Chapter 4

“THERE SHE IS!”

Martin’s attention was immediately drawn to the front of the car, where he saw Ana sitting on the pavement in the pouring rain. He frowned and quickly instructed his driver to stop the car.

As soon as the car came to a halt on the side of the road, Martin wasted no time in getting out of the back seat. Ignoring the heavy rain, he hurriedly walked towards Ana and embraced her tightly, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“Take me home, Martin!”

“Of course, let's go home.”

He lifted Ana off the ground and carried her back to the car.

“Let’s get going.”

“Are we heading back to the hospital, Master?”

Martin shook his head and looked down at the woman in his arms. “No, we’re going to San Alfonso.”

CHLOE’s POV

“Why are you so drunk?” I asked my husband, but received no response. He simply stared blankly into the air. Irritation washed over me as a result.

I let out a deep sigh. It had been five years since Ana's death, yet Mateo's behavior had remained the same ever since he found out about her disappearance.

It frustrated and angered me that he still couldn't let go of that woman. Mateo's thoughts were constantly consumed by Ana, and he made regular visits to her grave at the cemetery.

I was his wife now, but I still found myself competing with Ana for his attention. Despite her absence, I still felt like she was the one who had won.

“Mateo!” I called out to him, but, just like before, he didn't respond.

Another deep sigh escaped my lips as I gazed at him. When we were in the presence of others, Mateo acted differently. He made it seem like he cared about me and loved me, but when we were alone together… he didn't show any concern for me.

He only needed to maintain the appearance of being a good husband in front of others.

Suddenly, a memory from the night Ana caught Mateo and me in bed together flashed through my mind. It was also the night she disappeared.

*** FLASHBACK

“Chloe, Ana isn't at Mateo's house. This is your chance to seduce my son,” Mommy Caridad told me.

A wide smile spread across my face upon hearing her words.

Mommy Caridad truly favored me over Ana. She despised Ana, unlike me. From the very beginning, Mateo's parents had wanted me for him.

Mateo and I were perfect for each other because we both came from prominent families and lived luxurious lives. My family was wealthy, and I effortlessly obtained everything I desired.

I was tired of pretending to be nice to Ana. She believed we were friends, but I couldn't stand her. I was angry with her for stealing Mateo away from me.

Mateo's entire family disliked her because she was an orphan with no family of her own. It was different for me. I was the princess of my family.

“What are you doing here?” Mateo asked when he opened the door for me.

I quickly bit my lower lip, though a smile remained on my face.

“I came to see you,” I replied, holding a paper bag containing his favorite food.

As I noticed his serious gaze, my smile faded.

“Don't act innocent, Chloe. I know who you are,” he said, about to close the door. I stopped him.

“Just a minute!” I pushed the door slightly. “Mateo, don't be rude to me! I came here to visit you,” I said, raising my hand to show him the food I had brought.

He opened the door wider and let me in, but his serious expression remained. I immediately headed to the kitchen. “Where's Ana?” I asked as I served him his favorite dishes.

“At work.”

I nodded slightly, but my smile vanished when I saw him smiling absentmindedly. Confusion washed over me.

“Let's eat,” I suggested. However, he shook his head.

“I'll wait for my wife.”

His words caused my smile to disappear completely. I secretly frowned and clenched my fists, but when he looked at me, I forced a smile back onto my face.

Alright. It’s Always Ana! I really dislike her. When will she disappear from our lives? I want her gone, out of our life, out of our path.

I let out a deep breath and walked closer to him. “Come on, let's eat!” I pulled him by the hand, but he gave me a serious look.

He withdrew his hand from mine. “I promised my wife that I would wait for her to come home,” he said. “So, if you have nothing to do here, you can leave, Chloe.”

“B-but Mateo…”

“You know Chloe, I know you. I know what you're up to,” said Mateo. “Can you stop pretending to be nice to my wife? I know you don't consider her a true friend!”

My eyebrows furrowed at his words. I didn't let him know that he was right. That I was just pretending to be pleasant to Ana and didn't consider her a genuine friend.

“M-Mateo…”

“I love my wife and I don't want her to have any doubts about us. Chloe, we're done. It's been a long time,” said Mateo.

No! Mateo is only mine!

I sighed as I looked at him. “Mateo, you know how much I love you,” I said. “So please, come back to me!”

I almost knelt in front of him to beg, but he ignored me. He didn't seem interested in hearing how much I still loved him. I knew I had hurt him in the past, but I believed he still loved me. I knew he only used Ana because he was hurt by our breakup.

“I'm sure you still love me, don't you? Mateo, I'm here. I've changed.” I tried to hold his hand, but he avoided me. “We can be together again, Mateo. Please!”

“Can you go now, Chloe? Don't be desperate!” He yelled, surprising me.

I was stunned for a moment, but then I covered my mouth with my palm as I sobbed. I stared at him intently, even though my vision was blurred by tears. “P-Please, Mateo,” I begged. “Let's start over—”

“Just leave, Chloe! This conversation is over.” After saying that, he spun around and stormed out of the kitchen.

I was left in tears. My knees weakened, and I slowly fell to the marble floor. I couldn't stop crying, my palms clenched tightly.

He can't avoid me now. I will do whatever it takes to end his relationship with Ana! I am the only woman who is right for him, his true love. Just me and no one else!

My jaw tightened as I stared at his back. I quickly wiped my tears, and before he could leave the kitchen, I spoke again.

“If you can't be with me, you can't be with Ana either,” I said, causing him to stop walking and look at me. I stood up from the floor. “I'm going to make her pay! You know what I'm capable of, Mateo!” I grinned at him.

Suddenly, his eyebrows furrowed at my words.

He stepped back towards me from where he was standing and suddenly grabbed me by the neck.

“Don't you dare do that, Chloe. I will end you!”

But I just laughed at his threat. I even bit my lower lip to provoke him.

“Mateo! Mateo! Mateo! I know you still desire me,” I said.

He quickly let go of me and pushed me away. “Stop it, Chloe! Just leave!”

I laughed again. “Make love to me, Mateo. I won't reveal all your secrets to Ana.”

His eyebrows furrowed for a moment before he grinned mischievously at me.

“Oh, so now you're threatening me?”

Suddenly, the smile on my face disappeared, and I stared at him seriously. “Yes, Mateo,” I said. “Because you're mine! Ana stole you from me. That woman—”

I stopped talking when he slapped me hard. I frowned as I held my cheek with one hand.

“M-Mateo?” I stammered.

“Do you really want me, Chloe?” asked Mateo. “I will f—ck you if that's what you want.” After saying that, he forcefully pulled me towards the guest room and pushed me onto the bed. “Is this what you want, Chloe? I will f—ck you until you can't walk anymore.” Mateo grinned at me, then kissed me aggressively, recklessly.

“M-Mateo—” I struggled to breathe properly under his forceful kisses. I was hurt by his aggressive actions because of Ana.

“I love my Ana, Chloe! I love her.”

I closed my eyes and let the tears stream down my face. But then, we both stopped when we heard a noise. When I opened my eyes and looked at the door, I saw Ana. She was looking at Mateo and me in shock. She was crying. As Mateo moved away from me, I discreetly wiped the tears from my face.

Oh, I love this scene!

“You're insane! How could you do this to me?!”

Mateo was shocked and rushed to leave the room to approach Ana.

“A-Ana!”

“What are you doing?” her voice trembled.

I raised my eyebrows as I looked at her.

“Don't come near me!” she said firmly, slightly backing away from Mateo. “How could you do this to me, Mateo?” she asked through tears. After a moment, she looked at me. Her eyes filled with anger.

I smiled foolishly at her.

“How could you, Chloe? You're my best friend! You're disgusting!” she said, full of anger, then quickly turned and walked out of the house.

Mateo was about to follow her, but I hurriedly went after him to stop him. “Don't leave me, Mateo. Don't go after her!”

But he pulled his arm away from my grasp. I saw the tension in his jaw as he looked at me. “Leave, Chloe.” he told me firmly.

“But, Mateo—”

But he didn't listen and turned his back, leaving me in the guest room.

Later, I grinned as I looked at the closed door. I ran my fingers through my messy hair, then quickly took out my cellphone and called Mommy Caridad.

“Hello, Mom.”

“Don't worry, I'll take care of her,” I heard her say from the other line.

I grinned again. Good! Because I really don't want to see her anymore. Our relationship with Mateo will not be disturbed anymore.

Mateo is all mine!

END OF FLASHBACK ***

He shouldn't know what happened then. It was five years ago, and what happened then can't be undone. Because the secrets of the past are buried forever. Ana is gone, and she's not coming back.

“Mateo!”

“What?” he asked seriously. “Can you leave me alone, Chloe?”

I sighed and was forced to leave the room in irritation.

Today is Ana's fifth death anniversary, that's why he's acting like that again. Every year, when the anniversary of Ana's death comes around, he is always like that as he hugs the picture of that woman.

I was about to throw away Ana's things, but he always caught me, and we argued about it. Ana is gone, so he should not mourn the death of someone long dead. He should focus on me because I'm by his side. I'm his wife.

When our telephone rang, I stopped walking and answered it.

“Hello!”

“Chloe.”

To calm myself down, I took a few deep breaths. “Mom?”

“Did Mateo complete the business transaction with Don Martin?”

“No, mom. Don Martin left so suddenly that there was no chance to talk about Mateo's business proposal.”

I also heard her sigh from the other line. “We will need him in the next election!”

I closed my eyes. Mateo and I still have a problem. “Okay fine, Mom, I'll tell Mateo.”

“No. I mean, go to the lunch meeting to talk to Don Martin instead of Mateo.”

“But—”

“Just this once, Chloe.”

I sighed again. “Fine!” I have to agree with what she said.

I immediately hung up the phone after we talked.

That meeting is important, but why do I need to go there to have a meeting with Don Martin?

THE NEXT DAY, Mateo was still quiet and didn't talk to me, so our son asked what was wrong with his father.

I can't answer my son's question because Mateo still doesn't want to talk. He also doesn't want to eat, and all he does is drink, so his work goes to me.

I went to the restaurant where Don Martin and my husband had a meeting to talk about Mateo's business proposal.

When I entered the restaurant, I immediately saw Don Martin seated at a table. He seemed impatient to wait for me. I adjusted my clothes for a moment before I walked towards him with a smile on my lips.

While walking, I couldn't help but stare at him. I can't deny that he is handsome and has a good physique. As I got closer to him, I couldn't stop myself from swallowing my saliva.

“Hi, Don Martin!” When I reached his table, I greeted him with a smile. “I'm Mateo's wife.” I introduced myself and extended my hand, but he only gave me a serious look. Later, he nodded.

I suddenly felt shy when I noticed that people were looking in our direction, especially the women at the other table.

I cleared my throat and smiled at him again. “I came here to talk to you instead of my husband coming to meet you. He's busy right now,” I told him. I know he is wondering why I went to the meeting he and Mateo were supposed to have.

“Have a seat,” he said.

I immediately sat in a chair in front of him. He didn't hesitate and immediately started talking about what we needed to discuss.

I explained Mateo's business proposal to him properly. But later, when I lifted my face to look at him, I was slightly surprised to find him staring at me seriously.

Damn! He is really attractive.

“D-Don Martin?” I stammered.

He raised his eyebrows and suddenly smiled at me.

“Are you Chloe, the famous model?”

I was stunned for a moment while staring at his charming smile.

Damn, stop it, Chloe, you're married! I reminded myself.

“Are you interested in me?”

“W-what?” I was surprised by his question. I didn't expect him to ask me that.

“Mrs. Villalobos, you're drooling.”

Fuck! Why did he say that?

I secretly let out a deep breath and then looked away from him. “Don Martin, let's focus our time on the important matter we are discussing instead of other things.” I forced my voice and expression to be serious and looked at him again. But it was wrong that I met his eyes again, especially when I saw him smile at me foolishly once more.

Oh, damn! What's wrong with you, Chloe?

“Do you want us to go somewhere else before we talk about that matter?”

What does he mean by that? Is he flirting with me?

I cleared my throat again and stared at him seriously. “I have a husband, Don Martin,” I told him.

He grinned again and nodded because of what I said. “I know. But—” he paused.

What does he think of me? That I'm cheap and easy to get, just like that? He's insane.

“Don Martin, I'm here to talk about my husband's business proposal to you, not to go with you to another place and do the thing you're thinking about right now.” I said to him seriously. Thereafter, I also let out a deep breath.

“Yeah, we will talk about your husband's business proposal if you accept my offer to you now,” he said as he leaned back in his chair and stared at me even more intently. “I will review the proposal later.”

Suddenly, I raised an eyebrow and thought because of what he said. Maybe this is the right way for me to get him to agree to Mateo's business proposal.

I LET OUT A DEEP SIGH and clenched my fists as I waited for Martin to come out of the shower!

“Oh, Chloe! You probably did the right thing today, right? I mean, it's for your husband's business,” I said to myself. Later, I started pacing back and forth.

Oh, God! I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't do this because I promised Mateo that I would change.

“Shall we?”

I was stunned and turned to him when he came out of the bathroom. I also stared at his body when I saw he was just covered with a towel. God, I knew he had a beautiful body. His body is more attractive than my husband's.

I couldn't stop myself from swallowing my saliva while looking at him.

Oh, Chloe! What is happening to you?

Later, he walked closer to me, and without saying a word, he grabbed my waist and nape and without hesitation, he claimed my lips.

I closed my eyes tightly. Damn it. Why did I let him kiss me? Why do I like the way he kisses me? I couldn't stop myself from responding to his kisses.