CHAPTER 60 SprezzaturaSprezzatura- the ability to make one's actions seem effortless or to disguise one's true desire, feeling or meaning60I fixed my earrings while I plaid my skirt as I stand in front of my mirror. It was our family's Christmas Eve dinner and as a family ritual, we always have to look good for dinner. I want to look good cos Nick is joining us tonight. He even helped mom with our foods for tonight and I was also at the kitchen trying to help.My mom seems to be fond of Nick which was a good thing since my mom is so hard to please while my dad wasn't really talking to Nick that much. Cameron didn't do anything ridiculous at all while Ingrid keeps teasing me about Nick.My phone vibrates.I'm outside your room. - NickI quickly ran to my door and opened it. Nick stands there before me, wearing a white polo shirt paired with a black skinny jeans and white sneakers. His hair was always perfectly coiffed and I could smell his manly perfume from where I was standing. I
CHAPTER 61 Pag-ibigPag-ibigTranslation: LoveOrigin: Filipino61"I love Savannah, sir. I can't stay away from her." Nick added.I have never heard such beautiful words coming from Nick's lips. I have never thought he would say that. I never expected he'd say that in front of me and in front of my dad. I couldn't even look away from his gaze because I felt it when he said that he loved me. I know he means it. I know he loves me."Go to bed, Savannah. I've had enough for tonight. We'll talk tomorrow." My dad tells me but didn't say anything to Nick.I watch my dad walk away from us and headed out of the kitchen. My heart is pounding harder and harder inside my chest now that I'm alone with Nick. Both of us were quiet. Both of us were still standing next to each other. Both of us obviously didn't know what to say and how to react to what he just said out. I wanna ask him if he means it. I wanna ask him he does love me and he didn't just say it cos he needs to cover up for that kiss."
CHAPTER 62 ChristmasChristmas- a holiday that is celebrated on December 25 in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ or the period of time that comes before and after this holiday62The entire breakfast was quiet and awkward. Nick was sitting down right next to me as we sit down right across mom and Cameron while dad was on Nick's left and Ingrid was on my right. We were all eating very silently. Dad didn't say anything about what he saw last night and what Nick told him. As for Cameron, he didn't say anything about what he saw a while ago too. Everything was so weird on the table but then I liked how they didn't bother to talk about it. I liked it that neither of them wanted to start so I ignored the way that they're trying to act now.Dad didn't even talk to me about last night so I guess he is insanely mad at Nick and also at me. I mean, he caught his eighteen year old daughter frolicking a twenty-four year old man inside his own kitchen in the middle of the night. But then dad told
CHAPTER 63 AtelophobiaAtelophobia- the fear of being not good enough63When we went back home on the twenty-sixth of the December morning, Nick didn't go with us anymore. He said Tracy had already got back to their old house earlier than he thought and he needed to be there cos he has the house key. I wanted to come along with him cos Im sure it's going to be alot more fun with them but then he won't let me cos he said I needed to spend my Christmas break with my family since I have been busy with school and I have been away. He said he'll see me after the Christmas break. I still have six more days left before I could see him again.I sit on my chair, right outside our living room's balcony while I was finished reading this novel that Cameron gave me yesterday. It was a story that something I can relate to and I hated Cameron for giving me such book cos it had a wickedly heartbreaking ending. I had a cup of tea beside me as I fix my scarf and cardigan on me. I stare at the sky, t
CHAPTER 64 EvanesceEvanesce- to dissipate like vapor64"Tell Nick I miss him." Ingrid says to me.I nod. "Yes. I'll tell him that. I'm sure he misses you too."Ingrid throws herself at me."I'll miss you Savannah." She says."I'll miss you too little angel." I say.I pulled myself away from her and dad hugs me quickly. I hugged him back too."Just forget about him Savannah. Forget about that ex-convict guy. He's no good for you." Dad says to me."Dad. Please stop with the ex-convict thing." I pulled myself away."Look, my close friend offered me a spot for you at NYU for next semester. Same course but then you'll have to get easier access for your internship right away.""Dad, I told you I need to stand on my own feet without you backing me up that's why I picked WSU. And if you're also doing this to get rid of Nick out of my life, no. It's not working." I said."Savannah he's an ex-convict!""Dad please! I hate it so much when you judge him like that. I love him and if you don't a
CHAPTER 65 AbditoryAbditory- a place in which you can disappear: a hiding place65Another semester comes in a new university I am in. I don't know how to adjust to the people in this institution but since I need to get away from WSU to forget everything about Nick, I'm sure NYU is a great place. I haven't heard from Nick since then and I just hate him to the bones but I still end up missing him so bad. No matter how hard I say that I don't want to see him anymore, I always end up crying about him at night.Im so mad at him too cos of what my dad told me. He said he offered Nick money before to stay away from me, dad admitted it to me before I could find out about it from another person and I'm so sure Nick said no to it. But to my surprise, he said Nick accepted the money. He said Nick agreed to it and he knows that Nick is avoiding me. I'm so mad at Nick but I still love him after all he did and I hate myself for loving him.Dad bought me my own apartment here in New York which w
CHAPTER 66 MetanoiaMetanoia- the journey of changing one's mind, heart, self, or the way of life66"Thanks for tonight Damon." I say as he parks his car back in the basement."Sure thing. Anytime Savannah."Both of us headed out of his car while I was still thinking of texting Nick back. After all these months he makes his way to me again asking if how I was. How insensitive is he still asking me that question? What could he possibly be thinking about while he was typing it asking me how I could've been these months after he left me just like that. My anger is now even more igniting again but I try to ignore Nick cos that's what he did to me.Damon and I headed inside the elevator together until we reached our floor and walked out to the hallways. My mind was still thinking about Nick and I wanted to know about all these unanswered questions I have in mind. I wanted to know where he was, why he left me and why did he just text me now. But I'm scared of his answer, what if his answe
CHAPTER 67 RevelationRevelation- usually a secret or a surprising fact that is made known: something that surprises you67NICK'S POVPRESENT DAYDecember 22"Nick!!"I see Tracy crying as she runs towards me while entering my bedroom. She throws herself at me and I was surprised why on earth she was crying. I hugged her and tried to calm her down but she was literally shaking in fear."Hey. What's wrong? Another fight with Clyde?" I asked.She shakes her head in response and continues crying on my shoulder."What's wrong baby sis?" I asked as I cup her cheeks while wiping her tears."Nick..." She sobs."What? Why are you crying like this? Did something happen to Clyde? Tracy what the hell is going on!" I exclaimed."Im sick." She muffled.My brows creasing as I try to understand what she was trying to say to me. Her eyes tells me that she looks so scared and she keeps shaking her head in disbelief."What the fuck do you mean by that?" I demanded an answer."I have..." She trails o
CHAPTER 97 EPILOGUE LISSA'S POV "Mom I'm going to be late for the orientation." I whined. My dad was smiling. He finds it funny when I'm rushing mom and Vance. "Vance come on!" I yelled again. I see Vance running down the staircase, as he puts on his shirt. "Stop screaming early in the morning Lissa!" "Mom!!" I whined again. I watch as my mother rushes her way down the stairs, "Jesus Christ Lissa, calm down." "It's first day mom. I need to hurry up." I answered her while she fixes her earrings. My dad was busy putting on his blazer on himself and fixes his tie while he was on the phone with someone, probably work related. It's my first day to go into college and my folks are worrying about me. Well I am nervous too cos every teenager would pass through this transition, high school to college then college to real world. But my parents are always so supportive of me and they trust me in everything I do and all the decisions I make. They're proud of me cos I always top everythin
CHAPTER 96 EternalEternal- having no beginning and no end in time; lasting forever; existing at all times; always true or valid; seeming to last forever96NICK'S POVWhen I think about the day that I married Savannah, I couldn't help but smile at every detail of it.I would always and proudly say that it was indeed one of the greatest and most fulfilling days of my life.One of the best days that I would say I'm proud of having been through.I still remember how The Plaza looked that day with all the wedding decorations Savannah wanted, I let her choose all the things she wanted because it's her dream wedding, of course I helped around with the decision making too.I still remember how her hair was done, how beautiful she was on her wedding dress and how amazing she was when she walked down the aisle.God, I still remember how she was amazingly gorgeous that day. She was perfect. Everything was perfect that day.Of course, Lissa and Dani looked pretty on their dress too since they
CHAPTER 95 PerpetuityPerpetuity- the state of continuing forever or for a very long time95NICK'S POVAt first, I never actually believed in happy endings that it exist because based from my past, I thought my happy ending ended when Catherine died. I shut myself out from people and never have opened myself to anyone except my sister and Alec. Sometimes I shut my sister and Alec too. I knew from the very beginning that reality and fantasy are two different things.But as I stand in the doorway of our bedroom and watch Savannah sleep, I knew my happy ending is already happening. She doesn't know I do this, but I do it every morning because she's the reason why I start my day, no matter how busy I am in the office.It wasn't the first incident that I've done this, the first time was the morning that I first met her. I couldn't remember much from that night before because I was wasted as hell but the only thing I actually remembered was her and how I was lying on the floor of Tracy's
CHAPTER 94 Je T'aimeJe T'aimeTranslation: I love youOrigin: French94SAVANNAH'S POV"You bought the company without telling me?" I asked in disbelief.I wasn't mad that I found out about it but I was amused for what he has done to me and my family. No wonder they still kept the house, still have maids around here and have money to buy some things. Mom and dad were even surprised for what they found out. I couldn't believe it myself after all these years, he still helped us."I'm sorry Savannah." Nick tells me."I didn't tell nearly anyone about it because I don't want all of you to feel like you're all indebted to me. Because you're not." Nick adds.God I love him too much."How did you know I bought your company back from Damon?" He asked Cameron."I asked and did some investigations. $50 million is such a huge amount Nick. I don't know how to thank you. You deserve to be the one ruling it. You bought it." Cameron says."No. I'm not suited for the position. You're more knowledgea
CHAPTER 93 MágoaMágoa- a heartbreaking feeling that leaves long-lasting traces, visible in gestures and facial expressionsOrigin: Portuguese93SAVANNAH'S POV"I'll deal with Damon after Tracy's burial." Those were the words Nick said to me.At some point, I have concluded that life really is unfair and uncertain. Unfair, because at some point the good people dies and the bad people lives. Uncertain, because we don't know how our life goes and when the people close to us will be gone or will return.After Tracy's burial, all of us felt drained by how early she left us. I haven't even talked to her when I came here. I was planning on surprising her when me and Nick would fix things between us, but it's too late. She's gone and we won't see here anymore. It just hurts me as much as it hurts Nick because it felt like I lost a sister. A person very dear to me. A best friend and a loved one.Patricia Veronica Wilde1989-2017"You'll always be in our hearts as a daughter, a sister, a fri
CHAPTER 92 LuckLuck- the things that happen to a person because of chance; the accidental way things happen without being planned92NICK'S POVDani and I started walking inside the restaurant and this place is really fancy that I think Aries had really prepared for this. I don't know what's the occasion but he really asked me to come to this place and it is very unusual of him to do stuff like this to me. I finally marched my way inside and the waiter by the door stopped us."Good evening sir. Table for?" He asked.I scanned through the entire place, "I'm with a friend. Found him. Thanks.""Let's go Dani." I tell my daughter.Both of us started walking to the table where Aries was waiting and Dani ran towards him as quick as she could. I don't know why Dani loves him so much, maybe because of the lavishing gifts he sent her every time there's special occasions, most especially her birthdays and Christmases."Uncle Aries!" Dani hugs him."Oh pumpkin. Hello. Let me take a good look a
CHAPTER 91 BrotherhoodBrotherhood- feelings of friendship, support, and understanding between people91NICK'S POVDear Savannah,Hey! How are you? I have been wondering how you've been since it's been roughly five years I haven't talked and seen you. As for me, I was busy taking care of Tracy at the hospital lately. She's been getting her meds and chemo. But don't worry, I still have time to write you a letter though and I promised myself to write you until I see you again. I just hope you're not getting tired of receiving all of my letters.A few weeks from now you're turning twenty-seven. Every time I think about me being thirty-three, and how older I am from you, it just disgusts me of my age. I am really indeed too old for you. But we all know older guys are hotter. Haha ;) My wish for you, if ever I won't see you on your birthday cos I know you won't, is all the best for your future, with or without me. I know you could make it through wherever you go. I wish that I could fina
CHAPTER 90 Scarlet LetterScarlet Letter- A visible symbol of something you have done wrong and regretted, or a stigma of a past mistake you made that follows you90Dear Savannah,Hello my beautiful! I was honestly excited on writing you my second letter and for some reason I think you loved my first one. Don't deny it, I know you did ;) It's been a month and I miss talking to you. Well, you didn't respond to my first letter so basically I'm the one doing the talking.I smile.How's Melissa? Have you received her first month present? I'm proud of those since I was the one who picked most of it. All of it, actually. I hope everything will fit her. To be honest I really had a hard time picking those since I don't know what's her size. I chose the cutest outfits I saw and I've googled some baby clothes for girls so I had a few ideas. I'm sorry for acting like a father to her, I just felt comfortable when I held her on my arms that day.I stared at the baby clothes that he sent me and m
CHAPTER 89 LieLie- statements which are untrue; to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive; to create a false or misleading impression; to bring about by telling liesOrigin: Middle English89There was a huge gift on Damon's hand and I was surprised with it. He bought a gift to Melissa but never dared to give it? Why? This means a lot to me because out of all Melissa's birthdays he never, not even once, gave her a gift. Every family occasion or special holidays like Christmases, he never gave her anything. Never.Even though I hate Damon so much because of all the cruel things he has done to me, this tiny thing he did for Melissa is huge, considering Melissa doesn't even bring his last name. It means he does love my daughter. He's at least beginning to love her. I know Damon is still a nice guy despite what he has become now, and he has his days all the time but right now I am really moved.He looks at me. "What are you doing here?""Is that a gift?" I asked. "For Melissa?"