Chapter 86: The Acknowledged Truth

She knew it. Stacy was standing up then. She knew something was wrong and finally the story came to the part where they reveal to her the truth of her life. Her heart raced and she tried to prepare herself to hear it.

Hank knew it was inevitable. He would eventually have to tell her about all that happened in the gang and what she had gone through throughout the years. Will’s face got another shade paler. “Stacy,” he tried but his voice was so soft, nobody paid attention to him. His voice eventually faded out. He didn’t know what to say anyway. He felt like punching himself for bringing the whole topic to this.

“Soon, more and more people bowed to me and readily surrendered under my leadership. Mariana and Gus did the same. That’s how the Viper gang was formed. However, it was obvious who surrendered out of fear and who did it out of hatred. Many got near me just to find the chance to contribute to my downfall.

I knew who your real mother was. Mariana switched the children so that I would have mercy on her twins, thinking they were the children Lucy sacrificed her life to protect. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that I would hate both her and her child.

I knew that the enemies I kept close would target you, my real daughter. That’s why I played along conveniently, using her deceit as a shield to keep you alive.”

His face fell and he looked her right in the eyes. “By doing that, I successfully kept you alive. Just that, the life you had wasn’t really a smooth sail,” he gave her an apologetic look. “I kept Michael and Cecilia hidden from everyone to persuade those near me that I treasured them. I knew that they would be safe. Those two would keep their children alive.”

“Hold on..,” Will’s brows furrowed in confusion, “which two are you talking about? Aren’t those yours?” Hank gave him a side glance. “Mariana slept with Gus to gain favor. She lost everyone she could rely on so she could only find someone who had the same ambition to go against me.”

Mouths fell open. “Michael and Cecilia are Gus’s children?” Zalen shook his head in disbelief. Hank nodded. “That’s your sister lying in that room, fighting for her life,” Hank confirmed, nodding at Will. “Good job in helping with the machine. Now she might live.”

“You’ve had it hard throughout the years. Nobody really respected you as a human being. You were forced to work since young and people around used you as punching bags to vent their anger. I could only watch,” his voice took on an edge of despair. Stacy maintained her poker face as she listened.

“By the time you were nine, I had already gathered a group of loyal allies. As you grew up, I was afraid you might be abused in more terms other than labor. I decided to send you away,” his expression was pained.

“I placed my men there to make sure that your injuries were superficial, only for the front. They were supposed to keep you safe and look for a chance to escape with you so that you could eventually start a new life.”

A tear rolled down her cheek. The story sounded right, like a great plan. But something in her knew that things didn’t go accordingly. Her heart didn’t settle at that. There was more. Something else happened. She simply knew it.

Will scoffed. “Great plan! It’s such a nice way to say it.”

“But?” Stacy looked over at him and Will immediately closed his mouth and bowed his head, ducking away from her searching eyes.

“What’s the catch?” She looked at Hank. The man met her eyes readily.

“Before you could escape, the syndicate was attacked. And my men lost you. We have been searching for years and there was no news on you. It was as if you disappeared into thin air. I could only hope that a normal family adopted you and you could finally live the life you deserve.”

Right. That was what exactly happened. “Does anyone know what happened to me after that?” She looked around and was met with helpless faces. It seemed that that was the only information she could get from the people around her. Only she knew the continuation of the story. That was left for her to figure out on her own. Something in her knew it wasn’t as smooth as well, no matter the details.

Stacy suddenly smiled. Nothing went according to plan. Everything was destined to be messed up, just like the truth of her birth and her whole life.

Chad touched her arm, a worried look on his face. Her smile only brightened as she looked at him. She should feel sad. She should blame everyone and everything for the hard life she had. But she’s finally at peace. There was this empty and anxious feeling she had because she couldn’t remember anything. Despite the emptiness, she could feel something else, a void in her heart she couldn’t put a name to.

After listening to the story and knowing her origin, she finally understood why the void existed. She could finally relate the feelings to the story, even if she couldn’t put those emotions into words. She felt at peace, because she truly believed that the story was true. It wasn’t something made up to deceive her into thinking she lived a life she didn’t have. Everything aligned. She finally found the identity she’s been missing.

“Thank you,” she said with the same smile. It wasn’t forced. She’s totally sincere. “Thank you for telling me the truth. I was so tired of everyone trying to make up fairy tales to trick me into believing that I’m someone else.”

She was looking at Hank with the same calmness the man displayed. “I really appreciate it. It must be hard to narrate such a tragic past.”

She looked around at the worried faces. “I’m not sure how I used to handle everything but it seems that without the memories, I can finally handle my emotions with a level mind. Don’t worry about me. I’ll live,” she assured them, “if anything, I’m actually grateful. Despite what really happened in the past, I am here now, surrounded by a group of people that genuinely care for me.” She smiled at them.

“I hope that one day, when my memories return, I can still be as calm. I will try not to lose my mind, for I will remember how much each and every one of you cares for me. I’ll try to focus on what I have instead of what I’ve lost.

Thank you everyone present in the room, even though I have no memories of you, nor I know how our relationships were, I can feel your sincerity and care. I believe this acknowledgement and new memory will be what’s grounding me, keeping me from losing my mind in the future.”

‘And for that, I’m grateful.’