Chapter 70

Chapter 70
Anna sat on the floor, her body shaking with sobs as she buried her face in her hands. The room around her was in shambles, a reflection of the chaos that had erupted within her. She couldn't help but think that everything was her fault - if only she had told Fernandez about the baby instead of trying to surprise him.
Reyna's eyes widened as she entered the mansion, taking in the scene of destruction before her. Furniture was overturned, vases shattered, and curtains torn. She gasped as she saw her brother, Fernandez, walking slowly out of their room, his hand bleeding and his eyes blazing with anger. He looked like a devil from hell, his face twisted in a snarl.
Reyna didn't dare approach him, sensing that he was on the edge of a breakdown. She knew that he needed to be left alone, to work through his trauma and anger.
Instead, she rushed into the bedroom, where she found Anna sitting on the tiled floor, her body wracked with sobs. The room was in chaos, clothes scattered everywhere, and furniture overturned. Reyna's heart went out to her friend as she rushed to her side.
"Anna, oh my god, what happened?" Reyna asked, trying to comfort her.
Anna looked up, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "He doesn't believe me," she sobbed. "He thinks I cheated on him and that the baby is Jason's."
Reyna's eyes widened in shock. "That's ridiculous," she said, trying to calm Anna down. "We need to talk to him, to make him understand."
But Anna shook her head. "I don't know if I can, Reyna. I feel like everything is falling apart."
Reyna's eyes widened in shock as Anna broke down, revealing the chain of events that led to the chaos. "I didn't take my phone with me when I left the mansion... I lied to him... I went out to buy supplements... He saw your message on my phone..."
Reyna's face contorted in anguish as she realized her role in the debacle. "Anna, don't blame yourself! Everything is totally my fault. I shouldn't have sent you that message on the phone."
Tears streamed down Reyna's face as she took responsibility for the mess. Anna, seeing her friend's distress, quickly wiped away Reyna's tears.
"No, no, no. Don't take the blame, Reyna. It was actually my fault. I was the one who was pregnant and should have told him. He shouldn't have found out from other means."
The two women hugged each other, their bodies shaking with sobs. They were like sisters, unable to bear seeing each other in distress.
"We should have been more careful," Reyna said, her voice muffled against Anna's shoulder.
Anna nodded, her own voice trembling. "We should have communicated better. But we can't change the past now. We need to fix this mess and make things right."
Reyna pulled back, her eyes red and puffy. "We will, Anna. We'll figure something out. Together."
Reyna's voice was laced with empathy as she shared Fernandez's story, her eyes filled with compassion. "Fernandez was just three years old when his mother revealed a shocking truth. She was pregnant, but the baby wasn't Mr. Antonio's. It was his boss's child, and she was tired of living in poverty."
Anna's mouth dropped open in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. "That's...that's so cruel," she whispered.
Reyna nodded, her expression somber. "I know. I sobbed when Mr. Antonio told me the story. Fernandez was so young, and he witnessed his mother's betrayal firsthand. No wonder he's so cold-hearted and always needs to be in control."
Anna's heart ached for Fernandez, understanding now why he was so guarded. "He never got to experience motherly love," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Reyna's voice was filled with sadness. "Exactly. And Mr. Antonio told me that Fernandez still suffers from that trauma. I think that's what triggered his outburst today."
Anna's eyes welled up with tears as she processed the depth of Fernandez's pain. She felt a surge of compassion for him, understanding now why he was so afraid of being betrayed again.
"Poor Fernandez," she whispered, her heart heavy with emotion.
Reyna nodded, her eyes filled with tears. "Yes, poor Fernandez. He's been through so much, and it's no wonder he has trust issues."
Fernandez's hands trembled as he inserted the key into the lock and turned it, revealing a hidden room. He pushed open the door, and a faint scent of lavender wafted out, carrying with it memories of his mother.
The room was a shrine to his mother's memory, filled with countless photos of her. Fernandez's eyes wandered over the images, taking in the happy moments he had never known. His mother, radiant with joy, holding her swollen belly as she awaited his arrival. His parents, beaming with love, on their wedding day.
Fernandez's gaze landed on a single photo, his mother's solo portrait, and he felt an overwhelming sense of longing. He reached out, his fingers trembling, and gently took the frame, holding it close to his chest.
"Mom, why?" he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Why did you leave me? Why did you abandon me?"
Tears streamed down his face as he gazed at the photo, his eyes pleading for answers. "You know I couldn't live without you. It was so difficult without you. I missed you and Father singing lullabies to me after you left."
Fernandez's body shook with sobs, the pain of his childhood trauma resurfacing. He felt like a lost child again, yearning for the love and comfort of his mother.
"Why, Mom? Why did you do this to me? You knew father and I love you. Why do you betray us?" he cried out, his voice echoing off the walls of the hidden room.
In that moment, Fernandez was no longer the strong, confident man he appeared to be. He was a vulnerable, hurting child, searching for answers and longing for the love of his mother.