All Chapters of Strangers After Midnight : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Mich’s POVThe drive to the cafe was quiet, ang tunog lang ng makina ng sasakyan at ang mahina naming paghinga ang naririnig sa loob. Sitting in the passenger seat, nakatingin lang ako sa labas ng bintana habang pinapanood ang mga ilaw ng siyudad na mabilis lumipas, pero ang totoo, ang buong atensyon ko ay nasa lalaking katabi ko. Zane’s hand was resting lightly on the gear shift, just inches away from my knee, and the simple proximity was enough to make my chest tighten.Nakakainis. Isang buong araw akong nagpanggap sa Serafina Studios na maayos ang lahat, na kaya kong mag-focus sa trabaho, pero isang "Hi" lang niya kanina, tuluyan nang gumuho ang pader ko."You're quiet," Zane said softly, breaking the silence without taking his eyes off the road."Napagod lang sa studio," sagot ko, my voice sounding a bit more breathless than I intended. "Kyra was being too observant today. Nakakapagod mag-isip ng idadahilan."He let out a low, velvety chuckle that vibrated through the quiet car. "

Zane's POVAng bawat sulok ng penthouse ay tila sumasabay sa init na unti-unting lumalamon sa aming dalawa. The bedroom was no longer enough. The sheer intensity of her body matching mine only fed a hunger na matagal kong ipinagkait sa sarili ko. Without breaking the kiss, I pulled her up from the mattress, her body pliant and shivering against mine as she clung to my neck like a lifeline."Zane... where are we going?" Mich gasped out, her breath coming in short, uneven ragged bursts. Her skin was flushed a deep, beautiful pink under the dim ambient lights of the hallway as I carried her out of the bedroom."I'm not done with you, Mich. Not even close," I growled against her lips, my voice thick and heavily strained from the effort of carrying her weight while keeping myself inside her head.We made it to the kitchen, the marble countertops gleaming under the soft, hidden lights of the ceiling. Without a second thought, I lifted her higher and sat her straight onto t

Mich’s POVThe bright, unfiltered rays ng araw na tumatagos sa floor-to-ceiling windows ng penthouse ang tuluyang gumising sa akin. I winced slightly, forcing me to shield my eyes habang dahan-dahang nawawala ang antok ko. Moving my body even an inch brought a sudden, dull ache mula sa lower back ko pababa sa mga hita ko—a heavy, undeniable reminder ng lahat ng nangyari sa kitchen counter kagabi.I shifted sa ilalim ng mabigat na silk duvet, realizing na nasa kwarto na ako ni Zane. Ang amoy ng vanilla at ang mahal niyang cedarwood cologne still hung thickly in the air, mixed with the faint, lingering tamis ng chocolate syrup.Turning my head to the side, naramdaman kong malamig na ang kabilang bahagi ng kama, ibig sabihin ay kanina pa siya gising.I sat up slowly, hawak ang kumot sa tapat ng dibdib ko habang pinagmamasdan ang buong kwarto. My clothes from last night ay wala na doon, mukhang dinala na sa laundry. On the nightstand, however, ay may nakatuping oversized

Kyra’s POVHolding my cup of iced coffee, dahan-dahan kong isinarado ang pinto ng opisina ni Mich. Pagkalapat na pagkalapat ng kahoy, hindi ko muna iniwan ang tapat ng kwarto niya. I just stood there in the quiet corridor of Serafina Studios while slowly sipping through the straw. My eyes narrowed slightly as I stared at the polished mahogany door.Something was definitely off.Kilala ko si Mich. As one of the most sought-after luxury event stylists in the country, and the owner of this very studio, discipline and punctuality meant everything to her. Our high-profile clients pay millions for sheer perfection, kaya naman kilala si Mich sa pagiging tutok at walang pinalalampas na detalye. She was never late without a valid, business-related reason. Pero kanina, her thirty-minute delay didn't smell like heavy traffic or an emergency meeting at some hotel venue.Noong lumapit ako sa mesa niya, I didn't miss a single detail. There was a visible layer of exhaustion under her eyes, her finge

The quiet inside the Villanueva ancestral estate was never peaceful; it was a heavy, calculated silence meant to remind anyone who entered of the family's absolute authority. In the grand study room, surrounded by towering shelves of leather-bound books and dark mahogany furniture, the atmosphere had turned freezing.Mr. Villanueva sat behind his desk, his expression carved out of stone as his eyes remained fixed on the tablet screen before him. Beside him, Mrs. Villanueva stood with her arms tightly crossed, her face pale with an elegant but lethal fury.On the screen was a detailed security report—complete with timestamps, locations, and high-definition surveillance photographs. The images were clear and undeniable: Zane’s car parked outside a penthouse entrance late at night, and more damningly, unmistakable silhouettes captured through tinted glass windows.The woman in the photos was someone they recognized instantly. It was Mich, the owner of Serafina Studios. To t