Shopping bags littered the marble floor as a fair lady held a glass of wine, her eyes fixed on the tempting array before her. Her fingers twitched, fighting the urge to buy all the expensive items here.

Approaching her, the sales clerk politely interjected, "2.9, ma'am. Swipe nalang ng credit card." Without hesitation, the lady complied, swiping her card without a word. "Thank you," she murmured, placing her wine on the nearby tray.

Observing from a distance, her elder sister and best friend exchanged glances. Amelia sighed, shaking her head. "She's swiping her card again. Hay nako, June..." Her voice trailed off in exasperation. Maricel, her best friend, chimed in, her brows furrowed. "Typical June. Kapag may nangyari, puro swipe nalang ang ginagawa niya"

June caught sight of the two figures and waved cheerfully. "Achi, Mari, you're here na pala!" she exclaimed, beckoning them over. Amelia and Maricel pushed aside their concerns and joined June.

Approaching June, Maricel voiced her concern, "Babes, you know this excessive spending isn't healthy." Amelia nodded in agreement, gesturing for one of her bodyguards to gather the shopping bags. With a stern expression, she addressed June, arms crossed.

"June, alam mo naman na magagalit si mom kapag nalaman niya yung mga ginagawa mo." Rolling her eyes, June took another sip of her wine. "So what, atsi? Let her," she retorted, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. "After this, let's shop some more," she suggested, some people must've thought she was out of her mind.

Maricel scoffed, "There's no way we're shopping more. I have plans with my ahia," she declared, taking a seat beside June. June leaned back, shooting Maricel a playful look. "Ano ba 'yan" she teased.

Amelia fixed June with a stern gaze. "June, ease up on the shopping, will you?" she pleaded, gathering the last of June's shopping bags. June chuckled sarcastically, "Relax, atsi. I've got it all under control." Her voice softened as she added, "And weren't you just like me? What changed?"

Amelia facepalmed, "Marriage changed me. You'll understand once you tie the knot." She adjusted her sunglasses on her forehead. June cringed, "Whatever you say, atsi."

June cast a sarcastically sad glance at Maricel, pulling her hand. "Mariii, please stay a little longer. Atsi's scolding won't ever end," June said, her grip tight but Maricel chuckled softly.

"June naman, parang bata," Maricel remarked. Despite being a year younger than June, she treated her as an elder sister, while June treated her as a younger one. June clung to Maricel like a child, while Amelia facepalmed, instructing their bodyguards to load the shopping bags into the van.

"I have to go, June. My ahia is waiting for me," Maricel said, prompting June to soften her grip until she let go. Amelia chuckled at the two before grabbing June's wine and bidding Maricel goodbye.

Maricel laughed before leaving. June then turned to her older sister, Amelia, who gave her a disapproving look. "Hay nako, June, wala ka bang magawa kundi magsayang ng pera?"

June stood up, grabbed her bag, and some onlookers watched as she retorted, "Achi, it's my life, okay?" before leaving her sister in the store, leaving her jacket behind as it was raining outside.

Amelia sighed, taking the jacket. "June, ano ba ang tumatakbo sa utak mong 'yan," she whispered softly before leaving the store too.

Outside, it rained heavily, signaling a possible typhoon.

The Liu mansion stood quiet, as it often did, with only the occasional sound of maids' gossip breaking the silence.

June sat in front of her vanity, her room decorated with tree branches from the side of her bed, adorned with red lanterns. She sat in front, her hair in a towel. Her eyes tired, yet she felt cold. She stared at the small portrait near the mirror, a family picture from times when money didn't matter.

She gazed at it with a stoic expression before placing it back and focusing on the mirror. Taking the towel off her hair, she brushed it softly. Loud noises erupted from the living room, her parents arguing over something trivial, which June found confusing.

June grabbed her earphones, plugged them into her ears, and listened to calming music as she prepared for bed. As the arguing intensified, June tried turning up the volume, but she could still hear it. Her hands shook with anxiety.

Reaching for the pills on her bedside table, she chugged one down with water and wiped her lips with a nearby napkin. Leaning against the headboard, she clasped her hands together.

As the sun rose, the mansion bustled with activity, maids gossiping in the kitchen as they prepared breakfast. June made her way to the dining table before her mother, who seemed hurried. "Ma, saan ka nanaman pupunt-" June started, but Alice, her mother, cut her off, speaking in a rush. "June, not now, nagmamadali ako. Kumain ka na d'yan," she said before leaving the mansion.

June was left standing, then turned to the well prepared meal. It looked appetizing, but her mother's hurry robbed her of her appetite. She left the dining room.

If this were the life or cycle she were destined to live, she would simply escape to the countryside. But the weight of her responsibilities was immense; even just being Jeremiah Mariano's daughter brought its own set of burdens.

Manila was as busy and bustling as ever, with everyone heading to work on this typical Monday. Rush hour loomed, and the streets were filled with people hurrying to their jobs.

At the Aguilar's Construction and Development company, the activity was especially intense. Employees worked tirelessly to contribute to the construction of beautiful buildings across the country. As the top construction company in the Philippines, excellence was always expected.

Today, the company was even busier than usual as it marked the anniversary of the death of its late chairman, Mikhael Lee Aguilar, and his wife, Klarissa Young. However, this day also brought dread for some, particularly the couple's son, Valentino Young Aguilar, who was known for his moodiness and sensitivity.

In his office, the tall man was engrossed in his work, his hand running through his black hair before adjusting his glasses. He appeared more serious than usual.

His assistant, known as Archie, approached him, holding an iPad. "Sir Aguilar, may problema," he said, looking worried.

Valentino looked up from his laptop. "What is it this time?" he asked calmly, though his irritation was evident.

"A shareholder, ah... a major shareholder withdrew their shares," Archie murmured nervously.

Valentino raised an eyebrow, his attention fully focused.

"Bakit?" Valentino's tone was firm, his gaze penetrating. Archie lowered his head, his body tensing up.

Despite working closely with Valentino for years, he still felt a shiver down his spine in his presence. "We don't know the reason yet, bigla-biglaan lang kasi siya," he replied, his voice almost a whisper.

Valentino's expression tightened. "Look into the reason. Hindi dapat biglaan lang," he ordered, his eyes flicking back to the screen of his laptop as he continued typing.

Archie nodded quickly, the weight of Valentino's expectation heavy on his shoulders. He made his way to the door, his steps quick but careful.

Exiting the office, he closed the door softly behind him, feeling the tension ease slightly. Beads of sweat formed on his temples as he fumbled for his phone, his fingers shaking as he dialed his contacts to gather information.

Meanwhile, Valentino stood up from his chair, his movements deliberate as he rolled his sleeves up and adjusted his tie and vest. With a composed demeanor, he exited his office, the aura of authority following him as workers nearby instinctively lowered their heads in respect.

Valentino was on his phone, speaking in a low tone as he exited the building. His driver promptly opened the car door for him, and the vehicle drove straight to the grave site where his parents laid in peace.

Upon arriving, Valentino stepped out of the car and walked to their graves. He kneeled down, using wipes to clear the dust from the tombstones. Gently, he placed a white rose on each grave, his eyes softening as he gazed at the markers.

Shortly after, his sister Maricel arrived in a separate car. She hurried over and knelt beside her brother, staring at the tombstones. "I miss them," she said softly, placing a white rose as well. She then looked at her older brother.

Valentino remained silent, his focus on their parents' tombstones. His expression was serious yet tender, a reflection of the pain and memories he held. He had only been a teenager when they died.

Valentino, though silent, was consumed by his thoughts. He was certain his parents' deaths weren't accidental. He wanted to delve deeper into the their supposed accident but was overwhelmed by his responsibilities, managing the company his father had left him and caring for his younger sister.

The moment he heard about his parents' passing, he had no time to grieve. His grandfather had immediately begun training him, thrusting the company's responsibilities onto his shoulders.

Maricel stood up and ran to her car to retrieve something. Valentino remained kneeling, rubbing his parents' tombstone with his thumb. His silence was loud but his intentions were clear.

A day later, news of the major shareholder's withdrawal had spread throughout the building like wildfire. Even Archie, the poor assistant, couldn't contain the rumors.

Archie stood in front of Valentino's desk, his head lowered, while Valentino fixed him with a serious gaze. The tension in the room was palpable, and Archie felt the weight of Valentino's scrutiny.

Breaking the silence, Valentino's voice cut through the room. "Is there any way to salvage this situation? Can we negotiate for the shares to be bought back?" His tone was firm, betraying his concern.

Archie's gaze flickered to Valentino's face before he glanced down at his iPad, fingers moving swiftly over the screen. "Sir, we might have a chance to rectify this if we contact Mr. Jeremiah Liu," he replied, choosing his words carefully.

"Given his close relationship with your late father, he may be open to negotiating the return of the shares."

Valentino raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued by Archie's suggestion. "Jeremiah Liu... contact him immediately," he instructed, his tone decisive.

Archie nodded briskly, swiftly retrieving his phone from his pocket. He dialed a number, reaching out to someone in Jeremiah's circle of contacts. As the phone rang, Archie apologized for the interruption and stepped out of the office.

Left alone, Valentino remained composed, his gaze shifting to his watch. He watched the second hand tick slowly around the dial, each passing moment.

A few moments later, Archie returned to the office, a positive energy radiating from him. He wore a smile as he delivered the news, "Mr. Liu is quite interested. He invites you to afternoon tea to discuss it."

Valentino nodded in acknowledgment, silently dismissing Archie with a wave of his hand. Once alone, he sighed, leaning back into his chair. Before spending the night in his office, he delved into researching Jeremiah Liu, wanting to be extra cautious.

The next day dawned in bustling Manila, and Valentino wasted no time. He stepped into his car, the driver pulling away as soon as Valentino settled in, heading towards his meeting with Jeremiah Liu.

The location chosen for the meeting was a secluded spot, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, ensuring privacy for discussions. As the car parked, Valentino stepped out, greeted by the quiet surrounding.

Jeremiah, seated with an air of confidence, rose to shake Valentino's hand. "O, kamusta Mr. Aguilar?" he greeted warmly before settling back into his seat.

Valentino reciprocated the handshake, his demeanor composed yet cautious. "Okay lang po ako," he replied, his gaze steady. Taking a seat, he maintained a businesslike posture.

Jeremiah, sipping his tea, leaned back in his chair. "I heard you needed my help, Mr. Aguilar," he stated, his tone casual yet attentive.

Valentino nodded, his gaze steady.

"Recently, our major shareholder abruptly withdrew their shares," he explained, getting straight to the point.

Jeremiah leaned back, processing the information before speaking. "I am willing to help you, but I have a condition," he said, his tone serious.

Valentino raised his eyebrow, signaling his readiness to listen. "And what would that condition be?" he inquired, his tone firm but respectful.

Jeremiah set his tea down, his gaze steady. "I'll provide my support if you agree to marry my daughter,"