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CHAPTER 1

PHAM rolled her tongue over her dry lips as she looked at the envelope in her table. When he entered his small office at the Flower Shop, it was already there on his desk.

He adjusted his seat and picked it up then opened it.

a deep sigh escaped his mouth when he saw its content. A copy of a deposit slip worth half a million and a small piece of paper with a man's familiar handwriting on it.

'Your allowance for three months, Fatima.'

He closed his mouth tightly and put the deposit slip aside. He doesn't need that much money. He lives on the income of his Flower Shop. And what will his mother say? he will definitely be the one who will appear bad in her eyes even if he is not doing anything. But Pham also knows that there is no point in returning the money to the person who gave it.

Because Marcus Dela Cruz don't take no for an answer.

absentmindedly, he grabbed his finger where his wedding ring was. He immediately felt better when he smiled.

She is a very lucky woman because she married a good man. he knows that Martin loves him very much and that he loves her too. Martin is a very good man, unlike his older brother, Marcus, who always made her feel small, like his whole family. maybe because she was just a simple employee in his company when Martin fell in love with her and married her.

Since childhood, Pham knew that Marcus and his parents didn't like her, but she remained strong for her and Martin's love. that's why he doesn't understand why Marcus still gives an allowance while it annoys him.

The last time she asked him about the allowance, his answer was 'you're family, whether I accept it or not'.

Pham sighed in irritation. it's early in the morning and that man already managed to sour her mood. Great.

He stood up from sitting on the swivel chair and left his office.

His bad trip-pan immediately disappeared when he saw the beautiful flowers that surrounded him.

flowers always had the ability to calm her nerves. That's why Flower Shop was the business he thought of opening by... he quickly shook his head. No, don't go there, Pham. It will just make you cry.

"Ma'am, someone is looking for you." Amelia, one of her flower decorators at the shop, woke him up.

His steps were quick but careful towards the Cashier. His eyebrows met when he saw a man wearing a baseball cap and a black aviator.

before he could get close to it, he turned to him and handed him an envelope.

"What is that?" he asked.

"I don't know the contents, ma'am." That man is now smiling.

Pham couldn't help but notice her beautiful smile. she couldn't see his face clearly because of the cap and glasses, but she's sure that he is handsome.

"Who sent that to me?" He asked again.

Instead of answering him, he placed the envelope on the counter and turned his back on her. "The sender is confidential, ma'am. it's up to you whether you accept it or not." That was it and he left.

Pham took a deep breath before snatching the envelope on the counter. He simply tucked the envelope under his arm before walking back to his office.

"I'll be in my office first." He informed Amelia and Delia.

"Yes ma'am." The two responded politely.

As Pham closes the door to her office, she quickly opens the envelope. He raised his eyebrows when he saw its content. It's an invitation... an invitation to Temptation Island.

His eyebrows met. Temptation Island? What kind of island is this? He has been in the Philippines for twenty-six years but he has never heard of such an island.

Is it new?

He sat on the swivel chair and turned on his laptop and opened Google. He has already searched but nothing appears that matches the invitation in his hand.

he leaned his body against the back of the swivel chair and stared at the invitation in his hand.

It has a black background and gold color that is about to turn red in the color of the letters written that make up the word 'You're invited to Temptation Island'. and on the side of that there was a fire that made his mind even more confused. Other than that, there is nothing else written on the front.

Pham, then, flipped the invitation card and her eyes blinked countless times.

username: Fatima Dela Cruz

Password: FuckMeHard

His lips parted as he read. Jesus Christ! What nonsense is this? And under the writing and a perma that seemed familiar to him but he couldn't remember where he saw it.

he quickly typed the website that was there and was surprised to see the same design of the invitation.

The background of the website is black, with golden font color. In the middle is written: TEMPTATION ISLAND. and on the side of that there is a fire and at the bottom there is the user name and password.

Out of curiosity, she typed the username and password written on the back of the invitation.

His lips parted slightly as he opened them and a picture of a beautiful island surprised him.

the sea is so clear. The ambiance, the small cabins, the magnificent palace on the hill, and the beautiful breathtaking view of the small mountains.

wow Just wow.

He immediately pressed ABOUT THE ISLAND. And what she read shocked her to the core.

'Welcome to Temptation Island, where your fantasies become real.

The Island is located in Palawan. It is the most sought after Exclusive Island in the world. A safe, secure and open private space to explore your deepest and darkest fantasies. it is a perfect paradise where your kinkiest and most depraved desires can become real.'

He covered his mouth in shock at what he read.

"What kind of island is this?" He said in disbelief and pressed 'TRANSPORTATION'.

'Go to the extraction Point and we'll see you there' Next to that is a map where this extraction point is referred to.

It's just in the city. In one of the famous buildings in the city. Jesus Christ!

he quickly closed the website and deleted it from his laptop's history then he stared at the invitation he was still holding.

"Who invited me to go to that island?" He wondered to himself.

Was she randomly picked?

Pham sighed. Who cares? he won't go there.

It was NIGHT when Pham got home to their house. When he entered the house, his mother greeted him. He immediately prepared himself for what would happen next.

"Oh, why only now?" Martin's mother, who is now his mother, opened up to him even though she didn't want to. "I thought you were overshadowed by your flowers in the shop. Why do you continue to finance that shop of yours when it doesn't make any money."

He fought the pain that pinched his heart. after three years, he should get used to it, but it still hurts.

"There have been as many clients, Ma." He answered politely.

It snorts. "I don't care. I told you to close that shop and it doesn't make any sense. why don't you just work in the company so that you can have something to use, so that you can be of use to the family."

He fought back the tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "Mom, we talked about it. My flower shop is okay-"

"But I didn't agree." he responded flatly while staring at her. "Pham, you can't even leave the house, so you're going to say that your business is going well?"

He carefully took a deep breath and then carefully released it. "Mom, it's not like that-"

"Why didn't you leave the house? Martin is no longer here."

His chest is tight. "Mom, you know the reason why-"

"I don't care about your reasons. It's been three years Pham but you're still here." He tormented her then marched away.

Pham bit his lower lip then freely released the tears that wanted to escape from his eyes. If it was him, he would have left a long time ago. But he still can't let go of his memories with Martin in this house. He still can't lose that from him. he still can't sleep in another room and in another bed.

After three years, she still can't move on. He can accept all the hurtful words from Martin's family as long as he stays in the house where he and his wife fell in love.

her eyes immediately focused on her and Martin's wedding picture in the living room. They look happy together. So in love. So blessed. And she felt her heart clenching in pain.

He quickly dried the tears that fell from his eyes. She should really stop crying. it's been three years since it happened.

Pham took a deep breath again and steady her emotion by touching her wedding ring. When he calmed down, he walked towards the stairs.

"I'm wounded, Fatima."

Pham jumped in shock at the baritone voice that filled the silence of the house. He felt his heart pounding in shock.

Pham turned to face the speaker and seemed to catch his breath when he saw Marcus comfortably leaning against the door leading to the kitchen, he was holding a bottle of Whiskey and one of his hands was clenched.

was it still there? Did it hear what Mama said?

"Why don't you use the money I give you?" Marcus asked him again.

He didn't answer. Her head was still wrapping up the fact that Marcus is here, in the house. In front of her.

this is his wife's brother but he can't even see Martin in his person. They are so different. From the way they dress to the way they walk. Marcus walked like he owned everything. He walked with confidence, even with his rugged jeans and white t-shirt. Martin is different. His wife is shy and would rather stay at home with him than attend fancy gatherings.

"Brother..." he stammered.

He's not used to calling him brother because he's only seen him once, but out of respect he has to call him brother.

The disgust on his face was obvious as he looked at her from head to toe. What's new? They all find her disgusting. In the Dela Cruz family, Martin is the only one who accepts him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked bravely but the truth was that he was nervous.

its presence is very intense. It was a few meters away from him but he was still affected. She felt intimidated by his presence.

"Why are you asking?" He slowly walked towards him. "Am I not welcome in my parent's house?"

She gulped at the intensity of his stare. it's a boring hole on her face and her heart won't stop beating so fast.

"That's not what I meant." He said boldly.

"Hmm..." he hummed and stopped in front of her. "Did you receive the deposit slip I sent?"

He nodded. He didn't look away from her. "I don't need that. I already told you that, remember?"

"I don't take no for an answer, Fatima."

His hair stood on end at the way she called his name. Only her husband calls her that. hearing her full name again coming from Marcus lips, it sent her down to memory lane again.

"Okay." He won't gain anything if he stubbornly fights with Marcus. "I'm going to rest." He could no longer connect with his brother.

"I'll lock the door then."

he just nodded and went up to the second floor. He didn't have to wait for her to leave, he knew he couldn't stay in this house for long. He's irritated by her, and the feeling is mutual.

upon entering his room, he immediately took off his clothes and went into his walk-in-closet to get dressed. He faintly cursed as he remembered that he had left the bag on his bed. In his bag was the deposit slip that he would keep in the Vault.

Pham lazily came out of the walk-in-closet and stopped walking when he saw Marcus inside his room and he was holding the gift he received earlier.

Her heart thumped. She felt suffocated.

"Brother."

His eyes held hers. It raised the hand that held the invitation. "What's this?"

He swallowed. "Nothing."

It inspects the front of the invetment. His fingers sexily trailed the edge of the card as his eyes held her gaze.

"You're invited to Temptation Island." It swept the tongue from the right side of the lip to the right. "Are you going?"

he quickly shook his head. "No."

He dropped the invitation card. It fell on the floor.

"Pity." He said then roamed his eyes around her bedroom. Then his eyes stopped at her naked clothes on top of the bed.

His cheeks warmed when he saw her bra on top. And that's where Marcus' eyes were focused.

He wanted to sink in shame.

"Brother!" She couldn't help but feel ashamed and angry at the same time. "Take your eyes off my personal stuff!"

How dare he do that! his brother is his wife! Just a little respect.

He was about to reach for her bra in anger when he shouted her name.

"Marcus!"

He chuckled. A small smirk made its way to his lips.

"My name sounds good when you say it." He rolled his tongue over his lips. "Your calling me 'kuya' is ridiculous." His gaze was fixed on her. "Annoying."

"Get out." He said in a cold voice.

The corner of his lips rose before leaving his room.

Pham leaned against the door jamb of the closet and took a deep breath. thank God he already left. And thank god because he'll be counting the months before it shows up again.

She can stand Martin's parent's bad attitude towards her, but her brother Marcus is a different story.

That man always has this different effect on her. and he could honestly say that even though it had such an effect on him, he never let it enter his system.

Pham woke up EARLY to take care of the flower deliveries that will arrive today at his shop.

when he came down the stairs, Martin's mother was there in the living room, reading the newspaper. It seems that he felt her apology because he put down the newspaper he was reading and then looked at her.

"Your morning, ah." This is it.

"Because I have something important to take care of." He answered.

he just snorted then went back to reading the newspaper.

Pham carefully walked out the door. And he almost fell over in shock when he saw Marcus leaning against the side of a fancy car.

His eyes widened. "You're still here? Where did you sleep last night?"

he usually left the same day he arrived.

"Here in the spy, probably." It got stuck. "Are you leaving?"

He nodded hesitantly. "Why did you ask?"

"I'll take you."

He was shocked to see it. "Are you sleep deprived?"

The corner of his lips just raised as he got into his car. Pham, on the other hand, had no choice to ride in the open passenger seat.