George’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. He was well aware that Eliana could hear his thoughts, which was exactly why he had posed that question so boldly—not just in his mind, but out loud. It was a way to throw her off, to keep her from truly knowing what he was thinking.
What Eliana didn’t realize, however, was that George had already come to terms with the idea of having children while still in school. It wasn’t something that scared him. But at the same time, he wasn’t saying yes outright.
In his heart, he wanted to live life to the fullest, to experience everything without hesitation. He had seen too many people postpone happiness—choosing to chase careers, wealth, and stability before even considering marriage or family. But when he really thought about it, those choices had their own consequences.
Many families he knew had married late, prioritizing financial success first. But if you did the math… if someone had their first child at 30, and their child followed the same pattern, they wouldn’t become grandparents until they were almost 60. And with today’s life expectancy in the Philippines averaging around 71 years, that left little time to truly enjoy life with future generations.
George had no intention of living with regrets. He had been given a second chance—an opportunity to rewrite his fate. And if that meant making bold decisions, so be it.
His gaze softened as he looked at Eliana’s retreating figure. She had no idea that, in his heart, he wasn’t afraid of the future.
Because to him, living meant embracing it fully, not waiting for the “perfect” time that might never come.
George truly cared for Eliana, and the last thing he wanted was to pressure her into thinking about something she wasn’t ready for. He now understood that his role as the villain could sometimes be used to his advantage—but only in small, controlled doses.
With a smirk, he let a message slip into Eliana’s mind, his tone teasing yet laced with undeniable sincerity.
“Don’t overthink it too much, El. You might lose sleep. Just remember this—no matter what choice you make, my choice will always be the same… I’ll always choose you.”
And with that, he closed his eyes, letting sleep take him.
The next morning, George woke up feeling oddly refreshed. For once, he decided to refrain from his usual hardcore workout routine. Instead, he simply got dressed, called for his driver, and instructed him to take him to school. There was no need to push himself today.
But as the car neared the campus, something felt… off.
A sleek black car had been trailing behind them since they left the house. It wasn’t speeding or driving aggressively, but its presence was unmistakable.
George’s sharp eyes flicked to the side mirror. Someone’s following me.
His grip on his bag tightened. He didn’t like this. Not one bit.
The moment his car stopped at the school entrance, he quickly stepped out, scanning his surroundings. But before he could process anything further, a familiar figure strode straight toward him with undeniable confidence.
Vivian.
“Good morning, George,” she greeted smoothly, her tone dripping with amusement.
Before he could react, she grabbed onto his arm like it was the most natural thing in the world.
George’s entire body tensed. His instincts screamed at him to escape. And so, without thinking, he tried to pull away—to run.
But just as he took a step back, another presence appeared beside him.
His other arm—trapped.
Eliana had popped out of nowhere, now calmly walking beside him as if she hadn’t just intercepted his great escape.
George’s mind went blank. He turned his head slightly, looking at Eliana.
El… I don’t want this.
Eliana, still holding onto his arm, simply nodded. She looked exhausted, almost as if she hadn’t slept at all. The faint dark circles under her eyes didn’t go unnoticed.
Guilt immediately settled in George’s chest.
“…Sorry,” he murmured under his breath. “For troubling you with that question, El.”
Eliana remained quiet for a moment before finally sighing. “Just walk.”
And with that, they headed toward their classroom—one girl gripping each of his arms, and George trapped in the middle of a situation he absolutely did not want to be in.
Even inside the classroom, Vivian refused to give George any breathing room. She had claimed the seat beside him as if it were her birthright, completely unbothered by the stares and murmurs around them.
Their classmates were beyond shocked.
From one class to another, the trio moved together—George in the middle, with Vivian on one side and Eliana on the other. And the most absurd part? Both girls were holding onto him like he was some kind of prize they refused to let go of.
Whispers filled the hallways.
“Wait… are they fighting over him?”
“What’s going on? Is George actually dating both of them?”
“I thought Eliana was his girlfriend. Where did Vivian come from?!”
George, however, was dealing with a much bigger problem.
His focus wasn’t on the rumors, nor the unwanted attention. No, his real issue was Eliana.
Even as Vivian clung to his arm, his gaze kept drifting toward Eliana—searching her expression, gauging her mood. Was she annoyed? Tired? Angry? He couldn’t tell, and that uncertainty was driving him insane.
But the biggest struggle of all?
He had to control himself from voicing his thoughts.
Because if he wasn’t careful—if even a single unfiltered thought slipped through—Eliana would hear everything.
And that was dangerous.