When they returned home, Lara asked Nanny Loring to take care of Callie. It's not just because she's tired. But most of all is that she felt something in her heart.
She remained silent until she finished taking a shower. She was already lying on the bed and decided to turn her back from Joaquin when she hugged her from behind.
"You've been quiet for a while. Do you have a problem?" he asked her.
That's when she sighed and then faced the man.
Like she said earlier, she needed to get this out of her system. But she could not be reassured either.
"What are you thinking? Why have you been so quiet?" Joaquin asked her again when she faced her.
Lara stared at her husband's face and then sighed. She got up and leaned her back against the headboard of the bed. Then focus on the open TV screen.
"Did you know I saw Tessa earlier?" she began.
Even if she didn't look back at her husband, she knew he was surprised. That was without him speaking. And she proved it when she turned to stare at him.
"That's what took me so long from the comfort room earlier because she talked to me," she said.
When she spoke, it was as if Joaquin came to his senses, so she spoke again.
"She introduced herself to me as your former bed partner. Then she also told me that Ramil is now with her," she began.
"Ramil? He was your suitor before, wasn't he?"
"Yeah."
“Sweetheart, whatever Tessa told you about us before it's all over. That's why I hope you don't just believe her," her husband said pleadingly.
"Really? Because she told me earlier that you are the President and CEO of the largest paper company here in the Philippines."
Lara just made the tone of her speech casual. Because there is still no confirmation from Joaquin about what Tessa told her earlier. But when she observed the intense surprise in his eyes, Lara felt confused. Wonder what she must feel at that moment.
“Didn't you tell me you were VP?” she asked again.
At that point, she heard Joaquin take a deep breath and soon let it out.
"Okay, let me explain," he began.
Perhaps if they just happen to be in a different situation. What she means is that if she is not hiding anything from Joaquin, she might be angry with him. She might have started scolding him. But even she has a heavier secret kept from her husband. So what is her right to be angry with him?
"Explain what? So does this mean what Tessa told me earlier is true?"
Joaquin sighed again and then hesitantly nodded.
As much as she saw her husband's behavior, Lara couldn't stop herself from crying.
“W-Why did you have to hide the truth from me? Do you think that I only want money from you? Is that why your father hates me so much?" that's what she asked one after the other in a raspy voice.
"Listen to me, please," begged Joaquin then he grabbed both of her shoulders.
When Lara's tears fell, she quickly dried them. Then she just nodded and started listening to all the explanations that her husband wanted to do.
"I have to tell you everything now, okay? I will tell you everything. But you have to promise me that you will not close your mind and heart to understand me. Okay?” said Joaquin in a calm tone.
Lara nodded there but did not speak.
“Great. Now, it's like this. My father didn't like me being a womanizer. All I do is not in a serious relationship. He didn't like all that because first he was worried that I might get one of them accidentally pregnant and then would suddenly chase after me. That's a scandal and he doesn't like that."
Upon hearing, Lara was immediately struck. In that case, her decision to not find Joaquin back then was the right one. Because they might not reach this state. Maybe her husband didn't marry her either.
“He wants me to change. And I am aware that there has a woman whom he wants for me. It was Tanya. The girl Patrick married."
"Patrick's wife?"
Joaquin nodded.
"Tanya and Patrick's relationship is secret from the woman's side. Because Tanya knew that her parents would not like that. Apart from the fact that our parents have been trying to pursue us for a long time. So, I insisted to Papa that I will not marry someone I don't love. And then he gave me a condition.”
“Condition? What kind of condition is that?” Lara asked one after the other.
"He told me that he will not force me to marry Tanya if within two months I can find a woman I can marry. And that girl must have no idea of my real identity. Because honestly, before you, no woman really loved me. What they want and love is my money and me for being me.”
Hearing that, Lara quickly burst into tears.
"Hey," said Joaquin who quickly hugged her tightly afterward.
Lara stayed in that position for a few moments.
She couldn't tell if her husband had just toyed with her. Is it true what he said when he married her? And above all, if everything he shows is true.
“D-Does this means that when you married me you didn't really love me? You only married me because you didn't want to marry the girl your father wanted for you?" Lara's voice was full of resentment as her tears began to flow.
She saw the pain on Joaquin's face at those moments because of what she said. That's why despite the grief she feels, she still couldn't stop feeling pity for her husband.
"I-I can't say I didn't love you then, Lara. Because the truth is that everything I felt for you was a stranger to me. But like what I told you before when I saw you running while being chased by two men, I wanted to protect you. That is the truth.”
Lara did not speak after Joaquin said that and instead just continued to cry silently.
"I won't tie myself to you if I don't love you, Lara," Joaquin explained.
"Really? How did you say that? You managed to hide everything from me, didn't you?" She finally found a word to say.
Her husband immediately grabbed her hands and squeezed them.
"Do you know that the original plan was that I would not get married here but in another country? Because there is a divorce. But I married you here in the Philippines, didn't I? Even if you say we have a legal separation and annulment, no matter how much money I have, it's not easy to get that if I don't have enough grounds. And one more thing, I love you, Lara. That is the truth. I feel like I've known you for a long time. Maybe that's why I fell for you so quickly."
"I-I love you too, very much. That's why I'm hurting like this now. Because I can't accept that you married me just because of your agreement with your father," she said wiping away tears although they continued to flow.
That's when Joaquin grabbed her chin and raised her face. After that, their eyes met. When Lara stared into her husband's eyes, she saw the sincerity in everything he said. Although she also felt that earlier in the way he spoke.
"I love you. I married you because I love you," he told her without hesitation.
"I-I know, and I love you too, Joaquin. Too much.”
The smile that broke Joaquin's lips was sweet because of what she said. And at the same time as the bright and star-like twinkling of his eyes in the dark sky, he hugged her.
"I love you, sweetheart. Thank you so much for understanding. Did you know that Papa told me that he was going to remove me from the company? But now that you know the truth and that you have forgiven and understood me, I can say that I can handle all the problems as long as you are always by my side," Joaquin's tone of his speech showed great satisfaction.
Lara didn't speak after that. She just kept hugging Joaquin while silently crying.
When she thinks of how her husband defended her from his father the day before, her heart truly leaps with happiness. And now that Joaquin also agrees with his father's plan to take away his rights because he chooses her and Callie. Her love for the man grew stronger and more fervent. A love that will never go away, no matter when. A love that cannot be broken by any kind of lie.