Chapter 27

*CORA* “Mrs Godoy.”Someone called from behind me. I glanced back and saw Winnie walking up to me. “I made your favorite red bean cake.Give it a try.”As she spoke,she placed the cake on the table. The color was bright and mouthwatering. With a faint smile,I said.”Thank you,Winnie.Please have a seat and chat with me.I’m really bored sitting here alone.” Winnie smiled back and sat beside me. “Have some cakes too.”I handed the cake to her. She reached out her hand to take it. “Mrs Godoy,you seem to be in a bad recently.You barely eat.”Winnie took a bite of the cake and said,cautiously. “I took over my father’s company and the workload has been quite difficult to cope with.And please,Winnie, just call me Cora.” She frowned.”I can’t.You’re my boss’s wife and…” “Please,Winnie,it’s no big deal.” I didn’t like being called Mrs Godoy anymore because I knew I wasn’t his wife. “Okay then,when it’s just two of us,I’ll call you that.” I nodded. “How many years have you been working for the Godoys.” “More than twenty years.Mr Godoy was about ten or eleven I think when I got employed at his family’s home.When he became a man and wanted go move out,his mother assigned me to be his housekeeper.When I look at him sometimes,I can’t believe how much he’s grown,how much he’s changed.” I stared at her and asked tentatively.”How did he change?” She looked at me as if she should speak. I nodded.”Please tell me.” This was the first time I was having a heart-to-heart conversation with her. “You must know,Mrs…I mean Cora,how hardheaded and difficult he is.I think it has to do with his father’s death.His father passed when he was fifteen.And then his Grandmother had to start training him to take over the family’s business.You know she makes most of the decisions in the family.Plus,his relatives had always been so corny,mean and brutal.It was a tough battle back then on who would replace his father as CEO.There were even attempts made on his life.” My jaw dropped.”Attempts on his life?Because of the business?He was just fifteen?” “Yeah.It was pretty hard for him back then.Him and his father had a strong bond.They were best of friends.Losing him and having to be bullied by relatives was so much on Mr Godoy.I guess that was why he was forced to grow up.So he could look out for himself and his mother.” I sighed,heavily.”I didn’t know of this before.I only heard his father passed away when he was young.” I didn’t want to talk about Tristan anymore so I changed the topic. “Tell me about yourself,Winnie.” She blinked.”Myself?” “Yeah.” “My life’s story might bore you out.” “It won’t.Just tell me.” She took a deep breath and began. “I came from the rural part of town.I got married at an early age.After my husband got sick,he needed a lot of medical fees so I had to work as a nanny in the city.I met Mr Godoy’s mother and she gave me a lot of money when I told her my situation.I became a nanny at the Godoys to make more money and send back home but sadly,my husband passed sway a year after that.We didn’t have any children.I didn’t want to get married again so I just found the satisfaction as working as a nanny.” “Tristan’s mum is mean.I don’t believe she helped you.” Winnie stared at me.”She was a good person.The death of her husband also took a toll on her.I’m not blind,I see how she treats you and it’s bad of her but I believe she just doesn’t want Mr Godoy to ever let his guard down,to ever let their relatives see them as weaklings.I believe that she’s going about it the wrong way.I just want her and Mr Godoy to finally find some peace and happiness.To finally let go of the prolonged pain and anger in their hearts.”Winnie’s face was filled with sadness as the past seemed to be still vivid in her mind. I felt even more respect for her now knowing about her life. “I feel I haven’t hung out with you often.You must have been so bored.” “I’m not.You don’t have to feel bad,Cora.I always feel happy working here.I feel happy doing the house chores.I water the flowers when I have the time.Even if Mr Godoy insisted on the other house staff doing the groceries,I still like to do it myself.I enjoy going to the market.Plus on my free days,I would go visit some relatives of mine.” I smiled at her.”I’m glad you’re happy.You deserve to be.” She suddenly held my hand.”And you deserve to be too,more than should I know.I do not know what you’re going through right now but you’ll overcome it!” Looking at the bright smile on her face,I felt so much better and encouraged. “Do you like pets,Winnie?” She nodded. “Let me buy you a Labrador puppy.It’s smart.You can walk the dog in the evenings.You can also get to know other people who keeps dogs.Maybe you can become friends with them.” “Well…I’m afraid Mr Godoy might not agree.I don’t really know if he likes pets.” I could see that she wanted one. “Don’t worry.I’ll talk to him about it.” And then she smiled brightly at me. I sighed and stared at the night sky wondering if Tristan was still with Phoebe. He probably was and his love for her must have deepened after what happened today.