Lara hadn't been the same since that night. Often, she would stare into space, lost in her thoughts. She didn't know if Miguel noticed, but he had been preoccupied too, even though he stayed at home for a few days.He couldn't go to work looking like he had been beaten to death, so he doubled his efforts on various conference calls.As for Lara, she tried her best to recall Stefano's face and confirm her suspicions about him. She started searching for him on the internet. She found no pictures from many years ago; the oldest ones available were from five years ago.But she was sure. He was that man."Are you okay, Miss Lara?" Auntie Rosette pointed out. She was in the garden, lost in her thoughts, when the old woman approached her."Auntie, yes, I am," she replied, forcing a smile."I've been taking care of you for almost two decades. Do you think you can hide things from me?" She sat down beside her. "What's on your mind?""Nothing," she still denied. Then she didn't know what to add

"I'm sorry," Miguel said to her.They were in the living room, both seated. Meanwhile, Meredith was in the kitchen, throwing away the beef caldereta Lara had cooked because she deemed it inedible.Lara was hurt, but she tried her best to hold back her tears. She remained silent.It was already the next day. Meredith had the audacity to spend the night there and even slept beside Migo. Lara ended up looking foolish, sleeping on the living room sofa.Miguel was extremely surprised to find Meredith there, but he was even more shocked when he saw her. He seemed at a loss for words but didn't ask Meredith to leave, something Lara felt he should have done first."I was totally drunk last night," he added. "I couldn't even remember anything.""Yeah?" Lara couldn't help but be sarcastic.Adding to her frustration was the fact that Miguel had brought Meredith there. Lara thought that no one else could go there except her and Auntie Rosette?"I messaged you! Auntie Rosette did too. We told you

"Please, not a word," Lara blurted out when she recovered. She held her hand up, halting Miguel's approach.Tasya had sold her out. Now she had no choice but to face her husband, even though traces of her tears still lingered in her eyes."Sweetheart, let me explain," Miguel's voice pleaded."I don't wanna hear it," she stubbornly replied, her voice trembling. "Just leave!"But deep inside, that wasn't what she truly wanted. She wanted to bridge the gap between them, to hold him close and say that all she wanted was to stay by his side, even if he couldn't love her the same way.But she couldn't keep hurting herself, could she?"I won't leave until you hear me out, Lara! You have to let me explain," Miguel insisted, taking steps toward her. "Tasya said you overheard me and Meredith talking about my feelings for you. I admit I might have said—""Stop!" Lara covered her ears with her hands, desperate to block out his words. It was a futile attempt to prevent him from telling her the tru

When Lara woke up the next morning, Miguel had already gone to work. But he left a bouquet of blue roses and a note on the table in their room for her.There were only three words written in the note – I love you.Lara was all smiles and still feeling giddy, but it quickly faded when she felt dizzy and nauseous.A few minutes later, her reflection in the mirror showed her looking terrible."What is wrong with me?" she asked herself as she prepared to take a shower. "Am I sick?"She took her time in the warm shower, thinking about why she had been feeling unwell every morning for the past few days.But when she remembered the blue roses, all her worries vanished. She quickly finished her shower and excitedly went back to the beautiful flowers.She was happy. Her heart was full. She could really feel that Miguel loved her.To express her gratitude for the flowers, she took a selfie and sent it to her husband.'Thanks for the flowers. I absolutely loved them.'She had barely sent the mes

Lara couldn't believe she was face to face with Stefano Villareal. They were in a cafe just below the hospital. She hadn't expected to see him there."Are you pregnant?" he asked her.Lara couldn't describe the emotion on Stefano's face. The look in his eyes scared her deeply.There was a danger she couldn't comprehend.Under the table, Lara's fists clenched as she struggled not to let her fear and anger escape.There she was, face to face with the man she believed killed her sister. How could Stefano act like he hadn't committed such a horrific act in the past?"Are you carrying that bastard's child?" Stefano rephrased his question.Lara shook her head. But maybe she wasn't good at lying. Despite denying her pregnancy, Stefano burst into dangerous laughter. It made her shiver."Why are you denying it, Lara?" he asked shortly after."If you are so sure, why are you still asking me about it?" she said, trying not to back down.Instead of answering, he leaned back in his chair and looke