Chapter 5: "Secrets Unveiled"

The sterile scent of disinfectant hung heavy in the air. Mariana’s gaze remained fixed on her mother, pale and fragile in the stark white bedclothes. A wave of emotions washed over Mariana – relief, exhaustion, and a deep ache for all they had endured. "The company collapsing," she murmured, the words catching in her throat, "Dad... your illness..." She squeezed her mother's hand gently. "But you're getting better, Mom. That's all that matters." Tiago remained silent beside her, his expression unreadable. A hint of grudging respect, perhaps, flickered in his steely gaze. "Thank you," Mariana whispered, turning to him. "For everything. I know I may seem…" "You've been strong," he interrupted, his voice a low rumble. "Stronger than you give yourself credit for." A flicker of surprise danced across Mariana's face, momentarily dispelling the heavy weight of the situation. "I agreed to this whole… arrangement," she continued, "And I'll keep my part of the bargain. I promise." As if on cue, a weak, raspy voice broke the silence. "Mariana?" Mariana's head snapped up, her heart leaping into her throat. "Mom?" she breathed, leaning closer. The pale lips on the hospital bed moved again, forming her name a second time. This time, there was no mistaking it. Mariana reached out, her hand engulfing her mother's frail one. "Yes, Mom? I'm here." A flicker of recognition fluttered across her mother's eyes. A weak smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Then, her gaze shifted, landing on Tiago. "Who is this, Mariana?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Tiago stepped forward, his posture respectful. "I'm Tiago, Mrs. Silva," he replied. "Mariana's husband." A look of shock, quickly replaced by concern, flickered across her mother's face. "Married?" she rasped, her voice weak. Mariana squeezed her mother's hand reassuringly. "We can talk about it later, Mom," she soothed, her voice thick with emotion. "Right now, you need to rest. We'll answer all your questions when you're feeling better." Just then, the door creaked open, and the doctor entered, accompanied by some nurses, a clipboard clutched in his hand. He checks her vitals and takes blood pressure. Finally, he turned to Mariana and Tiago. "Mrs. Silva is making good progress," he explained. "However, she needs her rest. Let's limit visitors for the next few hours." Mariana and Tiago nodded in unison. They followed the doctor out of the ward, the sterile hospital corridor stretching out before them like a long sigh. As they reached the elevators, Mariana stopped, turning to Tiago. "There's something... Please don't tell my Mom about the arrangement," she pleaded. "Not yet, at least." Tiago's gaze held hers for a long moment, then, a curt nod. "As you wish," he conceded. They descended in the elevator, a tense silence filling the space between them. Out in the waiting area, they climbed into the waiting car. This time, however, the driver took a different route, one that led them away from the familiar route she was accustomed to. "Where are we going?" Mariana asked, a flicker of unease creeping into her voice. As usual, Tiago remained silent. Frustration gnawed at Mariana. Did he ever intend to answer her questions? The car finally came to a stop in front of a grand, imposing building. A stark contrast to the rustic charm of Castillo Alvor, this was a modern marvel of glass and steel, a luxurious city residence. "This is where I usually stay," Tiago finally spoke, his voice devoid of warmth. "Rarely at the Castillo." He stepped out of the car, leaving Mariana to follow suit. A woman with a kind smile and warm eyes stood waiting by the entrance. "Welcome back, Mr. Alarc?o," she greeted Tiago warmly. "And you must be Mariana. I'm Mary, the caretaker of the house." Mariana offered a small smile in return, her mind reeling from the sudden change of scenery. Mary ushered them inside, the cool, modern interior a far cry from the warmth of the Castillo. She disappeared for a moment, returning with a steaming mug for Mariana and leading her towards a lavish bathroom. "I've drawn you a hot bath, Mariana," Mary explained. "It should help you relax." Mariana expressed her gratitude, sinking into the steaming water with a grateful sigh. After a long soak, she finally stepped out of the tub and reached for a luxurious towel, looking to wrap it around herself before stepping out of the bathroom. Just as she did, the bathroom door swung open, revealing Tiago. He froze, his eyes widening in surprise as his gaze landed on Mariana's unclad figure. "Damn it, Mariana," he cursed. "Didn't anyone ever teach you to lock doors?" He stormed away, slamming the room’s door shut behind him, as he walked out. The blood drained from Mariana's face, a cold shock replacing the warmth of the bath. Mortification burned in her chest. She fumbled for the luxurious robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door, wrapping it tightly around herself. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. Exhaustion, however, was a powerful force. Mariana sank onto a plush chaise longue in the bedroom, the tears drying on her cheeks as sleep finally claimed her. The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, rousing Mariana from a fitful sleep. Disoriented for a moment, she took in the unfamiliar surroundings before the events of yesterday flooded back. A soft knock on the door startled her. "Come in," she called out, her voice hoarse. The door creaked open, revealing Mary's kind face. She carried a breakfast tray that looked like it belonged in a five-star hotel. "Good morning, Mariana," Mary greeted her warmly. "Mr. Alarcao is out this morning, but he left instructions to make sure you're well taken care of. I apologize if there was any confusion last night. Perhaps I misunderstood his instructions about the bath." Mariana forced a smile. "No worries, Mary. It's all good. Thank you for the breakfast, it looks delicious." Mary bustled around the room, setting the tray down on a bedside table. "Would you like me to help you find something to wear, dear?" "That would be lovely, thank you," Mariana replied, grateful for the distraction. Together, they rummaged through a seemingly endless closet, filled with designer clothes that belonged to a life Mariana could barely imagine. Finally, they settled on a pair of comfortable jeans and a crisp white blouse. Dressed and fuelled by a strong cup of coffee, Mariana felt a surge of determination. Tiago might be gone, but she wasn't about to sit around in his luxurious apartment all day. She hailed a cab and gave the driver the address to an office building. A knot of apprehension tightened in her stomach as she approached the imposing glass and steel building. George and Jennifer, her father's two most trusted lieutenants, were setting up the location for their new start-up. Mariana suspected they had played a role in her father’s company’s downfall. She stormed into their office, her posture rigid with barely contained anger. "George? Jennifer?" she demanded, her voice surprisingly steady. They both looked up, startled, recognition slowly dawning on their faces. Jennifer, ever the social butterfly, recovered first, a saccharine smile plastered on her face. "Mariana! My dear, what a surprise," she cooed. "How lovely to see you again." George, a portly man with thinning hair, remained silent, his expression unreadable. Mariana ignored Jennifer's feigned pleasantries. "Don't play coy with me," she said, her voice laced with ice. "I know you know what happened to the company. I know you had something to do with it." George scoffed. "Your father was simply incompetent, Mariana. Too trusting. He couldn’t see beyond his nose." Jennifer chimed in, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Such a shame, really. Baby girl, you seem to have bad luck all around." Mariana clenched her fists, frustration burning in her chest. She had no concrete proof, just a gut feeling and a trail of circumstantial evidence. "I came here hoping for an explanation," she admitted, her voice cracking slightly. "Hoping to understand why you would betray my father after all he did for you." A flicker of something akin to guilt crossed George's face, but it was quickly replaced by a hardened look. Jennifer, however, remained unfazed. Ignoring the lump in her throat, Mariana continued. "But things are changing, that I assure you." she declared, her voice regaining its strength. "My mother is getting better. My fortunes are turning around. And you, George and Jennifer, you will pay for what you've done. Maybe not today, but someday. This isn't over." With that, she spun on her heel and marched out of the office, leaving a stunned silence in her wake. The fire of vengeance burned bright within her, a new resolve hardening her heart. She would get justice for her family, one way or another.