Part 48

48 

To ensure that Vano arrived safely, Celine had to follow behind in her car. After seeing the taxi enter the mansion's driveway, Celine left Carlos's residence.

When Vano arrived at the luxurious property, there would undoubtedly be security personnel to assist the taxi driver in getting Vano inside the house.

And indeed, the two security guards guarding the gate were touched to see their young master return home in such a drunken state, almost unconscious. They were forced to help him into the house. Carlos and Chelsea were both shocked to see Vano's condition.

So, they both asked the security guards to take Vano directly to his room.

"Vano, what happened?" Chelsea asked, looking panicked at Vano's condition.

"Even I don't know, dear. Didn't we spend the day together at home, while Vano went to campus? We both just saw his condition now. I'm sure something must have gone wrong with Vano for him to get this drunk. I've never seen him lose control like this in my entire life," Carlos said, rubbing Chelsea's shoulder. "You wait here for a moment. I'll call a doctor to check on Vano's condition and make him some hot tea to help him feel better."

Chelsea mengangguk. Dia duduk di tepi ranjang dan menatap Vano. Seketika tubuhnya membeku ketika Vano menatapnya. Tak terduga sama sekali, Vano duduk dan menarik pergelangan tangannya. Memaksa Chelsea untuk berbaring dan menindihnya.

"Chelsea, I fell in love with you, but you chose Daddy instead."

Surprised that Vano hugged and pressed her, Chelsea was even more surprised to hear Vano confess his love for her.

“Van, stop!” Chelsea panicked when Vano put his hand inside the hoodie. Unfortunately, he wasn't wearing anything because he had just woken up from a nap and hadn't had time to change clothes. So Vano could easily touch it. Squeezing, even sipping because Chelsea's hands were held above her head.

“Van…” Chelsea endured the pain. Her heart and body both rejected what Vano was doing at the moment. She was afraid that Carlos would suddenly come and misunderstand her.

"What are you doing?" Margareth shouted, pulling Vano off Chelsea's body. Letting go of Chelsea's tip which felt sore because of his actions.

"Mom, I can explain." Chelsea hurriedly got out of bed and approached Margareth. Meanwhile, Vano sat on the floor and leaned against the bed. Don't really understand what was done to Chelsea.

"What are you going to explain? You've been doing that with Vano, selling yourself as well, haven't you?" Margareth shook Chelsea's body. She had completely lost control at this point, seeing Chelsea almost engage in intimate relations with Vano.

Inwardly, Margareth vehemently rejected the idea. She was disappointed that Chelsea, whom she had raised, would engage in such sordid activities behind her back.

"You cheap woman! You wretched child! How could you give your body away for free to Vano?!"

Carlos was equally stunned at the bedroom door, watching Margareth's anger towards Chelsea. The middle-aged woman seemed to curse and shake Chelsea's body, demanding an explanation for what the girl had done with Vano in her room.

"Mom, I can explain. None of this is as you think. I swear on everything, I had no relationship with Vano except for ordinary interaction, nothing more than that," Chelsea pleaded for her mother to believe her words because she truly hadn't engaged in such activities. It was all due to Vano's coercion.

She had tried to resist and protest, asking to be released, but unfortunately, the man had gone ahead with the crazy act.

"That's enough. You're indeed a cheap woman, and you think I don't know that you're selling yourself out there, huh?"

"Enough, Mom! Those accusations are cruel, and I never expected you to say that to your own daughter."

"Is that so?" Margareth pulled up the hoodie Chelsea was wearing. She found that the girl wasn't wearing anything underneath, just like when she lifted Chelsea's long skirt slightly. "Is this what you call not true? You disgraceful woman!"

"Mom..."

"This is the proof, Chelsea! How else can you explain this? You're nothing but a cheap woman!!"

"Mom..."

"This is your doing, Chelsea!! How can you deny it any further?!" Margareth pushed Chelsea until she fell to the ground. "You know, I heard from Kevin that you're selling yourself along with Indri out there. He got the information from Revan, your former boyfriend, who openly said that your relationship ended because now you've decided to sell yourself, so you thought you weren't good enough for him anymore."

Chelsea was certainly shocked to hear Margareth's account. She didn't expect that what she had told Revan would reach her mother's ears.

Carlos also appeared panicked because Margareth found out about Chelsea's actions. He didn't believe the selling oneself part, but he was afraid his wife would consider Chelsea a cheap woman. Carlos knew that Chelsea was wearing what she had on for him alone. For Revan and Kevin, Carlos would inquire politely because he was the one who took Chelsea's virginity.

"Mom, that was just an excuse I used to break up with Revan because he didn't want to accept my decision. And by coincidence, Indri asked me to serve a man so she could get a high payment for her mother's hospital bills.

As a sane person, of course, I didn't want to do that, even for my father's treatment, I never went to such extremes as Indri did. You've heard it partially, and that's why Revan accused me of things that weren't true. Instead of explaining, which would take more time, I just agreed so he would believe and maybe start to accept the decision I made. So, nothing is as you accuse!" Chelsea explained step by step.

Although Chelsea didn't know how Margareth could be familiar with Kevin. As far as she could remember, she had never brought Kevin home. All this time, it had only been Revan who came to visit; she never had any of Revan's friends with her.

However, Margareth casually mentioned that all these rumors came from Kevin, which meant there was some kind of relationship between Kevin and Margareth for the information to reach her mother's ears.

"If it weren't for Kevin's and Revan's words, you wouldn't have seen what just happened."

"I understand that what you saw was a mistake. Vano wasn't aware because he was drunk. So there's no need to debate further because I've already refused what Vano wanted to do, but unfortunately, he's stronger than me. So..."

"There's no need for more talk; everything is clear, and you two need to get married if you're not a woman of ill repute!" Margareth demanded firmly, not wanting Chelsea to be taken advantage of by Vano, especially now that she saw their relationship had crossed her boundaries.

Until now, Margareth and Carlos had asked Chelsea to get close to Vano so they could build a relationship and persuade him to give his blessing. It was different now.

Margareth knew her life was full of mistakes, but she didn't want her daughter to follow the same path. Chelsea might not have meant much to her in the past, but lately, with the sacrifices Chelsea had made and her determination to stay on the same path with Carlos, Margareth was beginning to feel capable of loving her daughter.

"No one is getting married here," Carlos finally spoke after a long silence at the bedroom door.

"Margareth, please leave, let me take care of Vano and Chelsea!" Carlos instructed, no room for refusal or argument. He pointed towards the stairs, signaling Margareth to leave Vano's room.

He wanted to talk about many things with Chelsea, but there couldn't be Margareth in the midst of their conversation.

"But, but, dear, I can't leave before this issue is resolved."

"I will handle it because Vano is my son."

"I know, but Chelsea..."

"If I were your daughter, of course, you'd believe the words I say, not accusing me of things I haven't done."

Chelsea interjected.

"Things I haven't done? How so? All the evidence and witnesses clearly state that you're a woman of ill repute. I almost killed you for obstructing my work. I thought you wouldn't turn out to be a woman like your mother if we raised you well, but it seems you and your mother are the same!!"

"What?"

Carlos quickly caught Chelsea's faltering body.

"Yes, your mother is a woman who sells herself at the red light district. I almost killed you for getting in my way."

Margareth roughly wiped the tears flowing down her cheeks. This was something entirely unexpected, as she had let her tongue slip and revealed Chelsea's true identity.

"Say it's not true," Chelsea whispered, staring blankly at Margareth, the woman she had always called "Mom."

Calming their anger, Margareth returned to her room. Chelsea did the same, walking unsteadily to her own room. Leaving Carlos and Vano behind. Right now, she didn't want to be disturbed because she was too shocked. Hurt to hear that she wasn't Margareth and Tomas's biological child. That meant she was just an adopted child raised with love.

However, all the facts still made Chelsea's heart ache, and she couldn't accept it. It's human to feel disappointed, isn't it? Chelsea didn't mean to be ungrateful for the sacrifices she had given to her adoptive parents all these years. She just needed time to process it.

Could Margareth have told her when she was younger so she wouldn't have had such high expectations of her? Chelsea also felt that she had forgiven Margareth for considering her as her own mother.

If only she had known this earlier, she would have taken Tomas far away so he wouldn't have seen his father hurt. Now everything was different, Tomas was gone, and Margareth had become her rival for Carlos's love.

Chelsea still couldn't imagine how she would have to face Margareth, who turned out not to be her biological mother. Of course, no matter what Margareth did, Chelsea would fight back if she found out she was in a relationship with Carlos. Especially since Chelsea knew that Margareth wasn't a forgiving person. She was more likely to destroy her opponent, especially if she was caught taking what she had been defending all along.

Allowing Chelsea and Margareth to calm themselves for a moment. Carlos now took care of Vano. He led his son to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Now, you be honest about what you did with Chelsea earlier that made Margareth so angry?"

Vano tried to lift his face to look at his father.

"Forgive me, Dad. I didn't mean to, and it was really out of control. I..." Vano paused.

"Rest now, your condition isn't stable. After this, don't ever touch that alcoholic drink again because it can damage your brain's performance," Carlos said before leaving Vano.

Actually, he wasn't happy that his wife had been treated that way earlier, but Carlos couldn't punish Vano. Because his son had been under the influence of alcohol, he tried to make peace and forgive Vano.

Carlos also realized that he had asked Chelsea to get close to Vano all this time. So, it was understandable that deep down, Vano had feelings for Chelsea. He should be happy that Vano was starting to have feelings, but the problem was that Chelsea was his wife now.