Chapter 28

When Ana returned to the Hacienda, she suddenly heard beautiful music coming from the piano. As she entered, she noticed that the lights were off, and the only sound she could hear was the piano. She followed the music and was surprised to find Martin playing the piano.

Leaning against the wall, she watched Martin play with a grin on her face, and she also noticed a bottle of wine next to him.

“How was it?” he asked.

Ana blinked, realizing that Martin had finished playing without her noticing because she was so engrossed in the music.

“Beautiful! I didn’t know you could play the

piano,” Ana said with a smile. Martin raised an eyebrow and shook his head slightly.

“No, not that. How was it going back to the Villalobos hacienda?”

She paused and hesitated, but later on, Ana just smiled and approached Martin to join his Wine night.

“Chloe is funny! I didn’t expect her to still have fears,” Ana said with a laugh. Martin’s face turned serious as he looked at Ana before grinning.

“She knows you’re the one behind it,” Martin said seriously to her, and Ana looked back at him.

“No one will believe her. She’s crazy.”

Martin sighed and was not pleased to hear that Ana had different plans than the ones he had made while she was still comatose.

“How about Mateo?”

Ana raised an eyebrow. “What? And what about him?”

Martin just grinned and stood up to approach Ana, who swallowed nervously.

“Do you have other plans for him?” Martin asked with a smirk, and Ana felt trapped by the piano where she was standing.

She swallowed and just grinned at Martin, looking him in the eye.

“Yes, I have something worse planned for him. Especially since he keeps chasing after me, so that’s the path I’ll take to convince him that I still love him.”

Martin just stared at her and leaned in closer to Ana, who just grinned at him and blocked his hand.

“Don Martin, don’t cross your limits.”

Martin blinked and quickly moved away from Ana.

“You know me so well, huh?”

Ana’s grin widened as she playfully bumped Martin’s arm.

“Of course, you can’t resist my charm,” Ana said, winking at Martin, who just furrowed his brow before looking away and walking off.

“Be careful with Mateo, he’s too obsessed with you,” Martin said as he finally went up to his room.

Ana scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Maybe you’re the one obsessed with my beauty,” Ana whispered as she finished her wine and took her phone from her pocket.

“Where’s Mateo? He’s not at their house.”

(“Lady, he hasn’t been home for days.”)

Ana just frowned but chose to stay silent and listen to what her staff had to say.

“In that case, where is he?”

She heard her staff sigh.

(“He’s renting a small house near the

exit of San Alfonso without his family’s knowledge. From following him for a few days, I’ve seen him at the club every night.”)

Ana bit her lip and just grinned.

“Don’t take your eyes off him. Just watch and report back to me, okay?”

(“Yes, lady.”)

She ended the call and looked up before going to her room, thinking about what she would do with her ex-husband.

If Chloe were almost going crazy, Ana would drive Mateo even crazier.

Ana couldn’t wait to see what she would do with Mateo.

She spent a long night tormenting Chloe, not realizing that her rival in her ex-husband was also capable of scaring her; she was also eager to see what Chloe could do to her.

CHLOE’s POV

“Hey, did you sleep? Your eye bags are huge!” Mama Caridad exclaimed, annoyed with me because I barely slept last night, and I was also waiting for Mateo, who didn’t come home.

Mama fixed me up because she said it would be embarrassing if I showed up to their lunch meeting looking haggard.

I just sighed, thinking she would understand, but apparently not. TSK!

“I’m home!”

We stopped when Mateo arrived, looking disheveled, not at all like the son of a Mayor.

“It’s good that you decided to come home, Mateo! Your dad has been calling you, but you’re not answering! What’s going on with you?!”

“Mom, please? I’m tired!”

Mateo was about to lie down on the bed, but Mama Caridad pulled him, which irritated him.

I glared at Mateo, not understanding what was happening to him. He rarely comes home to the mansion.

“We have a lunch meeting with Don Martin!”

I stopped and my eyes widened.

That means… Ana will be there.

I clenched my fist and looked at the trashcan where I threw the old recorder. And I cannot afford to make a mistake! Those things came from her!

“Is Ana coming, mom?”

I glanced at Mateo, his face lighting up at the question. It seems like he’s still chasing after Ana.

Damn that b**ch!

“What’s wrong with you, Mateo! You’re married! You and Ana have been apart for a long time!” Mama Caridad angrily shouted. Mateo’s expression turned cold, and he glared at his mother.

“She’s my wife!”

We both froze, and I just lowered my head and clenched my fists.

She’s not your wife anymore, Mateo.

“Chloe, sorry, get ready because Don Martin hates being kept waiting.” I just nodded at her and she left our room.

As soon as she left, I quickly grabbed the old recorder and put it in my bag.

Now, Ana and I will face each other. She won’t scare me that easily.

When we arrived at the lunch meeting, I immediately noticed Ana talking to familiar people from San Alfonso, but they were from a different town, and she was smiling as if she hadn’t done anything wrong.

I glared at her, even though she wasn’t facing us.

“Oh, Don Levi!”

They all looked at us, so I lowered my head because I could feel Ana’s gaze.

Damn it, Chloe! Why are you nervous? It’s just Ana!

“Good afternoon,”

I swallowed and tightened my grip on my bag containing the old recorder that I brought.

“Ana…”

I looked at Mateo, who seemed to want to approach Ana, but Mama Caridad held him back and made him sit down.

I also sat next to Mateo, but I couldn’t sit still because Ana and Don Martin were looking at us differently.

“Thank you, Lady Ana and Don Martin, for helping with Don Levi’s campaign. Don’t worry, we won’t let you down.”

Ana smiled at Don Levi’s party, but I secretly rolled my eyes because her smile seemed so fake.

“I know you won’t let me down. I spent a lot of money on my former father-in-law’s campaign. And I know it’s as well for our town, right?”

We all stopped, and some were puzzled by her mention of ‘Father-in-law.’ Damn it!

“F-Father-in-law, Lady Ana?”

Ana was surprised and covered her mouth. “Oh, sorry, my bad!”

Some laughed, so she just smiled.

“Yes, he was my father-in-law, right, papa?”

We all looked at Papa Levi, who swallowed and just smiled.

“Yes, sorry I didn’t mention earlier that she is Mateo’s ex-wife,” Papa Levi said with a smile, glancing at Mateo who was staring at Ana.

“Ohh… No wonder, she’s beautiful. If she were still sir Mateo’s wife, maybe this town wouldn't have had any problems,” someone commented, causing my eyes to widen as I glared at the old man staring at Ana.

What the heck is he saying?

I coughed, causing them to look at me, and raised an eyebrow at the old man.

“Oh, sorry, Mrs. Chloe.”

I just raised my eyebrow and looked at Ana, who was grinning, which only irritated me more.

“She’s cheated on Mateo before, so she has no right to be called my husband’s ex-wife,” I said seriously, causing others to gasp.

I know that some of them here don't know about this family’s past because they are from other places in San Alfonso and are supporters of Papa Levi’s campaign. That’s why I will use this as a way to ruin Ana.

Ana burst into laughter, causing all of us to stop and look at her. She was almost in tears from laughing so hard while pointing at me.

“A-Ana…”

I looked at Mateo in annoyance, who was just staring at Ana as if there were no one else in the room, entirely ignoring me.

“Ana.”

“Oh, sorry about that.”

Ana looked at me and grinned before slumping down at the table.

“As far as I know, Mateo cheated on me with you. Don’t twist the story, Chloe,” she said with a smile that only made me more irritated. “It seems like you’ve forgotten that you were the mistress of my husband back then,” Ana said with a smirk, causing my eyes to widen and the others to murmur while looking at me.

“Liar!” I shouted. She laughed and winked at me before sitting up straight and looking at everyone with a smile, then turning back to me as if she enjoyed taunting me.

“Do you remember when you visited our house? And then you flirted with Mateo to ruin us,” she said, staring into my eyes. “I even caught you two in our bed, right? That’s also the reason for my accident… If it was an accident,” her smile disappearing and I could feel Ana’s gaze making us feel guilty.

“It’s just a coincidence, right?” she added, grinning again.

My hand trembled, wanting to slap her!

How dare she say that to me? In front of everyone? Damn her!

“Stop!”

We all stopped at the command of Papa Levi, but Ana seemed determined to continue.

“But… That was my past. There’s no need to bring up the past. Because the past will remain in the past. What we should be discussing is what will happen in the present for the town and for all of our lives,” she said, looking at each of us and smiling strangely. “Our wedding is my biggest nightmare,” she added.

I glanced at Mateo, who was surprised by Ana’s words. I also noticed his jaw tense, as if he didn’t expect Ana to say that. Damn!

Everyone fell silent after Ana’s last statement, but the old man suddenly burst into laughter with a different look in his eyes.

“Let’s eat! Let’s eat!” he said with a laugh, and he seemed to call his secretary to bring out our food.

Ana just grinned while leaning back in her chair, and I looked at Martin, who had no intention of stopping Ana.

He had been quiet the whole time, as if he had something deep on his mind.

“Maybe we don’t need to mention the past anymore, right, dear? So much has happened, and I’m glad to see you again,” suddenly said Mama Caridad to Ana, who raised her eyebrows and nodded slightly.

“You’re right. You were one of the ones against our marriage back then. I even remember you paying me to stay away from your son,” Ana replied with a smirk, glancing at Mama Caridad.

I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh, feeling irritated with her for a while now.

“Ana, can you please stop? You’re so irritating! Aren’t you ashamed in front of our companions? Is that how they raised you in the orphanage?!”

Ana stopped, or let’s say… They all stopped, so I grinned and, knowing I embarrassed her.

“Are you an orphan?”

“So, is she using Don Martin for this?”

“Shame on her.”

I grimaced as they talked about her.

If you want to embarrass us here, I won’t back down. You can’t just scare me like that, Ana.

We’ll settle this now.

THIRD POV

The murmuring continued, and almost everyone was disappointed to hear about Chloe.

Martin was about to speak, but Ana stopped him and shook her head, so Martin just sighed and nodded at Ana.

“Yes, I’m from an orphanage. I don't know who my parents are and I don’t know if they’re still alive, and I’m not using Don Martin for money because all the money I spent came from my hard work,” Ana glared at them and they looked away. “Can’t someone who used to live in an orphanage to be wealthy?” Ana asked coldly and leaned back in her chair.

They stopped and felt that there was something different in Ana’s speech.

“I’m not like you, lying on a soft bed, eating whenever you want, and buying everything you like. I never experienced any of that,” she looked at each of them until she stopped at Villalobos. “But, I’m happy because a kind couple adopted me and raised me well. So if you don’t have anything nice to say, be quiet. I’m not the type of person to waste time on this,” she said firmly, and stabbed the knife into the table that she had been holding.

They swallowed and bowed their heads as if embarrassed.

“S-sorry, Lady Ana.”

Ana ignored them until the food arrived, and the tension dissipated, except for Ana, who still glared at the Villalobos family.

“Are you okay?” Ana looked at Martin and nodded.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I won’t let worthless people affect me. I’m not done yet,” she said, staring at the family in front of her.

After finishing their meal, they discussed the upcoming campaign for the election.

“Do it now,” Ana whispered. Martin looked at her and just smiled, fixing his hair.

(“Yes, lady,”) he replied.

Ana just grinned and took off her earbuds.

As they were talking, Chloe's old recorder suddenly went on.

“Is she dead, Aunt?”

“Of course. My men removed the brakes from her car. She’s dead now. The woman who was in our way is gone, and you, Chloe darling, will be my son’s new wife.”

“I love it, auntie! I’ve been sick of being nice to her for so long! Isa. Goodbye, my best friend!”

The Villalobos family stopped, especially Chloe, whose eyes widened. Even their companions stopped and were puzzled.

“Is she dead, Aunt?”

“Of course. My men removed the brakes from her car. She’s dead now. The woman who stood in the way of our plans is gone, and you, Chloe darling, will be my son’s new wife.”

“I love it, Auntie! I’ve been sick of being nice to her for so long! TSK. Goodbye, my best friend.”

Trembling, Chloe peeked at her old recorder in her bag and the volume suddenly increased, causing everyone to look at her.

“Oh my gosh!” Chloe whispered in shock, and she looked at Ana, who was staring at her seriously.

“Chloe?”

Ana smiled secretly and leaned back in her seat.

“Is she dead, Aunt?”

“Of course. My men removed the brakes from her car. She’s dead now. The woman who stood in the way of our plans is gone, and you, Chloe darling, will be my son’s new wife.”

“I love it, Aunt! I’ve been sick of being nice to her for so long! TSK. Goodbye, my best friend!”

Chloe stood up from her seat and suddenly threw the old recorder on the floor.

“T-that’s not true!” Chloe shouted, as if going crazy, and looked at Ana. “You’re the one behind this!” She lunged at Ana, but was stopped by Mateo. “You’re the one who sent that to scare us!” she screamed, struggling to break free from Mateo’s grip, but still unable to escape.

Their companions whispered to each other, wondering what was happening to Chloe.

“Chloe, what are you doing! You’re embarrassing yourself!” Mateo shouted, causing him and their companions to turn to Chloe.

“She’s the one who sent that recorder to scare me!” Chloe angrily pointed at Ana and continued to approach her. “You’re so shameless!”

Ana stopped and burst into laughter. “Are you going crazy? Me? Send a recorder? Are we even close enough for me to give you a gift?” Ana asked with a laugh as she stood up, picked up the old recorder, and shook her head. “You’re out of your mind. This recorder is ancient.” she said with a sigh and placed it on the table.

“You should get yourself checked, Chloe, your illness might be getting worse,” Ana said with a smile, turning to their companions. “Martin and I will go ahead, I have a lot to do.” Ana added, prompting everyone to stand up and bid farewell to Ana.

“Thank you for the lunch meeting, Lady Ana and Don Martin.”

Don Martin nodded, and they were about to leave when Ana turned back to everyone. “Don’t forget to come to my welcome back party at Hacienda de Montecillo.” She then left, stopping in front of Chloe, who was still seething with anger.

“Did you like my little surprise for you?” Ana whispered with a smile, tapping Chloe on the shoulder, who looked at her with wide eyes.

Before they left, Ana discreetly took the recorder attached to the underside of the table, and they finally left the room. Ana grinned when she saw Chloe’s shocked face, and then she held on to Martin’s arm.

“She’s crazy,”

Ana laughed and shook her head. “See? She’s crazy."

Martin shook his head at what Ana did and tousled her hair before they finally got into their car.

“That’s nothing, I have a lot more surprises for everyone.”

Martin nodded in agreement and was still impressed by what Ana was doing.

“Yeah, we’ll see.”