Page 77 of Thiago
He went into the closet and pulled a robe over his pajama bottoms. “Go back to sleep. I will deal with my mother.”
India lay back against the pillows, but he could feel her eyes on him as he walked to the door.
He went downstairs and entered the den to find his mother pacing the floor. He was mildly annoyed to have her show up so unexpectedly, but when she turned to face him, the irritation drained from his body. Her eyes were bloodshot red. She had clearly been crying.
“Hello, Thiago. I’m sorry to disturb you so late.” The quiver in her voice confirmed her emotional state.
He walked over and placed a concerned hand on her arm. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve been crying.”
“I have.” She took a shaky breath.
Though he was concerned, Thiago knew very well that his mother was a talented actress. She didn’t get as many job offers as she used to when she was younger, but he remembered how well she portrayed every role she accepted. For ValentinaArango, the world was a stage, and as a child, he had seen her histrionics contribute to the death of her marriage to his father.
Valentina sat down, dabbing her eyes with a crumpled tissue.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Thiago asked.
She shook her head, crossing one leg over the other and resting her folded hands on her knee.
“I’ve had a terrible night. I went to see Bruno to help him and Larissa with the baby.”
“Marissa,” Thiago corrected.
“Yes, right, Marissa. Rose and Benicio showed up. Rose kicked me out, and Bruno and Benicio let her.”
Thiago sat down across from his mother, confident he had only heard part of the story. “What really happened?”
“You think I’m lying?”
“Mother, it’s after one o’clock in the morning, and you came here for a reason. What’s going on?”
He saw a flicker of vulnerability, a signal all was not well beyond what had happened at Bruno’s house.
Valentina dropped her gaze. “I’m broke.” She spoke in such a low voice, he barely heard her.
Thiago straightened in the chair, the unexpected confession taking him aback. “What do you mean?”
“Broke. As in, I have no money—hardly any money left. Because of Marco.”
Marco Reyes was Valentina’s lover, a man thirty years younger.
“How did you lose all your money because of Marco?”
Tears welled in her eyes. “It started small, with trips and expensive gifts. Then he asked me for money to invest in various businesses. We were a couple, so how could I refuse him?” Her voice wavered, and she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Your father gave me a lump sum payment after we divorced, which I invested in legitimate businesses. I had done very wellfor myself, if I do say so. Coupled with the occasional acting part, I was comfortable. At my age, directors are not calling like they used to, so I was careful with my expenditures—until Marco. He took the money I gave him for those so-called businesses and spent it on himself and his friends. He made a fool out of me. He made me feel young and alive and pretty again. I know it’s ridiculous, but it’s the truth. I’m an old fool, Thiago.”
Her vanity had been her downfall. He had never seen his mother so raw and honest. “You are beautiful,” he insisted.
She waved a hand at him dismissively. “You’re only saying that because you’re my son.”
“I’m saying it because it’s the truth. You’re also smart because you managed to maintain a comfortable lifestyle all these years despite no longer having regular work. You should be proud. That’s impressive, Mother. Marco is a charlatan, and he took advantage of you.”
He and his brothers had been worried about this very situation. They had never trusted her lover, but she’d been dismissive of their concerns, expressing anger when they suggested he had ulterior motives.
Thiago took a good look at his mother. Really looked at her and truly saw her. She looked frail and helpless, and his heart went out to her.
“Where is Marco now?” he asked.
“In the house I’m about to lose. He and his friends have taken it over. I couldn’t stay there. I’ve been staying with family because he refuses to leave.”
