MARIANO’S MANSION
Eduardo already texted his mom about staying at Mariano’s place and they all sat on the couch, staring at each other with no words.
Mariano cleared his throat.
” What about we play a game? Truth or Dare? I’ve been wanting to play this game for a long time now” Menodora broke the silence.
” That’s kids play” Eduardo said.
” I agree ” Mariano chipped in.
” But I want to” She pouted cutely.
” Alright, fine. Bring it on?” Eduardo said and she smiled excitedly. She stood up and surveyed the room with her eyes.
She sighted an empty bottle and went for it. She got it and sat down.
” What are the rules? “Eduardo asked.
” You’ll have to do anything you’re asked to do without complaining. We’ve known each other for long for us to try avoiding any questions ” She replied and spin the bottle.
It fell on Eduardo. Menodora didn’t bother to ask if he was going in for truth or for dare before throwing her question.
” The secret you’ve never told anyone?” She asked.
” This isn’t proper. I have to choose if I want to tell the truth or not ”
” That doesn’t count, I did the choosing for you already ” She replied and he laughed.
” Why don’t we make it a ” Truth game, no dares?” He suggested.
” Roger that ” She agreed.
” Wh@tëver you want milady ” He laughed heartily for a while before stopping.
” Well, I have none. I have no secret” He replied.
” Lies” She laughed.
Mariano just watched them. Eduardo took the bottle and did his. It fell on Menodora.
” Who was your childhood crush?” He asked and she thought for a while.
” I really don’t remember his face cos it’s been long, but all I know is; He has saved me twice”
” On what occasions?” Eduardo asked again.
” First was from a dog bite me and second…” She trailed off as she thought.
” I don’t remember” She pouted sadly which made Mariano frown.
” What? ”
” How can you talk about another guy in my presence? He asked jealously and Menodora laughed.
Eduardo chuckled.
“ They don’t seem to remember themselves” He said inwardly.
” I’m done with this childish game. I’m not playing anymore, goodnight!” Mariano made to stand, but Menodora held him back.
” Stop being jealous of someone I don’t even remember anymore. His face is blurry in my memory, so I don’t even know what he looks like. Moreover, it’s you I love, isn’t that enough?” She asked and he cleared his throat. He sat again and she took the bottle, she spun it and this time it fell on Mariano.
” Me? ” He pointed at himself.
” Yes, you” She nodded.
” Well, since I know what you wanna ask, I’ll tell you” He said and she sat properly with a wide smile on.
” When I was five, my family suddenly changed for the worst. Most times, Mom and Dad wouldn’t come home for weeks. Dad was a séx addict while Mom was a roisterer. She drinks, goes clubbing, smokes, and does all sort of act a mother shouldn’t do ”
” Miguel, my elder brother was the one taking care of me. He was the only one I had since Mom never wanted me to associate with the other kids. I wasn’t really bothered about their lifestyles, same did Miguel. We pretended not to have parents as we did things together. He played with me, cooked, and did laundry for me ” He smiled, his eyes glistening with tears.
” He meant the whole world to me ”
” As kids, Dad made us watch live porn. He had séx with our maids right in front of us and when Mom talked or complained, he beats her up. If we decide not to, we get beaten up badly too. Life was really hard for Miguel and I ”
” Jesus Christ!” Menodora exclaimed.
Eduardo just kept blinking non-stop.
” This went on for years and I became used to it. I h@tëd Mom and Dad so much that the wasn’t a day I never prayed for their death. Miguel and I already considered ourselves orphans, but the day I turned 11 and Miguel was 15, I think… Mom and Dad got into a heated argument”
” I think Dad got his mistress pregnant, she birth a child for him too and that seemed to piss Mom off… Since they both couldn’t come to terms, a fight started between them. Miguel was the only one at home with them that day. I don’t remember what happened that day, but I’m sure I sneaked out of the house without Miguel’s knowledge. I don’t remember anything after that moment I sneaked out”
” Later at night, I just found myself in Miguel’s room with bruises all over my body. He told me he saw me by the gates and I was unconscious so he brought me in with the help of the security man. I was running a fever and it was very late already. He asked me to wait while he gets the first aid kit from our parents’ room. That was the last thing he said to me” He sniffed.
” I left the bed and decided to go after him since he was taking too long. I pushed the door to my parents’ room open only to witness the most heartbreaking scene ever. Mom smashed the flower vase on Dad’s head. Miguel tried to stop her, but she pushed him against the wall. He hit his head on the wall and it cracked. He went down slowly till he fell to the ground lifelessly, covered in his own blood.
” I fell to the ground in a loud thud and that seem to draw her attention. When she realized both her husband and Miguel weren’t breathing, she stared back at me as if to explain, but I ran out of the room in tears. How she left the house with the bodies, I know but I have no idea what she did with the bodies”.
” I think your mom didn’t mean to kill your brother… It was probably a mistake ” Menodora spoke up.
” Even if it was, the fact that she had the zeal to kill shows that even if I had showed up that moment, she would’ve done the same with me.. and what happened next? She poisoned me… You know why? After accusing Dad of cheating, and getting his mistress pregnant, I caught her having s*x with Uncle Nathan… Now tell me, aren’t I permitted to h@të her?” Mariano asked.
His voice held anger.
” Maria…”
” You both can’t understand how I felt back then… Both parents’ cheating was none of my business, but what happened? After killing her husband, she had no one else to cheat with, but her late husband’s brother. God! I really curse my family”
” Just because of that, mom poisoned my meal” He said and tears began raining down his cheek. He left his seat and went to his bed. Menodora wanted to go after him but Eduardo stopped her.
” He’ll be fine, you should rest now… I’ll use the guest room” Eduardo stood up. He stared at Mariano again before leaving the room.
” I shouldn’t have been curious..” She muttered as she blinked her tears.
” He was too young to go through all that” She bit her lips.
★★★
FRIDA’S MANSION ~ NEXT DAY
Frida was on her way out when someone suddenly stopped in front of her.
” Ma’am, a man asked me to give you this” A young boy said and Frida raised a brow before collecting the envelope.
” Thank you” she told the child and he ran off.
She stared at the envelope with a frown.
? HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? HOW IS OUR LITTLE DAUGHTER DOING? AND WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR SISTER’S PROPERTIES? DID YOU GET A HOLD OF IT? ETHAN♡♡.
Frida read and her eyes widened.
” Ethan? Is he still alive?” She wondered as she looked around the place to see if she was gonna see him but she didn’t.
” Why is he showing up just now?” She muttered and entered the house, coming face to face with Gladys.
” What’s wrong?”Gladys asked.
” Nothing” She replied and entered the house. Gladys raised a confused brow, then shrugged before going in too.
★★★
Santario woke up early and did the house chores. He proceeded to the kitchen and made breakfast before Dorian could wake up.
He was done and headed to the room to check on her. She woke up immediately he entered. A smile escaped his lips as he went to her. He hugged her and kissed her hair.
” Morning love” She smiled while he carried her into the bathroom in a bridal way.
He undressed her, gave her a warm bath, took her back into the bedroom, and helped her dress. Dorian just watch him do everything. All she did was smile.
He carried her again from the room to the dining. He placed her on the chair and served her.
He sat down next to her and watched her eat.
She didn’t ask him anything until she was done. He cleared the table and did the dishes too, not letting her do a single thing. After he was done, he went to the sitting room where Dorian was now seated.
” I’ll be going out today and don’t know if I’ll come back today. Don’t stress yourself when I’m away, and don’t go anywhere please”
” Did something happen?” She asked.
” I don’t know, that’s why I wanna go find out” He replied and she sighed.
” Alright, but promise me you’ll be careful?” She asked and he nodded.
” I will “.
She hugged him to herself which he reciprocated. He kissed her hair and left the house.
Dorian sighed sadly.
” I wish everything turns out well, cos if he dies, I’m sure I will too” She muttered and held a pillow to her chest.
★★
” You mean Ruby came here last night?” Santario asked and Bob nodded.
” He said I should provide him the details of the guy who saved Menodora. I think Larry is dead”
” Why do you think so?”
” With the look on his face, I think he sent Larry to Dora last night and probably, the guy killed Larry” Bob explained.
” Mariano killed Larry?” Santario asked, shocked.
” Is that his name?” Bob asked and Santario stared at him.
” Don’t get me wrong”
” I think I underestimated that guy… It’s gonna be easy if I join forces with him to get rid of Ruby” Santario muttered but Bob heard him.
” Are you cràzy? You think you can? ”
” I don’t care how risky it gets.. are you with me or him?”
” With you of course… I’m sick and tired of that old Hug! What should I tell him though?” Bob asked.
” Give him what he wants and I’ll do what I think is right” Santario replied and Bob nodded.
” His full name, Mariano Di-falco, owner of Di-fariano enterprise ” Santario said.
Bob took his phone and forwarded the message to Ruby.
” The game starts now” Santario smirked.
” It’s a do or dié thing. You can choose to back down if you want” Santario muttered and Bob smiled.
” I’m always in ” He replied.
★★★
Ruby smiled when he saw the text from Bob. He was still smiling broadly when another text came up.
* Santario and Bob, are plotting your doom* Ruby smirked instead when he read the message.
” I know this was gonna happen though” He laughed.
” Well, I’m not an easy target myself ” He laughed again.
★★★
MARIANO’S MANSIONS
Mariano had paid the fee for rules violation and the cops just left the house. Eduardo stood up and walked towards the door.
” I’ll come back in the evening, okay?”He pressed Mariano’s shoulder fondly.
His phone vibrated and he checked it.
” Bye…” He waved and left in a hurry.
Menodora faced Mariano with a smile.
” I’m sorry about yesterday” She pouted.
” As long as you’re okay, I’m fine” He said and held her waist as they both went to the dining.
Rose just kept looking at them with pity. Her mind hadn’t been at ease ever since Ethan told her Mariano was aware of his plans of killing the Richardson.
What if it was true? Will her son’s happy life change? She was not gonna allow that to happen, but what was she supposed to do?
” Mom, is everything okay? You look restless” Menodora’s voice brought her back to reality.
” Oh daughter, I’m fine.. just a slight headache ”
” I should call Dr. Grey then” Mariano took his phone.
” I’ll be fine, a little rest will do” She said and Mariano stared at her for a while before nodding. He knew she was hiding something from him.
” Should we meet later in the evening? Is there something you want to tell me behind her back?” He asked.
” No, I… ”
” I’ll come into your room then” He cut in before facing Menodora who smiled at him.
” I’ll have to go back tomorrow” She said.
” You’re not leaving until I’m fully healed” He said and she chuckled.
” You’re cute when you do that” He said again and she laughed.
Rose smiled sadly as she left for her room.
★
SAME DAY ~ EVENING
Mariano descended the stairs which led to the sitting room, only to meet someone seated on the couch. Taking a proper look at the stature, he scoffed. He took his phone and sent a message to Eduardo before pocketing it.
” Wow… what did I do to receive such an uninvited guest?” He made his presence known as he got in front of the person.
” You said we should meet again uncle… Was it today? If yes, then you’re welcome” He said, but the metal rod in his uncle’s hand met his chest.
He coughed out blood immediately. He just got stabbed in the chest.
” Petty trick” He said as he held the rod. He removed it from his chest and glanced around the building.
It felt strangely quiet, so he knew something was wrong.
” Don’t worry, they’re all asleep… I only came for you. You’re paying for what your dad did, he stole the company from me” Nathan said, which made cracked Mariano up.
” Charles” Nathan called and someone in an all-black outfit walked in. His face wasn’t visible.
He got to them and bowed to Nathan.
” Boss ” He called as he raised his head. He removed his hoodie and his face came to view.
Eduardo!
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TBC…
