Chapter 13: Like a Web of Lies

Marcelino paced nervously in the lobby of Emperial Designs, waiting for Angelic to finish her meeting. His mind was a whirlwind of regret and hope.
It had been seven long years since Mariam—now Angelic—had disappeared from his life,
taking with her the child he had never met. His heart ached with the weight of what he had done and the possibilities of what could have been.

When the elevator doors finally opened, Angelic stepped out, her face composed but her eyes betraying a flicker of emotion.
Marcelino's heart tightened at the sight of her. She had changed so much, yet he could still see traces of the woman he had once loved.

"Angelic," he began, his voice strained with emotion. "I need to talk to you. It's about our child."

Angelic's expression darkened, and she turned away, trying to hide the turmoil in her eyes.
She had prepared for this moment, rehearsed her lines over and over. But now that it was here, she felt a pang of something almost like guilt.

"Come into my office," she said curtly, leading him down the corridor.

They entered her spacious office, the door closing behind them with a soft click. Angelic sat behind her desk, her posture rigid.
Marcelino took a seat across from her, his gaze unwavering.

"Angelic," he said softly, "I've been haunted by the thought of our child. I need to know what happened. Please, tell me."

Angelic's heart raced as she prepared to deliver her carefully crafted lie. She had to make it convincing, had to ensure that Marcelino believed every word.
She let out a shuddering breath, allowing tears to well up in her eyes.

"Our baby," she began, her voice breaking, "didn't survive."

Marcelino's face paled, his eyes widening in shock. "What? What do you mean?"

Angelic's tears began to flow freely, and she buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with the effort of her performance.
"I had a miscarriage, Marcelino. Our baby...our baby died before it was born."

Marcelino's world seemed to crumble around him.
He had come here hoping for a chance to make things right, to meet the child he had never known.
But now, he was faced with the unbearable pain of losing that child forever.

"No," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "No, it can't be."

Angelic looked up, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She reached across the desk, taking Marcelino's hand in hers.
"I'm so sorry, Marcelino. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. It was too painful."

Marcelino's grip tightened on her hand, his own tears threatening to fall.
"Why didn't you tell me? I could have been there for you. I could have helped."

Angelic shook her head, her tears flowing more freely now.
"I was alone, Marcelino. I had no one. I had to leave, to start over. I couldn't stay here with all the memories, with the constant reminder of what we lost."

Marcelino's heart shattered as he listened to her. He had never felt such a profound sense of loss and regret.
"I'm so sorry, Angelic. I should have been there for you. I should have done something."

Angelic's tears slowed, and she allowed a small, sad smile to play on her lips.
"It's not your fault, Marcelino. We both made mistakes. We both have to live with the consequences."

Marcelino nodded, his heart heavy with grief. He had lost so much—his child, the woman he loved—and now he had to find a way to move forward.
But first, he needed to make amends, to show Angelic that he was truly sorry.

"Angelic," he said softly, "I know I can't change the past, but I want to be there for you now. I want to help you in any way I can. Please, let me."

Angelic's eyes flickered with a mixture of emotions. She knew she had him where she wanted him, knew that her lies had taken root.
But she had to be careful, had to maintain the illusion.

"I appreciate that, Marcelino," she said, her voice soft. "But I need time. This is all still so painful for me. I need to heal."

Marcelino nodded, understanding her need for space. "I understand. Take all the time you need. I'll be here, waiting."

As he left her office, Angelic felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. She had played her part perfectly, weaving a web of lies that had ensnared Marcelino.
She smiled to herself, a devilish glint in her eyes. It had been easier than she thought, fooling him with her dramatic talents.

She leaned back in her chair, her smile widening. The thought of Marcelino suffering filled her with a grim sense of justice.
She had been hurt, betrayed, and abandoned, and now it was his turn to feel the same pain. She laughed softly, the sound carrying a devilish aura.

Meanwhile, Arthur watched from a distance, his heart heavy with suspicion.
He had seen Angelic's performance, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
He knew his daughter well, knew the depths of her pain and the lengths she would go to protect herself.
But he also knew that revenge was a dangerous path, one that could consume her if she wasn't careful.

As Marcelino drove home, his mind was a whirlwind of emotions.
The news of their child's death had shattered him, but he was determined to be there for Angelic,
to support her in any way he could. He had failed her once, and he couldn't bear the thought of failing her again.

Back at Emperial Designs, Angelic allowed herself a moment of triumph. She had won this round, had fooled Marcelino with her lies.
But she knew the game was far from over. She had to stay vigilant, had to ensure that he never discovered the truth about Monic and George.
They were her children, and she would protect them with every ounce of her strength.

As the days turned into weeks, Angelic and Marcelino continued their charade.
They worked together on various projects, their interactions laced with a newfound sense of understanding and cooperation.
But beneath the surface, Angelic's resolve for revenge remained unshaken.

Marcelino's efforts to support Angelic did not go unnoticed.
He attended to her needs, offered a shoulder to lean on, and tried to bring some semblance of comfort to her life.
He was falling in love with her all over again, and he hoped that, in time, she might forgive him and allow them to build a future together.

One evening, as they wrapped up a particularly demanding project, Marcelino invited Angelic to dinner.
He wanted to show her that he was committed, that he was willing to put in the effort to make things right.

Angelic agreed, seeing it as another opportunity to further her plans.
They chose a quiet, intimate restaurant, and as they sat across from each other, the ambiance seemed to soften the edges of their past conflicts.

Marcelino spoke about his regrets, his hopes for the future, and his desire to make amends.

"I've missed you, Mariam," he said softly, using her old name for the first time since their confrontation.

"I miss the times we shared, the dreams we had. I want to build new memories with you, to start over."

Angelic felt a pang of something almost like sorrow, but she pushed it away.
She couldn't afford to let her emotions interfere with her plans. She smiled, a sweet yet calculated expression.

"I appreciate that, Marcelino. I'm willing to give us a chance, but it will take time."

Marcelino reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "I'll wait as long as it takes."

Angelic's smile widened, but inside, she was already envisioning the moment she would break his heart.
She would make him fall deeply in love with her again, only to abandon him when he least expected it.
The thought of his despair filled her with a sense of grim satisfaction.

As they continued their dinner, Angelic played her part perfectly, weaving a web of lies and half-truths that kept Marcelino enthralled.
She spoke about her supposed grief, her need for space, and her hopes for the future.
All the while, she kept her true intentions hidden, masking her vengeful thoughts with a veneer of vulnerability.

When the evening came to an end, Marcelino walked Angelic to her car, his heart filled with hope.

He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Thank you for tonight, Angelic. It means a lot to me."

Angelic smiled, the expression almost genuine. "You're welcome, Marcelino. Goodnight."

As she drove away, Angelic allowed herself a moment of triumph.
She had him exactly where she wanted him, and soon, she would make him pay for everything he had done.
She laughed softly to herself, the sound carrying a devilish aura.

Back at her home, Angelic checked on Monic and George, who were fast asleep in their beds.
She kissed them goodnight, her heart swelling with love. They were her everything, and she would protect them at all costs.
Marcelino would never be a part of their lives, and she would ensure that he never discovered the truth.

As she stood in the doorway of their room, watching over them, Angelic felt a sense of peace.
She had a plan, and she would see it through. Marcelino would suffer, just as she had suffered, and then she would be free.
But even as she reveled in her victory, a nagging doubt lingered at the back of her mind.
She couldn't shake the feeling that her father was watching, that he knew more than he let on. She had to be careful, had to ensure that her lies remained hidden.