Chapter 4 Accused And Abandoned

• Finally, some peace and quiet!
• The only thing I hated was the strong smell of that man’s perfume in the sitting room and everywhere else. He was driving me nuts, and I could no longer bear it. I looked around for my phone; I had forgotten where I had put it.
• I barely had time to breathe after that monster had left when the door swung open with such force that it banged against the wall. I jumped, my heart racing. I
• I thought Don Pedro was back again, but it was my boyfriend, Sergio.
• He stormed in, his face dark with rage. I was taken aback because, I knew, Sergio was a soft and kind man who always had a smile on his face whenever he came visiting.
• The man who just stormed in was not the Sergio I knew.
• He was furious. I was scared. I was really scared.
• “I knew it!” he spat, his eyes charring with accusation.
• My eyes flashed in confusion. “Sergio? What—”
• “Don’t even try to deny it, Tessa. I saw him! The man you’ve been sneaking around with just left your house.”
• I frowned. My boyfriend did not just call that terrible misfortune of a man my side piece or possible significant order.
• “What are you talking about?” I asked.
• Sergio let out a brief throaty laughter that scared me, his whole body trembling with agitation, I, on the other hand, was immensely confused.
• “Oh, come on! Don’t act innocent. I’ve had my suspicions for weeks, but tonight? I saw it with my own eyes. I finally know the truth.”
• “The truth?” My voice broke down. “Sergio, what truth are you talking about, you’re not making any sense!”
• “You think I’m blind?” He stepped closer, I stepped backwards.
• I saw his jaw tighten, his fists folded into a ball.
• “You think I haven’t noticed the way you’ve changed? Dressing differently, wearing clothes you never wore for me? I kept telling myself I was imagining things, but no. You’ve been cheating on me, haven’t you?”
• I stared at him, stunned. “Cheating? Sergio, that’s not true! Moreover, those are just work clothes, were you expecting me to wear rags to work?”
• “Then explain why another man—one who’s obviously rich as hell—was walking out of your house like he owns you!” His voice was shrill with anger.
• What had come over him?
• At some point, I was beginning to think it was a prank.
• I took a shaky breath, trying to stay calm. “You’re twisting this into something it’s not.”
• “Am I?” he asked. “You always complained that I didn’t have enough money. Even though not vocal, the way you behaved is. You acted like I couldn’t give you the life you wanted. Always Little Miss Independent!”
• And then he began to mimic me, “No Sergio, don’t do this, I got this, don’t do that, I’ve handled it.” he looked around, his eyes finally settling on me, “All the while you were being spoiled silly by another man!!!”
• My mouth fell open in disbelief. “Sergio, you will stop right there, when have I ever said that? When have I ever asked you for money?”
• “You didn’t have to say it,” he shot back. “I saw it in your eyes every time I struggled to pay for something. And now it makes sense! You were just waiting for someone better to come along.”
• Tears were beginning to burn at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I was waiting for him to call off the prank.
• “I can’t believe you’re saying this. I have never, not once, been unfaithful to you!” I said.
• “Then who the hell was that man?” His voice snapped slightly like he wanted to believe me but couldn’t.
• I hesitated. How could I explain Don Pedro without sounding insane? That bastard has already driven me nuts.
• How could I explain that I was dragging my marital status with a stranger? That I woke up one morning, voila, a stranger claims me to be his bride?
• Sergio’s eyes grew darker. “See? You can’t even answer or defend yourself!”
• “Because it’s complicated!” I snapped, frustration bubbling up inside me. “It’s complicated, I don’t even know where to begin to make sense!”
• “Right. Complicated.” He shook his head, stepping back like he was finally seeing me for what he thought I was. “I feel so stupid. Here I was, thinking we had something real. But to you? I was just a placeholder until someone wealthier came along.”
• My chest ached. “That’s not true, Sergio! Whatever you’re thinking, it’s not true!”
• “But you won’t tell me who he is, will you?”
• I swallowed hard. “I—”
• I didn’t know what to say. I always had something to say, but at that moment, I was speechless.
• Sergio exhaled snappily, his face barely held any expression I could read, he was suddenly cold. “I don’t need to hear any more.”
• I felt my world tilt. “Sergio, please— I need you now, more than ever”
• “I’m done, Tessa.” His voice was steady now, no more yelling, no more rage. “I hope he’s worth it.”
• “No, Sergio, you won't even give me the benefit of the doubt?” I asked.
• My voice was warm with disbelief.
• “So you could lie to me further? Just like you lied to me about your real name, Melissa Lorenzo!”
• I was flung into deep depths of speechlessness. He knew?
• “No, no, You can't do this to me, I don't know who that person is, that Man, I can explain”
• “Explain to your late mother who maybe probably turning in her grave, disappointed at the cheap slut she raised,” he said.
• “Sergio!” I screamed, I honestly did not know when my hands flew across his face, slapping the good graciousness out of him.
• He said nothing else, he just stared at me, grinding his teeth.
• And then, he turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
• I stood there, frozen, my breath shaky, my heart aching in ways I couldn’t explain.
• Did Sergio just call me a slut?
• Did he just insult my late mother?
• I had just lost him and as much as I beginning to hate him for what he said, I had questions, I loved that man, Sergio, with all my heart.
• And I didn’t even understand how a stranger in the liking of Don Pedro Lorenzo, just ruined my life for the short time I had encountered him.
• For a moment, I wished I had listened to my aunt and had run away with her when she asked that we run.