THE STRANGER - PART 2
After the tea was ready, Aila headed to Riana's room. She gently knocked on the door, and upon receiving permission to enter, she stepped into the space. She asked Morgan, the maid, to leave the tray and go out, and so she did, leaving the two alone.
With a contained sigh, Aila approached Riana, who was sitting on the bed with her back to the door. Her expression was serious, but filled with maternal concern and affection.
— Riana, my dear, can we talk? — she asked gently, her soft voice echoing in the room.
Upon hearing Aila's kind voice, Riana slowly turned around, her eyes brimming with tears that threatened to overflow at any moment. She looked at Aila with a mix of pain and despair.
— He lied to me. He lied. — she sobbed, her words interrupted by her crying.
Aila felt a pang in her heart at the sight of Riana's anguish. She approached and gently stroked the young woman's hair, her voice filled with worry.
— What are you talking about, my dear? Who lied to you? — she asked, trying to understand the situation.
Riana took a deep breath, attempting to control her tears, before pouring out her heart to Aila.
— Paulo, that bastard, deceived me. He deceived both of us. And you thought he was a good man. — she vented, her voice choked by the pain of betrayal.
Aila sat beside Riana, incredulous at the young woman's revelations.
— My God, is that why he called so many times and seemed upset? Did you break up with him? — Aila asked, surprised by the turn of events.
Riana whimpered while shaking her head negatively.
— No, I met Estevan at college, and he told me horrible things. He even said that his brothers have a part in my father's death. — she confessed, her voice wavering under the weight of the painful revelations.
Aila's eyes widened, unable to believe what she had just heard. She felt a knot form in her throat, a mix of shock and concern coursing through her body.
— So, you didn’t even talk to him? — she questioned, her voice heavy with disbelief at Riana’s revelation.
Riana, now with dry tears, lowered her gaze to her trembling hands. She felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, the pain of Paulo's betrayal still fresh in her mind.
— No, I lost my phone in the subway and... — she began to explain, but was interrupted by Aila's surprised and worried look.
The housekeeper firmly grasped her arm, her eyes wide, conveying the intensity of her emotions.
— Subway? — Aila repeated, her voice tinged with alarm.
Riana tried to reassure Aila, holding her hand gently as she sought the right words to explain.
— Please, don’t make that face. When I learned of Paulo's intentions regarding me, I was stunned. I didn’t even know where I was going, and when I realized, I was at the station. — she explained sincerely, hoping Aila would understand her situation.
Aila saw disappointment once again flash across Riana’s angelic face. She felt a tightness in her heart at the young woman’s suffering and spoke softly, trying to calm her.
— But, dear, you can’t walk around like that. You’re a Raddoc, almost a celebrity. The paparazzi are always after you. Besides, it’s dangerous. Kidnappings happen all the time. Never do that again. — she chided, her maternal concern evident in her words.
Riana rolled her eyes with a disdainful expression at Aila's insistence but soon relented in the face of the housekeeper's seriousness.
— Aila... — she murmured, her voice heavy with resignation.
Aila maintained a firm gaze, her determination reflected in every word she spoke.
— Promise me. — she insisted, her voice gentle but firm.
Riana sighed, understanding Aila's genuine concern, and reluctantly nodded.
— Alright, I promise. But no one recognized me. A man bumped into me when I entered the subway, my things fell... I think I lost my phone in that confusion. But that doesn’t matter now. It seems that tragedies are happening to me again. — she explained, a mix of frustration and resignation in her voice.
Aila, her heart aching for Riana's distress, pulled her closer and enveloped her in a comforting embrace. She knew how much the young woman had suffered over the years and was determined to stand by her side through all her hardships.
— Tell me what happened. How did Estevan find out about this? — Aila asked softly, encouraging Riana to share her problems.
Riana seemed to calm down a bit as she felt the comfort of Aila's embrace. She snuggled into the housekeeper’s lap, seeking solace in her comforting presence, and began to pour her heart out.
— Estevan told me that his brothers warned him because he overheard the two of them talking about me. They said that Paulo should date me and marry me to get the presidency. — she explained, her voice a whisper filled with sadness and indignation.
Riana sat up again, her expression serious and determined as she looked at Aila. She shared her thoughts with the housekeeper, a mix of anguish and resolve in her voice.
— I feel an overwhelming urge to confront him, to throw everything in his face. But I can’t. I promised Estevan I wouldn’t reveal anything. Julião threatened to disinherit him if he said anything. — she explained, her voice echoing with the gravity of the situation. Riana paused for a moment, seeming to reflect on her words, before continuing:
— I will make him taste his own poison. I’ll find out if he really had any involvement in my father’s and brother’s accidents. And if it’s true, I will ruin his life, just like my father did to Pither. — she declared firmly, her eyes conveying fierce determination.
Aila watched Riana with concern, feeling the weight of the young woman’s words. She decided to share her perspective, offering thoughtful advice.
— Maybe you should talk to Paulo. Take a break from this engagement. You’ve been so busy these days that we didn’t even have time to talk. — Aila suggested, her voice gentle yet filled with worry. — I wanted to tell you that you should wait a bit. And I didn’t even know about all this. Honestly, I thought Paulo was such a friend, so genuine...