4- Insults

"It's recent," Jacob said slowly.

"But you should have told me," Clara scolded in an uneasy but gentle tone. "How can you believe that I feel angry for your happiness? If only you knew how crazy I was thinking when I came to this door—

A taxi was noisily pulling into the driveway." My Taxi," Mira whispered in relief.

"You're leaving? But I just met you," protested Clara, surprised and disappointed.

"I'm afraid Miranda has a flight to catch, and she's already late," Jacob interjected ingeniously, grabbing Mira's suitcase with one hand before Mira reached for it again, and quickly carried it away.

Out of the house, probably to allow her to leave faster.

"Miranda—that's a very—very beautiful name," Clara mused after a moment of strange hesitation, her eyes quickly clouded, before raising her head again and continuing with palpable warmth. "Forgive me for coming uninvited, but I look forward to spending time with you soon."

"I'm sorry but I have to leave I'm in such a hurry," Mira muttered in a suppressed voice, unable to see that woman. The eyes have a pair of high-pigmented spots that accentuate her cheekbones.

Jacob had already opened the door of the taxi. She sensed that if he had access to the supernatural, there would be nothing left but a smoking crater before her.

But as she began to slide into the cab, he caught her in one strong hand, lowering his haughty black head, his diamond-hard eyes scanning her with grim menace.

"We have something to talk about. When will you come back?"

"N—never."

"You'll come back for the money," Jacob predicted through gritted teeth, having to lower his voice so as not to be heard by Clara, clearly a major challenge to his ego control. "Now I have to force myself to say goodbye to you like a lover."

"If you want really sore knees, go for it," Mira invited with a wicked smile and burning brown eyes full of menace.

"Goodbye, take care—" Jacob breathed heavily, griping her elbow with his hard fingers. She could feel a cruel reluctance, and he bent down and planted a brief kiss on her forehead. One blink and she'll miss it.

Mira was as stiff as a tin soldier until he touched her, and then shivering, she took a step back and scrambled into the cab. The car drove away, and she couldn't even bring herself to turn around or wave, adding a realistic note to his masquerade. Her heart was beating so fast that she felt unwell. Her fingers on her lap were clenched tightly together.

She touched the ring and she was mad at herself for not asking what she got and the trouble she caused. She should have moved out of the house when she learned of Dimitri's death! Nor should she wear a strange ring in public. Her stomach convulsed. She saw Clara's face, as she had seen it for the first time, and suppressed a tremor. At first, Dim's widow looks depressed.

The woman somehow found the house, and she stood up to whatever or anyone she found there. And, like Jacob, her intel can only provide one possible explanation for Dim's surprising use of his second residence in Manila—her beloved but recently lost husband has been nurturing another woman. Mira felt very guilty.

What would have happened if Jacob hadn't been one of those smooth, cunning men with quick thoughts about his expensive shoes? What the hell would Dim's wife think if he hadn't pretended to give her the Rodriguez ring because of their engagement? It's poignant as Clara's immense relief in believing she can put the house and the young pip at Jacob's door instead of her late husband's.

The resulting genuine friendship puts Mira to shame. The art of deception is not one of her gifts, and even in this case, it is kindness to protect a woman who has never done the least harm to anyone and has already suffered more disappointments in life than she deserves. After all, Clara failed to give Dim the child they both desperately wanted. Miscarriage after miscarriage dashed their hopes.

Clara managed to give birth only once, but it turned out to be a stillbirth, the final blow to their brutal years of childlessness. Their once-strong marriage begins to crumble when Clara falls into a deep depression, leaving Dim to battle the grief alone. It was during that time that Dim cheated on Clara. Diana, his girlfriend and Mira's friend for a child—

Mira crushed this uneasy awareness. But she found it hard to forget Clara again. Will they really be able to allay this lady's fears? Is she convinced? Mira found herself queuing for a payphone before boarding the train back to Valencia. She called home and prayed that Jacob was still there.

Hearing his voice, she took a deep breath and said stiffly, "It's Mira." Listen, to what I just said. You can keep all the money—okay?"

"What trick are you playing?" Jac charged angrily. "You think I’m impressed by this nonsense? Clara is gone, we need to talk. If she hadn't come, I would not have allowed you to leave. I want you to come back here now!"

Mira's teeth clenched together. She didn't even want to talk to Jacob anymore and to be honest, she had nothing to say about the money. This is just her opening remarks, the purpose is to appease the emotions. Her conscience drives her to answer the phone. She feels sorry for Clara. She wanted reassurance that her brother's widow hadn't noticed anything amiss in their behavior, thus reawakening her worst suspicions. "I—"

"Do you think I'm going to waste the whole day on a trashy little slut like you?" Jacob snapped, in the most disrespectful manner.

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Mira asked him back, losing her temper so fast it made her dizzy.

"Can you abuse some brain-dead bitch? Well, let me tell you, you overgrown monster, you need more than a big mouth and a fancy suit to impress me.

"Yes, and this trashy little slut has no intention of wasting time with you!" Trembling with temper and humiliation, Mira slammed the phone back into the stand before grabbing the suitcase again, angry at herself for going out and calling him.

Talk about wasting airtime bills! She is too softhearted. That's what Dim did to her. He destroys her prickly defenses and challenges her to match his trusted generosity with her own. But now that her brother is gone, she can no longer bear such weakness.

This is the real world she returns to, not the sentimental, always a sunny place where Dim lives happily and innocently. And being weak is just an open invitation to be kicked in the teeth—