Karma

For the longest, Rene stared at his father, feeling his fingernails digging into the palm of his hand as he clenched them into fists. His breathing slowed slightly, his jaw clenching. Then, with a nod, he replied, "Got it."

"Thank you, son." Catherine cried, rising from her seat and rushing forward to pull Rene into a hug. "I love you so much." She breathed, holding onto him for a few seconds before pulling away. 

"Parblo is the head of the maids and his family owns lots of land that the Rossi family wants to acquire. In exchange for the lands, he made an arrangement with Carlo to make his son the grandson-in-law of the Rossi family and give him a title in the family company. The old man agreed and made that into a contract, stating that the one who broke the contract would be penalized based on Parblo's demand. But that request fell on Parblo when he found out that his son was involved with someone and the girl was eight months pregnant and his son refused to marry anyone but her." Rome suddenly turned serious, his expression becoming grim.

At his father's word, Rene realized the gravity of the situation. This was not just about his safety or his mother's grief... It was a complex web of alliances and agreements that bound families together in ways he had never imagined. He could feel the weight of his father's expectations pressing down on him, knowing that his compliance was not just a choice but a necessity for everyone involved.

"When his father pressured him, he and her eloped, and now his father can't find him. The family's first gathering for the wedding discussion is two days from now, and Parblo has been fussing at the mansion. The gossip reached me, and I saw this as the perfect opportunity for you. His son is gone, he needs someone to stand in his place, and I need a new cover for you. So, I told him I would pay someone to pretend to be his son, and that someone is you." Rome sighed. "But you must remember... There will be no getting out of this unless you cooperate fully and play along with what they say. If this goes wrong, you'll be put in a worse position than you have ever been in, and I can only protect you from behind the scenes."

Rene closed his eyes and took several slow, shaky breaths, trying desperately to control the surge of emotions rising within him. He knew this wasn't something he could easily walk away from. He knew he needed to go through with this, that he had no other options. 

"Sure." He said quietly, his voice strained, "I understand."

Hearing those words, Rome took a deep breath, his face a mix of relief and worry. "Vincent will be responsible for getting you to the mansion and introducing you as Parblo’s son. Since no one in the mansion knows what his son looks like, it will be easier for you to take on the role. He'll fill you in on more details and make sure you have everything you need."

Catherine reached out to him one last time, her voice trembling but filled with concern. "Remember, Rene, we're doing this because we love you and want to keep you safe. You'll get through this, and we’ll be waiting for you."

"I’ll do my best, mother." Rene smiled lightly, giving her fingers a comforting squeeze before releasing her grip. "How hard can it be to just be useless." 

Looking at Catherine, Rome couldn't help but feel like this was some kind of deja vu, remembering Catherine and his situation when they first met, and he mumbled, "You have no idea, son."

Just then a knock came at the door, and the group looked to see Vincent standing there, the look of anticipation on his face.

"Kai, the vehicle is ready for you," Vincent announced before stepping aside.

A look of confusion crossed Rene's face. But then his mother whispered, "That Parblo's son's name. Kia Flores." 

 Immediately, it clicked to Rene, and he realized that it was time for him to step into a role that was as unfamiliar as it was fraught with challenges. With a deep breath, he stood up, nodding once to his parents before turning towards Vincent, who held the door open with an encouraging nod.

Rene walked towards the door, each step feeling heavier than the last. He glanced back one last time at his parents, taking in the worry etched on their faces. He wanted to reassure them, to promise that he would handle this with grace, but words felt inadequate. Instead, he gave a tight-lipped smile.

As he stepped outside, the cool morning air hit his face as Vincent led him to a black SUV parked in the driveway and opened the door for Rene, who slid into the plush interior, feeling the comforting embrace of the leather seats.

'Marriage,' Rene thought, sighing deeply to himself. 'Who knew I was going to bring down such karma on myself by wanting to marry you, Layla.'