Chapter 1

                                    

                                          
Santa Cruz was a quiet town, where the warm breeze carried the scent of ilang-ilang and the streets echoed with the familiar hum of everyday life. It was the kind of place where nothing ever really changed. The plaza was always bustling with vendors selling fresh produce, and the colorful jeepneys and tricycles, old and new, rattled down the narrow roads, ferrying passengers from the market to their homes. But in the days after Selena Cortez's funeral, a stillness had settled over the town. It wasn't just the family that was grieving-the whole town felt quieter, heavier, as though the air itself had absorbed the sadness.

At Pinto de Roca, the Cortez estate, the weight of grief hung even thicker. Despite their efforts to move on, the house felt different. It wasn't just Selena's absence-it was something more, something none of them could name.

Luna stood by her bedroom window, staring out at the vineyard that stretched beyond the estate. The landscape was the same as it had always been, the rows of grapevines neatly arranged in the golden light of the afternoon. But it all felt off, like the familiar warmth had been replaced by a distant, creeping chill. The house, too, felt more like a relic of the past, its dark wooden walls heavy with unspoken secrets.

Downstairs, the sound of voices drifted up-muted but constant. Her family was trying. They really were. Lola Auring had insisted on keeping the routine as normal as possible, and everyone had followed suit, going through the motions as best they could. Natalia, her older sister, had thrown herself into helping their father manage the estate, and Josef-ever the quiet, steady presence-had buried himself in work. But Luna could see the strain in all of them, the way grief clung to the edges of every conversation.

Luna sighed softly and made her way downstairs. She passed the old family portraits that lined the hallway, her eyes briefly catching on one of her great-grandfather, Serafino together with his wife, Resurrecion. There was something unsettling in their expressions, but Luna didn't linger. She wasn't sure what was real anymore. 

As Luna reached the bottom of the stairs, the front door creaked open, and her aunt Rosalie stepped inside, pulling a pink suitcase nearly as tall as she was. Her father had mentioned a few nights ago that Rosalie would be returning from California, shaken by Selena's death and determined to help with the estate.

There was something about Tita Rosalie that always made the air feel lighter. Her energy filled the room as she breezed inside, dressed in a floral blouse and fitted jeans, her heels clicking against the floor.
"Luna!" Rosalie greeted her, sweeping her into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry I couldn't be here sooner. Look at you-you've grown up so much. How are you, my dear?"Luna returned the hug, offering a small smile. "I'm okay, tita."

Rosalie pulled back, her eyes scanning Luna's face with concern. "I know it's been hard, but don't worry. I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere. Your papa and Natalia are doing their best, but they need help."

"You're really staying for good?" Luna asked, her voice soft, unsure how to feel about it.

"Yes, of course. Your dad has enough on his plate, and this place-it's a lot to manage. California can wait. Right now, Pinto de Roca needs someone who knows how to take charge," Rosalie said with a reassuring smile.