More than a week had passed since the fiesta, and the tranquil ambiance of the small barrio had returned. I sat by the window, observing the hustle and bustle of everyday life unfolding before my eyes. A smile formed on my lips as I witnessed Liene's playful interactions with the local children. In contrast to my more reserved nature, she exuded a childlike charm and effortlessly engaged with the young ones.
I caught sight of Kian together with the local farmers, lending a helping hand in carrying their heavy baskets brimming with rice grains. He's wearing a simple black shirt and pants that he borrowed from one of the residents here. It was an unexpected sight, as I had always perceived Kian as someone nerd-like in nature. Yet here he was, displaying a surprising strength as he effortlessly shouldered the weight of those baskets, his muscles flexing with each movement.
With each confident stride, Kian walked alongside a young man, engrossed in a conversation. A playful grin flashed on his face, momentarily captivated my attention. I caught his glance in my direction, but he quickly averted his eyes before shaking his head in response to his companion's remarks. Together, they made their way towards the agrarian house where the bounty of rice would be stored.
My smile immediately faded as a familiar figure drew closer, his presence stirring a whirlwind of emotions within me. It had been far too long since I last laid my eyes on him since his previous visit to this place.
"D-Daniel..." I stammered, my voice barely audible as my eyes took in the sight of his worn appearance.
Bruises adorned his face, cuts marred his lips, and the weight of exhaustion was evident in the dark shadows beneath his eyes. Yet, despite it all, he wore a small smile that held a hint of mischief, as if he found amusement.
A wave of concern washed over me, and I couldn't help but blurt out, "What happened to your face?"
His reaction surprised me, a burst of laughter escaping his lips, almost defiant in the face of his situation. It was as if he had orchestrated this whole escapade, reveling in his playful and childlike nature that I had come to know so well.
"Should I call your husband to answer that?" he teased, his smirk accompanied by a gentle touch to his jaw. Suddenly, his expression shifted, realization dawning upon him. "Oh, wait... isn't he your ex-husband now?" Another chuckle escaped him, the sound striking a chord deep within me.
A pang of bittersweet longing tugged at my heart, but I swiftly pushed the weight of that feeling aside, focusing on the present moment. Gesturing for him to come inside, I invited him to take a seat on a monobloc chair.
"I'm sorry," he interjected hastily, a sincere apology etched across his face as he saw my subdued reaction. I simply nodded before urging him to share the events that had unfolded in the city during our time apart.
"It's been a while, Sharmienne," he spoke my name softly, the tenderness laced within his voice. "I haven't kept you updated on what transpired in the city."
"Yes, it seems like there's so much you need to share with me," I murmured, my gaze fixed on the evidence of violence etched upon his face. The bruises and contusions painted a vivid picture of the aggression he had endured.
The mere thought of Denver inflicting such harm sent a sharp pang coursing through my heart. I couldn't fathom him throwing a punch, especially towards someone he once considered a friend. Confusion and self-hatred must have plagued him, his search for answers likely interwoven with a mixture of anger and longing.
Did he hate himself? Did he hate me now after I left without explanation?
Leaving Denver without any explanation and with only the cold detachment of the annulment papers had been a choice I made, the one that I believed was the best for both of us. But now, in the face of Daniel's revelations, I couldn't help but question the consequences of my decision. I couldn't bear the weight of the hurt and resentment I had personally sown within Denver's mind and heart.
"Denver is consumed by rage," Daniel's voice held a tinge of regret as he began to unravel the events that had unfolded in my absence. "He believed you were missing and placed the blame squarely on my shoulders." He sighed, the weight of guilt evident in his words. "Just yesterday, he boarded a flight to your hometown, desperate to find you. Hoping that you came back at your parents' house."
My head shook as my hands trembling involuntarily. The mention of Denver's relentless search sent shockwaves through me, my heart constricting in a mixture of anguish and disbelief.
"N-no," I whispered. "This was never supposed to happen. He should hate me... n-not go searching for me."
Tears welled in my eyes, a storm of emotions threatening to engulf me. The unintended consequences of my actions began to unravel before me, the anguish in Denver's pursuit seeping into my soul. I had wanted to spare us both from the pain, the shattered fragments of our broken love. But now, I couldn't deny the ache that gnawed at my heart, longing for a chance to explain, to mend the shattered pieces of our marriage.
"I'm sorry if I dragged you into this mess," Daniel's voice carried a pained undertone as he watched the tears stream down my face. His regret echoed through his words, and I could sense the weight of responsibility weighing heavily upon him. "I shouldn't have..."
A weak smile graced my lips, an attempt to convey a message beyond mere words. "It was my choice, Daniel," I whispered, my voice laced with determination. I wanted him to understand that I willingly embraced the challenges that lay before us, despite the turmoil it entailed.
For a brief moment, silence enveloped us, his lips pursed as he averted his gaze. It was evident that he was deep in thought, contemplating the consequences of our actions and the path we had chosen to tread.
"Then, did he sign the paper?" I asked even though deep down, I already knew the answer. The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications and the weight of a decision that had irrevocably altered the course of our lives.
"That's what I believed, too," Daniel responded, his voice tinged with a mix of resignation and disappointment. He continued, his words carrying a somber tone. "He didn't return the paper to me. He insisted that he personally deliver it to William."
I nodded in understanding as the reality sinking in. I had expected as much, yet the confirmation only intensified the ache within my heart. Doubts crept in, tempting me to question my choices, to wonder if I had made a grave mistake. But deep down, I knew that I couldn't falter.
I couldn't forsake the plan we had set in motion—a plan to protect my family, to seek justice for my cousins. It meant sacrificing my own desires and wants, traversing a path that would undoubtedly wound me, not just physically, but in every aspect of my life. And so, I steeled myself to be more determine in my commitment to see it through this obstacles, no matter the cost.
"What happened here, by the way?" he asked, his curiosity piqued by the tension in the air.
Before I could finish my answer, the tranquility of the moment shattered as the door swung open with a forceful push. Kian burst into the room, his chest heaving with exertion, his disheveled hair adding to his rugged appearance. His piercing gaze locked onto me for a brief moment before shifting to Daniel. A hint of resentment flickered in his eyes, but I swiftly rose from my seat, placing myself between them, gripping Kian's arms firmly, attempting to defuse the growing conflict.
"Why are you here?" Kian's voice sliced through the air, filled with harshness. " You're dangerous, man."
Daniel's voice resonated, cutting through the tension. "Ah, here comes the knight in shining armor," he scoffed, rising from his seat. "I have news to share, both good and bad. And I sincerely hope you won't interfere with my plans." He calmly added.
Kian's arms crossed defiantly over his chest, a challenge emanating from his very stance. "Your plans, huh?" he retorted, his voice laced with skepticism. "Or is it from a more powerful figure above you, the one who holds authority over your gang? Is that where your allegiance and loyalty lie?"
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest as I absorbed Kian's words. More powerful? The impact of his words contained woth harshness echoed through my mind, leaving me reeling with unanswered questions.
Daniel regarded Kian for a moment, his expression a mixture of amusement and disbelief. A mirthful chuckle escaped his lips, accompanied by a dismissive shake of his head. Raising an eyebrow in a test of Kian's temper, he spoke with a touch of sarcasm. "So, how long have you been spying us, hmm?"
Kian's jaw clenched, his fist tightening at his side. "About a year ago?" he responded through gritted teeth. "When you attempted to ensnare my sister as a target for The Hawk. Wasn't that the doing of your gang?"
My eyes widened, shock coursing through me as I stepped back, my foot finding itself unsteady. Kia? So, when I overheard the name Forthaliez in Daniel and Elijah's conversation before, it was Kia they were discussing?
How was she connected to all of this? The web of mysteries surrounding us deepened, leaving me yearning for answers, and a knot of apprehension tightening in my chest.
"It was my personal choice to keep Sharmienne hidden from everyone, especially Denver. I have no idea what you're babbling about," Daniel retorted dismissively, a hint of defiance in his voice. "After all, it's my responsibility."
"You've ruined everything with your selfish actions," Kian hissed, the venom evident in his voice. My heart sank as his words sank in. "You've destroyed Carmienne's plan to lure out The Hawk's elusive leader, Jake Hart."
My breath caught in my throat as Kian's words hung in the air, a heavy accusation lingering between them. He couldn't possibly be referring to the incident, the accident that changed everything. No... I prayed silently, hoping that the truth wouldn't spill out.
But fate had other plans...
Daniel's brows knitted together in confusion, his expression betraying a hint of disbelief. "What did you just say? Jake Hart?"
A wicked smirk curled on Kian's lips, though his eyes burned with a deep-seated hatred. "I'm certain you're acquainted with him. Otherwise, I wouldn't consider you a member of The Falcon."
Curiosity piqued within me as I listened to their exchange. Daniel's gaze bore into Kian's, his eyes holding a serious intensity. "What do you know about him?" he demanded, his voice carrying an air of urgency mixed with coldness.
Kian leaned back in his chair, his smirk fading as he shifted his attention to me. "He's connected to the tragedy that unfolded years ago," I uttered, unable to withhold the truth any longer. "One of the reasons I agreed to this escape was to seek justice for my cousins' disappearance. Their bodies were never found, so we still hold onto the hope that they might be alive."
Daniel's gaze lingered on me, a mixture of astonishment and misery flickering in his eyes. I couldn't begin to comprehend the storm of emotions brewing within him, his facade remaining stoic and impenetrable.
"Don't play dumb, Saavedra," Kian sneered, breaking the silence with his biting words. He took a seat, his posture exuding a defiant confidence. “You're better than this.”
A heavy sigh escaped Daniel's lips as our eyes met, an unspoken connection passing between us. It was as if he yearned to reveal something hidden beneath the surface, to share a truth that lay concealed within his guarded soul.
I leaned forward, my eyes locked onto Daniel's as he began to unravel the secrets of the accident that had haunted my sister for years. The weight of anticipation hung in the air, each word he spoke resonating deep within me.
"Yes, the accident occurred years ago," he confirmed, his voice was gentle yet laced with a hint of sorrow. "It was a car accident, a collision that forever altered the course of those people's lives. And it involved a member of my gang and his classmate."
I couldn't help but hold my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as the pieces of the puzzle started to come together. Daniel's knowledge, his connection to the incident, held the key to unlocking the truth that had remained elusive for so long.
"Their car collided with another vehicle amidst the pouring rain," he continued, his words painting a vivid picture in my mind. "The impact was severe. When dawn broke, rescuers arrived at the scene, only to discover that the occupants of your sister's car were nowhere to be found."
My gaze never wavered from his face, my mind racing to process the significance of his revelation. It meant that there was someone else involved, someone who had vanished into the night, leaving behind only questions and uncertainty.
"Carmienne was rushed to the hospital, her life hanging in the balance," Daniel revealed, his voice tinged with a mixture of empathy and guilt. "But the true mystery lies in the anonymous individual who brought her there, a silent savior in the midst of chaos."
My breath caught in my throat, the enormity of the situation sinking in. The pieces were slowly falling into place, forming a clearer picture of what had transpired on that night.
"And that's the extent of what I can share with you," Daniel confessed, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "My gang mate requested that this information be reserved for those directly involved. But given your connection to the events, I felt compelled to offer you these fragments of truth."
His words hung in the air, a bittersweet mix of revelation and secrecy. With each passing moment, I realized that the path to the truth would be fraught with obstacles, challenging our resolve and testing the limits of our hearts to uncover the full extent of the accident.