I Do Series: Betrothed

Chapter 4

“What is this, Rupert? Haven’t you learned your lessons yet?” Therese asked her husband in an irritated tone after she slammed a brown envelope full of pictures on Rupert’s study table.

Rupert just stares at his wife as if that’s the most natural thing she does to him in their everyday life.

“Are you really going to this to me for the nth time, huh?” Therese asked after clenching her jaws upon seeing how unaffected her husband is at the sight of the photos scattered on his table.

“Where did you get that?” Rupert asked indifferently without moving an inch from his swivel chair.

“It doesn’t matter who or where did I get that photos from,” Therese answered before she heaved a sigh and glared at her husband. “I didn’t know that your taste lowered that much. Where did you pick up that bi*ch? Did you accidentally pick her up on the street? Just like a stray cat.” She asked him while she pointed her finger at the photos of her husband together with an unknown lady.

One of the pictures captured Rupert’s arms wrapped around the lady’s waist with a broad smile on his face. So did the unknown lady whose arms were also wrapped around Rupert’s waist. The other pictures captured them hugging, kissing, and even going inside a hotel.

And by just looking at the pictures, Therese feels her blood pressure rising up as she lost count on how many times she confronted her husband like this.

“The next time you’re going out with your mistress can you please make sure that no one among our circle of friends,and business partners will see you. Can’t you do that for me, at the very least? I’m tired of putting everyone’s eyes and mouths shut just to keep this matter hidden.” Therese continued as she sat down on the couch across Rupert’s study table. “You already had Augustine, with Klarise. And then, Andrea with your b*tch runaway secretary. You are already at that age, and you’re still fooling around. Just how many more mistress do you want to collect, and for me to cover up?”

While Rupert remained silent and seated as if he knew what his wife would say. He doesn’t show any reaction despite Therese’s deadly glare.

“Tell me now if you still have another child among your mistresses. Augustine and Andrea aren’t enough for you, huh? How much do you want me to go crazy over this?” Therese added. “And what’s with this news that I heard from Rio?” She said when her tone suddenly lost its emotions, and the way she stared at Rupert became cold, just like the tone of her voice.

“What?” Rupert asked when he stared back at his wife, who was staring at him as if she was throwing daggers at him.

The cold air inside the room is not enough to show how cold their stares at each other are.

“Are you really going to give half of your shares to your son? Huh? . . . Just how much do you intent to shout out to the world that Augustine, is your son? Tell me.” Therese asked him in a sarcastic tone.

“He’s my son, and he deserves it.” Rupert firmly replied when he slammed his palms on his study table.

“Yeah, he’s your son with my friend. You’re d*mb*ss!” Therese’s roared at him when the memories of the time when her husband told her about Klarise’s pregnancy.

“Poor Andrea, she’s still doesn’t have any single idea that the man she treats as her brother are her real brother.” Therese’s mumbled.

“Can you please stop?” Rupert warned his wife. “If you don’t have anything else to do aside from nagging, you may go out now. Now!” He roared, but Therese’s wasn’t affected at all. She didn’t even flinch.

“I won’t! Not until you take back your plan, and give your full shares to Andrea.” Therese firmly contradicts. “She may not be my child, but, everyone knows that she’s a Servante, the only heir of Servante’s. As much as I hate it, she’s my daughter on paper. I’m her mother legally. And, even though I hated it, I have to fully accept her. Especially now that your parents and the Zamora’s planned out their wedding, and the merger of the two companies.”

“Is that how you see our daughter?” Rupert asked in disbelief.

He was aware that his wife didn’t like Andrea, but it never crossed his mind that Therese only saw Andrea as an asset for the merger of two companies.

“May I kindly remind you that she’s not my daughter,” Therese answered as if her husband stated the dumb*st question he could ask her. She even rolled her eyes before she stared at him once again with a blank expression. “Anyway, you better clean that mess you create by yourself. I don’t want to clean your mess anymore.” She continued after letting out an exasperated sigh.

Rupert was about to open his mouth when Therese turned back at him. He just heaved a deep sigh to calm himself.

“Andrea.” Therese’s exclaimed when she saw Andrea standing in front of the half-opened door of Rupert’s study room.

It was like Andrea, turned into a stone while she stared at her parents. She felt like she was glued on the floor while her lips felt heavy that she couldn’t open them.

“What are you-”

“Mom, did I hear it right?” Andrea cut her off when she finally got a hold of herself. “I’m not your daughter. Is that true?” She continued while trying her best to stop her tears from falling down despite the unexplained pain in her chest.

Andrea thought that her mother’s treatment was the most painful she could experience. But, it turned out that the pain she felt whenever her mother ignored her was only a fraction of how she felt when she heard everything. It was like raining needles and knives, and each blade pierced deep inside her chest.

“Dad? Tell me, please.” Andrea pleaded when she turned to face her father, who was still in a state of shock. It was like he turned into a statue while staring in the direction of her daughter. Who was now about to cry.

“Andrea, it-”

“Yes. You heard it right.” Therese answered nonchalantly as if it was just nothing.

“Therese!” Rupert roared before he finally took a step forward. He immediately walked towards her daughter, who was staring at him.

“What? I’m just answering your daughter’s question.” Therese answered when she turned towards Rupert’s direction for a second and then back to Andrea.

“Is Kuya Augustine really your son, Dad?” Andrea asked her father again. “Dad? Is it true? Kuya Augustine, really your son,” she asked again when Rupert remained silent for a few seconds.

Rupert hesitantly nodded as an answer, while Therese remained silent.

“H-how? Aren’t you married to Mom? W-why?” Andrea asked in the middle of her confusion. “Mom, y-you’re not my real mother. Is that why you’re always cold to me?” She asked when she turned in Therese’s direction.

Therese just stared at Andrea, and she immediately understood what it meant.

While on the other hand, Andrea felt like her world are instantly collapsed right before her eyes. She can’t comprehend and sink into her brain everything she learned in just minutes. Her mind is overwhelmed. The images of their family picture were immediately shredded into millions of pieces. And she feels like the lights in her world shut down at the same time. All she could see was never-ending darkness, and all she could feel was coldness while her heartfelt numb.

“No. You’re lying, Dad.” Andrea mumbled when her tears finally fell down like a waterfall.

“Andrea,” Rupert called her name as he took another step closer to her. But, Andrea took another step backward.

Rupert was about to take another step, but Andrea immediately turned her back at them and ran towards the garage of their house while wiping her tears.

“Kuya Ruben, my car’s key?” She asked their family driver, who was busy wiping her father’s car.

She immediately wipes and holds her tears when Ruben’s eyes widen upon seeing her crying face.

“Please open the gate for me.” She instructed after Ruben gave the car key to her.

“Andrea!” Rupert shouted just in time when Andrea started the engine and drove off.