Deme’s family gradually accepted his death. It is a pity that he could not apologize to every person he has sinned against.
Three days later, Deme was taken to the cemetery for his last day. That was the day he would be buried.
Many attended, including his family and those who knew him.
Naneth just stared at his coffin.
“Even though you didn’t treat me well as your niece, I still respect you. Yes, I am furious with you because you ruined my future. You ruined my life that I should have been able to go to college and finish the course I wanted. You separated me from my auntie and sadly, you even sold me to the family that abused me. It’s hard to accept that my blood relatives made and ruined my life. I don’t know if I can forgive you, but hopefully, the day will come when I will move on from the pain I experienced then and until now. You have not been a good uncle to me, but I accepted and understood that because somehow I love you as my uncle. I hope that even before you die, you have apologized to the people you have sinned against. I will try to forget everything for our family and my future family and child. I hope you will forgive me for whatever I have done wrong to you. May your conscience be appeased by all that you have done to those who have been kind to you. Thank you also because in your last life you defended me, catch the bullet that is for me. Somehow, your love for me as your niece still prevails. I hope you are happy wherever you are now. Goodbye, uncle.” As Naneth said that tears welled up in her eyes, she couldn’t help but let her tears flow.
Roel approached. He stepped aside as Naneth spoke while looking at the coffin of their eldest brother.
“We are young. We know if our parents have spoiled you. You even bullied me and Franco once, but we ignored you. We have a lot of respect for you as our brother, but you don’t see that, you don’t notice that. I don’t know why the three of us are so reprehensible that instead of you being the one to teach and guide us since our parents died. I don’t resent my older brother. Maybe I’m a little angry because of what you did to my daughter Naneth, but I still have the choice to scold you even though you’re dead. If I have sinned against you, I hope you will forgive me. I also want to thank you for making up for what you did to my daughter. You saved her from the locusts for her and you took part. Maybe if you didn’t do that, my daughter would be hit. So many thanks. Goodbye, brother.” Roel said sadly.
Naneth looked at him. Roel hugged Naneth as they both cried.
“Forgive me Naneth, I did not intend to hurt you. I didn’t know that you were the one I had been looking for, my child. I never stopped looking for you. I’m just thankful that I still went to the powder. And at least I can make sure you are safe in my company.” Roel whispered to her.
“I’m sorry dad, I know you’re hurt because I blamed you for what you did. I understand what you mean. Hope everything is okay. I hope Gio won’t be angry with you.” Naneth replied.
“So, my child, thank you and you called me dad. It feels good.”
Lora and Martha approached the two of them.
“Naneth!, Martha is your real mother.” Introduce Lora.
Naneth was shocked. She could not speak of what she had discovered.
“What?! Didn’t Mrs. Roa her name is Natasha?
“You are right Naneth, but I have lost my memory of those times now that my memory has come back. I remember everything. I would like to apologize to you for leaving you with your auntie Lora because I was determined to find your father. But I didn’t know I was going to have an accident and Louie would meet me. When he knew I remembered nothing because of the strong impact of the car on him, my brain was affected. So he took advantage of me. He married me without me in the right mindset. And he was also the one who did it again when my car collided with a big tree in an accident because I lost my brakes.” Martha’s story.
“What?! Are you sure about what you are saying, Martha?” Roel asked in shock.
“Yes, Roel. I have evidence to prove that he is the suspect in everything that happened to me and his ex-wife.” Said Martha.
“Can I have a copy? So that he can be investigated, and that Louie is imprisoned.” Roel said angrily.
“All right, sister Lora and I will go to the police tomorrow. Let’s just meet there.”
“Ahh.. ouch! ..”
“Naneth?! What happened?”
“Auntie, I’m in pain.”
“What?! You may have delivered your baby,” said Roel.
“I don’t know dad, ah!! …”
“Gio, please take Naneth to your car.”
“Why Auntie Lora?
“Don’t ask to take Naneth to the hospital first. We will follow.”
Gio quickly loaded Naneth.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the hospital.
“Gio, speed up the pain in my stomach. Ahhhh!”
“Wait, we are here. Nurse, please bring my fiancé inside. She is about to give birth.”
“Ok sir, just wait here outside.” Said the nurse.
A few minutes later, Naneth’s family was there.
“What’s up Gio, is Naneth already working?” Roel asked.
“Yes dad, the nurse said I’ll just wait outside.”
“Ah! Gio, it turns out that Naneth’s mother is Martha.”
“Wait! She is Mrs. Roa right?
“Yes! Long story.” Martha brought Gio to the chair, and they talked. That’s when Gio found out the whole story, so he couldn’t believe what Martha told him.
“So! Is Uncle Louie still free now?
“That’s it! I hope that justice will be served for all the sins he has committed against innocent people like me.”
“Yes, it is!”
~~~~~
After Deme was buried, Dominic and Gilbert recovered. The Reyes family sued Gilbert for the atrocities he committed here. He was imprisoned for a few days and Gio visited him.
“How are you, Mr. Tan? Are you happy with what you did to innocent people, especially mom and Naneth? I never thought that a reputable business executive was a killer. I don’t know how I will react to why you became my father. Then you abandoned me and you ever wanted to throw me with my mom into the river. What kind of person are you? You have no heart and no conscience. You must rot in prison.” Gio said angrily.
“I’m sorry Gio. I didn’t know that Roel adopted you. Maybe I have a lot to blame on you and your mom. So I apologize to you. I regret everything I did wrong.” Gilbert burst into tears as he said those words.
“How many years Mr. Tan? If you have a love for your child, don’t order Mr. Reyes to throw me into the river with my mom as well. But even if Mr. Reyes is wrong, preferred to stay away and revive me. He has been more of a father to me than you are.” Gio is full of anger and hatred.
“I’m sorry, son, forgive me. I will admit that I have not been a good father to you. I did not pretend to be your father. I know how much I have sinned against your mother. I was afraid that Neva might find out about us.” Said Gilbert.
“I thought you were brave? You’re a coward! You know how to be afraid. You know it’s wrong to have another woman, but you keep going. Because you only think of yourself. Have fun and then mom and I will abandon you. What kind of man are you!” Gio shouted, and Amer, who was with him when he went to the precinct, stopped him.
“Mr. Tan, the fight is not over. My family will make sure you rot in jail.” The anger Amer said. Then they left to calm Gio down.
“Why is Amer’s life unfair? Why do I have to go through all this? I lived a lie. I never saw my mother because of my father. I’m angry that I want to punch him.” Gio shouted as his tears flowed.
“That’s right Gio, we are in the same situation. It’s just that my father is not finding another woman, but he did something wrong to our family that he got to sell my cousin Naneth and me because of his own needs. I also don’t know how I can forgive him even if he is dead. I don’t know if I will be happy because by his death he has already paid for his sins? Or will I be sad because I didn’t even feel the love of a father for him?” the sad Amer said.
“I don’t know what to do. I’m confused.”
“Everything will be alright. My only question is, can you forgive my uncle Roel for what he did to you in his character of your person for a few years?
“I don’t know Amer, but dad was kind to me. He made me feel the love of a father that I never really felt like a father. It just hurts to think that I know everything in this situation when I want to settle down with Naneth. I love your cousin. I’ll admit something he doesn’t know.”
“What is that?” Amer asked in astonishment.
“I was the real father when Naneth brought it. Dad already knew he was the first when told. I’m afraid to admit to Naneth that I did wrong to her because I don’t want to lose her,” confessed Gio.
“What?! Maybe Naneth will get even angrier with you? That’s why you want to marry her, even if he doesn’t want to.”
“Yeah! I hope that’s the way you can get her back.” Said Amer.
“Hopefully Amer. Hopefully, Naneth and I will be okay. I don’t want her to disappear from my life.”
Will the ending of the story be happy? What else will happen?