Part 44

44

Emotions were triggered, causing dark thoughts to cross her mind. What was once a threat now had Margareth considering executing that plan. Selling Chelsea for a substantial amount would undoubtedly make her richer than selling her own body. This way, Margareth could live luxuriously without having to work hard; she could enjoy Kevin whenever she pleased.

And for payment, she could have Chelsea fetch it. Of course, Chelsea, who was beginning to learn the pleasures of being wealthy, would do whatever she wanted.

"I refuse to leave my daughter with an arrogant, clueless widower like you. I'd better take her." Margareth turned and continued towards Chelsea's room to take her daughter away.

But to Margareth's surprise, she couldn't find Chelsea there. Not only Chelsea, but there were no signs of her presence at all. Her daughter's bed was perfectly neat, with no wrinkles whatsoever. This meant that Chelsea had never stayed there.

"Where is my daughter?"

"I don't know where she is."

"Ah, I forgot about your son. Yes, your son who corrupted my daughter, and they slept together. Shameless father and son, daring to defile a girl just for your own pleasure."

"You two fought, exchanged harsh words, but ended up dragging my mom, who knows nothing, into it. If you want to fight, go ahead, grab your knives and stab each other or kill each other. I don't care, but never drag me and Chelsea into your quarrels. Weren't you both eager for me to marry her, so why do you act as if I'm the one ruining Chelsea!" Vano interrupted, unwilling to hear that Chelsea would be taken out of his house and sold elsewhere.

He couldn't imagine how much it would hurt his father to see his wife treated like a cheap woman. Vano wouldn't allow that to happen because Chelsea was the source of his father's happiness, and he had never found happiness for so many years. Carlos had been alone for a long time, and it was time for him to have a companion, and Chelsea was the woman Vano chose to be with his father, replacing himself.

"Not anymore. You don't need to bother forgetting about Celine. It's up to you what you want. If you want to turn everything upside down, get married, or go skydiving, I don't care anymore. What's certain is that I'm leaving this house and taking Chelsea with me." Margareth approached Vano and pushed him away from his bedroom door.

Chelsea wasn't in her room; Margareth was sure that her daughter was hidden by Vano in his room.

"Move aside!" Margareth raised her voice, asking Vano to step aside. Instead of moving, Vano pushed Margareth back and locked his bedroom door.

"I will never allow Aunt to take Chelsea away from here because she is my wife."

"Chelsea can't possibly be your wife!" Margareth still refused to back down from Vano.

"Whatever Aunt wants to say, it's clear that Chelsea is my wife. It would be better for Aunt to leave this house, or I might have to file a kidnapping case for taking my wife. As her husband, I have the right to keep Chelsea in this house," Vano said and walked away, leaving Margareth banging on his bedroom door, hoping that Chelsea would wake up and come out soon.

Margareth could shout all she wanted, but Chelsea wouldn't come out because she was currently in Carlos's room. She covered her ears, hiding under the blanket to avoid being discovered, as she didn't want her relationship with Carlos to be revealed. Her vengeance plan was carefully crafted, and she couldn't let it unravel.

Indeed, her marriage to Carlos was like any other, based on love, mutual consent, and deep affection. However, she had to fulfill her vendetta because she couldn't forgive her father's death due to the actions of that middle-aged woman.

Suppressing all his anger, Carlos returned to the room, choosing to deliver hot chocolate to Chelsea rather than deal with someone like Margareth.

"Darling, what's wrong with you?" Carlos gently lowered the blanket covering Chelsea's entire body after placing the hot chocolate on the nightstand.

He was touched by Chelsea's sighs and tears.

"What happened to you?" he asked. Chelsea shook her head and immediately rushed into Carlos's arms. "I'm afraid Mom will take me away from here. No matter how hurt I am by her, she's still my mother. So please don't create a scene with her," Chelsea cried.

She was actually glad that Margareth was leaving her life, but not right now, as their marriage foundation wasn't that strong yet. She didn't want Margareth to leave in anger and cause further division. Chelsea couldn't imagine living without Carlos by her side, so she had to execute her plan perfectly to achieve her vengeance.

Margareth couldn't attack back at her without a comeback.

"But how, dear. Dad can't keep your mother here. There have been so many things she's done recently that I don't like, and I'm sure she's currently in a relationship with another man. It's not that I'm jealous or anything, but her actions always lead to confrontations, and she even nearly tried to kill you. Of course, it's better for her to leave this house and live on her own out there. She needs to learn that not everything can be forced. Besides, if she admits to having a lover, I would give her permission to be with another man because I already have you."

"I know, Dad, but please don't fight with Mom like earlier," Chelsea sighed, releasing herself from Carlos's embrace. "If there's anything about Mom that I don't like, let me talk to her and explain everything to avoid any misunderstandings with you, Dad. I swear I can't choose between you two, even though Mom has hurt me a lot, and Dad, you're still my biological father."

"But, Darling..."

“Dad,” Chelsea moaned. Hugging and whining back at Carlos.

Carlos sighed. "Well that's that then. Then you talk to your mother. But not now. Your condition still doesn't allow you to argue with your mother."

"Okay, I'll take a break first. I'll talk to you later."

"It is better." Carlos grabbed Chelsea pajamas. "Wear this first, then drink the hot chocolate and then go to sleep."

"No, I just want this."

"You'll catch a cold, honey."

"I won't, if Daddy hugs me."

Carlos flashed a smile. Grabbed the hot chocolate and helped Chelsea drink it. After the hot chocolate was finished, Carlos lay down with Chelsea. Pulled the covers and hugged him tightly.

"Could you come to my room first?" Celine immediately gave an order to Vano as soon as he informed her that he had arrived on campus.

"Where are you going? I just got here," Vano complained at the other end of the call.

"I have a matter to attend to, Van. Just now, Daddy told me that our cousin, who was supposed to have her wedding ceremony this morning, canceled the wedding. Now she's in her apartment, afraid to do something crazy. Daddy asked me to check on her at her apartment, to make sure she's okay."

"So why do I have to come along?" Vano grumbled. He was quite lazy because he would have to sit and wait without doing anything.

"Of course, Van. I don't feel like driving, so I'm asking for your help," Celine pleaded with Vano to accompany her.

Actually, Celine wasn't lazy to drive, but she was just like Vano. Lazy and tired of dealing with their cousin who always had the same problems.

"Alright, I'll wait for you in the parking lot." Vano turned around and headed back to the campus parking lot.

Celine hurriedly made her way to meet Vano; she didn't want to be late because her cousin's parents were busy comforting disappointed guests. They had come from afar, bringing gifts and envelopes.

But by noon, the groom had yet to arrive, and shortly after, they received news that the groom unilaterally canceled the wedding. Who wouldn't be depressed by that? Especially her cousin, who had been in multiple relationships but never made it to the wedding ceremony. It seemed like she had some sort of curse, as no man seemed willing to marry her.

"Since we started our relationship, I believe your cousin has canceled her wedding three times," Vano remarked as he looked at Celine.

"Yes, that's right. It seems like something's wrong with her that no man wants to marry her."

"Something wrong with her or the marriage was too forced, leading to conflicts between her and her prospective husband, ending in unilateral cancellations?"

"That's why I never believed in arranged marriages," Vano said. In his heart, he remembered that his father had tried to arrange several marriages for him, but this was precisely what Vano feared about arranged marriages.

Arranged marriages rarely lead to happiness. It's better when love happens naturally, without any strings attached. For example, Chelsea, whom Carlos had ordered to make Vano fall in love with her. But now, it was Carlos who couldn't stay away from Chelsea, indicating that all of Carlos's arranged marriages had failed and were now backfiring on him.

"Come with me!" Celine invited, allowing Vano to enter an apartment first. It wasn't too large, but Celine knew that her cousin had bought the apartment for peace and not just for prestige. An apartment located far from the elite areas was certainly more enjoyable than one in an upper-class neighborhood.

"Why do I have to come in? Usually, I just wait outside," Vano asked.

"This seems to be taking a while because today she almost had the wedding ceremony. Usually, it's just plans, not as elaborate as this morning's event."

"Oh," Vano rounded his lips into an 'O' shape. He nodded and followed Celine inside.

Vano's body froze when he saw Celine's cousin sitting alone in the living room. Her gaze was completely vacant, as if she was experiencing severe depression. In front of the girl were four bottles of alcohol, two of which were already empty.

Vano was certain that the girl had been drinking alone to numb the pain in her heart after her wedding was canceled.

"Sister Amber, why is it like this?" Celine sat down next to the girl, often called Amber.

Amber shook her head. "This is none of your business, Celine! Please go home. I don't want to talk to anyone. I want to be alone here and try to come to terms with the situation."

"B-but, Sister. You can't be like this. You have to stay strong and move on."

"How can I stay strong? Everyone knew I was going to marry that damned man. But what happened? He unilaterally canceled it and didn't show up at our wedding ceremony. What more do I have to do for him? I helped him buy things he wanted several times. Preparing for this wedding also made me neglect my students. And what's the result? All my time was wasted. Even I..."

"I know about it, Sister," Celine interrupted. She bit her lip in frustration as her phone rang again. She felt annoyed because she had already informed her father that she had arrived at Amber's place.

However, Celine's eyebrows furrowed when she saw who was calling her in this uncomfortable situation.

"Yes, what is it, Dad?"

"Miss Celine, where are you right now?"

"I'm outside, Dad. Why?"

"Well, there are two students who are waiting for guidance. They said that yesterday, Miss Celine postponed and promised to provide guidance today."

"Oh my goodness, I forgot. I have a thesis advising session at the university today." Celine facepalmed. "I'll go there right away." She ended the call in a hurry and glanced at Vano. "Van, can you wait here and please comfort Sister Amber for a while? I forgot that I have a thesis advising session at the university today. I've already postponed it twice. If I postpone it again, they will report it to the university, and I'll get into trouble."

Vano was taken aback. "I-I'm going to stay here with Sister Amber? Just the two of us?" He raised both of his eyebrows at Celine.

"Yes, it's fine. Since you already know each other, I think it will be easy for you to talk to her." Celine patted Vano's shoulder. "Alright, I'm leaving now. I'll borrow your car keys, and when the advising session is over, I promise to come back here." She grabbed the car keys from the table.