CHAPTER 37


    "E, sweetheart. What is the matter with you? You stared at Marcus as if you wanted to murder him," Paloma observed and said, oblivious to


    Danie''s embarrassment at their presence


    Danie was unprepared for her stepmother to draw her attention to her observation. It was humiliating and ufortable, all the more so when all


    eyes were on her and waiting for her reaction. She cast a nce towards Marcus, but he averted his gaze. leaving her to exin on her own. “He


    cheated on me," she stated inly, her chin up as she told them the truth.


    Everyone''s focus was drawn to Marcus, and he was at a loss for how to describe it in a way that they wouldprehend. He was taken aback by her


    candour, but how could she have disclosed their personal troubles to the entire world? He sought moral support from his father, but Philip Madrigal


    red at him already, and he realized he was doomed. Alexander''s face was nk, and Marcus was unsure whether his buddy sympathized with


    him. "That is not urate," he said with the truth that he was aware of. What is the matter with everyone? The way they stared at him was unsettling


    and Marcus tightened his teeth before directing his gaze at Danie and interrogating her with his eyes.


    Philip sprang to his feet and beat the table vigorously. Everyone at the dinner table was taken aback by his actions, but he couldn''t be sympathetic


    toward his son if Danie was speaking the truth. "Is that true, Marcus?" He looked him in the eyes as he inquired, and everyone else did the same.


    Marcus had the sensation of being an insect being investigated in aboratory. Danie and the others had already formed an opinion, which he


    could see in their eyes. They regarded him as if he were a bastard! He became enraged about being unfairly judged and grinned. "You are exactly


    like them, Pa. You will inquire, but you will not trust me, since no one has ever believed in me!" He stated this with his gaze fixed on Danie and then


    rushed out of the room.


    "Marcus! What in the world do you believe you''re doing? Return here immediately!" Philip screamed, but Marcus turned away without looking back


    and proceeded on his journey. "I believe he was speaking the truth," Philip stated as he seated. Even though he was not always with his son, he was


    always aware of whether he was lying or stating the truth


    Danie locked her gaze on the ground as Marcus walked away from them, and she dared not call his name. It was unusual for him to walk away


    from an argument, and she was taken aback when he did. "I''m sorry," she whispered quietly as she walked away from the dining table, taking AJ with


    her. She felt terrible that the wonderful moment after Lilian''s announcement of her marriage preparations with Alexander had been marred by her.


    Danie dragged her feet toward the swing beside the swimming pool after entrusting Patty with her kid. She was perplexed and guilty following


    Philip''s announcement that Marcus could be speaking the truth. However, that kiss has been with her ever since. It proceeded to hound her, torment


    her, and mock her in the most humiliating manner possible! She raised her eyes to the sky, searching for clues to how she would cope with Marcus,


    but there were none! She inhaled deeply and sighed for the umpteenth time.


    "Would you mind if I gave you a dime for your thoughts?”


    Danie was taken aback when Lilian materialized in front of her. "Lil, congrattions on your engagement to Alexander, and please ept my


    apologies for spoiling the mood."


    Lilian sat near Danie and inquired, "Howe you said Marcus cheated on you?" She was taken aback by Danie''s previous disclosure, and


    Alexander, too, reluctant to believe Marcus had cheated on Danie.


    Danie tried not to recollect Marcus’ kisses with Alicia, but they shed through her memory and tears began to stream down her cheeks as she


    began to retell the narrative of her breakup with Marcus in between sobs. "The night you tried suicide, Gerald arrived here with a woman, and it


    turned out that she had previously worked on the same farm as Marcus, and Lil, she kissed him! Then they conspired to reconvene behind my back! I


    wish I had listened to my intuition and simply stayed at the resort that time. I was present when thatdy kissed him again; I witnessed their lips


    lacking together, and Marcus had the audacity to deny it! “Can you fathom that?”


    "I''m sorry, E. What anguish you must have suffered! I''m very sorry for asking you to go over it again.” Lilian apologized for inquiring as to what had


    urred.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    "It''s all right. Indeed, I''m not sure what to believe anymore." Danie sighed and awaited Lilian''s response.


    "Converse with him, E. Perhaps he has an exnation. Please try to listen to him and never forget how much you love him," Lilian cautioned


    Danie to exercise caution when dealing with Marcus, as it would be a shame to lose him when they appeared to be a match made in heaven.


    “Perhaps,” Danie answered, her heart trembling. "However, when is the wedding?" She shifted the subject by inquiring about Lilian''s wedding date.


    Lilian''s eyes widened as Danie disclosed her impending engagement to Alexander. “Immediately. It will be a small ceremony with close family


    members." Her mother insisted on avish wedding for her, but she politely declined, preferring to celebrate the most momentous day of her life with


    family and close friends only.


    "Why not go all out? It''s a once-in-a-lifetime urrence, Lil." Danie pleaded with Lilian to make her wedding magnificent.


    "Are you also of the opinion that this is a good idea?" Lilian said, "I dislike being worried up about regtions and wedding preparations. However, we


    shouldn''t be discussing about my wedding right now. You have something to do, E."


    “About what?"


    “About Marcus," Lilian replied


    For a moment, she was silent, and then she opened her mouth to speak. "I will talk to him in the morning. Now is not the right time,” she rified.


    "Okay, it''s up to you, but please settle your differences as soon as possible, alright?”


    “Thank you, Lil," Danie said.


    As soon as Lilian returned to her


    room, she contemted whether to


    talk to him or not. She wanted to


    settle it with fh, but her pride


    prevented tevin he end, Danie


    regretted‘her decision to dy = =>


    comprorhising and speaking with>


    Marcys until morning. If only she


    hadn''t been reluctant with her


    choice immediately fo lowing her


    arid Lilian''s talk on the swing. If she


    weren''t so full of pride, she may still


    be able to see him. Numerous


    U


    what-if scenarios raced through her


    mind, and if she didn''t let go of her


    emotions, she felt as if she would


    explode at any moment. However, it


    proved to be more difficult said than


    done!


    Danie lost her temper and sat on the floor, releasing her grief and sadness after discovering Marcus was no longer in the guest room. His luggage


    was also missing, which could only mean one thing: he had vanished!


    "What is wrong, E?" Lilian and Alexander were snuggling in the living room when they heard Danie scream from the second level. She instantly


    hurried towards the stairs, where she discovered Danie on the floor directly in front of Marcus''s guest room


    "Marcus has vanished. He abandoned me!” Danie eximed as she saw Marcus''s message


    Lilian felt sorry for Danie, who was


    staring into space as if she''d lost


    everything..She was familiar with the


    sensation Having juste a


    dange ‘ously close tolosing >


    Alexander, she nearly killed herself!


    "''mSorry, E. Have you attempted


    to-Contact him? Perhaps this is a


    hoax!" Lilian in order to hélp Danie


    rx and calm down.


    Danie''s nands trembled, like if she


    were lost in the street, as she


    retrieved the phone from the pocket


    of her shorts and dialled his phone


    number. "It just Keeps ringing," she


    said, raisingyher eyes to Lilianas \


    though herstepsister understood


    why Marcus had not picked up his


    phoney She attempted repeatedly till


    the:time came for her daug#ter''s


    breakfast and she was fofced to


    give up. "Could you ask Alexander if


    he has any information on my


    boyfriend''s whereabouts?" She


    asked Lilian that Alexander enquires


    about Marcus since she had no clue


    where Marcus would go. She had


    just discovered that, despite the fact


    that they shared a house, she knew


    just his name and the location of his


    previous employment.


    "Certainly, I shall do soter. Lilian responded, "Go get AJ and then we''ll have breakfast together,” as she proceeded to collect her daughter as well.