CHAPTER 102: 102. UNPREDICTABLE SIN

As Maria stepped out of her room, she gently walked down the staircase to the living room. It was no surprise to her that Bernard and his parents were already seated there, quietly engaged in a serious conversation.

But the moment they noticed her arrival, all their attention quickly shifted to her, and the conversation they were having immediately ceased.

They all exchanged pleasantries, and Maria took a seat right beside Bernard.

"Maria, how are you feeling today?" Luna Victoria asked warmly, flashing a kind smile in her direction.

"I’m doing very great and feeling strong, ma’am," Maria replied, returning the smile with calmness in her voice.

She paused for a moment and looked at each of them with gratitude in her eyes.

"I want to thank you all for standing by me, for never giving up on me, even when my attitude sometimes was hard to handle. I truly appreciate the love, care, and support you’ve given me. Thank you so much."

"You don’t need to thank us for anything. You are part of this family, and we love you dearly," Beta Gilbert said modestly. "Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we plan it, but you will always be welcome here."

Bernard leaned in a little, his expression soft but laced with concern. "I heard the final exams are coming up in three weeks. I don’t think you should put yourself through that stress just yet."

Maria was surprised by his thoughtful tone. She wished she could believe his concern was genuine, but at this point, she couldn’t trust anyone—not even Bernard.

"Come on, Bernard, three weeks is a lot of time to prepare for any exam. I’m feeling perfectly fine now. Since today is Thursday, I’ll rest throughout the weekend and go back to college on Monday," Maria said cheerfully, masking her growing suspicions behind a pleasant smile.

"No, I don’t think you should return to college yet," Beta Gilbert quickly objected, sounding very protective. "I’m even willing to speak with the college management to allow you to write your exams from home so you won’t need to stress yourself during recovery."

"Sir, I really appreciate your concern, but please let me go to college. I won’t lie about my health. If I get there and I notice that I’m not well enough to handle the activities, I’ll let you know immediately," Maria pleaded, trying to sound convincing and determined.

Although he still wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea, Beta Gilbert finally gave in, especially since she promised to report any changes in her health.

"Alright, I’ll allow you to return to college, but you must always inform me about how you’re feeling. Is that clear?" Beta Gilbert said, locking eyes with her.

"Yes, sir. I promise to keep you updated on anything I notice," Maria replied calmly with a polite smile.

"Good. Enough of the school talk. Let’s have breakfast, the table is ready. Maria, don’t forget your medication right after your meal," Luna Victoria reminded her with a bright smile.

They all gathered at the dining table and enjoyed their breakfast together. It was the first time Maria had eaten with them while feeling somewhat comfortable.

They laughed and chatted as they ate, and for a brief moment, Maria’s mind drifted to her parents. She pictured her father, her mother, and herself sharing meals at their dining table—those moments had always been filled with happiness.

Quickly, she shook the thought away. She didn’t want anyone noticing her sadness. She forced herself to stay cheerful and kept the conversation going until they finished eating.

After breakfast, Maria excused herself, telling them she wanted to rest in her room and take her medication.

Once inside her room, Maria immediately reached for her tablets and carefully took them as prescribed. But just as she turned to lie on her bed, she remembered the phone she had hidden under her pillow.

She quickly checked for it—but to her shock, the phone was no longer there.

Instead, she found a small piece of folded paper in its place. Her heart skipped a beat as she picked it up and unfolded it.

The note read simply:

"I have taken the phone. Be good."

Maria stared at the message in disbelief, quickly looking around the room in confusion. She knew without a doubt that this was Mr. Frederick’s doing. It couldn’t have been anyone else from the house.

She rushed to the windows, checking each one carefully. They were all tightly closed, with no sign that anyone had tampered with them.

Though it unsettled her, she decided not to panic. She slowly walked back to her bed and lay down, allowing her body to relax.

Her mind was still filled with questions, but the weight of her medication soon pulled her into a peaceful, dreamless sleep—something she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

For once, there were no nightmares, no racing thoughts—just calm.

***

Meanwhile, Bernard was seated in the reading room, flipping through some books and carefully reviewing documents laid out on the table. Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door.

Quickly, Bernard looked around, closing the files and pushing the important documents out of sight.

"Who’s that?" he called out loudly.

"Sir, you have a visitor. She says you are expecting her. Should I let her in?" the guard asked from outside.

"Yes, let her in. She can come here directly," Bernard replied, making sure the table now looked like he was simply studying.

A moment later, Cassandra entered the room, and Bernard’s face lit up with delight at the sight of her.

"Good morning, beautiful one," Bernard greeted with a charming smile.

"Good morning, Bernard. I came as soon as you called. You said you wanted to see me about Maria’s situation," Cassandra said softly, her face clouded with worry.

"Yes, please sit down. I’m sure you know that the final exams are just a few weeks away, and I’m really worried about Maria. I don’t think she’s fully stable mentally," Bernard said, his tone heavy with concern.

"I’ve been thinking about that too. I just wish there’s something I could do to help her recover quickly," Cassandra added, her concern evident.

"Exactly why I called you. You’ve been Maria’s friend since childhood. You and I are the ones who can truly help her now," Bernard said, leaning closer.

"What’s the plan? How can we help Maria?" Cassandra asked, curiosity growing in her eyes.

"We need to start asking her simple questions about how she feels. If she doesn’t want to talk to me, I believe she will open up to you. She can’t keep things from you, Cassandra," Bernard explained.

"Okay, and when we get this information from her... what do we do with it?" Cassandra asked, her gaze fixed on his.

Bernard stood and slowly moved to sit right beside her. "First, we need to make her feel safe around us. Second, we must find ways to make her happy. Finally, we’ll pass everything she tells us to the doctor, so the right treatment can be arranged to help her recover faster."

Their eyes locked in silence. Before either of them could fully process what was happening, they found themselves kissing. Bernard’s hands slid firmly to her waist, then to her hips, pulling her closer.

The kiss deepened quickly. Cassandra moaned softly, caught in the heat of the moment, unable to stop herself. Bernard trailed kisses down her neck, to her lap, and soon their bodies were completely entangled.

Bernard was hard, and Cassandra was already wet, her body aching for him. In no time, he slid into her, filling her deeply. Their bodies moved together, driven by passion, their connection fierce and undeniable.

But as soon as they were done, Cassandra burst into tears, confusion and guilt overwhelming her.

Bernard was stunned by her sudden outburst. He gently held her, but she pushed him away as tears streamed down her face.

"Cassandra, what’s wrong? Didn’t you enjoy what we just shared?" Bernard asked, confused by her reaction.

She couldn’t bring herself to speak. She just continued crying, her guilt suffocating her.

"Oh... You’re thinking about Maria, aren’t you?" Bernard said, now staring deeply into her eyes.

"Yes... I feel terrible. I’ve betrayed her. I don’t deserve her friendship," Cassandra sobbed.

"Maria and I both know we don’t truly love each other. What we have is just temporary, something to buy time until something bigger comes along. So stop worrying about Maria," Bernard said, sounding completely relaxed and sure of himself.

Cassandra’s eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean by something bigger? What are you hiding?"

"There are many things you still don’t know about Maria, but you will, in time. That’s why I need your help. Help me get Maria back to a stable state of mind so everything can move quickly, and we can all live the life we want without fear," Bernard said smoothly.

Cassandra finally stopped crying. She looked calmer now, though her heart was still heavy.

"Okay, I’ve heard you. But please, whatever is going on between us... let’s keep it a secret. No one can know," she pleaded.

Bernard smiled and nodded, sealing their dangerous agreement...