****
BELLA’S ROOM***
Fernando led Isabella to the bed as they both sat on it. Don sat on the sofa in the room.
“Can you tell me what happened? Where have you been? And, I thought you’re…” Fernando stopped, dreading to say the word.
“Dead? Well, Arturo didn’t ki|| me, he held me captive in his place. He ki||ed.. He ki||ed Rafael and he’s planning to do the same to you too” Isabella said.
Fernando clenched his jaw hardly. How dare Arturo?
He really wanted to be mat at Arturo, but somehow he’s grateful to him. Grateful for not ki||ing his mom.
“My baby, you’ve grown so much. I almost didn’t recognize you” Isabella said.
Fernando smiled.
“I miss you, mom. You don’t know how happy I am to see you, I love you, mom” he muttered.
Isabella smiled happily.
“I love you more son, thanks for not forgetting me” she said.
“So, can you tell me what Arturo did to you? I mean, I wasn’t even aware that you’re alive, that’s surprising” Don interrupted.
Isabella’s expression changed and she suddenly went silent.
“Mom, why are you silent?” Fernando asked.
“Nothing, he did nothing” she replied rather awkwardly.
“Mom…. Don’t hide it, tell me everything please, don’t keep anything away” Fernando pleaded.
Isabella broke down in tears.
“I can’t tell you that, Ferdie. I can’t” she shook her head.
Don and Fernando exchanged glances.
“What matters now is that I’m with you right now. All these years, I’ve always longed to see you again, you’ve grown so big now, baby. But, you’ll still be my little boy” she smiled, stylishly cleaning her face.
She touched his cheeks fondly.
“My baby, I’m so happy to see you right now. Word can’t describe my happiness right now” she muttered.
“Mom, are you hiding something from me?” Fernando asked suspiciously.
“What… What are you talking about?” Isabella chuckled.
She faced Don.
“What about Maria? Where’s she?” She asked.
Don’s expression changed immediately. Isabella didn’t failed to notice that.
“Why? Did something happened while I was away?” She asked.
“Maria is dead, she died the same day Rafael was ki||ed. Arturo ki||ed her too”
Isabella gasped.
“What?”
“She died while saving me, she took the gun that was meant for me, that’s why Val is mad at me right now” Fernando muttered.
“I h@ťě myself, mom. I h@ťěd myself for the past fourteen years, if it hadn’t been for me, if I hadn’t insisted on seeing Lola then all this wouldn’t have happened. Dad would still be alive and Lola’s mom too”
“What are you talking about, Nando?”
“Lola and Ferdie are friends, more like childhood sweethearts. You were away so Ferdie didn’t had the chance to meet you. And, don’t blame yourself baby, it was bound to happen. Arturo would have still ki||ed your dad even if we weren’t going to meet Lola” Isabella said.
“I didn’t even know you and Dad knew her mom before, you never mentioned that to me. Val is mad at me right now”
“She’ll come around soon, she’s still mad at me but let’s give her a little time” Don said.
Fernando nodded.
“Er… There was a girl that was brought here, is she fine now? She was badly wounded”
“She’s fine now, mom. She’s Lola, Don’s daughter” Fernando said.
Isabella faced Don in shock.
“Is he saying the truth now?” She asked.
Don nodded and explained everything to her.
“You just have to give her a time, she’s just shocked” Isabella said.
“I really can’t wait to reconcile with her soon” Don said.
“Mom, can we talk later? I need to check on Val”
“Sure, take you time honey” Isabella said.
Fernando smiled, he pecked her cheeks before leaving the room.
Don faced Isabella immediately Fernando was out of the room.
“Can you tell me what Arturo did to you?” He asked.
Isabella looked away, avoiding his gaze.
Don moved closer to her and held her shoulder gently.
“You can’t keep keeping it in forever, Bella. You have to let it out, that way you’ll be free” he said.
Isabella bursts into tears.
“He…. He R@P£D me, Donald. He R@P£D me, how could I say that to my son? How would he see me?” She sobbed.
Don held his fists tight.
“That motherf-__-king monster” he gritted his teeth angrily.
“I failed Rafael, I failed him. It hurts Donald” she cries.
Donald pulled her to him and pats her back soothingly.
“It’s okay, don’t cry too much. You’re safe now, I’ll protect you, Nando will protect you. It’s all over now” he consoled.
Isabella continue crying as she remembered the night Arturo R@P£D her mercilessly.
No matter how hard she tried to forget it, the memory kept haunting her.
Now that she finally had someone to talk to, she could feel the burden been lifted away from her chest.
****
FERNANDO’S ROOM***
Fernando entered the room to find it empty, he quickly rushed to the bathroom, but no one was there.
“Val?” He called but his voice echoed back to the room.
“$h|t!” He rushed to the door, he opened it and met Valerie just by the door, she was about to enter too.
Valerie stood still, staring at those blue eyes she has come to fall in love with.
She suddenly felt guilty just by seeing him, how could she think of leaving him alone?
“Ferd…” She tried to call him but he pulled her to a sudden hug
“Don’t… Don’t ever do that again, don’t disappear out of my sight without informing me… I almost died” he whispered.
Valerie’s arms went around him not so tightly as her arms were still hurting her.
“I’m sorry, Ferdie. I wasn’t thinking straight when I said those words to you. Forgive me, Ferdie” she muttered.
“I miss you” Fernando said instead.
“Do you forgive me? I said I was going to abort our baby, I’m so selfish, ain’t I?” She asked slowly.
“I wasn’t mad at you before” Fernando said.
“Ferdie, I found your mum. She’s right here in the clan”
“I’ve seen her already” Fernando smiled.
Valerie bit her lips.
“How’s your body? Are you feeling any pain?” He asked.
She quickly nodded with a pout.
“Yes, it hurts so much” she lied.
“Really? Where?”
“Everywhere. I can’t move my body” she started shedding fake tears.
“d@mn. Who hurt you? Who did those things to you?” He asked in a low dangerous voice.
“Andres, he’s a devil, Ferdie. He wasn’t your friend from the beginning, he’s a wolf in a sheep’s clothing” Valerie said.
“I wish I had laid my hands on him yesterday, I’d have skin him alive”
“You weren’t able to ki|| him?” Valerie asked.
“They escaped, according to Don, this isn’t the right time to eliminate them now” Fernando replied her.
“And Dad, is he okay? He didn’t got hurt, did he?” She asked.
“Are you worried about him?” Fernando asked knowingly.
Valerie cleared her throat.
“No, why would I? I’m only worried since he’s important to you. I don’t want you to be sad” She said.
“You should forgive him Val, it wasn’t his intention to abandon you” he said.
Valerie groaned.
“Gosh! My body hurts, it’s feels as tho I’m gonna die soon”
“Should I get Camila for you?” Fernando asked, panicking already.
“No, just kiss me. That’s gonna do” she muttered.
Fernando stare at her in amusement.
“Kiss? Are you Cinderella?” He laughed.
“Just kiss me, I miss your lips on mine” she whispered.
“You body doesn’t hurt you anymore?” Fernando asked.
She quickly nodded.
“Kiss me…… Ferd” she murmured softly.
Fernando smiled before pulling her gently by the waist, making sure he’s gentle enough.
“Stay with me forever, Lola” he whispered, his face inching closer to hers by each second.
“I will… Ferd” she whispered back.
Fernando slammed his lips on her hungrily, his lips furiously moving fast against her own. He missed her so much, she was like his lost rib.
He couldn’t be more happier, seeing his mother after fourteen years, and then his woman and his baby are both safe
What more could he ask for?
TBC