Chapter 5

Darius' POV

I was stopped from getting up by a sudden headache. I sat up on the edge of the bed and instinctively clutched my head with my hand.

"Fuck this hangover."

How much did I drink last night that I just passed out? I couldn't even remember what happened. I grabbed the side table and was about to stand up when I noticed I wasn't alone in the bed.

I glanced around my surroundings. My eyes widened as I stared at the woman beside me. "Shit!"

I couldn't help but swear. It's Tessa, our maid's niece. She was lying on the bed, fast asleep.

"What the fuck happened?"

Like me, she was also naked. And now I could clearly see her beautiful and smooth body exposed to me.

Damn it! Why is this woman in my room? I suddenly froze when I noticed my surroundings. Oh, shit. I'm not in my room, and I think I'm in her room!

"Oh, fuck!" I groaned when I noticed the red stain on the bed. "She's a fucking virgin!"

I was about to stand up but I suddenly froze when I noticed something slowly waking up and saluting below me. Fuck! My body is reacting to this woman in front of me. Just thinking that she's a virgin when I got her, a sudden heat crawled through my body.

I was only interrupted from my thoughts when I heard a loud crash and the breaking of glass. When I turned my gaze to the bedroom door, I was stunned to see Martha's shocked face. She was with Manang Olga, Papa, and his wife, Magda.

"What is happening in here!" Papa stormed into the room, angry. "What the hell is happening, Darius!"

I glared as I sat in the dining room, facing the table. Everyone was here, including Martha, who was sitting silently beside me. She's not saying anything, but I know she's angry and hurting.

"This seems to be familiar," Papa began, which made me roll my eyes.

I knew what he was referring to was what happened to Daryl and Anika before. Fuck, no. He couldn't be thinking of doing that?

"Stop crying, hija."

Papa caught my attention again with his words. When I looked at where he was focused, I saw Tessa crying. She was wearing her maid's uniform again. I swallowed hard when I remembered what was under that uniform.

Damn it, Darius! Are you really thinking about that in the middle of this situation? Fuck!

"What really happened, Darius?" I looked at Papa at his question.

I had no answer because I didn't know what happened either. All I can remember is I was at the party, having a good time talking with the people around me.

"What? You can't remember?"

My breathing grew heavier at the way Papa looked at me. He's disappointed. Damn.

"Don Enrico," our eyes turned to Manang Olga when she spoke. "I know that we are just servants of your niece in your family, but even so, I raised Tessa properly. We may be poor, but we take care of our honor. What will people say?"

Papa sighed. "I know, Olga. You've been serving my family for a long time, and I consider Tessa like a daughter."

"What will happen to my niece, Don Enrico?"

All our eyes turned to Papa. I could barely swallow as I waited for his next words. And it felt like the sky fell on me with the words that came out of his mouth.

"Since the news about you and Martha hasn't been announced to everyone yet, you and Tessa will get married. You need to take responsibility for what happened before it spreads and our family name is tarnished again."

"But tito... "

Our attention turned to Martha. Her eyes were puffy and hurt was all over her face. I cursed myself several times in my mind because I knew I was the reason for her pain.

"I'm sorry, hija, I've already made up my mind." From Martha, Papa turned to me. "Darius, you're getting married to Tessa."

When we entered the guest room where Martha was staying, her tears finally flowed freely down her cheeks. She cried in silence while I stood there, unable to do anything to stop her pain.

I froze and became worried when I saw her go to the built-in cabinet and start taking her clothes and putting them in her suitcase.

"What are you doing?"

"Packing." She stopped what she was doing and turned slightly to me. "What do you expect? I'd stay here and watch you get married to someone else?"

She finally faced me. And I wanted to hurt myself when I saw the tears on her face. "Martha."

"Don't you love me anymore?"

I let out a heavy sigh. "Love. My feelings for you won't change. You know that."

"Then why? I'm here, why do you need to release your heat on another woman?"

I quickly approached her and took her by both arms. "I was drunk, Martha. I don't know what happened. If I was in my right mind, do you think I'd do that? No. Never. I consider Tessa like a younger sister."

She paused for a long time while looking at me. Tears kept falling from her eyes. I wiped those tears with my thumb, feeling sorry for her.

"What if we just leave?"

This time, I was the one who froze. I sadly averted my gaze. "I'm sorry."

"But Darius—"

"I promised my siblings that I wouldn't leave Papa. He's all I have left."

It broke me again when a tear fell from her eyes while she's looking at me, helplessly begging for me to choose her. Fuck, I hate making her cry.

"What about me? You're all I have left too. You promised me at my parents' grave."

"Martha." I tried to hug her but she avoided me.

"You can't do this to me. You promised me, Darius. You promised to marry me."

"And I will keep that promise."

Her face filled with confusion. "What do you mean?"

I took her hand and brought it to my heart. "Even if I get married to her, I won't love her, Martha. And time will come, we'll separate. When that time comes, I'll marry you."

Abundant tears flowed down her cheeks again. "Darius... "

"Can you wait for me?"

She took a deep breath after closing her eyes tightly. "How can I accept that the man I love most will marry another woman? Do you know how painful this is for me?"

I swallowed hard and nodded my head. "Yes, I know."

"But I'll be even more hurt if you leave completely. So even if it hurts, I'll wait."

I smiled at her words. I pulled her closer and kissed her on the forehead.