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Part 10: Shadows of Deceit
As I sat in the café, the aroma of coffee and baked goods wafting through the air, I felt a sense of foreboding. I was about to meet Leonor, the one person I still loved despite the weight of my marriage to Tricia. But little did I know that Tricia was already scheming in the shadows, and her true intentions were about to reveal themselves.
Leonor arrived, her presence instantly lighting up the dimly lit café. As she sat across from me, I noticed the worry etched on her face. “YN, what’s going on? You sounded urgent on the phone.”
“I have a lot to explain,” I began, my heart racing. “Tricia is pregnant, and I don’t know how to handle it. I don’t know if I can be the husband she wants me to be while I still feel so strongly for you.”
Leonor’s expression shifted from concern to disbelief. “Pregnant? But you two just got married. You’re not ready for that kind of commitment, YN. You don’t even love her.”
“I know!” I exclaimed, my voice rising slightly. “But it’s happening, and I feel trapped. I don’t want to hurt Tricia, but I can’t pretend that my heart belongs to her.”
As we spoke, I could see the conflict in Leonor’s eyes. She cared for me deeply but was also aware of the reality we faced. Just then, a familiar figure entered the café—Tricia.
I felt my heart drop as she approached, a smile plastered on her face. “There you are, YN! I was hoping to find you here.” Her gaze drifted to Leonor, and I could sense the tension in the air.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
“I wanted to surprise you both,” Tricia replied, her tone innocent yet calculating. “After all, we’re a family now.” She leaned closer, placing her hand possessively on my arm, as if marking her territory.
“Tricia, we were in the middle of a conversation,” I said, trying to push her away. But she only tightened her grip.
Leonor’s expression hardened, and she stood, her voice steady but laced with anger. “This is inappropriate, Tricia. You can’t just intrude on our conversation like this.”
Tricia’s smile faltered for a brief moment, revealing the underlying malice in her eyes. “Oh, but I can, Leonor. You see, I have plans for YN that you don’t understand. I’m ensuring that he is fully committed to me and our family.”
“Plans?” Leonor echoed, her voice rising. “What do you mean?”
Tricia leaned in closer, a glint of wickedness in her gaze. “After our first child, I intend to have more. Each child will strengthen our family’s bond, tying YN closer to me. He’ll have no choice but to stay by my side.”
I felt the color drain from my face. “Tricia, this isn’t how a marriage should work. You can’t manipulate me like this.”
But Tricia merely laughed, a cold, calculating sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Oh, but it’s already happening, YN. You’re here in my life now, and I will make sure you remain there. Your love for Leonor means nothing compared to the power I have over you and your responsibilities.”
Leonor stepped forward, fury radiating from her. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Tricia. YN deserves to be loved, not controlled. You can’t force him into a life he doesn’t want.”
Tricia smirked, the darkness in her eyes deepening. “Watch me. I have the resources, the connections, and the determination to keep him by my side. He’ll be mine completely.”
I felt torn, caught in a whirlwind of emotions. The love I felt for Leonor was still strong, but Tricia’s threats loomed over me like a dark cloud. The implications of her words weighed heavily on my heart.
“I won’t let you manipulate me,” I said, trying to regain control of the situation. “I will be there for our child, but that doesn’t mean I’ll lose myself in the process.”
Tricia’s expression hardened, and her smile faded into a mask of cold resolve. “We’ll see about that, YN. I always get what I want. And right now, what I want is to ensure that you’re completely mine.”
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Leonor and me in stunned silence.
“YN, we need to come up with a plan,” Leonor said urgently, her eyes filled with determination. “We can’t let her control your life like this.”
“I don’t know what to do,” I admitted, feeling lost. “I want to be there for my child, but I can’t sacrifice my own happiness.”
“We’ll figure it out together,” she promised, her voice steady. “But we need to act fast before Tricia solidifies her hold over you.”
As we sat in the café, a sense of urgency washed over us. Tricia’s evil plan to bind me to her with the weight of children was more than a threat; it was a reality I needed to confront. My love for Leonor was worth fighting for, but I was now caught in a web of deceit that threatened to pull me under.
In that moment, I knew our battle was just beginning.
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YOU ARE READING
This is the story of a modern day princess and her forbidden love.
FantasíaAs the daughter of the President of the Philippines, I never expected to become entangled in a royal drama. But when I met the daughter of the King of Spain, everything changed. Our secret meetings and forbidden love became a game of cat and mouse...
