Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 40
"... Nothing." Maya's expression was complicated and hard to read.
Seeing her reaction, Karlos took her hand and held it tightly, as if anchoring her thoughts back to him.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm always with you." His voice was low and steady, making Maya's ears burn red. Her heartbeat quickened with every word.
"Alright... We'll talk later." Maya gave a gentle smile, though it carried a trace of unease. She knew Karlos was different from Miguel, her husband was far better in many ways: more patient, and far more loving. That realization didn't help her at all. It only made her more aware that Karlos was too attractive for her own peace of mind.
She wasn't afraid that Karlos would cheat, but she feared that some bitch might get the idea to seduce him, especially with that quiet charm of his that seemed to draw people in without him even trying.
The idea of locking Karlos in the house entered her mind like a ridiculous yet oddly comforting daydream.
'For some reason, I feel like locking Karlos in the house is not that bad. At least no one can take him away from me if he stays here.' Maya's thoughts spiraled into irrational territory.
However, that diabolical idea vanished when she heard a painful scream.
She turned toward the commotion and saw Miguel screaming in pain as Gloria struck his face. Blood rolled down in a thin crimson line, dripping onto his shirt.
"You fucking bitch! How dare you hit my face!?"
"You deserve it!"
"You—!" Miguel tried to approach Gloria, but she was already prepared to throw another plate at him. Her eyes blazed with fury, making him hesitate.
"So what if I impregnated another woman!? At least she's younger and more beautiful than you, who's aging in a very bad way! Your skin is rough and dark, and all you ever did was ask for my daily earnings! Whenever I tried to talk to you about sex, you avoided me and got mad! Why do you think I found another woman? Because she does everything you never did!"
"Aahhhh—!!! I'm going crazy! Leave! Don't ever come back! If your son hears about what you did, he'll beat you up!"
"My son understands me more than you!"
"Die! Die, you bastard!"
Gloria lost all sense of reasoning and hurled plates at Miguel with pure hatred, completely ignoring the mess she was creating.
"After what I've done for this family! I cook for you every day, wash your laundry, and keep the house spotless for when you come home! And this is what I get!? Don't ever come back!"
Miguel glared at her and left, his jaw clenched and his steps heavy. His face was covered in blood, his pride clearly wounded, his expression twisting into a bitter scowl.
"Ahhh—!"
Gloria collapsed to the ground, sobbing loudly. Her shoulders trembled, and her cries echoed down the street. She kicked her feet like a toddler throwing a tantrum, making the scene both pitiful and unsettling. The entire neighborhood had witnessed it, and whispers spread quickly among the gathered onlookers.
"I can't believe Miguel and Gloria came to this. I thought they loved each other so much," Reina said in surprise.
"Heh, if Andres did that to me, he'd better say goodbye to his children. I'd leave and make sure he never saw us again." Reina scoffed, her eyes carrying a glint.
Some married women helped Gloria and tried to calm her down, but it was clear the damage had been done. Words alone wouldn't heal this wound.
When the commotion ended, the crowd slowly dispersed in small groups, murmuring about what they had just seen. From kids to adults, everyone left shaking their heads in disbelief.
"Arabella and Iñigo are so cute~ Say 'Auntie Reina.' Say 'Auntie~'"
Reina bent down, speaking in a playful tone. Arabella giggled, but Iñigo stared at her cautiously.
"You don't remember me, Iñigo? I changed your diaper just a few months ago, and you've already forgotten me? I was even at the hospital when your mother gave birth to you."
Iñigo remained skeptical, raising his brow and hugging his stuffed toy closer to his chest as if guarding it.
"This kid is too guarded," Reina chuckled, though clearly amused.
"You guys went to the wet market?"
"That's right. We took the kids to explore the neighborhood and buy food along the way so they could see more of the area and get some fresh air. Tell one of the kids to visit the house later, I'll give them fried chicken each." Karlos offered, since a whole chicken was too much for them. It also seemed like a nice way to share with friends. Besides, they had already planned to give some to Andres' family to keep good relations and spread kindness around.
"The kids will love it. Well then, I'll be off now, I still have to wash the sheets." Reina waved before heading down the street.
Karlos and Maya walked back home side by side, the earlier scene still lingering faintly in their minds. Once inside, they set the twins down so Arabella and Iñigo could finally move around freely and play with their new toys.
"Babe, are you okay? You've been quiet for a while."
"No, I'm alright."
Maya tried to smile, but Karlos caught the worry in her eyes, which made him concerned. Not knowing what she was thinking, he decided to hug her, hoping his warmth would draw out her feelings.
"Karlos, what are you doing?" Maya was surprised when he hugged her from behind, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder.
"I just want to hug you. Is there something on your mind?"
"... Well," Maya sighed heavily, debating whether to speak. She felt it was immature to worry about something that might never happen, yet she couldn't push the feeling away.
"I'm scared that someone will take you away from me."
"Wait, what?" Karlos was caught off guard, his eyes widening slightly. He thought she was worried about the cost of the toys, not something this personal.
"Why do you think that will happen? No one's going to seduce me, I'm just a fisherman who spends more time at sea than anywhere else. Honestly, I'm still shocked you chose someone like me. In my eyes, you could've done far better. I'm lucky you married me." Karlos kissed her neck, making Maya shiver and blush.
'This guy is clueless. He doesn't know how attractive he is.' Maya sighed internally.
"Alright, alright, stop kissing me. Just cook the chicken, one of Andres' kids will show up later, and they might be disappointed if you haven't made it yet."
"Alright. Babe, don't worry too much. What you're thinking won't happen. I only love you."
"I know. I love you too." The couple shared a kiss before Karlos stepped outside to start cooking, the faint sizzle of oil soon filling the air.
Maya stayed with the twins, who were dragging their toys along the floor, laughing and babbling in their own little language.
"Don't eat the toy, Arabella. You just put it on the ground, listen to me." Maya took the toy away, but Arabella immediately began to cry, big round tears forming in her eyes. Maya reluctantly gave it back for the sake of peace, knowing she'd have to clean it again later.
---
[You can read more on my Pat reon.]