Chapter 31

“DO you remember the day I told you that my phone got snatched in Recto Avenue? It’s because I went there in the wee hours to look for you,” Connor began. “I’m sorry if I doubted what you told me, Maria. It’s just that I cared so much for you and Sara that I can’t just sit in my clinic and wait for you to solve your problem in Sara’s medicines.”

Maria looked away from Connor. Now that the doctor knew what she really was, all the respect that she earned from him had vanished. She felt ashamed of herself, and she doesn’t know if she can still talk to him.

“So, all this time, you already knew what I really am?” Maria asked him in a whisper. “And, you just chose to remain silent?”

Connor reached to touch her hand on her side. “Maria, I chose not to tell you because I know that you’ll be like this to me. And this is the last thing that I want you to be.” He held her shoulders and forced her to face him. “Maria, you know that I like you so much, and being at work like this didn’t change my feelings for you. I know that you’re just doing this for Sara—”

Maria shook her head. “I’ve been doing this for almost four years, Connor. There are times that I wanted to quit, but something is stopping me from doing it. And, it’s not just Sara’s sickness… it’s…” she paused. She shouldn’t be telling these things to him.

Connor might get involved in her problem. Those evil men will come and kill her, just like what happened to Chris. The PO1 that has been shot until dead by armed men when they found out that he’s asking her about the information that she couldn’t reveal. Because of that, Maria was imprisoned in a small room for twenty-four hours without food and water. She was abused and tortured repeatedly until she couldn’t stand on her own.

Maria’s chest tightened, and she started to cry again. Remembering those nightmares in her past felt like yesterday for her. She’ll do anything to keep her daughter and friends away from those evil men. Away from the mastermind of all the human and drug trafficking syndicates that she was in.

“I’m here to help you, Maria.” Connor wrapped her hands around her. “You know what, when I went to the convenience store and found out that you’re not really working there, instead of feeling disappointed, I felt worried about you. I started looking for you everywhere until I saw you walked out of a hotel with a stranger.”

Maria looked up at him with a knotted forehead. “H-how did you know that it was me?”

“At first, I wasn’t sure that it was you because half of your face is covered, but my feelings were strong on that night, so I followed you until you got home.”

Maria pressed her lips together. This is embarrassing to hear coming from a decent man like Connor that confessed his love for him. She pulled free from his arm and turned her back. When Connor touched her shoulder, she didn’t look at him.

“Doc Connor…” she said. “It will be better and convenient for us if we’ll remain civil at each other—”

“Don’t say that, Maria.” Connor stood in front of her. “I already knew everything. And I still love you—”

“Love?” she cut off. “Connor, are you aware of what you’re saying? I’m a prostitute—”

“You’re not, Maria,” Connor said and hugged her. “For me, you’re still the woman that’s willing to do everything for her daughter.”

Tears fell down from her cheeks. “Connor, please… you don’t deserve me.”

She removed his hands from her and pulled away. When Connor was about to hug her again, Euclid went out of the house. He looked at them with a scowl.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your emotional conversation, but I need to talk with Maria,” Euclid said as he walked towards them.

“What do you want to say to her?” Connor asked Euclid and stepped in front of her, preventing him from coming near her.

Euclid smirked. “Are you the one in that’s in our custody, Doc?”

“Maria will be my client now,” he said. “I’m going to get her a lawyer—”

“She’s still in our custody,” Euclid said and pulled Maria away from him. “If you’ll meddle with us—the police—again, I’m going to file a case against you.”

“Euclid, you don’t have to do this,” Maria stepped away from Connor and let Euclid drag her.

But, Euclid stopped walking and looked back at him. “Wait, I think it is much better if you’re the one that I should ask, Dr. Connor.”

He motioned at Fred to usher her inside the house, but Maria refused. “I want to hear what this is all about—”

“It’s still about you, Maria,” Euclid cut off and shot her a glare. “You and your lies.”

Maria felt her heart is being slapped repeatedly. Seeing Euclid hate her like this was painful for her. And, to know the truth of his broken promise seven years ago that resulted in what she was now was just adding to the pain that she felt.

Euclid looked away from her as if he can’t take it anymore to lay his eyes on her. “Doc Connor, I want you to tell me about Sara’s heart condition.”

Maria covered her mouth in surprise. ‘How did he know about Sara’s heart problem?’ she asked in her mind and looked at Connor. She held her breath when Connor is about to speak.

“Mr. Euclid,” Connor said. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it’s in our protocol to not disclose anything about our client’s information without their permission.”

Euclid let out an empty laugh and turned to face her. “Maria, do I have to repeat my question to you?”

She swallowed hard. “It’s none of your business, Euclid—”

Euclid grabbed her shoulders. “Stop fooling around, Maria—”

Fred held Euclid’s arm before Connor could stop him. “Dude, calm down,” he said and pulled him away from her. “Maria, you have to tell us everything to lessen the charges that might file against you.”

Maria bit her lip. “I don’t want my child to get involved in this—”

“Sara’s already involved in your sins the moment that you accept their job offer, Maria.” Euclid cut off. “There’s nothing you can do to keep her away from this mess, but we can keep her safe. All you have to do is stop all your lies and start to be honest to me.”

***