinabang sa pera!" giit ko pa.

Natatawa siyang umiling. "Let me repeat myself. So, sacrificing my life for your convenience is the best plan ever? Like what I said earlier, I can survive without that inheritance. Hindi ko kailangan ng pera nila. Kaya kong kitain iyon pati ang fifty million na kinakailangan mo pwera na lang kung kaya mong maghintay ng ten years? Fifteen years?"