Chapter 53

Chapter 53
Fernandez's eyes widened in surprise as Anna said no. "What do you mean by no?" he asked, his voice firm but curious.

Anna's mind raced as she tried to come up with an excuse, but before she could respond, a drunken Reyna came staggering into the room. "We had a lot of fun!" she slurred, her words barely intelligible.

Reyna's hair was disheveled, her makeup smudged, and her eyes glassy. She stumbled towards the table, almost knocking over a chair. Fernandez's expression turned from surprise to shock, and then to anger.

"Reyna, what is the meaning of this?" he thundered, his voice echoing through the room.

Reyna giggled, her eyes fixed on Fernandez. "I'm sorr-y, Fernan-dez. We just had a few drinks...or maybe more."

Anna rushed to Reyna's side, trying to steady her. "Reyna, maybe you should sit down."

But Reyna shook her off, her eyes locked on Fernandez. "I can handle myself, An-na. Don't worry."

Fernandez's face darkened, his jaw clenched. "This is unacceptable, Reyna. You're drunk, and it's late. What were you thinking?"

Reyna shrugged, her smile faltering. "I was just having fun...with friends."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Anna tried to intervene, but Fernandez's anger was palpable, and Reyna's drunken state only made things worse.

Reyna's eyes widened in mock surprise, and she gasped dramatically. "Who am I seeing here? Wow! It's my favorite beautiful, sweet, and darling Anna, who is my sister-in-law, while the second person I'm seeing is the devil, heartless, and rude stepbrother, Antonio Fernandez! Wow! Wow! Wow!"

Anna couldn't help but chuckle at Reyna's antics, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Reyna, you're drunk," she said, shaking her head.

Reyna grinned, her eyes shining with mirth. "Maybe just a little, An-na. But I'm seeing things clearly now. Fernandez, you're looking particularly devilish tonight."

Fernandez's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "Reyna, that's enough. You're drunk and being disrespectful."

Reyna waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, don't be so serious, Fernandez. I'm just having a little fun. You need to learn to laugh at yourself."

Anna intervened, trying to diffuse the tension. "Reyna, why don't you sit down and have some water? You need to sober up."

But Reyna refused, her eyes fixed on Fernandez. "No, no, An-na. I'm fine. I just want to enjoy the company of my favorite devilish stepbrother."

Fernandez's face twisted in frustration, but Reyna just laughed, her voice echoing through the room. Anna couldn't help but laugh too, despite the tension between Reyna and Fernandez.

Anna gently grabbed Reyna's arm and guided her to her room, navigating through the hallway with a mixture of care and amusement. She settled Reyna down on the plush bed, cradling her head on the soft pillows. Reyna's eyes fluttered closed, her breathing slowing as she succumbed to exhaustion.

Anna knelt down to remove Reyna's high heels, carefully slipping them off her feet. She then gently massaged Reyna's feet, trying to ease any discomfort. As she looked up, she intended to ask Reyna to go and have a shower, but was met with a peaceful sight - Reyna had fallen fast asleep.

Anna smiled, her eyes filled with warmth and concern. She tucked Reyna properly under the duvet, making sure she was comfortable and cozy. She smoothed out Reyna's hair, which was still tangled from the night's escapades.

With a gentle sigh, Anna stood up, her eyes lingering on Reyna's serene face. She turned off the lights, leaving the room in a soft, dark silence. As she closed the door behind her, she couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and concern for Reyna's well-being.

Anna stood frozen, her eyes fixed on Fernandez as he savored his meal, seemingly oblivious to the chaos that had just unfolded. She couldn't believe his nonchalance, especially after she had lied to him about Reyna's whereabouts.

Fernandez noticed her standing there and invited her to join him, his tone casual. "Why are you standing there, won't you come and join me? You prepared it, right? The food is quite delicious."

Anna's eyes widened in disbelief. "Fernandez, are you serious?" she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Fernandez dropped his cutlery, his expression turning cold. He cleaned his mouth with a tissue and faced her, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Anna, do you think you can fool me and I wouldn't know?" He pulled out his phone, revealing an app that tracked the occupants of the mansion. "See this? It tells me the number of people in the mansion and their names. I already knew Reyna wasn't home, so you're the fool here."

Anna's face burned with anger and shame. She had underestimated Fernandez's cunning and surveillance. She felt a surge of rage and sat down, her hands shaking as she cut into her meal. With each slice, she imagined herself cutting Fernandez, her anger simmering just below the surface.

Fernandez took a sip of water, his eyes never leaving hers. "I hope Reyna won't land you in trouble one day," he said, his voice dripping with malice. With that, he pushed his chair back and left for his room, leaving Anna seething with anger and resentment.