Chapter 4-The truth

“My dear, I will send you abroad not because I rejected you or I’m disappointed in you. I just want you to be far from shame and so you can start changing your path as well.”

Shaina’s lips curled in bitterness as she listened to her grandmother carefully. And no matter what the old woman said, she was still upset with her. Even to her father that until this time, she’s unable to talk to him. But perhaps the best she can make is to accept the truth that she lost almost eveything— her boyfriend, her virginity. And now, she’s about to leave the country to save her family’s reputation.

Cristy sighed without getting an answer from her granddaughter. “One day you will understand me, too. I don’t want you to put on your father’s shoe. Look at how miserable he is now. It's because I gave him everything he wanted.”

Somehow, Shaina’s anger towards the old woman lessened. But she still doesn’t want to speak. She just let her express and explain her thoughts. Besides, it was too obvious that she had favoritism among her children since then, that’s why her father ended up like that— miserable and irresponsible. But eventhough her grandmother is this old, she loves her. Considering the fact that eversince her mother died, the old woman stood up with her like a real mother. 

“I have already booked your ticket and arranged your flight. It will be next day. So, you don’t have to go to work or leave the house.”

Sad, Shaina looked out of her room’s window. The old woman was smart and wise. And because she didn’t trust her, she would be guarded for sure, as if she will run away and go see Daisy.

“If you don’t want to go out for dinner later, I’ll send the helper to bring your food here,” Cristy continued eventhough Shaina didn’t respond.  

She remain silent and gave her back to her grandmother. But then, she felt the old woman stand up and slowly step out of her room. Hearing the opening and closing of the door, she only then turned around. She quickly took out her cellphone and called her friend.

“Gurl, what happened to you?” Worried, Daisy asked immediately after answering Shaina’s call. Shaina did not hide anything from her friend. Especially the plan of leaving the country. 

“That witch! And both of the sisters have absolutely no manner,” Daisy exclaimed in annoyance.

“I believe in karma,” said Shaina in a low voice.

“That’s right! They’ll get their karma, too, and Rex will realize that he flirted with the wrong person!”

“Maybe we’ll never see each other again.” Shaina was sad to the possibility that she will be separated from the important person in her life.

Her grandma has a cousin in Italy and she will be staying there temporarily until she finds a place to rent. The old woman will help her financially until she can stand on her own feet. Their relative also managing a restaurant there, so she can apply for a job. 

Even Daisy was also sad. But when he recalled what she had said to him at the hotel, he bring it up again.

Shaina bit her lower lip recalling the man she had sex with last night. To be honest, she still felt the man’s punishing kisses on her lips. Despite of the darkness of his room, Shaina figured out that the man has a nice body— a broad shoulders, a masculine thighs— and he has abs. Crazy but she feel her arousal upon listening to his baritone voice. And the way he claims her, it seems that he doesn’t know how to pity, even to a woman.

Shaina was suddenly horrified at the thought that maybe the man is a mafia, an addict or a bad person. She hadn’t thought about that before deciding to help him. It’s just good that the man didn’t know her and didn’t want to know her either. Tired of talking to herself, she decided to leave the room. But before getting down from the second floor she will pass by at Lovely’s room. 

“You fool! Why did you let yourself be caught in the act by that girl?”

Shaina frowned when she heard Matilda’s angry voice. She come close to the slightly ajar door so she could hear the conversation between the two. 

“What do you want me to do? Let them get married first like your plan?” 

Shaina’s eyebrows met. She was sure that she was definitely the two were talking about. 

“Mom, I can’t!” Lovely continued.

“Don’t be stupid! Use your brain so that all the shares in the company go to us! Think about it, when she and Rex get married, he will get the ten percent share that is under that woman’s name.” 

Lips are closed while her fists are clenched, Shaina controlled her emotions from rushing to her aunt. She wanted to scold her uncle’s wife but she refrained. Her selfishness gone too far as she wanted to take her inheritance through Rex. Right, that’s why Rex wants them to get married abroad. 

If she was holding anything now, it would have been crushed due to clenching her fist tightly.

“I’m afraid that Rex might change his mind and not divorce Shaina. Also, I’m delayed for two mon—” 

Shaina heard how Matilda slap her daughter which stopped Lovely from finishing her sentence. Instead of feeling sorry for her cousin, she was even happy. Lovely deserve it. Shaina moved away from leaning against the wall near the door. She even made her step heavier to let the two know that there was someone else outside the room.

“How long have you been standing there and eavesdropping?” 

Shaina turned to her aunt and did not bother to hide the anger in her eyes. She saw Lovely behind her, massaging her cheek. 

“Does it hurt?” she asked her cousin with an insulting tone. 

Matilda’s eyes widened, then she looked at her daughter.

“It hurts even more when you are slapped by the truth. Well, it’s not bad to desire higher than you have. But being greedy will harm you. Thank you for not following your mother’s plan. Thank you for letting me know about my frivolous fiancee’s infidelity right away. Just be careful, the cheater is smart at doing bad things to others. I just don’t know if that will be effective with the same cheater.” 

Both mother and daughter were speechless and did not know what to say.

Shaina smirked and gave the two a mocking look. “How can that be possible now? Your plan of taking the ten percent share under my name will go to waste. Okay, maybe I should double the percentage when I get back,” she said sarcastically.

“Bitch! She hissed and gave Shaina a deadly look. 

“So what if you heard everything? You think someone will believe you?” Matilda asked defiantly. 

Shaina just kept calm and twisted playfully her hair behind her ears. “I’m not as bad as you think. I believe in karma. I will now leave this house quietly, but when I come back I will return you the favor.”

Matilda didn’t get recover right away and angrily followed Shaina walked away. She is not afraid of her threat. But she was annoyed that someone would be proud to speak like that to her. 

“Mommy, what are we going to do? Maybe she will complain to Grandma.” 

Matilda looked at her daughter in annoyance. “Why didn’t you lock your room in the first place?” 

“Wow, it’s my fault again. Who entered my room just to give a sermon?” Lovely was also cowering at her mother. 

With her gritted teeth, Matilda screamed out of annoyance. At the same time, she raised both palms and clenched them, then glared at Lovely. She hesitated to hurt her again, yet her daughter even managed to answer and blamed her.

Lovely has turned her back on her mother so that their argument won’t go on any longer. 

At the rest house, Travis angrily confronts his personal assistant. He hasn’t slept yet and he went there first to avoid his fiancee. 

“Mr. Villanova, I double-checked the surveillance camera but there was absolutely no footage captured last night to identify the woman who entered your room.” Teddy explained again to the young man who looked like he would be eaten alive if he looked at him. 

“Bullshit! Whoever did this is unforgivable!”

Teddy was startled from where he is standing when the young man tore the folder he handed over. It has not yet been read what’s on the list so it will definitely be difficult for him. 

“How about, Cheska?” he remembered asking his fiancee. 

“Her mother called a while ago and was looking for you, sir.” 

Travis gasped violently. His head hurt even more now because Cheska was also acting out. He caught up with her last night in the room he was renting. He closed his eyes tightly and remembered what happened that night. 

“What are you doing here?” Travis asked Cheska in surprise when he came out of the bathroom and saw her. He looked around, the light was on so he could clearly see the appearance of the room. It’s a mess and the bedsheet is still stained with blood.

“Then I wasn’t as wrong as I thought,” Travis said to himself as he looked at the bed. 

“What the hell, Travis? Are you disappointed and you saw me instead of the girl you brought here?” Cheska angrily asked her boyfriend while holding up a cycling short. 

Travis couldn’t find a single word to say when he saw what Cheska was holding. He was sure that the short belonged to the woman who he was with last night. But where is the girl by the way? 

Cheska’s tears finally started running down to her cheek. Travis’s silence was only a sign that a woman was indeed brought there. She loves him, and even though she knows that the young man will not reciprocate her feelings, she is still happy when she proposes marriage to her.

“What you need is a child, right? I can give it to you when we’re married. But why do you need another woman?” 

Travis was only irritated seeing Cheska crying. He understood if she felt bad about what had happened. But he didn’t have time to explain it. He quickly picked up the cellphone and called his personal assistant. He ordered to prepare the chopper for him, that absolutely can land right on the hotel’s rooftop. 

“Travis, you can’t do this to me!” 

Cheska was already lost when it was confirmed that the young man had no intention of explaining to her. 

“I’m sorry, Cheska, but let’s postpone our wedding for now because I have something important to attend to.” 

Cheska stared at her fiancé with her mouth open. It was as if he was just talking to one of his partners. As if she had no value here as a girlfriend. She was not even asked nor considered her feelings.