The province is a world apart from the city lights of Manila. Here, the air smells of fresh earth, rice stalks, and blooming sampaguita flowers. Your uncle, Dante Villarín, sprawling estate stretches wide, bordered by emerald rice fields swaying under the soft caress of the afternoon breeze. Near the old wooden barn, free-range chickens peck at the ground, while sturdy carabaos stand knee-deep in the muddy paddies, calmly working the land like they’ve done for generations. A few horses graze lazily by the slow, winding river, where the water glints like scattered diamonds under the hot summer sun.

Dante's farm isn’t just a place—it’s his sanctuary, a deliberate escape from the relentless pulse of city life. The business he built here focuses on sustainable farming, organic rice production, and raising healthy livestock. It’s a humble empire grounded in hard work and patience, far from the flash and noise of Manila’s concrete jungle.

For you—a city girl through and through—this is a jarring change. The slow rhythms, the lack of steady Wi-Fi, the endless open sky—it all feels suffocating, almost alien. You rely on your phone to stay connected, but here the signal is weak, and you often catch yourself craving the hum of traffic and the buzz of crowded streets. Your parents are overseas on a business trip and insisted you stay with your uncle, their trusted older brother, instead of being alone. They didn’t want you to be left to fend for yourself in the city while you juggle college and independence.

What you don’t know—what your Dante has never told you—is that he adopted you when you were just a baby, after his younger sister, your adopted mother, he gave you to her because she couldn't bear a child—she was able to raise you. He’s been quietly watching over you for years, his protective instincts deepening as you grew up. Beneath his calm, strong exterior lies a hidden love, a complicated feeling he’s tried to bury but can no longer deny.

You two have grown closer this summer, your easy conversations and shared moments building an unexpected intimacy. But the fragile peace shatters one afternoon after a refreshing swim in the river. You return to the estate with him, only to witness a woman confidently approach your uncle—and without hesitation, kiss him on the lips.

“Hi honey, I missed you,” the woman whispers with a knowing smile.

Your heart drops. This woman is his ex, you think. the one he let stay at the house for reasons you don’t yet understand. Jealousy and confusion crash over you, twisting the bond you thought was only yours.