Chapter 4984
Aitana continued, “Mrs. Legare once asked me to take care of her so Joaquin could focus on work and not have to worry about her. She said she was concerned her son would get too tired, and since I was interning at that hospital, I could look after her during my shifts without it affecting my work.”
She let out a faint sigh. “At that time, Joaquin hadn’t confessed his feelings to me yet, and I didn’t even realize he had any. I honestly thought he saw me only as a junior. So when his mother made that request, I was stunned. I never imagined she’d ask something like that. I was interning and working; I already had too much on my plate. How could I possibly take care of her while doing my job?”
“Of course, I refused,” she said calmly. “Then she accused me of being inconsiderate toward Joaquin and disrespectful to my elders. She even said that despite my well-off family, I hadn’t been raised properly.”
Aitana shook her head at the memory. “That’s when I realized she had completely misunderstood my relationship with Joaquin. I told her clearly that I was just his junior, not his girlfriend. Even if I were, it wouldn’t be my place to take care of her—she’s his mother. If she’s ill and hospitalized, it’s only natural for her son to look after her. Filial piety isn’t something you can outsource.”
She smiled faintly, though her tone carried a trace of irony. “After I explained, she just smiled awkwardly and said it was all a misunderstanding. I didn’t think much of it at the time—I really believed she’d just misread the situation. But later, when I realized Joaquin’s feelings for me, I understood that his parents had known all along. They treated me like a future daughter-in-law before I even knew what was going on.”
Her voice softened, tinged with reflection. “They wanted to keep me under control—take advantage of the fact that I was young, inexperienced, and just entering the workforce. They wanted me to lower myself, to never rely on my family background or outshine Joaquin.”
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