As I took confident strides into the churchyard, the sound of the priest's sermon enveloped me. Each word seemed to echo through the air, setting the tone for the event unfolding before me.

The beating of my heart quickened as I crossed the threshold into the church. I paused, taking in the sight of the gathered crowd, a mix of anticipation and curiosity swirling within me.

The grandeur of the church hinted at the meticulous planning and preparation that went into this wedding. The line of luxurious cars parked outside only reaffirmed my suspicion that the bride and groom were of affluent backgrounds.

Amidst the buzz of excitement, I couldn't help but notice the presence of the media, capturing every moment of the special occasion.

"Tss, good timing," a mischievous smile played on my lips as I savored the thrill of the moment.

I smoothed down my flowing hair and adjusted my dress, silently reminding myself of the purpose behind this mission. "You got this, Natalia! This is for your future. And for your dream of going to Hong Kong."

My focus shifted to the couple at the center of attention. With a raised eyebrow, I discreetly assessed the groom's appearance, intrigued by his presence.

"Hmm, this guy is quite impressive from just his back. I wonder what he looks like when he turns around?"

Retrieving the man's photo from my sling bag, I compared it to the man standing before me. Despite the slight discrepancy in his broad shoulders, I was already committed to the task at hand. There was no turning back now, Natalia.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for the next move.

"Stop the wedding!" My clear voice reverberated within the walls of the church.

The priest halted in his speech, prompting me to take a determined step forward. Ignoring the murmurs of the guests and the intrusive flashes of the cameras aimed at me, I pressed on.

"Stop the wedding, there will be no wedding happening!" I proclaimed with unwavering conviction.

"What's happening? Who is this girl?!" The lady, whom I was certain was one of the parents of the couple, almost lost her composure in shock.

A smirk played on my lips as I directed my gaze towards the altar, "Me? I'm just the woman who got pregnant by that man!" I pointed accusingly at the man with his back turned.

The bride turned to face me. I was momentarily captivated by her inherent beauty. She exuded an aura fit for the silver screen, not only that, but her complexion resembled that of an angel, with a luminous glow akin to milk.

It turned to the man who now faced him.

"What is this, Argo?" She removed her veil and tears began to fall.

I bite my tongue hard. Come on, Natalia. Don't let her tears affect you. Remember, you are better than her when it comes to acting.

The man then turned to me. His eyes held pure anger. Those black orbs, ready to rip my heart apart, sent a thrill through me.

I quickly lowered my gaze to the photo I was holding before returning my focus to the man who was now ready to devour me.

Oh, shit! Why does he look so different from the man in the photo? He has thick eyebrows and a straight nose. His curly hair is styled to perfection. I stared in awe as I observed his defined sharp jawline, intense brown eyes, and those full red lips, poised for a kiss.

"Who are you?!" His voice echoed throughout the place.

I blinked and tightly crumpled the photo I was holding.

Oh, sticky shit! Oh no, he's not the man in the photo. He is far from the man we were talking about.

"Who is this pregnant woman, Argo?" The woman punched his chest while tears streamed down her face.

I couldn't move. It was as if my whole body was paralyzed. Add to that the numerous camera flashes hitting me.

"I don't know her, believe me, sugar." He cupped the woman's cheeks, but she refused to be touched.

I placed my trust in you, but you shattered it into a million pieces. How could you impregnate a woman you barely knew? How did that even happen, huh?" He confronted him, pushing him forward.

"No, sugar. Please, believe me. I don't know that woman at all."

The man's gaze returned to me, as if freezing the rhythm of my heart.

I swallowed hard, feeling a wave of panic. Damn it, Natalia. What chaos have you unleashed?

"There will be no wedding. Never show your face to me again!" he declared to the man.

Before she left the man at the altar, she delivered a resounding slap. I almost shut my eyes as the man turned away from the bride's action.

My feet seemed glued to the floor as she approached me. She paused briefly in front of me but ultimately walked past me without a second glance.

"Argo, I will never forgive you for what you've done to my daughter!" The bride's father's voice echoed throughout the entire church.

"Let me explain everything, dad!"

He descended from the platform, attempting to follow the bride, but a man grabbed his collar.

"Where do you think you're going, huh? You can't just run away from the mess you've created with my sister!"

"Don't mess with my friend unless you want your brains splattered on the floor!" declared the man, gripping the groom by the neck, facing him with a fierce determination.

There, it seemed like everything was falling apart. Cries echoed from the two ladies present, and arguments erupted on both sides.

Oh shit! This is an utter disaster! Is my dream of going to Hong Kong slipping away?

Before I could even take a step, someone gripped my arm. The fast-paced events left me feeling swept away in the chaos.

"Get in the car!"

I was practically thrown against the door of the white limousine before the driver was instructed to leave.

Trembling, I got into the car and quickly grabbed my cellphone from my bag.

Damn it, Rosario, I ended up at the wrong wedding!

I was almost in a panic as I typed a message to her, but the man snatched it from me and forcefully threw it out the window.

My lips parted in shock. I blinked and spoke.

"What the hell?!" I blurted out in surprise.

However, no response was directed towards me. His focus remained solely on the road ahead, leading us towards an unfamiliar destination.

I allowed my gaze to linger for a moment. Up close, he appeared even more handsome. His chiseled features seemed to exude a striking perfection, and those lips were undeniably captivating.

A lump formed in my throat as I observed his jaw move. He then retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and pulled out the Bluetooth headset from the dashboard to make a call.

"How's Florisse?" he asked in a calmer tone.

"Alright, please take care of her for now. I'll call you later." After ending the call, he drove with a serious demeanor.

As we arrived at the precinct, my back instinctively straightened in the car seat, preparing for what lay ahead.

"W-What are we doing here?" My mouth stuttered nervously.

He only glanced at me. My breath was knocked out of my lungs as I looked into those dark, stony eyes.

"I will make sure you'll pay for all of this."

He gripped my arm tighter as he led me inside. Despite the curious stares, I met everyone's gaze with closed eyes.

"This woman crashed into my wedding day. I want to file a lawsuit against her for scandal and defamation," he told the police.

My eyes widened at his words.

"What? No, I'm not a bad person!"

"You really are, miss?" He raised an eyebrow at me and clenched his jaw tightly.

"What happened?" the chubby policeman asked me.

I immediately swallowed my tongue and couldn't speak. Should I admit that I just went to the wrong wedding? But if I do that, I'll surely end up in trouble.

"I want to file a case against this woman. I want her to rot in jail and never get out!" He spoke firmly and loudly to the police, looking directly at me.

I bit my lower lip. I bowed my head because I couldn't bear his scrutinizing gaze.

"What do you have to say, miss?" the policeman asked me as he typed on his typewriter.

I had no choice but to make up a story. Brace yourself, Rosario, when I get home.

"I'm pregnant! He is the father of my child! He planned to leave me and our child and marry another woman!" I said without hesitation.

"What? No!" I saw the shock on the man's face and the clenching of his jaw at my words.

Damn it, Natalia. It seemed like he wasn't buying my excuse, so I forced myself to cry while speaking.

"He plans not to take responsibility for our child." I cried.

"What? You're a damn liar!" he growled. I almost fell off my seat due to the intensity of his gaze.

The policeman shook his head at the man and continued typing.

"I'm not lying. This is my evidence, sir!" I retrieved the pregnancy kit with a positive result from my sling bag. Rosario gave it to me in case of any unexpected situations. I had more positive results in my bag, so I took them all out to make my act more convincing.

"What? I barely know this woman and I never laid a finger on her. I just saw her now!" His eyes were almost red with anger as he spoke to the police.

"One night stand! We had a one night stand!" I said loudly, even though I could hardly breathe from the overwhelming guilt I felt.

"Fuck!" He immediately stood up and ran his hands through his hair.

"Sir, it seems like this woman is telling the truth. You might even get charged if you insist," the older policeman said.

"No! I want you to send this woman inside that cell. I don't know her!" He pointed towards the nearby bars.

"I want to file a case against him too," I said in my trembling voice.

"Fuck!" I heard his curse loudly.

Damn it, Natalia. What trouble have you gotten yourself into now?

"Okay, miss. What's your name?" he asked.

"Natalia Punongbayan, sir."

"How old are you?" I glanced briefly at the man in front of me who was scowling at me.

"23, sir."

After asking me a few more questions about myself, he turned to the man.

"What's your name, sir?"

He didn't answer immediately, as I noticed him shaking his head at the conversation. It was clear that the policeman was on my side. If only they knew... I smiled a bit.

"Argo- Augustus GreenSmith. I'm 27," he said.

I licked my lower lip as his sharp gaze bore into me.

"Well, can't you two come to an agreement?"

"No!" We both replied firmly.

"Sir, Argo. If you just take responsibility for Natalia, then there won't be any problem. After all, you are going to have a child together, right? Can you bear to have your child born in prison?" the older policeman suggested.

He sat down heavily in the chair and ran his hand over his face several times.

I tightly held onto my sling bag, waiting for his response. Damn it, Natalia. If he doesn't agree, you'll definitely be feeling the cold bars tonight.

"You two should talk first. If you both remain stubborn, we won't get anywhere.”

The man adjusted his seat and looked directly at the policeman.

"Alright, I'll talk to her first." He grabbed my wrist and placed me back in his car.

I sat quietly, hoping he wouldn't speak, but he initiated the conversation.

"Tell me, are you really pregnant?"

I closed my eyes tightly and swallowed multiple times before answering.

"Y-Yes.." My lips lied.

"Fuck!" He punched the steering wheel repeatedly.

I briefly bowed my head, feeling his movement as he silently started the limousine.

I bit my lip as I gazed out the window, leaving behind the precinct we came from.

After a while, we stopped by the roadside where I could see the Mayon Volcano in the distance.

I glanced at him, still with closed eyes, as he massaged the bridge of his nose with his fingers.

"What are we doing here?" I uttered a question.

"Shut up! Just give me a minute.." His voice still carried intense anger.

I leaned back in the car seat and quietly watched the Mayon Volcano and the peaceful sunset.

My gaze returned to him as he got out of the car and forcefully pulled out the flower stuck there.

I swallowed as I watched him holding the flower while sitting on the hood of the limousine.

"Oh, God! What have I done?!"

I noticed him throwing the flower violently off the cliff and taking strides back to the car. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as he started the vehicle again.

"Where are we going now?" I asked nervously due to his quick acceleration.

"We are going to hell!" he said sharply.

HE SURPRISE me by taking me to his condo instead of just taking me out.

"Woah!" As I made my way around the house, my mouth started to water.

I bent down to pet a figurine on the table and gave it a gentle kiss.

"I think this one is a little pricey!" I screamed.

"What are you doing? Stay away from my things!" I hear him growl at me.

He's carrying a phone and appears to be dialing his ex-girlfriend.

"You're so cruel," I sniffed and sat on the sofa. Despite this, he was still quite attractive. Argo is, to be fair, an extremely attractive man.

"Who told you to sit there?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Fine!" I rose to my feet and began to make my way to the front door of the room.

"Where are you going to?"

I turned to face him and crossed my arms over my chest.

I'm going home! What am I even going to do here?!"

"Who directed you to leave? Remain where you are." He commands, and he turned his back on me.

I exhaled deeply and leaned against the door that was closed. What plans does he have for me? If he hadn't thrown me in prison, we would have parted ways now!

I looked at the wristwatch that I was wearing. "I am very hungry!"

I almost simultaneously raised my eyebrows and walked towards the kitchen.

"Woah! This is remarkable!" I yelled out.

I never imagined that I would be able to visit such a lovely home, and I am certain that the equipment inside is state-of-the-art.

I initially grabbed the apple from the granite table. I had just wiped it on the hem of my dress before taking a bite.

I opened the refrigerator. I was almost overcome by the quantity of food, particularly the chocolates.

"I could literally stay here for a month and enjoy it!" I snatched a box of chocolates and swiftly opened it.

I nearly choked when I noticed Argo leaning against the doorway as I turned to rest my back on the table.

His eyes were dark and threatening. Due to his repressed rage, the ligament in his neck was also on the verge of rupturing.

I responded with a smile, "Am, for the baby." I patted my empty stomach.

He tightly closing his eyes and he took a long breath.

"Come with me," he ordered.

I ENTERED a room with him without hesitation. I discovered him seated in his swivel chair and writing on his cheque.

I hastily sat down in front of him and took a fast look at his signature.

His eyebrows quivered as he peered up at me.

Before taking another bite of apple, I blinked my eyes and smiled. While munching, he never takes his eyes off me.

"You like?" I smiled at him in a friendly manner.

He just shook his head after the cheque was put on the table.

"Is that enough for you to leave?"

I saw what was written on the check. I almost spit out the chewing apple inside my mouth because the big money written on it.

"Twenty million pesos?!"

I stared at him as if I didn't believe what I was seeing.

"Tell me if this is not enough. I will add just get out of my way."

My lips split suddenly. This is too much.

"That is enough." I took out the cheque and waved it in the air, but he quickly grabbed my wrist.

"But before that, I want you to tell me who paid you to ruin me and my marriage?"

My forehead wrinkled. What does he say?

"There is no one involved at all." A direct response was given by me.

"I don't believe what you say. Honestly, do you think I'll trust what you're telling me? If I want to, I can still put you in prison!"

My arm was still in his grasp even after I yanked it back.

"I'll take the child after nine months of being pregnant, if that's the case. Whenever you desire, you can vanish into thin air. But if you don't show off a child on the day I specified, I'm going to take legal action against you!" he said and let go of my wrist.

Immediately, my forehead became hot and sweaty. He needs a child, but where can I obtain one? What does he think of me ruining my virginity while I'm still young?

So I standing up, and threw down the cheque on his table.

He gave me a puzzled glance and then raised his eyes to mine.

"I've come to my senses. I'm not going to take that money. Because you're an irresponsible man, I can't just hand over my child to you!" I nearly threw confetti in my face because of my good answer.

I could tell his expression had darkened as a result of what I'd spoken. He jumped to his feet and stepped closer to me as well.

As he stared down at me from the top of my head, I was aware that my knees were quivering with fear.

He appeared to touch my entire face as he dipped his head slightly. My lips were the last thing he looked and my chin was lightly stroked by his hand as he reached up and stroked it.

"Poor lady, I'm well aware of your intentions at this point in time. You'll never be able to con me. If everyone in the church, even Florisse, was duped by you. Then, you've got the wrong person, my dear." His voice was hushed.

I'm so frightened that I'm sweating on my forehead, but at the same time my heart skipped on its beat for some reason. Damn, he's so handsome and his scent complimenting my nostril. I could feel my knees go weak and my lips quivered. But I blinked and arch my brows at him

"In that case, let's see and find out who is telling the truth, let's wait and see." I replied with a sneer on my face.

He released me, even though I've been attempting to halt my heart's beating.

The sound of a buzzer was ringing at his door. He turned his back at me, and he walked out of the room and opened the door.

"Stupidity at its worst! Exactly, what just happened?!"

My ears picked up the sound of a man's voice outside the room.

"Where is Florisse? How about my parents?" Argo asked.

"Okay, what happened earlier is still hard for me to believe. And they all want to find you. Someone saw you and the girl riding in the car. Damn it, Argo!"

I moved forward to see who was talking. He was the best man for the groom in the church, I think.

"Oh, Jesus!" He almost jumped when he saw me peeking, he almost got scared of me.

He would probably be surprised because of the dress I was wearing and my curly hair.

"What's she doing here?!"

I slowly came out from the room. . .