"Tara?" It's Manang Imelda in her soft voice. "It’s late. Why are you still not up?’
I couldn’t move and couldn’t answer her. My hands fisting the bedsheets. I lifted my eyes to Mr. Montevalles who had one of his eyebrows raised at me.
"She's calling you by your name? They're not convinced you're my wife, are they?"
I didn’t say anything. He already knows about that answer. He answered Ate Ime for me.
"She'll be down when I'm done with her, Ate Ime."
I could only imagine the surprised gasp of Ate Ime. I heard heavy footsteps and the handle twisted with a force but she wasn't able to open them. The footsteps retreated. She didn’t knock again.
Mr. Montevalles stared at me and again grabbed my chin. His eyes were secretive. My grip on the bed sheets tightened as if it could help me onc
