Engagements and Entanglements

Two: ¡Santo madre! (Holy mother!)

We sat quietly in the car, and I could feel my heart racing faster. I was filled with anxiety about how I would face Papa or even Mama.

I thought about all those mamas and their daughters who envied my life; they never skipped a moment to tell me how lucky I am to have caught the Don’s son.

I knew that Papa would make my life miserable, tearing it apart bit by bit. College was already off the table; he had made that clear long before this moment.

I would be spending my days working on the farm and coming home to help Mama, just like always.

There were no dreams for me, just a faint hope for a better future that felt so far away now, I let out a sigh, feeling a lump in my throat

I glanced at him; his eyes were focused on the road ahead. He had changed into a fresh shirt and pants, and now his muscular arms were on display, covered in tattoos.

He gripped the steering wheel with confidence, taking ownership of the vehicle in a dominating way.

At that moment, he looked almost handsome, almost. He had a strong resemblance to Don Alvaro, unlike Victor, who took after his Mama.

“Remember that day you saw a snake in the maize field?” His voice cut through the quiet, deep and sultry.

The memory flooded back, and I couldn’t help but smile. I had sprinted for my life that day. Victor was away at school, and I had gone to play there, with Vincent trailing behind me, always watching from a distance.

We all grew up together, his papa was the don of the hacienda, and mine was the chief of staff and also the farm manager. Everyone respected him because of the union between Victor and me.

“I was so scared; I ran for my dear life and never came back,” I chuckled, a grin spreading across my face.

“Always a runner, huh?” he teased, tilting his head toward me.

My smile grew wider, and I noticed him muster a small smile in return, his dimples peeking through. “If it had bitten you, would you have asked why?” he asked, leaving me puzzled.

I arched my brows and squinted at him, replying dryly, “No, that’s crazy.”

“Why so?” he pressed again, and I was surprised to see Vincent so chatty after spending his childhood silent like a statue.

“Because it’s a snake, that’s what snakes do, they bite,” I replied flatly, wondering what he was getting at.

“Right, the same goes for humans. When they hurt you, don’t dwell on the pain or the whys and what-ifs,” he said calmly, his words sinking in like a gentle wave.

“You prioritize your healing and let time reveal the answers.” He glanced at me again, and this time our eyes met.

“Sometimes people are good to you not because they truly want to, but because they never had the chance to show you otherwise.”

He added, and I could tell it was aimed at Victor. I had never thought about it that way before.

“Thank you, Vincent. I really feel so much better,” I said sincerely, realizing how noble and kind he was, especially considering he used to be the one bullied by us.

As we arrived at our house, I initially thought he wouldn’t remember, but he did. I noticed that everywhere was dark now.

The streetlights were on, but inside our house, it was pitch black. They weren’t home yet, they might still be with Don Alvaro looking for me.

“No one’s home yet; they might still be with Don Alvaro,” I said. At the mention of his name, I saw Vincent tense up, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

“It’s okay, I’ll just wait here,” I said, not wanting to overstay his kindness.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll take you,” he replied in a dismissive tone, insisting on helping me.

* * *

When we arrived, the grand sight of the manor loomed ahead. We were welcomed by the magnificent mansion, several armed guards patrol within the compound.

At last, I spotted Papa and Don Alvaro getting ready to leave the mansion. Papa had a deep frown on his face, filled with tension.

As Vincent drove through the roundabout driveway and parked right at the entrance, I peered out the window.

That’s when I saw Don Alvaro’s face, which was a picture of shock.

It wasn’t because of the luxurious car parked in front of him. I could tell it was mainly because Vincent was here; he rarely visited this part of the Hacienda anymore.

I turned my attention to Vincent, who was staring straight ahead, completely ignoring the situation around him.

“Thank you, Vincent,” I said, but I could see his jaw was tight and tense from how hard he was clenching it.

He didn’t respond. I stepped out of the car, feeling a bit damp from earlier. I noticed how dirty my dress was, with bits of dried leaves and branches clinging to it, how prim and proper, a real sight for sore eyes.

I held onto my chest tightly, trying to keep my torn clothing from falling apart. Papa's eyes were scanning me closely, making me feel even more anxious.

I took two shaky steps forward, but my feet and knees were in so much pain that I could barely move.

Suddenly, I heard Papa's voice booming as he charged toward me like a fierce tiger.

“¡Santo madre!” Holy mother! he exclaimed in shock, leaving me feeling completely confused.

Out of instinct, I jumped back and bumped into Vincent's car, bracing myself in fear. My heart was racing faster than ever as Papa grabbed my shoulders firmly.

Vincent suddenly jumped out of his car, looking unsure whether to help me or not, as he kept his distance.

Papa's eyes were fixed on him, and he muttered, “Oh, querido cielo,” Oh, dear heaven.

His breath, heavy with the smell of raw garlic, hit me hard as he glanced back and forth between Vincent and me.

“Alonso…” Don Alvaro called out, sounding cautious, as if he were afraid of Papa hurting me.

“Get away from her,” Vincent commanded with such authority that it sent chills down my spine. Hot tears immediately filled my eyes. I hadn’t expected my misery to begin so soon.

“Coming from the b*st*rd who dishonored my daughter,” Papa accused, making me freeze in place as I clung tightly to my torn dress.

Confusion washed over me as I wondered what Papa was getting at. “Pap—” But before I could finish my thought, Vincent lunged at Papa, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.

“What the f*ck did you just say?” Vincent growled through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowed in fury, clearly on the verge of losing control.

“Just look, Don, at what this b*st*rd has done to my daughter,” he said, raising his hand to gesture toward me.

Don Alvaro’s expression turned to shock as he looked at me, his hand flying up to cover his mouth.

In a flash, Vincent struck Papa hard, causing his lip to burst, and Papa stumbled back, trying to regain his balance.

“Papa, it’s not like that, I swear,” I pleaded, but he hissed, “You will pay for this, I swear,” his anger boiling over.

Then, Papa rushed to my side, gripping my shoulders tightly as he pulled me into an awkward hug.

It felt strange and uncomfortable as he explained, faking a soft voice, “It’s okay, Isabella, I know he must have threatened you.” He kept touching me, head, shoulders, trying to find any hurt but I squirmed, trying to get away from his grasp.

He leaned in close and whispered something quickly in my ear, making my hair stand on end.

As he stumbled back, I looked around, trying to confirm what he had just said, my panic skyrocketed as I did.

“Vincent, calm down, we can sort this out. Let’s get inside,” Don Alvaro said, taking a step toward Vincent but he pushed back, refusing to make contact.

“I’m not stepping foot in your bloody house,” he spat, struggling to control his rage, his chest rising and falling like a wild lion ready to pounce. His jaw was tightly clenched, the weight of the accusations heavy on him.

“CEO and winemaker of Mendozza Vineyards sexually assaults innocent 20-year-old Isabella, my God,” Papa continued, a wicked chuckle escaping him.

Vincent’s fists tightened into balls, ready to lash out again. “Alonso!” Don Alvaro called out, trying to bring Papa to order, but his words fell on deaf ears.

"Exactly! They’ll just lap it up without second thought, all because f*cking Alonso said so," Vincent replied, a glint of anger in his eyes as he shook his head.

“Let’s get inside and sort this out, gentlemen,” Don Alvaro urged, stepping between them with his hands raised in a warning.

“Whether they buy it or not, your little vineyard will bear the consequences…”

“Your dearest competitors will tear apart your so-called mother’s legacy you’ve been fighting to keep, brick by brick,” Papa said, his hands gesturing wildly in the air as he laughed almost hysterically.

I stood there frozen, just like everyone else my gaze fixed on the ground, unable to meet anyone's eyes, especially not Vincent's.

“Alonso, enough!” Don Alvaro shouted, clearly fed up with Papa’s mocking.

Papa’s grudge against Vincent didn’t just begin today; today was simply the moment he chose to unleash his anger, and he was determined to milk this accusation with his all.

“Isabella, is it true? Please, tell me what happened,” Don Alvaro said, his voice filled with worry. But I stayed silent, feeling overwhelmed.

I dropped to my knees, torn between the truth and Papa’s threats.

Vincent had helped me and didn’t deserve this situation, but I felt trapped with no way out. It felt like a knife was stabbing my insides repeatedly.

“Oh my God! Really? You’re not going to tell him exactly what happened?” Vincent nearly shouted, disbelief and hurt evident in his voice.

“Well, there you have it,” Papa said as he approached, squatting down to wrap his arms around me.

At that moment, I had never hated being hugged more. “Shh, shh, dear, I’ll make this go away. I promise I’ll make it right,” Papa said in a voice that felt fake and utterly disturbing.