MARA I stood on top of the stairs, with my hands covering my mouth and tears streaming down my face, still shocked at what had happened. "What happened? I heard you scream." Sir Jayson rushed beside me. He looks like he just stepped out of the bathroom because his hair is still dripping. "Grand....grandpa!!! I cried, pointing down the stairs. He followed where I was pointing with his eyes, and his eyes widened. "Grandpa!!! He screamed and ran downstairs. The other helpers and Nana followed, all shocked at the scene in front of them. "Prepare the car." Sir Jayson screamed, then picked up Grandpa. "Dean, you carry Loren." Sir Jayson said and ran outside. I just stayed in my place, still shocked by what happened. How could she do this to Grandpa? Why does she want to kill him? *** I sat outside the operating room with Nana, Dean, and Sir Jayson. We've been here since two hours ago, but the doctor hasn't come out yet. My tears keep streaming down my face. I wonder why I still have
JAYSON I watched as Mara ran out of the door crying. For the first time in my life, I laid a hand on a woman, and it didn't settle inside me, especially since it was Mara, the girl I felt familiar with the first time I laid my eyes on her when she was still working at the diner near my office. She looked familiar, but I couldn't recall where I met her before. It seemed like I knew her way back, but no matter how I tried to recall who she was in my memories, I couldn't remember. Since I saw her, she has never left my mind. I always see her smile and the face I saw in my dreams. She always smiles and is very gentle and kind, especially to Grandpa. She takes care of Grandpa like her own grandfather. She quickly got Grandpa's affection, which didn't happen with his previous caregivers. Grandpa always distanced himself from his caregiver, but with Mara, it looks like he is with his granddaughter. He treated Mara how he treated me. He's so caring and protective of her and always looks
MARA I run out of Loren's room crying. No one laid a hand on me before. It was the first time, and it hurt so much because the person who did it was the person I never expected could hurt me. I always saw him as a gentle, kind, and caring person who would never hurt someone else—a person who I started to admire or maybe more. I was thrown on the ground when I bumped into someone, snapping me out of my thoughts. I cried more, and I stayed on the floor sobbing. "Are you alright, miss?" A male voice asked. I looked up, and a man was crouching, looking at me worriedly. "I'm so sorry, sir. I'm not looking where I am going. I whispered, wiping my tears. "It's okay. Come on, stand up," he said, held my arm, and pulled me up. "Thank you, sir. And I'm sorry again." I bowed my head at him and resumed walking. I went to the ICU where Grandpa was. I want to see him for the last time before I leave, and I'm hoping the doctor will let me see him. When I arrived at the ICU, I asked a nurse
JAYSON I'm sure she left the mansion already because she's the reason why Grandpa fell off the stairs," I said, fist-balling beside me. "What? Why? Sir Phil adored her so much that during my visit, there she was the only person he kept talking about. Jane asked, surprised. I am surprised, too, because I saw how close she is to Grandpa. "Maybe she just wants Grandpa to trust her so that she can do whatever reason why she took Grandpa to her home when Grandpa was lost. Maybe she has a hidden reason for doing it from the beginning. Maybe she lied about not knowing Grandpa the first time she met him." Loren said, who just woke up? I ponder her words, and she has a point. I quickly fist my phone from my pocket to cheek Grandpa's money in the bank. I check his bank statement, and my eyes widen to see a series of withdrawals he made. "Look at this." I showed my phone to Jane, and she was surprised as well. "Why does he have a lot of withdrawals? Where did he use all the money?" She a
Jayson My smile never left my lips. I left the room because a doctor came to check on Loren and took a specimen from her for a DNA test. Uncle already gives him, and he visits Grandpa and goes home to rest. He said he would come back when the DNA result came. I can't blame him if he was cold to Loren. He doesn't even hug her or talk to her except for one time when he warns her and tells her that he wants a DNA test. He was right when he said Loren doesn't have any similarities to Aunt Aria, maybe because she has already grown up. I'm sure his treatment of her will change once the DNA test results come back positive. I went to the ICU to visit Grandpa. I'm so excited to tell him that I found Ara. Grandpa adored Ara so much back then. He always bought and read books for her, and Ara would look at the picture in the book with wide eyes despite her still not knowing how to read. She is so sweet. She always hugs and kisses Grandpa and says, " I love you, Grandpa." She is very adorab
MARA The following morning, I received a text message from Cassy telling me that there was no necklace in my previous room, as well as Grandpa, so here I am now in front of the hospital. I went inside with my eyes, looking around, making sure that Sir Jayson, Nana, and Dean were not around. I first went to the information desk and asked where their lost and found bulletin board was. Someone might have seen my necklace and surrendered it to the hospital staff. I'm hoping so because that necklace is very important to me. I quickly went to the lost and found bulletin board when the hospital staff told me where it was. I was disappointed to see my necklace was not written there. "Where did I lose it? Maybe I dropped it somewhere when I was heading to Rina's 0lace." I sighed sadly, knowing the hope of finding my necklace would be zero. I sighed and made my way to the ICU, hoping that the nurse there would let me in, and Sir Jayson was not present. I gasped when I was near the ICU. I
JAYSON"How's Grandpa?" Loren asked, worried. The doctor said she could return home today, but I don't want her to leave the hospital too soon. I want her to stay here for at least a week. I'm worried some complications will occur if she goes home more quickly. "Still the same. Nothing changes. " I replied sadly. "It's all that woman's fault. If she doesn't push me, this thing won't happen to Grandpa. She's a devil. She said, eyes now brimmed with tears."Don't cry. It's bad for you," I whispered, embracing Loren. "Don't worry. It'll ensure she receives the proper punishment for what she did. "Do that, babe. That girl is a swindler. If you let her roam freely, she might do it to others.""Don't worry, Jane already filed a case against her, and the authorities will issue an arrest warrant for her tomorrow." She nodded, smiling, but her eyes were still misty with tears. "Let's get married on Thursday," I whispered. She looked at me and nodded, smiling. "Let's just do a civil wedding
MARACassy called earlier and informed me that Sir Jayson and Loren plan to have a civil wedding this Thursday. I felt sad when I heard it because I had a feeling for him, and despite what he did to me, that feeling was still inside my heart.I was inside the twin room reading the book from Grandpa even though l had already read this story a lot of times when I was younger. I still reread it, not because of the story, it was because of the rabbit that he drew. It makes me smile seeing the cute rabbit on top of the letters. I was on the last page when I saw him draw four rabbits on that page, and I frowned when it formed my name. My name, why... I gasped and quickly opened the book on the first page. I picked up my bag and took a pen and paper and wrote every letter that had a rabbit on top of it, and after a few minutes, I got all the later. At first, it was hard to read because there was no space in between, but a minute after, I finally got it, and I gasped. I quickly shove the
EPILOGUE GIAN I smiled as everyone enjoyed Gia's seventh birthday with my pregnant, beautiful wife beside me. Mom, Dad, and Grandpa entertain our guests while Sander, Christian, and Gia entertain the children. I cannot leave Lyza because she is already nine months pregnant and needs help every time she moves from one place to another. We will have our baby boy soon, and Gia was so excited to meet her brother. I chuckled as I watched Dustin chasing their three-year-old daughter around. Dina is a hyper child. You won't see her staying in one place. She's always running or jumping. Christine and Dustin got married when Christian turned two years old and a year after Christine got pregnant. The twins Alice and Ana are also present with their husbands and children. Ana has two children, a boy and a girl. Annalise is five years old, and her brother Adan is two years old. Annalise is Gia's best friend, together with Christian and Alex. Alex is Alice's five-year-old son, a timid boy,
GIAN"Sissy, Yan! Yan! I groaned and covered my ears with a pillow. It's only six in the morning, but Sander is already knocking at the door. "Mommy and Daddy are still sleeping. Everyone is still sleeping. Let's go to the park ourselves and Lily. Come on, uncle. " I heard our six-year-old daughter whine. "I told you to stop calling me uncle. I'm only five years older than you. " Sander said, and I could hear the annoyance in his voice. "But you're my mommy brother, so you are my uncle.""I feel old every time you call me uncle. Just call me by my name. It's fine with me. ""But mommy and daddy will get mad at me. They will think I don't respect you if I only call you by your name.""Just tell your parents I asked you to call me by name. So please stop calling me uncle, okay? ""In one condition." I chuckled. Sander was always fooled by Gia when it come to not calling him Uncle. "What condition? ""Let's go to the park, please. ""It's still early, and your parents will get mad at
GIANAfter a week of my return, Dad called a press conference. We hid my return from the public, and this would be my first appearance. We held the press con at the Fernandez Corporation main building, and all media outlets sent their representatives. The function hall is packed with reporters anticipating what Mr. Jason Fernandez wants to announce. There is some speculation that he might announce that I'm already dead after almost a year of searching, and some speculate that it is about the company. I watched in the waiting room with Lyza and our little Princess as Dad and Grandpa talked to the media and answered their question about the company, waiting for my turn. When the press started to ask questions about me, Dad signaled to Inspector Ronald, who was standing on the sideline guarding the people around him together with his men.Inspector Ronald nodded, and he came inside the waiting room. "It's time, Mr. Ramirez. " "Okay, Love, wait for Inspector Ronald to escort you to joi
LYZAThe following day, we returned home. Christine and her mother returned to their home together with Dustin. He doesn't want to separate from Christine and his daughter anymore. He was scared that something might happen to them if he wasn't beside them. Aunty Amy supported his decision, and after Christine and her mother coop up with what happened to them, they will talk about their marriage. I'm happy for them, and I hope Christine and her mother recover from the trauma that Maximi caused them. I smiled as I watched Gian's sleep. We are currently in our room because we didn't sleep properly last night. Gian was sleeping while I was afraid to close my eyes. I'm worried that once I open my eyes, Gian won't be here anymore, and everything will turn out just a dream. I caressed his face and pressed my lips on his cheek. He lost so much weight and was pale. He looks like a fragile thing right now, which I need to handle with care—gone my hero and my pillar, Gian. The eyes that were
GIAN I listened as my mother narrated what happened in the past and how she and my father suffered all these years in Maximo's hands. I hated her so much without knowing the suffering she went through. I believe what people told me, why my mother left me, and Dean didn't correct the lies the people said and let me feel them. I hate to know that the man who I love and saw as my father is the reason why I was separated from my family. I wanted to hate Dean, but I couldn't because he loved me as his son, and he provided me the things I needed, and he loved me unconditionally. He didn't lack as a father. "I'm so sorry, Gian." My mother said, snapping me out of my thoughts. Her eyes were brimming with tears as she looked at me. "Your father and I didn't mean to leave you in Mr. Fernandez's care, but we thought you would have a better life than being with us. When Dean died in prison, that's when we found where you are, and we found out that Mr. Fernandez took you in. During that time
GIANAround four in the afternoon, we left for the Cabin. My mother and Christine ride in Dustin's car while I go with Daddy Jason and Grandpa Carlos. I know my mother wants to talk to me, but it can wait later after I meet my wife and my daughter. I'm dying to meet them. I feel saddened that I wasn't there beside Lyza during her pregnancy and when she gave birth. I missed a lot of time being with her and my daughter. When the car entered the gate of the Cabin, my heart pounded in excitement. I could already see Sander, Amelia, Tommy, and another kid I don't know chasing each other. When they noticed the car approaching, they stopped running and waited for us. When the car stopped beside them, Sander went to the driver's side, waiting for Dad to step out of the vehicle. He looked a lot bigger the last time I saw him."Dada! Grandpa," Sander grinned and hugged Dad's legs. "Hello, little Prince. Where's your Sissy?" "She is inside the cabin with Moma, taking care of Gia and the baby
DUSTINMaximo was screaming as he struggled from the tight grip of Inspector Ronald's men, who were dragging him and his men out of the mansion. "Inspector Ronald, thank you for helping us. " Sir Jason said. Gian stuck beside Sir Carlos as if afraid to be separated from them again. "Asking us for help is the right decision, and it helps us a lot as well. Finally, we can put Maximo behind bars after all these years. Ma'am, can you come with us, as well as you, Doctor Alfred, to the police station? You are our witness, so we can imprison Maximo until he rots inside. " "Okay, and I will tell you all his illegal dealings and where he keeps his goods. "Christine's mother said while Doctor Alfred nodded. "Doctor Alfred, thank you so much for saving me. I know what you went through, and if you need my help, don't hesitate to tell me. I owe you my life. " Gian held Doctor Alfred's hand, face full of gratitude. "It's my work, and I did it willingly, but Maximo just in prison me without giv
GIANEarly in the morning, we left Tinay Island. I glanced at Christine, who was stuck beside me like glue as if I were her salvation, and my mother, sitting on my other side, looked so tense. Maximo is sitting in front of us, a smile not leaving his lips. Doctor Alfred is seated behind us with two of Maximo's men. We are in a boat heading to the City. I knew everything that was happening around me. I was in a coma, but I heard all their voices. Christine and my mother is my constant visitor during that time, and they are always crying, begging me to wake up. "Now, I know what happened back then. Dean is not my real father but my kidnapper. My mom told me everything while I was in a coma, but I couldn't bring myself to hate Papa Dean, who raised and loved me as if I were his real son. My parents didn't hate Dean as well because if he hadn't kidnapped me, I would live like Christine, my sister, or Maximo already killed me. I don't have an amnesia. Christine was right. It's better t
DUSTINWe went to the cabin Friday afternoon. Everyone is excited except Sir Carlos, Sir Jason, and I. We set up four tents outside the cabin for the adults while the children, Maam Mara, and Lyza will stay in the Cabin tonight. Everyone is laughing, helping each other prepare our food for dinner. While we are busy here, Inspector Ronald is also busy in the mansion preparing his men for Maximo's arrival tomorrow morning. They will wear a civilian uniform and post as guards, but some will stay hidden. We found out that Maximo had a record of selling illegal drugs before, but he billed out. The authorities have been on his tail these past years, but they couldn't find evidence that could put him behind bars. A few years ago, the authorities intercepted a massive shipment of illegal drugs. Someone tipped them about the shipment, and the informant told the authorities that it belonged to Maximo, but someone took the blame, and Maximo got out of it unscathed. And the authorities are ea