At the beach

  06

"Do you know what you have come to do?" Marcella asked after a long stare. It was as though she'd taken the child to the orphanage yesterday, but still, it had been years. 

Serenity shook her head, and her curly blonde hair dangled around her neck. "I wasn't told of anything. You find it abnormal too, don't you?" The little girl asked, and Marcella raised an eyebrow. 

It was incredible how bold she could be. 

"You should talk when you're asked to. Weren't you taught at the orphanage?" She asked coldly. 

Serenity shook her head again, shrugged her shoulders. "I wasn't." 

Marcella scoffed, raised her gaze at Margarita. "Take her to the foundation. I don't want her here in the next minute." She ordered. 

"Yes, ma'am. We will be on our way now." Margarita replied, turned to look at Serenity. "We have to go now." 

Serenity glared up at her, and the hatred in her eyes burned deep into the woman's. "Do I have a choice?" 

"Don't talk back. Behave yourself right now." 

Serenity scoffed, turned towards the hallway just in time to see Ray walking into the house. 

Ray stopped on seeing the strangers with a frown on his face. The frown deepened when he stared intently at Serenity, and saw the rude look on her face. "Who are you?" 

"Ray." Marcella called, getting up from where she sat. "I thought you..."

"I changed my mind. I'm going to see Valentina tomorrow. Who are they?"

Marcella turned to look at Margarita with a scorn. "What are you still doing there? Get going to the foundation." She barked. 

Margarita held Serenity by the hand, puller her along with her. Few seconds later, they were out of the house. 

Ray stared at the exit they took for a long while, confused. He turned slowly to look at his mother, walking closer to her. "That girl looks awfully familiar. No, she looks like Valentina. What's happening?" 

"There are some things that are better left unsaid. There are things you won't be able to understand, Ray. Just leave it at that." 

Ray stared suspiciously at her, before turning and headed upstairs. 

Marcella smiled satisfactorily, sat back down, picked up her cellphone and dialed a line. 

   *********

Outside the house, Margarita stopped. She took in few deep breaths before turning to look at Serenity. 

The girl glared up at her, and suddenly, all the hatred in her eyes vanished, replaced with relieve. She threw her arms around the woman, giggling. 

"That was a well played practiced moves." Serenity giggled.

Margarita chuckled, rolled her eyes. "I knew you could do it. I knew you could act that tough." 

Serenity nodded, and raised an eyebrow. "I wonder why you wanted us to act that way. Is she that bad?" 

Margarita stared at Serenity with a hidden scar in the depths of her eyes. If only she knew. If only she knew that woman in there was her step grandma. 

"Mag? Are you okay?" Serenity asked, touched the woman's hand. 

Margarita smiled and nodded. "I'm perfectly fine. Let's head to the foundation. You remember all I told you, right?" Serenity, you promised you'd make an effort."

Serenity nodded. "Are you going to stay there with me, Mag? Please?" 

"You know I'm needed at the orphanage dear. Don't you worry, I will always come check on you. It's a promise."

Serenity  nodded, hugged the woman once again. Few minutes later, they got into a car and left the premises. 

  **************

Valentina sat on of the benches by the pool side, a large hat over her head and a cappuccino cup placed on top the stool beside her. She took off her glasses, inhaled the fresh air from the resent waves. 

"Val." Someone called from behind, and Valentina slowly turned her head. She smiled, stood up to hug the young woman who had just stepped out of the house to join her. 

"Paula. This is just what I needed. Some company."

"You look tired despite the nice whether here. You inviting me to the beach house means that something serious is happening. Are you still troubled because of the separation?" Paula asked. She took off her hat, shook out her chestnut hair before taking the next seat.

Valentina compressed her lips like a whining baby and few seconds later, her eyes became watery. "I keep on wondering what really happened that night, who that man is...and how he got into my bed." 

Paula shook her head, looking equally confused. "It was the same night you'd rejected the offer from Marcella to come down to New York for the weekend." 

Valentina's eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked suspicious. "Do you think she might have a hand in this?" 

Paula shrugged. "She's always hated your guts, right? The idea is not all that strange. She could do it." 

Valentina stared for a while, considering the possibility. Marcella had always hated her reunion with Ryan, she'd always thought she was a gold digger.

 "She could be responsible, but then, she couldn't have come down here to do it herself. She made it possible with the help of an aid. That man couldn't have gotten into my bedroom on his own. There was an insider." 

"Would you be able to recognize the mother fucker?" Paula asked. She reached out and grabbed Valentina's cappuccino off the stool, giggled when she feigned a frown.

Valentina rolled her eyes, looking disappointed. "I wish I could. He vanished immediately Ryan walked in. If there's someone who would recognize him, it'd be Ryan." 

"Then you need his help. "Paula chipped in.

Valentina stared at her best friend as though she was crazy. "Don't you get what's happening? We're separated right now because he doesn't believe it was a set up."

"Maybe I should ask him. You know, I could get some information from him..." Paula's voice trailed off as she stared shockingly at a spot. "Oh my God." She squeaked.

Valentina's brows knotted. "What? What's it?" 

"Look behind you. You wouldn't believe it." 

Valentina waited for a while, prepared her mind for whatever it might be and finally turned. Coming out of a boat parked close to the water was her ex husband, Ryan with a familiar face. When she finally recognized who it was, Valentina gasped, shocked out of her wits. It was his secretary, Marina.