Charlene's POV
When I woke up that morning, I found Kerill sleeping beside my bed.
But the position he was in looked painfully uncomfortable. He was sitting on the floor with his head resting against the edge of the mattress, while his right hand held mine tightly.
He hadn't let go of my hand since the moment he confessed how afraid he was that I might leave him. Even in his sleep, his grip remained firm—despite the fact that he had spent the night sitting on the cold floor.
I studied his face quietly.
There were still traces of dried tears beneath his eyes.
Why did I fall in love with this man?
It was never part of my plan. I never intended to step into his life. Yet somehow… I had reached the point where I was willing to sacrifice everything for him.
And here I was.
Still here.
Even after promising myself so many times that I would leave this house.
But I never did.
I got out of bed and went to take a shower. When I came back, he was no longer sitting where he had been earlier. I assumed he had already woken up and left, so I didn't think much about it.
After getting dressed, I stepped out of the room—but immediately noticed the chaos downstairs.
People were running around in confusion.
"Charlene—oh my God!"
Before I could even react, Kerill rushed toward me and pulled me into a tight embrace.
He was trembling.
Saviel and several bodyguards had already come upstairs as well.
I glanced at Saviel with a questioning look, and he gestured that Kerill had been searching for me everywhere.
What?
I was just taking a shower.
"I thought you left me," Kerill whispered, his voice shaking. "Please don't go. Don't leave me."
My expression hardened as I felt the fear in his embrace. He must have woken up, found my side of the bed empty, and assumed I had left.
But wasn't this a bit too much?
Why was he acting so paranoid?
"Let go of me, Kerill. I can't breathe," I said quietly but firmly.
He immediately loosened his grip.
I couldn't help but feel unfamiliar with him—and with the emotions reflected in his eyes.
He looked like a completely different person.
Another day passed, and I still refused to speak to him, even though he kept approaching me. I still didn't know whether I should forgive him or not. Everything inside me was still tangled in confusion.
"I cooked your favorite," he said softly as he approached me on the sofa, carrying a plate of strawberry pancakes and a glass of milk.
"I'm full," I replied coldly, avoiding his gaze.
"Are you still mad?" he asked as he sat beside me and placed the food on the table.
"I'm sorry," he continued quietly. "I'll keep apologizing until you believe me when I say that I love you—"
"I'm sleepy, Kerill," I cut him off, standing up. "We have somewhere to go tomorrow, right?"
I was referring to the hearing we had to attend the next day regarding the children.
"O-okay," he said softly. "Goodnight, Charlene. I love you."
Those were the last words I heard before I went upstairs to my room.
I couldn't deny that guilt had already started creeping into my heart. But the pain I had felt—and maybe my pride—was still stronger than my willingness to forgive him.
Then the day we had all been waiting for finally arrived.
The hearing.
My heart pounded so loudly I could practically hear it in my ears. It was my first time stepping inside a courtroom, and somehow it felt as though I was the one on trial.
After the judge entered, the hearing began.
"This court is now in session. Today we will proceed with the second hearing regarding the custody of the four minor children of Mr. Kerill Wang and Mrs. Monica Wang. The court will review the statements and evidence presented by both parties before moving forward to the final hearing."
The judge's voice echoed through the courtroom.
Honestly, I barely understood most of what they were discussing. I simply sat there, listening quietly until the session ended.
Kerill told me he needed to step out for a moment, so I stayed behind in the hallway to wait for him.
I decided to use the restroom while I waited.
But just as I was about to leave, I caught sight of Monica speaking with the same judge who had presided over the hearing earlier.
"You know I can help you with your family problems," she was saying. "My father knows someone who can help you. So… would you accept my offer and return the favor?"
I wasn't stupid.
It was obvious what she was trying to do.
The judge suddenly noticed me standing there, so he quickly excused himself and left.
"You're actually planning to bribe the judge, aren't you?" I said coldly as I approached her. "You really have no shame."
Every time I saw her now, my blood boiled.
"If anyone here has no shame, it's you," she snapped. "You ruined my family, and now you're meddling in my marriage!"
"You and Kerill are already over!" I shot back. "You're the one interfering with our happy life!"
Her eyes flared with fury as she lunged at me.
She grabbed my hair and yanked it violently—but I wasn't about to lose. I grabbed her hair too and pulled just as hard.
All the anger and pain I had been carrying burst out at once.
I didn't care anymore if she was technically still his wife.
"Bitch! Homewrecker!" she screamed.
"Slut!" I shouted back. "You're the real homewrecker here! You destroyed your own family and abandoned your children for another man! Do you even know how much your kids suffered because of you? You're a terrible mother!"
"Don't you dare say that to me!" she yelled. "You don't know anything! Stop meddling in our business!"
"Oh really?"
I grabbed her clothes and pulled so hard that the fabric nearly tore. Rage consumed me—I wanted to hit her again when suddenly someone pulled me away.
"Charlene, that's enough. Please."
It was Kerill.
I turned and saw him standing there.
"Let go of me," I ordered sharply.
But his grip only tightened.
"Sooner or later I'll get my children back!" Monica shouted as two of Kerill's bodyguards restrained her. "So keep dreaming, Charlene! You will never replace me in my children's lives—or in my husband's heart! You're just someone who wants to be me!"
"Let me go!" I shouted at Kerill, struggling.
"I never wanted to be you!" I yelled back at her. "I'm not the shameless one here!"
"What is going on here, Monica?"
Everyone turned toward the voice.
The moment I saw the man standing there, my entire body froze.
Was I seeing things?
Was I imagining it?
"Enan…?" I whispered his name.
He looked at me—and his eyes widened in recognition.
"Charlene?"
I broke free from Kerill's hold and ran toward him.
The person I had been searching for all this time.
The reason I had come to Manila.
My childhood friend.
"Enan… it's really you."
Tears poured down my face as I threw my arms around him, holding him tightly.
I couldn't believe it.
After all this time…
I had finally found him.