Chapter 5

 It has been several weeks since the lawyer and the heiress started their secret relationship. Their refuge was a small house outside the city where they built their dreams together; the place where only themselves exists. Both knew that it would be hard for Cassandra's family to accept the lawyer because of his poor background. One night, while they were talking about their respective work at their offices, Imman mentioned about his father, who was a convicted criminal.

     The heiress was surprised and a bit disappointed but she tried to hide it from her lover, not wanting any misunderstanding to come between them. At first, she thought that she could not go on with their relationship but she changed her mind when she was introduced to the poor old man. One sunny morning, the lawyer brought her to his father's abode.

     They were welcomed wholeheartedly by the old man, which in return, was given hugs and kisses by the couple. The heiress was surprised how Imman's father lived a simple and ordinary life. Nothing much could be seen inside but a small sofa, a chair, and a small table on the corner. What caught her attention was the pictures of young Imman with his parents. She admired how pretty his mother was which resembled the lawyer very well.

     "Please sit down, Cassandra! I am sorry that you have to sit on my old sofa. I will bring you something to eat, okay?"

     The young woman gave him her sweetest smile and replied, "It's okay sir! Your house is neat and simple and I like it, do not worry about me."

     When Imman heard how respectful the heiress was to his father, he felt proud that he wrapped her in his arms and showered her with kisses which ended when they saw the old man coming back. Both went back to their respective seats and thanked Armando for a refreshing drink. During their visit, the old man essayed his story inside the prison; his miseries and pain, and the longing he had for his son. Teary-eyed Cassandra could not understand how people would do something abominable to others just to escape from the law and let others pay for their crimes. 

     Used to a life of luxury, the heiress tried hard to sympathize with the old man which made the lawyer happier and contented. Time passed by quickly and they forgot that they had to go back to the city. They bid the old man farewell and promised to come back again.

     One night, while both lying on the bed, Cassandra told Imman that she wanted to introduce him to her father, the way he did with his own. "Dad is a good and sensible man, honey! Do not be afraid. He will understand that his daughter had fallen in love with a smart, kind, and handsome man. I also decided to inform mom to cancel my wedding. I will never get married, unless it's you, my dear!"

     Imman was fortunate enough to hear those words from the woman whom he loved the most. His heart already knew and found its owner and just like Cassandra, will never marry someone unless it's her. "What if he rejects our relationship, my dear? I have doubts that your dad will ever accept me - a lawyer who came from a poor family and whose father was convicted of murder..."

     Instead of replying, the heiress wrapped her arms around him, kissed him on the lips, then whispered to his ears, "I love you so much Imman! I do not care what my father would say. All I need is you...I don't think I can live without you!"

     The sun is just beginning to rise when the couple woke up. Both wanted to go home quickly to change and get ready for work. Cassandra reminded Imman that the coming weekend will be Jane's wedding, her cousin's.

     "You must come, dear. All rich and famous people will be there to greet the couple but we must not do things that will make them suspect us. Let us wait for the right time to reveal our relationship, okay dear?"

     "As you wished, my queen!"

     On the table where Imman prepared their breakfast, Cassandra told him about an incident that happened twenty years ago. "Honey! Don't you know that when we were both six years old, my cousin went missing and my mom looked everywhere and found her standing in front of an emaciated boy, who was shabby in appearance(as described by my mom), eating a piece of bread which she gave him? She told us when we were already inside the car that she pitied the young boy for he looked hungry and sad."

     Imman was surprised to hear a story similar to him when he was just seven years old. He had never forgotten that day - alone in the park, raining, his clothes were soaked with water and then came a little girl who gave him a small plastic bag where the bread could be found.

     Out of curiosity, he asked, "Is she wearing a blue dress with a red bonnet and was holding an umbrella that day? Did you remember the little girl telling you that the young boy got scared and ran away but she persisted and called him back?"

     "Well, it was a long time ago, but I do recollect that day because I was annoyed at her for letting us wait for a long time. She did that but how come you asked, do you know that boy?"

     "Very well honey...for it was me! Your cousin was thoughtful and kind. I would like to thank her again for showing kindness to a poor and starving boy. That day, my father got arrested and jailed and I was roaming around with a bundle in my arms at the park, then suddenly your cousin took pity on me. God bless her!"

     The heiress gazed at him and replied, "Yes honey...she really is a nice and thoughtful person. Don't you know that I even told her not to trust people, even kids because she may become a victim of kidnapping? I am sorry honey, I thought badly of you, please forgive me. How time quickly passed and punished me - loving you madly and not letting anybody take you away from me."

    Imman just laughed, assuring her that nothing would change for his love for her is immense, it is beyond the abyss, that would remain for eternity. After breakfast, they went home separately and promised to see each other again the following weekend.

     Much has changed in Cassandra's attitude. When she was younger, she used to dislike conversing with people not belonging to her society but when she started dating Imman, that way of thinking changed tremendously. The lawyer told her that he had been sponsoring young orphans on their education, aside from helping homeless people whom he met in the past. He also reminded her, during their nights together, that poor people have the same rights as rich people. Poverty is not a disease or something that other people should dislike for not all poor people have no pride or dignity. Others worked so hard honestly and diligently and to judge them is a big mistake. All of these words of wisdom, she kept to her heart for she knew that the lawyer meant them well.

     Every time she remembers his past, her admiration for him grew more and more. For the heiress, no man in this world would replace him in her heart. After a few hours of driving, she came home and was surprised that her dad didn't go to his office yet. 

     She went inside and greeted her dad. The chairman smiled and asked her where she had spent the night. She lied by saying that she was with one of her friends. Though she is always with Imman during weekends, she goes home late but not last night when the lawyer told her to stay with him the whole night. Her father did not elaborate more on the subject but instead, he asked her about the incoming wedding. "Are you really glad that you are marrying Greg or you are just obeying me and your mom? Tell me, dear, do you like him?'

     Startled and a little bit confused, Cassandra could not answer her dad truthfully for she knows that he would be very angry so she lied and told him that she liked him and the wedding will go on as planned.

     "Dad, is there anything that you wanted to tell me? Is there something bothering you?" asking her father to know if he discovered her lies which she was trying hard to hide.

     "Nothing my dear, it's just that I'm concerned about you. Being a married woman and working in the company at the same time is not that easy especially if you will have children. Thinking how things would change is making me worry a little bit since you are my daughter, I know that you are going to make it well, right?"

     "Of course daddy, that's for sure. Well dad, if you excuse me, I would like to go to the shower and afterward go to the office. Do you want to wait for me so we could go together?"

     "No, my dear, I'll go ahead now, sorry for taking some of your time. See you at the office!"

     Left alone at their big mansion, the heiress quickly prepared herself to work. Cassandra is the head of the finance department of Agustin Food and Beverages Company, a multi-million company that has been established by her late grandfather some twenty years back.

     The heiress, who had come a little bit late at the office, called her cousin and asked if she could spare her some time in the afternoon, during lunchtime. Jane agreed to meet her at a restaurant near the office building. Busy as she was for the preparation of her wedding, she could not say no to her cousin. 

     Entering the restaurant, Jane was wearing a simple red dress with a shade of blue and a pair of inexpensive shoes which she bought at a shopping mall. Cassandra, on the other hand, was wearing designer clothes that she even bought abroad and a very expensive pair of shoes which also came from another country. Seeing her cousin coming in her direction, she stood up and greeted her warmly. "I'm so glad to see you, Cass, how are you? Auntie Amelia told me just the other day that the preparation for your wedding is going smoothly. As for myself, I am almost done with the preparation though I'm so exhausted but happy at the same time."

     "I am glad to hear that, Jane. Seeing your enthusiasm makes me feel good too. By the way, I want to tell you something, the reason why I want to see you. Please promise never to tell anyone my secret, especially my mom..."

     Jane could sense the anxiety that her cousin was feeling. She could also see through her face that something was bothering her. She was about to ask her cousin about it when the latter spoke first which surprised her. "Do not worry about me. It is not that big a problem, but it concerns my future."

     "What is it, cousin? Don't tell me that you have changed your mind and decided not to marry Greg and worst, there is someone else, which is which, my dear Cass?"

     "Both are true actually. I'm going to explain everything, please listen well. You are the only person that I know I could trust."

     Her cousin nodded and she began her story. She told her about their first meeting where a homeless person scared her to the point of her trembling inside the car and the second where he rescued her from a drunkard who almost assaulted her. "He is a lawyer Jane. He is the nicest and kindest person I know and I love him so much. Though he came from a poor family and had a convicted father who was wrongly accused, still the feeling I have for him is so deep...like an abyss that goes beyond...like forever..!"

     Jane solicited a little laugh and a tender smile, she could not believe that she would ever hear those words from a cousin whom she knows ever since they were children. "You are that in love with him despite his family background? Cassandra, your parents will never agree with your relationship, especially uncle.."

     "I know Jane! That's why I'm begging you to keep it a secret for the time being. Dad will get furious and God knows what he would do. He wants me to marry a billionaire in the person of Greg but what can I do, the one that I love is a lawyer!"

     Jane could feel her sincerity and honesty through her words that she did not contradict her opinion. She could feel how love had changed her cousin becoming a better person, even accepting someone who was the opposite of her station in life. Jane tried to change the topic of their conversation when Cassandra remembered an incident that happened twenty years ago involving the young lawyer. She began by asking her cousin if she remembered giving food to a young boy one rainy morning which her cousin answered positively.

     "How could I forget that young boy, cousin. He looked so scared and was soaked with water, aside from the fact that he looked very hungry. I pitied him so much that I gave him what I had that day. But why did you ask? Did you happen to meet him, by accident?"

     Jane's eyes grew bigger with excitement, waiting for her cousin's reply. "That boy you helped before is now a hotshot lawyer, my boyfriend Imman. I'm going to introduce him to you before your wedding happens. He remembered you well, Jane, and was grateful for the kindness you have shown him though he was a stranger. Small world, right? Who would have thought that I will meet and fall in love with him? I remember accusing him as a member of a gang that kidnaps children!"

    "Ha!..ha!...ha!..you are right! Small world indeed." Both laughed as they reminisced that day and how they almost fought. Jane was glad to hear that her cousin finally found someone that she loves but bothered at the same time, for she knew that her family would never a man like him.

     "Please keep it a secret for now. Later on, I am going to tell them to cancel my wedding to Greg, instead, I would like to marry Imman and be with him forever."

     "Do not worry cousin, I will keep the secret safe with me, By the way, is he going to the wedding, I'd like to see him celebrate with us on that special occasion."

     "Let us meet tomorrow Jane. I will bring him with me and you will be the judge why I have fallen deeply with him. He is the first and the only man I would want to be with for the rest of my life though I know my parents would object with my happiness!"

     After eating lunch and a little more conversation regarding Jane's wedding, they both went their separate ways, promising each other that they would come to see each other again the following day.

     It was nine in the evening the next day when the cousins met. Attorney Gonzales was met for the first time, after twenty years, by Jane. They were both glad to meet again and the lawyer thanked her endlessly. 

     Jane saw why the reason her cousin fell in love with the lawyer - he was kind and courteous throughout their conversation and had kept both of them laughing. Aside from his attractive appearance, the lawyer exuded charisma which made him a likable person.

     After the sumptuous dinner, Jane bid farewell and once again invited him to her wedding which he answered affirmatively, promising too that she will keep their secret from their family. Cassandra went home not after the tight embraces and hugs from the lawyer. She promised to call him back when she got home which she fulfilled, to the delight of her lover.