Chapter 5
Wedding day. The grand event. The over-the-top, ridiculously extravagant display of wealth, status, and—most importantly—parental meddling.
Their parents really outdid themselves.
The wedding was set in the country’s most expensive hotel, an opulent paradise of chandeliers, custom floral installations, and enough luxury to make even the most jaded socialites raise a brow in begrudging approval. It had been meticulously planned down to the last imported orchid, with every detail carefully curated to scream exclusive, tasteful, and absolutely expensive.
But despite the grandeur, the guest list was kept “intimate”—if one could call a room filled with the country’s most powerful families, business magnates, and a handful of actual friends intimate.
By now, the news had spread like wildfire, and the public had thoughts.
“Wait. WAIT. Ikakasal na sila? As in, today?”
“Didn’t they just get into a fight at that charity thingy?”
“RIVALS TO LOVERS? FINALLY??”
“Either business move ‘to or the fastest enemies-to-lovers speedrun I’ve ever seen.”
“Alam niyo, sa tingin ko in love na sila this whole time. The rivalry was just an elaborate foreplay.”
“No, but seriously, have they been dating in secret? Was the fighting just a front? They’re giving ‘we fight so we don’t make out’ energy.”
“Either way, good for them.”
Meanwhile, inside the grand hall, at one particular table, a conversation of grave importance was unfolding.
“Sinasabi ko lang naman,” Megan muttered, leaning back in her chair, “if they’re spending this much money, they could at least have some real food.”
Sania nodded vigorously. “Diba? Like, ready na nga akong i-hoard ‘yung cordon bleu today. Napanaginipan ko na nga eh.” She placed a hand over her chest, as if mourning a great loss. “Pero hindi. We get foie gras. Foie. Gras.”
Amber, who had been silently sipping her wine, lifted a brow. “You do realize foie gras is one of the most expensive foods in the world, right?”
Margot, seated beside her, smirked. “Let them grieve, babi. They came here expecting party trays and finger food.”
Megan scowled. “It’s about the principle, Margot. May vision ako. A crispy, deep-fried, rolled-up vision.”
She gestured dramatically at the wedding menu, which listed an intimidating selection of French and Japanese fusion dishes. Lobster bisque, wagyu tartare, black cod with miso glaze, and an intricate dessert spread that probably took three days to assemble.
Sania sighed, slumping against her chair. “And what am I supposed to Sharon? Hindi ko naman pwedeng i-reheat ang caviar for breakfast.”
Margot took a leisurely sip of her drink. “You two sound like kids who just found out Santa isn’t real.”
Amber turned to her girlfriend, amusement flickering in her eyes. “I was about to say the same thing.”
Megan narrowed her eyes. “Oh, enjoy-in niyo na lang ‘yung wagyu mamaya, you smug couple.”
Amber merely lifted her glass in a silent toast, while Margot smirked.
Sapphire had spent her life making sure she was always in control. Every detail, every plan—meticulously executed. And yet, today, she was in a wedding gown she hadn’t chosen, preparing for a marriage she hadn’t planned, in a suite filled with her mother’s decisions.
It was infuriating.
The gown itself was undeniably exquisite—an elegant off-the-shoulder masterpiece with intricate beading, made exactly to fit her. Ivory, with subtle sapphire embellishments because of course, her mother had to be thematic about it.
Ivory sat nearby, perfectly composed, watching as the finishing touches were applied. "You look perfect," she said.
Sapphire met her mother’s gaze in the mirror. "I look like a bride."
Ivory’s lips twitched. "Yes, that would be the point."
Sapphire inhaled sharply through her nose. "You do realize how ridiculous all of this is, don’t you?"
Ivory simply adjusted a stray strand of Sapphire’s hair. "Darling, ridiculous or not, it’s happening."
Sapphire turned slightly. "This isn’t a real marriage."
Ivory gave her a patient smile. "And yet, you signed the contract. You’re wearing the ring. You’re walking down the aisle."
Sapphire huffed. "Legally binding contracts are a form of entrapment, you know."
Ivory smirked. "They’re also a form of commitment."
Sapphire did not dignify that with a response.
Her father, Spencer, who had been lounging nearby as if deeply enjoying the show, finally spoke. "Pero you have to admit, it’s a very efficient solution sa rivalry niyo."
Sapphire shot him a glare. "No, it's not."
Spencer grinned, then stretched. "Try mo tingnan sa angle na ‘to—if nothing else, you’ll have excellent material for your inevitable memoir."
Sapphire turned back to the mirror. "Fantastic. That’s exactly what I needed today. Memoir fuel."
Ivory, ever graceful, stood and placed a gentle hand on Sapphire’s shoulder. "Come now. Let’s not ruin your wedding day with arguments."
Sapphire stared at her reflection. The expensive gown. The flawless styling. The engagement ring, sitting mockingly on her finger.
Right. Her wedding day.
If it weren’t so absurd, she might’ve laughed.
Jade had never been one for tradition. She had definitely never been one for weddings.
And yet here she was. In a gown.
The custom design suited her perfectly—structured yet fluid, hugging in all the right places. Elegant, yet modern, with subtle jade embellishments to match Sapphire’s.
Still. It was a wedding gown. And she was wearing it. Because in approximately an hour, she would be married.
What the hell.
Gemma was sitting nearby, sipping tea like she hadn’t just sold her daughter off. "You look stunning, anak ."
Jade groaned, adjusting her earrings. "Don’t say it like that. Ang unsettling."
Javier, standing near the window, beamed. "You do look amazing, though. Sigurado ka bang you weren’t actually meant for this?"
Jade gave him a deadpan stare. "Pa."
Javier raised his hands. "What? I’m just saying, kung gusto mo ng dramatic wedding, we did deliver—"
"That’s the problem!" Jade gestured around. "Hindi ‘to sa’kin! This is yours and Ma’s and the Sevillejas’."
Gemma gave her a pointed look. "And yet, you signed the contract."
Jade scowled. "I was trapped."
Gemma sipped her tea. "Semantics."
Javier grinned. "At least you get your own house out of it!"
Jade shook her head. "This is insane."
Gemma simply set her tea down. "And yet, you’re still going through with it."
Jade didn’t respond.
Because as much as she hated this—resented every inch of it—she knew her mother was right.
She was still going through with it.
And that was the real problem.
The ceremony had been timed to perfection. Of course, it had. The moment the officiant greeted the gathered elite with a rehearsed welcome, the entire affair slipped into a well-oiled sequence of tradition, formality, and expertly curated sentimentality.
Sapphire and Jade stood before him, facing each other, cameras capturing every possible angle of their poised expressions. If either of them had an urge to escape, it was well hidden under layers of expensive fabric and social conditioning.
The officiant droned on about love, commitment, and the beauty of two souls uniting—words that, if nothing else, served as an ironic backdrop to the contractual obligation they were currently fulfilling. The guests, blissfully unaware of the legal intricacies at play, watched with varying degrees of interest, some genuinely moved, others quietly assessing what this marriage would mean for the future of their respective businesses.
Then came the readings.
One of Ivory’s closest friends delivered a heartfelt passage about love’s endurance. Javier’s business partner followed with something about patience and understanding. It was all very inspiring if one ignored the fact that the brides in question had spent the majority of their lives trying to outmaneuver each other.
And then came the vows.
Jade went first.
She took a breath, gaze locked onto Sapphire’s, and then, in a voice so convincingly affectionate it deserved an award, she began:
“Sapphire,” she said, lips twitching in something that could almost pass as fondness, “from the moment we became part of each other’s lives, I knew one thing for sure: life would never be dull.”
That part, at least, was honest.
She continued, her tone perfectly balanced between sincerity and just enough restraint to keep anyone from questioning it.
“You challenge me. You push me to be better. And while I may not always say it out loud, I admire your drive, your intelligence, and the way you always manage to get what you want—” Jade smirked, just slightly, “—whether I like it or not.”
A few chuckles rippled through the crowd. Jade saw Javier beaming with pride. Good. That means I’m nailing this.
She softened her expression just enough to sell the sentimentality. “So today, I promise this: to stand beside you, to match you at every turn, and to make sure that, together, we remain completely, utterly unstoppable.”
Ivory actually looked pleased. Jade, barely suppressing her internal nice, stepped back.
Sapphire’s turn.
She exhaled, giving Jade a long look before lifting her chin ever so slightly. Then, as someone who had been trained for public perfection, she spoke.
“Jade,” she said, “if there is one word to describe you, it is unrelenting.”
Jade grinned. She’d take that as a compliment.
“You are relentless in your creativity, in your convictions, and in your ability to infuriate me.”
A light laugh from the guests. Sapphire maintained her composed, effortless charm, letting just the right amount of warmth seep into her voice.
“But in all of that, I have come to see that your passion is unparalleled, your determination unmatched. And while we may not always see eye to eye, I know that together, we create something rare. So today, I promise this: to challenge you as much as you challenge me, to stand my ground as much as you stand yours, and to ensure that no matter what, we will always—” she tilted her head ever so slightly, gaze knowing, “—keep things interesting.”
It was perfect. Just affectionate enough. Just teasing enough. Just believable enough.
The guests loved it.
The exchange of rings was effortless, a continuation of their performance. They slid the bands onto each other’s fingers, their movements precise and practiced.
Jade’s grip on Sapphire’s hand was firm. Sapphire’s was controlled. No fumbling. No hesitation. Just a picture-perfect moment that would be splashed across news outlets and business magazines by tomorrow morning.
Then—
The officiant smiled. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you married. You may now—”
Ah.
The kiss.
There was a beat.
A half-second of pause, so imperceptible it could be excused as dramatic timing.
Jade saw Sapphire tilt her chin up, saw the almost-imperceptible inhale, saw the slight shift in weight as they both leaned in—
And then, at the last possible second, Sapphire turned her head ever so slightly.
The kiss landed just off-center, barely brushing the corner of her lips. To anyone watching, it looked seamless. Effortless. A classic, elegant wedding kiss.
But Jade felt the way Sapphire subtly dodged, the way her movements were so precisely timed that even she, for a split second, had almost believed they were about to kiss properly.
It was annoyingly well-executed.
She pulled back, eyes briefly locking with Sapphire’s, something unspoken flashing between them.
Sapphire, as always, was composed. Poised. Not a single expression out of place.
Jade, on the other hand, was so tempted to say something.
But then the officiant’s voice rang out, announcing them as officially married, and the applause erupted.
And just like that, it was done.
They were wives.
For the next twelve months, at least.
The wedding had been extravagant, exhausting, and, above all, completely out of their hands. From the floral arrangements to the multi-tiered cake, not a single element had been of their choosing. And yet, somehow, it still hadn’t prepared them for the strangeness of the aftermath—because now, instead of bickering at a five-star reception or actively avoiding each other at a family function, they were sitting side by side in the back of a limousine, married.
For once, neither of them had anything to say.
The city lights streaked past the tinted windows, but neither woman looked out.
Jade sat with her arms crossed, gaze forward, expression unreadable. Not sulking, not irritated—just... processing. Her emerald-green nails drummed absently against her elbow.
Sapphire remained upright, hands folded neatly on her lap. She wasn’t fidgeting—Sapphire Sevilleja did not fidget—but there was a certain stiffness to the way she sat, like she was holding herself in check.
Because what was there to say, really? Wow, we’re married now? That was obvious. That was a long wedding? Also obvious. I hate this? Even more obvious.
So, instead, they said nothing.
At some point, Jade glanced at the rings on her finger—the sapphire and jade stones all glinting under the car’s interior lighting. Sapphire, noticing the movement, did the same. Neither spoke. Just stared at the rings their mothers had so gleefully forced onto them.
Eventually, Jade exhaled. “I hate how nice this looks.”
Sapphire pressed her lips together. “Don’t say that.”
Jade blinked. “Ano?”
Sapphire tilted her head, looking at the ring critically. “Now I have to agree with you, and I refuse to do that.”
Jade let out a short, disbelieving laugh, but before she could fire back, the limo slowed, taking a turn.
A moment later, they arrived.
The car pulled up to a modern two-bedroom bungalow, far smaller than anything either of them had ever lived in.
For a long second, neither moved.
Jade was the first to break the silence. “Oh.”
Sapphire stared. “You have got to be kidding me.”
This? This was the house?
All their lives, they had been raised in sprawling mansions with grand staircases, glittering chandeliers, and rooms so large they could host entire charity balls without running out of space. Now? Now they were supposed to live in— this?
Sure, it wasn’t unsightly. The architecture was sleek and minimalist, clearly designed with care. There was a two-car garage, which was at least a small mercy—her Audi A8 (Mythos Black) and Jade’s Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio (Verde Montreal) were already parked inside, looking perfectly at home. And there was a backyard—though whether that was a selling point or an insult remained to be seen.
Jade let out a whistle. “Wow. Gusto talaga nila tayong mag-suffer.”
Sapphire sighed, massaging her temple. “At least they didn’t force us to go on a honeymoon.”
Jade visibly shuddered. “Oh, ew. Don’t even joke about that.”
Sapphire shot her a look. “I’m not joking.”
Jade turned back to the house, lips pursed. “I was mentally preparing for a nightmare, but somehow, mas malala ‘to.”
They didn’t move.
The driver, standing by the open car door, eventually cleared his throat.
Taking that as their cue, they stepped out.
The moment they walked into their new home, the reality of their situation settled in.
Because of course, their parents hadn’t just thrown them into some random, poorly furnished space. No, everything about the interior screamed carefully curated. The decor was a bizarre yet seamless blend of both their styles—Sapphire’s elegant, refined minimalism mixed with Jade’s bold, creative flair.
The living room had plush, deep-toned furniture—luxurious without being excessive. The open kitchen was sleek and modern, complete with a high-end coffee machine (a clear concession to Sapphire) and a stocked wine rack (definitely a nod to Jade).
Their parents hadn’t just given them a house. They had designed it with them in mind. A perfectly tailored cage.
Sapphire folded her arms, unimpressed. “They’re making sure we can’t completely avoid each other.”
Jade snorted. “Yep. Sinigurado nilang it’s just big enough to be livable, but small enough to be a problem.”
The awkwardness settled again.
They both stood there, looking around, not really sure what to do next.
Jade exhaled. “So.” She turned to Sapphire. “Hindi naman tayo actually expected to do the whole ‘honeymoon’ thing, right? Like, we’re not that married.”
Sapphire gave her a flat look. “Absolutely not.”
Jade held up her hands in surrender. “Just making sure.”
Another silence.
Then, in unspoken agreement, they moved on, deciding to check the rest of the house.
The hallway led to two doors, directly across from each other.
Jade, predictably, snorted. “Of course.”
Of course, their parents had ensured they weren’t sleeping in opposite wings of a mansion. That would have been too easy.
With a deep breath, they each stepped into their respective rooms.
Sapphire’s was exactly what she would have chosen for herself—cool-toned, sophisticated, with a pristine walk-in closet already filled with her wardrobe. The bookshelves were neatly arranged, the bedding was premium, and the lighting was just the right level of soft but not overly dim.
Jade’s, on the other hand, was a stylish mix of modern and artsy—warm-toned, cozy but not cluttered, with bold accents and shelves lined with both design books and sketchpads. Her favorite art prints hung on the walls.
Both rooms were distinctly them.
Which meant their parents really had put effort into this.
Jade sighed, collapsing onto her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Sapphire sat at the edge of hers, exhaling slowly.
For the first time in hours, there was nothing left to do. No cameras to pose for. No speeches to fake-smile through. No relatives to endure.
Just them.
In a house they hadn’t chosen.
Married.
Neither of them spoke.
For now, it was quiet. No bickering, no pointed remarks. Not yet.
Tomorrow and the next days, though?
That was a different story.