Part 63

63

Remaining bowed before Vano, she implored his mercy, hoping he would reconsider his decision.

"Go home, Celine. I need time to think about all of this. If my heart is willing to change its decision, I'll come to meet both of your parents to propose. If not, then I'll leave, and you should find a man who can accept all your shortcomings. Honestly, I can't marry a woman who is selfish and doesn't appreciate all the sacrifices my mother made." Vano rose from his seat, without waiting for Celine, he left the house.

It was up to her whether she wanted to wait for his return or not; he didn't care anymore because Chelsea needed her belongings, and he didn't want to delay his visit to the hospital any longer.

Of course, Celine couldn't accept Vano's unilateral decision, as she still deeply loved him. So she sat there in the living room, waiting for Vano or Carlos to return home. Even as the sky grew dark, Celine remained steadfast in her spot. Their housekeeper had informed her that it seemed neither Carlos nor Vano would return home since Chelsea was currently being treated at the hospital.

However, Celine remained unfazed, convinced that Vano would surely return home because Chelsea only needed Carlos by her side at the hospital. That was, assuming there was no relationship between Vano and Chelsea, so Celine stubbornly waited for his return.

Unfortunately, as the night approached, it was Margareth who returned home. She appeared disheveled and unkempt, her appearance far from her usual polished self. It was evident she had just finished a demanding job outside.

Margareth and Celine exchanged glances, with Margareth not knowing who the young woman before her was. Meanwhile, Celine was trying to figure out who Margareth was. Based on her appearance, Celine thought she might be the woman in a relationship with Carlos, who was none other than Chelsea's mother. This meant that Celine could potentially gather a lot of information from this woman, so she hurriedly welcomed Margareth and invited her to sit.

Not forgetting to introduce herself to Margareth, explaining who she was and why she was still in the house even though it was late in the evening.

"So, you're Van's girlfriend, the one who hasn't been approved by Carlos, right?" Margareth asked, trying to act as if she were on Celine's side, even though she herself was in a precarious position.

Celine nodded, "That's right, Aunt. So, you're Uncle Carlos's girlfriend, and that makes you Chelsea's mother, correct?"

"Exactly. Do you know Chelsea, so you know quite a bit about us?"

"Of course, Aunt. I am Chelsea's lecturer at the university. So, I know my students very well."

"So, you're all from the same university, and you're the lecturer for both Vano and Chelsea, is that correct?" Margareth guessed at the relationship between Chelsea and Celine.

"Yes, Aunt. It happens that if Chelsea prepares for her Community Service Program (KKN), I will be her supervisor." Celine chuckled slightly, covering her mouth. She acted a bit shy and feminine to impress Margareth with her politeness.

"Oh, you are already beautiful, polite, friendly, and a lecturer. Aunt is sure Carlos will definitely give his blessing for you and Vano to get married."

"It seems Aunt is right. Earlier, Vano also mentioned that Uncle Carlos had given us his blessing. But unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding, Vano rejected that blessing and decided to end our relationship."

"Oh, why is that? Is there some problem that led Vano to break up with you? You both have worked so hard to get his approval."

Celine rubbed her neck, acting as if she felt unworthy to deliver news to Margareth. Already wet, she might as well take a shower if Vano hurt her feelings. 

"Why, Celine? Is there something you want to tell Aunt?"

"Of course, Aunt, but I'm quite afraid to say this."

"Why?" Margareth urged, not wanting Celine to drag out her words for too long.

"Well, Aunt, the truth is, my relationship with Vano grew distant because of Chelsea."

"Oh, Chelsea, do you think she wanted to steal Vano away? You don't need to worry because it's just a drama. Chelsea doesn't really love Vano; she has a boyfriend. If I remember correctly, his name is Revan, and he's in the same faculty as Chelsea and Vano. As a lecturer, I'm sure you..."

"It's not about Revan, Aunt, but..." Celine intentionally left her sentence hanging.

"But what? Come on, tell Aunt. Who knows, we might work together to achieve our goals."

"But please, don't let anyone know that I'm the one telling you this, just act as if Aunt heard it from someone else or had a hunch, so that my relationship with Vano doesn't get worse because of the facts I'm about to reveal."

"Hurry up, Celine. What's going on?" Margareth was truly impatient now, as Celine had left her sentence hanging.

"Actually, I felt jealous when Vano told me that Chelsea is the one currently trying to get approval for us, but I didn't believe Vano's words. Even though Chelsea is already married to Uncle Carlos. But as a girl who..."

"W-wait, what did you say?" Margareth interrupted Celine.

"Chelsea is already married to Carlos? Is that true?"

Celine nodded quickly, confirming Margareth's previous statement.

"Aunt didn't know that Uncle Carlos and Chelsea are already married?"

"Of course, I had no idea."

"That's such a pity, Aunt didn't know that Chelsea and Uncle Carlos have been married for almost three months."

"W-what?" Margareth was shocked to hear Celine's words. Just hearing that Chelsea and Carlos were already married was unbelievable, and now, adding that their marriage had been going on for nearly three months meant that Carlos and Chelsea became a couple not long after moving into that house.

"Son a bitch?" Margareth muttered in complete displeasure and heartache over the facts that Celine had just revealed. She vividly remembered the incident in the dining room where Chelsea was in Carlos's lap. That meant on that day, Chelsea had sat on Carlos's lap for him to breastfeed.

"Don't tell Vano that Aunt already knows about the marriage," Margareth said before walking away. She wanted to go to her room to calm herself, find a way to remain patient, and figure out a path to happiness.

Margareth felt like she wanted to take Chelsea's life after learning that her daughter was now in a serious relationship with her lover. She had already checked Chelsea's room and was shocked to find Carlos's clothes in Chelsea's wardrobe. This meant that what Celine had said was a harsh reality.

Margareth had been impatiently waiting for Carlos and Chelsea to return since earlier, but unfortunately, they hadn't come back yet. Even though it was very late at night, Margareth decided to contact Carlos to inquire about his whereabouts. She tried to ask the housekeeper, but the middle-aged woman kept her lips sealed, unwilling to reveal her employer's location. Margareth knew that the middle-aged woman had been Carlos's right-hand woman for many years, so there was no hope of getting information from her.

Therefore, she would seek information herself by questioning Carlos directly about his whereabouts. Waiting for Vano was not an option because she had seen Celine arguing with Vano on the phone earlier, and he had made it clear that he wouldn't come home as long as Celine was there.

Carlos gazed at Chelsea, who had fallen asleep a while ago. His wife had only managed to sleep after she had turned him into her grown-up baby. It was a complete reversal; instead of him falling asleep while breastfeeding Chelsea, it was Chelsea who had fallen asleep.

"What's going on?" Carlos asked after he received a call from Margareth.

"Where are you, Carlos? Why haven't you come home at this hour? The same goes for Chelsea. Did both of you go out together, or did Chelsea ask for your permission to go somewhere, to the point that you both haven't come home this late?" Margareth inquired.

"Chelsea and I are currently at the hospital. She has a fever," Carlos replied somewhat indifferently to Margareth's questions.

Margareth held her breath. "Which hospital? Let me go there right now."

"No need. Right now, Chelsea is already asleep, and visiting hours are over. Please come tomorrow, and I will send you the address in the morning."

"Mas, I'm her mother. I certainly don't need visiting hours to see my own daughter's condition."

"Margareth, please understand that Chelsea needs rest right now. Don't create a scene!"

"I won't create a scene if you just tell me where my daughter is, understood?!" Margareth snapped in frustration because Carlos was still trying to conceal his marriage to Chelsea.

It was a meticulously crafted drama that she didn't even realize she was living under the same roof as a married couple. Carlos and Chelsea were so skilled at hiding their marriage that she was genuinely shocked by Celine's revelations a few hours ago.

"I will send you the address, and I suggest you come here tomorrow morning if you don't want trouble," Carlos said before ending the call from Margareth. He immediately sent the name and address of the hospital where Chelsea was being treated, then turned off his phone and lay down beside Chelsea.

He held his wife to prevent her from waking up since Chelsea preferred to sleep in his embrace rather than alone. Margareth gripped her phone tightly and huffed in frustration as Carlos grew increasingly curt with her.

Of course, because Chelsea had given Carlos what he needed.

"That's why there were no side effects when he took Kevin's medication that night, because it turned out that Chelsea was the outlet for Carlos's uncontrollable desires." Margareth smirked as she looked at the profile picture on her phone, which showed her and Carlos smiling at a camera in a photo studio, demonstrating how close and romantic their relationship used to be.

Now, everything had crumbled since Chelsea entered their lives. Margareth swore, cursing Chelsea and wishing for her daughter's demise so she could have Carlos back. She couldn't wait for morning to arrive, so Margareth forced herself to sleep.

Her tired body had a positive effect as she quickly drifted off, although in her mind, she still couldn't shake the image of Carlos and Chelsea engaging in marital relations. Something Margareth had longed for but was now Chelsea's reality.

She didn't know how her daughter had managed to win Carlos's heart, but one thing was certain: she would reclaim what was rightfully hers without anyone knowing.