Chapter 34
All of them in the room were shocked. This was the first time Chad had used such a statement.
"What?!" Ken questioned in complete confusion.
"What do you mean by that statement?"
spark questioned, his eyes bulging in shock.
Chad felt no obligation to explain himself to Spark, so he just closed his eyes and ignored his jealous friend.
"That's just your usual excuse, Chad," Spark ranted when he realized Chad was ignoring him again.
"But imagine how ridiculous it would sound if you truly admitted that you are in love with Charlie!" Spark laughed, but Chad paid him no mind.
Gideon observed Chad, knowing there was a possibility that Chad could be developing unexplainable feelings for his wife Charlie(Marlie). He reciprocated her kiss, right? That was something he would not have done in the past.
"It's not possible, Spark!" Ken shouted at Spark. He tried defending Chad since he knew those two friends of his just threw mean words at themselves to annoy each other. And Spark's jealousy of Chad to Ken was unreasonable.
"You already know who Chad loves, Spark. So stop this rubbish already!" Ken concluded, causing Spark to temporarily cease his pacing and remain silent.
If only Spark knew who that Charlie was, at least he could spare Chad that unreasonable jealousy of his.
**********
Back in the bedroom, the trio were there, with Marlie now off the bed and sitting on a sofa as Mark tended to her minor wounds from the fight.
Marlie let out a loud cry, expressing her frustration when Mark cleaned her wounds.
"You have the strength to fight off two vultures but cry over this?" Mark mocked Marlie, who responded as usual with a curse directed at Mark.
Vien told them how relieved she was when she saw Chad rushing in to save Marlie from Audrey and Angelina, and she couldn't deny feeling satisfied when Marlie managed to beat them.
"To think they act so mighty every day," Vien
scoffed.
Her words caught Mark's attention. Did Chad rush in for Charlie's sake? Why would he do that if he treated her badly? Is he remorseful or there is a picture far from their view? Is Marlie perhaps wrong about Chad? Questions arose in his head, but it was better not to ask Marlie at the moment.
Even if he wanted to, it was in no way possible since when Vien tried voicing out what she heard from Spark about the mistress and Chad, Marlie cut her off.
"Marlie, Chad might have...."
"Will you two stop it already? Why are you always chanting his name? Damn it! Just spare me that!"
Marlie said in anger and Vien kept it to herself and so did Mark.
Mark finished dressing Marlie's wounds, and she suddenly grabbed the drawer to reveal the diary.
She has to read the diary and find out the next thing Charlie went through in that house before she passed away.
Though Vien knew, she still kept quiet. With what she had just heard, it might be she was not fully aware of the whole events that unfolded in the Mansion.
The third page tells how Angelina and Audrey rub it to Charlie's face where and who Chad was with on the night of their wedding. Charlie felt so broken about that but didn't want to jeopardize her marriage so she did not confront Chad. She kept it all to herself and suffered alone.
Charlie needed to talk to someone. Someone who will just listen to her before going crazy.
Deciding to approach her mother-in-law, Silvia, Charlie made her way to her bedroom. Since she was the elder in the house, Charlie thought her mother-in-law was the best choice. Instead of knocking on the door, when she reached her room, Charlie found it slightly open.
Through the opening gap, she spotted Silvia drinking and facing her late father-in-law's picture. Silvia would raise her glass, toast to the picture, and then gulp it down.
Charlie wanted to enter, but Silvia was in no state of mind to listen.
During the wedding, Silvia had smiled and pampered Charlie. She had promised to be a mother figure and someone Charlie could rely on. That's what Silvia had told her and Charlie was sure to write it in the diary.
As Charlie leaned against the gate, she felt sorry for Silvia and wept. At least, she was not the only one going through pain in this house.
Silvia was confessing to the picture that she missed him but also blamed all the misfortunes happening in the family on him.
Regrettably, Charlie overheard the secret about the family.
"What secret was she talking about?" Mark questioned both Marlie and Vien.
Vien looked surprised since she knew nothing about it, but Marlie did.
"I know!"
"Then tell us," Mark pressed Marlie with anticipation, but she opted not to disclose it. It wasn't her place to share it with anyone.
As they continued reading, the diary revealed:
"I am so scared to know this truth. Marlie said it. My little sister said this, but none of us believed her. What should I do? How can I face Mom now? Should I tell Chad?"
Marlie without realizing shouted it out loud, "No!"
Her actions startled Mark and Vien. Well, since she didn't want to talk about it, they just left it to be.
"But that time, Chad wasn't even around. He was on a business trip for two months." Vien breaks the news to them. Both Mark and Marlie were stunned.
He left his wife to go on a business trip after the marriage and that took two good months? Marlie chuckled in frustration and Mark felt bad for Charlie.
"And when he returned....." Vien stopped and covered her mouth to stop herself from saying anything concerning Chad and Charlie's married life.
Marlie's eyes welled up with tears as she asked repeatedly for Vien to tell her everything, but Vien wasn't going to say anything.
"Damn it!"
In frustration, Marlie intended to turn to another page, but a servant arrived to inquire if she wanted anything specific to eat.
They realized that if she continued, it would raise suspicion if they stayed in the room all day.
Thus, Marlie closed the diary and placed it back. She laid back on the bed, wiping the tears from her cheeks, and pretended to be weak.
Mark proceeded downstairs to convey instructions regarding Marlie's care. And Marlie glared with red eyes at Vien for not telling her what she wanted to know.
As soon as Mark descended the staircase, Spark hastened to his side, surpassing Chad's attempt to reach him. Annoying!
Mark appeared startled upon witnessing Spark's interrogation concerning Marlie's condition.
He realized it wasn't the first time that guy had shown adverse concern about Charlie. But he didn't mind him and walked past him.
Chad is Charlie's husband. So if there's anything, Mark would respect and talk to Chad instead of an unknown concerned man.
"Mr. Baristanas," Mark addressed, glancing in Chad's direction with a professional smile.
Chad surely felt grateful to Mark for not accommodating Spark, although he refrained from expressing it audibly.
"How is she?" Chad inquired, his voice brimming with concern, causing Spark to roll his eyes in response.
"Your wife requires close monitoring. Frequent exposure to stress can lead to heightened blood pressure, potentially posing risks of heart attack and stroke.
In your wife's case, the situation is no different. I recommend keeping her away from stressors." Mark said and paused before handing a paper to Chad.
"Here is the prescribed medication for her," Mark conveyed, passing the prescription to Chad.
"Anything else?" Chad asked Mark with a much gentler tone now.
"For now, this is all I can say. I will check on her periodically," Mark concluded, with Chad nodding in acknowledgment.
Gideon thanked Mark and offered to escort him out.
Just before Mark left, he turned and faced Chad again and hesitated before saying...
"Mr. Baristana, I don't know if this is my place to say this but... Though Marlie and I were together, her mind was always on you and her sister.
She worried about your married life together. I know Charlie and I'm also aware of how much she loves you. Please take good care of her in place of Marlie. I think that would make her soul rest in peace." Mark said and smiled sadly before he left without waiting for Chad to reply.
The four friends were stunned by what Mark just said. Though it sounded like a simple message, it held a lot of meaning.
Before the friends could discuss what Mark said to them, the servant who had gone to verify Marlie's meal preferences returned, prompting Chad to request a light meal for Marlie.
Chad races to see Marlie but Spark halts his progress with a hand on his arm.
"I will take Charlie out of this house. This place is not good for her!" Spark uttered as if it was a normal thing to say.
Such a claim was preposterous. How could he dare to demand the custody of someone else's wife under the pretense of her health being compromised within her husband's abode?
Chad closed his eyes, attempting to contain his anger before killing this crazy friend of his.
He then turned to Spark, moved Spark's hand away from his arm, and mocked...
"Are you even listening to yourself?" Chad asked, a blend of astonishment and annoyance present in his tone.
"She is my wife in case you have forgotten!" He affirmed resolutely, ensuring Spark heard him properly. Yet, Spark seemed to misunderstand.
"You are getting divorced, so there is no need to feign concern for her!" Spark retorted defensively.
Chad felt like punching him. He moved closer to Spark and said... "Spark, you are my friend and I'm going to let bygones be bygones. However, I advise you to stop coveting MY WIFE!
It's your problem if you don't have any dignity for yourself. But I would advise you to stop making MY WIFE uncomfortable.
Haven't you noticed how Charlie's mood changes whenever you go near her? Don't think I haven't noticed all these while.
I respected you in the past as a friend and someone who sincerely loved Charlie back then. However, she's married now... She's my wife and she loves me.
I admit it was my mistake to marry her instead of her sister. But don't pretend you don't know the reason why I married her.
If you truly care for her as you claim, then stop bothering us and making her feel uncomfortable. Consider this as my last and final warning!" Chad said menacingly.
Everyone was shocked by Chad's long speech of declaration. Was this still the Chad they all knew?
Spark's eyes became red with anger as he was about to retort but Gideon decided to jump in.
Ken just stood there looking on. He had no strength to separate those two unless Gideon did.
Fortunately, Gideon returns and pulls Spark aside, urging them both to cease their argument.
"You are not the focal point here. Charlie is at the center. Damn, it!" Gideon reprimanded both individuals.
Yet, his words failed to penetrate Spark's obstinate demeanor.
Spark persisted, stating, "Yes, Charlie is the focal point, and Chad should proceed with the divorce already!" Spark spoke righteously as if he owned Charlie.
Chad was losing it already. Spark's response elicited a shocking reply from Chad, one that stunned everyone, including himself:
"WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO DIVORCE HER?!!!"