Selene had just finished the final shoot for her upcoming primetime series, which had lasted until early in the morning.
Exhausted did not even begin to describe her feelings. Her schedule had recently been brutal: back-to-back commercial photoshoots, endless mall shows, nonstop press conferences, and countless social events she was expected to attend—all to promote her latest project. The cost of success, she believed, was sleepless nights and a soul that never truly rested.
As soon as she walked into her condo, she dropped her bag on the floor and collapsed onto the bed, without even changing her clothes. She did not seem to care. Her entire body was about to shut down. Her eyes closed in a matter of minutes, and the world vanished.
It was already two p.m. when she woke up.
She walked to the balcony of her 25th-floor unit at BMT Residences in Quezon City, groggy and still wearing her clothes from yesterday's shoot. The wind was crisp against her face as she curled up in the egg chair she would purchase at a weekend furniture fair in Makati—a small luxury she would given herself when she landed her first major role.
From up there, the entire Metro Manila stretched out in front of her—concrete, chaos, and dreams wrapped in smog and sunlight.
On the side table, she noticed a copy of Cosmopolitan magazine that had become slightly crumpled from excessive reading. Duke's face peered out from behind the cover.
The title, "The Billionaire's Heir," was written in bold, gleaming letters.
She reached for it slowly, tracing his jawline on the glossy page with her fingers as if it were an ancient relic. According to the article, Duke was now one of the most promising and influential young businessmen in the country, following in his father's footsteps, who reportedly owned several businesses in Zambales.
She could not understand how Duke, who had shared a dilapidated Tondo apartment with her, had become someone who was born into such wealth and influence. He never spoke of it. Or maybe he did, just not in words.
Her lips curled into a bittersweet smile as she spoke to herself.
She could not hide her pride in him, even though their story ended tragically.
She had once loved him. Deeply. Quite fiercely. In many ways, she still did.
Her condo had become a shrine, with every magazine and feature containing Duke's name tucked away as if her heart could not let go even though her life had.
She occasionally wondered... what if fate brought them back together? What if she could finally explain what happened that night five years ago when everything unraveled?
She attempted to fight back then. She attempted to file a lawsuit against Connor during that time.
But Connor's family wielded power—deep political ties, money, and a network that was too large for someone like her to challenge. They twisted the story around, portraying her as the temptress, a gold-digger who seduced their son for his money.
She felt humiliated.
She had no choice but to withdraw the charges, pack her belongings, and disappear.
Singapore became her refuge.
She lived quietly away from the noise and cruelty of Manila. She had enrolled in school. She remained committed to her healing journey despite the financial burden of tuition. Every night, she would cry herself to sleep.
Then came an unexpected twist.
During her final year of college, a talent scout spotted her in a Singapore mall. It all started with a small role in a shampoo commercial as a background extra. Then another commercial followed until she was no longer visible in the background. That was her face.
She was eventually spotted at a product launch by a manager, who signed her right away.
This time, she was a different person when she returned to the Philippines.
Fame came quickly. However, the pressure also increased.
She realized that the world of show business was more than just lights and applause. Under the glitz, there were sleepless nights, forced smiles, and a sense of emptiness that no amount of camera flashes could fill.
The emptiness continued to gnaw at her.
Her phone unexpectedly rang from inside.
She went back inside and grabbed it from the bed. "Good day, Ming?"
It was her manager.
"Selene, there is a press conference scheduled for tomorrow afternoon on the Manila Peninsula. You will be accompanying Richard, so please be ready by two p.m. We will meet and go there together."
Selene sighed, disappointed but not surprised.
One of the harsh realities of show business is that your life, time, and energy no longer belong to you. You couldn't say no. As long as the public loved you, you kept going. Despite internal burnout, you persevered through project after project and interview after interview.
She tossed the phone back on the bed and headed to the bathroom, deciding to soak in the bathtub for a while. It was the only moment of silence she could gift herself today. She needed it. Especially since there was a mall show she had to attend by six.
The next day, she got home past seven in the evening after the press conference at Manila Pen.
She was tired, but it wasn't just physical. There was a weariness in her soul that no sleep could cure.
The press conference was packed, flashing cameras and questions flying from every corner. Many of the reporters wanted exclusives, desperate to dig into her life beyond the screen.
But Selene refused all interviews.
It wasn't because she was trying to be rude. She just didn't want to offer her personal life as entertainment.
They weren't really interested in the film. They wanted dirt. Gossip. Scandal.
And she couldn't give them that. Especially not the part of her life where Duke still lived—quietly, intimately, secretly.
That chapter was hers. Sacred.
She wasn't ready to let strangers dissect it.
Then came the questions about Richard—her on-screen partner.
They had undeniable chemistry on screen. The audience shipped them hard. Fans wanted them to be together in real life. The rumor mills spun fantasies out of their every glance.
But the reality was different.
Richard was married. Very much so. And his wife, Valerie, had become a friend to Selene—a kind woman now pregnant with their second child.
Selene didn't like lying, and every time she was asked about her supposed relationship with Richard, guilt gripped her. She always danced around the question, offering vague smiles and ambiguous answers.
She hated it.
They had to act sweet for the cameras, but in real life, there was always a line they didn't cross. And they were both grateful for it.
Now, as she dried her hair by the window, looking out into the night sky that blanketed Manila, a thought settled heavily in her chest.
She had everything she once dreamed of—fame, success, a beautiful condo in the city.
And yet...
Something was missing.
Something that no amount of applause could ever replace.
Duke had just finished his morning jog around the perimeter of their vast family hacienda in Zambales.
Given the choice between Manila and this place, he'd choose Zambales any day.
Here, the air was cleaner. The silence is soothing. And the view—from the mansion's balcony—was like something out of a postcard: lush green gardens, tall trees swaying gently in the breeze, the distant outline of the hills. It gave him a rare sense of peace. A contrast to the chaos of the city he had grown used to.
As he wiped the sweat off his brow and reached the old stone bench near the east side of the mansion, a familiar voice called out.
"Hi, handsome cousin."
He turned to see Addison approaching, a smug smile playing on her lips. She had flown in with him yesterday from Malaysia via a private family jet.
"You're up early," he said, settling onto the bench.
"Jet lag," she shrugged, stretching her arms. "My body's still adjusting to Zambales time."
Duke smirked. "We're in the same time zone."
"Exactly." She grinned. "So... are you ever going to tell me about you and Selene? Or do I have to keep guessing like a telenovela fan?"
Duke gave a short laugh, shaking his head. "There's really nothing to tell. I was twenty-three. Young. Stupid. Thought I had everything figured out." He leaned back and looked out at the trees. "Besides, I've realized there are... prettier faces here in Zambales."
Addison rolled her eyes. "Please. We all know there are plenty of beautiful women here—including me, obviously—but Selene? She's different. There's something about her."
He gave her a sideways glance. "You just like the drama."
"No, I'm serious. Her face, her smile, the way she carries herself... she's got this quiet strength. And maybe it's not a coincidence she ended up as the endorser for one of our biggest campaigns. Maybe it's fate."
He snorted. "Don't start with that fate and destiny crap."
"Why not?" Addison challenged, sitting beside him. "You think everything is just chance? I mean, come on. Of all the people in the industry, she ends up linked to our brand?"
Duke picked up a small twig from the ground, turning it in his fingers. "Our relationship ended five years ago, Addie. That chapter's closed."
Addison leaned back on her hands, studying him. "Is it though? I mean, she's single. You're single. And from what I heard, that whole thing with Richard? Probably just PR. You know how showbiz works—make-believe romances to sell tickets."
"I don't care," he said flatly, eyes fixed on the horizon. "Her personal life is none of my business now."
Addison paused, catching the shift in his tone. "Alright, alright. I'll drop it."
Silence settled between them for a few beats.
But even as Duke looked out over the trees, pretending to enjoy the peace, his mind had already drifted—uninvited—to memories he thought he had buried long ago. Her laugh. The way she used to steal glances at him when she thought he wasn't looking. That night everything fell apart, and she left without even saying goodbye.
He exhaled slowly, brushing the thought away like a fly on his shoulder.
What's done is done.
At least, that's what he kept telling himself.
But life had a habit of unearthing what you worked so hard to conceal.