The Hour of Truth
Rachel
I was intrigued by the unexpected visit from Enrico's mother, as he had never mentioned her existence before. Initially, I suspected that she might have passed away, as I reflected on the photos of her in his room, noticing the physical resemblance between them. Despite my desire to see the person downstairs, my forced rest prevented me from going down to confirm if she was indeed the same woman from the photos in Enrico's room. While I lay there, these questions echoed incessantly in my mind.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door in haste. Before I could ask who it was or give permission to enter, the person burst into the room abruptly, surprising me.
"What are you doing here, Enrico?" I asked with irritation, letting all my displeasure show in my tone. "You can't just barge into my room like this!"
Enrico, indifferent to my words, approached calmly, sat down beside me on the bed, and gently held my hand, kissing it lightly.
"How are you feeling?" He asked calmly.
Perplexed, I stared at him strangely and, even though I couldn't help but smile a little, I pointed out, "You must be crazy, Enrico."
I felt lost and disoriented. The idea that Enrico might be out of his mind, planning to take me to some sanatorium to share his supposed madness, began to seem plausible.
However, contrary to my expectations, he spoke with a mischievous smile, "I've said it before, Rachel, and I'll say it again: I'm completely crazy about you, my love."
That only increased my confusion. I pulled my hand away from his and stared at him intently, expressing my bewilderment.
"You can't just storm out of here, furious with me, and then show up in my room as if nothing happened, Enrico."
He nodded, without contesting.
"Of course, you're right. I was distraught at the thought of you marrying that idiot. And you sent me away to be alone with him, don't forget that."
Was he blaming me for being inconsistent and immature? I couldn't accept that at all, and I quickly reminded him of something important.
"The conversation between Thompson and me was none of your business! You..."
"Let's not talk about unpleasant things anymore," Enrico interrupted. "Remember that the doctor recommended absolute rest, and you shouldn't get worked up, it won't be good for our child."
"Our child?" I repeated, incredulous. "You need to make up your mind! I agree with Thompson on this point, Enrico."
Surprisingly, he affirmed, "I'm here for that reason, my love. I've made up my mind, and now everything is settled between us."
"Wait! Nothing is settled here," I exclaimed, surprised, adjusting myself better on the mattress and using the headboard as support for my back.
My heart raced, not only due to irritation with Enrico's indecision about my child but also from nervousness at the possibility that he might have reconsidered our "relationship" and his view on my pregnancy. Does Enrico believe in me now? The mere idea was incredible! If he was willing to support me, I would call off the marriage with Thompson, and Enrico and I would face together the mysteries behind the actions of the man who appeared so suddenly and unexpectedly in my life. Having Enrico by my side at this moment was of great importance to me.
"I rushed up here, eager to prove to you how much you mean to me, Rachel," Enrico declared, making my heart race even faster with each word.
"In that case, what do you have to tell me, Enrico? You're making me nervous," I admitted, anxious for his words.
"I want to stay by your side and take care of our child," Enrico asserted, finally revealing his intentions.
My ears seemed to be deceiving me; I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Enrico's eyes sparkled, and I was sure mine shouldn't be any different. Finally, we understood each other!
"So you believe me, Enrico?" I asked, just to make sure I wasn't mistaken. "Do you believe that the child I'm expecting is yours?"
The hand holding mine seemed to weaken, heightening the anticipation, and I feared my heart might leap out of my chest at any moment.
"We're going to raise our child together," Enrico repeated. "We'll be happy together."
"I don't understand," I said hesitantly. "What are you proposing?"
"I want you to forget any idea about that idiot who appeared in our lives and shouldn't have any chance with you, who doesn't deserve any trust. Will you marry me and raise our child together?"
Receiving the second marriage proposal on the same day would be funny if it weren't so serious. How could I tell Enrico that I had already accepted Thompson's proposal and that I didn't think it was right to go back on my word? Even I, who had made so many mistakes, didn't want to act cowardly.
"I..."
How could I communicate that to the man I love? I could no longer deny the absolute truth pulsating in my chest.
"Rachel?" Enrico pressed me, noticing my difficulty in expressing what was held inside. "Let's get married, Rachel. There's nothing I want more in my life than to be by your side for our child."
I needed to be honest with Enrico, to tell him what had happened. No more lies between us.
"I really want to marry you, Enrico," I said with all the sincerity of my heart. "But I accepted Thompson's proposal... What can I do now?"
"I can't believe you did that, Rachel! Accepting to marry that idiot!" Enrico seemed visibly disturbed, let go of my hand, and stood up. "You need to talk to that jerk and tell him you're not marrying him anymore."
The situation was becoming delicate.
"Things don't get resolved that way, Enrico," I replied cautiously.
Enrico stared at me with a seriousness I had never seen on his face before. And I wasn't surprised when he backed me into a corner, demanding a decision.
"Do you want to marry me or not, Rachel?"
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