POV: Raphael
“I do not know what you are talking about, Raphael Hawkins. But I suggest you leave here now before I make you regret it!” she yelled in my face, pointing her burner phone in my face as if it were a gun. Damn, she’s crazy as fuck.
“Are you insane, Eloise?
When was the last time you had your head checked!” I asked in surprise, looking at her as if she had suddenly grown two horns.
“What are you even doing with a burner phone?
I thought I asked you to drop every fucking phone with mp PA when I moved you to this place, did you hide this phone from him, and who the hell are you calling so late in the night?” I asked her curiously, watching her reaction. Her face turned red in anger, I could tell that she wanted to hurt me but she was holding back. But why is she forcing herself to remain calm despite everything that is happening around her, what the hell is she up to?
“I’m warning you, Raphael, stay the hell away from me and my daughters. You don’t want to piss me off, you have no idea what I’m capable of. I could hurt you, Raphael, I could…” I burst into laughter as she said these things to me, it sounded really funny because I couldn’t even begin to imagine how she intended to hurt me.
“Is that a threat?” I replied to her, a smirk creeping onto my face as I stared at her as if she were a clown performing at a show.
“Just so you know, Miguel is back in town and he’s determined to find his sister. We both know what I’m talking about, you can choose to deny the truth and keep pretending to be ignorant of everything happening around you. But If I were you, I would tell the girls the truth before he does. Who knows, If you’re honest with them, maybe they’ll just walk away and return to their parents without involving the police.
I mean, as much fun as it would be to watch you rot away in jail, I would really hate to see Victoria bearing herself up about your pathetic situation in prison. You don’t deserve a daughter like her, you don’t deserve to be called her mother. I would hate to see her cry because of you, Eloise, so I suggest you get this done immediately. Salvage what is left of your relationship with your daughters before it is too late. She has a good heart and you know you, don’t take advantage of her vulnerability. Come clean now, it’s the only chance you’ve got! ” I told her sternly. Her eyes narrowed, but she remained silent, her defiance over obvious. I could sense her internal struggle. She was caught between the weight of her secrets and her love for her daughters.
“You know what is coming, Eloise,” I pressed on, urging her to do the right thing.
“You can’t keep hiding the truth. If you continue to lie, they may never forgive you for keeping them away from their real family. It’s the one chance you have to come clean, Eloise. Take it before it is too late.” I told her sternly, scolding her like a child. Her expression softened for a brief moment, revealing the chaos within her. For a moment there I could see the flicker of guilt in her eyes, the conscience that had been gnawing at her.
I never even knew that she had a conscience until now. She looked so remorseful as if she was going to cry and beg for forgiveness. I felt so sorry for her situation and I felt guilty for causing her so much pain because of Victoria. She looked thoughtful and sad, so sad. I couldn’t even say one more word before she would burst into tears in front of me. That will be so awkward.
“I don’t want to hurt them,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Then don’t,” I urged her, my voice going as low as hers so I don’t make her cry.
“You have a chance to be honest with them. You owe them that much.” I told her, trying to reason with her, thinking she would finally understand my point because it seemed like her conscience was finally awake and she was ready to do the right thing. But she turned away, she turned her back to me as she resumed folding clothes. She is ignoring me and pretending as if I’m not there.
I could see the tension in her shoulders, she was upset again, and she was no longer feeling remorseful or guilty. She is angry with me for not leaving her alone. I guess she thought I would leave her if I saw that she was remorseful. But that’s not why I’m here, is it?
“Eloise,” I said gently, taking a step closer to her. I’m trying so hard to keep my voice calm so she knows that I totally understand what she is going through right now.
“You need to face this. You can’t keep running from the truth. It’s only going to get harder.” I told her honestly. She spun around to glare at me, her eyes blazing with anger,
“You think this is easy for me?!
You think I don’t know the right thing to do to make this all go away?!
Who the hell do you think you are, you self-righteous bastard!
You think you know it all, don’t you?
You have no idea what I’ve sacrificed to keep them safe!
You have no idea what I’ve done to keep them all to myself!” she yelled at me, her eyes glaring dangerously at me. In that moment she looked like a fucking monster, I couldn’t recognize her.
“Safe from what, Eloise? The truth?” I countered, stepping closer and returning her glare with a fiercer glare that was meant to intimidate her and convey my message,
“You’re only delaying the inevitable. Miguel will find out, and when he does, it will be worse for everyone involved, you especially. Wait, what the hell am I even saying?
He knows already, Miguel knows that Victoria is his sister and that is exactly why he is here. If he hasn’t said anything yet, it’s because he has other plans for her and for you. I think he is getting his evidence together to get you arrested. But you can get ahead of this if you get the girls to intercede on your behalf. Despite your past mistakes, the girls cannot deny that you have been a good mother to them. You tried your best to take care of the girls, they cannot forget that. Just call them together and tell them everything, say the truth, Eloise, tell them why you did it.” I coaxed her, trying to get her to be reasonable. Her expression faltered, and for a brief moment there, I could swear that I saw a crack in her armor. It’s as if she suddenly became remorseful… Again.