Unable to reach him, Perla lay down, her mind racing. She needed to find a way to prove her innocence, and for that, she had to come up with a solid plan.
“I’m sorry, darling. I told you time and again that small-town girl wasn’t right for you,” Kira scolded, feigning concern as she comforted Frederick.
“Don’t call her that, please. I still can’t believe she hasn’t changed, but I love her,” Frederick snapped, pouring himself a drink.
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This woman deceives you, uses you, steals from you, and you’re still defending her—saying you love her? It’s unbelievable.”
Fearing that her schemes with Frederick’s mother might not go as planned, Kira decided to stir the pot further.
“That woman you’re defending is blaming your mother. I went to pick up your things, and she insisted that your mother is behind all of this. Honestly, I don’t even know what she meant by that.”
Frederick’s eyes widened in shock, and he slammed his glass down, his anger flaring even more.
“I can’t believe how far she’ll go. I can’t fathom someone like Perla having my child,” he revealed, leaving Kira stunned.
“No, of course not. Thank God I uncovered what she was up to before she could get pregnant,” Kira said triumphantly, thinking she had acted just in time.
Frederick ran a hand through his hair and looked at her, making her realize the truth.
“She’s pregnant?” Kira asked, alarmed. “How could you be so foolish, Frederick? Her intentions were so obvious. She’s going to get her way.”
“Not a chance. I won’t let her have this child. I won’t let her plans succeed, Kira.”
That was exactly what Kira wanted to hear. Caught up in the thrill of achieving her goal, she leaned in and kissed Frederick, but his reaction wasn’t what she had hoped for.
“What are you doing, Kira? Why did you kiss me? You and I are like siblings. I hope this was just a mistake. I can’t see you as anything more than a friend, and you should know that.”
“I’m sorry, Frederick, but I don’t see you that way. I love you. I’ve felt this for a long time. I don’t want to lose our friendship, but I could help you forget her,” she confessed, leaving Frederick stunned.
Confused, he thought she must be joking, but Kira insisted that even his mother knew about her feelings. She offered to help him move on from Perla. Unable to process it all, Frederick left the room, frustrated by the realization that the woman he loved had used him. It was equally hard to believe that his lifelong friend, whom he saw as a sister, had just confessed her love for him.
Frederick ended up at a bar, downing a few drinks before deciding to head home. Perla had finally fallen asleep, but his noisy arrival woke her. She adjusted her prosthetic and went to check on him.
“Frederick, you’re drunk. You shouldn’t have been drinking. Let me help you to bed,” she offered gently.
“Stop pretending. You can drop the act with me, Perla. There’s no need to keep faking that you love me. You’ve already got the money,” he slurred in his drunken state.
“No, I’m not pretending. I love you, and I’ve truly changed. You’ve seen it. I’m innocent, Frederick.”
“You’re shameless. But I want you to know you’ve succeeded. I love you, Perla. You don’t deserve it, but you’ve made me fall madly in love with you,” he said, leaning on her arm for support.
Perla tried to help him lie down, but he pulled her close. He told her how much he wished she truly loved him and that they could have had this child together. He clung to her, stroking her hair as he rested his head against her belly. Perla tried to protest, but Frederick looked up, unable to hold back, and they ended up making love.
Frederick fell asleep, and Perla felt a fleeting sense of happiness and security. It took her a few minutes to drift off, but she did so with the hope that this would fix everything—that the love Frederick felt for her would once again outweigh the lies sown against her.
Perla woke up before Frederick and was in the kitchen preparing breakfast to help ease his hangover.
“Get ready to go to the clinic and take care of the abortion before it’s too late,” he said coldly as he poured himself some juice.
“Is this a joke?” she asked, looking at him with a glimmer of hope that he’d say it was.
Frederick made it clear he didn’t want the child and argued that he had a right to decide. His decision was that the baby shouldn’t be born. Perla stared at him, bewildered and heartbroken. She knew the evidence pointed to her guilt, but even if it were true, the baby wasn’t to blame.
Shocked, Perla retreated to the bedroom. She knew Frederick’s stubborn nature—he wouldn’t back down. He followed her.
“Once the abortion is done, you can leave. And I hope I never have to see you again after that, Perla.”
“What happened to the man I fell in love with? The Frederick I knew? How can you talk about ending our child’s life with such calm, such coldness?”
“I guess I learned it from you. You’ve got no right to complain, not when you’re the deceitful, scheming person you are. I’m not going to let you get away with this. I’m sorry for the baby—I know it’s not at fault—but it doesn’t deserve a mother like you. It’s better if it’s never born.”
Perla could hardly believe her past had led her to this moment. As if losing her leg hadn’t been punishment enough, she collapsed onto the bed. Seeing her there, Frederick left to arrange the medical appointment. While he was gone, Perla gathered a few belongings and, with no clear idea of where to go, fled the house as quickly as she could.
She hailed a taxi, and as the driver cruised aimlessly, she remembered Mrs. Morffi. Though the woman had been harsh and rude to her in the past, Perla knew she had a good heart and might offer help. With no other options—Frederick was furious and determined to end her child’s life, something she wouldn’t allow—Perla made her way to Mrs. Morffi’s home.
Arriving at her destination, Perla felt both fear and shame, but her child’s life mattered more than the crushing disappointment she felt from the man she loved. She was announced, and Mrs. Morffi welcomed her with the warmth and kindness she always showed to Enid’s family.
After chatting about Enid and little Annia—who was not only Ivanov’s pride and joy but also Mrs. Morffi’s soft spot—she asked Perla to explain the reason for her visit. Though Perla had tried to remain composed, she couldn’t hold back her tears as she poured out her story to the older woman.
“I’ll take care of this, my dear. I expected this kind of behavior from Irina, but from Frederick? I’m deeply disappointed in him.”
“You don’t need to do anything. I just wanted to ask if I could stay with you for a few days while I figure out what to do. Mrs. Morffi, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell Robert or Enid about this.”
“Of course, you can stay, dear. And don’t worry, I’ll talk to Frederick. I’ll make him see reason.”
Perla received a call from Frederick, which Mrs. Morffi answered, arranging a meeting to speak with him and try to bring him to his senses. After the call, Perla went to rest. Meanwhile, Mrs. Morffi contacted Irina, Frederick’s mother. She knew the extent of Irina’s schemes and made it clear she wouldn’t let her get away with them. A few hours later, Frederick arrived, visibly angry and demanding to see Perla.
“You know you’re like a son to me, but don’t come into my house with that tone, Frederick,” Mrs. Morffi reprimanded, addressing his lack of respect.
“I’m sorry. You’re like a mother to me, and you know that. But I won’t let you interfere in this. Where’s Perla?”
“Perla isn’t going anywhere with you, Frederick. Nor will she be getting an abortion—not while I’m alive.”
“I’m the father, and I have a right to decide. I don’t want her to have this child. A child of mine doesn’t deserve a mother like her. I can’t believe you’ve let yourself be fooled. You know her. You know what she’s capable of.”
“The only one being fooled here is you, Frederick. That girl has changed, and she loves you—you know it. Don’t let a misunderstanding lead you to make mistakes you’ll regret. Give her a chance to explain herself.”
Frederick looked at Mrs. Morffi with frustration, struggling to believe that a woman like her could be deceived by Perla. He recounted all the events that had transpired, explaining why it was impossible for him to trust Perla.
“Why do you assume I’m guilty but refuse to believe that Kira and your mother are behind all of this? They don’t want me by your side,” Perla defended, stepping closer to Mrs. Morffi for support.