Confront

Weston stood at the center of the room, his broad smile radiating confidence as he addressed the guests gathered for Tamantha’s birthday party. Tamantha was reading a book in the corner without minding everyone who is in her birthday because they are not supposed to be here. It’s supposed to be her day, not theirs. So she do what she do best. Seek solace in novels.

Chantra Callejo has a prosperous and beautiful life, she is the daughter of the richest businessman in the country, all her luxuries are granted, especially since she is an only child. Chantrea was born beautiful, even when she was young people adored her, she had many lovers, but she only paid attention to one man, Adrian Manansala.

A son of the politician who has a lot of criminal cases and illegal activities, he is currently involved in the illegal transaction of firearms. Even though there was evidence about Adrian's father's bad behavior, it didn't change the way she looked at Adrian. Instead of staying away from him like his father wanted, he took him as a tutor, Adrian always teased him and he treats her special.

Not until Mariyah Reyes came into their lives, a new maid in the Manansalas mansion, she was hired to watch over Adrian because his parents were busy with the case. Chantrea is not used to be the second priority.

When Mariyah arrived, Adrian always put her aside. Out of her anger when Mariyah interrupted their tutor session, she accused Mariyah of stealing her expensive bag after Mariyah insulted her. She was banned from their mansion but nothing’s gonna stop Mariyah from clinging to Adrian who is just a teen at that time just like her.

Adrian didn't continue his tutor session with Chantrea, which was a reason for her to be suspicious because he never canceled a tutor session with her.

So she followed him out of the mansion. She found herself in the woods. Nearby her eyes landed on Adrian's car parked on the darkest side of the trees. She noticed a head bobbing on his manhood. Then it hits her. Mariyah is abusing Adrian’s curiosity and innocence. She’s corrupting her.

Chantrea is in rage, she couldn't think straight and she dragged Mariyah out of the truck. Out of shock, she couldn’t believe how Mariyah is confident and not even scared about her going to jail because she’s a pedophile. Mariyah only mocked her and that made her fuming mad.

She grabbed her neck and choked her. The last thing she knew Mariyah was lying on the ground, dead and helpless. Everything went so fast, her fainting problem made it worse. All she can think about is whether she killed Mariyah or not.

Adrian witnessed everything and told her to clean the crime scene and hide it. At first she was hesitant, she wanted to inform the authorities but she’s scared of going to jail. Even though she's a spoiled brat she's not a killer. Adrian convinced her to hide their crime, he's also an accomplice to it because he was there.

Chantrea doesn't have a choice when Adrian puts some sense into her about the state of their family and social status. She is scared to lose everything because of a pedophile so she follows his orders. They buried Mariyah’s lifeless body in the woods.

After days of their crime police are starting to look for Mariyah. She didn't tell anyone about that night, because that's what Adrian said. It's the secret that will bind them forever.

They need to be more careful and Chantrea’s parents decided to send her to America to study and protect her from the bad guys of the town who are believed to be suspects of the disappearance of Mariyah, without them knowing that they can’t protect their daughter from the bad guys because she is the bad guy.

Five years later, Chantrea became a successful and famous international model. She came back to the Philippines for a fashion show, where she is the star of the runway. On the other hand Adrian became a mayor. Chantrea and Adrian saw each other again for five years. Instead of a happy night, celebrating their successful life, A detective went to the fashion show to arrest Adrian and told them that they found a body meters away from his mansion. Chantrea knew the detective was familiar to him but she shrugged it off. She is concerned about Adrian so she went to his mansion. Instead of hugs and kisses from Adrian she was greeted by none other than Mary Reyes. Mariyah’s younger sister. Adrian hired her to be her maid. Chantrea protested but Adrian did nothing about it, saying he's guilty about what they did and that is the only way he could help the poor girl. Soon enough, she found out that the detective who arrested Adrian the night of her fashion show was actually the detective who handled the case of Mariyah five years ago.

Mary and the detective seem to have a relationship too. Not long after that Chantrea kept on receiving death threats, she was attacked at her home. The trespasser is not caught. Chantrea’s safety is at stake so they decided to go back to her hometown Riqueza. On the celebration of her Dad's recognition award in their mansion, the trespasser called her to meet with him. It turns out that he's Mariyah’s boyfriend. He saw what happened that night.

He’s seeking help on Chantrea but she doesn't know why. Terrified of what he will do to her as the trauma of her past flashing before her. She didn’t know what to do until Adrian showed up and shot the only witness of their crime.

For the second time she's involved again in a crime. No matter how hard she runs away from trouble it always finds ways to ruin her. Adrian ordered her to go back to the party and not let someone leave the party yet for he needed more time to clean the evidence and blood stains.

She was trembling, her heart thudded wildly. She was lost again in the dark. Her senses came back when Lendhel showed up. He questioned her for roaming around without her bodyguards but she reasoned out.

Before she could even talk about something else Mary showed up with him. She tried to keep her cool. To stop Lendhel from leaving the party, he asked her to help her into her room and lay on the bed, her head resting on Lendhels lap. She was admiring his gorgeous face but she couldn't keep focus because of the things that happened.

She wants to forget everything even in just one night. And she did it with Lendhel. Days later Lendhel and Chantrea got closer and he decided to re-open the case years ago, thinking it might be connected to Chantrea’s death threats.

Someone is still sending her death threats even though Mariyah's boyfriend is dead. He can no longer see what is happening as her life is falling apart. She can no longer be a model and attend fashion shows. So she decided to run away but her car was sabotaged and the car brake was not working.

Good thing Lendhel is patrolling in their mansion and he saved her. He put her in a safe place, their rest house to prevent her from running away. Chantrea is slowly falling for him but it slowly fades when she sees Mary and Lendhel locking lips behind the precinct. She was broken and betrayed. She left Lendhel’s rest house.

She ran to Adrian’s place but her parents told them to go home. Lendhel confronts her about the DNA he found on the dead body of Mariyah’s boyfriend. She doesn’t want to incriminate herself so she confronts him back with what she saw.

The argument adds flame to their burning and breaking hearts. She was out shopping trying to calm herself from the stress but then she saw her face on the news. It was all out, she's a criminal in everyone's eyes. She tried to go home but the police were there so she ran away and went to Adrian hoping he could help her but he only hurt her.

She caught Adrian and Mary having sex. Mary confessed that it's all her doing, she was playing all of them.

Chantrea tried to put some sense into Adrian but he couldn't help his madness for her. She has nowhere to go, she falls down from grace. Everything was lost and she couldn’t accept what happened. She knows she’ll never survive in prison with all the judgement and shame of the people so she decided to end her life and drove the car on the edge of the cliff.

Letting the ocean take all her pain away.

Two years later, she is alive, opposite from what other people believe. To them, she was dead after that suicide attempt on the ocean.

She was forced to turn into a life of crime. She was saved by an old woman but she left her care, scared that she would turn her to the police but she ended up being involved in a gang of thieves who use her beauty to lure men so they could steal from it.

She wanted to get out of the gang but the gang leader told her she could only get out once she agreed to rob a mansion. She doesn't have a choice but to agree, just to get out of her miserable situation.

She was shocked to find Lendhel in the mansion so as he, the woman she loved who he thought was dead was in front of him, turns out it's their cousin's property and let him use it to catch the gang of thieves in Salsalota. She badly wanted to run from him but she injured herself and he caught her, convincing her to stay.

Chantrea tried to sneak out of the mansion and planned to car napped a car in the gasoline station just to get away from him but the car she stole was his. They both reconciled and forgave each other for all the lies and heart breaks they caused.

But this time Lendhel is eager to turn her in to seek for the real suspect, he firmly believes that Chantrea is innocent because of her fainting problem. As he says, anything can happen in a blink of an eye. Chantrea doesn't want anything to do with the police because the evidence is all pointing at her, so she convinced Lendhel not to bring her to jail.

As an advance birthday gift, Lendhel invited her parents to visit the rest house without knowing their daughter was there. Chantrea was shocked to see them, and so was her parents. They share an emotional reunion after years of pain and suffering.

Her parents continue to visit the rest house every week. On the dinner date with her parents, she was confused as to why Mary is calling Lendhel so she answered it only to hear a desperate girl begging for his attention and love. That moment she knew that Mary is in fact delusional. Craziness is running through their blood and veins, just like her pedophile sister.

On her birthday, her parents came to the rest house, they didn't have any idea that an unwanted visitor was following them. While they are chatting and enjoying the meal, the doorbell rings and Chantrea opens it without even knowing who is in front of the house.

Mary's eyes widened and she stiffened right where she stood when Chantrea opened the door, she became hysterical. She brought the media together with her to prove that Chantrea is alive. She keeps on insulting her and suspecting her of killing her sister.

Chantrea couldn’t take any insults anymore so she grabbed her hair and warned her that she would be right next to her sister if she didn't shut her lying mouth. Chantrea doesn't care anymore. Her reputation is already stained, nothing worse that could ruin it. She was sent to prison, her cousins found out about it and flew to help her, especially her friend, Emory, one of the best lawyers in the country.

Even though the issue about Chantrea’s case weakened their company's still striving, they still have enough money to hire four attorneys for Chantrea.

While Lendhel lost his job because he hid the suspect, he sacrificed his passion profession for love. The chance of Chantrea winning the case is impossible than anything but Lendhel devises a plan to catch Adrian from telling the truth. He believes that it was Adrians doing not hers, he only put the blame on her. So Lendhel devises a plan to catch him.

One night he kidnapped Chantrea in the prison and when the guards were alerted, he was cornered. He took her as his hostage, saying he was blinded by love to the point that she became the reason why he lost his job and his passion.

Mary on the other hand came to the scene and urged Lendhel to kill Chantrea in front of every police in the area. Adrian, who happens to pass the street hoping to visit the old park where he and Chantrea used to spend their time, saw the police rushing to the park.

Curiously, he went and witnessed Lendhel holding a gun under Chantrea’s throat while Mary was shouting to end Chantrea’s life while she pleaded. His heart broke as he watched the only woman who loved her plead and fight for her life trying to prove her innocence in the crime.

Chantrea met Adrians gaze as tears started to pool in his eyes. For the first time in two years this is the only time he saw her and she was shocked at how distraught he was. On the edge of the intense scene where the police are preparing to shoot Lendhel to free Chantrea, fear arises to them.

Mary confessed that she killed many so she could be together with Lendhel in prison if she killed Chantrea. On the verge of everything Adrian shouted, throwing the words of truth that set free Chantrea from the cage and prove her innocence. He revealed that he killed Mariyah Reyes.

He agreed on going with her in the woods to kill her so she couldn't talk ill of his father in court. He knew how greedy she was and he knew that the other party offered her bigger money so she could put his father in jail. He didn’t want Chantrea to be part of his crime but he didn't have a choice, he took advantage of

Chantrea's fainting problem and put the blame on her, making him innocent and chaining Chantrea on his side, keeping her forever. But it didn't go as well as he planned. His conscience is killing him for years. Guilty of ruining lives, especially those who are innocent.

Mary and Adrian are sent to prison. While Chantrea cleaned her reputation, Lendhel is suspended for his act that turns out to be his plan to save Chantrea for he knew that Adrian loves her until now, he saw how he went crazy for Chantrea when they thought she died. He pleaded for him to bring her back and save her the way he couldn’t.

Chantrea is still charged for the robbery and stealing she did when she was still part of the crime gang. After she bailed from it.

She helped her parents get back on track with the business. Instead of going back to fashion shows, Chantrea chooses to live in the rest house, at peace with nature and the only man he loves. For she vow to never conform to the law, but she will let herself be greedy for peace and love of the only man who loves her more than herself.

Who believes in her even if the world didn’t. And for anyone who would break their faith and union, she wouldn’t hesitate to fight and commit a one last crime.

The room buzzed with anticipation, everyone curious to witness what had transformed this once-ordinary trainee into a living embodiment of motivation and strength.

“Thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate Tamantha’s special day,” Weston began, his voice carrying a tone of excitement. “But before we continue the festivities, I wanted to take a moment to recognize Tamantha’s incredible fitness journey and the progress she has made under my guidance.”

The crowd erupted in applause, their cheers echoing throughout the room. Tamantha blushed, a mixture of pride and surprise on her face as she stood next to Weston. She had never expected her fitness journey to become the centerpiece of her birthday party.

Weston continued, his words infused with pride. “Tamantha started this journey with determination and a desire to transform her life. She pushed herself beyond limits she never thought possible. Together, we’ve conquered countless workouts, surpassed milestones, and today, we stand here, witnessing the remarkable results of her hard work.”

As Weston spoke, images of Tamantha’s transformation journey flickered across a large screen behind him. Before-and-after pictures showcased her incredible progress, from the initial days of struggle to the present moment, where she had sculpted a strong and fit physique.

“I want to emphasize the power of consistency and dedication,” Weston proclaimed, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “Tamantha has embraced every challenge I threw her way, always pushing herself to be better than before. She has become an inspiration to me and everyone around her.”

The room erupted in applause once again, as Tamantha’s friends and family nodded in agreement, acknowledging her remarkable transformation. The celebration continued, but Weston wasn’t finished yet.

“Now, if you’ll indulge me,” Weston said, gesturing towards Tamantha, “I’d like to demonstrate some of the incredible progress she has made.”

As the guests watched, Weston led Tamantha to a cleared space in the room. He stood by her side, and they both faced the crowd. The music started, a pulsating beat filling the room, and Weston began to guide Tamantha through a series of dynamic exercises.

With each move, Tamantha’s agility and strength shone through. She effortlessly performed advanced push-ups, showcasing her sculpted arms and defined abs. She leaped into the air with grace, executing a flawless series of high kicks that left everyone mesmerized. Tamantha’s energy was infectious, captivating everyone in the room.

As the routine came to an end, Tamantha and Weston stood side by side, sweat glistening on their foreheads. The room erupted in thunderous applause, cheers echoing through the space. Tamantha couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment, grateful for Weston’s unwavering support and guidance throughout her fitness journey.

At that moment, none of it was the truth. It was all a façade.

I stood at a distance, my gaze fixed upon Weston. He stood there, his confident stride cutting through the crowd. His unruly hair fell effortlessly over his piercing blue eyes, and his smile, full of charm, drew people in like moths to a flame. But as I watched him, my mind couldn’t help but wander to the truth that lay beneath his superficial appeal.

Memories of a time when I thought I liked him flooded my thoughts. How naïve I was to fall for his façade. It was easy to be captivated by his charisma, his ability to command attention with a single word. But as time passed, the cracks began to show, and the truth became clear.

Weston was far from likeable. He possessed an air of arrogance that left a bitter taste in my mouth. His words, once so enticing, now rang hollow and insincere. Behind that charming smile lay a manipulative streak, a penchant for using others to further his own agenda. He was a master of deception, a puppeteer pulling strings without a second thought.

My gaze drifted from his face to his actions. I watched as he effortlessly charmed his way into conversations, leaving behind a trail of broken hearts and shattered trust. He reveled in the attention, basking in the adoration of those who believed his carefully crafted persona.

But I knew better. I saw through the façade. I saw the way he treated people as mere pawns in his game, discarding them once they had served their purpose. He played with emotions like a child with a toy, leaving behind a trail of heartache and confusion.

As I continued to observe, a mix of disappointment and anger filled my being. How had I been so blind? How had I let myself be taken in by his allure? The realization stung, but it also empowered me to see through the false charm, to recognize the true nature of the person standing before me.

In that moment, I made a silent promise to myself. I vowed to be more discerning, to not let appearances cloud my judgment. Weston may have possessed a captivating exterior, but inside, he was hollow and devoid of genuine connection. I would not allow myself to be drawn into his web of deceit ever again.

And so, as I stood there, looking at Weston, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of disdain and relief. Disdain for his manipulative ways and relief that I had escaped his grasp. The girl who once thought she liked him had grown stronger, wiser, and more resilient. And that, above all else, was a victory I could savor.

Tamantha’s heart raced as she glanced around the room, acutely aware of the scrutinizing eyes upon her. Weston’s friends had always been a source of anxiety for her, their judgmental comments and subtle jabs cutting deep into her self-esteem. She couldn’t help but feel conscious of her weight whenever she was around them.

Their snide remarks about appearance had left scars on her fragile confidence. They would make casual, seemingly harmless comments that pierced through her like daggers. Whether it was an offhand remark about her eating habits or a subtle comparison to other girls, their words stung and festered within her mind.

Tamantha had always struggled with body image, battling her own insecurities. But their comments only amplified her fears and made her question her self-worth. She would find herself obsessing over her reflection, examining every flaw and imperfection, desperately longing to fit into their narrow definition of beauty.

Their presence had created a toxic atmosphere, one where her weight became the focal point of her interactions. She felt like an outsider, constantly aware of her body, afraid to eat in front of them, afraid to be seen as anything less than perfect. Their words echoed in her mind, fueling her anxiety and planting seeds of self-doubt.

It was a daily battle for Tamantha, trying to navigate through a world that constantly bombarded her with unrealistic standards. She yearned for acceptance, for the freedom to love herself unconditionally, regardless of her size. But their judgment had etched itself into her psyche, leaving her feeling inadequate and unworthy.

As she stood there, her anxiety mounting, Tamantha realized that their opinions didn’t define her. Their shallow judgments were a reflection of their own insecurities, not a reflection of her value as a person. She took a deep breath, summoning the strength to rise above their toxic influence.

In that moment, Tamantha vowed to embrace her own beauty, to reject the narrow ideals imposed upon her. She recognized that true beauty came from within, from self-acceptance and self-love. It was a journey she knew wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined to reclaim her worth, to define herself on her own terms.

And so, as she faced Weston’s friends, their words and judgments no longer held power over her. She refused to allow their negativity to seep into her being. Instead, she stood tall, a beacon of resilience, ready to embrace her own unique beauty and rewrite the narrative that had been imposed upon her.

Tamantha’s anxiety began to dissipate, replaced by a newfound strength and a sense of self-assurance. She knew she was more than the weight they criticized, more than their shallow judgments. And with that knowledge, she took a step forward, determined to live her life authentically, unapologetically, and free from the burden of their toxic opinions.

Tamantha stood in front of the mirror, the weight of realization settling heavily upon her. She had always been skeptical of her relationship with Weston, but now the truth had become impossible to ignore. It hit her like a tidal wave, crashing against her fragile heart.

The pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place, revealing a disturbing picture. Weston’s affection, his seemingly genuine gestures—they were all part of a well-orchestrated plan, carefully crafted to elevate his own image. She was merely a pawn in his game, a publicity stunt to make him look good.

Her mind replayed the moments that now carried a bitter taste. The calculated outings where they were seen together, the carefully curated social media posts that showcased their seemingly perfect relationship. It had all been an act, a performance designed to maintain his popularity and secure his position in the public eye.

Tamantha felt a surge of anger rise within her. How could she have been so blind? How had she fallen for his charm, for his sweet words that now felt like venomous lies? The realization cut deep, leaving behind scars that would take time to heal.

As she stood there, her reflection wavering in the mirror, Tamantha made a decision. She would not allow herself to be used, to be reduced to a prop in someone else’s story. She deserved more—more than being a tool for someone’s self-aggrandizement.

Her heart hardened with resolve. Tamantha refused to be a victim. She would reclaim her power, her identity, and rewrite her own narrative. No longer would she be the girl who was merely there to boost someone else’s ego.

With a determined step, Tamantha walked out of the room, her mind set on confronting Weston. She would not let him get away with his manipulations any longer. She would demand the truth, demand an explanation for the emotional turmoil he had put her through.

As she reached Weston’s doorstep, her hand trembling with a mix of nerves and righteous anger, Tamantha took a deep breath. This confrontation would be the turning point, the moment she reclaimed her worth and severed the chains that had bound her to a lie.

The door swung open, revealing Weston’s surprised expression. Tamantha met his gaze, her eyes burning with a fire that couldn’t be extinguished. She spoke, her voice firm and unwavering, “I know the truth, Weston. I know what I meant to you—a pawn in your game. But I’m done playing. I deserve better than this, and I’m no longer willing to be part of your façade.”

Weston’s face contorted with a mix of surprise, guilt, and a hint of desperation. But Tamantha stood her ground, her resolve unyielding. She had found her voice, her strength, and nothing could shake her determination to break free from the shackles of his manipulation.

As she walked away, leaving Weston stunned and speechless, Tamantha felt a weight lift off her shoulders. The truth had set her free, and though the journey ahead would be challenging, she knew she had taken the first step toward reclaiming her authentic self.

But none of that happened. I don’t want to confront him. I will keep this to myself. I won’t let him know that he hit me where it hurts.