Chapter 53
ROGERIO
“Maria!” I yelled as she exited the room. My thoughts were scattered all over the place, and I wasn’t sure what to make of everything she had said, Charlotte had never mentioned she was pregnant, nor had the shown any symptoms to indicate anything in that regard, but to be fair, I wasn’t always at home.
On the days 1 managed to stay indoors, 1 spent most of my time in the study, making as minimal contact as posible with her. Yes, we had our intimate moments during the first few months of our marriage, and I could remember a few times I had come back home drunk and woken up in bed with her, barely remembering the details of the previous night. Surely that wasn’t enough to “Maria!” I yelled again and followed her.
She turned around, and we locked gazes as a look of disapproval crossed her features, “There are people asleep in this house, Signor. You’d do well not to wake them up,” she said in a stern tone.
“And you’d do well to answer my questions,” I uttered, lowering my tone and struggling to maintain my composure.
“I believe our conversation is over, Signor. What more is there to say?” she asked and folded her arms.
I groaned and walked closer to where she was standing “You cannot tell me I have a baby and walk away like that.”
“I don’t remember saying you have a baby. I said Signora had to do what was best for her and the baby,” she responded.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, throwing my hands in the air.
“It could mean several things, for one…” she started to say, but I shook my head vigorously.
“Don’t play coy with me, Maria. I love you, but I swear to…” I began, cutting her off, but she let out a low chuckle.
“Resorting to threats, are we, Signor?” she replied in a questioning tone as her eyes shone with a look of defiance. “Now it makes sense that you’re marrying Signora La Guerta; you’re peas in a pod.”
“Do not change the subject. If Charlotte was pregnant, why didn’t she tell me?” I inquired in a calm tone.
Knowing Maria, yelling wouldn’t get answers out of her, and I didn’t want to get on her bad side. I had to find a way to appeal to whatever part of her still liked me if I wanted to learn anything useful. We stood in silence for a few minutes. Then she sighed and shook her head.
“Why would she?” she asked as her arms fell to her sides. “For once in your life, Rogerio, stop looking at things from your perspective only. If you were carrying the child of a man who has spent ample time showing that he has no regard for your existence, would you feel safe enough to tell him about something like that?”
The weight of her words settled like a weight on my shoulder. Her face had suddenly become expressionless, but her eyes betrayed her emotions. I could feel every iota of rage that coursed through her body as she spoke, and I couldn’t help but admit that she was right. I had spent the entire time vilifying Charlotte for no solid reason. She had done everything right, from our plans about the marriage to being a devoted wife.
07:20
Danging into the Heart of Mr. Ce
34.4%
Chapter 53
In turn, I gave her vitriol and made her feel unsafe. I spent the entire time thinking she had waltzed into the estate to reap financial benefits that weren’t hers for the taking when in reality, I had invited her into our lives.
She could’ve been at that bar, slaving away as a bartender for minimum wage, but still surviving and growing at her pace. I offered her a chance at a comfortable life and harassed her for accepting something beneficial to both parties. Then I took it further and invalidated her emotions, attributing them to mere financial gains. Maria was right; if I were in Charlotte’s shoes, I wouldn’t say a word about a child.
It might be easier to look at it from the perspective of revealing that information to me in a bid to get in my good graces, but as I stood in the hallway, I could see how the situation would turn against her.
“Was she scared I’d take the child from her?” I said after a long silence, my voice barely above a whisper.
“The only one who can speak on the emotions she has felt during this entire charade is Signora Charlotte. One thing I can say for certain is that, with the influence your family has, especially for a poor girl without a dollar to her name, she must’ve been frightened. She didn’t even tell me,” she answered, and I heaved a sigh.
Then a thought crossed my mind. “If she didn’t tell you, how did you know?” I asked, arching my eyebrow as she chuckled in response, turned around, and started walking towards the front door.
“I’ve lived long enough to be able to pick up on a few things and similar signs. And I nursed her back to health, or at least some form of it. It was sad to see her go through the court proceedings and everything else in that state. I was worried that something would happen to her,” she replied, and I sighed.
“Is that why she wouldn’t let you call a doctor?” I asked, as that part of the conversation we had over the phone filtered into my thoughts as I slowly made my way to where she was standing.
She shrugged and looked away. “Perhaps. She probably didn’t want him to find out and inform you or your family. Better safe than sorry, I believe,” she answered.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and stopped walking when I got to where she was. She placed her hand on the doorknob and stared at her feet. “How can I find her, Maria? If you know where she is, do tell me. Please,” I said in a pleading tone.
She took one look at me and shrugged. “I’m not sure how to feel about the fact that you suddenly care about looking for her simply because you heard she was carrying a baby…” she started to say, but I shook my head in response.
“That’s a factor, yes. But I have to be sure, and if I have to do right by her, finding her would be the first step, don’t you think?” I replied as she opened the door.
“I’m sorry, Rogerio. I can’t help you, but if you really care about her or the baby, you’d stop Signora La Guerta from trying to take over the estate and use the resources you have to find her,” she answered with a tone that indicated the conversation was truly over.
I sighed and slowly made my way through the entrance. I had come here to find out more information about Elena’s presence and bitten off more than I could chew.
