The Billionaire's Playmate

Luther asked me twice if I am sure. I had no doubt anymore. When I nodded, we left the restaurant. Even though it was night, I didn't care. I wanted to see Rozzean. I was worried, and I couldn't be at ease until I saw him now. It was my fault that he was hurt. Everything that happened to him in the past-about their family, his father's anger just because of his love for Tali, and the trouble in his company when he talked to Daddy.

Everything he did was because of his love for Tali Dela Cruz-the fake personality I created just to find flaws in his character so that our wedding wouldn't push through.

"Did you see him, Luther? Did you visit him?" I asked.

Nervous and with trembling hands, I looked at Luther who was driving.

"No, I only found out about what happened a while ago, Thaliana. Can you calm down? Manang said that Cyron is okay, just resting due to the injury he got."

How will I calm down? It's my fault that Rozzean had an accident.

"What time will we reach his house? Can you find a shortcut? What if he's not really okay, Luther? Rozzean is the kind of--"

I heard Luther sigh, so I stopped talking. He veered his car to the side and then looked at me.

"W-Why did you stop?" I asked.

He was looking at me seriously.

"We're not leaving until you calm down. I already said that Cyron is fine, Thaliana. He has a sprained foot and some wounds, but aside from that, nothing serious happened. Why don't you focus on telling him the truth now?"

I know that saying the truth will never be easy, and preparing myself will not help me in the end. When I face Rozzean, everything I planned to say will surely disappear, and whatever comes to my mind at that moment is all I'll be able to say. Seeing in Luther's eyes that he really had no intention of driving unless I calmed down, I held his arm.

"Let's go, please? I am worried, you can't blame me. It's my fault that he got into an accident. Come on, please... Luther."

I wiped away the tears that escaped my eyes. Luther looked away and then started the car again. I stayed silent, looking out the car window. Luther asked me if I was okay, and all I could do was nod.

When we reached Tagaytay, I took a deep breath. My heart was pounding loudly. I wanted to see Rozzean. I was worried, nervous, scared. I really wanted to see him. It hadn't been long since Maki and I left that night, and now I find out he had an accident because of me.

I didn't care anymore about what I might say if I were to be honest with him.

But amid all the emotions, I can't stop but to worry more.

We reached the village. When we were in front of Rozzean's house, Luther got out of the car first. He opened the car door for me. I was nervous. A lot. But I wanted to see him, even if all I could expect was his anger.

But I am hoping and still holding on to his love... I know he loves me, he will forgive me.

"Sir Luther," said the guard whom I always prepared coffee for in the morning. I smiled at him, and he smiled back.

"Hello, Ma'am, Good evening!"

He didn't notice me. Of course... I looked very different as Tali. No one would think that I am Tali Dela Cruz, the simple girl who applied as a maid in Rozzean's house.

"Let's go, Thaliana."

I nodded at Luther, and we walked towards Rozzean's house. I looked at his garden, my lips parting in surprise as I saw dry leaves and fallen roses on the Bermuda grass. I could see it because of the lights there. He's taking care of his garden... what happened? Why are there so many dry leaves? Why are there so many fallen flowers?

When we were inside the house, Luther rang the doorbell.

"Oh... You're visiting late, Sir Luther."

Upon hearing Manang Selya's voice, I almost ran to her and hugged her. I missed her too. Our morning chats over coffee were something I looked forward to.

How many days has it been? Almost three? Not even a week or a month yet, but I missed everything here so much.

"I'm really worried about sir, Sir Luther; he hasn't been eating."

W-What?

We entered, following Manang. I immediately scanned the surroundings, looking for Rozzean.

But what did I hear? He hasn't been eating? He should be eating more, especially since he had an accident.

"Where's Cyron, Manang? Is he sleeping?" Luther asked.

But I noticed Manang's eyes were on me, so she probably didn't hear Luther's question. I smiled at Manang and bowed. I approached her and held her hands.

"Good evening, Manang. How are you?" I asked.

Manang's eyes shifted to Luther, asking him to look at me, and then returned her gaze to me. I couldn't figure out what Manang wanted to say. "Luther? What are you doing here?"

I froze upon hearing that voice. I swallowed hard. My chest tightened with pain just hearing Rozzean's voice. Tears welled up in my eyes. "You... a-ahm you look familiar, ma'am," Manang said to me.

Instead of responding, I tightened my grip on Manang's hands and smiled at her. I still didn't look at Rozzean.

"Who's with you, Luther? It's late; why did you come now? You could have come tomorrow. Did Manang tell you what happened to me?"

As his voice got closer, I immediately turned my back. I let go of Manang's hands.

Our eyes met. He was looking at me, his eyebrows furrowed. My hands trembled, and I couldn't decide whether to approach him or stay where I was. "R-Rozzean..."

He had dark circles around his eyes. He had gauze on his cheek. Since he was wearing a black t-shirt, I could see the wounds on his arms. My lips quivered, and I wiped away the tears that escaped from both of my cheeks. "Who... are you?"

There's danger in his voice when he asked me. His eyes were glaring at me.

"R-Rozzean, I'm sorry... so-sorry..."

"I'm asking who you are!"

I closed my eyes tightly when his voice echoed throughout the house. I was trembling. I was terrified, not because of his anger but because I realized he might never accept me again because of what I did. "I-I'm Thaliana... Thaliana Tangi Dela Vezca."

Luther looked at me and approached. He seemed to notice the trembling of my hands, so I hid them on the side of my dress.

"R-Rozzean..."

"Why do you sound like her?"

He's talking about Tali... he noticed...

"I'm sorry--"

"Why the heck do your eyes look like hers?!"

I bit my lower lip. Tears were streaming down my eyes continuously. My lips were trembling, and my chest tightened with the pain I felt. "B-Because I am her... Rozzean."

"I-I am Tali Dela Cruz... I-I came here to pretend as a poor woman to enter your house as your m-maid. I did this because I had an agreement with Daddy that if I found any bad behavior in you, he would cancel the marriage he wanted. M-My Dad is George Romualdo Dela Vezca."

"B-but everything changed because I fell for you--"

"Luther!"

He's so mad. He gritted his teeth while shouting his brother's name, but his gaze was still fixed on me.

I saw the pain in Rozzean's eyes as he looked at me. I wiped away the tears on my cheeks. It hurts so much. The pain is overwhelming; I'm having difficulty breathing because of the emotions I'm feeling right now, but I need to endure it.

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"Do you know her? Why is she saying that she's Tali?! S-she sounds like my woman... and her eyes... d-damn it."

"I miss my baby so much, why am I seeing her with that woman? Who is she?" He looks helpless while looking at Luther.

"Why is she saying that she's Tali, huh? why? Luther... answer me."

I know that even Luther is struggling in this situation. He can't say it when he already knows what he was going to say. He can't say it because he knows that his words will hurt Rozzean deeply. "Cyron..."

"Cyron! Cyron! Luther, I am asking you!"

Luther closed his eyes tightly before he spoke.

"Yes."

Rozzean looked back at me when he heard what Luther said.

"She is Tali Dela Cruz. Thaliana Tangi Dela Vezca and Tali Dela Cruz are one and the same. What she told you is true. She pretended as a maid, and I found out about her when I came here that day. When you weren't at home." "W-What? Y-you knew?"

"R-Rozzean... I-I will tell you the truth. I was just taking my time. I wanted to actually tell everything once I came back as Thaliana. I-I didn't expect that it would be difficult for me to return because of the feelings I developed for you. You are not the kind of person I thought you were. I regret what I did... please... I know this is hard for you, b-but, please... forgive me..."

No... d-don't look at me like that... don't look at me with h-hatred in your eyes.

"Fck... what..."

I could clearly see the pain and anger in his eyes as he looked at me. He shook his head slowly... several times. "R-Rozzean--"

"Stop... w-what are you saying..." he looked at Luther again, "and you knew about h-her? that ss-she was fooling me? you knew she was deceiving me and pretending to be someone she's not here in my h-house?" "Cyron..."

I stood in front of Luther when I saw Rozzean's intense anger directed at his brother. Enough, he has already gone through a lot, and because of me, their relationship might suffer more damage.

"Luther is not at fault; I asked him not to tell you the truth. H-He actually tried many times to convince me to go home and explain what I did, but I can't because I don't want to l-leave you. I-I insisted on staying here. Don't be angry at Luther..."

"I-I'm sorry, s-sorry, R-Rozzean, I didn't think everything through carefully. I-I was sure about my plans in life, and I don't like the idea of getting married to anyone, but my Dad is pushing me. That's why I came to your house - I wanted to see some of your flaws to tell my Dad and stop the wedding."

"But I was wrong for thinking t-that... I f-fell for you, I truly feel something for you. Y-You are a great person, Rozzean. After seeing what kind of person you are, I decided to come back and c-clear everything b-but it was hard leaving you, it was really tough. I was forced to leave when my family thought something bad happened to me. Maki helped me to leave your house that night."

"I'm so s-sorry... I'm sorry if it took long for me to say the truth--"

I stopped talking when Rozzean moved to the side, a sign that he was leaving.

"R-Rozzean..."

No... please... don't turn your back on me... p-please...

"P-Please... I-I'm sorry..."

When he turned away from me, hope rose in my chest. But it faded away as soon as I heard what he said.

"Yes, I am kind," he said in a cold tone, "If I had not been this kind when I saw you begging in front of the village, I would not have been lied to. I wouldn't fall for someone like you."

The love in his eyes wasn't there anymore. He was looking at me coldly, like I am a nobody. I slowly shook my head. My tears fell, and when a sob escaped, I covered my mouth. I saw Rozzean's warm gaze disappear, and pain replaced it when his eyes landed on my hand.

On my finger where the ring he gave me was.

"Fck this..."

When Rozzean moved to leave, I noticed him stumble, and I immediately went to help him. I supported him by holding onto his shoulders, but he brushed my hands away.

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I miss being close to him... I miss him so much... So much.

"You are not Tali," he looked at me. "You will never be her, my baby will never ever fool me. She's the sweetest, and honest with her feelings. You... you are not her."

"I don't know you."

It hurts... it hurts so much...

"Let go of me."

"R-Rozzean... please, let's talk about this. Let's discuss it, please... I-I love you so much... p-please--"

"Luther! Get her out of my house!"

This is beyond what I imagined. It's more than I thought, but I don't have the right to complain. This is happening because of a decision I didn't think through. Luther was right; I was the one who put myself into the fire. "Please... I love you..."

"Luther!"

I felt Luther's hands on me. He was taking me away.

"Thaliana, let's go," Luther said to me.

"N-No! I don't want to!" I shouted while looking at Rozzean, "I-I will not leave until y-you said that we could work things out a-again... t-that you w-will just take your time b-because I h-hurt you..."

He turned to me abruptly.

"I will never accept a woman like you, Ms. Dela Vezca. Isn't it the reason you pretended to be a house helper was to find an excuse to cancel the wedding?"

I repeatedly shake my head. It hurts more than I expected, and I'm losing hope as I look into his eyes.

"N-No... it's not like that anymore..."

"There's no marriage that is going to happen between us, Ms. Dela Vezca. I will never marry a woman who made me look like a fool."

When I turned to him, I saw intense pain in his eyes.

He's livid.

He's extremely angry with me.

"You made a fool out of me right in my own house."

No... please, please...

"Leave. Go away. Don't come back ever. I don't need you in my life."

I said, everything, all the hurtful words he would say to me, I would accept and endure. Because it's my fault. It's my fault that we're in this situation.

"I-I don't want to... I-I don't want to leave... I love you, I love you so much..."

"You are not going to leave my house?" Rozzean asked coldly. His eyes were full of anger as he looked at me.

"Then, I will call the guards to drag you out of here."

After saying that, he left us with Luther.

I hoped, I hoped that we could fix it. Even though I knew the chances were slim.

"N-No..."

As Rozzean slowly disappeared from my sight, I took a step to follow him, but I felt Luther's tight grip on my hand.

"Enough, Thaliana."

And I-I've never been this scared my whole life about losing someone so important... someone who I want to live the rest of my life with.