Chapter 94
Juan was completely disconcerted by the call from his fiancée. The conversation was calm, but Juan's mind was in shambles. He knew that if she found out he had been involved with his boss, she would never forgive him. The weight of this secret consumed him, and he struggled to maintain his composure, fully aware that the truth, if revealed, could ruin everything he had with her.
Juan left the staff house and headed to the garden, trying to focus on his work, but his mind was agitated. He was cutting the flowers carelessly, which caught Matias’s attention. Concerned, Matias approached and asked:
“Why are you like this? Look at how you're cutting those flowers; what’s wrong with you, boy?” Maria said, taking the scissors from Juan's hands.
Juan, unable to contain his frustration, responded angrily: “Why are you doing this? You figured I lied to the boss and went ahead and called Mandy to come here. What did I do to you?”
Matias, surprised by the reaction, tried to calm the situation: “Don't talk nonsense, boy. I spoke with Mandy. She said she wanted to be near you. My niece cares so much about you that she doesn't think it's fair for you to come to another country and bear everything alone. She wants to help you. So don’t give me this, get your head together.”
Juan listened but refused to apologize, saying: “You’ll see that this was a bad idea. Mandy is a small-town girl; this country isn’t for her.”
Irritated, Matias replied: “Then let her decide for herself. My niece is an intelligent young woman; she knows what's best for her, not you. And don’t take your frustration out on the flowers. We’re paid to keep this garden immaculate.”
Matias walked away, leaving Juan alone in the garden. Still upset with the situation, Juan continued working without much enthusiasm, discomfort clear on his face.
---
Laura was so shaken by the news of Morgan's daughter being born that, after crying for hours, she eventually fell asleep. Fabian, beside her in the room, couldn’t stand seeing her friend in such a state. Nick entered the room and, seeing Laura asleep, asked:
“Is she okay?” looking at Fabian.
“If breathing means being okay, then she is,” Fabian responded with a curt tone.
“I don't understand,” Nick said, confused by the response.
“I'm going to the living room. Don’t disturb her; she’s very tired. The days have been hard for her,” Fabian said before leaving the room, leaving Nick alone with Laura.
As soon as Fabian left, she started grumbling about the situation. Nona, who was going to check if everything was all right, heard Fabian and approached her:
“Talking to yourself now?” Nona asked.
“Better talking to myself than shouting to the world everything that’s happening in this house,” Fabian responded, irritated.
“And what’s happening in this house?” Nona asked, not understanding.
“Starting with the fact that Laura is sacrificing herself in this marriage to keep Morgan from being killed.”
Nona put her hand over Fabian's mouth, asking her to speak quietly, and pulled her into a room for a more private conversation.
“What are you doing, Nona?” Fabian asked, surprised.
“Speak softly. You won’t tell anyone. Laura chose this path; we have to respect it.”
“Respect? She’s married to a psychopathic traitor, and we’re supposed to accept it? Morgan needs to know he’s going to be a father and that she was forced to marry Nick. He can’t think she gave up on what she feels for him.”
“Let’s not get involved.”
“How can you stay calm knowing everything she’s had to give up?”
“Who said I’m calm? I see on her face, all these months, the sadness of being away from him and having to lie even about the baby. She sacrificed herself for the love she felt for him. It’s hard for her. I gave my word I wouldn’t say anything, even though inside I’m suffering seeing her like this.”
“We’re cowards, that’s what this is called. I’m going out, I need to breathe a bit.”
“Don’t do anything stupid, Fabian, please.”
Fabian left Nona alone, went to the living room, grabbed the car keys, and left. Owen, who thought about going with her, noticed she left too quickly and commented to Daniel:
“What’s up with her? She didn’t even let me speak.”
“She seemed to be in a hurry,” Daniel replied.
---
Nona returned to the living room and, finding Owen and Daniel, asked:
“Where’s Fabian?”
“She left; she was in a hurry,” Daniel answered.
“What did she go to do? I offered to go with her, but she didn’t listen to me,” Owen commented, intrigued.
“She said she needed to get some fresh air, she felt trapped in the apartment,” Nona replied, trying to disguise the true concern Fabian was showing.
Fabian drove through the city during the day, with the sun shining and the streets busy around her. However, the daylight couldn’t brighten the heavy thoughts occupying her mind. As traffic flowed around her and people hurried past on the sidewalks, Fabian was immersed in memories of Laura's words.
Laura had revealed that the child she was expecting was Morgan's and that she had sacrificed herself by marrying Nick to ensure Morgan's survival. The weight of this revelation seemed to make the day even grayer for Fabian. The idea of Laura trapped in a forced marriage and away from the man she truly loved made the urban scene feel even more oppressive.
Fabian struggled to process the depth of Laura’s sacrifice and the injustice of the situation. The city continued its usual routine, but for Fabian, everything seemed out of sync with the sadness and inner turmoil she felt. She drove aimlessly, seeking a moment of peace amid the external chaos and internal confusion.
---
Fabian drove aimlessly for so long that she ended up at Morgan's company. After parking the car, she got out and entered the building, determined to tell Morgan the whole truth. However, upon reaching the reception area, she found Mattheo talking to one of the receptionists.
Mattheo noticed something was off and approached Fabian. He spoke to the receptionist and requested to attend to Fabian personally.
Fabian, visibly agitated upon seeing Mattheo, said: “What do you want?”
“Let's go to my office. We need to talk,” Mattheo replied, trying to stay calm.
“I have nothing to say to you. I only want to speak with Morgan,” she responded, starting to show rudeness.
“Please, just give me one minute,” Mattheo insisted, making a hand gesture.
“You have only one minute, nothing more,” Fabian agreed, with a firm tone, still determined to stick to her initial plan.
---
Mattheo led Fabian through the company corridors, his expression showing concern and curiosity about the reason for her unexpected visit. Fabian, with a stern and determined face, followed him, her body tense and her thoughts still tumultuous.
They arrived at Mattheo's office, a modern and well-lit space with elegant furnishings and a large dark wooden desk. Mattheo gestured for Fabian to sit in one of the chairs while he took his place behind the desk.
“Go ahead and speak,” Mattheo said, trying to maintain a calm and professional tone. “I’m listening.”
Fabian looked at him, her expression mixing frustration and desperation. “I don’t have time for pleasantries. I need to speak with Morgan now. It’s an urgent and personal matter.”
Mattheo watched her closely, understanding that the situation was more complex than he had anticipated. “I understand it’s urgent, but I can’t just let you go without knowing what’s happening. Can you tell me what it’s about? Maybe I can help.”
Fabian hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. The weight of the situation felt overwhelming, but she knew she needed to convey the gravity of it so Mattheo would understand the need to involve Morgan.
“I… I need to tell the truth about Laura and Morgan,” she finally said, her voice a bit softer but still tense. “It’s something that can’t wait.”
Mattheo frowned, realizing the situation was more complicated than he imagined. “I know you’re concerned about your friend’s happiness, but you can’t tell Morgan anything. The leaders of the other mafias are unhappy with him not fulfilling his role with Loren, which has led to conflicts. If you tell him that the marriage was to prevent him from being killed, he’ll go after Laura, and all her sacrifice will be in vain.”