"If I'm wrong, then why did you pretend? You said you're husband's working abroad yet you're actually a widow! You're a liar!"
Anger slowly rose in me. I balled my fists as I accepted everything she said for the sake of not causing any more scene. But what she said next pushed me to my limit.
"Because the truth is that you want to flirt with my husband! You're a bitch, a sl*t!"
I was about to talk back when Mom stepped in.
"Don't you talk like that to my daughter! I didn't raise her just to be disrespected by you! You are nothing compared to her! She's well educated and I never did once taught her to be a mistress!" She then glanced sharply at Gabriel who was clenching his jaw.
"Minerva! Don't talk like that to my daughter!" Cassandra said.
"Enough, Minerva!" Dad tried to stopped her.
"Don't stop me, Adriano! These people have no manners! I think they don't know where to plae themselves!" Mom expelled viciously.
"Excuse me! You were talking about manners?! Why don't you teach your daughter to stop flirting with my husband!"
"Jesus! Alessandra, stop it!" Marcus said frustratedly.
My gaze went to Gabriel. I know he's just holdng himself back and avoiding to speak.
"No! I won't stop until this bitch admits what she did!"
My face heated up, my patience is full! I can't endure this any longer.
"You might swallow all your words, Alessandra!" I said with my shaky voice.
She laughed in distaste. Now, I just noticed that all the guests are watching us. I bit my lip and pulled out some courage.
"You don't know me, Meredith! You don't know what I'm capable of!"
"Go, think what you want to think of me. You should actually be thankful that I gave you some time to be with him!"
Her eyes were wide. "How dare you!"
That's when she walked and aimed to slap me. But a hand stopped her.
My heart leaped up. I was holding my breath as I looked up to him with wide eyes.
"Zeki..."
I can't believe that he actually stopped Alessandra from slapping me.
"Gabriel..." Alessandra trailed. Her face screamed bafflement.
"Stop this, Sandra. Causing a scene doesn't help! Look at the people around us? They're watching us..." Gabriel said calmly.
She abruptly pulled her hand from Gabriel and stared at him furiously.
"I don't care about them! Why are you siding with that bitch, huh?!" she spat out.
"Stop acting childish, Alessandra!" He pulled her wrist again but Alessandra just pushed him.Hinila nitong muli ang pala pulsohan ni Alessandra ngunit mariin niya itong winasiwas.
"I'm not acting childish here! I just wanted to know the truth! Or maybe your just covering that woman up so l won't catch whatever you did?! Tell me!" She was hysterical.
"God damn it!" he said angrily. His jaw clenched so hard, the tensions of his muscles was very visible.
"So, it's true? You have an affair with this woman!" She threw a glare at me and faced him again. May relasyon kayo ng babaeng ito!" Dumapo ang matalim nitong tingin saakin bago ibalik kay Gabriel.
"You know well what I do with women clinging on you. Don't try me, Gabriel! Because I will never forgive anyone who tries to break us apart!" Her eyes were bloodshot. Namumula na ang mata nito sa galit.
He harshly grabbed Alessandra which made her stunned. His eyes looks more intense, clenching his jaw harder.
"Gabriel, calm down!" Marcus tapped his shoulder.
"Get Alessandra out if here, " he ordered to Marcus sharply.
My lips parted with what he said. Marcus obliged quickly and got Alessandra from Gabriel who was still frozen.
"We will talk later..." he said a low rumble voice.
She shook her head. "No, tell me I'm wrong. Say it..." She pleaded while holding onto Marcus.
I bit my lip when her tears fell. She began to sobb uncontrollably.
"Say it, Gabriel! Tell me nothing's going on between the two of you! Say it!" she whimpered.
I shook my head as I dropped my eyes. I can't look at how she was hurt and broken by everything.
"Don't force me to speak, Sandra..." The timbre of his voice is now strong and harsh.
That's when she wailed, catching her breath.
"Alessandra..." Her mother quickly went to her.
She faced Gabriel and slapped him.
"How dare you hurt my daughter's feeling?! I guess you forgot where we picked you up, dressed you and fed you! If not for Alessandra's love for you, we would never accept you!"
Gabriel turned his scowl face to Cassandra. My breathing hitched as I anticipated for his response.
"I want this issue to be just between Alessandra and I..." he calmly said.
"For what? To shove to them that you don't have an affair with this woman?!"
"Mom..." Alessandra stopped her.
"I won't let you hurt my daughter. Especially just to be compared to that whore!" she pointed at me angrily.
I felt Mom beside me but I stopped what she's about to do. But then, Gabriel spoke up first.
"Stop calling her like that. She's not like what you're accusing her." Gabriel spilled his anger.
Cassandra looked at him with crossed-eyes. She stepped back in disbelief.
"And you're really defending that bitch?! You have no respect!"
My eyes flew to Gabriel and I saw the disapproval gleam in his eyes. The muscles in his jaw clamped tight.
"Stop it, Mom! Please Gabriel, let's go home.." Alessandra got out of Marcus' hold and hugged Gabriel. "Please... let's go back to San Marcelino..." she whimpered.
Gabriel remained silent, his face became rigid. He heaved a sigh before dropping his eyes to Alessandra.
I gulped. I can't seem to find any words to say. My heart felt more pained than anything. I can't think straight.
If I let him go, this might be the last time I'll see Hezekiah and I won't ever have a chance to take him back.
"Gabriel, just follow what your wife said so this chaos will end," Marcus said.
My eyes darted to Marcus. My face heated up. Truthfully, he was to be blamed for this. He spoiled her sister, to the point that even if he knows it's wrong, he would still support her. And now he's acting like an innocent brother to everyone.
"Gabriel..." Alessandra shook Gabriel's body.
"You need to take some rest..." he said to her lowly.
Her expression changed. "Why? Can't you leave your woman?! What did you see in that slut, huh?!"
"I said stop calling her like that!" His voice is now echoing in every corner of this room.
Shock registered on Alessandra's face. She quickly looked me with anger and hatred written all over her face.