The Billionaire's Playmate
I Won't Give Up On Him

I couldn't move. I was crying really hard. I didn't care if Luther and Manang could hear me, but I couldn't control the emotions I was feeling right now. Before, I only thought about Rozzean's hatred towards me if I told him the truth, but everything I imagined was surpassed.

His anger towards me made me realize that the chance of us getting back together was very low. The chance of him forgiving me for what I did was very low. I get it because he trusted me. He was correct when he mentioned earlier that If he hadn't let me in and if he hadn't felt pity for me in front of the village, this situation wouldn't have happened to him.

He won't fall for me and get hurt like this. "Tali..."

I wiped my cheeks when I heard Manang's voice. I felt her hands on both of my shoulders. Luther took a step back. I straightened up and faced Manang with a smile. I tried to smile at her, but my lips trembled again, and I cried when I saw pity in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Manang... s-sorry if I deceived you too. There's no Tali Dela Cruz, Manang. It was me all those times. Thaliana Tangi Dela Vezca. The girl Rozzean was supposed to marry. I came here to check on him to replace a bad side that I could use to ruin his image to my dad. But, M-Manang..."

My tears fell, and Manang quickly wiped them away.

"H-He's an amazing man, a great person. When I learned what he did for you, for his family, and all his sacrifices, my mind changed. The plan I had formed disappeared from my thoughts because I gradually fell in love with him. I f-fell hard, and I could not leave him. I can't leave Rozzean, Manang... It's so hard for him to let go because he holds on so tightly to me as Tali. Because of my overwhelming love for him."

Manang's hands lowered, and she tightly held both of my hands. Pity was in her eyes, but I couldn't see anger or annoyance because of what I did.

"Tali--I mean Thaliana dear, I didn't believe it at first either that sir could have feelings for you as Tali because, for me, it seemed impossible. Not because of your looks, you're kind, obedient, and very hardworking. Besides, I know sir doesn't look at a woman's outer appearance or wealth, but maybe it's because I thought what suits him best is someone like Klari, that's why I didn't believe you before."

I nodded and gave a slight smile, understanding her perspective. Even if I were in Manang's situation, I wouldn't believe that someone like Rozzean-a billionaire, with his own company and hobbies, extremely wealthy, handsome, and seemingly having everything-would be interested in a maid who just appeared in front of his village.

"I was surprised by what you did; I didn't expect it. But back then, I already wondered why your skin was so smooth, why your hands were so beautiful. I believed what you said because I never thought then that you were rich, and why would a rich person bother to work as a maid here."

"You did so much here at home, dear... you were so good at household chores that I never doubted you. You didn't have any complains in all the tasks I assigned you. You cleaned every dirt and dust of this house, and you often volunteered when sir gave orders. That's why I never thought you were wealthy."

"But, Tali... Rozzean was deeply hurt when he no longer saw you here at home."

I bit my lower lip hard upon hearing Manang's words.

"All of us here at home were alarmed because he couldn't replace you. At around two o'clock am, he went out and personally searched for you. Sir couldn't stay calm; that's when I truly believed that he really had feelings for you. His face showed deep concern. He didn't wait the usual twenty-four hours like before when you didn't come home from the market; he immediately reported you missing to the police."

"But, the entire Tagaytay and nearby areas were searched, and not a single lead was found. Tali... it's been three days now since Rozzean hasn't been to work. He only leaves the house when he's looking for you."

"He hasn't stopped since the night you went missing. He only paused when he had an accident due to drunkenness."

"Rozzean is deeply hurt, Tali."

I looked at Luther upon hearing everything Manang said. He was looking at me seriously. I knew he was also against hurting Rozzean, but because of my request, he, too, is now facing the anger of his brother. "He loves Tali very much, dear..."

When I returned my gaze to Manang, I gasped as I felt a pang in my chest. There was no reason to clear my name in what happened because from the beginning, what I did was wrong.

I couldn't deny that I deceived Rozzean.

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And he was right; I fooled him. Right here in his own house.

"I-I'm so sorry, Manang. I'm willing to do anything to prove that I regret what I did to him. I-I love him so much, Manang, no matter how difficult and painful the journey is to earn his forgiveness, I'll endure it. I will do everything for him to forgive me. I won't stop."

Manang wiped the tears from my cheeks again. She hugged me tightly and stroked my back.

It would be difficult, but I wouldn't give up on Rozzean. I would return to this house even if he rejected me multiple times.

"Do what you think is best for both of you, Thaliana. I've seen how much Rozzean loves Tali; he's angry, and there's nothing we can do about it because he has the right to feel that way. You deceived him, and he's hurt, so his feelings are justified. I can see that you regret what you did. My only wish now is for both of you to fix this and for the softness in Rozzean's heart for you to return."

That's what I want too, Manang... that's what I want too.

I bid farewell to Manang, and Luther did the same. I walked out first, tears streaming down my face. I couldn't help it. It seemed like I would cry until I got home. How Rozzean's looks at me earlier lingered in my mind. His words. The way he shouted at me...

"I don't know you."

"You will never be, Tali."

"I don't need you in my life."

"I will never marry a woman like you."

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I try to tell myself that it's because of his anger. That he doesn't really mean all of that.

When I turned to Luther, I saw that he was a bit far from me. He stood still, gazing at Rozzean's house. It looked like he was observing something.

"Luther..." I called him.

That caught his attention, and he walked towards me again. When we finally reached the gate, I went straight to the car. I remained silent until Luther got in too.

"I warned you already about this, Thaliana."

"I know."

I looked at him. I felt ashamed for what I did, especially since he got involved.

"I... I'm sorry, Luther."

Luther took a deep breath and started his car. It seemed that because of what I did, there was another barrier in their relationship. I saw how Rozzean looked at his brother earlier-with anger in his eyes. Luther might also be blamed for not telling the truth.

Luther wanted his family to be happy again. But because of what I did, not only Rozzean and their father had a strained relationship again, but also them as brothers.