THE GOVERNOR'S KEPT WOMAN (ENGLISH)

Chapter Seven

“Dad!” I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly. He immediately returned the embrace.

“My daughter looks more beautiful than ever,” he said warmly, smiling as he gently guided me to my seat.

“How are you doing here, Dad?” I asked.

He had lost so much weight. The dark circles beneath his eyes had become more noticeable.

Was he even getting enough sleep in here?

“I’m doing fine, sweetheart. The people here have been treating me well.”

If they were treating him well...

Then, why had he already lost so much weight after only a few days?

Top, who had been carrying the food we brought, began setting everything out in front of my father. We had ordered healthy takeout because I knew he must have been missing the food he was used to eating outside.

Fortunately, they allowed us to bring it in, so we were able to share the meal together.

“Eat, Dad.” I slid a plate toward him.

“You should eat too, Inda. Look at how thin you’ve gotten.”

“Dad, I’ve always been slim. The right word is sexy.” I pouted.

I knew I looked adorable whenever I did that. It always amused my father whenever he saw me making that face.

“Even so, you still need to eat. Look how much food you brought.”

“Dad, is there anything else you need in here? We can bring it next time.”

“My child, I already have everything I need. Besides, I’m not here on vacation to be comfortable—”

“You’re here because you’re being accused of a crime you didn’t commit,” I interrupted softly. “Don’t worry, Dad. We’ll prove that you’re innocent. You’ll be out of here soon.”

“Thank you, Inda. I know you’re doing everything you can to help me. But I’d rather you focus on getting your life back to normal. Attorney Gaille won’t abandon me. He promised me that he would do everything he could to get me released and prove my innocence.”

“Dad, I’ll do everything I can to bring you home. And if you’re worried that I’m too focused on your case... I should be. I’m your daughter. Of course, I’m going to help however I can.”

“My child, I’m just worried about your safety. I’m afraid you’ll get caught up in all of this. It would be better if you stopped and let Attorney Gaille handle everything.”

“This conversation isn’t going anywhere, Dad,” I said with a faint smile. “Because I have no intention of stopping. Please don’t worry about me. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

There was no way he could convince me to abandon him.

The two of us only had each other.

How could I ever leave him behind?

As we continued eating, it became obvious that he wanted to avoid talking about his case. Instead, he kept asking about what I had been doing since returning to Santa Dominga.

So...

I had to lie.

I didn’t want him to know that I had devoted almost all my time to fighting for his freedom. I never wanted him to think he was a burden.

Seeing my father made me happy.

Leaving him behind broke my heart.

“Miss, don’t be too sad,” Attorney Gaille said reassuringly after we stepped outside. “Try to keep yourself occupied so you won’t think about your father too much. Leave everything concerning your father to me.”

His words were filled with quiet confidence, so I simply nodded.

“Take care on your way home. Top, Lucinda is in your hands.”

“Yes, Attorney,” Top replied.

He escorted me toward the car.

“Are we heading home now?” he asked once we were inside.

“It’s still early. Is there anywhere lively we can visit here in Santa Dominga?”

“We can look for a place,” he suggested.

“Okay, Top.”

I occupied myself by fiddling with the wireless earbuds he had given me.

Several minutes passed as we drove through town.

It was still early—only nine o’clock in the morning.

We happened to pass a plaza crowded with people.

“Top, stop here.”

I had no idea what was going on, but I got out of the car while Top went to look for a parking space.

I blended into the crowd.

Despite the laughter, cheers, and excited voices surrounding me, an unexpected sense of peace washed over me.

The tightness in my chest slowly eased.

I found an empty bench and took a seat.

It looked like a Christmas celebration. A group of children was performing on the stage, and before I realized it, I had been watching them for quite some time.

They were so adorable that I couldn't help smiling as I watched them perform.

When their performance ended, the crowd erupted into cheers once again, calling for an encore.

I simply smiled, silently hoping another performance would begin.

There was something comforting about all the noise.

While most people find noisy places overwhelming...

I needed that noise.

It quieted the chaos in my mind.

It brought peace to my heart.

My gaze drifted toward the stage once more.

I gasped softly when I recognized the man seated at the front with several barangay officials, judging by the nameplates displayed on the table.

Governor Colton Andreras.

He was talking to the barangay captain, nodding occasionally as the man spoke.

Then he looked up.

Our eyes met.

Apparently, he didn't recognize me.

Or maybe he simply pretended not to.

I was the first to look away. Just holding his gaze felt enough to make me melt.

My attention returned to the stage when another group of children began performing. A smile slowly spread across my face as I watched them dance.

I was so absorbed in the performance that I didn't notice someone standing beside me until a packed meal was suddenly offered.

Without thinking, I accepted it.

The people sitting next to me, however, were each asked to show their meal stubs.

Why was I given one? I didn't even have a stub.

A bottle of water was handed to me next.

Again, I accepted it.

Meanwhile, everyone else around me was being asked for their stubs before receiving theirs.

"Come on, dear. Let's eat while the children are performing. The seniors will be on stage later." The elderly woman beside me smiled kindly. "Which group are you with?"

"Uh..."

"You're one of us, aren't you? You're wearing white too. Although yours is a dress."

My eyes instinctively dropped to my white dress before shifting to the woman's white T-shirt.

Oh, no.

She thought I belonged to their group.

"Go on, eat!" she urged cheerfully, even opening the food container for me.

I laughed awkwardly and decided to eat anyway.

There was no point refusing.

Besides...

The food was actually good.

"Our governor is so generous, isn't he?" the woman remarked.

I turned to her, my spoon freezing halfway to my mouth.

"He paid for all of this?"

"Of course. Governor Andreras is one of the most generous people you'll ever meet. People even say that when government funds aren't enough, he spends his own money just to help others. Honestly, I don't think a man like him could ever be corrupt."

She shook her head with admiration.

"His family is incredibly wealthy. They don't need public funds to make themselves richer. They're successful businesspeople, too. The governor himself owns a huge company in the city. I heard he's a billionaire."

"If his family is already that wealthy..." I asked curiously, "...why did he choose to become governor?"

"Because he genuinely wants to serve the people. Even when he was still mayor, he accomplished so much for this town. His programs changed a lot of lives. Now that he's governor, he's expanded those programs across the province."

I nodded and quietly resumed eating.

"Look at him," she continued, glancing toward the stage. "He's smiling... but I can tell it's not a real one."

My gaze instinctively followed hers.

"You know," she went on softly, "Governor Andreras recently lost his best friend. We all knew Dominador Abwerbos. He was a good man. If we were heartbroken by his death, imagine how much worse it is for the governor. They were practically brothers."

She sighed.

"Whoever killed Domeng deserves to rot in prison."

Her words didn't offend me.

An innocent man would never spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The guilty one would.

"Honestly," she continued, her expression hardening, "if they sentenced that Aio Re Vinci to death, I'd be there to watch the execution myself. He murdered one of the finest men our governor ever had by his side."

My grip around the plastic spoon tightened until my fingers hurt.

The delicious meal in front of me suddenly tasted like ash.

"Has... has Aio Re Vinci already been convicted?" I asked quietly.

"Not yet—"

"Then that means his guilt hasn't been proven. What if..."

I hesitated before finishing.

"...what if the man they're accusing is actually innocent?"

The woman's smile disappeared.

"Are you sympathizing with a murderer, dear?" she asked, disappointment evident in her voice.

"No," I answered quickly. "I'm only saying... what if they've accused the wrong person? It would be heartbreaking if an innocent man spent the rest of his life in prison because of false accusations."

"My dear, the police already have evidence. They found his fingerprints on the murder weapon, and there are two eyewitnesses."

She clearly had been following the case closely.

"The man sitting in jail isn't innocent. I hope he rots there... and dies there."

Those words pierced my heart.

Unable to bear another second of the conversation, I quietly stood.

I left my unfinished meal behind.

Without knowing where I was going, I walked away from the crowd.

Past the rows of chairs.

Past the tents.

Past the cheering audience.

Until I found myself behind the stage.

Still, I kept walking.

"What are you doing here?"

The deep voice made me stop.

I turned around.

Governor Colton Andreras stood only a few feet away.

Had he followed me?

I quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks. They had started falling long before I even left the crowd.

"Did you follow me?" he asked.

My lips parted in disbelief.

Why would I follow him?

"No," I answered firmly.

"But you're here."

"I came because I wanted to be somewhere lively. I saw the crowd gathered in the plaza, so I stopped by. I didn't come here because of you."

Judging by the look on his face...

He didn't believe a single word.

"You certainly have an explanation for everything.”

The governor certainly thought highly of himself.

I simply stared at him.

After a long moment, I turned around and continued walking.

"You do realize," he called after me, "that road leads straight to the Abwerbos estate."

My feet came to an abrupt stop.

"If they find out you're Aio Re Vinci's daughter, you'll be putting yourself in danger. The Abwerbos family hates the Re Vincis right now. They won't care that you're a woman."

I slowly turned back to face him.

"My father is innocent."

"How many times have you told me that, Miss Re Vinci?" he asked coldly. "You've repeated it so often that you've convinced yourself it's true. Is that what your father told you? Because he's lying to you."

"No."

I took a step toward him despite the tears threatening to fall again.

"Do you know who's truly in the wrong here?"

I held his gaze.

"You are."

A flicker of surprise crossed his face.

"You've already judged my father before the trial is even over. He's a victim too."

"You're simply refusing to face reality," he replied. "Your father is a criminal, and he'll spend the rest of his life behind bars."

"You're cruel!"

The words escaped me before I realized I was crying again.

"Governor!"

Someone called out from behind me.

I instinctively lowered my head.

"Don't turn around," Governor Andreras ordered quietly.

"The person behind you is Domeng's widow. She's coming this way."

Fear instantly rooted me to the spot.

"If she recognizes you, things could get ugly."

Seeing that I couldn't move, he signaled one of his security personnel.

"Get Miss Re Vinci out of here."

The bodyguard respectfully escorted me away.

When we reached the side of the stage, I couldn't resist looking back.

Governor Andreras was already speaking with the woman.

So...

That was Dominador Abwerbos's wife.

The same woman who had thrown stones at us outside the detention center.

She knew exactly who I was.

Otherwise...

She never would have singled me out that day.

"Miss Lucinda!"

Top hurried toward me, worry etched across his face.

"Why are you crying?"

"Let's go, Top."

"This way."

He immediately guided me back toward the car.

Before getting in, I glanced over my shoulder one last time.

Governor Colton Andreras was still watching me.

Domeng's widow was nowhere in sight.

The moment we got inside the vehicle, Top handed me a handkerchief.

"What happened, Miss Lucinda?" he asked gently. "I saw the governor talking to you. Did you try speaking to him again?"

I shook my head.

"No. He thought I followed him."

"Then why are you crying?"

"It hurts, Top."

My voice cracked.

"Do you know what an elderly woman told me today? She said she hopes my father rots in prison... and dies there."

Fresh tears blurred my vision.

"My father doesn't deserve this."

Top remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"Miss Lucinda, don't let your emotions consume you."

His tone was calm but firm.

"You need to be stronger than this because what you heard today won't be the worst of it."

I closed my eyes.

"There will be more people who'll curse your father. More people who'll judge him. And until we prove Sir Aio's innocence, they'll judge you too."

He paused before adding,

"So whatever cruel words they throw at you..."

He met my eyes through the rear-view mirror.

"Let them go in one ear and out the other."

His expression softened.

"If you carry every insult in your heart, they'll destroy you long before this fight is over."

I lowered my head, clutching the handkerchief in my hands.

Top was right.

This was only the beginning.

And the battle to clear my father's name had barely begun.