ALVARO paled and looked shock. Pagkuwa'y humugot ng malalim na paghinga. Inihilamos ang kamay sa mukha. Suddenly, he looked ten years older. At bigla rin ay nakadama ng guilt si Chantal. Ano ang karapatan niyang usigin ang matandang lalaki?
"I never blamed him for my wife's death..." Halos hindi marinig ni Chantal ang sinasabi nito. "Ikaw ang kauna-unahang kinaringgan ko nang ganyan..."
Sandali siyang nalito. "I–I am sorry... perhaps—"
"Perhaps many people thought so, too. I realized that just now. Lalo na marahil ang mga magulang ko." Muli nitong pinuno ng hangin ang dibdib. "I didn't blame James for his mother's death. Kristine's obsession to give me a son killed her."
"Then why?"
"James didn't need me when he was a little boy and when he was growing up. Or so I thought." Then he smiled bitterly. Pagkatapos ay tinitigan siya. "Perhaps you're right. I have a distorted way of showing my love for my son. But James, as a child was strong... healthy. At habang lumalaki siya'y napakarami niyang achievements. He was a champion swimmer, a racer. He excelled in everything. He was a Navarro through and through and I am so proud of him. My parents are proud of him...
"Subalit hindi niya katulad si Quinn. Ang panganay at bunso kong lalaki'y milya-milya ang kaibahan sa isa't isa. Alam ni Quinn na basta na lang siya iniwan ng kanyang ina sa akin. Alam niya rin kung nasaan ang ina niya and he had tried to communicate with her sa tuwing nasa Amerika siya but his mother made it sure she had nothing to do with him.""Oh."
"Yes. And that hurt him so much. And then he was such a sickly boy. Part of his childhood was spent in hospitals. He could not do the things normal children do. May asthma siya at ang komplikasyong kasama niyon. And he had no one else but me, Chantal...
"Siguro'y sa pagnanais kong pagtakpan ang kawalan niya ng ina at ng pagiging masasakitin niya'y nalimutan kong iyon din ang kailangan sa akin ni James... that he'd lost his mother, too." Tuluyan nang nabasag ang tinig ni Alvaro sa bahaging iyon.Chantal's heart went out to her father-in-law. Nakita niya ang pagkislap ng mga mata nito sa pinipigil na luha. Her throat constricted.
"When James first brought you here, nakita kong isa kang mabuting babae. I am a very good judge of character. You were nothing like that bitch of a woman who jilted him. I saw how you stammer when he was talking to you, bullying you... I saw how you fear my son. Oh, well, I know it's not as if you think he'd hurt you. James would never hurt a woman.
"And you both reminded me of myself and Kristine when we first met. At nang makita ni Adora na nahihilo at nagsusuka ka, I was ecstatic. I urged her to convince James you were pregnant... na tiyakin niyang kilala namin ang doktor na maaaring pagdalhan sa iyo ni James para magpatingin. No doctor would refuse what I would have offered him para lang sabihin niyang nagdadalang-tao ka."Chantal gasped.
"Yes. Quinn wasn't capable of bearing a child. I could memorize his medical records which he hadn't had a slightest idea. I'm glad Quinn made that deathbed wish for you and James to be married. Though it wasn't after I had recovered a little from his demise. I want you to give James the family he wanted so much. At umaasa akong sa sandaling matuklasan ninyong pareho ni James na hindi ka naman pala nagdadalang-tao'y natutunan na ninyong pakibagayan ang isa't isa."
"And Renz?"
"Part of the plan. Pinakasalan ka ni James dahil sa binitiwan niyang pangako kay Quinn at sa pamimilit ko. Alam kong hindi niya ako bibiguin. At gusto kong pukawin ang damdamin ng anak ko sa iyo. Gusto kong pagselosin siya. Hindi siya magseselos kung wala siyang pagtingin sa iyo. At kahapon ay nakita ko ang galit niya sa pinsan niya mula rito sa itaas."
Hindi malaman ni Chantal ang iisipin. She sighed. "You're right, Papa. Nagagalit si James. Hindi nagseselos. Sinong asawa ang hindi magagalit kung ang asawa niya'y niyayakap at hinihipuan ng ibang lalaki."
"Believe me, Chantal... just give my son a chance, and he will fall for you."
"You're a manipulative man, Papa." She was a little amused. "You coerced James into this marriage at pagkatapos ay pinlano mong pagselosin naman siya sa pamamagitan ni Renz. Being an old man must be a bore, kaya kung ano-ano na lang ang naiisip ninyo."
"You are starting to love my son, Chantal. Perhaps you already did. I could see it—"
"Alam kong mahirap maka-recover mula sa pagkawala ng isang minamahal kahit matagal na. I still missed my parents so much. Pero bakit hindi ninyo subukang bumalik at manirahang muli sa Alta Tierra, Papa? Make yourself busy. You used to run the ranch. Loved the place so much, ayon sa mga taong nakausap ko roon noong kasal namin. I'm sure James wouldn't mind."
Sandaling kumislap ang mga mata ni Alvaro. "And what do I get in return?"
She almost rolled his eyes. "Bittersweet memories, Papa. Enough to keep you alive and strong. That and if you could show James that you love him... slowly... then I promise to give you dozens of grandchildren to spoil with..."
"And haven't you started it yet, my dear?" he teased.
Muling napasinghap si Chantal at pinamulahan ng mukha. Damn the old man!She turned toward the door. "Aalis na kami ngayon..."
"Tell James not to drive fast," wika nito.
"Bakit hindi ikaw ang magsabi niyan?" she challenged. "Aantalahin ko ang pagbaba sa dining room."
*******************Hello everyone :) Kumusta ang lahat. Balita ko, malapit na itong matapos char hahahaha. Sana tumagal pa, kasi ang hirap mag move on eh. Hahahaha - Admin A ********************************
BINABASA MO ANG
Kristine Series 19, James Navarro (UNEDITED)(COMPLETED)
Lãng mạn"My brother excels in everything, Chantal. He's a martial arts expert, a champion swimmer, he races cars like a madman... and he didn't just inherit my grandfather's looks but also Franco's business acumen and ambition. And women run after him as if...
