Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 125
'Maya probably knew that Karlos was rich, that's why she married him. Tch, typical gold digger,' Luz thought bitterly as she crossed her arms, her jealousy twisting her thoughts.
Luz glanced at Karlos, who was talking to Roman and Larry, standing confidently among them. His calm posture and easy smile made him look even more confident than she remembered, as if wealth magnified his presence. She had to admit, Karlos was an attractive man. Back then, Luz had also had moments to talk to Karlos during casual encounters. If not for being poor, she might have fallen for him too. Too bad, Maya's scheme had won before Luz could even try, at least in her imagination.
Suddenly, Luz felt like attending this birthday party had been a mistake. Instead of bragging about her status as a teacher, she realized that her friend, who didn't have to work, had it better, a truth she hated acknowledging.
'All you do is rest in your house and play with the kids, yet your life is better? Life is truly unfair. Such a lazy woman, yet favored by destiny.' Her nails dug into her palms as she forced a smile, hiding her growing resentment.
For clarification, being a mother was a tough job, and also the most respectable one. Yet some people couldn't appreciate it because of shallow beliefs.
Once the priest arrived, the ceremony began. The chatter died down as everyone turned their attention to him respectfully.
The priest gave a short sermon, mostly about being good parents and caring for children, emphasizing responsibility. Then he baptized the twins, and the ceremony was completed just like that.
Arabella received new dolls while Iñigo held brand-new toy cars. Both were happy and excited.
Their laughter filled the air, the innocent sound of children blending with the murmur of the crowd. The church cameramen took pictures of the twins, then with their parents, then with the godparents. These pictures would be delivered within a week, already paid for by Karlos.
With the ceremony done, the guests quickly approached the food section and served themselves, forming lines. The air was soon filled with the aroma of freshly cooked dishes, such as fried chicken, adobo, and sweet desserts. Some picked lumpia and all kinds of meat dishes, with a small scoop of rice. The clinking of utensils and chatter of guests added to the festive atmosphere. At an event like this, one usually focused on the meat rather than the rice. For guests who didn't eat meat, vegetarian options were also available.
Contrary to Maya's concerns, Larry and Roman had no problem eating the food without pretense. In fact, they ate a lot with genuine enjoyment. Particularly the lumpia, they couldn't stop munching on it.
'It seems like rich people are people after all.' Maya chuckled to herself, shaking her head slightly. For some reason, she felt she would meet many wealthy people in the coming years, a strange intuition.
"Ma, me, me." Arabella tapped her mother's arm, asking to be fed.
"Oh, you want more? What do you like?" Maya asked gently as she looked down at her daughter.
"Dis." Arabella pointed at the chocolate cake. In her opinion, it was the most delicious food on the plate.
"Open your mouth, ahhh." Maya fed the little girl, though some bits of cake stained her cheeks, which Maya wiped later once she finished chewing. The little girl's giggle melted Maya's heart. She carefully cleaned her daughter's face with a napkin.
Maya then turned to Iñigo. The little boy wanted chicken adobo, and Maya fed him too. The boy nodded with satisfaction after a bite, his tiny hand gripping the edge of the table while the other held his toy car.
Maya saw her husband talking to the guests, making sure everyone was entertained and satisfied with the food. His eyes were bright as he moved from table to table, full of energy.
"Karlos, the fried chicken tastes amazing!"
"Thank you, Ma'am. Joseph, Foster, and I fried them," Karlos said to Domingo's mother, who was licking her fingers. Grease glistened on her fingers, but she didn't care in the slightest. It didn't matter if she had a missing tooth, she would eat and pack a lot of food. Her eyes darted to the remaining dishes, she didn't forget her plan to take some dishes back to home.
Karlos just laughed it off, he already had an idea of what Domingo's mother was thinking and didn't dwell on it.
There were only six adults and two children in the villa, so they couldn't finish the remaining food even if they stored it. Letting the guests pack some to bring home avoided waste.
With that, the event ended happily. Many guests left satisfied, smiles on their faces. Luz, Vin, and Minda also bid farewell to Maya and her two adorable children.
"... I am jealous of Maya. She seems happy," Minda admitted honestly as they walked to the tricycle station together.
"Do you think I'll find a man like Karlos?" Vin asked, hopeful that she would someday meet her destined one.
"Karlos has a calm demeanor and he's a gentleman. I can see that he deeply loves Maya and that he's hardworking. At this point, it's already a blessing if we can find someone who can truly love us wholeheartedly," Minda said realistically.
"Heh, didn't you see? It's obvious Maya chose Karlos because he's rich. Karlos and those rich guys seem related," Luz said, trying to fan the flames of jealousy. She was envious that Maya was doing well. Even though they didn't own the villa, their house under construction on the beach side meant they had a secure home. Unlike Luz, she still lived with her parents.
"Yeah, I also thought that. Karlos and that rich guy seem related. They are probably brothers, although that doesn't explain everything," Vin agreed. In fact, everyone at the party could see the resemblance between the two Alejandros.
"Even if she knew about it, that's her fortune. Even if there's calculation and scheming, I truly believe Maya and Karlos love each other," Minda said, casting a side-eye at Luz. She knew Luz was intentionally trying to stir trouble.
"It doesn't matter if she's a green tea or white lotus. We can judge her, but at the end of the day, her life is her own," Minda added, addressing Luz.
White Lotus = scheming woman who pretends to be innocent/pure.
Green Tea = scheming woman who pretends to be sweet and naive.
The important question was: Is Maya a scheming woman?
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