Chapter III

One year later...

"Dana, are you done yet?" Jio called from outside her room.

Danie gave up zipping the back side of her dress. She wasn't really that flexible.

She took her crutches and opened the door a little.

"I'm sorry, Jio. Can you ask auntie to come and help me with my dress?" She asked apologetically.

The thirteen year old boy blushed when he saw her. He was always like that around her. That's why everyone teases him that he's got a crush on her.

Danie only laughs every time. She always treated Jio as a younger brother. Besides, she promised Jane that she would take care of her brother the way she would have if she were alive.

Jio ran away to call his mother after blushing profusely.

Dana was the name they gave her. It was because of her D pendant. She didn't mind as it was close enough to her real name, Danielle. But she couldn't tell them as up to this time, she was still faking amnesia.

She was doing it for two things.

First, she was afraid that by telling them now, they would be disappointed at her. It's  been a year and justice hasn't been served for the deaths of Jane and Ruth. Had she cooperated and hadn't lied about not remembering anything, the investigation could've somehow gotten closer to the truth. But in reality, and also the reason she was choosing to keep her mouth shut was because she knew, she couldn't really help much in making the culprit pay. At least, not now that she doesn't hold any evidence.

Second, and much the same as the first reason, she wasn't sure who could she ask help from. She wasn't sure who wanted to kill her. Exposing herself might endanger not only her but everyone who's keeping her alive.

But maybe, setting aside her reasons, the truth was, she was selfish. She's nothing but someone who caused two people's death and whose face was thick enough to live the lives they missed.

"Dana, what's wrong?" Tabitha entered her room and found her crying.

"N-nothing, Auntie." She quickly wiped her tears away. Geez, she didn't even realize that she was crying. "I just need help with my dress."

Tabitha zipped her dress and didn't ask further.

"Thank you, auntie," she forced a smile.

"Dana," the older woman placed her hands on her arms and looked at her with concern. "We aren't forcing you to come. I'm sure that Jane and Ruth would understand."

She shook her head. If she wouldn't attend the memorial service, what would Lucas say?

"I know that Lucas has been making it difficult for you..." Tabitha said as if she read her mind. "You must be patient with him. He's not a bad person, Dana."

"I'm not expecting him to forgive me, Aunt Tabitha," she answered sadly.

Recalling the first time Danielle saw Jane's fiance, a sad smile made its way to her lips.

Lucas almost successfully killed her with his bare hands. If it weren't for the parents of Jane who came just in time, she might've died that day.

"I'm sure, Lucas will learn to forgive you." Tabitha held her hands. "I trust my daughter's judgement. She chose to help you despite knowing the danger. In time, Lucas will see what Jane saw in you. Let's go, everyone must be waiting already."

Tabitha helped her go down the stairs.

Her legs have already recovered a lot than a year ago. Danielle has been undergoing therapy and it's been tough for her.

Growing up like a princess, Danie never once experienced getting hurt.

--

When they arrived in the Del Fierro's house, everybody was already there. It's the first year anniversary of the accident that killed Jane on the spot and Ruth three days later. The two families decided to remember the two women's lives through a memorial service.

They weren't sad at all. Not because they're happy losing Jane and Ruth, but because they believe that they're already in a much better place. Death isn't something to be feared. Rather, death is the only way to be with our Creator.

Loved ones would mourn, it's okay to be sad. It was normal. We missed those who already passed away. However, one should not remain mourning.

They talked and celebrated the lives of Jane and Ruth. Ruth's family also treated Danielle well. Since the beginning, they've all been kind to her. Even the small congregation of the Rev. Marcus Del Fierro, Danielle never once felt that they blamed her for their loss.

Except for Lucas, who at the very moment Danielle found herself alone in the vast garden of the Del Fierros, was looking at her like he was ready to try to kill her again.

His eyes were burning with rage like the first time she saw him. It hadn't changed since then. The hate just got more intense as time tried to heal the wounds of the past for most of the people involved.

But not for this man, he makes sure that she knows just how much he hated every inch of her existence.

Danie felt a lump in her throat. There they go again. If only there's a way to tell Lucas the truth. Then maybe, he would understand.

But then, the moment she tells him who she was, she was sure, he'd hand her over to her enemies. Because her fake amnesia is the only reason why she was alive. They were keeping her in their place to protect her from the bad people who wanted her dead. At least, until she remembers everything and is able to defend herself. But she also knew that Lucas didn't care if she would get killed, in fact, he wanted to be the one to send her to her death.

Danie wanted to run when she saw Lucas moved towards her. The man never fails to give her fright. But her crutches made it hard for her to escape in time.

"Are you happy remembering how you sent them to their death?" In swift moves, Lucas was already beside her, holding her arm with passion like he was planning to dig a hole on her skin.

Danielle winced in pain. "Believe it or not, I rather would've died alone than cause them to die."

"Really?" Lucas drew closer, his voice laced with so much hatred that hearing it was enough to send chills to Danie's whole being. "Like h*ll I would believe you. You piece of lying sh*t!"

"Lucas, please..." Danie's tears started falling. She was in great pain. She felt as though her arm was about to snap by the way he held it tighter by each passing second. "I'm sorry, believe me. If I could go back in time, I would---"

"Do you think, using those fake tears of yours can make me change my mind?" He advanced and Danie was forced to step backwards. Her eyes grew wide realizing that behind her was a large swimming pool.

"Lucas---"

"Don't you dare say my name again, woman!" He kicked her crutches leaving her with no balance support but his hand on her arm.

"Please," she begged as she could already feel the pool's edge under her feet. "I don't know how to swim."

If there's one thing that Danielle never learned, it was how to swim. Despite having much larger pool at home, she never stayed there without somebody looking out for her safety.

Lucas' already blood thirsty eyes only intensified when he heard her plea.

"Please, I beg you..." she cried, looking at the crowd behind him, nobody seemed to notice that Lucas had gone to see her. And it was a mistake for Danielle to go on her own. "Lu-"

"I said don't!!!" He roared. "I hate it when you say my name. You're a disgusting liar, Dana. Now, die!" Then he pushed her mercilessly into the water.

A loud splash was heard in the silence of the night. But she wondered if somebody heard as they're quite far from the crowd.

It was deep in that part and Danie struggled to keep herself afloat. If she knew that water would cause her death one day, she should've had done everything to learn how to swim back when she was young.

Lucas was calmly watching her drown slowly. How could he be so cruel?

Just when she thought she was going to die, she heard another splash. Then she felt somebody's arms around her, taking her to safety.

"What were you thinking, Lucas!" An angry Levi asked his older brother after making sure she was already safe.

She was coughing the water that she accidentally drank.

"Why do you always save that woman, Levi?" Lucas asked back. His tone was cold. "Did you already forget? She killed our sister!"

"For heaven's sake, brother. It was an accident! Dana didn't mean it!"

"You believed her?" Lucas seemed to be wanting to smash his brother's head to knock some sense into his brain. "This woman has been lying to our faces and yet you're so concerned about her?!"

"Lying or not, what you did is wrong. How are you different then?" Levi stood up against her brother.

"You're choosing her side then, Levi?"

"I am not taking side here, Ruth is my sister too. I know it's more painful to you because you also lost Jane. But Jane is like a sister to me, too. You're not the only one who suffered pain of losing them. I was hurt too, everybody of us! Not just you!"

"You have no idea how I feel, Levi. Cut the crap."

"Really? Then perhaps---"

"Lucas, Levi, what's going on here?!" Before the argument could escalate further, Rev. Marcus already intervened. The crowd had also gathered around them.

But Mirriam corteously asked everyone to leave saving Jane and Ruth's families.

"Aren't you tired of this yet, Lucas?" Rev. Marcus asked his eldest son who remained nonchalant. As if he was already used of being reprimanded.

"Hating her?" Lucas displayed no remorse in his attitude. "No, dad. It satisfies me to see her in pain. But I'd be elated to see her die!"

"Are you hearing yourself?" Rev. Marcus didn't hide his disappointment. "Did I really raise you? I don't know you anymore, Lucas."

"Dad, calm down." Mirriam tried to mediate between the father and son. She was glaring at her eldest but Lucas just turned his back on them. "Let him be, for now." She told her husband. 

On the other hand, the girls came to help Danie. Tabitha decided that they take her home already.