"I can not," said Theodore in a low voice. He frowned while looking at Aileen and then grimaced, as if those words hurt him.
Well, those words hurt Aileen more, but they hurt differently… This was what Aileen was afraid of, that Theodore didn't want this baby anymore and was afraid to bear the consequences of his act.
Aileen knew that Theodore didn't really like children and was not thinking of having one anytime soon.
He always argued that he was not ready to become a father and preferred to delay that particular event when they got married later.
Theodore always reasoned that he wanted to spend some time alone with Aileen, but of course all of that was a lie.
What they have now as in their current relationship, was not much different from the married couples' out there.
Therefore, Theodore's reasoning couldn't be justified so easily. However, Aileen didn't say anything.
It was just that, this time Aileen seemed to have to be more aggressive about their relationship, which had always been dominated by Theodore.
"What do you mean 'you can not'?" Aileen immediately released her hand from Theodore's grip and stood up. Her face looked hurt as tears began to pool behind her lids. "What do you mean you can not?" Aileen repeated her question.
"Aileen…" Theodore said in a persuasive tone, this time he also stood up and intended to hug this woman who looked so emotional in front of him. "Listen to me…"
"No," Aileen argued. She shook Theodore's hand off her shoulder and walked away with her arms folded in front of her chest, displaying a defensive attitude which made Theodore feel even more guilty, as if he was a very evil and immoral man.
Although, it could be said that those two words could describe him very well in this situation, with what he had just said, but still, Theodore felt that Aileen was overreacting.
"Aileen, listen to me first ..." Theodore walked closer to Aileen and managed to make her stop dodging by cornering her near the door of the room.
"What?" snapped Aileen angrily, with her eyes red as tears starting to flow down her cheeks. At this point, Theodore began to regret his words. But, what can he do? He already said it. "You want me to abort my pregnancy? Our child?"
Aileen deliberately put emphasis on the word 'our child' to make Theodore feel even more guilty and when Aileen saw how the man frowned as if the words hurt his ears, Aileen continued.
"You are not really thinking of persuading me into aborting this child, are you?" Aileen narrowed her eyes and rubbed her face roughly. "Theodore, you know my background ... there is no way you could ask me to do anything much worse than what my parents did by throwing me into an orphanage."
This time Aileen did cry. She knew that she could attract Theodore's sympathy in this way.
Theodore knew very well where Aileen was coming from and looking at this situation from Aileen's point of view, did make his words sound very cruel.
He felt even worse by now.
"Aileen, I know that this sounds really ruthless," Theodore said in a low voice with a wounded expression on his face. He rubbed Aileen's head and tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. "But you have to know that we can't go to my parents and say that we are getting married because you are pregnant."
"Why not?" Aileen asked in a huff. "This is their grandchild and they will accept it."
However, Theodore shook his head with an apologetic face. "The situation is not that easy, Aileen. You know how they feel toward you and how they constantly oppose this relationship, right?"
Alieen bit her lip. She had to find a better way to deal with this. Something far more extreme that could leave Theodore out of choice.
But what?
"Aileen, you understand my position, right?" Theodore embraced Aileen and this time she did not refuse. This much calmer reaction from her made the man feel a little relieved. He kissed the top of Aileen's head. "I love you Aileen and I just don't want my parents to judge you badly because of this."
That is an absurd excuse. How can a man say that as an excuse to make his girlfriend abort? His own flesh and blood?
Of course, Aileen was grateful that she didn't actually get pregnant. Otherwise, she would have felt very disappointed in Theodore if she was indeed pregnant with their children and with Theodore attitude now, it was a lost in her end.
Was this the true face of Gevano's heir whom she had been fighting for? Just to take Hailee's position as Theodore's lover and enter the Gevano family, Aileen had already done many unimaginable things.
But, was a man like this worthy of everything she had done?
Aileen hugged Theodore back and let him whisper sweet nothings, which made Aileen even more hesitant, questioning her decisions and judgments so far.
"Everything will be fine… we will get married and after that we will have children… but, not now…" Theodore whispered softly into Aileen's ear and the woman just nodded weakly.
However, Theodore had absolutely no idea what Aileen was planning at this time.
He should have listened to Hailee's advice and found out more about Aileen, and not simply believed the news of her sudden pregnancy.
==============
"You owe me eleven boxes of chocolates," Hailee said, giggling in amusement as she saw the expression on Ramon's face, who was constantly losing in this little game of hers. "I didn't know that you were so bad at this game."
Ramon didn't respond to her comment, but looked annoyed that out of the eleven games that they have played, he couldn't win any one of them.
How could he be so bad at such a simple game, where he didn't even have to think?
And now, Hailee really enjoyed the auction they attended, just into the fourth game, Hailee had already forgotten about Giana's presenceand Ramon also seemed too focused on the game which he couldn't win, so that all his attention was only on Hailee.
And that was what Hailee wanted.
The game stopped because the item to be auctioned next was the tiara Hailee wanted.
"Wow!" Hailee was amazed to see the tiara brought in which was then highlighted in spotlights, making the bright glow of the diamonds that adorned it adding to the glamor and luxury.
Meanwhile, Ramon noticed how Hailee was staring in awe at the tiara. Her face looked so cute when her attention was drawn to something she liked.
"You really like it?" Ramon asked and Hailee immediately turned her head and nodded.
"But of course I like you more," Hailee said teasingly. "Because by getting you I can get that tiara too." Then she laughed at Ramon's frowning expression.
"Pretty realistic reason," Ramon said at last, then their focus was shifted onto the item being auctioned off right now.
It's just that, not only Hailee, but there were three other men who wanted to gift the tiara to their wife or lover.
They started bidding fiercely and it turned out that the process didn't go as fast this time, as it took more than twenty minutes for the other two men to give up and withdraw, leaving only Ramon and a man from the Ferrer family to fight over it.
These two people are from the most respected families in town A, so it was certain that the starting figures for the first offering of the tiara, skyrocketed so quickly that they were tens of times over.
"Ramon…" Hailee whispered to Ramon because the figures that were being mentioned now, could be said to be one- fifth of the total cost of their wedding to illustrate, and it was a huge amount of money, which madeHailee feel bad. "Don't you just want to back off? Just let him have it."
"You want this tiara?" Ramon asked.
"Yes, but…" Hailee's words were interrupted.
"Then shut up." Ramon then grabbed Hailee's cocktail glass and gave it to her, telling her to just enjoy what's going on.
At some point, the man from the Ferrer family had to call his wife first, as it was his wife, who was abroad,that wanted this tiara.
The man is Coddy Ferrer, a man of about forty years old who has been married to his present wife for twenty years and their household is still very harmonious.
"Okay, while waiting for Mr. Ferrero to contact his wife," Giana said and made a few people laugh softly because this scene was funny to them. "We will ask Mr. Tordoff, why he is so desperate to have this tiara."
This was off- script, but the person in charge of the show didn't mind to improvise a little, because after all, Ramon Tordoff rarely appeared on events like this.
A man then gave the mic to Ramon so he could answer Giana's question.
"So, what Mr. Ramon? What made you want this tiara? Are you going to give it to someone?" Giana asked.
A provocative question that could make the people attending fix their focus on Ramon. They wanted to know the extent of Ramon's relationship with his girlfriend, with whom hewas reported to get married next week.
Because many still thought that his marriage was just a convenient marriage.
It was a common thing in their circle after all, to get marriage and profit at the same time.
"Yes, my future wife wants it," he replied simply.
"I can not," said Theodore in a low voice. He frowned while looking at Aileen and then grimaced, as if those words hurt him.
Well, those words hurt Aileen more, but they hurt differently… This was what Aileen was afraid of, that Theodore didn't want this baby anymore and was afraid to bear the consequences of his act.
Aileen knew that Theodore didn't really like children and was not thinking of having one anytime soon.
He always argued that he was not ready to become a father and preferred to delay that particular event when they got married later.
Theodore always reasoned that he wanted to spend some time alone with Aileen, but of course all of that was a lie.
What they have now as in their current relationship, was not much different from the married couples' out there.
Therefore, Theodore's reasoning couldn't be justified so easily. However, Aileen didn't say anything.
It was just that, this time Aileen seemed to have to be more aggressive about their relationship, which had always been dominated by Theodore.
"What do you mean 'you can not'?" Aileen immediately released her hand from Theodore's grip and stood up. Her face looked hurt as tears began to pool behind her lids. "What do you mean you can not?" Aileen repeated her question.
"Aileen…" Theodore said in a persuasive tone, this time he also stood up and intended to hug this woman who looked so emotional in front of him. "Listen to me…"
"No," Aileen argued. She shook Theodore's hand off her shoulder and walked away with her arms folded in front of her chest, displaying a defensive attitude which made Theodore feel even more guilty, as if he was a very evil and immoral man.
Although, it could be said that those two words could describe him very well in this situation, with what he had just said, but still, Theodore felt that Aileen was overreacting.
"Aileen, listen to me first ..." Theodore walked closer to Aileen and managed to make her stop dodging by cornering her near the door of the room.
"What?" snapped Aileen angrily, with her eyes red as tears starting to flow down her cheeks. At this point, Theodore began to regret his words. But, what can he do? He already said it. "You want me to abort my pregnancy? Our child?"
Aileen deliberately put emphasis on the word 'our child' to make Theodore feel even more guilty and when Aileen saw how the man frowned as if the words hurt his ears, Aileen continued.
"You are not really thinking of persuading me into aborting this child, are you?" Aileen narrowed her eyes and rubbed her face roughly. "Theodore, you know my background ... there is no way you could ask me to do anything much worse than what my parents did by throwing me into an orphanage."
This time Aileen did cry. She knew that she could attract Theodore's sympathy in this way.
Theodore knew very well where Aileen was coming from and looking at this situation from Aileen's point of view, did make his words sound very cruel.
He felt even worse by now.
"Aileen, I know that this sounds really ruthless," Theodore said in a low voice with a wounded expression on his face. He rubbed Aileen's head and tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. "But you have to know that we can't go to my parents and say that we are getting married because you are pregnant."
"Why not?" Aileen asked in a huff. "This is their grandchild and they will accept it."
However, Theodore shook his head with an apologetic face. "The situation is not that easy, Aileen. You know how they feel toward you and how they constantly oppose this relationship, right?"
Alieen bit her lip. She had to find a better way to deal with this. Something far more extreme that could leave Theodore out of choice.
But what?
"Aileen, you understand my position, right?" Theodore embraced Aileen and this time she did not refuse. This much calmer reaction from her made the man feel a little relieved. He kissed the top of Aileen's head. "I love you Aileen and I just don't want my parents to judge you badly because of this."
That is an absurd excuse. How can a man say that as an excuse to make his girlfriend abort? His own flesh and blood?
Of course, Aileen was grateful that she didn't actually get pregnant. Otherwise, she would have felt very disappointed in Theodore if she was indeed pregnant with their children and with Theodore attitude now, it was a lost in her end.
Was this the true face of Gevano's heir whom she had been fighting for? Just to take Hailee's position as Theodore's lover and enter the Gevano family, Aileen had already done many unimaginable things.
But, was a man like this worthy of everything she had done?
Aileen hugged Theodore back and let him whisper sweet nothings, which made Aileen even more hesitant, questioning her decisions and judgments so far.
"Everything will be fine… we will get married and after that we will have children… but, not now…" Theodore whispered softly into Aileen's ear and the woman just nodded weakly.
However, Theodore had absolutely no idea what Aileen was planning at this time.
He should have listened to Hailee's advice and found out more about Aileen, and not simply believed the news of her sudden pregnancy.
==============
"You owe me eleven boxes of chocolates," Hailee said, giggling in amusement as she saw the expression on Ramon's face, who was constantly losing in this little game of hers. "I didn't know that you were so bad at this game."
Ramon didn't respond to her comment, but looked annoyed that out of the eleven games that they have played, he couldn't win any one of them.
How could he be so bad at such a simple game, where he didn't even have to think?
And now, Hailee really enjoyed the auction they attended, just into the fourth game, Hailee had already forgotten about Giana's presenceand Ramon also seemed too focused on the game which he couldn't win, so that all his attention was only on Hailee.
And that was what Hailee wanted.
The game stopped because the item to be auctioned next was the tiara Hailee wanted.
"Wow!" Hailee was amazed to see the tiara brought in which was then highlighted in spotlights, making the bright glow of the diamonds that adorned it adding to the glamor and luxury.
Meanwhile, Ramon noticed how Hailee was staring in awe at the tiara. Her face looked so cute when her attention was drawn to something she liked.
"You really like it?" Ramon asked and Hailee immediately turned her head and nodded.
"But of course I like you more," Hailee said teasingly. "Because by getting you I can get that tiara too." Then she laughed at Ramon's frowning expression.
"Pretty realistic reason," Ramon said at last, then their focus was shifted onto the item being auctioned off right now.
It's just that, not only Hailee, but there were three other men who wanted to gift the tiara to their wife or lover.
They started bidding fiercely and it turned out that the process didn't go as fast this time, as it took more than twenty minutes for the other two men to give up and withdraw, leaving only Ramon and a man from the Ferrer family to fight over it.
These two people are from the most respected families in town A, so it was certain that the starting figures for the first offering of the tiara, skyrocketed so quickly that they were tens of times over.
"Ramon…" Hailee whispered to Ramon because the figures that were being mentioned now, could be said to be one- fifth of the total cost of their wedding to illustrate, and it was a huge amount of money, which madeHailee feel bad. "Don't you just want to back off? Just let him have it."
"You want this tiara?" Ramon asked.
"Yes, but…" Hailee's words were interrupted.
"Then shut up." Ramon then grabbed Hailee's cocktail glass and gave it to her, telling her to just enjoy what's going on.
At some point, the man from the Ferrer family had to call his wife first, as it was his wife, who was abroad,that wanted this tiara.
The man is Coddy Ferrer, a man of about forty years old who has been married to his present wife for twenty years and their household is still very harmonious.
"Okay, while waiting for Mr. Ferrero to contact his wife," Giana said and made a few people laugh softly because this scene was funny to them. "We will ask Mr. Tordoff, why he is so desperate to have this tiara."
This was off- script, but the person in charge of the show didn't mind to improvise a little, because after all, Ramon Tordoff rarely appeared on events like this.
A man then gave the mic to Ramon so he could answer Giana's question.
"So, what Mr. Ramon? What made you want this tiara? Are you going to give it to someone?" Giana asked.
A provocative question that could make the people attending fix their focus on Ramon. They wanted to know the extent of Ramon's relationship with his girlfriend, with whom hewas reported to get married next week.
Because many still thought that his marriage was just a convenient marriage.
It was a common thing in their circle after all, to get marriage and profit at the same time.
"Yes, my future wife wants it," he replied simply.
