Chapter 41

The dinner party was one of the most boring parties Rita had ever attended. Maybe because she wasn't interested in anything they did but couldn't tolerate the fake guests and their fake smiles and attitudes. She was desperately looking for a way to escape their grasp when Magdalene chose that moment to drag her away to meet one of their numerous friends.

Rita groaned as she tried to smile while putting on her best behavior but it was impossible with the way the elderly woman was pinching her cheeks, gushing over how beautiful she was.

"Meet Rita, my son's fiancee", Magdalene said.

"Fat chance", Rita muttered before smiling sweetly at the woman.

"How are you my dear", the woman said.

"I'm fine ma'am, thank you. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name", Rita said.

"Oh, my manners. I'm Mrs Robinson", she smiled.

It was then Rita noticed the young woman standing beside her. The women's expression was one filled with pity and Rita racked her head, trying to remember if she had seen the woman before.

"This is my daughter, Samantha. She just graduated top of her class in NYC", the woman beamed.

"Oh I see, nice to meet you", Rita said, shaking her hands warmly.

Rita left the duo, making her way to the far corner of the hall. She had a feeling that she was being watched and true to her thoughts, Samantha was still watching her even as she left. She shivered, her thoughts taking a dark twist. She had never met this woman and her watching her now feels suspicious. Nevertheless, Rita shook of the feeling.

Rita stood at the corner of the hall, watching the guests and she couldn't help but think that most of them were fake. They were only here because of the favour and contracts they could get from the Brabra's. She was disgusted even when she saw her mother talking animatedly to Senator Brabra who had his hands on her shoulder.

She searched everywhere for her father and she finally saw him, his hands also on a younger woman she didn't know.

Rita vowed that she wouldn't be like them. She would marry for love and not convenience. She decided to go upstairs to her room to change to a lighter shoe since the one she had on were killing her feet.

When she got upstairs, she overheard Edmundo's voice from his room. Deciding to feed her curiosity, Rita went closer and discovered that he was on the phone with somebody.

"What do you mean she's gone. You were supposed to kill her on the day I sent you, how come she slipped your hands", Edmundo seethed.

There was a slight pause and Rita strained get ears to hear more of what they were saying. She waited patiently, knowing that Edmundo would burst out again.

"And the boy... Where is my son?",he screamed.

"Gone, what do you mean gone?",he said, knocking over a table.

Rita smiled, heaving a sigh of relief. The woman took her advice and escaped with her son. Now, she could breath more easily knowing that they were safe.

Since she had heard enough, she decided to leave incase Edmundo comes out angrily. She didn't know what he'll do if he discovers she had been snooping ever since.

Rita got to her room soon, changing her heels that were too tight for comfort. Her bags were already packed and immediately after the party, she would leave. As she was about leaving the room, there was a slight knock on the door. She stilled, she wasn't expecting anyone and the only person she could think of who would come here would be either Edmundo or Magdalene.

If it was Edmundo, he wouldn't bother knocking but Magdalene, maybe. Rita walked towards the door, swinging it open. She was surprised to see it was Samantha who stood there with a guilty look on her face.

"This is quite a surprise. Where you following me?", Rita said.

"Yes... I mean, not quite. I just needed to tell you something", Samantha said, wringing her hands.

Rita didn't know if she could be trusted but considering the look on her face, she knew that she had something very important to say.

"Come on in" Rita said.

Samantha walked in timidly, sitting at the very edge of the only chair in the room. Rita took the bed, sitting at the edge a bit far from Samantha.

"So, what can I do for you?", Rita asked.

Samantha remained quiet for a while as her thoughts took on different twists. Rita could see tell that something was definitely wrong with this woman with the way her eyes were clouded with fear.

"Please, promise me you'll keep this between us", Samantha said.

"I don't even know what you want to tell me", Rita chuckled.

"Okay, it's about Edmundo".

Rita sat up, paying more attention to her. She needed every bit of information she could get about Edmundo and this woman was here, ready to spill some secrets about him.

"Alright, I promise. It would be between us only", Rita said.

Samantha sagged in relief, feeling more relaxed than before. Her brows which were puckered before were free and she even gave a small smile.

"I once had an affair with Edmundo. I was only seventeen then", Samantha said.

Rita smiled, this was not new to her. It seemed as if all the women in Spain had already been in Edmundo's pants and more were waiting in line.

"That's nothing new to me", Rita said.

"I knew you wouldn't be surprised. But there's more...", Samantha said.

The guilty look she had on her face was back and it was even worse than before. Rita was growing impatient, wishing she could just spit out whatever it is on her mind.

"We had a child, a girl", Samantha said.

Again, this wasn't new to her. Edmundo could afford to have a child with the whole women in Spain and she wouldn't be bothered because she simply did not care.

"Edmundo advised me to put her up for adoption", Samantha croaked.

"You did what!", Rita shouted, rising to her feet.

This was overboard, far beyond what she had expected. She could take whatever Edmundo did but not this, this is just too much.

"I know.. I'm sorry, he tricked me into doing it. He said he didn't want a liability and I believed him because I loved him or I thought I did. I was so young and stupid", she sobbed.

Rita's palms were itching to slap the living day lights out of her. She couldn't understand why people could be so wicked and cruel. An innocent child made to live in an orphanage knowing fully well she had parents who were just so stupid.

Rita paced, thinking about her words. She couldn't allow the child to continue living in an orphanage when she had parents.

"Please, say something", Samantha sobbed.

Rita stared at her, deciding to be calm. Somehow, she knew how she felt when she thought she was in love with the bastard called Edmundo. Even though Rita had never loved him, she out herself in the shoes of the women who he promised Heaven and Earth. She knew that Edmundo could be very convincing and just the right words from him would have that woman drooling.

"Does your mother know anything about this?", Rita asked.

"No, I couldn't tell her. If she knows about this, she'll disown me. I know what my mother can do", she sobbed harder.

"To be honest, I'll support her because you don't deserve to have a mother knowing fully well what you did to your own daughter", Rita seethed.

"I know, I deserve all the insults".

"Your daughter, what's her name and what orphanage is she?", Rita asked.

"Her name is Arianna, she's five now. She lives in the orphanage in the middle of the city", she said, dabbing the tears that seemed to fall down in torrents.

"Okay. But why me, why did you choose to tell me when you don't even know me", Rita said.

This question has been burning her in her heart ever since Samantha had spilled everything to her.

"Because, you're the only one I could trust and you're the only one immune to Edmundo's charms. I know you don't love him and I needed someone who isn't a fool like the rest of us", she said.

Rita was glad that at least one other person asides Theresa and Rodrigo knew she didn't love him.

"Now, Samantha. Here's what we're going to do, listen well and listen good", Rita said.

Samantha sat up, drying her eyes. Her eyes were red rimmed and Rita felt no pity for her knowing the evil thing her and Edmundo did.

"First and foremost, you're going to get your daughter out of there immediately. Take her and the both of you should go somewhere far away. Knowing who Edmundo is, I have a feeling that once he knows what you've done, he'll come after you and possibly kill you" Rita said.

"Oh God" Samantha croaked.

"Yes. Edmundo is as bad as that. Go to the orphanage tomorrow, get your daughter out of there and go anywhere, somewhere far away from here and when you're there, call your mother and explain everything to her from the beginning".

"Ohh no, I can't do that", Samantha sobbed.

"You have to. Trust me, you really need to tell her. She's your mother and she deserves to know everything that happened. It wouldn't be nice if she hears this from another person, it's even going to be worse. I also have a feeling that she wouldn't disown you especially when she sees her granddaughter", Rita said.

Samantha nodded, taking a deep breath. Some of the colour had returned to her face and Rita was relieved at this because it seemed as if she was about to collapse.

"Okay, I'll do as you say. Thank you, I didn't know what you'll think", she sighed.

"You don't need to thank me. I've done nothing, the only person you should be worried about now is your daughter", Rita said.

"Yes, I can't believe I did that. Gosh, I wonder if she'll ever forgive me when she finds out what I did", Samantha said, cleaning a rouge tear that fell down her eyes.

"It might be hard but she'll eventually forgive you. Now, go before your mother discovers you're missing", Rita said.

Samantha nodded, rising to her feet. To Rita's surprise, she hugged her. Rita hugged her back despite everything.

"You're a really good person, I won't forget this", Samantha croaked.

"Thank you", Rita smiled.

"And please, whatever you do don't marry Edmundo. He's an animal in human flesh", Samantha seethed.

"You're not the only person who adviced me on that", Rita chuckled.

"I just hope Senator Brabra realizes soon enough the beast he has for a son", she said.

"I hope so too, I guess he doesn't know about his son's evil heart", Rita said.

Samantha sighed, giving Rita's hands a gentle squeeze before walking out of the room. Rita sat back down on the bed, thinking over what happened.

Unbeknownst to Samantha, Rita had recorded everything they said. She wouldn't implicate Samantha though, just change her voice so people wouldn't know she was the one. She had to gather every evidence she had against Edmundo and make sure he pays for everything he has done. Rita knew that Samantha wasn't the only woman who Edmundo had done that too and he would be confused on who the woman really is. That would be his downfall.