Chapter 167 Claiming What is Mine
At the graveside, where Mrs Anderson was laid to rest next to her late husband, Martin's phone rang, and he excused himself from the rest to answer. He returned to join them and whispered something into Bryce's ear. Bryce just nodded and returned his focus to the details engraved on the tombstone of Mrs Anderson.
"Angela, there is something you need to know, and I think now is the best time," Bryce began, and Angela turned to stare at him, standing by her side with her tears-stained face. "It's something you all need to know," he added, drawing Zora's attention too.
"What is it?" Angela asked in her frailed voice, wondering what had happened again.
"Angela, your father, Mr Adams, was not the mastermind behind the whole business failure issue, like you were made to believe. He may have agreed to do the wrong thing, but it was all Devon Moore's doing," Bryce said, and both Zora and Angela's eyes widened.
"What are you talking about?" Angela asked, puzzled.
"Your father, Mr Adams, was indeed the financial manager of the new company set up by Devon Moore, Mr and Mrs Anderson and himself," Bryce began. "But it was Devon who transferred Mr and Mrs Anderson's shares, and he put it under Mr Adams's name, making it look like he had moved the shares. When your father found out, Devon struck a deal with him, asking him to be quiet about it, and he gave him his shares too. Your father was a business-minded person, but I am not sure what he was thinking. He rolled with Devon's plan only to be framed as the one buying them out. Devon plotted with Mr and Mrs Adams to take out your father, but Devon again went behind them and instructed the hired men to clear the entire family, including you. Mr and Mrs Anderson heard what had happened and decided to take you in. It was Mr and Mrs Anderson who had all the men hired to carry out the murder of Mr Adams, taken out for killing Mrs Adams and shooting you in the process," he narrated, and Angela gasped.
She had never heard this side of the story. She had always thought her father's greed led to the demise of her family. She was only finding out today that Devon Moore was the mastermind behind the whole thing, and Mr and Mrs Anderson played a role in it. Zora was equally shocked.
"I reopened your father's case, and Devon has been arrested for his crime. Mr and Mrs Anderson here would have been arrested too for the role they played if they were alive. I just want you to know that those who murdered your innocent mother have all paid for their crimes," Bryce said, and Angela just hugged him.
She was not sure how to react to the new news. She was still processing everything she had heard. She had always seen Mr and Mrs Anderson as compassionate people who decided to give her a home when she lost her parents. She never knew it was their guilt that led them to make such a decision.
"Let's go home. You need to rest," Bryce said to Angela, who was still processing the new piece of information.
A whole lot of things were beginning to make sense to her now. Mr and Mrs Anderson doted on her, but they talked her out of finding those who murdered her parents.
"I want to visit my parents' grave. They were also buried here," Angela said, and Bryce nodded.
Angela led the way, and they ended up at the grave of Mr and Mrs Adams after a couple of walks.
"Mum, today, the truth about what happened ten years ago is out. I hope your spirit will find rest now that all those who committed this crime have paid," Angela said, staring at her mother's grave. She shifted her gaze to her father's grave. "We were happy, and I loved our family just the way we were. Why did you have to stoop so low?" she asked, and Bryce rubbed her shoulder gently, knowing that even though justice had been served, she was still hurting deep inside. "We could have still been together. I would have met Bryce under different circumstances, and maybe everything that happened wouldn't have. Innocent lives have been lost just to conceal the truth. I hope God forgives you," she added and turned around to hug Bryce in tears.
Bryce wrapped his arms around her, and Zora rubbed Angela's back, trying to help her calm down.
"I think we can go now," Bryce said, and Angela nodded.
They all started walking to the car. Zora's eyes caught sight of a man in a black long coat and a hat standing in front of a grave. He had a bouquet in his hand as he stood over a grave. Zora felt the person felt so familiar, but she was too far away from her home or the people she knew to think it was someone she knew.
"Someone you know?" Martin, who was trailing behind, asked Zora, seeing she was occasionally turning to look at the man standing in front of a grave which was not far away from the grave of Mr and Mrs Adams.
"No," Zora replied and focused her gaze on the exit.
They all got into the car and left the place for the apartment.
The man at the graveside pulled his phone out of his pocket.
"They just left. They believe everything is over," he said on the call. "Sure, I will keep monitoring them," he said, dropped the flower on the grave he was standing over and started walking towards the exit after ending the call.
At the apartment, Angela took a shower and lay down to rest. Zora went to the kitchen to prepare something for lunch. Bryce and Martin left the house to take care of a few things. In the absence of Bryce, Zora kept Angela company for the day.
The day slowly passed, and soon days passed, and Angela was slowly recovering from the whole incident.
A week went by after Devon was arrested, tried, and sentenced to prison. Bryce will usually go out in the morning and return by noon with Martin to keep Angela company.
This day was no different when Bryce returned home. It was the last day of a working week. A Friday. He walked onto the balcony and found Angela and Zora.
"How are you ladies doing?" Bryce greeted and kissed Angela on the cheeks.
"Great, managing the afternoon," Zora replied. "And keeping our will-be mother company," she added, and Angela smiled.
Her belly was now very visible as she was six months gone.
"Well, I have good news for us all," Bryce began, and Martin walked onto the balcony smiling.
"Okay," Angela said, smiling.
"I got everything back. I got the company back, and we are moving into a bigger apartment tomorrow," Bryce announced, and Zora squealed with joy.
"I am happy for you, Bryce," Angela said and stood up from her seat.
She hugged Bryce, beaming with joy.
"Does it mean that I get to go back to the office?" Angela asked.
"Not in this condition," Bryce said, and Angela made a face. "I would think about it," he said, and Angela smiled.
"Zora, how do you feel about working at Diamond Corporation?" Bryce asked Zora with his arms wrapped around Angela.
"I would love to," Zora said excitedly.
"We are rebranding the company. The name will be changed. I am thinking of naming the company after you, Angela," Bryce said.
"No, I would rather we name the company PEG Industries, after Patricia, Elena and my mother, Grace. They were the innocent lives lost in this. It would be nice to do something to remember them," Angela said.
"PEG Industries. I like the name," Bryce said. "I would name the company after them," he said.
"So now you have everything that belongs to you," Zora said.
"Yes, I am claiming what is mine. I mean everything that is mine," Bryce said and shifted his gaze to Angela. "So what do you say about getting married again before our little angel arrives?" he said.
"Aaahhhh, say yes, Angela," Zora screamed like it was her wedding.
"Yes," Angela replied, smiling, and Bryce kissed her.
Martin shifted his gaze to Zora and averted his gaze, not sure where to look.
It wouldn't be the first time he had seen Bryce and Angela kiss, but he had still not forgotten about the kiss Zora gave him.
"Awesome, we have a wedding to plan," Zora said, jumping up and down like a little girl.
At another location, a man was sitting behind a desk staring at a screen in front of him with a headset over his head. He was watching Bryce, Angela, Zora and Martin on his screen. He picked up his phone and made a call.
"Boss, Bryce has claimed everything that belongs to his father, and he is planning on marrying Angela," he informed him.
"Sure, I will keep an eye on them," he said. " They are moving out. I would do well to bug their new home too," he added. "Sure, boss," he said and ended the call.