Chapter 373 - A Bond That Bind Us - mdfour
Simón
Milena looked at Dante, who was being hugged by all his brothers and his father.
"They said really awful things to Liam, even Enrique the elder and Melisa got involved."
Milena spoke, and I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. While she keeps her hair cut to mid-neck, Andrea's reaches almost to her waist. They say Enrique the elder and Enrique to differentiate between Gustavo's son and Roland's son.
"Did you fight, Andrea?" She rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I can spend all day in front of a mirror, but you know I can fight if they mess with my little tick." She ruffled Sergio's hair. "Or with my annoying sister." Milena pushed her. "I'll bring out my claws."
"Even if it ruins your nail polish?" One teased the other. I hugged all three of them.
"I love you."
"We thought you'd be mad."
"You won't get off scot-free either. Your mom will make you do something."
"I knew that much beauty couldn't be true." I headed to the car with them. But before we got in, Roland called us.
"Excuse me!" We stopped. "I'm going to take the liberty of imposing a punishment that will be a collective test, which will be executed in eight or ten years." What is he up to? We all looked at each other, and seeing him smile, he continued. "This simply gives me hope to pass on a legacy that can be handed down from father to son."
The adults nodded. It would be nice if one of my kids belonged to the elite of Checkmate.
"In a few years, you'll know that was the consequence of what happened here today. We need to include more members. For now, I'm off to the movies with my intruders and my princess."
"Daddy, I want to go to the movies too." I sighed; I can't say no to my girls.
"Let's go to the movies. I'll just call Mom to let her know; she's very worried."
……
Gustavo
We all decided to go to the movies. First, I stopped by the hotel where my sister was staying.
"Are you staying here, or are you coming down to say hello to your aunt?"
I looked at my sons. Enrique, almost nineteen, is finishing high school this year and wants to study economics. Jacobo is about to turn eleven.
"Are you going to take long?" I looked at Enrique. "Dad, if my aunt is here, it's because she fought with my uncle Alfredo. You'll talk about important things."
"You're right."
"Daddy, I'm thirsty."
I looked at Jacobo. There was a café across the street. I gave them some money, and while they had something to eat, I talked with my little duck. I entered the hotel. As soon as Alfredo left the ranch, I stayed and talked a lot with old Josefina. I thought it was honest and honorable to face the situation.
I can't mix things up. I know Patricia adores him. But no one can force anyone to love you. They let love fade, or maybe they're confused, or as my mother said, one didn't fight, and the other settled.
Patricia accepted everything from Alfredo. It never cost him anything to have her love. She was my sister, but there are consequences for accepting everything. I wish my Queen were that docile... I got the toughest one of all.
"Good morning, room three hundred nine, please."
"Go ahead, please."
I went up the stairs. When I reached the door, I knocked. My little sister was there with swollen eyes, in pajamas, and looking disheveled.
"I know I'm in a bad place right now."
"Life goes on, sis." I hugged her tightly. "I'll always be here." We entered the room. "Time doesn't stop, Patricia. Move forward. Don't spend too much time lamenting. You're a psychologist."
"I know."
"Was he rude?" She shook her head.
"He never really loved me. He cared a lot, and I foolishly thought my love was enough for both of us. I’m more to blame than he is. Despite everything, he was honest and chose to end things with me. I guess now he can be with the other woman. Did he talk to you?"
"Yes, and with Mom."
"I feel like I wasted my time."
"Did you learn anything from your relationship with him?"
"A lot."
"Then you didn’t waste your time, Patico. You gained experience. Do you want to go to the movies?"
"With the way I look right now and at this hour?"
"Your nephews started a commotion at school. We don't know if they’re going to get expelled."
"But Enrique is graduating this year."
"Let's hope they just get a suspension."
"I want to stay in. I’ll get back to my life on Monday. Right now, I’m licking my wounds so I can come out stronger."
"Here." I pulled out a list of apartments I had found while talking with Mom. "See which one you like, let me know, and we’ll rent it. I won't tell her I'm going to gift it to her because she won't accept it."
"I'll look at them later and let you know. Thanks." She hugged me again.
"Thank God there are no kids involved; it would be more painful." She leaned on my shoulder.
"It’s going to be so hard to see him. Tell Mom I’ll visit her next weekend."
"Do you have a car?" She shook her head, and I frowned.
"That was Alfredo’s. I never had anything," she confirmed.
I kissed her on the forehead. "Check out the apartments so we can start the paperwork tomorrow. The sooner you get it, the better." She clung to me, and all I could do was hug her. She started crying again, and I kissed her hair as she did.
"I love you so much, sis. Everything will pass. You’ll see, something good will come out of all this. You’re a beautiful, brilliant, intelligent woman. Alfredo didn’t see it, but he wasn’t obligated to love you. Somewhere out there is a man who will love you the way you want."
I left Patricia more resigned. We arrived at the mall where everyone was waiting for the movie. We bought as much food as my kids wanted, and the comedy was really good. Afterward, everyone went their separate ways. Life can change at any moment.
……
Patricia
I woke up very early. It was Monday, and I had to go to work. In the afternoon, Tavo would pick me up at the office to sign the lease papers for one of the apartments he asked me to choose. I had talked a lot with Mom, as well as with Gladis and my other two sisters. By now, everyone knew about my breakup with Alfredo.
But that wasn’t my biggest fear. What I was really worried about was what I was waiting for. My period was supposed to come on Saturday, but it didn’t. I needed to know for sure, which is why I bought three pregnancy tests last night, waiting for the right time to check the results.
If I was pregnant, I would tell him. He would continue with his life, and I with mine. I had begged him enough. Accepting what he gave me was the same as begging him not to leave me. I looked at the clock. It was time. My hands were sweating. I hoped I wasn’t.
I went to the hotel bathroom counter. A cold shiver ran through my body, and my heart pounded wildly. All three tests had two lines. I closed my eyes. Now there would be a bond that would unite us forever, even if we didn’t love each other, even if we had separate lives. We had a child that would bind us. I touched my belly. I had wanted to have a child for so long. And because of my condition, it was hard to conceive.
"Don’t worry, little one. Mommy’s here." No matter what, he had to know he was going to be a father… But what if I kept it a secret?