Chapter 72

Carlos was a man bent on exacting revenge, and he was willing to go any length to get it. Gladly, his chance came when his would-have-been in-law came up with a plan to send Aurelia to the convent against her consent. It made sense when Villalobos explained the convent was the best place to keep Aurelia.

He would love to watch Esmeralda feel the anguish of heartbreak. There would be those silent tears. His sister was not one to show her feelings. Even though she would keep things to herself, the pain she was going through would simmer beneath the surface.

Beside him in the passenger seat, Aurelia looked quiet, with her arms folded across her torso. They had not gotten far from her home, and he felt he should say something to dispel the silence. It was almost becoming awkward.

As though she was reading his mind, she said, “So, where are you taking me?”

“I was thinking to the beach? It is a weekday, and there wouldn’t be much people there today.”

“The water would do me much good. After being indoors for days, I need the outdoor air.”

“Okay. That makes sense.”

“You want to talk about me and Esme?”

He shrugged and tightened his grip on the steering.

She went on, “I’m sorry, Carlos. I promise, I did not want to hurt your feelings or anything. Esme and I just hit it off.”

“You know, I can’t help but think that things would have been different if you went to France with me those two weeks. You would’ve spent time with me. We could’ve developed feelings. I mean, you did not like my sister from the onset. And she hated you, I think. All that frosty feeling. She was cold towards you. I remember that first lunch our families had together. You can’t believe to imagine how shocked I was when I returned to see you and Esme being best pals.

“And that day I walked into you two in the library. I could have made a bet that you two had something going on. I’ll never forget how I felt like I walked in on an intimate moment. I thought it was all in my head. What about her made you ...”

“Fall in love? That is what you mean to say, no? I can’t even understand it myself. One minute, we can’t stand each other. The next, we’re having all those feelings.” Aurelia exhaled through her mouth and stared out of the window.

“I can’t understand that, truly.”

“I know,” she said, still staring at the Puerto Cruz scenery. Carlos turned to catch a glimpse of her. He grinned. It was like she was looking out of the window as though trying to commit the view to memory. She would not be leaving the convent anytime soon; Villalobos had made such an arrangement with the Mother Superior.

“We could’ve been happy together, you know?”

“Really?” She turned to face him. “You’re quite the rake. You know you have gathered a reputation for yourself through the years. I’ve heard about how much of a player you are, Carlos. There was no way you were going to love me with all the devotion I desire, and you know it.”

“Well...” Carlos sped down the highway. Soon, they would be approaching the van the convent sent to intercept them.

With each moment that passed, he felt gleeful. Esme would soon be in a world of pain that she so clearly deserved. And there she was making plans to report him to their father. He would have to do something about that. If he felt he could not come up with a strong plan to get rid of her, he would talk with Villalobos. Clearly, the man had ideas of how to get rid of obstacles. These past few days, his admiration for the man had skyrocketed.

“Are we still headed to the beach, Carlos?” Aurelia asked. “I’m not familiar with this route.”

“I assumed taking a longer route would not be a bad idea. Some people say car rides have a way of making them feel better. Like it calms them.”

“I thought the water would do that for us.”

“Well...” He heaved his shoulders.

“When last did you see Esme?”

“I have not seen her since forever. I really cannot remember. I know it’s been long.”

“I see,” her tone was unconvincing. He could feel her eyes on him. “Would you lie to me, Carlos?” she asked in a tone that bore no feelings.

“No?” He turned to look at her. “Why would you ask that?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to ask you that. Just an ordinary, simple question.”

“I would not lie to you.”

“You say you don’t already know the wedding is off.”

“You sound like you are grateful that the wedding is off.”

“Yes, I am grateful you and I would be spared a life of unhappiness.”

Just then, Carlos sighted a black van ahead. A tall, slim figure dressed in a black cassock stood beside it. It seemed as though he were waiting for another car to come along. Carlos was certain it was from the convent. Aurelia’s father had prior told him the van would be black and a priest would be with them for the operation.

He puffed. Finally, he would be done with this talk he was having with Aurelia. And Esme would soon learn she could not be able to get across to Aurelia.

“Why are they parked in the middle of the road? That van belongs to the Sisters. That was my school.”

“You might have mentioned that you went to St. Benedetta at some point.”

“You think they might be having an issue with their van?”

“We’ll ask them when we approach them,” Carlos’s voice was thick.

They slowed down as they got to the van. The priest came to meet them.

“Hello, Father,” Carlos said in a sweet voice. “I recognize you.”

Aurelia did not bother with greeting the young man, who might have been few years older than Carlos was.

A stocky, middle-aged nun and three more priests came to meet them.

Aurelia looked flustered and turned to look at Carlos. “What is going on? Why are they coming to meet us?”

“Aurelia?” the woman asked.

Aurelia looked panicked. “Yes?” she replied with reluctance.

“You are coming with us,” the nun said, her tone did not leave room for negotiation.

“What do you mean?” Aurelia asked on the top of her voice. She turned to look at Carlos. “What the fuck is going on here?”

“You’re going to the convent, as your father has arranged. He has paid for them to put you away for good. He can’t have you moving all around Puerto Cruz being a bloody lesbian.” Carlos smirked at her.

“You can’t do this, Carlos!” Her voice rose higher. “They are taking me away without my permission.”

“You have been a naughty, naughty girl, and now daddy has decided to punish you.” Carlos laughed at the double entendre.

“Please, come with us. Gently,” the nun said. “It does not have to be forceful. You’ll only make things worse if you fight us.”

“You are taking me away without my permission. Do you know this is kidnapping?”

“Your father arranged for this. It hardly counts as kidnapping. The law is on our side, and there is really nothing you can do. You are to stay in the convent and dedicate your life to God. That would be the right penance for your wickedness,” the nun said in a sanctimonious voice.

Carlos thought it was comical. The way she said it sounded like something from a movie.

Aurelia swallowed and adjusted in the seat. She batted her eyelashes repeated. She opened her mouth as if she was about to say something, but she held back. It seemed the gravity of the situation was beginning to dawn on her. Truly, fighting would yield nothing good. It would only make matters worse. “Okay,” she said.

She turned to look at Carlos. “I hope Esme sends you to jail. And she will. She knows you’re the one who told my dad. You don’t know what’s coming to hit you.”

“Get out of my car you fucking whore!” he yelled at her. “I don’t want to hear a word from you.”

“What has my dad promised you?” she shrieked at him. “That godforsaken bastard!”

“You dare insult your father, Aurelia?” Carlos had an incredulous look on his face. “No wonder you deserve this.” Looking up to the priests, he said, “Please, take her away from my car. Make sure you lock her up where no one can find her. You’ve gotten a large donation already. Show your gratitude by doing a good job.”

At that, another priest, different from the one who had been standing by the van earlier on, opened the door to the passenger’s seat.

Aurelia turned to look at Carlos with a stony gaze. “When I leave this place, I will find you, and I will murder you with my bare hands.”

“Get out!” he screamed.

Aurelia flinched at that, and turned away from him.

The priest held out his hand to Aurelia. She took a long look at the hand being proffered to her. The disdain on her face was so palpable. She ignored the hand and stood with the people dressed in black habits.

As the priest shut the door to Carlos’s car, he reversed, and watched as Aurelia got into the back of the van. She did not take her eyes off him. Her expression was stony, but he could see her eyes were welling up with tears. He could feel her pain, and he loved it.

He took out his phone to put a call across to Villalobos. Then he saw he had missed his mother’s calls. Five of them. It must have been to tell him the wedding was no more holding.

Well, his phone had been on silent for most part of the afternoon, and he forgot to change his phone settings so it would ring out when he got a call. He made a mental note to call her when he was settled back at home.

As the van drove off, he burst into a frenzied laughter. Yes, revenge was always delicious to savor.

By the time Carlos was settled at his apartment that night, it was already past ten o’ clock. Calling his mother this late would not be a bad idea, he thought. Moreover, he already knew she was going to tell him the wedding was off. He did not need to hear it one more time.

Seeing that Aurelia had been locked away at the convent was intensely pleasing to him. This was possibly the highlight of the month for him.

Now, he had to bother about Esmeralda. She would surely have questions. What if she decided to expose him in a bid to lash out at the world? He hoped that would not happen. More reasons he had to talk with Villalobos.

Several thoughts crossed his mind before he finally drifted into sleep. The last one being that he would call his mother on his way to the office the next day.