Chapter 5

The Montenegro family only stayed at the hacienda for two days. I was standing outside the mansion, watching Raphael's back as he left. I felt a pang in my heart as I looked at him. I swallowed hard because I felt like I was going to cry at any moment. My fists were clenched, and I could still feel the anger rising from my heart. I didn't want to talk to him, and I didn't want to see him again. But I wanted to ask him why he did that to me? Why did he deceive me and hide his true identity as the heir of Montenegro? And most of all, I wanted to know if he really loved me or if he just played with my feelings? Because of what happened and what I discovered, I kept my pregnancy a secret from him. I had no intention of telling him about it. I also had no plans of introducing him to my child as his father. I would make sure that he wouldn't know my child and that the Montenegros wouldn't take my child away from me. After that day, I never saw Raphael again. I didn't hear anything about him, and if I heard his name, I would immediately avoid the conversation and leave. I didn't want to know anything more about him, nor did I want to hear his name and surname again. I just wanted to live a quiet life and work without thinking about anything. I didn't want my child to be involved in any trouble, and I didn't want my child to know who he was and what his true identity was. I managed to take care of the baby in my womb on my own for six months. Many people were curious and asked me who the real father of my child was because they didn't see me with a boyfriend. I didn't answer them; instead, I just smiled and pretended I didn't hear anything. Even Betty couldn't help but ask me questions, although I knew that every time she looked at me, her eyes were full of curiosity. During those six months, I managed to be independent without anyone's help, without asking for help from him.

One day, I was shocked to see his familiar face again. I was in the garden, watering the plants, when I heard a faint snore. I followed the sound until I came across a man lying on the ground, sleeping soundly under a tree. His face was covered with a newspaper, and I slowly removed it to take a peek and find out who he was. My eyes widened in shock when I saw his face. I stepped back, lost my balance, but he quickly grabbed my right hand to prevent me from hitting my head on the ground. It was as if time had slowed down, and everything around us had come to a standstill. Our eyes met, and just like the first time we met, his handsome face and captivating eyes, which shone like stars, left me breathless.

"Are you okay?" he asked me. I couldn't respond immediately because I was taken aback by the sudden turn of events and couldn't believe that he was standing in front of me again, holding my hand. I was also surprised by his voice, which I hadn't heard in six months, and the way he looked at me with so much affection. It had been six months since we last saw each other, and my belly had grown bigger. Many things had changed, but I couldn't understand why, despite all my efforts to forget him, the memories of our time together came flooding back, along with the love I had for him, which I thought had disappeared. It was as if everything I had gone through had become meaningless now that I had seen him again.

Is this really what it's like when your first love is the person? That no matter how hard you try to forget them, they're still the one you love and your heart longs for? That even though many things have changed and you haven't seen each other in a long time, it's as if nothing ever happened? Why am I feeling this way now? I don't understand, but one thing is certain - I miss him so much. His eyes, his sharp nose, his heart-shaped lips, his warm hands, and everything about him is what my heart longs for, and it's as if I'm eager to hug him tightly. I'm like a child who's crying and eager to hug their mother. It's as if my mind has gone blank, and my world only revolves around him.

Nothing else enters my mind, and I don't see anything around me except him. I admit that the anger I feel towards him is still there, and I won't forget it. But it seems that love can indeed make you blind. No matter how intelligent or wise you are, when someone comes along and makes you feel special, you become a slave to love. No matter what they do or how much pain they cause your heart, you still long for them. I want to confront him, yell at him, and pour out all my resentment towards him. But when I looked into his eyes again and heard his voice, it was as if the past was slowly fading away.

"I love you," I blurted out, and he looked taken aback, with a hint of surprise on his face. At that moment, it was as if I had lost my mind, and I uttered the words I wanted to say to him. Tears were welling up in my eyes, and I had a bittersweet smile on my lips. Before I knew it, I had hugged him tightly while crying. Maybe I'm a fool if others find out what I'm doing. But I don't want to lie about my true feelings. I love him, I love Raphael so much, and I'm willing to do everything to win his heart back.

"Why did you leave me? Did you know that I've always been thinking about you, wondering where you were or if you were okay?" I asked him, sobbing like a child.

"Umf?..." I didn't notice the time, and I didn't know what the outcome of all this would be. I just poured out all my emotions and tears on his shoulder while hugging him tightly. Until my tears subsided, and my feelings eased a bit, I finally realized what I was doing. I immediately let go of him and turned my back on him.

"I'm sorry if I lost my mind. There's just one person I miss and long to see. Please don't give the wrong meaning to what I did and said. If possible, just forget about it, forgive me." That's all I said to him before I left, but he quickly grabbed my right hand to stop me. I stopped and looked at his hand holding mine.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said, releasing my hand. "Before you go, may I know your name?" he added, but I didn't respond because I wanted to forget him completely.

"Don't take offense at what I'm saying, but I just want to get to know you and find out if we've met before?" he said, as if he had no clue what was happening to me. I quickly turned around and faced him with a puzzled expression.

"What do you mean? Don't you recognize me?" I asked him, and he laughed and looked down at the ground.

"I don't know. I don't know who you are, but it feels like my conscience is telling me that we know each other." His response was accompanied by an innocent smile. I was taken aback and wondered why he seemed to be telling the truth, as if he really didn't know me.

"Actually, the truth is that I—" he started to say, but was interrupted when Betty called out to me. Without a word, I turned my back on him and joined my friend.

"Who's that? Isn't that Sir Raphael? Why is he here? Just a moment—" Betty said to me, stopping in her tracks.

"Have you two talked already? Did you tell him everything?" she added, referring to my pregnancy with Raphael's child.

"No." I replied briefly.

"No? What do you mean?" she asked.

"He doesn't know, and I don't plan on telling him about it." I said firmly.

"But why don't you want him to know that the child you're carrying is his? Don't you want to escape poverty and give your child a luxurious life?" she asked, and I gave her a sharp look, as if I didn't like what she was implying.

"I never desired his wealth. I don't need the Montenegros' money, and I can take care of my child on my own." After saying that, I left her and quickened my pace. If that's what they all thought of me and my child, I would rather leave this city and go far away so they wouldn't find out about my child's true identity. Yes, I love him, but I won't allow them to take my child away from me and hurt him. I'll make sure that no one hurts him and that they won't take him away from me.

As I walked away, I couldn't shake off the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I couldn't imagine. The encounter with Raphael had left me reeling, and I couldn't help but wonder what had just happened. Why did he seem not to recognize me? And what did he mean by saying that his conscience was telling him that we knew each other? I had so many questions, but I knew I had to push them aside and focus on protecting my child. I couldn't let Raphael or his family get their hands on my baby. I quickened my pace, determined to put as much distance between myself and the Montenegros as possible. But as I walked, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was being watched. I glanced over my shoulder, but there was no one there. Shrugging it off, I continued on my way, my heart heavy with worry and uncertainty. Little did I know that my life was about to take a dramatic turn, one that would change everything forever.

As I walked, my mind was racing with thoughts of Raphael and the Montenegros. I couldn't believe that he didn't recognize me, and it hurt that he seemed to have forgotten me so easily. I thought about all the memories we had shared, the laughter, the tears, and the moments of pure joy. How could he just forget all of that? I felt a pang of sadness and regret, wondering what could have been if things had turned out differently. But I pushed those thoughts aside, knowing that I had to focus on the present and the future. My child's well-being was my top priority, and I would do everything in my power to protect and provide for them.

***

One morning, while I was in the kitchen washing dishes, I unintentionally overheard two of my fellow household staff members gossiping.

"Do you know the news about the child of Sir and Ma'am?" said Maid One, a brown-haired, chubby woman.

"Are you referring to their eldest son, Raphael?" her companion replied.

"Yes, him. Do you know that he's now engaged to a famous model from another country?" When I heard Maid One's words, my ears perked up, and I quietly listened to their conversation.

"Really? I also heard that, but I didn't think it was true. It's an arranged marriage between them, set up by their parents. What a pity for those kids; they can't even choose what they want to do with their lives. That's why I'm content with my simple life; it's better than the complicated lives of the rich." Her companion responded, and I felt a pang of sadness, thinking about how true her words were.

Sometimes I had dreamed of escaping my situation, but I had never wanted to love a man just because of his wealth. I had loved Raphael with all my heart, for who he was and his personality, but I didn't know that he had hidden the truth from me and instead made me believe a big lie.

"You're right. But it seems like he doesn't care who his parents set him up with. What more could he ask for in a woman? I heard she's very beautiful, sexy, and elegant, and she even graduated from a prestigious university abroad." Maid One said, and her words made me feel weak. I didn't know what I should be feeling - should I be happy for him or just forget about him?

"Did you hear what happened to him abroad?" Maid Two asked, and I stopped washing dishes, curious about what I had just heard.

"I think I heard something about that, and that's probably why his parents brought him here." Their conversation was interrupted when the Montenegro family entered the dining table to have breakfast. The last topic they discussed lingered in my mind. I was curious about what they meant regarding what had happened to Raphael abroad. Was it something serious or not?— "Hey, Delilah." My attention was diverted when Betty tapped me on the shoulder.

"Are you okay? Do you feel unwell?" she added, and I felt embarrassed when I realized that everyone, including the Montenegro family, except for Raphael, who was busy with his phone, was staring at me. What happened to him there? Is he okay? I silently wondered.

"Delilah, give them their plates." Betty whispered to me, and I suddenly realized that they were staring at me because I was holding the plates they were about to use. I quickly approached them and placed the plates in front of them, my attention focused on Raphael.

"Are you nervous?" Claus whispered to me as I handed him his plate, but I ignored him and pretended I didn't hear him. After serving Claus, I headed to Raphael's seat, where he was still busy with his phone. I couldn't help but worry about him, especially after what I had heard earlier. It seemed like my heart was slowly softening towards him again. Tell me that what happened to you in that faraway place wasn't serious, because I couldn't forgive myself for the resentment I had sown towards you. I thought to myself as I stood beside Raphael, still holding his plate, and not realizing that I had been standing there for a while. He slowly turned to me with a puzzled expression on his face.

"What are you doing there? Are you spying on me?" he asked, catching me off guard. Our eyes met, and I felt a sudden jolt of nervousness. I quickly turned my back on him and hurried to the kitchen, covering my mouth with my hands. What's wrong with you, Delilah? Why are you still thinking about him and worrying about someone like him? He almost threw you away and seemed to have erased all the memories you shared from his mind. So what if something happened to him in that faraway place? He didn't even bother to send you a letter to check on you or update you on his whereabouts; instead, he ran away from the promises he made to you and his responsibilities. I scolded myself, looking down at my belly and gently touching my baby bump. This was the only reason that gave me the courage and hope to keep fighting the challenges of life and not give up on the trials I was facing.

"If it weren't for you, I would have given up on this monotonous life a long time ago." I told myself, talking to the baby inside my womb. A few moments later, I returned to the dining table to give the Montenegros their glasses. I kept my head down, but I could feel Raphael's eyes on me, and it seemed like he wanted to say something to me, but I just pretended I didn't notice him.

"Thank you." Claus said to me as he deliberately touched my hand, which was holding the glass. I froze, trying to pull my hand away, but he held it tightly. I couldn't shout or make a big scene because I didn't want to draw attention from the people around us, especially his parents. It seemed like he wanted to play with me, but no matter what he did, I wouldn't fall for someone like him. I didn't like his mischievous behavior, especially the way he looked at me. As I simply tried to pull my hand away, I didn't notice that Raphael was staring at us until he suddenly stood up and poured the cold water from the pitcher on Claus's hand, drawing everyone's attention. Claus seemed taken aback by his brother's actions, quickly letting go of the glass and standing up.

"What do you think you're doing?" Claus angrily asked Raphael, furrowing his brow. I was taken aback and surprised by what had happened, so I quickly bowed my head and apologized to him.

"I didn't mean to, sorry sir." I kept saying to him.

"No, it's not your fault. You don't have to apologize to him." Raphael said, and I looked up at him.

"What happened?" his mother asked, and I trembled with fear, knowing that I was the cause of all this.

"Pardon me, my brother. I didn't mean to slip and get your hand wet. Are you okay?" Raphael said to Claus with a mischievous grin on the corner of his lips. Claus glared at him, smirking.

"Dry my hand." Claus suddenly handed me his wet hand, confidently looking at his brother. I looked at Raphael, and it seemed like the expression on his face had changed, and the tension between the two brothers was palpable. To avoid further conflict, I quickly grabbed a napkin from the table to dry Claus's hand, but to my surprise, Raphael snatched it from me and headed to Claus's seat. He stopped in front of Claus, took a deep breath, and intensely stared at him. Raphael took Claus's hand and roughly dried it with the napkin.

"What do you think you're doing?" Claus softly said to him.

"You know, my brother, sometimes you need to learn to solve your own problems. Like this, you have two hands to use, not just to display. I've heard you often go to nightclubs with different women; I bet this hand of yours is often used on them, am I right?" Raphael sarcastically said to him, with a philosophical grin on the corner of his lips, while Claus glared at him, clearly insulted by his brother's words. In his anger, Claus jerked his hand away from his brother and turned to me, his eyes frightening me, as if he wanted to hurt me.

"She's not at fault. Don't drag other people into your temper, Claus." He added, but just a few seconds later, Claus's expression quickly changed, as if he had put on a different mask.

"I'm not blaming him for what happened; I was just startled and carried away by my emotions. Can you understand?" Claus said, smiling forcedly, and turned to me again. Raphael slowly turned to me, and I quickly bowed my head to avoid his gaze.

"You see? It's no big deal, bro! Let's just have fun and forget what happened. Sorry for my behavior." Claus added, with a forced smile on his lips, and sat down again, as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Raphael headed back to his seat, but before sitting down, he stopped in front of me. I didn't look at him; I just kept my head down. I had no right to complain because who was I? Just a lowly maid in this mansion. One mistake and you'd surely pay for it. I left and went to the garden, taking a deep breath. The tension between the two brothers earlier was too intense because of me. I needed to find a new job soon because I didn't want them to find out about the child I was carrying. I didn't want any trouble between us, and all I wanted for the child was a peaceful life where they were free to do whatever made them happy.

As I walked through the garden, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. The tension between Claus and Raphael was palpable, and I knew I had to be more careful. I didn't want to be the reason for any more conflict between them. I took a deep breath and tried to clear my mind. I needed to focus on finding a new job and securing a better future for my child. But as I turned a corner, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. I turned around to see Raphael approaching me, a look of concern on his face.

"Delilah, are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle. I felt a flutter in my chest, but I quickly pushed it aside. I couldn't let my feelings get the better of me.

"I'm fine, sir," I replied, trying to sound calm.

"I just needed some fresh air." Raphael nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm sorry about what happened earlier," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

"Claus can be...impulsive sometimes." I smiled weakly, trying to reassure him.

"It's okay, sir. I'm just glad no one was hurt." Raphael nodded again, his eyes still locked on mine. For a moment, we just stood there, the only sound being the rustling of the leaves in the wind. Then, without saying another word, Raphael turned and walked away, leaving me feeling more confused than ever.