Letizia was already in the lobby of Raguel's condo building. She immediately entered the elevator to go to Raguel's unit after confirming via text that he is indeed there.

When she pressed the doorbell, Raguel immediately opened the door.

Letizia, eyes brimming with tears, engulfed Raguel with her arms. Hugging him as tight as she could.

"Princess, what happened?" Raguel mumbled against Letizia's hair while caressing her back.

Letizia didn't answer, she just shook her head while still hugging him. Her head is leaned against his broad chest. Raguel sighed and hugged Letizia with the same intensity.

Raguel kissed her hair, her temples, and the top of her head while rubbing her back to soothe and comfort her.

Still hugging her and comforting Letizia, Raguel opened his mouth. "What happened, Princess? Who made my baby cry?"

Letizia looked up to him while sobbing. Raguel's heart clenched when he saw Letizia's tear-stained face. 

Letizia bowed her head and covered her face. "L-Lolo L-Lucio…"

"Hmm… what did he do?" Raguel asked while hugging Letizia's waist.

Letizia was still covering her face with her hands when she leaned her head onto his chest.

"Lolo Lucio said… we'll have a family dinner. Tapos… when we went there I was shocked when the Mercado family was there."

Raguel carried Letizia and walked towards the couch and sat there, while Letizia was sitting on his lap. "And then?"

Letizia bit her lower lip and played with her fingers. "And then… he started praising me. He said I'm a good granddaughter, that I excel in my academics, that I'm a wife material. Tapos he started praising Patrick, too."

Raguel's breath hitched. His hold on Letizia's waist tightened. "And?"

Raguel is starting to understand what happened, and he didn't like it.

"It was odd… to receive praise from him. That's why I was getting suspicious already. Tapos…"

Letizia wasn't able to finish her sentence because she started sobbing again. Raguel's face was laced with worry. "Baby, 'di mo kailangan ituloy. I think you should rest. Okay lang ako."

Letizia shook her head. "N-No… you deserve to know."

Letizia bowed her head and sighed. "When we finished eating, he suddenly announced that Patrick and I are getting married…"

Raguel clenched his jaw. He expected it. Base pa lang sa kwento ni Letizia, inasahan na niyang ipapakasal si Letizia sa iba. But confirming it makes him dizzy. He's mad. He feels like he's seeing red. He wants to curse her grandfather for making decisions that shouldn't concern him. But he calmed himself because he knows Letizia needs him. He can't let his anger control him. His princess needs him.

"What d-did you do when he announced it?" Raguel asked with gritted teeth.

Letizia sighed. "I didn't say anything. I don't have the power to go against him. So I just sat there awkwardly and waited to go home. When we went home, I confronted him. Sabi lang niya… manahimik ako at makinig sa kanya. That's when I had enough and left."

Letizia leaned closer and hugged Raguel tighter. "I'm sure he's mad. This is the first time that I went against him. I've been his loyal follower to the point that I kept our relationship a secret. Pero may hangganan din ako."

Raguel's mind is now in shambles. He wants to protect his love, Letizia, and their relationship. He wants to take her away from them, especially from her manipulative grandfather. 

At isa lang ang naiisip niyang paraan para magawa 'yon.

Raguel pushed Letizia slightly and made her look at him. "Do you want to marry Patrick?"

Letizia grimaced and glared at him. "Of course not! Anong klaseng tanong 'yan?!"

Raguel held both of her shoulders. "Are you willing to defy your grandfather?"

Letizia frowned. "What kind of question is this, Rago?"

Raguel sighed. "Kasi tingin ko… may alam akong paraan para hindi ka na ipakasal sa iba ng Lolo mo."

That piqued Letizia's interest. "Anong paraan?"

Rague bit his lower lip and held her hand. "Princess, this may sound absurd but…"

"But?" naguguluhang tanong ni Letizia.

"Will you marry me?"

A deafening silence engulfed the room. Walang lumabas na ingay mula sa kanilang dalawa. Raguel was just looking at her, worried but determined. Letizia's face was laced with confusion and shock.

"R-Rago…"

Raguel smiled at her. Hinubad ni Raguel and kwintas niyang singsing ang pendant.

He smiled and showed her the ring. It's a simple ring embedded with a small cut of diamond. "This ring… I bought it on our first anniversary."

An audible gasp left Letizia's lips. Napatakip siya sa bibig niya at nanlalaki ang matang nakatingin kay Raguel.

Raguel laughed, as if remembering something funny. "Hindi ko binigay sa'yo kasi baka isipin mong patay na patay ako."

Raguel caressed Letizia's cheeks and smiled. "You kept on asking me before kung kaning 'tong singsing. I always dismiss your question by changing the topic. But I guess the right time has come."

He carried Letizia — who was sitting on his lap — and made her sit on the sofa. He then kneeled in front of her.

"Princess, you don't deserve this kind of proposal. Spontaneous with a cheap ring in a condo unit without even a simple decoration."

"But I promise that I will work hard to give you everything you deserve. Every luxury you deserve. So please… Letizia Mari Cordova, I beg you, please marry me,"

Shock is an understatement for Letizia. It's not enough to describe what she feels about this sudden proposal.

But she knows that she wants this, too. 

She touches Raguel's cheeks and with teary eyes she say, "Rago…"

"Like I said, may hangganan din ako. I'm done being my grandfather's trophy grandchild. And I love you so much you don't even have to beg."

Raguel's mouth went agape. "You mean…"

Letizia smiled. Her lips quivering. "Yes. I'll marry you. I don't care if they get mad. Wala akong ginawa buong buhay ko kundi sundin sila. For the first time in my life, I'm making a choice for myself and directly defying them. Bahala na sila. It's my time to follow my selfish desires."

"And that selfish desire is to marry you, Rago."

Raguel closed his eyes and hugged Letizia tightly, kissing her forehead.

"God, Z. Thank you. I promise that you won't regret this marriage."