Art of Love

Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

Their Separate Lives

Tatay Solomon and Pia were already on their way to Angelo City. Pia was still wearing the sunglasses. She didn't want the caretaker to see her tears.

Tatay Solomon spoke up while driving, "You both love each other and yet you have to go on separate ways. I know you don't feel worthy of him. He knows no socioeconomic boundaries just like his father. Madam Victoria is likewise from an ordinary family like yours in Mexico."

She spoke up, "This is not yet the right time for the two of us, Tatay. We are still both grieving over our parents' death. I still want to finish my studies and he still needs to heal from his previous breakup."

Tatay Solomon said, "So you know about Gemma?"

"Yes, Tatay. He told me about her when we stayed for a couple of days at the yacht together. He said he cheated on him," she acknowledged.

"His parents didn't approve of the match. They felt that Gemma was just after his money. Despite his parents' disapproval, he still went on with the relationship only to be cheated on eventually. It was a great failure on his part because he didn't usually go against his parents," Tatay Solomon added.

"He has given me so many things but I don't think I would be able to use them all. I'm just used to having a simple life. All I just want is to finish my studies and move on with my life," she said.

"He just didn't want you to face any more hardships as you finish your studies. We had a background check on you even before we went back to Angelo to shop for you. He liked you from the start already. But he wanted to make sure you're worthy to be helped," Tatay Solomon confessed. "It breaks his heart to find out about the hardships you encountered along the way. When we met you at Abur, you were so pale. He didn't hesitate to take you with us."

"I'm really thankful to God for sending him to me," she voiced out.

"He's even more thankful, hija. He had been focusing all of his time with work since he returned last March. Eduardo was diagnosed of a late stage of esophageal cancer. He had been avoiding taking over the Yñiguez Enterprises. Although he had prepared himself well for the task, his parents still allowed him to enjoy a normal life in Mexico and in US," Tatay Solomon imparted. "He wanted a life free from all the scrutiny of the corporate world, free from all the glamour of being a multi-billionaire. So he often opted for private and quiet times at the beach house. In the mall, no one had recognized him as well as in the cultural center. In the yacht club he also maintained privacy. It was one of the reason he wandered by the public beach. And there he found you."

"You seem to have known him for long, Tatay," she commented. "How long have you known him?"

"I've known him since he was born. I used to work as his father's personal male servant. When I got married, I took care of the beach house with my wife and some of their other properties here in Folli."

Pia had asked "Where is your wife now, Tatay?"

"My wife and my only daughter died years ago in a car accident. I survived the accident but they didn't. So I just devoted my life serving the family. Eduardo frequently visited the beach house with his wife and his son when he was still alive," the caretaker said.

"He's a very good man," Pia commented.

"Yeah! He is like his father," Tatay Solomon imparted. "When they love a person, they shower them with all the things they could possibly give."