MARU'S POV
Today is Mara's discharge from the hospital but our daughter Tanya will need to stay in the hospital for now.
As per her doctor, our baby can't still breathe on her own, so she is still dependent on the incubator.
Before we go home, Mara and I decided to visit baby Tanya first.
"Baby Tanya, mom's here. As per the doctor, I can go home now but we can't bring you yet with us. You still need to stay here to be treated."
Mara said while weeping.
I wanted to go near her, to hold and comfort her but I don't know what stops me from doing that.
After our heated argument with James, she starts to ignore me again. She always acted cold and emotionless. She's colder now compare to when we were in college.
The most painful part is, that she's only like that to me. She treated everyone the same, especially James. And I must admit that every time I see her smile whenever he's with James, it breaks my heart into pieces.
I can't blame her for acting like that. It's all my fault. What happened to our child is all my fault.
"Don't worry baby, mom will visit you every day until I can finally bring you home with me."
"Be strong baby okay? Mom loves you so so much."
After her talk with our daughter, she wiped her tears and start fixing herself.
She looked at me.
"Let's go." She only told me.
She's back with her cold treatment. We were silent the whole trip.
"Welcome home!" Manang biding welcomes us.
I can see the confusion on Mara's face.
"Manang Biding will stay here with us. Now that the baby is here, we will be needing some help, especially in house chores." I explained to her.
"Good afternoon Manang Biding!" She greeted her respectfully.
"Good afternoon too, Mara. It's nice to finally meet you. I heard so much about you. Your husband keeps on telling me things about you." Her brows creased and she looks at me.
"Manang Biding is one of our house helpers. You were not able to meet her because she arrived when the time that James and Manang Lucy left the house. You also stop coming into our house at that time." I told her.
"But still, why did I meet her just now?" She asked with confusion.
"Manang Biding ask for an indefinite leave because of family matters. She just came back last week to the mansion. She came back almost the same day with Manang Lucy and James."
She nodded and smile at Manang. "It's nice to meet you Manang."
I smile at myself when it looks like they are getting along well.
I treated Manang Biding like my mother. She's the person with whom I used to open up about Mara. What I felt about her.
If there is someone who can testify how much I love Mara, that will be Manang Biding.
"Okay you guys go back to your room and I will start to prepare your dinner."
I smile at her and nodded.
I assist Mara as we went to our room. When we came back to our room, she returns to her cold treatment again.
I heaved a heavy sigh. "Are you feeling okay? Do you need anything?"
"Nothing. I want to rest now." She said coldly.
Then she went to our bed and lay down.
I sorted our things first before I left her in our room.
When I went out of the room, I decided to visit the room we prepared for Baby Tanya. I smile as I am looking at this room. Mara and I fix this for our child.
"Baby you don't know how excited I am to bring you here. Sorry if we can't bring you home with us today. Sorry if you need to stay in the hospital for now. Dad loves you so so much. I wanted to hold you and carry you. I just hope that when the time has come, and we can bring you here, your mom will be back to how she used to be."
"I don't want you to think like your mother, to perceive our family like how she perceives her family. I want you to see our family as a normal and loving one because if you will just ask me, I love you and your mom so so much." I wiped my tears and decided to go down.
I went straight to the kitchen when I smell the dish that Manang Biding cooks.
When I saw Manang I immediately hug her.
"I miss you Manang," I said sweetly.
"My young master is being sweet now. It looks like you have a problem." She teased me.
I pouted my lips as a response. "I can see that you are cooking Bulalo Manang. I'm sure Mara will love it, that is her favorite dish." I said trying to change the topic.
"Why are you telling that? Is it you who told me to cook this dish because this is your wife's favorite?!" She said teasing me again.
I just scratch my head. "If I were you, I will just sit there because the dish is almost done. We'll talk about your problem after I'm done with my cooking."
I smiled at her and waited for her to be done.
One thing I like about Manang. She's so cool. She's not like our other housekeepers who are strict and serious. She jokes a lot, but she is always there when I needed her.  
After Manang is done with the dish, she went to me.
"I'm done with the dish. And it's still early to have dinner, we still have time to talk about your problem."
I just smiled at her. I don't know how to start.
"What is it, Andrew?"
"James is back and I'm getting scared Manang," I confess to her.
Her brow creased. "What are you scared of?"
I felt my tears were about to come out. TSK this is so gay.
"I'm scared that Mara might leave me because she realized that she's still in love with James and not with me."
Manang did not say anything. She just let me go on with my sentiments.
"You know their story right Manang? I told you about their story. Since we were little, it is James that she likes. She didn't even notice me." My tears started to fall.
"Even when we were in college, and she knew that I am the one arranging for her, she did nothing. She didn't have any reaction at all. She ignored me even more."
"She did not object to the arranged marriage, but she keeps on ignoring me. Before I thought that it was my chance to be close to her, but still it does not affect her."
"She became even closer to other guys than me. I even thought that she is in a relationship with his so-called friend Alex." I hissed.
"What about you? You courted and even got a girlfriend right?" Manang said while she raised her right brow.
"Manang you know the reason why Jana and I did that before. And we did not even last for a month." I tried to defend myself.
"Yes. You did not last for a month, but did the people know that? In other people's eyes, you've been in a long and serious relationship. That you guys just broke up because you needed to marry Mara." Manang said trying to make me understand.
"Mara seems not to mind that before because she felt nothing about me." I reasoned out.
"What about now? If I'm not mistaken. She already told you that she loves you right?"
I nodded in response. "So what are you afraid of?"
"When she said that, James is still not in the picture."
"So you are doubting your wife's love for you is that it Andrew?"
My eyes widen from that realization.
"It's not like that," I said defensively.
She heaved a heavy sigh. "You don't need to feel scared with your brother. Again I'll emphasize this you listen okay? HE IS YOUR BROTHER AND HE LOVES YOU. And if ever you are right that he is in love with your wife, I'm pretty sure that he will respect Mara's choice and decision. Instead of your brother, you should think more of your situation with Jana."
I furrowed. "What does she have to do with our relationship?"
Manang Biding rolled her eyes. "You know what Andrew even if I treat you as my child, I want to punch you sometimes because you think so slowly."
I still look confused.
Manang Biding just laughed at me that made me feel pissed.
"Just like what I said, it's only you, Jana, and me who knew that your relationship with her did not last for a month. In the people's understanding especially with your wife's perception that you and Jana WERE IN A LONG AND SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP. If it's not because you are bound to marry Mara, you will not break up with her."
I just kept quiet and let manang continue what she wants to say.
"In your wife's mind, the person you love is Jana and not her!"
"That's not true! I already told her I love her!"
"Yes, you did. But in your wife's mind that you just learn to love her because you don't have any choice but to love her because you married her."
"But that's a lie! I love her even before I married her! I love her since we were young and I keep on falling deeper with her every day." I said defensively.
"Yes. But did she know that?" She said and smirked.