Chapter 8 Chapter 8 - Meeting the Past

Adrielle Hale

If I had any doubts about this man in front of me now, being Pedro or not, the nickname he just said would make everything more concrete.

“That's why we should have talked before reading that shitty will.” He growls, throwing his head back. “We should have had time to sort this out before meeting like that.”

“I don't want to have any kind of conversation with you, you liar.” I retort, glaring at him angrily. “And I hope I don't see you again after today.”

My body has trouble obeying the commands to turn around and walk away from Pedro, it's as if there's a magnet between us, keeping me in the same room as him. I manage to turn on my heels and walk out of the room. I leave Pedro alone, I don't want to stay there. My eyes are starting to water. Oh, no. I'm reliving that pain all over again. The pain of being abandoned by a man I loved blindly. A man I thought loved me. But it turns out that Pedro only loved himself. In the end, he is identical to his father.

In the hallway, I noticed familiar faces. The two children are happy, with popsicle sticks in their hands. Victor walks behind them, calmly. I don't know why they are there, but I think Lyla must have told them about Sofia. Abby is very attached to her. I think that's what kept Sofia sane all these years. She almost went crazy thinking she had lost her son. Max didn't even tell her, nor Pedro, who should have left a note.

"Mommy." Abby runs towards me, with the popsicle dissolving into juice in her hands. "Where's abuelita? Uncle Vic said she wasn't feeling well and came here for you to take care of her."

I smile softly, trying to calm my daughter's sweet and worried little heart.

"She's fine, she just fainted." I answer calmly.

"Abuelita"? The male voice makes me freeze in place.

Damn. I had no intention of hiding this from him, but Pedro wasn't here to find out that we have a daughter together. However, I don't know if this would change anything in his life, he doesn't seem like the man I knew, he really seems like a different person.

Austin looks confused at seeing a man who was considered his father's best friend, but who wasn't there to meet him. Victor is a little incredulous. The popsicle melts in his hand as his eyes stare at Pedro, right behind me. Abby dodges to look at the man in the black suit.

"Who are you?"

"Pedro." Victor's voice echoes through the hallway.

His eyes look incredulous, just like mine. However, he seems happy to see his friend.

"Haha, it's really you!" Victor almost jumps with joy as he walks to hug Pedro. "Fuck, it's been so fucking long!"

I turn around and see the two men hugging. Pedro looks surprised, frozen as stone. And I know what he means. His eyes focus on me, with attention and obvious confusion. Oh, no. I don't want to have to discuss this with him.

"You idiot!" Victor slaps him on the head as soon as he walks away. "How dare you disappear for seven years?" Pedro blinks a few times. His eyes alternate between me and the children next to me.

"Uh, Daddy said a bad word, Aunt Elle," Austin says, amused, as he licks his popsicle. "I'm going to tell Mommy."

Victor turns around immediately.

"Don't tell your Mommy, Austin." His tone is almost desperate. Victor turns to Pedro again, but this time he's away from his friend, as if giving him room to breathe. "You idiot, you've made a lot of people worried. Damn, you look awful."

Pedro's face shows boredom.

"You're still the same idiot you always were," he mutters, massaging his face.

He scratches his head and lets out a heavy sigh, his gaze distant, as if trying to pick up the pieces of a past that seems to have slipped through his fingers.

"I can't believe you're back. After all these years, where have you been, man?" Victor asks, punching Pedro on the shoulder. "Hm... you've gotten old, man."

He's still frowning, massaging his forehead, as if his mind is collapsing.

"I can't believe you have kids. You're so irresponsible," Pedro grumbles, sighing.

Victor scoffs, crossing his arms.

"And since when are you responsible? You left Adrielle alone, pregnant," he says, as if he's scolding Pedro. "You're not exactly a role model, my friend."

I turn my head to Victor so quickly that I feel everything spinning around me. Damn it, Victor, you loudmouth! My eyes widen, alarmed by the situation. I wasn’t ready to talk about this, not now. I needed time to gather my thoughts about Pedro.

Pedro freezes. His blue eyes scan my face, then Abby, then back to me. His lips part, but no words come out. Shock is etched on his face, as if the entire world has been thrown out of orbit. He can’t even blink. His eyebrows furrow and re-form several times.

"We...?" Pedro tilts his head slightly to the right.

I hear Victor whistle, as if he had just realized the shit that had enveloped us at that moment.

"Didn't you guys talk about this?" His tone is full of guilt, as if he had just told secrets that weren't his. I'm going to kill him. "I thought everything was clear, Lyla told me you were looking for Adrielle earlier."

I frown, confused. Did he look for me?

"When was that?" I ask.

Pedro doesn't even give me an answer to that question. I swallow hard.

"Is what he said true? Do we have a daughter together?"