“TESSA’S PAIN”

"I just thought about it," replied Patrick with a kind smile.

When Joaquin didn't answer and remained silent, Patrick's lips twitched again, and then spoke.

"But more than anyone else, you know that you know your father best. You can also say how much you think the level of his dislike for Lara is. So, it would be better if you study everything about him carefully.”

"Thanks," he answered.

“Anytime. I just came here to congratulate you personally. I just hope I can meet Lara. Because there is no update on your social media accounts. I'm curious what the woman who captured your wild heart looks like," Patrick teased him and then patted his shoulder.

Joaquin only laughed weakly when his friend said. When he left, he turned his attention back to the many papers he was reading on his desk.

Those were the jobs he left behind when he and his wife were on their honeymoon.

Joaquin immediately smiled at the thought. Especially when he remembered how happy the days he and Lara shared at his house in Baguio.

At that point, the smile on Joaquin's lips immediately disappeared.

His friend was right. Why are they have to be victims of these kinds of circumstances? Although the two of them have different cases, he can say that his more difficult.

Because he is full of secrets and started with lies. And now he is in love with Lara. He didn't know how to confess everything to her in a way that he knew wouldn't hurt and make her angry.

If there's one thing, he fears the most right now, it's Lara getting angry and leaving. And when it’s talking about Lara meaning their daughter Callie is also included. And for some inexplicable reason, Callie’s pull and effect on him are really different.

When he thought about the little girl, he just can’t help but smile. That was when he picked up his cell phone and looked in its gallery for the selfie, he and Callie took last night before she went to bed.

That was while he was reading her a story. Her favorite is Beauty and the Beast, according to his wife.

All he wanted to say was that the happiness in his heart was different at that time while he was reading a story to Callie. And he can't deny the strange warmth of love he feels for her. Even, after all, they are not blood-related.

Perhaps because of his great love for Lara, it was not difficult for him to love her daughter as well. That's what he sees as the explanation for that.

But despite everything, there is still a feeling that gives him confusion. And that is the question why does he feel like she is not like another man? Why does it seem that he came from her? More importantly, why does she look so much like his mother?

To that question, Joaquin only answered himself with a sigh.

"Why do I feel like you came from me?" he asked in a whisper while looking at the picture on his phone screen.

Yesterday afternoon, his former nanny Loring came to their house.

It has been a long time since Loring returned home to her province. But even so, he still didn't cut off communication with her. In fact, he regularly sends her alimony.

He loves Nanny Loring very much. Because since his mother passed away, she was the one who has become his parent. Well aside from his father. And since they needed someone to watch over Callie permanently, she was the only one he had called.

Nanny Loring knows everything about him and Lara. Even more, he keeps his true identity a secret from his wife.

That's why he didn't have a hard time explaining to her when he asked her to be careful about what she was telling Lara.

In the end, Joaquin decided to put that thing out of his mind. Then he turned his attention back to what he was doing.

He knows that whether he likes it or not, he will have to confess the truth to Lara. But while he's not there, maybe he should gather enough courage. Because he hopes that eventually his wife will understand and forgive him.

*****

"T-TESSA?"

That was the surprise that Patrick greeted her when she visited the man in his office that same day.

A sweet smile broke Tessa’s lip.

"Oh, why did you react like you saw a ghost?" she joked then laughed softly.

Tessa didn't even wait for Patrick to ask her to sit down. She immediately did that on one of the two chairs in front of his table.

"I just didn't expect your arrival. I thought you were in the U.S," he answered, turning his attention back to what he was doing.

Tessa gasped seeing what Patrick did. Obviously, his attention is no longer on her. Or maybe it would be more correct to say that he had no desire to entertain her because his head remained bent over the paper he was reading.

"I won't last long. I just want to ask you something," she said, suppressing the annoyance that was slowly rising in her chest.

That's when Patrick raised his head and met her eyes.

"Yeah? What is it then?” he seemed to indicate to him that she had to tell him whatever she meant because she was wasting his time.

Tessa took another deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. Then she still held back the irritation he felt when she opened her mouth to answer Patrick's question.

"I just want to know where Joaquin is now. I can't contact him. Last week I went back and forth to his office, but the guard said he wasn't there," was her long explanation.

At that point, Tessa saw that she had the full attention of the man in front of her. She didn't know if she should be excited about that. Because her mind didn't seem to want to agree with what she saw, he sighed.

"As far as I know, you and Joaquin have been separated for a long time. Is it not?" Patrick to her.

A sarcastic laugh escaped Tessa's throat. After that, the annoyance she feels for Patrick seems to have reached its peak.

"You know what? I'm aware that you didn't want me for Joaquin even then. But I don't care about your opinion. What's important to me is that Joaquin and I like each other. We love each other's company. And everything we had before was enough for me to continue being with him now and in the days to come," her voice was full of confidence, and she raised her face and met the man's eyes with a sharp gaze.

Patrick just nodded.

His eyes and face are blank with emotion.

That's why she wasn't surprised when she heard the coldness in the tone of his speech when he opened his mouth.

"I hate to say this to you, but I don't think he still needs your company," he said to her.

"What?" she asked irritably.

"You heard me right, Tessa. He doesn't need what you're saying because his wife can fill and exceed all that," Patrick answered calmly but without anger.

In an instant, Tessa feels like her chest was hit as if by a heavy and huge hammer. That was after what Patrick said to her like a broken record that kept repeating in her ears.

"What did you say?" she clearly heard what Patrick said. But even if she didn't admit it, she still wanted to hope that the second response she would hear from him would be different.

"Joaquin is married. At the time you said he was not in his office. He was in Baguio then on his honeymoon, with Lara.”

Everything that Patrick said to Tessa sounded like thunder in her ears. And next was the intense pain that she felt as if it was caused by drawing a sharp knife into her chest.