It’s been three weeks since the accident and June was finally out of the woods. Her situation had been hidden from the general public to protect her while she recuperated in Rafael’s home.
Every day, Doctor Carson attended to her and today was no different. However, the details of her murder attempt were still unclear with no evidence to prove or ascertain how she got into that situation.
The Rivera mother and daughter duo had done a clean job, leaving no trace behind. Hence, June was needed to clarify some things.
“I was at the hospital when she suddenly dragged me into the closet.” June recounted the details of her murder attempt. “She told me how she made me unable to conceive by putting in some potions in my food while we lived together.”
“After stabbing me multiple times, she said I would be found by some people who would make it seem like it was suicide.”
A dry laugh evaporated from June as she spoke to Rafael and Doctor Carson who listened with tight faces as she narrated the ordeal. Each of them burning with one need – to get those bastards and have them pay for what they had done.
“I will ruin them. I will make them regret the day they were born!” Rafael proclaimed as soon as she was done talking, livid.
June shook her head. “Before I blacked out in that store room, I promised myself that I was going to get even. I promised that If I were given another chance to live, I would make sure every single one of them paid.”
Her eyes connected with Rafael. “You are not taking that away from me.” Her voice was cold. “I appreciate your help and concern but this matter is personal. I will take care of them in my own way. Please stay out of it.”
Rafael hated that idea. “You are my wife. It is my responsibility to ensure you are safe. And if your family are a threat to you, then it is my responsibility to take care of them.”
June bit her lips, caught in the crossroads of Rafael’s fury and her vendetta against her family. It didn’t help that her husband had been nothing but great to her in these trying times.
The last thing she needed was to make him feel disrespected or unappreciated. When Rafael saw the look on her face, he asked his bosom friend and doctor to excuse them for a while.
“I know you want to get me justice,” June said, baring her heart to him. “And I appreciate it. But I would never be happy if I didn’t destroy them with my own hands.”
“I want to see the look in their eyes when they find out I have taken everything from them. I need you to understand I need to handle this on my own.”
Seeing the determined look on her face, Rafael knew he couldn’t interfere. After everything she had been through, it was only fitting she got to do as she fit with those mongrels.
Nevertheless, he made sure she knew that the offer was still open, and would be whenever she felt things were out of her hands.
“Fine. I will not interfere with your plans. However, I will watch your back as you go on your plans. You should at least let me protect you while you go on to dish them the most cruel experience of their lives.”
June could tell that his offer was non-negotiable. And with how beautifully she was taken care of in her times of pain by this man and her beautiful baby, it was the least she could do.
She nodded and right then, Rafael placed a kiss on her forehead.
Ever since the accident, Rafael had become closer to her – working from home and ensuring she had everything at her beck and call.
One would never believe that their marriage was contractual, given how much care he gave her. To the point she was having a hard time keeping her beating heart still whenever he was around.
It’s been three weeks of marriage and although most of it was spent in pain as she recuperated from the attack, she could confidently state it was better than the three years she had slaved as Ethan’s wife.
The thought of them brought a fury in her heart that couldn’t be expelled. Henceforth, she would live her life with purpose. This was a new life and the former June was now dead and buried.
She was amassing a new identity, not only as Rafael’s wife and the mother/nanny of her dear Luis but as the no 1 foe of the Lontoc and Rivera family.
They wouldn’t know what hit them.
Later that day, Luis came to her room, which was looking like a hospital room with the materials that were littered around.
“Auntie!” He said with a smile as he sat down on a stool beside the bed. She was still unable to walk properly and required a lot of rest.
Which meant she was confined to her bed most of the time.
“I got you a new book.” The little angel stated and she couldn’t help the smile that made her way to her face.
“Oh really? What’s the name?”
Ever since her return home, Luis was homeschooled and he read her books every night and days during the weekend. Her heart was so full with the amount of love she got from her little prince every single day.
She couldn’t wait to finally be on her feet and treat him to the best he deserved.
“The Charismatic daughter-in-law!” He proclaimed. “The heroine of this story reminds me of you, auntie.”
That caught her attention, “Oh really?”
“Yes. She went through a lot of hardships but she overcome them all and dealt powerfully with the ones that hurt her!” Luis explained with passion. “Not only that, she also got married to a powerful man and lived happily ever after.”
“Isn’t that book a bit too much for your age?” She asked with a sweet smile, then made a knowing look. “Oh yeah! You are a genius! How could I forget?!”
June ruffled Luis’s hair and together, they had a beautiful evening, which led to the little one falling asleep beside her.
That night, Rafael came to the room to check on June and when he saw his son sitting on the stool with his face planted on a book by June’s bed, he felt his heart grow full.
Luis was never one to accomodate someone so wholeheartedly. Expecially one who wasn’t in the family. The picture before him gave him a picture of what he thought could have been if his wife was alive.
Pain seared in his heart at the thought of what could have been, to the point he couldn’t take seeing them together anymore. Quietly, he walked into the room, gathered his son in his arms and left the room after dimming the lights.
Tomorrow was going to be better. He thought as he headed for his son’s room. By the time he laid him to bed, Rafael headed for his room, a room he hadn’t entered for three years.
He felt the weigh of the key in his pocket and stood before it, wanting to go in and face what he had locked away, but couldn’t.
Rafael walked away from the door defeated and entered his office, per usual. He was going to need a drink to get through the night.