The Wicked Mrs. Gastrell (English version)

Flashback

“I thought you were the one who sent me here. Because Missy told me-”

I stopped from trying to speak when Cholo shot me a look telling me to shut up. He stood up from the bed he was sitting on and violently combed his hair. He let out a frustrated breath before returning to the bed and taking the cellphone from his pocket of his pants. He was already dressed when he dragged me back into the room earlier.

I immediately bowed my head when he looked at me again. At first I didn’t even know what the problem was until he ushered me back into the room away from a bunch of people who were indiscriminately taking pictures and asking me things I had no idea about. and the possible consequences. I just found out that his mother is running for mayor of the town which is why the eyes of the other party lists are on the entire Gastrell family. And now they have successfully found a stinker that could ruin his mother’s candidacy.

“Were you really that stupid to believe your friend who also recruited you into prostitution? Why would I look for you? You didn’t even fulfill what we talked about. I told you to wait for me but when I got back to the hotel, there was not even a shadow of you.”

I was not insulted by what he said. He just told me the truth that I shouldn’t just believe what others say like Missy did to me. We both fell into the trap of his family’s political enemies.

“I’m sorry because I didn’t wait for you before. I don’t see any reason to wait for you anymore. You’ve already paid me. You’ve already helped me so much, so why should I wait for you? What’s the point? To ask for more money? That’s too much. What you gave me is enough. That would be a big help to get my brother out of jail and pay dad’s hospital bills.”

A hint of pity appeared on his face when he looked up at me. The annoyance disappeared from his expression and understanding took over.

“I have known that you have your own reasons for doing that during that night. I… I am sorry for my mean words to you.” He exhaled again. “I just don’t really know how to deal with this consequence now.”

I looked at Cholo who didn’t know what to do from pressing the cellphone in his hand. I understand him. He’s in a position where he doesn’t know how to get out of a complicated situation. I’m always like that every time my father gets hospitalized and I don’t even have a single penny in my pocket. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from those times, it’s to think that it’s just a test that I can pass and overcome too.

“What can they do with those pictures? You’re a young man. You don’t have anything to do, so why are you so worried? It’s natural for you to come here.”

The corner of his mouth raised and a smile spread to his whole face.

“You know Cerro Roca. It’s a very conservative town and my mother has consistently painted her image of our family as all saints. Those pictures might blow away the political career of my mother which I know that she will take on me. It’s what she has always wanted, being a politician, and now I just buried her dreams in the ground.”

I picked up what I heard. It is indeed a very complicated situation he’s in.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would come to this. If only I had known, I wouldn’t have agreed to come back here.”

I did not add that one of the reasons why I immediately agreed to Missy’s offer to me was so that I could see him again because whether I admit it to myself or not, the truth is that every day, I dream of seeing again the young man who had left a big gap in my heart.

“I have a suggestion if you don’t mind.”

He didn’t reply  but he put the cellphone down on the bed and clasped his hands in his lap and looked at me. I met his gray eyes and tried not to melt even though my chest seemed to be pounding tirelessly.

“You can tell them that I’m your girlfriend. In that way, they won’t make it an issue because they’ll look like fools if they escalate the simple meeting of two lovers.”

He didn’t say a word again. He just kept staring at me while weighing my suggestion in his mind.

“That is actually good but as I’ve said, this electorate is very conservative. This is still a big deal to them. The media can put up a spin about it. They can sensationalize it all they want every single day until the election .”

He stared at me even more.

“Kari-”

What he was about to say was cut off when the door opened and an elegant lady entered. I already knew very well from her stance and the arch of her eyebrows the identity of the woman.

Cholo and I stood up.

“Mom,” he called his mother in a hoarse voice.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

Mrs. Gastrell continued to enter. Teodora Gastrell entered the room and faced her son. She didn’t even bother to give me a glance.

“You disappoint me, son. You of all people should know how this election means to me. Look at what kind of mess you just made. This damage will be irreversible.”

I noticed Cholo’s bitter smile before he immediately hid it. I thought I was just imagining it but I’m sure of what I saw.

“Don’t worry, mom. You don’t have to do anything regarding this matter. I take full responsibility for this mess. I’ll fix this this instant.”

Cholo turned to me and held out his hand. I was shocked so I didn’t move immediately. His mother’s eyes turned to me. She eyed me from head to toe with a condescending look.

“Karina, come here babe.”

I remained in my position upon hearing the endearment he called me. I keep repeating what I heard in my mind because maybe my hearing is deceiving me. His mother looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

I still didn’t move and just stared at the two like a fool, so when Cholo pulled me to him and took my hand and led me towards his mother, I just let him out of utter shock. He put his arms around me and held me close to the waist which was not hidden from his mother’s sharp eyes.

“I’ll marry Karina today and announce to the whole town that she has been my wife for a year now. This way, your enemy will have nothing more to throw at you.”

His mother was obviously shocked by what she heard. She immediately shook her head. I was completely dumbfounded and didn’t know what to do because of the bomb he just casually dropped.

The two of them? Getting married? It’s like it’s only happening in her dream.

“You can’t be serious to actually do that! You will marry a prostitute, a whore?! You must be out of your mind and I will not let you do that. Do not drag our family’s name into the mud that this woman is surely coming from.”

I bowed my head to hide my blushing face from embarrassment. I felt Cholo’s hand tightening around my waist.

“I won’t marry her legally. It’s all for the show, mom. I just have to show some fake documents to prove that she is indeed my wife. And aren’t you thinking? Your ratings will go up in the survey once the media picks up the story that I married a simple poor girl like her. Imagine how that would make me a savior of her which would boost your political standing. Let’s face it. Everyone is fascinated with a Cinderella-like story and she is the perfect girl for the role. You could tell the media how I chose to hide her identity to protect her, something in the line like that. This is what I think is the best management crisis we can come up with now.”

I was completely stunned and speechless at the scene. It’s like I’m not there with him in the way he presents the things that he wants to happen. Judging from his tone, he’s not giving me an option. I can’t do anything but wait because it’s definitely in the plan. I tried to get out of his grip but he wouldn’t let me so I just bowed my head more because of helplessness.

“The idea is brilliant but I have to make sure that this girl will not take advantage of the situation. Young lady, give me your name,” ordered Mrs. Gastrell.

Cholo squeezed my arm as if inviting me to answer. I took a deep breath and swallowed the blockage in my throat before looking up at the domineering face of Cholo’s mother.

“K-Karina,” I replied weakly.

“I need your whole name. Your surname?” the lady asked sternly.

I wiped my sweaty hand on the hem of my dress before I found my voice to answer.

“Karina Versoza,” I answered briefly.

His face was still serious as he looked me over from head to toe. Just by raising his eyebrows, I knew he didn’t like what he was seeing. I simply pulled the fabric of the dress down when he looked at it for a long time.

“Jex,” Cholo’s mother called from the door. A tall, emotionless man in uniform entered.

“Get me all the information you can find about this Karina Versoza. I need it tomorrow.”

The one he called Jex, who I guess is with Mrs. Gastrell’s security aid, just nodded. Gastrell didn’t even look in my direction. He only looks at the boss.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Cholo’s mother looked back at me then raised an eyebrow at me.

“Starting from now, you are not Miss Versoza anymore. You are now Mrs. Gastrell so I expect you to act like one.” She looked at Cholo. “We’ll talk at home.”

She walked out the door followed by Jex. Cholo and I were left with a sigh at the same time.

I don’t know how things happened. All I know now is that the situation will get even more chaotic in the next few days.