The Colonel's Daughter

Chapter 8 : Family Secret

The night was long; Iriana couldn't find Bary in the house. He was gone, leaving her feeling sad and worried. She waited for him in the living room, but as hours passed, he still hadn't returned. Eventually, she fell asleep on the couch.

The warm sunlight illuminated the spacious living room the next morning, where Iriana, still dressed from the previous day, had fallen asleep on the couch.

Footsteps approaching woke her up. Startled, she thought it was Bary and had already prepared a list of apologies. But it wasn't him; it was Maria, already dressed and wearing makeup early in the morning.

"Don't tell me you slept here?" Maria asked, surprised.

"Um... Good morning, I was waiting for Bary."

"Bary? He didn't sleep here?"

"I... I don't know where he went."

"Ugh... Well, I do."

"Really? Could you please tell me?"

"I'd like to, but it might hurt you since you're his girlfriend."

"But I want to know."

"As you wish... In my opinion, he probably spent the night with Anja."

"Who's that?"

"Oh, he hasn't told you about her? I should stop there then. Sorry."

Iriana was confused. Anja? A girl? Why would Bary spend the night with her? Who was this girl to Bary?

Feeling a weight on her chest upon hearing about this girl, and with Bary still not returning, she hurried to her room, took a quick shower, determined to leave this place with or without Bary's help. She quickly got dressed and left her room, running into Bary's mother.

"Oh, you're already awake, dear."

"Good morning, ma'am. Yes, but I must apologize as I have an emergency; I need to leave."

"Already? What happened? And where's Bary?"

"I don't know, ma'am."

"Alright, but have breakfast with us first."

"I would love to, but perhaps next time. Please excuse me."

She rushed out of the house; the residence was surrounded by vast greenery before reaching the gate. Iriana headed towards the main gate and saw Bary approaching. She didn't stop and headed straight for it, while Bary watched her with surprise.

They met halfway.

"Where are you going?" Bary asked.

"I'm leaving here, with or without your help!" Iriana said, continuing her path, but Bary stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"What's wrong with you?" Bary asked again.

"What's wrong is that I miss my mother, I want to see my father again, and my boyfriend must be worried sick about me."

"I don't understand what your boyfriend has to do with this now. As far as I know, you've always avoided that topic. Why bring it up now?"

"Because I need to talk about it... It needs to come out. I've been silently thinking about him every day, but now I can't take it anymore," Iriana said, both angry and sad.

Bary, confused, stood before her, not wanting to let her go, and said:

"What's happening to us? This isn't like us, so many arguments, so much distrust, so much anger... I don't understand anything anymore!"

"Well, we're both in the same boat because I don't understand what's happening to us either. All I want is to get away from you and your family, Bary."

Suddenly, another male voice interrupted them: