“MARIUS DE LA VEGA, JR."

I saw Lana's eyes clouding quickly as she gazed at my son's face. Eventually, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer. And I knew the reason behind those tears, and for whom they were shed. None other than for Marius. Even in our broken relationship.

“You look so much like your father,” Lana said as she reached out to take MJ.

I handed MJ to Lana, who is technically her nephew since she's married to my brother. She kissed MJ's cheek and then hugged him tightly. After a while, I heard a small voice calling my name. At that moment, I felt a warmth in the corners of my eyes. It was Andrea, and she's grown bigger since the last time I saw her.

"Where have you been? I missed you," she said tightly as I leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," was all I could manage, thinking it was a safe response.

"You know, Uncle Marius always asks me about you," Andrea said, looking at me with earnest eyes.

I felt a sharp object seemingly pierce my throat. Meanwhile, the impend