Chapter 82. Strange Situation
Once Maria gave her word to help Bernard and offered a faint smile to reassure him, he visibly relaxed.
The tension in his shoulders eased, and a genuine smile lit up his face.
"Thanks a lot, Maria. I honestly thought you wouldn’t agree to help me," Bernard said, his eyes locking with hers.
That statement caught Maria off guard. Her smile faded slightly as curiosity furrowed her brow. "Why would you think that?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, her tone more serious now.
Bernard hesitated for a moment, then replied with quiet honesty.
"Because I know you haven’t been very happy with me or my family. You haven’t said it outright, but... it’s in the way you act around us. Whatever your reasons are—I respect them. But I want you to know this: whatever my parents and I are doing now, it’s for the best. You’ll understand soon enough."
His words struck a nerve. Maria clenched her jaw slightly but forced herself to stay composed. She couldn’t let her emotions slip—not now, not when she had a goal to achieve.
"I don’t have any grudges," she replied calmly, though her smile was tight. "Yes, I was upset in the past, mostly because I didn’t understand some of the decisions that were made... but I’ve made peace with it now. That’s why I agreed to help you—because I’m moving forward."
Bernard nodded appreciatively. "Thanks again, Maria. I mean it. Your understanding means a lot to me. I’ll get going now."
He rose from the edge of her mattress and quietly made his way out of her room. Maria didn’t move or say another word until she heard his footsteps fading down the hallway. Only then did her smile drop completely.
With a sigh, she stood up and gently turned the lock on her door from the inside.