Chapter 7
1717 Words
Maria is busy cleaning her house while Morris is in school. Tired of mopping the floor, she laid her body on the old L sofa. She is thinking hard, what future she will give to Morris? Sure, she knew that the money she was earning at the congregation's office wasn't enough to support their daily needs. In addition, even Morris is free from tuition for now as he is registered as a lifetime scholar by the congregation, their consumption and some extra expenses are still a problem.
Maria wanted to scream from frustration. If only Val hadn't left before, she has no Morris to attend or maybe they have a family, a complete family. Val is working for them, providing a better future for their children.
Maria suddenly opened her eyes from deep thought and a lightbulb appeared in her sight.
What if she left Morris to Lorenzo, after all, he has the right with the kid. With that idea, she will be free from responsibility and free to go with Val. Maria is the worst mother for Morris but she is crazy in love with Val until now. It is not because she doesn't love the kid, but it reminds her about Lorenzo. Though they have no proper communication, a few or so, he is following Val in his mission. She sometimes leaves Morris in the convent but she was afraid to show up to tell that she still loves the man. Despite her unrequited love, Maria still hopes for Val to be in his arms again.
Busy in her thoughts, her mobile rang and she quickly reached them and answered it. It was a call from the school. She forgets the time and it's time to pick up the kid but she didn't notice the time.
Maria hurried out and ran as fast as she could. Though the school is just one kilometer away, Morris will cry as soon as he realizes she will not come.
“You are late again..” Morris cried but hugged his mother.
“I am sorry. I am here anyway. Let's go!” Maria said, coaxing the kid with her beautiful smile.
The two are about to leave when a man bumps into them.
“Ouch!” Morris cried as he massaged his shoulder.
“Hey! Can you at least look-, Val?” Maria stops for a while when she recognizes the person, neglecting Morris who is in pain.
She let go of Morris' hand and faced Val Roberto.
“Maria? Why are you here and who is this kid?”
“Ah, erm..a, I am his nanny!” Maria answered nervously, lying about Morris.
Val looks around, with worried eyes and seems into a panic situation.
“Look, Maria. I have no time for this. See you next time.” Val Roberto said and was about to leave but a group of men stopped him.
“Where do you think you are going?” the leader of the group asked, in a calm voice while stopping him to step forward.
“Mr. Lorenzo!” Morris shouts as he sees Lorenzo approaching.
Maria panicked, tilting her head to the left where Val was being captured by Lorenzo's men and looked to her right as Lorenzo approached with a serious face.
The van arrived on time and pushed Val Roberto inside and in a blink of an eye, the van left.
“Lorenzo, what is that? Why is…" Maria cut her own words to deny that she knew the man.
“Get in the car!” Lorenzo commanded as the limousine arrived. The driver opened the door for them and all of them got inside without a word.
“Mr. Lorenzo, is the car yours?" Morris asked innocently.
“Yes. Here take this.” Lorenzo answered and handed a box of toy robots to the kid ruffling his hair with a smile.
“Wow! Awesome, thank you!” Morris excitedly opened the box and played with the toy.
Maria is just silent beside Morris, facing Lorenzo on the opposite chair. She is busy fidgeting her finger and can't even look at Lorenzo.
“How much do you know about Val Roberto?” Lorenzo starts to ask Maria who is still not willing to talk.
“Not that much, but I love him!” Maria answered fearlessly. She doesn't care if her son can hear them.
“Even if he is a bad guy?” Lorenzo's brows furrowed, curious what her answer would be.
“He is not a bad guy! You are the bad person here. Why did you capture him? That was kidnapping, what do you always kidnap people anytime you want?” Maria said angrily, making Morris look at her with worriedness.
“Mom, we go with Mr. Lorenzo willingly,” Morris said and continued to play with his toy.
“This guy is a bad person, Morris!” Maria exclaimed, looking at her son's eyes intently.
“But why is he so good to me and always gives me free toys?” Morris pouted, feeling sad thinking Lorenzo is a bad guy.
“He is! Soon, he will kidnap us again.”
“Pfft!” Lorenzo chuckles, giggling at Maria's childish explanation to her son.
“I want to be kidnapped again if it is Mr. Lorenzo. He will bring me to the toy room and eat nice foods, right?” Morris said and stared at Lorenzo, asking for rescue.
“Clever good boy,” Lorenzo answered, feeling overwhelmed how his sun instinct trusted him.
“Mr. Lorenzo, do you see that guy taken by the van?” Morris asked in curiosity, unaware that it was Lorenzo's doing.
Maria remains silent as she knows if she complains, Lorenzo will interrogate her about Val. Despite being curious why Lorenzo took Val, she wants to negotiate well to free the person she loves.
Maria and Morris entered the familiar mansion. They were here a few days ago but this time, they weren't forced but had no choice but to come.
A middle-aged woman approached and took Morris, leading him to the dining room. Maria followed but Lorenzo stopped her.
“Leave him. Let's talk.” Lorenzo said, waving his hand to Morris.
Maybe because of their blood relationship, Morris is so comfortable with Lorenzo no matter how much Maria tells them that he is a bad guy.
“Mom, I'll be here! See you later!” Morris shouts following the nanny in the dining room.
“Come with me,” Lorenzo commanded and stepped up the stairs.
Maria follows silently and when they reach the home office, Lorenzo speaks.
“Lock the door,” he said, walking towards the working table as he sat on the swivel chair.
Maria obeyed nervously, thinking negative thoughts, why does it need to lock the door.
“Sit.” Lorenzo clasped his hands watching Maria's movement carefully.
“How much do you know about Val Roberto?”
“I. I don't know much about his personal life. But we were dating 2 years before he left and I entered the congregation.” Maria's voice is trembling, can't even look Lorenzo straight in the eyes.
“Do you want to know why I captured him? Do you want him to live?’
“Lorenzo! Don't ever touch and hurt him or I will sue you for kidnapping him and us!” Maria wanted to cry hearing Val will suffer in Lorenzo's men.
“Do you love him that much? Why not give me another chance, for the sake of our kid?” Lorenzo said softly, full of hope, mixed with pain and love for Maria.
“Yes, I love him so much,” Maria answered without a second thought. Her tears started to fall on her cheek.
Watching Maria cry over the man whom she thought will love her makes Lorenzo's heart melt. He is in front of her, loving Maria wholeheartedly but the woman he loves doesn't want to give him a chance. Though it was painful for Lorenzo, he had no choice but to offer the best he could for his son. For now, it is not the right time to tell the truth about Val Roberto's identity.
“You leave me no choice, Maria. You have to choose one only.” Lorenzo's face becomes emotionless and controls the hurt feeling showing no mercy as he speaks.
“What are the choices?” Maria bravely asked.
“Val Roberto or Morris?” he said, looking at Maria's eyes hoping she would choose the latter.
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Unsure of the result, Maria is playing safe and asks, “What is the condition?”
Lorenzo smirked as if Maria could read what's on his mind.
“If you chose Morris, everything I have is yours. Morris will become my heir and I will give you a name. I am willing to wait until you love me back. We will get married and live happily.” Lorenzo explained, full of hope and sincerity, even though he is trying to trick and lure Maria, he still hopes that Maria will choose both Morris and Val if she really can't love him.
“Val Roberto,” Maria answered without a second thought.
Lorenzo was taken aback, with mouth agape. For a moment, his world collapsed even though he knew from the start that Maria would choose Val. But disregarding Morris, as a mother, Maria is the worst.
“Pardon me?” Lorenzo still can't believe her decision.
“Val Roberto,” Maria said with the same tone, staring straight at Lorenzo's eyes.
He is not forcing Maria, he is giving a better option and he admitted his defeat over Val Roberto. But there is a pang in his heart, it was painful to hear that the woman he loves, loved someone else. He is Lorenzo Bianchi, he never begged a woman. He never was this foolish and he was never hurt before. Maria is the only woman who crashed his world until it collapsed. He was in pain right now but he needed to deal with this mess. He has never been expressive with his love. He doesn't utter those romantic and lovely sweet words but sure he knows how much he loves Maria to the core.
- Writer
