Chapter 5
1029 Words
“Carlos, please…” My voice came out strained, like I’d swallowed glass.
I had no idea what he was going to do, and that terrified me. He’s unpredictable. Dangerous.
“We… we’re still mourning my husband,” I said, forcing my voice to steady. My eyes didn’t leave Carlos for a minute.
Then suddenly, I heard someone scoff from the other end of the table.
“Look who’s talking about mourning,” Rosa sneered as she shoved her chair back.
It scraped against the floor with an angry screech before clattering behind her. She crossed her arms and tilted her head.
“You? You who decided to wear white like it’s your wedding day to mourn Gonzalo.”
She laughed as she made her way up the stairs. But as she got to me, she shoved me aside with her shoulders.
I stumbled but got myself instantly.
“Cheers, darling,” Carlos muttered, raising his glass in the air like this was some twisted toast.
He took a slow sip, eyes on me the entire time, watching, waiting.
I knew what he was doing. Pushing me. Testing me. He wanted to see how far he could push before I’d snap.
But it wasn’t just me he was after. He wanted Emilio to react, to lose control, to make a mistake. I saw it clear as day.
He wanted to confirm if his suspicions were correct.
“Mom… do you need anything?” Emilio’s voice broke through the tension.
He’d moved from behind me, crossing to Rosa’s side of the table.
Don’t look at him, Maria. Don’t turn around. I blurted to myself.
“I just need this gold digger to give us what is rightfully ours!” Rosa hissed.
I heard her chair slide back, and then footsteps moving toward me. I braced myself.
Her shoulder shoved into mine as she passed, just like Ignes did.
I stumbled again, but caught myself before I could fall. I lifted my chin and kept walking, refusing to give her the satisfaction of turning around.
Emilio said nothing. Not to Rosa. Not to me. Silence can be louder than words.
Now it was just the three of us. Me. Carlos. Emilio.
I could feel Emilio’s eyes on me, even without looking at him. It was obvious he was waiting for me to say something.
But I didn’t. I couldn’t.
I kept my eyes fixed on the floor, tracing invisible patterns on the tile like I was lost in thought. But my mind was anything but still.
“If you need me, I’ll be in my father’s study,” Emilio finally said, to his uncle, Carlos. Then he walked away without another word.
I exhaled slowly, glancing up at Carlos. It was just us now.
I moved fast. Two steps forward, closing the space between us. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I jabbed a finger at his chest. “You're being insensitive!”
Carlos grinned like I’d just told him a joke.
“Insensitive?” He tilted his head. “Insensitive, Maria?” He leaned in, his breath warm against my cheek. “You stole everything that was meant to be mine, and you’re calling me insensitive?”
“I didn’t steal anything, Carlos,” I hissed, eyes darting toward the hallway.
“Weren’t you the one who tried to kill—”
“Please… someone could hear you.” I rushed to him, shushing him.
“Then maybe they should,” he said with a wicked smile.
He leaned in so close his lips nearly to my ear.
“You have until tomorrow,” he whispered. “Marry me, Maria De La Cruz. If you don’t…” He let the silence hang. “Let’s just say you won’t like the consequences.”
I froze. Tomorrow. He gave me until tomorrow.
He pulled away and walked past me, his steps were just slow, unbothered, like he’d already won.
I stayed there, my hands pressed against my head, fingers tangled in my hair. My lungs wouldn’t fill properly.
What do I do? My heart was racing so fast I thought I might be sick.
“What do I do?” I whispered to myself again.
I could feel it slipping, the control I’d fought so hard to keep. Carlos had me in a corner, and I didn’t see a way out.
Think, Maria. Think.
Alfonso. The lawyer. Maybe he could do something. Maybe he could transfer everything to Carlos so I wouldn’t have to— No.
I hurried to my room, chasing a plan I hadn’t even figured out yet. Give Carlos everything. Give him the money, the properties, the stocks — all of it.
I never wanted them anyway. I got into this mess because of money, and now money was dragging me straight to hell again.
Not again. I won’t let it happen again.
When I reached my room, I flung the door open, ready to grab my car keys and head straight for Alfonso’s office.
But the minute the door swung wide, I froze.
Because I wasn’t alone.
There, standing in the middle of my room, was Emilio.
“E… Emilio.” His name barely made it past my lips.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to sound firm but failing miserably. “You said you were going to Gonzalo’s study.”
“Well…” He pushed off the frame and took a slow step forward. “I thought I’d wait for you here since you seemed so eager to be alone with my uncle, Carlos.”
I blinked once, twice. There it was. I could perceive jealousy.
“Is that an issue?” I asked, lifting my chin.
“When did he start calling you ‘darling’?” Emilio asked, taking another step towards me.
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous, Emilio.” I crossed my arms.
“Don’t dodge my question, Maria.” He closed the space between us with one long stride. “I don’t find him calling you ‘darling’ appropriate.”
“You don’t find it appropriate? But it’s appropriate to f**k your father’s wife?”
- Writer
