THE BILLIONAIRE HEIR

Buenavista Hotel, Makati

Present Day

Duke stood quietly on the balcony, the cold breeze of the night brushing against his skin. Below him, the grand courtyard of the Buenavista Mansion was alive with lights, laughter, and the steady beat of music. Dozens of elegantly dressed young people mingled and danced beneath strings of fairy lights, their faces glowing with the innocence and excitement of youth.

It was Adeline's eighteenth birthday-his youngest cousin, the third and last daughter of his Aunt Danica. The celebration was extravagant, as expected of the Sandoval clan. Nothing less would do for the youngest debutante of one of the most powerful families in Zambales.

The clock had already struck ten, but the party showed no signs of slowing down. The guests, mostly students from an elite university in Zambales, continued to revel in the night, completely immersed in the luxury that surrounded them.

Duke took a slow sip from the whiskey glass in his hand, his sharp eyes observing the crowd below. Five years ago, this life had been unthinkable to him. A fantasy. A mirage that existed only in movies or dreams.

Back then, he was just another struggling college student-working long shifts at a fast-food chain, scraping coins to pay tuition, sacrificing sleep, dreams, and time for love. Back then, he believed life was simple. Cruel, but simple.

That was before their family was summoned back to Zambales. Before a heart attack brought his grandfather, Don Davidson Sandoval, to the brink of death. He was seventy-five then and barely clinging to life.

It was also then that the Duke's father, Douglas-his grandfather's eldest son and only male heir-was called back from exile.

For decades, Duke didn't know why his father chose to live in poverty, why he never spoke of his family, and why they lived in a cramped apartment in Tondo when he clearly had the intellect and skills to build more. It turned out, the past was far more complicated than he imagined.

The Sandoval legacy was vast. The family owned seventy percent of the business establishments in Zambales. When Duke finally stepped foot in Hacienda Sandoval, he realized the weight of the blood that ran in his veins.

His father had been the chosen one. Don Davidson's successor. The rightful family-owned empire.

Douglas was given control over the Sandoval Enterprise, the hotel and resort chain, the security agency, the mining corporation, and the vast lands of Hacienda Sandoval. Aunt Danica, the ever-shrewd businesswoman, was entrusted with their manpower agencies, travel companies, a chain of malls, and the booming clothing line.

In the blink of an eye, Duke was no longer just a working student. He became the billionaire's son. A name. A symbol. An heir.

Some people even started calling him The Billionaire's Heir-not just for his lineage, but because of his looks, charm, and ease with people. He was every bit the prince in the spotlight-yet the shadows of his past never quite left him.

"The night is still young, Duke," a voice called from behind him. "Why aren't you down there, dancing with the girls?"

He turned slightly and saw Addison, his cousin, twenty-six years old, the eldest daughter of Aunt Danica. She leaned casually against the doorframe, a glass of wine in hand, her dark red dress hugging her curves elegantly.

"They're too young for me," he replied, not bothering to hide the boredom in his voice. "I don't play with little girls."

"Oh?" Addison raised an eyebrow. "And who are you playing with? Ingrid?" She rolled her eyes dramatically. "I don't like her for you, by the way. She's... I don't know. She's not it."

"Why not?" Duke smirked. "She's sexy, smart, and independent. And we have a lot in common."

"Yeah? Like what? Sex and sarcasm?" Addison said, clearly unimpressed. "She's too liberated and too unpredictable."

"That's why we work. No strings, no drama. We're not pretending it's love or anything."

"So what? You're just her... what? Fling buddy?" Addison said bluntly, eyeing him carefully. "That's sad, Duke. You used to believe in love."

"That was a long time ago," he said, his voice turning colder. "I've grown up."

She studied him for a beat. "Have you, though? Or are you just protecting yourself from getting hurt again?"

His jaw tightened.

"You're twenty-nine. That's not old, but come on... don't you think it's time you tried again? A real relationship? Someone who doesn't treat love like a transaction?"

He didn't answer right away.

Instead, his gaze drifted once more to the party below, but his mind was already far away.

Back to the girl with fire in her eyes and sunshine in her smile.

Selene Arguelles.

The name still haunted him. No matter how far he'd come. No matter how rich or powerful he became.

He had loved her. Foolishly. Completely.

She had been his first serious relationship. The only girl who made him believe that love was worth the risk.

And she had betrayed him.

He could still see the image as if it were yesterday. Connor is on top of her. Her skirt hiked up. Her lips slightly parted. She didn't even scream when he walked in. Didn't even fight back. Just stared at him like a deer caught in headlights.

Selene had claimed she was shocked. She didn't know how to react. That Connor took advantage of her.

But what he saw that night had burned into his soul.

If she really had been innocent, why didn't she struggle? Why didn't she scream?

Why didn't she fight?

"Duke?" Addison's voice snapped him back to the present.

He blinked and turned to her.

"You okay?"

He nodded stiffly. "Just tired."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You're thinking about her again, aren't you? You still love her?" Addison asked, referring to Natalie Coleman - her friend and, once, a fling. Maybe she thought Natalie was the one haunting his thoughts. If Natalie hadn't left for Paris to chase her dream of becoming a model, maybe... just maybe, he would've taken her seriously.

But that was a long time ago. And truthfully, she never came close to the kind of love he gave Selene, his ex. The one who truly broke him.

He didn't answer.

And he didn't correct her either.

Addison took his silence as agreement. She sighed, stepped forward, and wrapped one arm around his shoulder in a quiet embrace.

"Don't let the ghosts of your past ruin what's in front of you. Not every woman is like her."

"I'm not looking for anyone," he murmured.

"Maybe not. But sometimes, the right one finds you anyway."

He gave her a faint, tired smile. "Go to bed, Addie. I'll try to sleep too."

She kissed his cheek softly. "Goodnight, billionaire heir. Don't drown in memories."

He watched her walk away, her heels clicking softly on the floor until the door closed behind her.

Duke stood there for a moment longer, finishing the last of his drink in silence before finally turning toward his room.

Inside the suite that now belonged to him, he took a deep breath and tried to shake off the weight of the past.

But even in the plush, quiet luxury of the Buenavista Hotel, the ghost of Selene Arguelles stayed with him.

And deep down, he knew-

He never truly let her go.

He took off his tuxedo and carefully hung it on the rack.

His body felt heavy, worn from the endless string of meetings in Makati earlier that day. At least his cousin's debut was held in the same city, sparing him another long drive.

If he didn't genuinely care about his cousin, he wouldn't have come at all. Events like these didn't excite him anymore. The noise, the shallow conversations, the blinding lights-they all felt meaningless now.

He stepped into the shower, letting the hot water run down his back, hoping it would somehow wash away the weight on his chest. But even after drying off and sinking into the softness of the bed, his thoughts drifted to the same place they always did.

Selene.

When they returned to Zambales years ago, he had cut her off completely-changed his number, deleted every photo, buried the memories. He never even tried to reach out.

The change of scenery helped. The chaos of family revelations, the sudden inheritance, the pressure of running an empire-all of it kept him busy, distracted, and numb.

But some memories are like shadows. No matter how far you run, they follow.

He never loved anyone else while they were together.

Never even looked at anyone else.

That's how deep it was.

How sure he was.

Which is why it shattered him.

He thought that with time, he would heal. That he'd moved on.

But he was wrong.

No one ever really took her place.

Not in his mind.

Not in his heart.

He remembered that night two years ago-staying in a hotel room in Cebu when her shampoo commercial aired on TV.

And there she was.

Smiling like nothing ever happened.

Like she hadn't torn him apart.

Then came the toothpaste ad.

Then the perfume.

Then the magazine covers.

Now, she was everywhere.

Selene Arguelles.

The woman who once loved him-or at least, pretended to-was now a full-blown celebrity. He couldn't walk along Guadalupe or EDSA without seeing her face. It was like the entire metro had become a shrine to her success.

He let out a bitter laugh.

So she really did chase her dream.

The fame. The spotlight. The need to be seen.

And she got it.

But no amount of beauty on a billboard could erase what she did. No number of magazine spreads could undo what he saw with his own eyes.

He would never fall for her again.

The world might adore her now.

But he knew the truth behind that perfect smile.

The lies. The betrayal.

The night he found her in someone else's arms-a moment burned into his memory forever.

It wasn't just pain that lived inside him now.

It was rage.

Rage at her.

Rage at himself.

Rage at how completely he had loved someone who never truly loved

8:00 A.M. | Sandoval Enterprise, Zambales

While most major companies established their headquarters in the buzzing capital of Manila, the Sandoval family deliberately chose Zambales to stay close to the Hacienda, their ancestral land, and to maintain a quiet command post away from the spotlight.

The building stood tall with twenty-five sleek floors, a modern architectural marvel against the lush, provincial backdrop. On the top floor was Duke Sandoval's office, which gave a perfect view of the Sandoval Hotels and Resort-a crown jewel of the family empire.

Inside the building were several company branches-Mining, Travel & Tours, and Manpower Services, among others. But this morning, all eyes were on the 19th floor, where the boardroom bustled in preparation for a high-stakes shareholders' meeting.

Meanwhile, the buzz surrounding the company's latest project in Makati was impossible to ignore. A 30-story luxury condominium tower-Sandoval Residences-was set to launch next month. Despite it not even being officially opened, most units had already been reserved.

Duke entered the conference room with his usual composed air, greeting each board member with firm handshakes and a confident nod. His father, Douglas Sandoval-imposing at fifty-six, still sharp as steel and as elegant as ever-was already seated, going through a thick pile of documents. Despite the passage of years and countless socialite temptations, Douglas had remained fiercely loyal to Duke's mother, something that didn't go unnoticed in their circles.

"Congratulations, Duke. You nailed it." Mr. Calvin Buenavista smiled and extended his hand.

Duke accepted the compliment with a tight-lipped smile.

"Thank you, Sir. We're all working hard to make it happen."

The discussion quickly shifted to the next phase.

Douglas declared, "We are already looking for a new lot for condominiums." "For this reason, the first tower's launch must be perfect."

His cousin Addison, who was in charge of marketing, smiled as he leaned forward. "We have already booked photographers for next week. I contacted some friends who work in advertising and print. We will be highlighted in the lifestyle sections of multiple magazines. Additionally, the campaign will feature a celebrity.

Duke arched his brow. "And exactly who did you choose?"

"Selene Arguelles."

The name sank like a stone into his stomach.

His jaw tightened slightly. He felt the air shift, as if the name had its own gravity. Douglas gave Duke a curious, possibly amused look, which Duke deliberately avoided.

"Do we have any other options?" He asked, his tone low but clipped. "This is Makati real estate we are selling. We do not need a flashy endorser. We have already targeted our market.

Addison blinked.

"Duke, it is an X-deal. Her manager offered the endorsement in exchange for Sandoval Hotel accommodations. She is also promoting her new show here. We do not even need to pay her talent fee."

Addison, another board member, nodded in agreement.

"It's strategic. She's visible and trending, and her fan base aligns with our demographic. It's a win-win situation."

Duke didn't answer. He simply nodded, lips pressed thin. He knew any more reaction would give too much away.

The meeting continued, but his mind had already drifted into chaos. He could hear the discussion-terms, projections, financial expectations-but none of it registered.

When the room emptied, Addison stayed behind.

"Something wrong with Selene? You tensed up the moment I mentioned her name."

Before Duke could respond, Douglas cut in with a smirk.

"She's the only woman your cousin ever dated seriously before we moved back."

Addison lit up with amusement.

"Oh really? That stunning woman's your ex? What happened? Did you break her heart-or did she shatter yours?"

"Shut up, kid. That's all ancient history," Duke snapped, standing up abruptly.

He nodded politely and muttered something about having to step out, then left the room.

10:15 A.M. | Ingrid's Café, Ground Floor

The scent of espresso and cinnamon filled the air as Duke pushed through the glass doors of Ingrid's café. He wasn't supposed to be here. He had meetings, reports, and a dozen decisions to make. But the moment he heard Selene's name, something cracked inside him-and suddenly, he needed a distraction.

Ingrid stood by the counter, discussing something with her staff. She turned as he entered, her expression softening.

"You're early," she said, eyebrows raised. "I thought we were meeting at six?"

"I needed coffee," Duke replied tersely, eyes scanning the busy street outside. "Meeting just ended."

Ingrid's eyes narrowed. She could tell something was off.

"Come upstairs," she said, already heading to the staircase.

Her office smelled of leather and lavender. A far cry from the boardroom-here, the rules are bent. Or broke.

Duke sank into the couch near the door, running a hand through his hair.

He looked drained-emotionally, not just physically.

"You look tired," Ingrid remarked as she sat beside him, brushing her fingers through his hair and down to his neck. She loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt. "Didn't sleep?"

"Something like that," he murmured.

Without waiting for an invitation, she kissed him along his jaw, down his neck.

Her fingers trailed his chest, unbuttoning his shirt fully now.

This was what Ingrid offered-no questions, no demands. Just fire. Just release.

And God, he needed it.

Her body moved over his with practiced ease, igniting something deep within him. It was raw. Wordless. A storm of skin and heat and frustration. They lost themselves in each other, in the rhythm, in the silence between moans.

Duke adjusted his shirt while Ingrid leaned back on the couch, cigarette already lit between her lips.

"Let's have lunch," she said casually.

"I can't. I have lunch with Papa."

Ingrid smirked, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Then tell him you're with me."

He looked at her-really looked.

The smoke curled around her face, making her look almost distant, like she wasn't really there.

She wouldn't meet his eyes.

He noticed how she was starting to ask things now-why she hadn't been invited to Hacienda Sandoval, why she wasn't introduced as more than just a "girlfriend."

He didn't have answers. Or maybe he did-he just didn't want to give them.

"I have to go," he said, walking to the door.

She didn't stop him. She didn't even say goodbye.

Back at the Office

By the time he returned, meetings and calls consumed the rest of his day. There were new projects to review, architectural revisions to approve, and financial forecasts to update.

Hours passed.

And for a while, he didn't think of Selene.

Until he did.

Until her name came back in a whisper. In a pause between emails. In the silence of his own breathing.

Selene had just wrapped up the final shoot for her upcoming primetime series-one that stretched into the early hours of dawn.

Exhausted didn't even begin to describe how she felt. Her schedule had been brutal lately: back-to-back commercial photoshoots, endless mall shows, relentless press conferences, and countless social events she was expected to attend-all to promote her newest project. The price of success, she thought, was sleepless nights and a soul that never truly rested.

As soon as she entered her condo, she dropped her bag to the floor and collapsed onto the bed without even changing her clothes. She didn't care. Her body was on the verge of shutting down. Within minutes, her eyes fluttered shut, and the world slipped away.

It was already two o'clock in the afternoon when she finally stirred awake.

Groggy and still in her clothes from yesterday's shoot, she made her way to the balcony of her 25th-floor unit at BMT Residences in Quezon City. The wind was crisp against her face as she curled up on the egg chair she had bought from a weekend furniture fair in Makati-a small luxury she'd gifted herself when she landed her first major role.

From up there, the entire stretch of Metro Manila sprawled before her-concrete, chaos, and dreams wrapped in smog and sunlight.

Her eyes fell on a copy of Forbes Business Magazine sitting on the side table, slightly crumpled from being read too many times. Duke's face stared back at her from the cover.

"The Billionaire's Heir," the title read in bold, gleaming letters.

She reached for it slowly, tracing his jawline on the glossy page with her fingers as if it were some long-lost relic. According to the article, Duke was now one of the most promising and influential young businessmen in the country, following in the footsteps of his father, who apparently owned several enterprises in Zambales.

What baffled her was how Duke, who once lived with her in a rundown apartment in Tondo, turned out to be someone born into immense wealth and power. He never spoke of it. Or maybe he did, just not in words.

She smiled to herself, a bittersweet curve on her lips.

Their story ended in heartbreak, but she couldn't deny how proud she was of him.

She had loved him once. Deeply. Fiercely. And in many ways, she still did.

Her condo had become some kind of shrine-every magazine, every feature where Duke's name appeared was tucked somewhere, as if her heart couldn't let go even if her life already had.

Sometimes, she found herself wondering... what if fate brought them together again? What if she could finally explain what happened that night, five years ago, when everything fell apart?

She had tried to fight back then. Tried to file a case against Connor.

But Connor's family had influence-deep political ties, money, a network too wide for someone like her to challenge. They turned the narrative against her, making her out to be the temptress, a gold-digger who seduced their son for his wealth.

She was humiliated.

Left with no choice, she withdrew the charges, packed her things, and disappeared.

Singapore became her refuge.

There, far away from the noise and cruelty of Manila, she lived quietly. Enrolled in school. Focused on healing, even if the tuition fees drained her. Even if every night she cried herself to sleep.

Then came the unexpected twist.

A talent scout spotted her at a mall in Singapore during her final year of college. It started with a small role in a shampoo commercial-just a background extra. Then came another commercial, and another, until one day, she was no longer in the background. She was the face.

Eventually, a manager saw her at a product launch and signed her on the spot.

She returned to the Philippines, this time as someone new.

Fame came fast. But so did the pressure.

The world of showbiz, she realized, wasn't all lights and applause. Beneath the glitz were sleepless nights, forced smiles, and a sense of emptiness that no amount of camera flashes could fill.

And that emptiness still gnawed at her.

Her phone suddenly rang from inside.

She went back inside and picked it up from the bed. "Hello, Ming?"

It was her manager.

"Selene, there's a scheduled press conference tomorrow afternoon at the Buenavista Hotel. You'll be with Richard, so be ready by two. We'll meet and head there together."

Selene sighed, disappointed but not surprised.

This was one of the ugly truths of show business-your life, your time, your energy-they didn't belong to you anymore. You couldn't say no. As long as the public loved you, you kept going. Project after project, interview after interview, even if you were burning out inside.

She tossed the phone back on the bed and headed to the bathroom, deciding to soak in the bathtub for a while. It was the only moment of silence she could gift herself today. She needed it. Especially since there was a mall show she had to attend by six.

The next day, she got home past seven in the evening after the press conference at Bueanvista Hotel.

She was tired, but it wasn't just physical. There was a weariness in her soul that no sleep could cure.

The press conference was packed, flashing cameras and questions flying from every corner. Many of the reporters wanted exclusives, desperate to dig into her life beyond the screen.

But Selene refused all interviews.

It wasn't because she was trying to be rude. She just didn't want to offer her personal life as entertainment.

They weren't really interested in the film. They wanted dirt. Gossip. Scandal.

And she couldn't give them that. Especially not the part of her life where Duke still lived-quietly, intimately, secretly.

That chapter was hers. Sacred.

She wasn't ready to let strangers dissect it.

Then came the questions about Richard, her on-screen partner.

They had undeniable chemistry on screen. The audience shipped them hard. Fans wanted them to be together in real life. The rumor mills spun fantasies out of their every glance.

But the reality was different.

Richard was married. Very much so. And his wife, Valerie, had become a friend to Selene-a kind woman now pregnant with their second child.

Selene didn't like lying, and every time she was asked about her supposed relationship with Richard, guilt gripped her. She always danced around the question, offering vague smiles and ambiguous answers.

She hated it.

They had to act sweet for the cameras, but in real life, there was always a line they didn't cross. And they were both grateful for it.

Now, as she dried her hair by the window, looking out into the night sky that blanketed Manila, a thought settled heavily in her chest.

She had everything she once dreamed of-fame, success, a beautiful condo in the city.

And yet...

Something was missing.

Something that no amount of applause could ever replace.

Duke had just finished his morning jog around the perimeter of their vast family hacienda in Zambales.

Given the choice between Manila and this place, he'd choose Zambales any day.

Here, the air was cleaner. The silence is soothing. And the view from the mansion's balcony was like something out of a postcard: lush green gardens, tall trees swaying gently in the breeze, the distant outline of the hills. It gave him a rare sense of peace. A contrast to the chaos of the city he had grown used to.

As he wiped the sweat off his brow and reached the old stone bench near the east side of the mansion, a familiar voice called out.

"Hi, handsome cousin."

He turned to see Addison approaching, a smug smile playing on her lips. She had flown in with him yesterday from Malaysia via a private family jet.

"You're up early," he said, settling onto the bench.

"Jet lag," she shrugged, stretching her arms. "My body's still adjusting to Zambales time."

Duke smirked. "We're in the same time zone."

"Exactly." She grinned. "So... are you ever going to tell me about you and Selene? Or do I have to keep guessing like a telenovela fan?"

Duke gave a short laugh, shaking his head. "There's really nothing to tell. I was twenty-three. Young. Stupid. Thought I had everything figured out." He leaned back and looked out at the trees. "Besides, I've realized there are... prettier faces here in Zambales."

Addison rolled her eyes. "Please. We all know there are plenty of beautiful women here-including me, obviously-but Selene? She's different. There's something about her."

He gave her a sideways glance. "You just like the drama."

"No, I'm serious. Her face, her smile, the way she carries herself... she's got this quiet strength. And maybe it's not a coincidence she ended up as the endorser for one of our biggest campaigns. Maybe it's fate."

He snorted. "Don't start with that fate and destiny crap."

"Why not?" Addison challenged, sitting beside him. "You think everything is just chance? I mean, come on. Of all the people in the industry, she ends up linked to our brand?"

Duke picked up a small twig from the ground, turning it in his fingers. "Our relationship ended five years ago, Addie. That chapter's closed."

Addison leaned back on her hands, studying him. "Is it though? I mean, she's single. You're single. And from what I heard, that whole thing with Richard? Probably just PR. You know how showbiz works-make-believe romances to sell tickets."

"I don't care," he said flatly, eyes fixed on the horizon. "Her personal life is none of my business now."

Addison paused, catching the shift in his tone. "Alright, alright. I'll drop it."

Silence settled between them for a few beats.

But even as Duke looked out over the trees, pretending to enjoy the peace, his mind had already drifted-uninvited-to memories he thought he had buried long ago. Her laugh. The way she used to steal glances at him when she thought he wasn't looking. That night ever