Chapter 37
Natalie was shocked as she watched the Family remain calm after Javier’s interference. Even Pa, who she had assumed to be the elder, stayed quiet. Olivia kept shooting her a murderous glare, but she just rolled her eyes in response.
The whole Family was stunned into silence, knowing better than to get involved in Javier’s business.
Carlo knelt down without further argument, seething quietly.
“Do you remember what I told you when Olivia first came into this house?” Javier asked, trying to jog Carlo’s memory.
Carlo sighed. “But I love her,” he replied, disregarding Javier’s question.
Javier was taken aback by Carlo’s confession, and a sad smile crept onto his face as he turned to his grandfather. “Elvis had repeatedly told me about seeing Carlo sneaking out of Olivia’s room every night. I didn’t believe him because Carlo had assured me himself that he would never get involved with Olivia. Now she has managed to trap Carlo, and he’s calling it love,” he explained to his grandfather. Turning to Alverdo, he saw a mischievous smirk on his lips. “I will never allow this bitch into our house, never!” Javier declared firmly.
“Enough!” Alverdo raised his hand, shouting loudly. “I won’t sit here and listen to you insult my daughter.” He stood up and faced Javier, “Since you never saw any good in my daughter, at least someone else recognized her worth,” he retorted, sitting down beside his daughter.
After a long silence, Reyes sat up straight and cleared his throat. “Carlo will marry Olivia,” he declared firmly.
“Yes!” Alverdo and Jesley agreed.
“Never!” Marcus objected vehemently, rising from his seat in anger. He couldn’t fathom why Reyes would make decisions for his son without consulting him first. “You can’t dictate my son’s future like this,” he shouted, facing everyone in the room.
Reyes sighed, shoulders slumping. “How do you propose we resolve the situation your son has created?” he asked.
“Just because Carlo got her pregnant doesn’t mean he has to marry her,” Marcus retorted. “There are other ways to handle this situation.”
“Then tell us,” Reyes pressed, the room falling silent as all eyes turned to Marcus.
“I assure you Carlo will take responsibility, but marriage is not the only solution,” Marcus declared firmly.
“My daughter will not be reduced to baby mama,” Alverdo interjected angrily, rising from his seat.
Reyes nodded at Alverdo, indicating that he would address the issue, and Alverdo sat back down.
“Do you even care about the public’s opinion? The media? Our reputation is at stake here,” Reyes expressed. “Do you realize the consequences of this situation? Carlo impregnated Olivia while knowing that Javier was to be engage to her and he went ahead and did it under my roof. We have no choice but to have them married now. They love each other, Carlo can attest to that.”
“Enough, everyone,” Pa Inder’s voice silenced the room. “Marcus, take a seat. Carlo, stand in front of me,” he commanded, and both complied.
“Grandpa, I’m sorry,” Carlo apologized, bowing his head.
“The damage is done. But why did you do this, Carlo? I’m very disappointed in you,” Inder said, shaking his head in disappointment.
“Grandpa, it was love at first sight,” Carlo muttered quietly, though his words were still audible.
“Do you love her and want to marry her?” Inder asked.
“Father!” Marcus exclaimed, almost rising from his seat, but Inder raised his hand to silence him.
Carlo nodded in response. “Yes, grandpa,” he said, bowing his head further to avoid his mother’s angry gaze.
“Then go ahead and marry her. I give you my blessings,” Pa Inder declared, surprising everyone. Their jaws dropped in shock at his unexpected approval, especially Zoe, who angrily left the room.
Pa Inder smiled. “You will all understand soon.” With those words, he stood up and headed upstairs to his room. Before leaving, he turned back with a smile. “Olivia, I assure your safety here. If anyone mistreat you, just come to me, and I will handle it.”
Olivia nodded with a smile, reaching out to touch her father excitedly.
One by one, everyone began to leave, heading upstairs to rest for the night. Elvis, Natalie, and Javier shared a room, while Alverdo and Jesley had to go home because it was getting late.
“I can’t believe Grandpa made such a drastic decision,” Javier said, slumping onto the bed in frustration.
Natalie, exhausted from all the dramas, scoffed. “All I want right now is sleep and rest.” She flopped onto the bed and used her feet to push Javier off, causing him to furrow his brows as he landed on the floor.
“Why did you do that?” Javier asked, puzzled by her actions.
“I’ll take the bed, and you can sleep on the couch,” Natalie said, pointing to the long couch she sighted in the room.
Elvis couldn’t contain his laughter, clutching his stomach as he knew Javier was in trouble. He quietly slipped out of the room before getting caught up in their argument, leaving them to sort it out themselves.
Javier quickly got up from the floor, asserting, “This is my house, young lady. Behave yourself or you’ll be sleeping outside.” He tried to intimidate Natalie, unsure if she was familiar with the layout of the building.
Natalie remained unfazed by his threat, contemplating her next move to put Javier in his place. An idea struck her, and she got up from the bed, heading towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Javier inquired, curious about her sudden departure. He couldn’t resist following her.
He found her standing outside his room and joined her. After a few moments, Natalie turned and walked back into the room, with Javier trailing behind. To his surprise, he realized the door was locked from the inside as he attempted to open it.
Forced to knock, Javier exclaimed, “Do you realize this is my house and my room?” He continued knocking persistently.
“Go sleep somewhere else and let me have this room to myself,” Natalie said, laughing happily as she lay on the bed.
“Natalie, open this door right now!” Javier yelled.
“No way!”Natalie replied firmly, as she lay down on the bed and quickly fell asleep, snoring loudly.