Chapter 25

(Austin)

MAGGY greeted me with a slap right after I stepped inside the master bedroom. This was supposed to be our room from today onwards because the house that we’re supposed to live in wasn’t finished yet. I looked away when I saw how pain and hatred crossed her eyes. It wasn’t so hard to guess that she now knew the truth.

At least it happened after the wedding, I thought bitterly.

After my argument with my brothers, I searched for Maggy downstairs. When I talked to Alano, I asked him to send our parents back to Olongapo for the meantime. I made a promise that I would follow them to talk to them first thing tomorrow.

I was scared that seeing my parents, most especially my father, would trigger some of Maggy’s memories to return. I felt how apprehensive she was when she saw Dad. That was the reason why I hid the details of the wedding to my parents. I only invited some close friends and business partners. I also thought Ansel would stay longer in Davao just like he said that’s why I was confident to have the wedding in our mansion for Maggy’s safety. The church wedding would follow once we’ve caught her assailant.

But I guess it won’t happen anymore.

Ansel came back yesterday but he quickly disappeared after he found out about the wedding. I didn’t know that he went to Olongapo to personally pick up our parents. And earlier, he questioned me for keeping the wedding a secret to our parents. But he calmed down a little after I made an excuse and told him that I was only thinking about Dad’s safety. It wasn’t convenient for him to travel since he had received countless of death threats before we were able to hide him away from the public.

“I remember everything now, Austin. Why? Why did you do that?” She hissed as she punched me on the chest over and over again.

I accepted all of it. I anticipated this.

“Wasn’t Benedict’s sins enough? You tricked me! How dare you take advantage of the situation?”

I stopped Maggy’s hands when she started becoming hysterical that’s why I noticed her finger. It pierced my heart when I no longer saw her wedding ring there when just a few hours ago, I happily put it on her dainty finger.

Maggy sobbed. “Why are you so cruel? What did I do for you to treat me like this? You are just as despicable as your father!”

Her tears broke my heart. Hell… what was I supposed to say? That I was afraid she would disappear in my life? That I did it all for love? Suddenly, it hit me. Maggy was right. I’m probably just as vile as Dad. I took my wife away from the only family member she had left, from all the people and things that would remind her of her past.

“I know it’s crazy but I just wanted to show you what could have happened if not for what Dad did to you and your family. The things that took place when you suffered from amnesia, those were supposed to be how things about us would flow had my father not ruined everything. We could have gotten married and have our own happy ending. I’m sorry,” I said. I blinked twice to fight back the tears. “Yes, I took advantage of the situation so I could own you even for a while without Dad’s sins getting in the way.”

Maggy finally stopped struggling, but she was still crying.

“I tried my best to create a fairy tale for the two of us because I know, once your memories return, we would also return to our real tragic story. You would leave me regardless of what you feel for me and we would separate ways again, never knowing what could have happened if we didn’t.”

Maggy pushed me away and sat on the bed. “I hate you,” she said in a broken voice. “I hate you so much.”

“I know and I love you, Maggy,” I replied with a heavy heart. “I love you so much.”

(Maggy)

SADNESS clouded my face. A part of me understood Austin’s reasons. My husband had a point. The things that occurred when I had amnesia were how our relationship would have naturally flowed if not for our past that was restricting the both of us.

The excitement, the joy, and the warmth that I felt for the past few months made me feel so alive. The best days of my life happened when I was with him… when I had amnesia. Back then, even with the missing pieces in my life, my days were still filled with hope and with love for him.

But now, I feel like a heroine in some tragic story.

Austin kneeled before me. “I am so, so, sorry, sweetheart. I only wanted us to be happy even for a while.”

He buried his face on my lap and wept. And my heart wept with him, too. I clenched my hands tightly to stop myself from embracing him. I feel like I would be the world’s greatest loser if I would end up accepting him after what his father did. I already failed to obtain justice for my parents. I failed to keep my promise to them. The least I could do was to not get involved with the family of the man who killed them.

“You know, that day when I thought everything was going to collapse right before me because I couldn’t remember a single thing about myself, I saw a man, a really handsome one.” I smiled bitterly. “He looked at me with such tenderness in his eyes. Little did I know, he was the man I was in love with. He smiled at me and like a miracle, my heart became at ease. And at that very moment, I fell for him again.”

Austin slowly lifted his face. Our eyes met. In the end, we both reached out and wiped each other’s tears.

“I won’t deny it anymore. The life you created for us during those struggling times was really the life I once dreamt for us. And I appreciate that, Austin.” I held his hands. “Like you said, what we had then was almost a fairy tale where pain and misery didn’t exist. But we can’t keep pretending, can we? We can’t keep living the kind of life that isn’t meant for us. This is not a fairy tale, Austin. Maybe that’s the reason why I regained my memories. Because it’s time we wake up from this fantasy to face the reality.”

I released his hands and stood up. I glanced at my wristwatch. It was eight in the evening. Yalena was already waiting for me outside. I told her what happened when I still had amnesia. It infuriated her more. Now, she hated not only Benedict but also Austin. I didn’t tell her about my feelings for him, though. She didn’t need to know that anymore.

And as expected, Clarice was not spared from her anger. Yalena promised that when the right time comes, she would come for Clarice and interrogate her.

I took a sharp breath. I don’t have any belongings that I would take with me tonight aside from the jeans, blouse, wristwatch, and shoes that I’m wearing right now because those were what I wore when I had an accident that changed my life.

“I will just send the annulment papers through my lawyer,” I said in a low voice. “Goodbye, Austin.”

I was about to open the door when Austin embraced me from behind.

“Don’t leave, I beg you. It’s still too dangerous for you. The criminal wasn’t caught yet—”

“The cops are already chasing Lester as we speak. He’s the assailant and my assistant’s former live-in partner.”

When Yalena found out who caused the accident, she used all her connections and called some of the government officials in this country that she met when she was in Nevada. She asked for their help to locate Lester. I know my twin wouldn’t stop until she sends him back to prison.

“Years ago, I sent Lester to prison through my sister’s help. He did that to me because he wanted to retaliate. But you don’t need to worry anymore. Things are under control now. I don’t have any reason to keep staying here.”

Yalena only gave me three hours to settle what needs to be settled before we leave the country. During those hours, she kept sending me text messages. When we met, she gave me an extra phone. And when she called earlier, she informed me that there would be cops who would escort us to the mansion of a business tycoon that she knew. And that person owned a private jet that would send us back to Nevada tonight.

Radha would leave with us. I went along with Yalena’s plan. I have nowhere to go anyway. Nevada was my home. And I would feel safer there. When Austin’s embrace tightened, a sad smile bent on my lips. Who was I kidding? Austin’s arms were my home and will always be.

“This is insane but regardless of what happened, I still think you belong in my arms, Maggy. I will wait for your return every day. I will hold on to our wedding vows—”

“Then you will be waiting for the rest of your life,” I responded in a raspy voice.

“I don’t mind. People say that love is a powerful thing, that it conquers all. So I will wait for the day that love conquers even this pain. Go for now,” he added softly. “When you leave, you will carry my heart with you. I hope it guides you back to my arms one day.”

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying. I removed his hands from my waist and quickly left the room.