2

CHAPTER 2

WHILE they were inside Marcus's car, he was speechless. Pham felt suffocated inside his sports car and she didn't like it at all. She needs to get away from this man. He's too much for her peace of mind.

when he stopped the sports car in front of his flower shop, he quickly opened the door but it was locked.

"Open the door, brother." He said seriously as he tried to open it. "I'm needed at the Shop."

"Have lunch with me later."

her lips parted as she turned to Marcus. "What did you say?" Maybe she misheard him.

"Have lunch with me later." Again while looking at him deeply.

He laughed and shook his head. "You're sleep deprived." She rolled her eyes. "My answer is no."

"I don't take no for an answer, Fatima. You know that." This unlocked the door. "I'll pick you up later. And call me Marcus."

He tormented her then hurriedly got out of his car.

He was about to enter his Flower Shop when he heard her name.

"Fatima."

he stopped walking and looked at the caller. It was Marcus and his head was sticking out of the car window.

"I'll be staying in the house for two weeks." This information. "Get used to being with me all the time."

His lips parted. "No..."

before he could argue with her, the young man had left and he was left staring at the road.

No way! No way! That man is not staying in her house!

Can you stop him? His mind asked. You're just stuck in that house.

he wants to adjust himself to the extreme frustration he feels. Argh! That man will ruin her not so peaceful life. He could feel it and he knew he wasn't wrong. He and his mother will definitely work together.

Unconsciously, he grabbed his wedding ring.

I miss you, Martin.

Her heart clenched in sadness. If only Martin was here, his life wouldn't be peaceful, and his family wouldn't be bothering him. Martin always backed her up against his family. Why did he leave her alone this morning?

"I thought there was nothing left." he whispered into the air. "Why did you leave me?"

His eyes watered and were about to fall out so he looked up and blinked. Nothing will change even if she cries. His life has been ruined.

lUNCH came and Pham found herself sitting across Marcus on the table for two in Yanzee's Restaurant. He would really take no for an answer. And she's really pissed.

"Why do you stay at home?" He couldn't stop asking when their food was ready to be served.

Marcus sipped his champagne then stared at her. "Why? Does my presence in the house bother you?"

He looked up at her. "Yes. Didn't I tell you before that I don't want you in the house? And you agreed and promised that you won't stay in the house for more than an hour."

he doesn't want another one to hurt him emotionally. The pain that his parents are making him feel is too much.

The corner of his lips rose. "Then I'm breaking my promise for two weeks."

She gritted her teeth. "Why don't you go to a hotel? I'm sure you can afford even the most expensive ones."

"I dont want to."

"And why?"

"Mom will be surprised."

"He wasn't surprised then. Then you're used to staying at hotels all the time."

"None of your business."

"It. Is. My. Business."

He smirked. "How so?"

"You're staying in the house, damn it." He said annoyed.

His eyebrows rose. "It's also my house, remember? That's the ancestral home of Martin and my parents, you're just a bastard. So you have no right to evict me from that house."

That cut's deep.

His jaw dropped and his eyes widened. "In that case, I'll take care of the hotel for the two weeks you're home."

Marcus blew a loud breath. "Come on, Fatima, what's the big deal? That's a huge house, you can't see me."

She scoffed. "Are you really fooling me, Marcus?" he didn't call him brother anymore because he was angry. "You are the type of person who lacks attention. And it is your hobby to pester me so I'm sure I will always see your shitty face even when I don't want to."

He chuckled and playfully tapped his chin. "You become prettier when you're angry."

she glared at him. "You're beautiful."

He just grinned and winked at her. "I'm still staying in that house and so are you."

"I'm going to book a Hotel-"

"Try me, Fatima." His voice had a warning, "You don't want to anger me."

If he had a deadly look, it was gone. "Fuck you."

"Thank you." It grinned. "I'll take that as a yes." He gestured to the food that had cooled due to their argument. "Eat, Fatima. I know you didn't have breakfast."

She didn't budge. She keeps on glaring at him.

Marcus sighed, picked up her spoon and took a spoonful of food in her plate. Then he put the spoon in his mouth.

"Eat up, Fatima. I did promise my brother I'll take care of you." He said with a silly smile on his lips.

he stood up and left it on the table then entered the restroom. She needs to calm herself. He might choke Marcus in no time.

Her hand automatically seeks her wedding ring to calm herself. And it worked right away. When Martin comes to her mind, she calms down.

he looked at himself in the mirror and saw a woman who was struggling to fight the loss of her husband and the bad treatment of her family. Three years after Martin's death, the time they shared and the pain of losing it are still fresh in his mind.

He calmed himself down and took a deep breath before exiting the restroom. When he was approaching his table with Marcus, he stopped walking when he saw that Marcus was talking to a beautiful woman. And the bodies of the two are very close to each other.

and since he was close to the two, he couldn't help but hear what they were talking about.

"I miss you, Marcus." That girl. "I hope you invite me again."

The young man smiled. "I'm sorry, Tina, that's not my call."

The woman frowned. "I want to be with you again. It's been a long time."

he snorted without losing the fake smile on Marcus' lips. Poor girl. Just playing with the blown one.

He was so annoyed, he never returned to their table. He continued to leave the restaurant.

Thirty minutes had not passed since Pham returned to his flower shop when the door of his small office opened and Marcus entered. He thought he would be angry but his reaction was the opposite.

He placed a paper bag on top of his desk. "You haven't eaten lunch yet." He sat in the visitor's chair, "that was rude of you, by the way."

He didn't say a word and just continued shopping for flowers that he would buy in the next delivery.

"Fatima, I'm talking to you." His voice is emphatic.

he wanted to torture the young man but he stopped himself.

He looked up at it. "What do you need from me?" He asked bluntly. "I'm pretty sure that you can do whatever business you have to do here without pestering me. Why am I in front of you now?"

"Because you need to eat?" This is a questionable answer.

He gave her a bad look. "Maybe there's poison in it, I'll die. No thanks."

"Eat that." He stood up and walked away. "I'm leaving."

He breathed a sigh of relief when he left his office. and then her eyes fell on the paper bag. He quickly opened it and his eyes widened when he saw its contents. The food he didn't eat at Yanzee's Restaurant

That man is confusing at times.

AFTER Pham CLOSED the flower shop, he went straight to the Love Cafe where he and his best friend, Abbygail, would meet.

It was already there waiting for him.

"Sorry, Pham, I ordered you." Abbygail said to him as he sat down. "It's been a while."

"It's okay." he sat up and looked at the food on their table.

His face crumpled when he saw the container of Carbonara inside it. It was placed on a heart-shaped plate.

"Why do you like this Cafe so much?" His face cannot be painted.

His hand flipped artfully and parted the hair that was hanging on his arm. "Because they're funny. They're also food containers, heart-shaped, and nothing lasts forever. Nonsense. It's good to read."

"Don't affect this Cafe with your free spirit." He said laughing.

abbygail just rolled her eyes. "I've been a loyal customer of this Cafe for two years, their dishes are still heart-shaped."

Pham chuckled softly."You really are."

Abbygail just shrugged. "Anyway, why did you meet me today? Did something happen?"

Abbygail knew her too well.

He drew a deep breath. "Marcus is in the city, and he will stay at home for two weeks."

It was dropped. "Damn. How are you? Are you okay? I'm sure the whole family will work together to get you out of that house."

"That's what I was thinking. except that I don't have a house to move to right away, I don't want to leave that house. Martin said I made memories in that house and I'm not yet ready to let go and move on." He took a deep breath. "But do I have a choice? It's their parents' house. They have more rights than me. I'm just a bitch."

His friend looked up into the air. "That's not a problem, hey, go to a hotel while he's at home."

"It's not that easy," she grumbled, "he warned me not to stay in a Hotel while he stays in the house. I think that guy wanted to torture me too. I don't know what trip he's on in life, but I don't want trouble."

It flew into the air again. "Oh, then? You're going to scare him?" This is a mocking question. "When have you shocked Marcus Dela Cruz?"

Pham was speechless. This is correct. Will he shock Marcus even now?

"I'm not afraid of him." He said as he casually groped the invitation he received yesterday at the Shop. "He can't stop me from leaving the house."

"That's my best friend." He stood up to hug her. "Don't deliberately oppress your husband's parents, it's bad for your health. I know why you can't leave that house even if you're being spoken to badly. As long as you need something , just call me, okay?"

"I will." he smiled at her and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you for always being there for me."

"You too."

Abbygail returned to her table then they started to eat what she ordered.

It was NIGHT when Pham got home. He and Abbygail even went for a walk. and just as she suspected, Marcus was in the living room and it looked like he was planning to ruin her night. It's good that his mother is not there to add to the ruin of his night.

"It's late." He immediately said that he was annoyed.

"I am with my friend." He refrained from scolding her.

"Oh, really?" there was doubt in his voice.

He made it difficult. "I thought I wouldn't feel your presence while you were here? What is it?"

"You might be with someone else."

"What are you implying?" He asked bluntly. "That I'm with another man?" His jaw was throbbing with anger.

"Probably."

he laughed slyly and his sharp eyes shot him with an evil look. "I love my husband. And you have no right to question that." After saying that, he went up the stairs and went to his room.

Pham automatically seeks her wedding ring to calm her down. He carefully took a deep breath and let it out carefully. Then he sat on the edge of his bed.

Pham opened her bag and took out the invitation.

Temptation Island.

To escape the presence of the entire Dela Cruz family, he goes to the Island. at least, if only temporarily, he can rest. But he will also return... he will return to Martin. He just needed a little break from the hurtful words he received every day from his family.

MARCUS groaned at the sound of his phone ringing. despite being sleepy, he answered who was calling.

"Marcus speaking. Who's this?" He asked the person on the other line.

"This is Lucas."

He groaned and pushed himself to get up from the bed. Lucas Monasterio won't call just to say hi.

"Do you need something?" He looked at the watch on the night stand. "It's just nine in the morning, my friend. You are pestering my sleep."

Lucas just chuckled at his complaints. "Fatima Dela Cruz. Does that name ring a bell?"

He stopped and his eyebrows met. "Why are you asking?"

"Because...lucas drawls, "she just signed an agreement that whatever happens on the island, stays on the island."

Fuck! "No, she didn't..."

"Yeah, she did. Just now actually."

He clenched his fist. "What is that girl thinking? She said she's not interested to come." that was his answer when he asked him about temptation island.

Lucas clucked his tongue. "Looks like she changed her mind. She's off to the Island as we speak."

"Fuck."

"Yeah."

"I will kill her for lying to me."

The other person laughed. "You better get to her first, before the wolves feast on her. No one will force her to do what she doesn't want to do, but you know the members of the Island, they won't stop until they get what they want ."

His mood darkened. "If they touch any part of Fatima's body. I will shoot them. Mark my word, Lucas."

Lucas gives out a rich and thick laugh. "My friend, who put you in charge of her body? Last time I checked, she was your brother's wife, not yours."

He grimaced in irritation. "Who sent the invitations anyway?"

Lucas was silent for a second. "You."

"I?" he screamed in shock. "How did that happen? I still have my invitation with me and-" he stopped speaking and quickly opened the attaché case that he got from Tariq in the Island because he had forgotten about it and it was right that he was about to leave Island. "Fuck!" he cursed loudly when he saw that the invitation card was not inside the attache case.

"What?"

"Tariq sent the invites using my invitation." His jaw tightened.

Lucas just laughed. "Well, Tariq has a really fast hand."

He was insulted one after another. "Send the chopper to my building. I'm coming."

"Copy that, my friend."

When the person on the other line disappeared, Marcus quickly dressed and packed.

That woman! That woman would pay for not thinking straight and for setting foot on that island!