After the news broke out, Rafael sat in his sitting room with his mother, and a smiling Clarence. Mrs Beatrice was anything but happy.
“She must have done it! She wants to force her way into this family! I will not stand for it! This thing will never be my daughter-in-law!” Beatrice said her piece, shaking with anger.
Clarence couldn’t be bothered. She was happy to have the public on her side. That way, they couldn’t eliminate or relegate her to the side. With the scandal of her pregnancy, she was placed in an advantaged position.
“That’s rich coming from a woman who wanted me to destroy her son’s marriage with his wife,” Clarence called her out. “The moment it worked, you decided to put me out but look who’s back?” She said with a proud look.
Rafael blinked in confusion and Beatrice looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her. “What?”
“You heard right! Your mother brought me in to destroy your marriage.” Clarence exposed. “She told me all sorts of things about how your ex-wife was deceiving you and I stupidly believed it.”
“Everything I did was because of your mother,” Clarence pointed an accusing finger at Beatrice. “Had she not deceived me, this wouldn’t have happened and I would be busy, enjoying my life and not pregnant.”
Clarence played herself to be the victim but Rafael saw through it. Much more than anything, he was hurt that his mother would go to such lengths to ruin his life and marriage.
Anger brewed within him as he asked, “Is this true, Mother?”
Beatrice could barely speak.
“I asked a question, Mother! Is that true?!” Rafael roared and Beatrice was forced to speak.
“Yes, okay?! That Rivera wench was no good for you! I am your mother and I only had your best interest at heart! I might have gone about it the wrong way but as you know, she didn’t even succeed!” Beatrice shouted, eyes raging.
“Besides, I cast her aside and let things be with your fickle marriage.” She pointed out. “You divorced June of your own will. You finally saw what I did and decided she was not worth your time and money.”
“I was right after all!”
Rafael could hardly recognise his mother. Who was this vile and evil woman and where was the woman he grew to know and love?
“You disgust me.” He muttered, and Beatrice felt his words pierce into her heart.
She shook her head. “You might not understand, son. I know you are hurt but I promise, you will come to understand why I had to put that woman away. She was never good for you.”
“She lied to you and placed you under contract. She swindled you and ran off with God knows who the moment you divorced her. Who is to say she is not with another man right now?”
Rafael felt his patience exceed with his mother. “Shut up, Mother! Shut it!”
“Heaven’s forbid that June is in another man’s arm but if that is the case, you can blame me! I divorced her knowing she did nothing wrong! It was all MY doing!”
“You think you are the all-knowing one, right?! Mother of the freaking year!” Anger shot through Rafael as he spoke, pacing around the room. “I was fucking diagnosed with cancer! I divorced her because I didn’t want her to see me in that condition!”
“You claim to be the best mother, having my best interest at heart and you couldn’t even notice I was going through some hard times in life! You didn’t care because you were too busy, trying to destroy my marriage with the love of my life!”
Beatrice paled, “W-what?”
“Don’t give me that bullshit! Don’t even try to pretend you care because you are the most selfish and ridiculous woman I was unfortunate to be given as a mother!”
“You were so bothered with June’s inability to conceive as a woman that you didn’t bother finding out why it is so!”
“I did!” Beatrice defended. “Her mother and sister told me how she prostituted herself to men as a young girl. The countless abortions and the reckless life she lived.”
“How could I sit back and watch you live the rest of your life with such a person?” She asked incredulously. From her countenance, one could tell she truly believed she was right. She couldn’t see what was wrong with what she had done.
She was only caring for her family. Her son. Her linage. What was so wrong with that?
“Did you for once consider what I wanted? Did you consider my feelings in your vendetta to ruin my life? Did you, mother?” Rafael asked, and Beatrice couldn’t speak. “Thought so.”
“Son-”
“I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear any more excuses or reasons you did what you did. It’s pointless at this point. You should remain silent because you are not my favourite person right now.”
“And I say that with every fibre of my being.”
Beatrice swallowed, fear coursing through her skin. Her eyes watered at the thought of her son getting diagnosed with cancer and she so terribly wanted to find out what happened back then.
She wanted to know his health status but it wasn’t the right time. She caught sight of a smiling Clarence and her blood pressure increased from the anger she felt. It was all because of that woman!
Clarence felt Beatrice’s dagger-like gaze and smiled more. This was just the beginning! She would ensure that the woman regretted ever using her for her selfish goals. She looked forward to the future and the good things it held for her.
Thanks to the child she carried and the godsent who uploaded her video to the internet. With a bright face, she implored Rafael. “Please don’t be upset. Look on the brighter side of things. You are alive and you have an unborn son on the way.”
Clarence cupped her non-existent bulge. “I promise to be the best wife you can ever have.”
“My sister Cara taught me all there is to be the perfect wife to my husband. Although she never knew things would end up in the manner they did, I believe everything happened for a reason.”
“Since Luis is my sister’s child, who else is better suited to become his mother if not me? Rest assured, I will take care of my nephew as my child. In my opinion, everything worked out the way it’s supposed.”
Rafael scoffed at her analysis. “Surely, you don’t think I will get married to you.” He stated and her smile vanished.
“I am carrying your child.” She reiterated. “You surely don’t expect me to give birth out of wedlock.” She frowned. “My child will never be an illegitimate son.”
“I’m afraid that’s all I can offer.” Rafael didn’t mince words. “I have space for only one woman in my heart, my wife, June Ambrose.”
“I accept responsibility for the child and will do right by you but I will never take you as my wife.” Clarence felt her world disintegrate by the seconds.
“W-What?” She stuttered, “Why? Am I not good enough? Huh? Is that it? Do you think I am unfit to carry the Ambrose family name?”
“How you choose to interpret it is up to you.” Rafael pointed out. “You think I will get married to a woman who connived with my mother to destroy my marriage?” He scoffed. “How stupid do you think I am?”
It was Beatrice’s turn to smile. Clarence wasn’t having it.
“I don’t care what you think, Rafael.” She lectured. “You raped and got me pregnant! The world knows about it! I will never be a meagre baby mama! I never asked for you to rape me! You should be glad I am not pressing charges and do better!”
Rafael was unmoved. “If you want to press charges, please go ahead. I would rather settle this in court than have meaningless banter with you anyway.”
“Do you want to go to prison?” Clarence asked in an incredulous tone. “This matter is in the public domain. The public opinion is on my side. Marrying me is a sure way of taking responsibility and restoring the public’s faith in you and the company.”
“Are you that dumb not to realise the benefits you stand to gain by making me your wife or are you just acting blind?”
Rafael smirked. “That’s the thing with you humans. You can’t seem to think outside your gains and profits.” A frost grew on his face and his eyes turned cold. “Listen and listen well. I’d rather spend the rest of my life in prison, poverty and pain than spend a second on this earth as your husband.”
“Do you understand me?” Clarence’s jaw dropped at the coldness, hatred and anger in his eyes. “Call my assistant if you are ready to play by my rules or take it up with your lawyer.”
Rafael faced both women with anger in his eyes. “Get out.”