Chapter 7 : Get Out!!!

Dinner

 “What can a visitor do? I have no say,” Mom Camillia said as she adjusted herself on the seat.

Thersa, keeping her composure, gently placed a selection of dishes on a large flat plate in front of her.

“Give me a little bit of everything,” Camillia added, eyeing the food with mild disinterest.

Thersa sat down quietly, but just as she picked up her spoon, Camillia clicked her tongue.

“Oh? You serve the food but don’t even think to pour a drink? ?” she asked, raising a brow.

Thersa quickly reached for the jug, but before she could pour, Mr. Mondragon leaned back in his chair and smirked.

“You heard my mom,” he said casually…

Thersa poured the drink and sat back down.

Mom Camillia took a slow sip of her drink and shifted her gaze towards her son…

‘‘No matter how good this is it can’t beat mine’’..she said

Mr. Mondragon nodded in agreement. "Of course....nothing compares to yours, Mom."

"Uhuh… least I forget," Mom Camillia said as she dabbed the corner of her lips with a napkin. "You can’t expect to have a girl. Boys are way better than girls."

Mr. Mondragon chuckled and rested his elbow on the table. "Well, of course. A son would carry on the Mondragon legacy. A daughter… well, she’d just get married off and take another family’s name."

Thersa’s grip on her fork tightened..she felt some type of way but she refused to let them see how much their words stung.

With a controlled breath, she pushed her chair back as it scratched against the floor.

"I’ll be upstairs," she said, turning to walk away without another word.

Mrs. Camillia murmured just loud enough for her to hear, "Such a fragile little thing… no wonder she can’t even handle cutesy from the village you took her from."

…

Thersa stumbled into the room...Without a second thought, she rushed straight to the washroom. Her trembling hands reached for the small date-marked paper she had hidden away the one confirming she was carrying a girl.

Her chest tightened as the words from the past echoed in her head.

"Women are a curse!"

"Is your womb only capable of carrying girls? Why can't you give me a son?"

She squeezed her eyes shut as another painful memory crashed over her.

"I want a boy, Thersa! I want a boy!" Mondragon’s furious voice rang in her ears.

She remembered the way he had shoved her so hard that she crashed into the wall. The sharp pain in her back, the hot trickle of blood...her poor baby.

"Ahh! My baby!" she had screamed in agony.

But he had only sneered. "It serves you right. Let it die." Then, without a second glance, he had stormed out of the room.

Tears welled in her eyes as the flashbacks tormented her.

Another memory surfaced

To the hospital room, the cold voice of the doctor delivering the news.

"I'm sorry, but your daughter didn’t make it. We need to perform immediate surgery."

Thersa gripped the sink as her knuckles turning white. A fresh tear slipped down her cheek as she whispered, “Not this time. I won’t let anything happen to my baby… Even if it takes my life.” I will do anything to save my child…

She heard the door open and quickly crumpled the paper and tossed it into the toilet and flashed it..

After about 15 minutes, she came out wearing a nightgown.

She walked out and saw Mondragon coming from their mini bedroom bar with a whiskey and a glass.

She ignored him as she was about to go lay on the bed, but he wrapped his arms around her from behind. He sniffed her neck. "You smell good," he said as his lips grazing her neck.

His fingers traced slow circles over her stomach. "I hope it’s a baby boy this time," he murmured as he carefully set the glass down, still holding onto her.

He gripped her waist with both hands, slowly rubbing his face against hers, their lips just barely apart, his breath brushing hers.

Theresa swallowed hard. "I’m tired," she muttered, trying to step back from him.

But he didn’t let go. Instead, he turned her around to face him even more.

"Tired? Or just avoiding me?" he muttered with a slow moan, his hands sliding over her breasts.

"You make me crazy, Theresa," he murmured as he slowly pulled her toward the bed.

Theresa turned her head as his touch lingered on her skin. As she lay beneath him, a single tear slipped from her fingers.

….…………………………

Next Day

Her five inch heels clicked against the floor as she moved with effortless grace. Dressed in a sleek red gown, her skin glowed under the lights, enhanced by the shimmer she had applied.

Her hair was neatly tied back, and she held a tight smile so firm and careful that not even her teeth showed.

She raised her hand and knocked softly on the door, her bracelet sliding down to her wrist with the movement. After a second, she stepped inside.

"Diego Alejandro Mondragon," she called as she strode forward.

Mr. Mondragon shot his head up, his brows furrowing. "Diana? What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Is this how you welcome your visitor? Is aging making you lose your courtesy, sweetheart?" she said with a smile.

"Well," he muttered, closing his files and leaning back in his chair.

With a sly smile, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on his cheek before perching herself on the edge of his desk. Crossing her legs elegantly, she tilted her head and let her gaze linger on him.

"I missed you," she said smoothly. "So I decided to come see you."

Mr. Mondragon stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the city skyline with his hands in his pockets.

"Don't tell me you're mad at me," Diana said, her voice carrying a playful lilt.

Letting out a soft sigh, she got up from the desk and walked over to him. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his back, pressing herself gently against him.

"I was only trying to be nice to her… hmm," she said, hiding a smile as she leaned against his back.

"A little power play, nothing serious," she added, pulling away.

Mr. Mondragon turned to her with a sharp gaze. "I know you, Diana..I know what you can do that wasn’t any play"

Diana chuckled. "Ah well," she said with a shrug. Let’s not dwell on that.

“Maybe I should set my sights elsewhere,” she teased. “I heard he’s single… and very well loaded.”

Mr. Mondragon’s jaw tightened slightly. “Is that so?” he said...

Diana let out a soft laugh. “Oh, don’t tell me you’re jealous, Diego.” She turned her back to him “Or is it that you don’t like competition?”

With one swift move, Mr. Mondragon gripped the back of her neck and pulled her face close. His lips crashed onto hers, the force making Diana widen her eyes in surprise before she melted into the heat of the kiss.

They kissed

 Then, just as quickly, he pulled away, tilting her head back slightly before releasing her.

"Don't be silly, Diana," he said

 Without hesitation, he wiped his lips, as if erasing the taste of her from his mouth.

Diana chuckled, bringing a finger to her lips, lightly patting them. “That’s more like it,” she mused. “Coming back to your senses, I see.”

Mr Mondragon tensed for a moment but doesn’t answer

Diana hums.  You and I… we have history. And history always has a way of repeating itself.”

He clenches his jaw. “Diana, leave.”

“Oh, but I just got here,” she pouts playfully. “Besides, I’m dying to know…” She leans in close. “Have you told her about us?”

His eyes darken. “Get out…..I will call you”

She chuckles and stepped g back. “Oh, sweetheart… you’re no fun.” With a teasing wave, she exits..

….….

Morning

"Pack them all over there. Be careful with the flowers before they break," Mrs. Camillia commanded as the maids hurried around.

She glanced around with disapproval, then snapped, "And make sure to change those! This place needs a complete makeover."

The maids rushed to follow her orders as they shifted her furniture and replaced decorations under her watchful eye. She folded her arms, tapping her foot impatiently. "Hurry up! I don’t have all day."

"What’s going on here?" Thersa said immediately as she stepped out and spotted maids moving around.

Mom Camillia heard her voice and turned to face her. "Oh… Princess Snow White, you’re finally awake," she said with a gentle bow.

"Hey, you all stop where you are… bow to the sleeping beauty, the queen of the house," she clapped, and the maids immediately stopped in their tracks, bowed slightly at Thersa, and went about their work.

"Mom…" Thersa said awkwardly as she hastily walked down the steps.

Mom Camillia smirked and crossed her arms. "What? Shouldn't we show our beloved lady of the house some respect?  Waking up at 8: 30am"

Thersa let out a frustrated sigh, glancing around at the maids moving furniture and replacing decorations. I'm sorry I didn't wake up early..I had a little morning sickness"

‘‘Enough...you're always with excuses,’’ Mom Camillia said and turn to Make sure the drapes match the new furniture. I don’t want anything out of place." Then, she turned back to Thersa.

‘‘I have to even make sure the interior of this house is on point’’...she said and  her eyes trail up and down at Thersa "After all, appearances matter, don’t they?"

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Theresa standing there.

Theresa watched in silence as everything in the house changed before her eyes.

She didn’t utter a single word.