The Tide of Fortune

Chapter 2 I Can't Take it Anymore

Reginaldo decides to try to claim some dignity for himself, "Laura, keep your decorum. Imagine what your parents would say if they knew you brought your lover into the house?"

Laura gets angrier about this. She gets up from the couch and starts walking toward Reginaldo.

"Would you be able to rat me out? Remember what we agreed: I don't mind your business and you don't mind mine! This isn't a real marriage, you took advantage of me when we met at that nightclub and my father preferred to force you to be my husband than to put you in jail!"

"I didn't take advantage of you!" Reginaldo explodes, "We were both drunk enough... and what would a virgin do in a nightclub if it wasn't for the intention of having the first time?"

Despite her high heels, Laura climbs the stairs fast enough to reach Reginaldo and slap him. Eduardo laughs on the couch.

"Damn you!" Laura roars, "It's over, I'm tired of this charade! I'm going to ask my parents to annul this marriage! See him down there?" She points to her lover, "There's a real man I can rely on!"

Reginaldo looks at Eduardo with contempt. The wife's lover is not as handsome as he is. While Eduardo only has a nice face and a thin body, Reginaldo has a muscular, toned body and a square face worthy of a heartthrob in LCN's telenovelas.

That's why an intoxicated Laura threw herself at Reginaldo at Night Lagoon, the sight was too sexy and tempting for her to resist.

"Wake up at once, Reggie." Eduardo counters, "You're nothing more than a son-in-law supported by his in-laws, useless to get a decent job, selling popsicles on the beach to have at least some change in your pocket. I'm walking the path of success and I'll convince Mr. Ferreira to have Laura as my wife. Don't you find it bothersome that your 'wife' doesn't have your last name?"

Reginaldo decides not to reply.

Laura echoes the insults, "What a waste of a man! I must admit you're still handsome. Why didn't you ever try for a job at LCN as a soap opera actor? Why didn't you ever try to model in designer clothes? Why didn't you take advantage of your beauty to make money? At least people would know who you are!"

"No, honey, better no one know!" Eduardo adds, "No one can know that the Ferreira family's son-in-law sells popsicles on the beach in Sunset Village like those slum dwellers who tarnish the reputation of Lagoon City's most upscale neighborhood!"

Finally, Reginaldo replies, "Your parents knew that, but they decided that I would be your husband anyway!"

Laura wrinkles her nose, "OK! Since we're willing to undo the charade, I'm gonna talk to my parents so you can finally go to jail for devirginizing me! You abuser!"

Laura was going to slap Reginaldo one more time, but this time he grabs her wrist.

"Let go of me, you bastard! What do you want to do, throw me down the stairs?" she screams.

After hearing these words, Eduardo gets up from the couch and runs up the stairs to them, "Let the lady go, you brute!"

Reginaldo lets go of Laura's fist only to be punched by Eduardo. After the thud, Reginaldo runs his hand over his face and feels the moisture on his fingers. He checks and sees his blood.

This is too much for him. What's happening? First, he is forced into a loveless marriage, then he is betrayed by his wife who shamelessly brings her lover home. Is he the villain of the story?