Chapter 29: I’m married to Romeo

" Look, I even own a big restaurant now. I am rich.." She said.

" We are doing well Mom. And I will take good care of you." As Trina was still explaining Meble eyes scanned her and she noticed the ring on Trina's finger.

The gleaming diamond ring adorned her finger. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Trina, what's going on? You're married?" Meble's voice trembled with a mix of shock and concern.

Trina hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. She didn't want to burden her mother with the complicated truth about her marriage to Romeo.

"Mom, it's...complicated," Trina began, trying to choose her words carefully.

" Dear, Please tell me. Why are you putting on a ring ?" Meble demanded lifting Trina's hand.

" Mom, I married Romeo Walter. "

Meble's expression turned skeptical.

" You mean , Ryan's son ?" Meble asked in disbelief.

" Yes Mom."

Trina sighed, feeling a pang of guilt for not being honest with her mother.

She knew she couldn't keep the truth hidden forever, but for now, she just wanted to protect Meble from the painful reality.

" Why…Do you two love each other ?" Meble asked.

" No Mom, It's a bit…complicated." She gasped.

" Don't tell me that…." Meble was speaking but Trina cut her off.

"Mom, please...just trust me. I'll tell you everything when the time is right," Trina said, trying to reassure her mother.

Meble's eyes searched Trina's face, looking for answers. Though she seemed uncertain, she nodded slowly.

"I trust you, Trina. But promise me one thing: you'll tell me the truth when you're ready."

Trina smiled weakly, feeling a mix of relief and guilt.

"I promise, Mom."

As Trina hugged her mother, she knew that keeping this secret wouldn't be easy.

The weight of her complicated marriage and the reasons behind it threatened to suffocate her.

She could only hope that someday she'd find the courage to reveal the truth to her mother and free herself from the burdens of her past.

Just as Trina and Meble were sharing a tender moment, the hospital room door swung open, and Ryan walked in, accompanied by a nurse carrying a tray laden with various dishes.

"Meble, darling, I'm so glad to see you're doing better," Ryan said, her voice warm and concerned.

"I've brought your favorite foods to help you regain your strength."

Meble's eyes widened as she took in the array of dishes, including soups, salads, and desserts.

Trina helped her mother sit up straighter, propping pillows behind her back.

"Ryan, you didn't have to go to so much trouble," Meble said, her voice weak but grateful.

Ryan smiled and patted Meble's hand.

"Nonsense, dear. You need to eat as much as you can to regain your strength. You've lost so much weight since the accident."

Trina's eyes met Ryan's, and for a moment, they exchanged a knowing glance.

The nurse helped Meble take a few bites of food, and Ryan watched with a keen eye, ensuring that Meble ate as much as possible.

—-

That evening, Romeo returned back from work expecting to find Ryan and Trina somewhere but none of them was around.

The house was quiet, and there was no sign of either of them.

He approached one of the maids, who was dusting the furniture.

"Excuse me, where are my mother and Trina ? " he asked, his tone firm but curious.

The maid hesitated for a moment before responding,

"I apologize, sir. They went to the hospital to visit Trina's mother. She...she woke up from her coma."

Romeo's expression darkened. He hadn't been informed about Meble's awakening, and he felt a pang of annoyance that Trina hadn't told him.

He turned to the maid. "When did they leave?"

"A few hours ago, sir. They said they would be back for dinner."

Romeo nodded, his mind racing with thoughts. He wondered what this development meant for their family, especially with Trina's mother now awake and potentially able to influence Trina's decisions.

As he was still thinking about it, Ryan walked into the room, her heels clicking on the marble floor.

Romeo's eyes snapped towards her, and he strode over to where she stood.

"Where have you been?" Romeo asked, his tone firm but controlled.

Ryan's eyes met Romeo's, a hint of calmness in her expression. "I've been to the hospital," she replied, her voice calm.

Ryan settled into the plush sofa, her eyes fixed on Romeo's intense gaze.

"Trina's mother, Meble, woke up from her coma," she said, her voice calm and collected.

Romeo's expression softened slightly, surprise etched on his face.

"Ooh,…That's great news," he said, his tone a little gentler now.

"Where's Trina?" He asked.

Ryan's expression turned skeptical, her eyebrows arching slightly.

"You're asking about Trina as if you actually care about her. How...touching," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Romeo's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with warning. "Don't start, Mother. I just want to know where Trina is."

Ryan leaned back into the sofa, a calculating glint in her eye.

"Trina is still at the hospital, visiting her mother. But I'm sure you're not interested in seeing her. After all, you've made it clear how you feel about her."

Romeo's face darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "I said, don't start, Mother. Let's just leave it alone."

Romeo sat besides Ryan crossing her arms around his chest with guilt.

Ryan's expression transformed, a sly smile spreading across her face.

She let out a low, throaty chuckle, clearly amused by Romeo's reaction.

"Candy, darling," she called out, her voice carrying across the room.

"Would you be a sweetheart and get me a gin."

Candy, the maid, nodded efficiently and hurried off to the bar.

She returned moments later with a crystal glass filled with ice and a generous pour of gin, topped with a splash of tonic water.

Ryan smiled, accepting the glass from Candy with a gracious nod.

"Thank you, darling. You're a lifesaver." She took a sip, closing her eyes in appreciation of the refreshing drink.

She then opened her eyes, focusing on Romeo as she took another sip of her drink.

"By the way, Trina won't be returning home today. She's going to stay with her mother at the hospital."

Romeo's expression remained neutral, but a hint of relief flickered in his eyes.

Ryan continued, "So, you're free to have dinner and then get some rest. You must be exhausted."

Romeo nodded, his gaze drifting towards the dining area.

"And what about you, Mother? Won't you be eating?"

Ryan shook her head, her smile lazy. "I ate at the hospital, darling. I'm quite full, thank you."

After this she got up to go to sleep.

" I'm gone to sleep. Good night.." She said walking away.

" Good night Mom." He said and walked over to the dining table, the silence in the room a heavy contrast to the turmoil brewing inside him.

He sat down alone, the elegant table setting a stark reminder that he was dining solo.

He picked at his food, his appetite nonexistent, but he went through the motions anyway. The food was tasteless, the silence oppressive.

Finally, he pushed his chair back and stood up, his eyes scanning the empty room. He felt...off.

Romeo made his way to his room, the weight of his solitude settling in around him.

For the first time, he truly felt Trina's absence. The silence in their bedroom was deafening.

He walked over to his dresser, his eyes drawn to the wedding photo of him and Trina. He stared at it, his gaze tracing the contours of Trina's face, her bright smile, her sparkling eyes.

A pang of...something...hit him in the chest. He got the urge to touch the photo but something suddenly stopped him.

" Why am I thinking about this too much ?" He asked himself.