75- From small lies to big truths

Rebeca

Oh, how exciting that feeling of anticipation, it's been a while since I've felt like that, it's really addictive and I've missed it, I didn't realize how much until now.

Planning the fall of an entire family can be interesting and a lot of fun, at least for me it is, but I've always been weird.

When they arrived in front of the house, police cars were parked and the employees hired to look after Anastasia's needs were muttering among themselves outside. As soon as they realized Sebastian's presence, they became quiet and lowered their heads. We passed them and entered the place, Anastasia's angry voice could be heard from afar, her usual indignant and unbearable timbre. I wish I could make her shut up, but that's not possible, I have to put on my fragile wife costume and I can't spoil my performance, even if she is an insufferable being, I can't spoil things, not now.

\- This is an outrage! How can you accuse me of trying to burn down a house, I didn't even know about it, how can you suspect me? - she shouts indignantly.

\- Ma'am, stay calm, these men are just doing their duty, if you have nothing to hide, please stay away and let them do their job, as soon as everything is cleared up and it's proven that it's nothing to do with you, they'll leave once and for all, please cooperate. - Ward asks.

His words are respectful and make perfect sense, but Anastasia is a person who hates to follow what others say.

\- It's obvious that this is a set-up. I bet they'll find something at any moment and frame me, how can I allow something like that? - she asks.

How can she be so careless? Her words make it clear how afraid she is that they'll find something and she uses it as if it were Sebastian's fault. In fact, it's a set-up, but Sebastian has nothing to do with it and there's no way she can get away with it.

We appear in front of her at that moment and her eyes fill with rage, I don't see Dante anywhere and I wonder what he's doing now and why he's not supporting his crazy, noisy mother.

\- Both of you! I'm sure it's your fault. You just waited for me to leave and set me up. - you accuse.

\- I don't know what you're saying, mother-in-law. I don't think you're to blame, but if you are, I'll be very sad. - I say with a certain fragility.

\- Don't pretend in front of me, you crazy bitch. I know you did it. - He rushes in front of me and Ward comes between us.

\- We found the device, it looks like a small detonator. You'll have to go to the police station with us and explain this. - the policeman shows the small device and I have to keep my surprised expression, even though I want to laugh right now.

\- This isn't mine, I didn't do it! - Anastasia rushes to defend her situation.

Now it's my time to shine.

\- How could you do that? You could have killed us. - I whimper. - I understand that you hate me deeply, after all, I disrupted your plans to marry Sebastian to your niece, but you never thought about what could happen to everyone and if the smoke hurt me, what would you do if I lost my son? - I make a show of crying. Silence fills the room and all that can be heard are my sobs.

Anastasia sits in shock as she hears my words.

\- No, it's not possible that you're pregnant. - she mutters.

\- Are you pregnant? - Sebastian asks at the same time, wide-eyed.

I nod as I wipe away my tears.

Right, I'm lying blatantly and wildly here, as I've already warned Sebastian beforehand, I hope he notices my trick here and doesn't think too much about it, just gets on with the theater in question, I can explain everything later, since I'm just improvising here. I have to make it look as much as possible like I'm a frail pregnant woman abused by a mother-in-law who hates me so deeply that she tried to kill me. I have to touch the hearts of these police officers who are following everything so closely, they have to sympathize with me.

Manipulation is a necessary evil here. To make Anastasia the villain, I have to be as miserable as possible.

\- I think we'd better leave now, it's not good for my wife to go through so many emotions. Anastasia, our bond ends now, seek help from your family, I won't help at all, since you've gone so far as to try to kill us, you're on your own. - Sebastian says in a harsh voice and walks away while she stays behind mumbling nonsense in a state of total shock.

I was pleased with the result of the work, I've certainly won the sympathy of those policemen, it will make things much easier and more favorable, now I just have to wait for the moment when Anastasia's family will start to move, their alliances will also show themselves and so, if anyone has been left out, it won't be long before they are taken down too.

Sebastian remained serious beside me, looking almost worried and I became alert. Did he not like my methods?

\- Are you all right? - I asked.

He stays quiet for a few seconds, looks at me, then back at the road.

\- When did you intend to tell me? - he asks.

\- Tell you what? - I say back confused.

\- About the pregnancy. - he says.

Oh, man.

I thought he'd remember my warning from earlier, now I realize that his seriousness is because he really believes I'm pregnant.

He'll be upset when I explain that it was a lie, I know he will, but he needs to know, I can't deceive him, I don't want to do that.

\- Oh, Sebastian, I'm sorry. It was all a lie to make the scene more moving, I'm not pregnant. - I say.

He stays quiet for a while longer and I start looking for softer ways to apologize and show that I'm sorry with the methods I've chosen.

\- How can you be so sure? - he asks.

\- I use contraceptives, I'd know if I was, and besides, my cycle is regular. - I say.

\- Are you sure? - he asks again.

What the hell is going on with him?

\- Sebastian, a woman knows these things. Why the hell are you asking me this? - Now I'm the one who's interested in hearing your answer.

\- Well, you've become more sensitive recently, your body also looks a bit different, your breasts look bigger and you're more sensitive to my touch. - she argues.

What the fuck?

\- And you think that's a reason to suspect pregnancy? Do you think I wouldn't notice if I was? - I'm starting to find this whole conversation ridiculous and unnecessary.

\- Yes, I do. And if you're so sure, why not do some tests and tell me you were right all along? - he challenges.

Son of a bitch, he knows how to push my buttons, he also knows that as a matter of honor, I won't let him get away with it and that I'm going to accept the challenge just to do exactly what he says I'm going to do.

\- All right, let's do some tests and I'll show you that I'm not pregnant. - I accept decisively.

I know very well that there is no child, it was just a harmless lie. Does he think I wouldn't recognize the signs of pregnancy in my own body? And what's this about my breasts getting bigger? They're the same size as they've always been, I think he's delusional. I didn't know he wanted a child that badly, in fact, we've never even talked about it, it's ridiculous that he should react this way just because I talked about a fake pregnancy.

I'm going to show him that I'm the only one who's right here.

I know my body better than anyone else, after all, it's my body.

We went to a pharmacy and agreed to buy three pregnancy tests, we chose the best ones available and after paying, we went back to his apartment, the atmosphere was tense, I grabbed the tests and immediately went to the bathroom, after reading the instructions, I did what was necessary and waited, I deliberately avoided looking at the tests until they were all ready, when the moment came, I looked first to check and already came out singing victory, but what awaited me was a big slap in the face and it was at that moment that I discovered that I know absolutely nothing about my body. I stared at the three tests unable to believe what I was seeing, this isn't possible, not by a long shot.

I can't believe it.

How can I not know my own body?

This is ridiculous!

It can't be.

I can't be pregnant.