Theressa's mind was still clouded with Justin's words, their weight pressing down on her with an inexplicable heaviness. Despite her efforts to push them aside, they lingered, gnawing at her subconscious like a persistent ache that refused to fade.
As she made her way back to Marcelo's mansion, exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders. She longed for nothing more than to retreat to her room and collapse into bed, to let the soothing embrace of sleep wash away the day's troubles. But duty called, and she had promised Marcelo a report on the day's activities.
The mansion's opulent tiles felt cool beneath her feet as she glided through the corridors, her footsteps echoing in the silence of the empty halls. Her hand reached out to push open the door to Marcelo's office, expecting to find him waiting for her inside. But instead, she was met with the sound of another voice.
Curiosity piqued, Theressa paused just outside the door, her ears straining to catch the conversation within. She recognized George's voice.
Theressa's heart pounded in her chest as she listened to the conversation unfolding inside Marcelo's office. She knew she shouldn't be eavesdropping, that it was wrong to pry into their private discussions. But something compelled her to stay, to listen to every word that passed between Marcelo and George.
As George's laughter echoed through the room, Theressa's brows furrowed in confusion. What were they talking about? And why did she feel like she was somehow involved?
Marcelo's voice cut through the air, his tone betraying a hint of amusement. "You really never change," he remarked, his words sending a shiver down Theressa's spine. What did he mean by that?
And then came the question that sent a chill coursing through Theressa's veins. "So when is your little obsession going to end?" Marcelo inquired, his tone dripping with intrigue.
Theressa's mind raced as she tried to make sense of the conversation. Was Marcelo talking about her? Was she the object of his obsession?
Before she could dwell on the thought for too long, Marcelo's response brought her crashing back to reality. "Not anytime soon," he replied smoothly. "She's very useful to me."
Theressa's heart sank at his words, a wave of disappointment washing over her. She had hoped that Marcelo saw her as more than just a pawn in his games, but now it seemed that she had been fooling herself all along.
Summoning all her courage, Theressa flung open the door to Marcelo's office, her eyes flashing with determination. "Who exactly are you talking about?" she demanded, her voice trembling with emotion.
But even as the words left her lips, Theressa knew the answer. There was no doubt in her mind that she was the subject of their conversation, that she was nothing more than a tool to be used and discarded at Marcelo's whim.
George's incredulous voice only served to confirm her suspicions. "So she's just like every other toy?" he questioned, his frustration palpable.
Theressa's heart clenched at the words, the sting of betrayal cutting deep. She had thought that Marcelo cared for her, that there was something more between them than mere convenience. But now she knew the truth-that she was nothing more than a pawn in Marcelo's twisted game. And as the realization sank in, Theressa felt a coldness settle over her, the warmth of trust and affection replaced by a bitter sense of betrayal.
Theressa's world seemed to crumble around her as Marcelo's words echoed in her mind. "Theressa is not a toy," he had insisted, but his reassurance did little to ease the pain that gnawed at her heart. The realization that Marcelo saw her as nothing more than a pawn in his schemes cut deep, leaving her feeling hollow and betrayed.
But it was George's incredulous question that stung the most. "But you have no feelings for her," he had remarked, his tone tinged with both astonishment and frustration. Theressa felt as though she had been punched in the gut, the words a harsh reminder of her place in Marcelo's world.
Marcelo's response only served to drive the knife deeper. "I care for her and that's all there is," he had affirmed, his words devoid of any hint of warmth or affection. It was a bitter pill for Theressa to swallow, the realization that she meant so little to the man she had once trusted with her heart.
Unable to bear the weight of their conversation any longer, Theressa swung the door open, her emotions raw and unfiltered. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, her heart aching with a pain she couldn't begin to articulate. Every part of her body felt like it was on fire, the intensity of her emotions threatening to consume her from within.
Ignoring George's exclamation of her name, Theressa focused solely on Marcelo, her expression carefully composed, a mask to hide the turmoil raging inside her. She refused to meet his gaze, her eyes fixed on a button on his shirt as she approached him with measured steps.
"These are the reports for today," Theressa announced, her voice steady despite the turmoil roiling within her. "I'll write a plan and send it to your email. Sir." The word felt bitter on her tongue, a reminder of the vast chasm that lay between them.
"And I'll be needing some guards at my house since I will be working there from now on," she continued, her tone clipped and businesslike as she turned her back to Marcelo, unable to bear the weight of his gaze any longer.
Theressa froze in her tracks as Marcelo's voice called out to her. It was a familiar pattern, one she had grown accustomed to over time. She always gave him another chance, always allowed herself to be drawn back into his orbit despite the constant uncertainty that clouded their relationship.
As George exited Rodriguez's office, leaving her alone with Marcelo, Theressa felt a pang of unease settle in the pit of her stomach. She should have been following George, preparing to leave for the day. But instead, she found herself standing before Marcelo once again, unable to tear herself away from his presence.
"You can't leave," Marcelo declared, his words tinged with a hint of desperation. "I promised Mary to look after you."
Theressa scoffed inwardly at his words. Since when had she become Marcelo's responsibility? She knew he cared about her in his own way, but it was not the kind of care she desired from him. A part of her couldn't shake the feeling that Marcelo's concern for her was driven more by duty than genuine affection.
"Tell me you love me," Theressa blurted out, unable to contain the question that had been gnawing at her for so long. Marcelo's silence spoke volumes, confirming her worst fears.
"I don't," Marcelo admitted, his voice weary as he rubbed his eyes. Theressa felt a sharp pang of hurt pierce her heart, but she swallowed it down, refusing to let Marcelo see how much his words had wounded her.
"You don't want to accept your feelings for me," Theressa countered, her voice tinged with bitterness as tears welled up in her eyes. Marcelo's dismissal only served to drive home the harsh reality of their situation.
"I'll send Teddy and the rest over. You seem exhausted," Marcelo said, already turning away from her to return to his seat.
Theressa nodded numbly, her heart heavy with the weight of unrequited love. She knew deep down that Marcelo would never love her the way she longed to be loved, but it didn't make the pain any easier to bear.
As she left Marcelo's office, regret weighed heavily on her shoulders. She had allowed herself to hope, to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could be different between them. But now, faced with the cold reality of Marcelo's indifference, Theressa couldn't help but wonder if Justin had been right all along.
Alone and heartbroken, Theressa felt a wave of despair wash over her. There was no one to comfort her, no one to hold her close and tell her that everything would be alright. She was utterly and completely alone in her pain, with no way to escape the crushing weight of her unrequited love.
Theressa sank to the floor outside Rodriguez's office, her heart heavy with sorrow and regret. Tears stained her cheeks as she grappled with the pain of rejection and unrequited love. Her phone buzzed with a notification, and for a moment, she considered ignoring it, wanting nothing more than to shut out the world and wallow in her misery.
But something compelled her to unlock her phone and read the message. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw that it wasn't from her mother, but from Anne. Theressa's mind raced as she read the single word on the screen: "Help!"
Adrenaline surged through her veins at the urgency of Anne's message. Without a second thought, Theressa wiped away her tears and sprang into action. She knew she couldn't ignore Anne's plea for assistance, even if it meant putting herself in harm's way.
Theressa had totally forgotten she would always be the main target.