The Wicked Mrs. Gastrell (English version)

Flashback

Things happened very fast. I am just like a leaf that has been sent into the violent flow of water. I don’t know how I got back to my own house, hauled things, left it to my brother, and traveled back to Cerro Roca.

Cholo was carrying my small overnight size bag that contained my few pieces of clothes. He even objected a while ago because he said he would buy me clothes after we got home.

He didn’t give me a chance to object to his plan. I was dazzled by the amount of money he was going to give me after our pretense. I didn’t protest anymore. I can say I’m desperate at this point because my dad’s condition is getting worse. I need money for his maintenance and check-ups.

We stopped at the high fence of a house. I’m confused why we went straight here. I thought we were going to live in a mansion.

“It’s better if we stay here until after the election. I can’t take you home to the mansion. I know my mother. I don’t want you to be in more trouble with our situation. I’ve already convinced you to agree to my plan so I won’t let you join me any more to deal with mom,” he said as if he could read what was going on in my mind.

He came down first out of the car before he opened the door for me.

“Thank you.” I smiled at him.

He stopped for a moment before smiling at me too. He held out his open palm to me.

“Hold it,” he replied to my questioning eyes.

I was stunned, wondering whether to accept his hand. I know it’s not just a simple gesture. I knew he was telling me something. I looked into Cholo’s gray eyes. I’m looking for sincerity to remove the doubt from my chest.

He smiled at me and waved his hand. I smiled before reaching for it. His hand is soft. It’s obvious that he doesn’t use to do menial work, unlike my hands that are already full of calluses from work.

I tried to take my hand back but he wouldn’t let me. Through his eyes, he conveyed to me his request that I should trust him.

Which is not hard to do.

In the short time we spent together, I knew he was a good person. I trusted him because he once gave me hope through his smile when I first saw him.

He squeezed my hand as he brushed a few stray strands of my hair back behind my ear.

“Don’t worry, Karina. I’ll be by your side. Always.”

And the thin rope of my doubt was finally cut. All that is left is trust. Trust that he will not leave me until our pretense is over. I suddenly felt sad at the thought. Even though our separation hadn’t happened yet, I knew that it would be difficult for me to completely forget Cholo.

He opened the gate while my bag was slung over his shoulder. After closing the iron gate, he grabbed my hand again. I smiled secretly. I was like floating on a cloud from the first second he held my hand.

Why not? I’ve been wanting him for a long time now, but I stopped because of the big gap in our lives. But fate seems to be on my side. It gave me this opportunity even though the consequences were not good which brought Cholo and I closer together.

We entered the big house hand in hand. I was shocked by the coldness of the air conditioner. There is nothing like this for us. Our short and wobbly electric fan is ashamed of the giant white air conditioner here.

“Welcome, señorito,” greeted an elderly woman who couldn’t help but give me an inquisitive look.

“Please take care of Karina. She’s my very important guest here. Give her everything she wants. I’m just in the library.”

He let go of my hand. For a while, I felt like I was empty when I could no longer feel his warmth. He handed my bag to the old woman who I immediately took.

“It’s mine. It’s a shame if she is the one to bring this when I could do it.”

“That’s okay, ma’am.”

I just shook my head. I hugged the bag and looked at Cholo.

“I’m fine. Really fine.”

He stared at me for a moment. I hesitated because of what I could read in his eyes but in the end he nodded.

“Okay. If you need anything, just tell Deling.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Cholo turned his back on us and pointed at a door on the left side. I looked around the whole house. I can only say one thing here.

Stylish and big.

Everywhere I looked, everything screamed of the fact that it was a symbol of the Gastrells’ luxury.

“Come on. Let’s leave him alone. It looks like he’ll be inside for a while because Elizabeth is there.”

I followed her up the grand staircase.

“Who is Elizabeth?”

She turned to me in surprise. “You don’t know the Asturians?” She spoke of the name that I always hear whenever I go to the market.

“I’m quite familiar with that name.”

I embraced myself when we got to the second floor. It’s colder here compared to below.

“It’s cold here. I’m sorry if I’m not used to this cold place. We don’t have anything like this.”

“Let me turn down the air conditioner after I take you to your room. Don’t you really know Elizabeth?”

I shook my head again. “No.”

“She is the youngest daughter of the eldest son of the Asturias. She is an heir and the one Ma’am Teodora is pushing to marry Cholo.”

I blinked a few times to acclimate myself to the new information that came to light. If so, this is a big mess I’m getting myself into.

“Are Cholo and Elizabeth lovers?” I asked softly as we stopped at a closed door.

She gave me a hesitant look.

“It’s not a secret in all of Cerro Roca that the two are getting married but don’t worry, it seems that Cholo wants someone else now.” She shot me a meaningful look. “I’m going back to the kitchen. Just call me if you need anything.”

Deling had left a while ago but I still didn’t move from where I was standing. I wonder what she meant when she said it. Without thinking of an answer, I decided to enter the room, but before I could do that, I heard screams coming from the living room, followed by the sound of things breaking.

I quickly went to the stairs and looked at what was happening below. I saw Cholo hugging the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

I backed away when she managed to reach a vase and threw it on the floor then screamed with all her might then broke free from Cholo’s grip. That’s when I saw that she was crying.

“How could you have done this?! You’re mine, Cholo! You’re mine so why did you marry that girl?!” she shouted between sobs.

I knelt down and hid behind the railing of the stairs and peered through the opening.

“Ely, I just needed to do this to save my mother. Our marriage is just for convenience. Please, stop. What you are doing will harm you.”

Cholo held Elizabeth’s face with all her heart as if she was going to break like a crystal. I saw him wipe away the woman’s tears and smile at her in a comforting way.

“Cholo, how about us? How about us? I can’t handle seeing you with another girl. Don’t worry. I… I-ll just talk to mom and dad. I’ll also talk to my brother so that they can help you. That would only be easy. Yes. Come on, Cholo. Come home with me.”

Cholo stopped Ely’s attempt to pull him.

“No, please. I appreciate your suggestion but I have to decline. It’s all over. Any minute now, I have to face the media. I can’t just call off our marriage.”

Ely’s shoulders slumped and tears began to fall from her eyes again. She bit her lips.

I feel sorry for her. If I am also the girlfriend and then I find out that my boyfriend suddenly married someone else, I will feel indescribable pain too. But why is Cholo in the club and actually hired a girl? Is the man cheating on her?

“Karina. Her name is pretty. Is she pretty? Prettier than me?”

“N-no, no. You’re beautiful, Ely. So so much more beautiful.”

It was like a spear pierced my heart when I heard it from Cholo. I admit that I’m not really comparable to the woman but hearing that personally from Cholo causes a lot of pain in me. I feel like crushed ginger. What little self-confidence I had was crushed.

“Why did you choose her when I’m always available for you. Why can’t it be just me? Why did you even decline when our families arranged for us to be married? You shouldn’t be in trouble now.”

I looked in Cholo’s direction. There’s no trace of irritation visible from him. Love is evident in his eyes.

“Ely, we’re both still young. We’re not ready for the responsibilities that come with marriage. We haven’t even graduated from college.”

“But why did you get married first? Why didn’t you wait for me? I have been devoted to you, Cholo. Why did you have to do this?”

Cholo didn’t answer. He just pulled Ely and then hugged her tightly. The woman broke free with tears still in her eyes. He reached for Cholo’s neck and pressed a kiss on his lips.

I gasped at the sudden pain I felt because of what I witnessed. I looked down. I felt as if I had been kicked in the stomach by what I heard and saw.

Looks like coming here is really utterly wrong. The situation I’m in right now is more complicated than I thought.

I slowly crawled away from the stairs and stood up when I was on the wall. I returned to the foot of the room and picked up the bag on the floor. Still carrying the weight of my chest, I pushed open the door.