In addition to a bad wife, Mariana also became a treasure - crazed woman who went after a rich man. Wherever she is, Mariana's image will never change. It's attached to her.
Mariana chose to leave the wives' club, and calmed herself down in the toilet. It's the only place she feels is the safest in the hall she's in right now. Too big a hall hall full of rich snob - at least that's what Mariana felt, was full of party music. It's obvious she doesn't fit in at all.
Mariana's never made it past the crowds. Too many people made her uncomfortable. Even back then, when Kevin was still actively singing, Mariana seldom came to watch her husband perform. Even Kevin understood perfectly well his wife's condition.
Yeah, only Kevin could understand that. Dozens of years together have forged relationships in an emotional, strong and understanding bond with each other.
Mariana sat on the toilet, pulled out the smartphone she kept behind the folds of her nightgown, looked for Franda number. However, being unplugged, she chose to call Harris. Maybe Harris knows where his wife is. Sure enough, it didn't take long for the call to come through.
"Hello, Mariana?" Harris' voice sounded hoarse.
Mariana sighed in relief. "I'm sorry to interrupt your work but Franda is unavailable."
"Her phone was turned off from falling down the hospital steps," said Harris. "Where are you, Mariana? Why didn't you come to the hospital? I just sent the kids home."
Mariana didn't know how to say why, because she was too scared. Can't take it. Her chest tightened. "The kids are there?"
"Yes." Harris let out a deep sigh, as if he was hiding something.
"Did something bad happen?"
"Yes," said Harris. "I hope the kids aren't traumatized. You should have stayed with them for even a short time. You're divorced from their father but those kids are your kids."
"I wish I could."
"Listen, Mariana!" Harris confirms. "You should know that Kevin was in critical condition. He went into cardiac arrest for a few minutes. That's why I invited the kids over. I thought he was gonna die."
"What?"
"You'd better come to the hospital before you regret it."
Click.
Line's down.
Harris shuts off the call, while Mariana froze.
"Cardiac arrest?" Mariana mumbled. "O Lord!" She scrambled to his feet and exited the dormitory. It was so crowded there that Mariana got past the guards' line outside the building.
***
The last time they went on vacation was about two years ago, on a long Christmas holiday.
Mariana still remembered when Kevin came to the room and held Lucy in his arms. Her husband smiled, then sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Honey, our daughter has something to say to you."
"What?" Mariana placed the magazine on a bedside table, then approached her youngest child and touched Lucy's cheek with her index finger. "What's up, Little Baby?"
Lucy laughed. "Mom, I'm four years old."
"Oh yeah?"
"Just ask, Dad. A four-year-old girl is a teenage girl, not a little baby. Right, dad?"
Kevin was as usual just smiling, stroking his daughter's soft hair. Hardly ever did Mariana see her husband not smiling. For seventeen years they knew, and so Kevin was shown the same. That's why, even though their marriage began in their teen years, it was quite lasting. Even Mariana didn't mind spending all her life on him, and vice versa.
"So, how's it going?" Mariana repeated the question. "What do you want to say to Mom?"
Lucy played wavy hair with her fingers, then turned to her father. "Does it have to be me?"
"Of course, Dear! "Kevin answered.
"Wait, what do you think you're gonna say?" Mariana changed her position of seat to take things more seriously and then looked at her husband's face. "Honey, why? Is this serious enough? If so, let's talk in private without the kids."
"No, Mom!" Lucy cuts off her mother's speech. "And just want me to ask you about our winter break."
"Winter break? Is it almost starting?"
"Sure. It's already November."
"Oh, My God."
"We must prepare ahead of time."
"You're right, My Baby Bear." Mariana pinched her kid's cheek off. "How about a holiday to England? Visiting Aunt Anna."
"Honey, the kids actually want to Bali." Kevin explained carefully.
"Bali? Indonesia?"
Kevin and Lucy nodded together.
"How did you know about Bali?"
"Lucy saw it at school. Her friend used to go there on vacation."
"Right, Mom. Leon was there once and it looked so good."
"Hmm, could you come out for a minute, Honey?" Mariana strode her daughter's hand. "Mom wants to talk to Dad alone. A moment."
"Okay, Mom."
Eagerly, Lucy stepped out of the room. While her parents now looked at each other.
"Are you serious, Kevin?"
"Why not?" Kevin leaned against the pillow. "Honey, shouldn't we have enough savings?"
"I plan to use that savings to pay for Lunar college in the future."
"Lunar agreed to agree on this holiday."
"At the expense of her college fees?"
Kevin touched his wife's hand and clamped her tight. "Honey, calm down. I'll work harder on that. After all, we have also insured a child's education."
Mariana cried, seeing the good times. They three kids were closer to Kevin than he was to her. That's why Mariana perked to fight for Kevin's recovery, even if it meant sacrificing her whole life.
- Tin!
Mariana stopped and turned her head to realize a car had pulled up behind her. A woman got out of the car, more like a beautiful woman her age in a dark blue dress. She had a long nose, a fair skin, and a fair figure without even heels.
Mariana's forehead frowned, trying to remember who it was.
"Hi." She greeted her with a smile. "Where are you going, Mariana?"
"Who are you?"
"Don't get tense," she replied. "I'm not a bad person."
"Then who are you?"
"We've met before, but you seem to forget," she handed her right hand, forcing Mariana to shake it back. "My name is naima, you might remember that name."
"I'm sorry, but I don't know you."
"No problem," Maima nodded. "Can you get in my car? There's something I want to talk to you about ...."
"What?"
"Just relax, no need to worry. I'm not a bad guy, especially not paulino's, but I'm just a guy who wants to take back what's mine."
"The right?"
Naima didn't say anything, She got in her car. "Just a little while. Besides, you'd need a ride, wouldn't you? You sure as hell can't walk down the hill on foot. Paulino will find you soon."
Mariana then got into naima's car and sat next to her.
"Mariana," Naima starts the car. "The recent divorce of Kevin afford."
"So you had me climb into your car just for this sort of thing?"
"Of course not," Naima chuckles. "You're very sensitive as it is."
Mariana drew a deep breath. "Isn't the party over yet, why are you even going home?"
"I'm not going home," replied Naima. "And why did you leave the party? Aren't you the center of the show? I heard Paulino had to cancel his company's anniversary party just to match your divorce."
Mariana turned and looked at Naima coldly. "I'm not some party crasher."
"That's how I felt too," Naima said with a laugh. "You need to know that taking the decision to marry Paulino is the biggest decision."
"You mean?"
Naima shook her head and looked straight into the street. She had a firm grip on the steering wheel. "Actually, I came to the party only to see you, and I don't have a card." Naima's smile was wide but her eyes grew dark, as though she were carrying deep sorrow. "I want you to stop your plans to marry Paulino, no matter what."
"Huh?"
Mariana raised her eyebrows.
"I can't prevent you from divorcing Kevin, but marrying Paulino will drive you off the deep end." Naima took a deep breath. "I beg you, don't marry Paulino. That man will destroy you. He'll destroy everything you have until there's nothing left."
"I know if Paulino was a bad guy, but who are you? Why are you speaking as if you recognize him?"
Naima nodded. "I've been in your position."
"In my position?"
"True." Naima looked briefly at Mariana before looking back at the road in front of her. "I've already filled you in asa Paulino partner."
"Partner? You mean as lovers?"
"His wife."
"Wife?"
"Even today I'm still Paul's lawful wife."
"What?" Mariana didn't even blink when she heard Naima's confession. "He never told me he still had a wife."
"More accurately, he never told me if she'd ever been married." Naima's tears were falling. "He threw me and my baby away in pursuit of his obsession with you."
"Baby? You guys have a baby?"
Naima nodded. "This baby inside me," she rubbed her belly with her left hand. "The kid Paulino didn't even want. Unacknowledged. Even Paulino accused me of hooking up with another guy."
"I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault," said Naima. "But can you let Paulino go for me?"
"Naima, listen!" Mariana moved the body forward. "I don't want your husband. For god's sake. If you want, take Paulino. Even I'm doing all this just for Kevin. But, what can I do?"
Naima nodded. "I know."
"What should I do now?"
As they went through the main gate, naima kept putting her car forward, not taking mariana off at the bus stop.
"Naima, it looks like you missed something."
"I'll take you to the hospital," said Naima.