IX - The Truth

I decided to leave after hearing what Noah said. He is fooling me! He's hiding something from me. I may not know what exactly that is, he is still fooling me. Whatever his reasons are, my trust is already broken. I may be thinking rational right now but I don't care anymore. All I want now is to leave. And I did.

I just found myself in front of a big and modern looking white house. I am at my cousin's house. He is my only cousin I am close to.

"Why are you? Shouldn't you be in your house right now?" He asked before returning his gaze on his laptop.

"I needed to breathe," I answered shortly.

I went straight to my room here at his house. We are really close that when he built his own house, mI have my own room. I should've asked for his advice and help I shouldn't let myself overthink about what was happening lately.

"What happened?" He asked. I didn't even notice that he followed me here in my room.

"You don't seem to be fine," he added.

"No. N-No I'm not," I said to him, almost a whisper. I couldn't stop the tears that are rolling down my cheeks. I need to open up, I need someone to talk to because if I don't open up, I don't know anymore. I might burst out.

I told him everything. I told Nicolas everything. Everything from the start-up to the end. Noah's lies even before our marriage, Ana Maria, the riddle, and the phone call I had overheard -everything. Maybe that's all I needed. I just needed someone to talk to. Someone who will understand me.

"Do you want to do something? Do you need any help?" he asked. That's when I realized that Nicolas is a retired FBI Agent. I think he could help me. He's someone perfect for the role.

"Yes. I want to know everything about Francis Noah McLin and someone named Ana Maria," I said without any doubt.

"I'll talk to you once I'm done," he answered.

I spent days in Nico's house. I didn't even care if Noah's looking for me or not. Maybe this is what we both need. Space. I have communication with my parents but I refuse to know anything about what's with Noah lately. It's been days since the last time I head about Noah. Nico hasn't told me anything yet and I don't have the courage to ask him.

I am eating my breakfast when Nico approached me. He is holding a brown envelope.

"What is it?" I asked. I am certain that he'll say something about Noah. I am certain that whatever we'll talk about concerns and involves Noah.

"I have the information you want," he answered shortly. Two days of waiting for the information is torture for me. My mind was filled with unpleasant scenarios and hundreds of what-ifs. I even questioned myself why Noah did that to me.

"What did you find out?"

"He's married," he answered.

"Of course, he's married. We're married," I answered him.

"He's married to someone else," he said that made my world stop. He's married to someone else? But how? We're married.

"How?" All I could ask. I can't believe it! Was our marriage even legit?

"Your marriage to him is legitimate but he's also married to someone else. He has dual citizenship, the reason why is it possible," Nico answered while shooking his head. The loud beating of my heart didn't help! I can't believe it! He made me a total fool!

"Your husband's bigamy may cause a stir in your other companies once the people especially the investors learn about it. He married Ana Maria Lazaro on the 16th of June two years ago in the United States while he married you here in the Philippines. He is both a Filipino and American citizen which made it possible," Nico explained. I can't believe it! Why did he do that? Why me?

"Ana Maria is currently here in the Philippines and is already aware of Noah's bigamy," he added.

"I can use that as a ground for annulment, right?" I asked. I see no reason to stay in this marriage anymore. I don't care. I can be with our baby. I can be a good parent to our baby even without him by my side.

"Yes, bigamy is legal in the United States but not here in the Philippines. A bigamous marriage is considered void here. You already have proof that he is already married at the time of your marriage," he answered.

"Can you contact our family lawyer? Tell him I want to file an annulment. And please, don't tell mom and dad anything about this,"

You made me a fool, Noah. Of all the people I know, it was him who hurt me. He, who I never expected to. I gave him a sword -my trust. I thought he won't pierce my heart, but I was wrong. The sword pierced my heart. It tore my heart.

"Braelle!" I was walking on the corridors towards my office when someone called me. I am serious when I said that I don't care anymore. He can live with his wife. He can live with Ana Maria. I don't care about them anymore.

"Braelle, please," He still has the audacity to show his face to me, huh? This thick faced bastard!

"What do you need?" I asked coldly.

"Let's talk. I will explain everything, please. I want us to talk."

Before I walk away, I answered adamantly, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. So my answer is no."