His Untold Lies

Chapter 40 Mom

Her eyes slowly fluttered open. Unlike most mornings, today's awakening felt gentle, as if her mother's soft voice had coaxed her from slumber. She gradually realized the room remained cloaked in darkness, with the dim blue shadows of the dwindling night dancing on the curtains. A faint, comforting light was beginning to seep through, casting a cozy ambiance. She rolled over and let out a languid yawn, deciding it was too early to rise. Content to linger in the peaceful moments of sleep before the sun stirred the world to its frantic routine, she pushed away thoughts of the previous night's agony.

Then, it struck her that Ares was not beside her. She resolved to check the living room, but to her surprise, Ares was nowhere to be found.

Kianna wondered aloud, "Could he have left for work so early?"

Her gaze landed on a meal set out on the table, accompanied by a note. She eagerly picked up the note from Ares, which read, "Good morning, my love. I've gone to the office and will be working late today. Don't forget to enjoy the breakfast I prepared for you. I love you! Yours, Ares."

Kianna hugged the note and showered it with kisses, feeling her cheeks flush. After relishing her breakfast, she sighed and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before heading to the bathroom. Following the usual morning rituals of brushing teeth, combing hair, and washing away sleep, she reluctantly dressed in the clothes she had laid out the previous night.

Mornings, especially dark ones, were not her usual routine. However, today she had an early class, so she descended the stairs, ventured out into the quiet street, and marveled at how dark it still was before the dawn broke.

After 5:00 a.m. had passed, she reached the bus stop to find a bus already waiting. The street buzzed with shoppers and vendors vying for the day's best deals, creating a lively atmosphere. But what truly awakened her senses was the enticing aroma of freshly baked pandesal, fried rice with an egg, and coffee. Once aboard, she selected a window seat, anticipating the brisk morning breeze.

*ringing* *ringing* *ringing*

"Hey," she answered her phone. "Are you at school already?"

"Yeah, I just got here. Where are you?" Miaree, on the other end, replied.

"I'm on my way. Meet me at the cafeteria. I'll fill you in on everything that happened yesterday. I can't shake off the fear from that incident. Anyway, see you at the cafeteria, okay?"

"Sure, see you!" Miaree responded before ending the call.

Thirty minutes later, as she disembarked from the bus at school, she spotted her two best friends, Miaree and Marcy, engrossed in a discussion about their Theories of Personality homework.

"Finally, you're here. We've been waiting forever!" Miaree exclaimed.

"I told you to wait for me at the cafeteria. Why did you wait outside?" she asked, gently pulling them toward the gate.

As they strolled toward their department, she began recounting the events of the previous day. Instead of inquiring about her well-being, her friends seemed more interested in probing about Vueravista Company. She sighed with disappointment.

"Relax, girl! We're just messing around. Are you okay? Did they harm you?" Marcy interjected.

Miaree patted her shoulder and said, "Listen, if you ever go out alone, call us so we know you're heading home solo. I can have my driver take you."

"I don't want to be a bother. I'll be extra cautious next time," she replied.

"You're not a bother; you're our best friend, and your safety matters to us. So, don't be stubborn and do as Miaree says, okay?" Marcy insisted, earning a nod of agreement.

"Girls! Did any of you manage to read this morning's readings?" Marcy suddenly interjected, looking rather panicked.

"You didn't, did you?" Miaree and she asked in unison, bursting into laughter as Marcy scrambled to retrieve his Theories of Personality textbook from his bag.

-

The Villa de Vuertalejo

Approaching Vuertalejo's villa follows a unique rhythm and pace. Silence reigns until you cross the boundary that separates the road from the woods. Once you step beyond this invisible line, a quiet tension begins to build like a subtle pianissimo in a musical composition. The house doesn't immediately reveal itself; instead, it shyly peeks through the trees, reminiscent of a child playing hide-and-seek. While it commands your attention, the home remains intimately connected to the surrounding forest. As your gaze follows the grand curves of the house's sides, the edges of the woods and the dwelling start to merge. Delicate circular windows hover above the rustic tree-branch door handle, while the entrance door itself is adorned with vertical wooden slats, creating an intricate tapestry of detail.

A Suzuki Swift car was parked in front of an exceptionally spacious villa. As Ares emerged from his car, a woman in a red fitted dress, blonde hair cascading, and gold earrings approached him.

"Good morning, dear! How's your-what happened to your car?" the woman inquired, her concern evident as she cast her gaze upon Ares' Suzuki Swift.

Ares scratched his head, attempting to explain, "Well, Mom... It's... You know what, it's a long story."

His mother sighed, a puzzled expression on her face. "Alright, no need to dwell on it. Let's head inside. But, may I ask, what's the rush with the sudden decision to get married?" she inquired.

Ares, unsure of how to respond, swiftly changed the subject. "Mom, how's your husband doing?"