FALLEN PROMISE

CHAPTER 9 “MARTIN’S WRATH”

"Why don't I know about this, Carmela?" Martin's voice carried anger, yet it refrained from outright shouting. He caught Carmela in a compromising situation, vomiting in her bathroom, which wasn't the first time he had discovered her in such a state. Perhaps that's why he had already come to his own conclusions about her condition, even before she had a chance to reveal it to him.

"I-I'm sorry, Papa," she stammered, her voice teary.

Carmela observed the complex emotions playing across her father's face, a tumultuous mix of concern and frustration. Even though she hadn't explicitly informed him about her pregnancy, it seemed as though he had already pieced it together. Her apology served as a form of acknowledgment, a non-verbal confirmation of the news he had likely deduced.

"Who is the father of this child?" Martin's question remained charged with anger.

Before Carmela could respond, Nanny Ising entered her room. Worriedly, the older woman approached Carmela, who, at this moment, sat on the edge of her bed, clearly frightened.

"What's happening?" Nanny Ising inquired anxiously, sensing the tension in the room. Not only in her speech but also in her demeanor, confusion was evident.

"You! Do you know what's going on?" Martin confronted Nanny Ising, attempting to restrain his anger.

"Nanny Ising doesn't know anything about this, Papa!" Carmela interjected, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"What's happening? Carmela?" Nanny Ising's questions reflected both concern and confusion, evident not only in her tone but also in her overall demeanor.

"Your ward here is pregnant!" Martin bluntly declared to Nanny Ising, leaving her dumbfounded.

"What?!" Nanny Ising exclaimed in shock.

In response to the successive inquiries from Martin and Nanny Ising, Carmela broke into uncontrollable sobs. Martin, unrelenting in his interrogation, posed more questions, demanding answers about the identity of the child's father and expressing his dismay over Carmela's alleged secrecy.

Carmela consecutively shook her head. Regardless of the circumstances, she had no intention of revealing to anyone that Nestor was the father of her unborn child. Doing so would only complicate matters and disrupt the delicate balance they maintained. Carmela was content with whatever she and Nestor had. She loved him deeply. However, her feelings for Victoria were also significant, and she couldn't bear the thought of losing a friend like her.

"It doesn't matter who he is, Papa. He can't marry me anyway. What's important to me is this child," Carmela explained, wiping away her tears and sniffing.

"Are you saying the man who impregnated you is married? Is that the truth, Carmela?" her father asked again.

At this point, Carmela decided to convince her father of a narrative that she was certain would be accepted. She knew that once her father learned that Nestor was the one responsible, they would be pressured to marry. While she liked the idea, she couldn't fathom causing pain to Victoria and potentially separating her from Nestor. Carmela couldn't let her friend go through that.

"I'm sorry," she apologized again, her voice filled with sadness.

At that moment, Nanny Ising embraced her tightly, and Carmela felt a wave of weakness, crying in the arms of the woman who had raised and cared for her.

In that state, Carmela heard her father's footsteps leaving her room. Martin chose not to inquire further, leaving her to her sorrow. Strangely, Carmela felt even more hurt, as the chosen silence of her father added an extra layer of guilt to her conscience.

Yet, perhaps it was for the best. It was better that a certain truth remained a secret. It spared them all from pain, from broken friendships and relationships.

*****

"Isn't he handsome, Carmela?"

A few days after the discussion with Martin, Victoria visited Carmela's house, accompanied by a baby. Carmela had already heard about Lucas from Nestor, and their secret meetings continued, with no plans of stopping.

"Yes, he's incredibly handsome," Carmela replied, smiling as she shifted her gaze between Victoria's beautiful face and the baby in her arms.

"He sleeps all the time. He's such a good baby. He never gives me a hard time," Victoria happily shared while gently caressing the baby's button-like nose.

Carmela smiled for a moment before deciding to share something important with Victoria, something she knew her friend needed to know. The truth about her own situation couldn't be hidden forever, especially with her visible baby bump.

"I-I'm going to be a mom too, Victoria," she said, keeping her tone subdued.

Carmela could see the overwhelming surprise and admiration on Victoria's lovely face.

"W-What?" Victoria asked in disbelief, though Carmela sensed that her friend wasn't entirely shocked.

Carmela offered a hesitant smile, knowing the guilt that lingered within her. But when she thought about having Nestor's child, it somehow lessened the burden.

She nodded. "B-But he can't marry me," she admitted, her voice breaking.

"He's married?" Victoria asked, clearly feeling sympathy for Carmela, an emotion that Carmela didn't want.

Carmela managed a weak smile and wiped away the tears that had escaped down her cheeks. "Yes, that's why don't be surprised if you see my belly growing."

Victoria looked at Carmela straight in the eyes, a mixture of understanding and compassion on her face. Then, she gently nodded. "You will be the godmother at Lucas's baptism next week, okay? Is that alright with you?"

Carmela responded with a short and sincere "No problem," knowing Victoria understood the complexities of their situation.

*****

"Did she tell you who got her pregnant?" Nestor asked Victoria while they were having dinner.

Victoria shrugged before reaching for her glass of water. "No, all I know is that she can't marry the person who got her pregnant. It means he's either married or has other obligations. So, I didn't bother asking further," she explained.

Nestor remained silent after Victoria's revelation. It prompted her to continue.

"You know, if there's one woman here in Eldoria I would expect to get pregnant or involved with a married man, it would be Carmela," Victoria said with a tone of regret.

Nestor inquired, "Why is that?"

"Carmela is intelligent," Victoria began, looking straight into Nestor's eyes as she chewed her food. "Highly educated and a renowned chef in America. She's the type of woman who could catch the attention of someone influential in society. But look at what happened to her. I didn't pry too much into her life because I felt embarrassed. Plus, I love her too much to ask about personal matters that I'm not sure she wants to share with me," Victoria elaborated.

Nestor stayed silent, seemingly uninterested in Victoria's revelations. Sensing his lack of engagement, Victoria decided to drop the topic. After all, she already mentioned that Carmela agreed to be Lucas's godmother at his upcoming baptism next week.