I Don't Love You

Chapter 6

Leandro’s face almost crunched because of too much fury. He wanted to grab Reina’s hair but he couldn’t do it because of the maid beside them. The woman was trembling and anxious yet she stood on her ground, silently watching and listening to their conversation. He retorted again. “You know what? You’re acting strange lately. Are you really my wife?”

“Your wife? She’s dead.” It is true. But because she escaped from Leandro’s house, she is still alive and kicking. “Why? Are you planning to mumble a fake speech to bring her back?”

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand your point!”

Reina smiled at him. “Aren’t you tired of pretending to be a good husband? Everybody knows that you’re having an affair with your secretary.”

Leandro is shocked. He couldn’t contain his emotion for a moment. Beads of sweat were starting to form on his forehead. “What kind of rumors –”

“It’s not funny anymore.” Reina decided to stop playing around. “I don’t give a sh*t about you or your mistress. Honestly, I am hoping that you will be smart enough to stop bothering me and mind your own business.” Her face was full of disgust for Leandro. “I don’t love you anymore, so stop acting as if you really loved me, not my father’s money. You’re only wasting your time. I won’t come back.”

He wanted to laugh but her words were full of certainty. The Reina he met has the same features but with a cold demeanor, acting as if he is something close to the category of a pile of dirt. Leandro’s pride crumbled into dust but he couldn’t complain. What’s the point of denying it anyway? Everything was out and all he could do now was to prepare if she wanted to have a divorce.

“If you insist, then I shall leave… for now.” Leandro walked out of the green house, his face dark and uncertainty showing on his expression. If he couldn’t grab Reina’s throat like he used to, then he would try his best to stop her from divorcing him.

After he left, the maid let out a sigh of relief. She thought that there would be bloodshed afterward, but fortunately, it was a one-sided attack by Reina. “M-miss Reina? Are you okay? Do you want to drink something to calm yourself?”

Reina is standing still, trying to hold her sanity intact because her instinct as Ynna is kicking in. She wanted to grab Leandro’s head and snap his neck, or get a sack and throw him into the ocean, or grind his flesh into tiny bits then feed it to his mistress. Fictional character or not, Leandro is the worst human being that was made. The oxygen he breathes is such a waste. He should just die and become a fertilizer for plants.

“I… I’m fine.” She started to massage her temple to relieve some stress. “What’s your name again?”

The maid pointed her finger to herself. “Me? I… My name is Hanna, Miss Reina.”

“Thank you for staying. I don’t know if Leandro would use violence but I guess he restrained himself because you are here.” Reina smiled sheepishly, admitting her real thoughts.

Hanna became shy. “It was… my duty, Miss. Your father, Don Mauro, would probably beat me to death if you were hurt, Miss.”

Reina laughed and started to gain her composure. “Okay… I get it. Let’s go back to the mansion before it gets dark.”

“Yes, Miss.” Hanna led the way to the back door of the mansion.

It is mid-June, the timeline inside the webtoon. The warm air is fading and the cold chill is slipping on her dress. She crossed her arms, hugging herself to keep her warm. After they reach the door, Reina makes a request for a seafood dinner. It is almost five-thirty in the afternoon. Her father will come home in thirty minutes. Reina decided to have a shower. She is not used to the weather. In the Philippines, there are only two seasons; dry and rainy days. It is still summer, but experiencing autumn and, eventually, winter will surely be a burden to her.

“Well, at least, I’m going to experience all of it.” She smiled with a hint of excitement.

She wore black denim jeans, a white sleeveless blouse and a black blazer to match her outfit, she also wore a pair of semi-high cut boots. After blowing her hair to dry, she put some powder on her face and a touch of lip gloss on her lips. She wanted to act like Reina but she didn’t know anything about makeup. She let her straight hair as it is.

“Dad must be home now.” Reina walked at her own pace. Admiring the aesthetic of the paintings that were hanging on the walls of the mansion. Some of them were the masterpieces of the original Reina. It was a vibrant, lovely, and picturesque version of different landscapes. She was known to have fine hands when it came to painting. Unfortunately, she grew up with the mindset of a Disney princess. She thought that the first man who could make her heart flutter would be her prince charming. “Pathetic.”

She reached the stairs. Reina looked at the grandiose of their living room. There was a large L-shaped leather sofa with a round clear glass table in the center. The carpet is made from expensive wool with a light color. There was a grand piano in the corner but the three-foot chandelier hanging at the center of the room dangling with crystals was grabbing her attention and could make anyone in awe.

“Reina, what are you staring at? Let’s eat our dinner.” Don Mauro is smiling, his aura is radiating.

“Yes, Dad. I’m going to come down now.” She walked down the stairs in a rush, then clung her arms to her father’s right arm. Both of them smiled at each other and continued their way to the dining area.

“I have some good news for you.”

Reina looked puzzled. “Good news? What is it?”

Don Mauro’s playful grin didn’t fade. “I heard that your good-for-nothing husband had come here. Did he tell you anything?”

“No. Why?”

“Let’s eat first. Then, I will tell you why we should celebrate.” After reaching the dining area, Don Mauro adjusted the seat adjacent to his seat and pointed it to Reina so she would sit there.

“Thank you, Dad.” Reina sat on her seat and politely smiled. Her father sat on the seat next to her. “So… What’s the good news?”

“Thirty percent of Leandro’s shares are now under your name.”

Her eyeballs almost came out of their sockets because of shock. “W-what do you mean?”

The dinner is served. The entrée is a vegetable soup. Don Mauro got a spoon and started to eat. “Well, to make the story short, you are the major shareholder of Leandro’s company now. It is my welcome gift for you.”

She arched her eyebrows. “But, why Dad?”

Don Mauro laughed, he almost choked, so he immediately drank some water. Reina patted his back to ease his pain. “You are still naive, my dear. When Leandro is down, bankrupt, and doesn’t own anything, his mistress will throw him away. And you know what he would do afterward? Beg on his knees, and ask you to come back.”

Reina shook her head. “I don’t care Dad. I just wanted to escape from this dreadful marriage and start anew. You see, I want… to be an architect.”