LYZA"Lyza, are you free after class? I'm going to meet Christine later. Do you want to meet her? " Dustin asked. We are eating lunch together with Avery and Marco. I was amazed by Marco's patience towards Dustin. Dustin always glared and provoked him whenever he said something, but he kept ignoring him. This man has a mile of patience under his sleeves. "Really? I want to meet her. But I need to tell Mom that we are going to be home late later. ""Okay, Christine also wanted to meet you. " He grinned. "I have nothing to do later after school. Can I join you guys? ""No, Dustin quickly replied, glaring at Marco. I feel bad for him. I want to disagree with Dustin, but it is his girlfriend we are going to meet, and he has the right to choose who he brings to meet her."I'm sorry. " I mouthed Marco, and he only smiled and nodded at me. "Can I join? I'm free after school too. My parents are going out for a date later so I'll be alone at home. " Avery asked with hopeful eyes. "Fine, you
LYZAI have one week of school holiday, so I asked my father if I could visit Gian. Dad agreed, but he would come along. He doesn't want me to travel alone, and I don't mind. He also invited Dustin to go with us to see the company he would work for as he graduates. It should be the three of us, but when Sander hears, we will visit Gian. He told Dad he wanted to go. My father said no, but he cried nonstop. My god, he's screaming as if someone is beating him. This kid is a brat sometimes. He kept chanting I want to go. I want to go while following Dad around. And, of course, Dad, who always has a soft heart for his children, finally agreed when he saw that Sander was already sweating and tears and his mucus covered his face. Now, here we are, walking to the exit of John F. Kenney International Airport. Sander was so hyper. He slept the whole flight, and now he's full of energy. "Moma, I want down. ""No, there's a lot of people you might get lost.""I saw Yan, Yan. Yan! Yan! He screa
LYZA I roamed my eyes inside Gian's room, and I smiled to see a frame of our photo on his study table. I picked it up and caressed it. Gian took this picture in the cabin. He was kissing me when he snapped this photo. My eyes were closed while he looked at the camera with his lips pressed on mine. I blushed, remembering it. Gian chuckled when he saw me blushing and glared at him. At least he didn't comment about it. I returned the frame to his study table, and I saw another picture frame. It's our family picture: Dad, Grandpa Carlos, Grandpa Phil, pregnant Mom, me and Gian. I felt sad seeing Grandpa Phil so lively in this photo. I missed him. I sighed and returned it to the table, then stepped out of Gian's room and went to the guest room. The room has a king-size bed, an empty closet and bathroom, and nothing more. I stepped out of the room and went to the living room. Gian has a two-sitter couch and two single-sitter couches, a television mounted on the wall, a DVD player, and a
LYZAAfter dropping Mom and Sander at the G & L building, Gian drove us to Manhattan. He said there is a steak house there that serves the best steak, and he was sure I would love the place. "Have you been here before? I asked when he stopped the car in front of the restaurant, and a ballet boy quickly opened the door on my side. I thanked him and stepped out of the car. Gian handed him the key and led me inside. "No one will cook for me, so I usually eat outside. At the same time, I want to explore."The staff greeted us, led us to our table, handed us the menu, and left. "What do you want to eat? The ribeye and sirloin steak is the best here.""Okay, I want the ribeye with mashed potato and corn.""Okay, I order the sirloin. How about drinks and dessert? They have chocolate fudge and chiffon cheesecake, and I can get over them. ""Okay, I want to try both, and I like apple juice. ""Okay. " The staff returned with two glasses of water, and she placed them in front of us. "Ready t
LYZAIt was around eleven in the evening when we returned to the hotel, and Sander was already sleeping. We roamed around Times Square, taking photos and buying souvenirs. It was fun, and Times Square is beautiful at night. Gian and I bought a couple of bracelets with our initials, and Dustin bought the same for him and Christine. I purchased a gift for Avery as well as Marco despite Gian protest. "I'm jealous. " He kept chanting while I was choosing something to buy for Marco. I only chuckled and kissed his cheek every time. And Dustin assured him that he would guard me to other men. These two is now best of friend. Before, Gian was worried that Dustin would take his place in our family, but he got over it. My parents went to their room as soon as we arrived, as well as Dustin, while Gian followed me into my room. "Are you not tired? " I took my pajamas while he was on my bed. "Tired, go wash. I have something to give you after. " I smiled and went inside the bathroom and took a
LYZAAfter what happened to the company, Gian is very busy with work, and he doesn't have free time for me. I'm so sad it happened while I was here to spend time with him. Dad and Dustin also stayed in the company as Gian, and they came home late and went to the company very early. My father wanted to resolve the problem in the company before we went home, so they stayed in the company every day. Sometimes, they come home early in the morning to have a few hours of rest and then go back to the company. After four days, finally, the company ran smoothly, but sadly, we needed to go back home because the day after tomorrow, Dustin and I had classes. I sighed as I watched Dustin and Gian still sleeping, even though it was already two in the afternoon. They return around six in the morning after ensuring the company system runs smoothly. My father is no different. He was still sleeping. Our flight is early tomorrow morning, and I want to spend a little bit more time with Gian, but I don
LYZA It's been a week since we returned from New York. I miss Gian again. Avery was talking beside me, but I didn't hear it because my mind was on Gian. Sigh. We are in the cafeteria for lunch, waiting for Dustin and Marco. "Lyza, What will happen to me when you shift to another course? I don't have friends here except you, Dustin, and Marco." I told Avery that I would shift to Bachelor of Computer Science next semester two days ago, and until now, she doesn't get over it. "It's okay. We can still meet during lunchtime. ""But it's not the same when we have the exact schedules and classes. I want to shift, too, but I don't know if the school will allow me. ""You can't do that. You study here not because of me. It is because you want to earn a diploma to have a better job in the future and give your parents a better life."She bit her lips. "I'm scared our classmate will bully me when you're not beside me anymore. Do you see how they look at me? They think I'm not suitable for this
GIANI hurried to finish my work to have free time to return home. I usually go home late so that my work won't stock up. I need at least fifteen days of vacation. And I want my work to be finished before that because I'm sure after fifteen days my work will be track load when I return. Uncle Jayson finally agreed for Lyza and I to get married, and I'm scared his mind will change if I take too long to return home. The company now runs smoothly but has a massive loss because of a bug in our system. I hope we can regain our loss when we launch our first product. Once the public receives the product positively, I want to open a branch at home, and I'll make it our main branch, and I will work there so that I'm near my family. It's so lonely living here alone.A month later, I only had a bit of work left. And I'm sure after a week I'll finish all of it. I smiled as I lay on my bed, picked up my phone, and called Uncle Jayson. "Gian! He answered after three rings. "Uncle, I'll be home i
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