Chapter 3 Aftermath

• The morning light seeped through the window, casting its warmth on Tessa’s face. She twitched a little and then slowly opened her eyes. The clock on her bedside table read 8 am. The sea was calm outside, and La Viva had set sail back to New York.
• She scanned the room as she lay back, and suddenly memories of the previous night flashed through her mind.
• How did she get there? She couldn’t recall. The last thing she remembered was a sharp force that crumpled her into the arms of an unknown man; her vision blurred before she could see his face.
• “No, no, no, it can’t be. It couldn’t have been,” she whispered, consoling herself.
• Tessa jumped quickly from the bed, throwing off the bed covers, but stopped abruptly. Though she wanted to deny it, her body told her otherwise. As she rushed towards the door, she paused the moment the door flung open. Tessa stood frozen to the spot, reminded of the previous night when Raymond and her husband walked in on her and her one-night stand.
• “Good morning, ma’am,” Lisa said with a warm smile.
• Tessa looked at her in a daze, then slowly looked back at the window. She walked towards the window, observing its surroundings, and then she turned to Lisa.
• “Was there anything unusual yesterday?”
• Lisa was hesitant, unsure how to respond; she had spent the night with Granny Donaldson.
• “No, ma’am. Why? If I may ask?”
• “Nothing,” Tessa shook her head with a faint smile.
• “And Alex? Where’s he? Have you seen my husband?” she added.
• Lisa stood for a moment, not sure whether to answer or not. Tessa understood the silence,
• “I see,” she muttered with frustration.
• “Where is she?”
• “Ma’am, they left early this morning,” Lisa finally replied.
• “Really?” Tessa questioned bitterly, and here she was thinking of her encounter with a stranger while her loving husband was out with his mistress, Celine, the shameless daughter of the Rodriguez.
• Tessa could barely breathe; she was hyperventilating and was struggling to contain her emotions. Just then, Raymond, who was at the door the whole time, rushed in as he heard Lisa scream.
• He was able to calm her down and bring her to rest, while Lisa went out to get her breakfast.
• “How are you feeling now?”
• Tessa was silent; her back was turned towards him as she wept quietly.
• “Alex went back already,” Raymond added.
• Since there was no reply, he stood to leave, and just as he was about leaving, she turned around and questioned.
• “Aren’t you going to ask me about it?”
• Raymond stood for a while; he clenched his jaw in anger, then, with a smile, he faced her.
• “That’s person...”
• “I don’t know him.” She shoved in.
• “I have no idea who that was; I wasn’t myself when it happened. I swear.” She was barely breathing; Raymond quickly rushed to her in an attempt to calm down.
• “Breathe Tess,” he said as he handed her a tissue.
• “I can’t calm down.”
• “Alex may not be the best; he may have so many ladies aside from me, but that doesn’t mean I would do the same.”
• “But sincerely, I don’t know who he was, ”she added, desperately trying to convince him.
• “I believe you, but Alex, he seems to be aware of what happened last night,” he said softly.
• Tessa’s eyes widened as she replied breathlessly, “What?”
• “Probably that was his reason for leaving so early this morning.”
• She sat silently, like a woman whose world had crumbled. What was she going to do now? For 3 years, she had been fighting so hard to keep this marriage intact, despite Alex’s infidelities. She had put up with all his cheats and lies—the number of mistresses she couldn’t count. The mockery she’d received for not having a child... She had endured it all. But now, just one mistake from her was going to destroy her life and marriage.
• Being the daughter of Rosaline, cheating was like a death sentence to her. And there was Celine, who had mocked her a thousand times, as she always had her husband’s attention.
• “Wait and Celine? Is she aware?”
• Raymond nodded sadly.
• “Of course,” she thought. Celine was always aware of everything that happened in her life; it was like she was born to observe everything concerning Tessa’s life. The thought of Celine made her boil with anger.
• She wiped her tears gracefully with resolution while Lisa walked into the room.
• “What’s done is done,” she thought.
• “Life goes on.”
• “I need to freshen up and have breakfast; meet you in a minute, Ray,” she said with a faint smile.
• A few moments later, Tessa walked down the walkway, her heels clicking the polished floor with a smooth rhythm. She had a feeling of being watched, but when she turned around, there was no one in sight. The feeling sent a shiver down her spine, which she couldn’t shake off.
• She continued, but almost immediately turned around once more, looking around.
• “Ah, Mrs. Donaldson,” greeted, a smallish lady who had just come out of her room.
• “Wonderful party last night, but you left quite early,” she said, grinning broadly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
• Tessa was at a loss for words, but for one thing, she was glad there was someone with her to free her from her fears. But she wasn’t ready for any conversation, and certainly not one to remind her of her previous night.
• “That’s a beautiful necklace you got there.” She said with a smile, changing the subject.
• The lady instinctively touched her neck, her eyes gleaming with pride.
• “Yes, darling, I got them recently just for this.”
• “They sure look beautiful on you; my mother wanted these; it seems like you beat her to it.”
• The smallish lady beamed with joy.
• “Why don’t you join me for breakfast? You can tell me about it.”
• Stylishly, she had someone to walk her out because she could still feel the watchful eyes, though she hadn’t seen the person yet.
• As they walked to the dining hall, all she heard was the lady talking nonstop, even though she didn’t pay attention. Just then, Raymond came to her rescue, taking her to dine outside.
• Raymond watched her in silence as the morning sea breeze caressed her skin. She enveloped herself in its serenity. Her wish was that the waves could wash away all that had happened to her. As soon as Raymond stepped out to answer a call, a waiter brought her a bottle of wine with a note.
• She turned to look at him with a questioning look.
• “I didn’t order,” Tessa said with confusion written all over her face.
• “Umm” He stuttered.
• “Someone made a request”
• Tessa’s eyes widened, she stood up quickly.
• “Who? Where is he?”
• “Chill, Tess, ” she turned to look at the person, it turned out it was Jessie, her worst nightmare.
• She let out a sigh of relief.
• “You need to quit drinking Jess”
• Jessie sat down, placing the wine on the table, then holding the note, she looked at Tessa.
• “This isn’t from me”
• Tessa looked at her in disbelief as she was already pouring herself a drink and then at the waiter.
• “Excuse me, you’re at the wrong table”
• He turned around to look behind him; Tessa likewise did the same, but just immediately faced Jessie, who was almost taking a peek at the note.
• She quickly took the note from Jessie and turned to the waiter.
• “ Hey, this may be a problem for you, but could you take me to whoever sent this I’ll sort it out,” she said with serious concern.
• All Jessie did was watch knavishly, she smiled as she took a bite of strawberry.
• “Something’s fishy” she sang, looking at Tessa with a wink.
• Tessa couldn’t stand it anymore. She walked along with the waiter, who had no explanation to give.
• “Sorry signora,” he said apologetically.
• “But this request was made early hours of the morning”
• Tessa was frustrated “Hold on you have no idea who made this request”
• “Sí”
• Tessa looked at him; she could sense his nervousness like a first-timer.
• “Is this your first time”
• “Sí” he replied with a glow.
• “Have we met before?”
• He hesitated for a while, not certain if he should reply “Sí”
• For a moment, Tessa felt relieved.
• “When?”
• “Last night in your room”
• “With my husband?”
• He looked at her with knowing doubt; Tessa could read him; he must have known the man she claimed to be her husband wasn’t her husband. She flinched for a moment as she tried to compose herself.
• “Signora, I’m sorry. It was my mistake.” He said quickly as he ran away before Tessa could notice.
• The only thing she held onto was the note which read:
• “Mi scuso”