Chapter 56: The Marital Problems
Silent welcomed Giselle and Xander when they came back. All the servants were quiet, due to certain reasons that both Xander and Giselle were aware of. The reason for this silence was that Chantal had caught Lorenzo engaging in intimate activities with another woman, specifically in their bed – a place that should be sacred between a couple.
Chantal lost control of her emotions when she saw the two of them having fun together in their bed. Enraged, she unconsciously grabbed a nearby vase and walked towards them, striking the woman, who happened to be Lorenzo’s mistress, on the head. Chantal was filled with anger and rage, to the point that she seriously injured the woman and nearly killed her. Fortunately, Lorenzo, who was naked at the time, managed to intervene and stop her.
Maxine was traumatized by the scene she witnessed. She ran away from the room and hid herself in a corner of her own room.
Xander and Giselle walked silently, aware that the family was currently sensitive due to the scandal involving Lorenzo. Bringing his mistress into the mansion and having intercourse with her in their bed was an incredibly foolish and disrespectful act.
As soon as they got inside the room, Xander burst out laughing, unable to imagine that Lorenzo had done something foolish.
“What a bastard,” he said while wiping away his tears amidst laughter.
Giselle rolled her eyes at Xander as she sat down on the sofa. “Don’t celebrate as if it’s already over. They’ve just gotten into trouble, but they’re still on track,” Giselle said seriously, leaning back on the sofa.
“I know, I know. I just can’t help but laugh. Lorenzo’s reputation is slowly declining. He built it up over the years, and now it’s disappearing,” Xander said as he immediately took out his whiskey and a glass from the cabinet.Content © NôvelDrama.Org.
“I’m going to celebrate this news,” he said in an energetic tone, filling his glass with whiskey and taking a sip.
“Are you really happy that his reputation is going downhill?” Giselle asked while looking at Xander.
“I’m glad his facade is being destroyed,” Xander answered as he walked over to the sofa and sat down beside Giselle.
“Lorenzo is the type of man who always wears a mask to maintain a perfect image in the eyes of others. That bastard always shoves in my face that he is more respectable and lovable between the two of us. HAHAHA, what a load of bullsh*t,” Xander said as he took another sip of whiskey.
“He only got into his position because of Chantal. Without her, he’s just a piece of bullcrap!” Xander continued, looking at Giselle, who appeared bored by what he was saying.
“Are you okay?” Xander quickly asked Giselle.
“Yeah… I’m okay,” Giselle answered, looking down at the glass of whiskey in her hands. In the back of her mind, she wanted to take a sip of the drink, but she couldn’t because she was pregnant.
“Just finish your drink. I’m getting nauseous from the smell of whiskey,” Giselle lied as she pretended to massage her temple.
“Oh, sorry,” Xander said as he placed his glass of whiskey on the side table.
“What’s our plan now? We need to strike while the iron is hot,” Giselle said, to which Xander agreed.
“I know. Knowing Lorenzo, he will do his best to cover up his scandal in this mansion. I’m going to speak to the other branch of the family to get their support, especially the branch that sided with Lorenzo.”
“Good to hear that. We only have 2 months left before this baby comes out. We need to make sure that we win this game,” Giselle said seriously, which made Xander feel aroused by her alluring and seductive voice.
“Sometimes I wonder if you ever do it on purpose,” Xander asked Giselle, which made her raise her eyebrow while letting out a sexy giggle.
“I’m aware of all things,” Giselle said as she fully accepted Xander’s passionate kiss.
***
Chantal stood in front of her vanity mirror, her husband Lorenzo stood near the window while smoking.
“Don’t make it a big deal. Stop whining like a baby. I didn’t replace you,” Lorenzo said, which made Chantal smirk out of anger.
“Don’t make it a big deal? Lorenzo, I told you from the start never to have another woman except ME! That is my only condition to you, you bastard!”
“Huh! I didn’t have another woman. I thought she was you!” Xander reasoned with Chantal, which made her laugh sarcastically.
“You can’t distinguish between my sister and me, Lorenzo? Don’t play with me!” Chantal said as she stood up, her eyes full of hatred, and looked at Lorenzo.
“You cheated on me!” she screamed as she threw all her things on the floor. Lorenzo didn’t budge, continuing to smoke. Chantal breathed heavily as tears flowed again.
“I trusted you! You promised you wouldn’t do to me what my father did to my mother, Lorenzo!” She cried, covering her eyes with her palms. Lorenzo stared at Chantal, unsure of what to say. He had been involved with her sister Chandrea, and Chantal had caught them in the act.
“Take the time to cry, then compose yourself. We’re going to Grandfather’s study room,” Lorenzo said coldly, making Chantal laugh through her tears.
“No, I won’t!” Chantal firmly stated in her raspy voice, wiping her tears harshly.
“I vowed never to be like my mother, living with a remorseless cheater,” Chantal said fiercely. Lorenzo looked at her, finishing his smoke and stomping the cigarette on the floor.
“What?”
“You heard me,” Chantal said, turning back to her vanity dresser and opening the cabinet.
“What are you doing?” Lorenzo asked, walking towards Chantal, who was now retrieving her jewelry box, wallet, and cards.
“Leaving you,” Chantal answered as she turned back to face Lorenzo.
“You can all choose Chandrea. Choose her and have a family with her! BASTARD!” Chantal screamed as she walked away from Lorenzo.
“You cannot leave,” Lorenzo hurriedly said as he chased after Chantal. He couldn’t let Chantal leave because he needed her. He needed her influence.
“Yes, I can! I can’t be with you anymore! Standing in this room where the cheating happened makes me suffocate! Even now, I still associate Chandrea with you!” Chantal said, pointing at Lorenzo.
“I gave you everything-my body, my heart, and MY LIFE! But it’s still not enough for you! Maybe my mother is right. You only married me because Xander liked me!” Chantal cried as she punched him in the chest.
“And you’ve used me in every possible way, Lorenzo. But I can’t tolerate your cheating, especially with my sister,” Chantal continued.
“Chantal, forgive me. It will not happen again,” Lorenzo said to his wife.
“How can I believe you? You’re only reacting now because I’m leaving, which would leave you lost in this competition,” Chantal muttered, making Lorenzo slap his wife.
“Don’t utter nonsense,” Lorenzo said in a scary tone. His aura had changed now.
Chantal’s hands trembled as she touched her cheeks, staring at Lorenzo. “How dare you tell me I’ll lose in this competition? Are you crazy?” Lorenzo’s words left Chantal shocked, especially as it was the first time he had struck her so forcefully.
“You’re not leaving, do you understand?!” Lorenzo’s voice was firm as he stormed out of the room, locking Chantal inside.
“Clear your mind, wife,” Lorenzo’s tone was serious as he walked away, disregarding his wife’s cries and pleas. He headed straight to the room of his mistress, Chandrea, Chantal’s older sister and the firstborn of Serdaun.
Interestingly, Lorenzo and Chandrea had been arranged to marry initially, but Lorenzo ended that engagement when he realized Chantal was a better fit due to her influence, etiquette, and attitude. Furthermore, she was submissive and the first love of Xander. However, even after his marriage to Chantal, Lorenzo continued his secret relationship with Chandrea behind closed doors. Their affair blossomed and resulted in Maxine, the secret daughter born of their union.
In a twist of fate, Chantal’s firstborn was stillborn, and they clandestinely swapped the deceased infant with Chandrea and Lorenzo’s daughter. This secret has remained hidden until now.
But Maxine accidentally discovered the secret when she was 5 years old. Chandrea secretly revealed to her that she wasn’t her biological mother. Initially, it started as an aunt’s prank, but her father, Lorenzo, supported Chandrea’s statement. This marked the beginning of Maxine’s obsession with seeking Chantal’s love and affection. She understood that once her mother learned the truth about her origins, she might be abandoned and lost. Maxine had no desire to live with Chandrea due to the mess she represented, nor did she wish to be alone with her perfectionist father, Lorenzo, who always had high expectations for her.
With the affair between Chandrea and Lorenzo now exposed, Maxine was afraid that the truth about her true parentage would become known.
“Hey, my daughter. Why are you over there? Come to your real mother,” Chandrea said sweetly to Maxine. Maxine was in Chandrea’s room, waiting with her as they anticipated Lorenzo’s arrival. Chandrea was sharing information about Giselle and Xander, seemingly in exchange for Maxine’s silence about her own birth origins. Maxine was desperate to prevent being abandoned by Chantal. The thought of Chantal walking away with Flora and Lenox while leaving her behind was a nightmarish scenario for Maxine. Sometimes, she even found herself wishing to eliminate Chantal’s real children, Flora and Lenox, in order to secure her position as the true daughter in Chantal’s eyes.
” Daughter come here, And sit with your Mommy”