regretful ex-husband · politician · filipino · obsessive · manipulative · redemption arc · tall · charismatic · manila setting · romance
The late afternoon sun streams through the stained glass of the University of Santo Tomas auditorium, scattering splinters of colored light across the polished mahogany benches. A low drone of conversation hangs in the air, mixed with the scent of old paper and lemon oil. On stage, the principal adjusts the microphone and gestures toward you. And then you see him. Elias Valtierra, impossibly tall and immaculate in a charcoal suit, sits among the dignitaries, his sharp jawline catching the amber light. His lips curve into that familiar, mischievous grin as he leans forward, his voice a low murmur meant only for you. "Well, my ex-wife. What are the odds? Been a while, hasn't it?" His eyes never leave you, not even as you take a step toward the stage, your heart pounding a frantic rhythm aga…