Chapter Four: Margarita Montero

Third Person's POV

Marissa went to their bags so they could go now to the company. She helped him prepare the things before they went to the car parked in a lot. Her boss was silent the whole time while driving, and she could sense that if she spoke up, she would be thrown out of the car. They were in the middle of an intense silence until they reached the company and the floor’s office.

“Mom?” he called the moment he opened the door. “Are you here?”

Mrs. Margarita Montero was sitting on a sofa in the drawing area of the office. She only stood up elegantly when she saw Diego walking towards her. The old lady wore a white branded dress that had a golden belt which she paired with black heels. She also had golden accessories, and her brown hair was also flailing. If Marissa did not know that she was the great Margarita Montero, she would have thought that the old lady was a former model or a celebrity that quit showbiz for a long time. Marissa closed the door as she watched the two hugging each other with motherly-son love. No matter how tempting to avoid her gaze, she did not and quietly strides her way inside.

“My dear son,” Mrs. Montero said while releasing her son and holding his cheek. “I am glad to see you today.”

“Me, too. I’ve missed you…” Diego said and smiled at his mother.

“Have you eaten? Were you from work?”

“I still have not eaten, and yes, I came from work,” the madame answered.

Marissa was itching to go outside the office so that they could have a moment, but she could not do it without the permission of her boss. That is why she just busied herself walking towards the bookshelves and pretended to arrange the books and magazines. After the two had a brief talk, Diego guided Madame Margarita to sit again. A tray of teas was already on the coffee table which must have been served by Ms. Gonzaga.

“Mom, there is something that you should know,” Diego said intensely.

“What is it?” Mrs. Montero asked with a smile.

Diego inhaled sharply as if he was already preparing himself to tell a huge news.

“Dad is cheating on you,” he revealed which made Marissa’s breath pause. “I have proof! It might hurt you, but it is the truth. You have to listen to me and sign an annulment. I don’t want you being with him anymore!”

Marissa looked over a well-known novel and caressed her fingers on its back. She could hear Diego's heavy breathing and desperation as he revealed what he knew. She expected the old lady to react impulsively like normal wives do when they finally know that their husbands are cheating. Instead, the office fell silent, so she had to take a look again. Mrs. Margarita Montero was only sipping on her tea calmly, while Diego was clenching his fists and his shoulders were tense due to his heavy and angry breathing. After she dropped the cup of tea on the marble table, she slowly smiled and looked at her son.

“I know,” the lady said and tilted her head in a witty way. “Your dad might have failed to hide it from you now.”

“W-What?” Diego mumbled.

“Son, I know you are not ignorant when it comes to these things,” Mrs. Montero stated. “There are certain times that our marriage was never perfect. Your dad and I also make mistakes. I have an uncontrollable attitude; while he drools over pathetic women.”

Marissa smirked at how the old lady described the woman her husband was taking with her.

“I know, but I could never believe that he would also do things against your marriage, and especially you. He is betraying you, and the public knows how respectful and a man of honor he is-“

“Son, calm down.”

"I will not forgive him-“

“I am dying, Diego!”

After Mrs. Montero raised her voice and said her statement, Diego hung his mouth and looked at his mother. The elegant lady inhaled sharply and her face tightened as if it was the thing she was afraid of the most. Even Marissa blinked because of what the madame just said. It was like watching a telenovela.

“What are you saying?” Diego muttered under his breath. “What do you mean that you are dying?”

“I have cancer,” his mother revealed, “and I am going to die soon. I always have annual checkups for my health since I am aware of my family’s history regarding our health. It seems that the cancer passed down to me. And it was medically confirmed just three years ago that the cancer will soon grow in my body, and now, it is already happening, Diego…”

Diego indulgently shook his head and did not hesitate to kneel in front of his mother. He coped both of her knuckles and kissed them as if begging. Even though he was turning his back to Marissa, she could easily tell he was being vulnerable in front of Madame Margarita. Her heart clenched because of the scene in which she tightly held the book on her chest.

“M-Mom,” Diego called and his voice was trembling. “I want you to tell me that you are merely lying. Stop saying that you are going to die. You are the strongest woman that I know, and I look up to you a lot. I… I cannot bear to lose you…”

“I am not lying, son,” his mother said and even chuckled sweetly. “I got this chronic disease from the blood of my family and it cannot be stopped when it starts. Do you think I also want this disease? No.”

“Does Dad know about this?” Diego muttered.

“Yes,” madame answered.

Marissa observed the CEO almost losing it as he stood up and snapped his forehead. He paced back and forth frantically, not knowing what to say. She felt sorry for him. When she looked at the old lady, she was not blinking and her smile was just on her lips. Cheating on a spouse is a lot of a big deal to her. She might have not experienced it personally, but she is aware of how painful it is to have someone you love who betrays you in the end. It is just so sad.

“Is that why he cheated on you because he knows you are dying?” Diego asked when he confronted his mother again.

Madame Margarita nodded again, “I let him because I love him,” she answered. “When he knew about my disease, he was also devastated, just like you. He could not understand why I was leaving that soon. He could not stand being alone. That is why, he found another company he can enjoy with. And that new woman of his life is his coping mechanism to survive when I am gone.”

“Coping mechanism? Has he gone mad? That is just some stupid bullshit!”

“Diego, you have to understand that your dad loves me very much. I also want the best for him when I am gone,” the madame said in teary-eyed. “Only one thing can divert his attention from his woman, and only you can give it.”

But Diego was not listening anymore. He was just straightly staring at the huge transparent windows in his office. Marissa could not do anything but watch her boss processing everything he knew about his parents in one day.

He is a stressful boss, but he does not deserve to know this bad news at all. No one deserves it. He might be a grown-up now, but betrayal and the leaving of two persons in his life are devastating and frustrating.

The madame stepped forward behind Diego and hugged him warmly. Marissa bowed her head and turned her back so she could focus on the shelves, instead. Her heart was constricting, but no tears were falling from her eyes. She heard Diego cuss under his breath, and even though Marissa was out of this, she also started building up anger towards her boss’ father.

This is so unfair to Diego’s mother and to also Diego!

Tightening the grip on the book Marissa was holding, she shut her eyes tightly and took a deep breath again she could not count on doing it in just one day.