Chapter 4

It was around 6:00 in the evening when I woke up. I immediately got out of bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. As I went through my usual routine and got dressed, I heard a knock on my bedroom door. I opened it and saw a maid in a uniform, who appeared to be in her late 20s.

 

"Miss, they're already having dinner. Senyor and Senyora are waiting for you in the dining area," she said.

"Alright, I'll go down. And please, don't call me 'senyorita.' It's embarrassing because we're almost the same age," I replied with a smile. "By the way, what's your name?"

 

"Excuse me, but Senyora and Senyor would get upset if I don't address you as 'senyorita.' Since you're Senyorito Robert's wife, we should call you 'senyorita,'" she explained. "By the way, my name is Ann. I'm one of the maids here. If you need anything, you can ask me." She smiled back at me. I returned the smile and we made our way to the dining area. As we walked, I took note of the different parts of the house, trying to familiarize myself with the layout.

The size of the house was overwhelming, and the spiral staircase had an elegant design that added to its grandeur.

When we reached the dining area, I saw Mommy Maine, Daddy Leo, and Kuya Robert, my husband, waiting for me. I was a bit embarrassed as it seemed like they had been waiting for me.

"Good evening," I greeted them. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting." I spoke with a hint of shyness, avoiding direct eye contact with Kuya Robert.

"Oh, you're finally here. No problem, I didn't tell you the dinner time in the house," Mommy Main reassured me with a smile. "Please, have a seat next to your husband, Jane. Robert, pull out a chair for your wife." Daddy Leo instructed Robert

"Tsk. Tsk. She can do it herself, Dad," Robert responded with a grumpy tone.

"It's okay, I can handle it," I said, feeling a bit embarrassed. I quickly pulled out the chair and sat down, wincing slightly as Daddy Leo disapproved of his son's behavior.

"Jane, I thought you were still studying. Are you still attending classes?" Mommy Maine asked me. "Yes, Mommy, I have classes starting on Monday," I replied.

"What year are you in and what course are you taking?" Mommy Maine inquired. "I'm a college senior, taking up BSA (Bachelor of Science in Accountancy) at Saint John University," I answered. "You won't be going to school anymore. It's not necessary because I can support you," Robert interrupted.

"What? You're not going to continue studying? Robert, did you actually say that? Why would you stop her from pursuing her education? It's not right to restrict her from doing what she wants. Let your wife follow her dreams and continue her studies, regardless of your objections," Mommy Maine firmly responded.

"I'm sorry, Mom, but this time, I'll be the one making the decisions. And if you insist, I'll have to move Jane to a different house to ensure that my decision is accepted," Robert declared.

"How dare you! Are you threatening your own mother, Robert? Leo, take a look at your son's attitude. Is he really our child?" Mommy Maine exclaimed, anger evident in her voice. "No one is leaving this house without my consent. There's no reason to take your wife to another house. I know what's going on in your mind. If you insist, Jane and I will stay here to protect her from anything you might do." Daddy Leo responded firmly.

Robert didn't say anything in response, his face filled with intense anger that he couldn't express due to his deep respect for his parents. He stood up after a while and excused himself to leave the room.

You could see the intense anger on Kuya Robert's face, unable to express it fully due to his great respect for his parents. "Just ignore your husband for now, Jane. We'll take care of your education. You'll finish the course you want, even if your husband objects," Mommy Maine said affectionately. "Okay, let's eat. Let's just ignore Robert for now. Eventually, he'll accept everything. Don't mind him for now, my dear. Focus on yourself, especially on your studies," Daddy Leo said.

"Thank you, Mommy. Thank you, Daddy," I said with a smile. I couldn't believe how well they accepted me. Their behavior was completely different from what I was used to.

 

We finished eating and now I'm in my room getting ready to sleep. I'm grateful that my in-laws are kind to me. They'll be taking care of my education, which I'm very thankful for. Mang Noel will pick me up and take me to school, even though I objected, but Mommy and Daddy didn't want me to have a hard time. They even gave me a bundle of cash, a thousand each, for my allowance. They also included an ATM card in my name. I hesitated to accept these gestures, but they insisted. Mommy Maine handed me a hundred thousand in cash, and I'm not sure how much is in the ATM card. I guess I'll check it when I go to the bank. It's astounding how wealthy they are. Mommy Maine mentioned that they often travel abroad, and she reminded me to let them know when my allowance runs out. But in my mind, even after I finish my studies, the allowance they have given me is more than enough. Thank you, Lord, for their kindness. They treat me as if I were their own child.

 

I fell asleep but woke up to the sound of someone in my room. The lampshade next to my bed was open, and I sat up in surprise, trying to see who was there...

 

" Robert?" I blurted out. I couldn't understand how he managed to enter my room, as far as I could remember, I had locked the door before going to sleep.

 

"Are you happy? All my plans to make you suffer were ruined because Mommy is here," he grabbed me by the chin and forced me to look at him.

 

I could smell the alcohol on his breath, and I was hurt by the way he was holding me.

 

"Kuya, please..." I tried to speak, but he cut me off. "Stop calling me Kuya, bitch!" he said angrily. He pushed me down on the bed, and I quickly got up and sat at the edge.

 

"I'm not related to you, so stop calling me Kuya. If you think you can escape my anger just because Mommy is here, you're mistaken," he said, moving closer to my face and staring into my eyes.

 

"I'll find a way. Do you know how much pain you caused me and Alice? You're the reason why she broke up with me," he said with anger in his voice.

 

"I'm sorry, Kuya..."

 

"Don't call me Kuya. How many times do I have to tell you? How weak are you, Jane?" he said with fury. "Call me Robert, do you understand?" he said, raising his voice. "Robert... Sorry, I didn't know... I didn't even realize that we were in bed together," I sobbed.

 

"Do you think I'll believe you? No, Jane, Alice mentioned to me that you've had a secret crush on me for a long time. That's probably why you found a way to separate us," he said angrily.

 

"What did you put in my drink? Why did I wake up in your room?" I asked, my shoulder hurt from his grip, and it was painful.

 

"I have no relation to you, so don't keep calling me Kuya. You're wrong if you think you can escape my anger just because Mommy is here," he said, pushing me away and turning his back to me.

 

I was in tears at his words. I knew no matter how much I tried to explain what had happened, he wouldn't believe me. I stayed silent, crying.

 

"Shit! Bullshit! Stay there! You're so dramatic. Next time, don't you dare play these games with me, understand? Next time, you won't be able to escape from me. Fulfill your duties as my wife in bed! At least that way I can get back at you! Don't worry, you'll enjoy it too. But for now, I've lost interest!" he shouted before storming out of my room.

 

Tears welled up in my eyes and streamed down my face. I was scared. I knew he meant what he said. "Huhuhu" What will I do now? What has happened to my life? I don't even have anyone to confide in about my problems. I don't want to tell my friends about this yet. They would surely be shocked by the news.