He doesn’t know anything about his parents anymore. He is lost in silent regret and yet, he wouldn’t say it out. His dad was right, he’d become a stranger to them.
“It’s alright Adrian. I understand what you are going through. I know that one day, you’ll have that peace and pardon again…” Richard encouraged.
“I have the peace now, what I’ve always blamed myself for, is not really so. But the pardon seems like an insurmountable mountain, for me…” Adrian responded, speaking in unclear terms.
It would be great news to his dad, as much as it is to him, that Ava is in X-city as Aurora Blake. Isn’t that what peace meant, absence of worries?
“Everything is eventually going to be alright son. We’ll survive and overcome this phase of our lives. But reach out to your Mom, she misses you a lot” Richard advised.
“It’s alright dad, I’ll do so. If there are no improvements, let me know” Adrian concluded. When he hung up, he sighed softly. What is wrong with Mom? The last thing he wants so desperately now, is definitely not hearing about his mom’s illness. How can his Mom become so sick within the shortest time and have gone for chemotherapy?
Or had she been hiding it from him all these while?
In his hotel room, Patrick Connor was restless. He paced around and eventually stood with his back against the wall. What is Adrian thinking about him?
In what words and language would he use to explain to Adrian that would justify his actions? No reason whatsoever is grounded and firm enough to express how helpless he felt about not telling him what he knows.
The kind of stare that Adrian gave him that evening was enough to express the height of disappointment and betrayal he felt when he saw him with Ava.
Aurora doesn’t want him to inform Adrian about her existence. According to her, it was better that he kept thinking that she was dead.
But will Adrian believe him? Will he agree with his idea of keeping Aurora’s desire, keeping her secret for her? Gosh, this is what it means to be between the rock and a hard place.
As much as he could henceforth, he doesn’t want to interfere with their lives. They should sort themselves out. And whoever comes to him on how to go about it, he would say it simply but truthfully what he or she needs to do.
Next morning, Adrian drove to the gym, Santiago’s gym to be precise. The latter didn’t say a word to him at the first but kept doing their exercises until Adrian paused.
His curiosity taking hold of him “Santiago, talk to me. You’re mad with me right?” He asked, all sweaty as his muscular glittering skin was covered with beads of sweat.
Towel drying his face, Santiago paused and turned to rest his gaze on him “Am I wrong if I’m mad with you, Adrian?” trying to suppress his feeling of unpleasantness.
Shouldn’t he be mad with him for turning his sister to a woman who is loveless? Someone who doesn’t believe in love, someone who thinks love is a fairytale, an assumption of feelings and not real?
She is seeing how their parents love each other, how he loved Charlotte but yet, she doesn’t believe in love. Relationship was a taboo to her ears and all she cares about excludes love, relationship and being acquainted with the opposite gender.
Isn’t it enough for him to be mad with him?
“Yes, you should be mad with me. Anyone and everyone who hears or knows of my marriage to Ava would definitely be mad with me. Even my family is mad with me and I am mad with myself as well…” Adrian explained.
Santiago furrowed his brow. He really was unhappy with himself that much? And his family unhappy with him as well?
“It was too late when I realized everything. I’m sorry but spare me a few minutes, I’ll explain everything to you” he paused to get Santiago’s acceptance before continuing”My family forced me into marrying Ava back then, my grandfather practically imposed it on me at the time when I was in love with another woman.
And he made it the only prerequisite for me to become his heir…..” Adrian explained everything to Santiago. When he got to the point where he heard that Ava was dead, he paused, sniffled and a lone tear dropped from his eyes.
“I swear on my life that had I know she wasn’t the ashes that I buried, I would have searched everywhere possible in the world for her, just to tell her that I am sorry for my past deeds towards her…” Adrian stuttered.
This was too much for him to put it into words how he felt about her when she died. And that was when he started falling in love with her.
Santiago was quiet. He loves Adrian but he loves his sister more. Aurora sobbed because of Adrian and now, the latter appeared to be remorseful.
“You hurt her too much Adrian. Being a rich lady or being poor is not the yastic to dehumanise anyone. The height of your hatred for my sister was sending her to jail…” he scowled.
“You’re right Santiago, absolutely. But I regret and I’m sorry. The scene I saw makes me refuse her denial. And the dagger used on my grandfather has her fingerprints. So I thought she was being defensive” Adrian explained.
But somewhere in his heart, he knew that his mom wanted Ava away from them. He wouldn’t have called the police on her, if his mother hadn’t. But it’s late now, the deed has been done.
“Was it just because of what you said or because you had someone else you love and you’re finding ways to push her away from your home and lives and bring the woman you love?
She told me everything, especially the night of your second wedding anniversary. How can you be so cold towards a woman? Even if you don’t love her, give her some respect.
You made it so glaring that you do not like her, not a bit. If she really had died in that storm, you would have been happy to be with the one you love. And despite your heartlessness, you still slept with her?
How were you able to do that? I can’t make love to a woman I hate so much as you hated my sister. And if I do it, I become lenient with her. How did you do it Adrian?” Santiago bellowed.
This is absurd, absolutely absurd.
“Yes, that’s also a major part of it. I loved the wrong woman. I detest Ava because of her and all I craved for was owing her as my wife. But she’s a fake, a complete fake. I’m sorry Santiago” Adrian pleaded.
As for making love to Ava, he’ll keep that a secret between them both except she tells her brother the details of it. He would never say that he made that baby with her by mistake.
“It’s not about me. I am not the one you should be apologising to, because I wasn’t the one hurt and wounded by you. Find Aurora and apologise to her instead.
And as it is now, I doubt it if she would ever forgive you. Just get prepared, she’s sending you a divorce papers soon to end that miserable marriage she had with you..” Santiago snorted, going off to take a shower when Adrian pulled him back and forced his sweaty body against his in a hug.
“Please Santiago, I don’t want a divorce with her. I love her now, I swear I love her. I don’t want to get separated from my wife ever again…” he pleaded in a shaky voice.