CHAPTER VI: BETRAYED

It was my high school graduation day, and I didn't expect that Kaden would also be there with Don Antonio. They came to my graduation, and I smiled the moment I saw them.

Our graduation ceremony was over, and we were just taking pictures. After I had photos taken with my classmates and parents, I asked for a picture with Kaden. He agreed, and in the photo, I was holding a bouquet of flowers that he had given me. We both smiled at the camera.

"Thank you for coming to my graduation! I didn't expect you'd come," I said to Kaden as we walked out of the venue.

We were heading to my graduation celebration, which my parents, Mommy and Daddy, had prepared.

He turned to look at me as we walked. "Congratulations," he said again.

I smiled. He had already congratulated me earlier when he gave me the flowers, but now I noticed he was also handing me a gift. "What's... this?" I asked, my heart fluttering.

"You can open it. It's my gift for your graduation," he said.

I looked up at him from the gift and smiled. I couldn't wait any longer, so while we were still on our way to the parking lot, I opened it. Inside was an elegant ladies' wristwatch. I smiled even more. I looked at him again. "Thank you, Kaden!" I said, feeling touched.

He simply smiled back at me.

Looking back at it now, I realize I was so naive back then...

Before that, on my birthdays, Kaden had also given me gifts. He made me feel special when I was younger. Or maybe I thought it was because I was young and still unaware of what was really happening between us.

"I will miss you..." I remember telling him when I had to go study abroad, because that was what my parents wanted for me.

He looked at me and placed his hand on top of my head, gently patting me. "You must study very well. I'll come to your university graduation too," he said with a handsome smile on his gorgeous face.

I smiled faintly, though I was a bit sad inside.

But I was happy when I found out that Kaden would also attend the same university, enrolling for his master's program. I was thrilled to see him there. I was glad we could be together again.

And indeed, since Kaden came, we were always together. He knew that I wasn't very friendly with others, so he always stayed by my side when he wasn't busy. Our friendship deepened over time...

Until, one day, he kissed me, and I let him...

I closed my eyes and allowed him to kiss me on the lips.

But then, when we went back to our country, that's when I found out about Raya.

I found out about her from the past...

And I felt betrayed when I learned about her. I felt betrayed by Kaden...

It hurt so much to find out about Kaden and the girlfriend he had been hiding all this time...

When we returned to the country, I decided to follow Kaden to his apartment. Don Antonio had mentioned that Kaden was living in his own place. I had thought all this time that he was living with his grandfather and cousin, Damian, at the Delgado mansion.

Curious, I followed him to the apartment. And I was shocked to see that a girl—someone—was there to greet him at the door. I even saw them hugging each other...

I froze. I quickly turned around and left, still in shock. The next thing I did was talk to Don Antonio. After all, he had been the one to send me to Kaden's apartment.

I didn't know why Kaden had kept her a secret... Or why he never introduced her to me.

And what about me? What about us... What did all of that mean for us while we were in America?

And did Don Antonio know?

"Don Antonio?"

"Maria Ayla," he welcomed me into his home. He always called me Maria Ayla, or simply Maria, after his late wife, Maria Delgado. Mommy and Daddy had told me that it was because of Donya Maria that I had "Maria" in my name. Our families had a strong connection, even before I was born.

Perhaps that was why I was the woman chosen for his grandson...

"You went to see my grandson at his apartment?" Don Antonio asked me.

I nodded. "Yes... Don Antonio, do you know that he has someone living with him there?" I felt a wave of weakness wash over me as I asked. I felt betrayed and heartbroken.

It hurt to know that the man I loved already had someone else he loved...

Don Antonio sighed. "I thought you must know..."

I looked at him, confused.

"At first, I left it to fate. But then I realized I couldn't allow a marriage between you and my grandson if he still hadn't chosen. Both of you would just end up hurt..." he said with a sigh.

I stood there, staring at Don Antonio, still in shock. It was all so overwhelming. And at the same time, I was angry. I felt like my feelings had been played with—like I was nothing more than a toy to him.

But Kaden still agreed to marry me. I was surprised, thinking he would choose his girlfriend instead. But even though he chose me, I wasn't satisfied. I couldn't trust him anymore the way I used to before I discovered his secret.

So, I hired a private investigator to look into things. That's when I found out that Kaden and his girlfriend had already broken up...

But the betrayal, the hurt and the pain, wouldn't go away that easily...

Now, years had passed, but I couldn't move on. Especially when I learned that she was one of the artists featured in an exhibit near us. She had returned after leaving the city years ago. I had to ask myself, why she was coming back now?

I thought maybe she wanted to take Kaden back.

Especially now, after five years of marriage, when my relationship with Kaden had become strained.

But why did I even marry Kaden in the first place? It was because I really did love him...

I loved him, and I held on to the fact that he had chosen me when he agreed to marry me.

But then I realized... it wasn't enough...

Why did she come back now?

I even arranged for her to meet me just to see Kaden's reaction when he saw his ex again...

But then last night, Kaden and I spoke. And I even let myself be with him—my husband, for the first time in a long while, in our bed...

I thought everything had been settled... that we could move on...

But little did I know, we were only just beginning...