“SECRET REVELATION”
It was as if a snake had bitten Lara from where she was standing as she stared at the new arrival.
She can't be wrong. She knows and is sure that this is the man who took her from Nati to give her to Joaquin.
Lara quickly felt an intense chill throughout her body because of that thought. If he recognized her, Joaquin will surely know her secret. It is not impossible for that to happen. Her husband is so smart that he will definitely be able to sew all the events together, especially Callie's great resemblance to him and even more than his late mother.
"I'm sorry if I disturbed you," said Patrick who at that moment was staring at her.
"It's okay buddy. Come on in and have a seat," said Joaquin to his friend.
Patrick immediately obeyed what her husband said. Just a few moments after that, Joaquin formally introduced her to him.
"Do you want to eat lunch with us?" Joaquin asked Patrick a few minutes ago since he arrived.
That's when Patrick glanced at her and then looked back at Joaquin. She doesn't talk much. Not only because she was having discomfort but because she didn't know what to say either.
"No, I don't want to disturb your date," he said followed by a soft laugh, and then stood up. "I should go. I only took a moment because of the call I received from your staff. By the way, it’s my wife's birthday on Sunday. Just a simple dinner at home, I hope you can come," said Patrick.
That's when Joaquin looked at her as if he was asking for her opinion.
"A-Alright, see you then," was her short answer, and then smiled.
That's all and Patrick said goodbye for good. Just a few minutes after he left, she and Joaquin went out to eat.
She couldn't deny that she lost her energy because of what happened. Now everything she wants seems unlikely to happen. It looks like things won't go well when Joaquin finds out the truth.
Yes, and they both indeed started by keeping secrets from each other.
But she knows that the secret she is trying to hide from him is different.
It's a different story because their daughter, Callie, is involved. And she knows, there is a good chance that Joaquin will be angry with her because of what she did.
"Why are you so quiet? Are you not feeling well?" Joaquin asked her while they were eating.
At that time Lara seemed surprised to stare at the handsome face of her husband. "I-I feel a little bad, actually," she said truthfully. "I-Is it okay if after we eat, I go to see my father first? After all, he is close to here?” she asked Joaquin.
She was really feeling bad at that moment. And she needs someone to vent her worries to. She needs Rodolfo.
"Okay, okay, I'll drop you off, and later after I'm done with work, I'll pick you up there too," Joaquin said then he smiled sweetly.
The smile that broke Lara's lips was sweet because of that. "Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," he said and then winked at her. "You're not pregnant, are you?" Joaquin added that she saw him smiling maliciously afterward.
Lara immediately blushed because of that. "I-I don't know," she said.
To be honest, that idea never crossed her mind. At least that is possible because she and her husband often make love.
"Maybe we should see a doctor, soon. What do you think?” Joaquin asked her.
"Sure," she agreed.
*****
Lara di not let Joaquin get out of the car when he dropped her off at her father's house. At that moment she reached Rodolfo who was busy watching TV in the living room.
"Oh, Lara, good and you came?" his excitement for seeing her was obvious in the tone of her father’s speech.
She immediately kissed Rodolfo's hand and then hugged him tightly. As much as she did that, she couldn't stop her emotions from pouring out. In the end, she just let them flow.
"Did you and your husband fight?" Rodolfo asked her as he stroked her back.
That's when Lara broke away from hugging her father and then wiped away her tears.
"J-Joaquin and I didn't fight, Papa," she said as she sat down after Rodolfo led her to the long sofa.
"Just a moment and I'll get you something to drink," he said, leaving her for a moment.
Rodolfo returned with a glass of cold water. She immediately finished it in half and then placed it on the center table.
"What is your problem? If you and your husband didn't fight, why are you crying?" he asked her one after the other.
Lara sniffed before opening her mouth to speak.
"I-Is Leandro still in school?" she had better ask that first.
Her father nodded. "Yes, and he will be out at five o'clock in the afternoon. He will be here at home at five thirty," answered Rodolfo.
Upon hearing that, Lara began to tell her father what was the real reason for her sudden visit.
"I have a feeling that Joaquin will soon find out the truth, Papa," she said unable to hide the fear in her voice.
“You still haven't told him the truth? That Callista is his daughter?”
Lara shook her head and then started to cry again.
She saw her father sigh because of that. Then he spoke again as she remained silent wiping away her tears.
"You have to admit the truth with him, sweetie. Everything will not go well with that if you will not overcome your fear," said Rodolfo to her.
At that point, Lara began to speak to explain to her father what she was really worried about. She also told him about Joaquin's true status in life and also the sudden meeting between her and Patrick earlier.
"Even if you say that she also kept a secret from you, that's a small thing compared to what you have been hiding from him," said Rodolfo to her.
She nodded then let out a heavy sigh again. "I know that, Papa. That's why I'm scared," she said looking at her father as if she wanted him to give her at least a little courage.
"Do you want me to come with you when you tell Joaquin?" Rodolfo asked her in his usual kind tone.
Lara quickly shook her head at her father's question. "I can do it, Dad. I'm just scared. And one more thing, I don't want you to be involved in this problem, just in case," said Lara to her father.
Understandably, Rodolfo just nodded at what she said. Then he lightly patted her cheek as he remained smiling.
"You can do it. If you were able to forgive Joaquin after you found out about all the secrets he did to you, you were still fine, I'm sure he will do the same. If only I could show you everything I see every time he looks at you. Your husband loves you very much, Lara. And I thank the Lord because He brought you together again. But in all of this, I am more happy for my granddaughter," Rodolfo's long statement.
Lara never spoke after that.
It was really good and she thought of going to see Rodolfo. At least she had enough courage that she knew she would need later tonight when she spoke to her husband.
She and Rodolfo talked about a lot more that afternoon. Until she said goodbye and just took a taxi back to her husband's office.
*****
"OH, why didn't you just wait for me to pick you up?" Joaquin asked her smiling when he met his wife in his office.
As before, he is still busy working.
"I don’t want you to get too tired," she said then bent down and kissed her man on the lips.
"Still busy?" she asked Joaquin.
Joaquin stared at her with gleaming dark eyes. Then the aura on his face still didn't change when he answered her question.
"Not really, I’m almost done. By the way, do you want coffee?”
"I will get our coffee," she said.
"All right, thank you," was her husband's kind reply as he remained to stare at her.
*****
WHEN Lara came out of his office, Joaquin immediately remembered the conversation he and Patrick had earlier on the phone.
"What are you talking about, Patrick?" he asked in confusion while busy driving.
He just drove Lara to her father's house for a while and then drove back to the office.
“Venus. Joaquin, have you forgotten about her? The girl I gave you as a gift on your twenty-fifth birthday that you also promoted to replace your father as President and CEO of your company?”
Joaquin's eyebrows immediately met at what he heard. "What about her?" he said as he is starting to get what his friend is telling him.
"I can't be wrong, Joaquin. Lara, your wife, she is Venus!” the person he was talking to on the other line said without flaking.
As soon as he heard that, Joaquin quickly stepped on his brakes. Then his chest rose and fell due to its rapid beating.
“A-Are you sure? Did you know that Lara has a child who looks just like my mother?" that's what he immediately said.
At that moment, Joaquin did not know what he should feel.
Will he be angry with Lara because of the huge secret she kept from him?
Why didn't she look for him?
Why did she not say anything when they met when he saved her from the men who were chasing her?
Why did everything take so long, and it had to come from someone else to tell him the truth about what she should have done sooner?
"There's no doubt, I can't make a mistake because I chose her myself because I know you will definitely like her. And if you say she has a daughter who looks like your mom. If something happened to you and Venus that night, I'm sure you're the father of that child, Joaquin," said Patrick without any break while speaking in a tone that seemed as if he was sure of what he was saying.
The only thing he could hear on the other line was the dial tone, but Joaquin was still staring blankly. He parked the car he was driving on the side of the road and then removed the earpiece that was inserted into his ears.
If what Patrick says is true, then he was right. He is Callie's father. And that is the answer to his question as to why the care and love he feels for the child is so strong. Because she is his own flesh and blood.
Joaquin immediately burst into tears because of what he thought.
He felt his chest and then looked for what feelings he felt for his wife.
Is he angry at her?
At that point, he smiled bitterly and then started the car again.
*****
"SIR, the things you asked to get from your house are already in the back of your car. We have also placed four security guards at your house as well as additional helpers."
From the book she was reading, Lara quickly raised her head when she heard what one of her husband's staff said.
“Thank you. You can leave now," Joaquin kindly said afterward.
Lara stood up in surprise and then sat down in one of the two chairs in front of her husband's table.
"What was that?" she asked.
That's when Joaquin confronted her. "Ah, sorry I didn't tell you. I hired guards for additional security at home. Then I also added helpers because I don't want you to get tired. Nanny Loring is also quite old and can no longer do heavy chores," her husband explained to her.
Lara nodded and did not contradict what Joaquin said because he had a point. She knows that Joaquin has wanted to do something like that for a long time. But because she still has no idea of his true identity, his movements are limited.
"How about what your man said first?" she asked because that was what really registered in her mind.
"Oh, we'll leave after I’m finished here," was his short answer to her.
Lara's eyebrows met at what she heard. "Where are we going?"
"When I tell you, it won't be a surprise," said Joaquin who smiled meaningfully afterward.
At that point, Lara didn't insist anymore. She just returned to the book she was reading and once again let her husband finish the jobs that he needed to be done.
