Chapter 24

I KEEP tossing and turning. I couldn’t forget what I accidentally heard from my parents’ conversation. They said that someone intentionally set our house on fire. I just didn’t get to hear more because Clarice and Yalena dragged me away from the library when they caught me snooping there. My family and I were currently staying in the Alveros’ mansion.

I carefully removed Yalena’s arm on my belly. Her brows were furrowed as if she was still worrying about our family even in her sleep. I got up and was about to reach for the door when it opened and Dad appeared. He instantly smiled when he saw me. He glanced at Yalena before he motioned me to quietly leave the room with him.

We went to the living area. I was sitting on the couch when I noticed the photo album Dad was holding. “Why do you have that, Daddy?”

Dad laughed. He sat beside me and put his arm on my shoulder. “Your mother nagged me so much because of this. After we’ve managed to save the important documents in our house, I came back for these albums.”

“During the fire?” I gasped. “Why did you do that? You could have died, Daddy!”

“I know.” Dad messed with my hair. “But those albums are our family’s treasures. These pictures contain the most important events in our lives. They are like our diaries. These albums held my wedding photos with your mom, the exact moment you and Yalena came out in this world, your first smiles, your first laughter in front of the camera, your first step, and many more. The milestones in your life are all in these albums.”

I don’t know what to say. A part of me was moved but a bigger part of me was still aghast. Dad nearly died for the sake of those albums.

“I know what you’re thinking, princess. But if I didn’t save the pictures, we’d only be left with memories. And even memories fade. Besides, I want you and your sister to have them. I want you to remember our happy and solid moments together. Should something happen to me and your Mom, I want you and Yalena to look at these albums so both of you will always remember how much we love each other.”

Dad caressed my cheeks. “Live your life to the fullest. That’s your Mom’s wish for you and your sister. Be happy and stay as you are. Hold onto God and remember to keep your hope and faith intact at all times. If Yalena wakes up tomorrow and we are no longer here because we’ll be leaving early along with your Uncle Roman, just relay my message to her, all right?”

I suddenly felt uneasy. “No, you go and tell that yourself to Yalena when you come back tomorrow, Daddy. Besides, why are you talking like that? Was it because of Uncle Benedict?”

The latter was Dad’s business partner. And over the years, he became close to our family. “Tell me the truth, Dad. There’s no sense denying it now. I overheard you and Mommy talking in the library before dinner. The truth, Daddy, you owe that to me and Yana.”

“Well, somebody informed us that Benedict’s subordinates started the fire. There were neighbors who saw his subordinates near our house before the fire happened. I didn’t believe it at first.” Dad shook his head. “Benedict seemed to be fighting so hard for something that I couldn’t understand. I know that he wasn’t serious about politics but he still wanted to run for a government position. And honestly, I never thought he would go this far. I’ve considered him as my friend. I wanted to understand him but this is too much. Tomorrow morning, your Mom, your Uncle Roman, and I will go to the police station to file a case against him.”

I was speechless. I’ve met Benedict many times. He didn’t look like someone who would do wicked things. The old man had the kindest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. I could still remember what he told me last year when he came to my birthday party. I was twelve then.

“You and your twin sister look gorgeous today, Maggy. The both of you are going to break tons of hearts one day.” Benedict smiled as he handed me his gift. “Under normal circumstances, I would have paired you both with my sons.” Suddenly, Benedict’s eyes were filled with emotions I couldn’t understand. “Alexandra raised them so well that’s why they are good people, too. Their names start with A. They are Ansel, Alano, and my youngest, Austin.”

I remembered feeling surprised that day. According to Daddy, Benedict never talked about his family. That day, Benedict gave me a beautiful doll. It had wavy hair and golden skin like mine. The one he gave to my twin had a fair skin and straight hair just like Yalena’s. But we both burned the dolls when our parents died…

“I REPEAT. Do you, Maggy De Lara, take Austin McClennan as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

I feel like I suddenly woke up from a long dream when I heard the Priest’s voice. I was a little disoriented when I looked around me. And only then did I remember that I was in the middle of my own wedding.

“Maggy?” Austin called, looking so worried. I glanced at him. I remembered the images that suddenly flashed in my mind just a few seconds ago. Why did it feel like I’ve known him from way back? My head began to ache again. This started when I saw Austin’s parents before the wedding.

Today was my first time to see his parents. And here I thought they wouldn’t be able to come because Austin said there was an emergency that his parents needed to take care of. It seemed true because he also looked surprised when he saw his parents in the living room. Our wedding took place in the beautiful garden of their mansion.

“Austin, wouldn’t you introduce your bride to us?” I remembered his mother say.

His expression went rigid as he wrapped his arm around my waist. “I… I didn’t know you’d both be here.”

“This is your wedding, how could we miss it?” the old woman said, she looked hurt.

“Well… thank you for coming. This is my lovely bride, Maggy, as you know by now.” Austin glanced at me. “Sweetheart, they are my…” He cleared his throat. “P-parents. They’re Alexandra and Benedict.”

Austin’s huge body blocked me from greeting his parents. “The wedding is about to start. We have to go now. I will talk to them later.”

And then the grand wedding started. Everything was so breathtakingly beautiful but I couldn’t appreciate them. For reasons I couldn’t understand, Benedict’s face kept popping in my head. I saw him on a wheelchair. I was also bothered by Alexandra’s reaction after seeing me. She seemed to be in pain.

When I felt Austin gently squeezed my hand, that’s when I noticed that the Priest repeated his question for the third time. I sighed and tried to focus on the wedding. Even if there were a thousand things in my mind, I’m still sure of one thing. I love Austin. And he had a lifetime to answer all of my questions and I have a lifetime as well to understand and absorb everything.

I tried to smile at the Priest. “I… I do, Father.”

For the next minutes, I just went with the flow until the Priest declared us as husband and wife. We headed inside the mansion where the reception was being held. Austin excused himself for a while to talk to Alano. I agreed but I was startled when I saw them in a heated argument a few meters away from me. Not long after and Ansel joined them, too. I recognized his face because I saw it in the living room. Austin only had his siblings’ pictures inside the mansion.

“Alexandra raised them so well that’s why they are good people, too. Their names start with A. They are Ansel, Alano, and my youngest, Austin.”

I stiffened. The air-conditioner was on but I still found myself perspiring.

Judging from the few things that I started to remember, my parents did not die in an accident. Someone deliberately wanted to kill them. And that someone was Benedict. Coincidentally, Austin’s father had the same name. And the names which the man in my memory told me were the same as the names of McClennan brothers.

I stared at the crowd, feeling helpless. I don’t know what to think or do anymore. All I know was I needed to talk to my sister but I don’t know how. I haven’t heard from her ever since I was in the hospital. Was she that busy that she couldn’t even come see me?

I glanced at Austin. He still looked like he was fighting with his brothers. What’s happening? We got married almost a month after his proposal. I didn’t question it before because it felt right before. But… not anymore.

Right now, Austin just gave me so many things to be unsure about.

My headache was getting worse. Austin and I already had our first dance as a couple earlier. The programs that were prepared for us were over, too. And now, all the guests were just having a good time eating and dancing around. While I’m stuck here in one corner. After a while, I saw Austin’s mother heading towards my direction. She was pushing Benedict’s wheelchair.

I quickly stood up. My heart kept racing as they get closer and closer. My knees began to shake and I feel like someone was smashing my head.

Ansel, Alano, Austin… Benedict McClennan…

I stared at the old man’s face. He was pale, thin, and he looked ill. And I could tell in my heart that I knew him. His eyes, his nose, his mouth… all those were familiar.

“Yalena, you have to eat,” I closed my eyes at the new memory that I regained.

I went to my sister who was currently weeping. I put the tray on the bedside table. “Please eat even a little, Yana.”

“I hate him so much, Maggy. How can he kill people just like that?” she yelled instead. “Someday, I will avenge our parents! I will get even! I will send him back to hell and I will never stop until I ruin Benedict McClennan!”

I closed my eyes and covered my ears when I kept hearing my sister weeping. It’s echoing in my head.

“Child, can we please talk for a moment? I heard about your amnesia.”

I shuddered when it was Alexandra’s voice that I heard next. I slowly opened my eyes. She was looking at me with reluctant eyes. My eyes went to her ex-husband’s face.

Oh, God!

I was mortified. My memories kept coming, they kept hitting me like tidal waves. All of them were coming back. All the happiness, the pain, the regrets, everything including the forbidden love Austin and I had for each other and the things that took place when I left my condo unit. I remembered how Lester attempted to kill me and how Austin betrayed me and took me for a fool when I still had amnesia.

My chest tightened. I looked at the wedding gown I was wearing. God, I just married my enemy’s son. What on Earth have I done?

My knees trembled but my heart was raging with fury. I clenched my hands tightly and walked past Alexandra. I hate myself for my past decisions and I hate Austin for what he did. But most of all, I hate his father. If not for him, I would have enjoyed this wedding. And I would have felt so happy.

I was about to go to the comfort room when somebody grabbed my arm. When I turned around, my eyes widened when I saw Yalena. Even if she was wearing dark glasses and blonde wig that barely reached her nape, I knew in an instant that it was her. We have this certain connection that no one can replace. She dragged me inside the comfort room and locked the door after making sure that there was no one else inside.

“What the hell is this amnesia thing that I’ve been hearing around here?” She asked right away. “I’ve been trying to contact you for months! I was worried that’s why I came here. Clarice isn’t answering any of my calls either. I only got to talk to Radha and she told me that she couldn’t reach you out. I’ve been in this country for almost two weeks now but I couldn’t get near you because of the tight security. I had to wear this freaking attire and date an asshole who was invited to this wedding in exchange of being here tonight. What’s happening?”

Tears shimmered in my eyes. “We need to change our plans, Yalena.”