“You are going to be an older brother.” June said to a young Luis during dinner a few weeks later.
The entire family gathered for a small dinner. Evelyn, Lucy, and Carson were present alongside Mrs Beatrice who celebrated the wonderful news.
“I’ll be a grandmother!” Mrs Evelyn cried, “I’m so happy for you, my child.”
The evening was a cozy one as they all congratulated the couple on the news.
“You are finally getting all the good things you deserve.” Lucy said, “I’m so happy for you.”
The night was not over as June decided to add another joyful news to the equation.
It was her mother’s wedding anniversary and she hoped to brighten the day with some good news for Mrs Evelyn.
“Thank you all for coming to celebrate with me.” June said in a speech, “I want to use this medium to appreciate everyone for your intense support.”
She turned to Mrs Evelyn. “You’ve been the best mother to me, helping me through the hardest part of my life.”
“Child…”
“I just want to thank you. I am in a happy place now and I realize just how much you have contributed to my life.”
“I cannot imagine losing Rafael and I understand the pain you must feel today, being my father’s death anniversary.”
“I have a small gift for you,” June pulled out some documents and handed them over to her. “I was able to get back the company rights to Rivera stores.”
Mrs Evelyn’s glass fell from her hands. “W-what…. but A-April-”
“My sister lost both Rivera and the Lontoc group of companies. However, I was able to get them back.”
Everyone looked shocked as June produced the papers. “You have suffered harshly from April’s betrayal, and I hope that you can find closure and pursue your own happiness moving forward.”
Mrs Evelyn burst into tears as she stared at the documents which had been transferred to her name. In one day, she got the good news that she would become a grandmother and her husband’s lost life work was recovered.
Her joy knew no bounds and her entire system flooded with love, gratitude and an overwhelming feeling of joy, all at the hands of her daughter.
The night moved on and soon news of Mrs Evelyn taking over ownership of Lontoc and Rivera group of companies made headlines.
The news went far and wide, travelling to North City and eventually getting to the ears of April who watched the news with a grim expression.
Her body shook with anger at the sight of her mother and sister’s picture which was splattered on the news. Over time, she heard a lot of good news regarding June which made her vengeful.
How dare they live a good life while she was stuck in another country, unable to reveal her true identity?
There and then, April decided to visit South City. She would never have her rest until she ruined her sister’s life and came up top.
One day, April got wind of information on the Cordel family house. Apparently, a funeral was set to take place in South City.
One belonging to a member of the Fernando family. April dug into the information and found it was the young nurse she’d contracted to kill June in the hospital.
With more digging, she found out that it was a funeral hosted by her sister, making it a must attend for April, who immediately plotted out ways to get the approval of her boss.
Soon enough, it was time for the funeral. June and the team invited Sharon to the event, hoping they could finally bury the hatchet and pay their last respect to the deceased.
The air was bleak as the casket was lowered to the ground. Rafael held on to June who cried her eyes out.
Unknown to them, Sharon stepped into the event minutes ago, witnessing her twin sister getting buried in the floor.
After the procession, Sharon made to leave quietly but Lucy caught her, drawing attention to her presence.
June half expected Sharon to lash out, or at least cry, but it was the opposite. Sharon took off her cap and bowed her head respectfully.
“Thank you.” She muttered, lips trembling. “Thank you for everything.”
June closed the distance between them, and engulfed her in a hug. “I should thank you.” June whispered into her ears. “Thank you for showing up.”
The family went to a nearby restaurant where Sharon detailed her plans to travel out of the country and begin a new life.
Her flights were booked for the evening and everything was right on track. “Do not hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything.” June said to her, and after a much needed closure, they parted ways.
Rafael’s mother was much better in the following months. These days, she was able to leave the house with a walking stick and her relationship with Mrs Evelyn grew strong.
They casually went shopping and spent time together, each fussing about their children.
“I don’t think they have any plans for a wedding.” Mrs Beatrice said to Evelyn in a fashion store. “They are both so busy and enamored with each other, they forget the basic things.”
Mrs Evelyn didn’t care for big or small weddings, she only cared to have her family living in peace. Nevertheless, she wasn’t purely against the idea of having a wedding.
“We should give them a surprise wedding!” Mrs Beatrice suggested. “Something beautiful and for the record. What do you think?”
Mrs Evelyn took off a gown from the rack. “I think it’s doable. Except from the surprise part. It’s hard for anything to get past my daughter these days and it’s been a while since I arranged any social meetings.”
“I agree.” Mrs Beatrice said, “I am rusty with the trends of this generation.” Her eyes suddenly glowed. “What if we hired someone?! That way, they can organize the wedding and we will just show up.”
“Did you say surprise wedding?” A man said from one of the aisles. “I think I know someone who can pull that off.”
Mrs Beatrice’s eyes glittered. “You see! Even heaven is on our side this time around.”
The man smiled softly, Mrs Evelyn thought the smile familiar but shrugged off the notion.
“Here you go.” The man handed over a complimentary card. “They are the best at surprise weddings, parties and everything else.”
“You won’t have to lift a finger and I assure you it will be an unforgettable day.”
Mrs Beatrice gingerly took the card. “Oh great, thank you so much.” The man walked away with his head bowed and even took a look at the paper.
A number was scribbled on it and its pattern seemed familiar. Before she could turn around, the man disappeared into the mall.