As agreed, Nestor picked her up in front of her house to accompany her in talking to other fishermen in the town of Eldoria. Initially, their plan was to bring a vehicle. But eventually, they opted to walk since their destination wasn't that far."I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend and partner, Victoria," Nestor introduced to her the beautiful woman he called Victoria."Hello," Carmela greeted, extending her hand for a handshake, which Victoria warmly accepted.A radiant smile graced Victoria's lips, accompanied by her cordial acceptance of the handshake. "I'm pleased to meet you, Carmela. I'm also happy to have the opportunity to reopen the Eldoria Hotel, Restaurant, and Resort. It's a significant help in providing jobs for the people here aside from fishing," Victoria shared.Carmela felt the sincerity in Victoria's words and responded with a smile. "That's our plan too, Papa and I. To help the locals and provide them with job opportunities.""So, my love, I'll accompany Ms.
It was a Saturday morning when Carmela was suddenly struck by relentless bouts of vomiting.“What happened to you? My God, I don’t know what to do. Your father isn’t here yet; he’s still in Manila. He won’t be back until the day after tomorrow!” This was Nanny Ising’s lengthy tirade as she assisted Carmela back to bed.She had been perfectly fine earlier in the morning. What she couldn’t understand was why, after having breakfast, she suddenly felt like her stomach had turned upside down. And it was all because of the corned beef she had for breakfast.Carmela quickly deduced the situation. She remembered the day she and Nestor went to the cottage. It had been over months. They had been successfully keeping their rendezvous secret for more than nine months now. She believed Nestor loved her dearly, even though, in reality, they were deceiving Victoria, who considered her a close friend.In her final thoughts, guilt consumed Carmela. She didn’t choose this. She never even thought about
Those days passed quickly for Victoria. That day was special for her because it marked the anniversary of her relationship with Nestor.Just like before.Nestor left early for a fishing expedition, while Victoria immersed herself in household chores, including shopping for the special dinner she planned for later."Hey, Victoria, you look beautiful today!"As usual, Victoria quickly blushed at the compliment from her friend Sinang."Are you earlier than usual?" Dolor asked her, smiling sweetly, much like Sinang."Yeah. And also, we didn't see you here yesterday. Maybe Nestor didn't leave; that's why?" Sinang teased her, causing her face to turn even redder.Victoria shook her head in succession and hesitantly opened her mouth to answer her friends' consecutive questions."No, he left yesterday. The truth is, I didn't come here because I accompanied Carmela to their place. She wasn't feeling well," she said, her voice carrying a hint of sadness that she couldn't hide.Victoria couldn't
"Isn't he such a handsome baby, Nestor?" Victoria asked Nestor with excitement that night.Lucia was buried that afternoon. And as Aling Simang hoped for, Victoria took care of Lucas and willingly embraced him as her own.Truth be told, it wasn't just because Aling Simang talked to her that she decided to take the baby. As she mentioned, she wanted to give a chance for a family with Lucas and her beloved Nestor."Are you sure about what you want to happen, Victoria? Taking care of a child is a significant responsibility. Plus, we're not wealthy," Nestor remarked as he sat at the table, sipping on hot coffee.Victoria smiled as she glanced at Nestor, then gently lowered her head to smell the head of the peacefully sleeping baby in her arms."Of course. And besides, I want to experience being a mother. You know the real reason why, despite being together for so long, I haven't gotten pregnant, right?" Victoria asked."Because your witchcraft-practicing mother cursed you," Nestor sighed
"Why don't I know about this, Carmela?" Martin's voice carried anger, yet it refrained from outright shouting. He caught Carmela in a compromising situation, vomiting in her bathroom, which wasn't the first time he had discovered her in such a state. Perhaps that's why he had already come to his own conclusions about her condition, even before she had a chance to reveal it to him."I-I'm sorry, Papa," she stammered, her voice teary.Carmela observed the complex emotions playing across her father's face, a tumultuous mix of concern and frustration. Even though she hadn't explicitly informed him about her pregnancy, it seemed as though he had already pieced it together. Her apology served as a form of acknowledgment, a non-verbal confirmation of the news he had likely deduced."Who is the father of this child?" Martin's question remained charged with anger.Before Carmela could respond, Nanny Ising entered her room. Worriedly, the older woman approached Carmela, who, at this moment,
"We're thrilled for you, Victoria. Your long-awaited dream of motherhood has finally blossomed!" Sinang's joyful proclamation elicited a radiant smile from Victoria, a testament to her deep-seated happiness. Such news wasn't a surprise to her; it had been long anticipated and fervently hoped for. Sinang and Dolor, Victoria's steadfast friends, shared in her joy, their warm camaraderie evident in the way they celebrated this significant moment.Plans for Lucas's celebration were initially straightforward in Victoria's mind—simple, yet heartfelt. However, as Carmela, Lucas's godmother, took the reins, the event took on a new level of significance and beauty. Carmela's meticulous attention to detail was evident in every aspect of the occasion, from the meticulously crafted decorations to the mouthwatering array of delicacies adorning the tables. It was a feast fit for royalty, prepared with love and care that only a friend as dear as Carmela could provide.Despite her eagerness to contri
Nestor's voice echoed with a mixture of anguish and frustration as he poured out his heart, "How can you say that, Carmela? What about me?"He sat alone in the humble hut, the silence around him punctuated only by the faint rustle of leaves outside. It had been more than a week since Carmela had departed Eldoria with Martin, leaving Nestor to grapple with his emotions and thoughts in solitude.Carmela's voice, filled with its own turmoil, responded from afar, "I'm struggling too, Nestor. But I hope you can understand the complexity of my situation and the sacrifices I've had to make for the sake of us and our child."The weight of her words hung heavily in the air, mingling with the uncertainty that clouded Nestor's mind. He couldn't help but wonder how they had reached this point, where their love seemed entangled in a web of challenges and sacrifices.Carmela's voice trembled with the weight of her struggle, her words echoing the depth of her pain. Nestor, in the solitude of th
Within moments, the rhythmic symphony of Carmela’s alluring moans filled every corner of the cozy hut, drowning out the cacophony of thunderous roars and the relentless cascade of raindrops outside.Nestor’s senses were ablaze with heat, a fervor that seemed to ignite anew as if this were his initial conquest of Carmela’s being. With deliberate care, he had shed every layer of clothing that veiled her exquisite form, leaving her gloriously exposed to his hungry gaze. He stood there, unabashedly admiring her, his eyes tracing every curve and contour, his desire palpable in the intensity of his stare.Despite the profound love that he harbored for Carmela, the sight of her nakedness never failed to stir a primal hunger within him. Each time he beheld her beauty in its purest form, devoid of any coverings, his mind raced with a myriad of passionate scenarios, each more intimate and enticing than the last. It was as though every inch of her exposed skin whispered tantalizing invitations