Chapter 38—Forgiven?
After a hectic week, Danica had fully recovered but she was still in the hospital. The doctor had announced that she would be fine soon. Danica would sleep most of the time due to her medication, but Aziel, Tatiana, Gabrielle, and Trevor would visit her. Troy stayed with her the entire week without taking a break. Only in the afternoon, others would stay with Danica while he would go to his house to freshen up.
Danica decided to speak everything from the beginning today since she was feeling better. Gabrielle knew the entire truth from before, so she decided to take care of Aziel by staying in the Rose mansion.
Troy, Trevor, Tatiana, and Ryan Bennett, Trevor’s father, were stationed in Danica’s hospital room waiting for her to speak. Troy was sitting next to Danica by pulling a chair for himself near the bed she was settled on. He had his hand over hers, assuring her that he was there for her, forever.
“After my parents died, I was living in my house with Aziel peacefully until one day my aunt and uncle came to our house. I thought they were there to ask about our situation and whether we were okay or not,” she started speaking, “But I was wrong. Uncle Rein showed me the legal documents where it was written that my mom’s business was registered under Aziel’s and my name. We were the fifty percent shareholder, while he was the other fifty percent shareholder as it was my mom's self-established business. If something happens to me or Aziel, Uncle would be the full owner of the business since he was her only brother.”
“Then?” Troy asked, which made Danica aware that he was listening to her intently.
“I said that we would sign whatever papers needed,” she continued, “But I wasn’t eighteen yet. Even if I handed over my shares, Aziel couldn’t sign his over since he was underage. Uncle and Aunt pretended to be okay with it and told me to sign it on the day of prom when I would turn eighteen as well.”
“So, you signed off the papers and left without attending the prom?” Trevor mumbled.
Danica nodded her head. “I signed the papers and I wanted to attend the prom because I promised Troy.” She glanced at Troy and a tear slid down her eyes. “I couldn’t attend because I overheard my aunt and uncle planning to kill Aziel and get his share of the property as well. My aunt even suggested to kill me first since I was Aziel’s legal guardian now, and then, they would torture Aziel till he turned eighteen by getting custody. Then I listened to them celebrating the death of my parents, whom they killed and made it look like an accident.”
Trevor’s father, Ryan, was recording everything as proof against Rein Celsus and Alyssa Celsus, Danica’s uncle, and aunt.
“That is cruel,” Tatiana blurted out.
Troy wiped Danica’s tears with his other hand and said, “So you ran away. You didn’t even think of telling any of us. We could’ve helped, Dani.”
She grabbed Troy’s other hand and said, “I am sorry. I was really scared, and I didn’t think straight. I booked the tickets to New Jersey since my admission was confirmed beforehand. Then I ran away with Aziel.”
“But they were aware of your location, weren’t they?” Trevor inquired.
She shook her head. “They didn’t bother to find us as long as we were away from California. They got to rule over Mom’s entire business.”
“How did you get the money to live there?” questioned Ryan.
“They took my mom’s money and business, but I had my dad’s money. He was a famous chef, so I continued using his money. Then I started designing clothes for others as a part-time job,” Danica responded. “Also, I took Aziel to a therapist, who made him forget a few bad memories. He only remembers the good times.”
“Do you know Kenji was the one who ran you over?” Troy informed Danica. “But we couldn’t catch him because he was out of California, along with Hernan. Kenji is a wanted man here now.”
“Was he working under my uncle?” she questioned Troy, who nodded his head.
“It turns out that your uncle promised to make Kenji a model for his business and give him a salary if he successfully killed you and Aziel.”
All of a sudden, Danica remembered one more thing, so she looked at Ryan and said, “After coming back here, I received a threatening letter at Rose mansion. Maybe it was Kenji in the servant’s disguise or something.”
“Do you have the letter?” Ryan asked curiously.
“Yes, it is in the drawer of the nightstand,” she told him.
“Trevor, tell Gabrielle to find it and send it to me by a driver,” Ryan ordered Trevor.
“Okay, Dad,” said Trevor and grabbed his phone to text Gabrielle.
“Okay, Danica, is there anything else you want to say?” Ryan got up from the couch and asked. When she shook her head in denial, he said, “Well, we have enough proof already so don’t worry. I will put Mr. Rein Celsus, Mrs. Alyssa Celsus, and Kenji Abraham behind bars by tomorrow. Leave it all to me and take care of your health.” With that, he got out of the cabin, Trevor following him to see him off.
“I better give a press release that Danica is okay. People are crying for over a week for you, Dani,” Tatiana informed her and got out of the room as well, leaving Danica alone with Troy.
Danica looked at Troy. In order to break the awkward silence, she said, “I am sorry for not telling you earlier. I was afraid that I might be putting y’all in danger.”
“But you told Gab,” Troy pointed out, making her feel guiltier than before.
“I regretted that moment after telling her the truth. I didn’t want to make the same mistake of informing everyone and risking their lives, so I stayed quiet,” she explained.
Troy arched an eyebrow. “You didn’t tell me about the threat letter either.”
“I wanted to go back, remember?” Danica said to him. “It was because I received the letter and I ran to you because your comfort gives me peace, Troy,” she mumbled the last few words, tears sprinkling through her eyes.
“You are so stupid, Dani,” Troy let out and pulled her into a hug.
She placed her head over his chest, wrapping her arms around him as she continued to cry. “I am sorry for not attending the prom.”
While caressing her hair, Troy chortled. “You really are stupid. You still think I am upset about the prom.”
“Are you not?” Danica furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
“Just stay quiet. We will talk about everything once you get discharged from the hospital, which should be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” he told her.
A question hovered in Danica’s mind, so she ended up asking, “Do you really love me, Troy? I remember you confessing your love before I lost my consciousness.”
A small smile took over Troy’s lips, but he didn’t answer her. “You need rest, Dani.”
Troy wanted to confess his love for Danica, but wouldn’t it be nice if he didn’t ask her to be his real-life girlfriend in a romantic way? He wanted his proposal to be one of the best requests ever. He wanted Danica to feel special. She deserved every bit of happiness and love possible.
Meanwhile, after announcing Danica’s recovery, Tatiana noticed a trending video on WhyNTube live. She clicked on it, only to find out a drunk Hernan confessing the fake relationship between Troy and Danica. Hernan informed the people on a livestream that Troy and Danica were never in a relationship, to begin with.