Susan had been gazing silently at her mother for over ten minutes. They were both in the kitchen, sipping calming tea since the shocking conversation in her bedroom. Teresa appeared calm, but she simply looked at her daughter without uttering a word. It seemed she had a thousand and one questions to ask but feared the answers.
"Feeling calmer, Mom?" Susan finally mustered the courage and broke the uncomfortable silence that had settled between them.
"I suppose so!" Teresa took a sip of her chamomile tea and sighed, setting her cup down on the table. Observing her daughter's sheepish expression, she empathized, "Tell me everything, but everything that happened to you."
"Well..." Susan swallowed. "Remember the night I only showed up in the morning?"
"Yes... you said you were with Nicole." Teresa was alert, recalling her disheveled dress that day; she should have been suspicious then. "That was a month ago, wasn't it?"
"Yes..." Susan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, indeed already four weeks pregnant. Clearing her throat, she attempted to continue, "Well, I drank too much... and supposedly... Nicole was supposed to bring me home as agreed." She shook her head in frustration, annoyed at her prolonged misplaced trust. "I don't remember much about that night, but I woke up in a strange place and... I was naked."
"What do you mean?" Teresa's eyes widened, staring at her daughter in horror. "Were you violated?" She rose, completely agitated. "And you say nothing? We should have reported it."
"Report what?" Susan exhaled deeply. "I don't even remember what happened."
"Yes, but... they conduct tests, and they could uncover something," Teresa argued, visibly upset.
"Mom... he was so gentle..." Susan blushed as she added, "...that I ended up... returning his kisses, his caresses..."
"What?" Teresa sat back down completely defeated. For a few seconds, she simply observed her daughter's beautiful face. "But... you said you couldn't remember anything."
"At that time, on that day, I didn't remember," Susan confessed, sighing. "But over time, I started remembering some... details..." She looked apprehensively at her mother. "But nothing that would help me recognize him in a crowd." She took her mother's hand, emotionally pleading, "Forgive me..."
"My daughter, it was your first time..." Teresa sighed before offering a tender smile, trying to prevent her daughter from feeling guilty for what had happened since no one had the right to take advantage of a young woman not in her full senses. "Have you been back to that place to see if you find him?"
"In the middle of the forest?" Susan immediately scoffed. "I'm more certain of finding a wild animal."
"The forest?" Teresa tensed instantly. "Wait a minute? Where exactly did you wake up that morning?"
"In a dark, vast forest on the outskirts of town." Susan's face turned redder than a tomato.
"What?" Teresa turned pale. "How did you end up there?" She stood up abruptly, her chair toppling over. "What did he look like?"
"I already told you..." Susan jumped in her chair, seeing her mother's frightened look. "I don't know!!!"
"There wasn't any detail of him..." Teresa tried to disguise her panic, gazing at her daughter with a gentle smile. "Anything unique, something distinct..."
"Well..." Susan blushed. "He had peculiar eyes, and his hair was different from what we usually see, almost white it was so blond." Clearing her throat, she whispered, "But it doesn’t matter now... or does it."
"No, it doesn't!" Adjusting her chair, Teresa sat back down, gripping her trembling cup. "Despite everything... I think you were lucky..."
"Lucky, Mom?" Susan was perplexed by her mother’s words. "I'm pregnant with a stranger's child!"
"Yes, my dear, I know." Teresa took a sip of tea, subtly facing her daughter as she added softly, "But that night... you might not have survived..."
"Oh my God!" Susan bit her lip, shivering at her mother's words and grim tone. "You're scaring me!" She scrutinized her mother, realizing how strange, thoughtful, and nervous she seemed. Frowning, she inquired, "Do you know that place?"
"Me?" Teresa choked. "Of course not!" She cleared her throat repeatedly, adding somewhat anxiously, "I've just heard about it." Picking up her cup, Teresa stood up again, this time slowly. "Honey! I'll need to go out..." Placing the dish in the sink, she took a deep breath, declaring with a smile as she looked at Susan, "Can you make lunch today?"
"Yes... sure." Susan raised an eyebrow, puzzled by her mother's sudden change of mood.
"Then I'll see you later!" Teresa nearly ran out of the kitchen and even the house, grabbing her purse as if she were "The Flash."
Hailing a taxi, Teresa immediately headed for the first floor of Clinica Aveirense, showing her unrestricted access card to the security guard; she advanced to one of the private, long-term care rooms. Looking around, she made sure no one was watching before entering. She closed the door gently behind her, her eyes welling with emotion upon seeing the man laid out on the hospital bed. Sighing, she sat down beside him.
"Hello, my love..." Teresa caressed her husband's hand, her love enduring despite his years-long coma. "How are you feeling today?" Though she expected no response, she stroked his hair gently, as if he could feel her touch. "You seem to get younger all the time..." Shaking her head, she spoke sadly, "Unlike me, my hair will be completely white if you don't wake up soon." Kissing his hand, she murmured, "Why won't you come back, Enrique?" Her tears danced as she gazed upon his still-handsome face, despite the age lines. "I need you so much..." She collapsed onto his chest, sobbing without shame. "Susan needs you..." She sat up, kissing his lips softly, gazing at him seriously. "You need to wake up..." She grabbed his face and suddenly shook him roughly. "Do you hear me?" She bit her lip, surprised by her own outburst. "Sorry, my love!" Combing his hair with her fingers, she tried to justify herself, "But I don't know what to do..." Shaking her head, she simply gazed at him, hoping her next words would provoke some reaction. "He woke up again... and I think... he's marked our daughter..."
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 83 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments