Versailles Series Book 8: The Designer [COMPLETED]

PART II: CHAPTER 48

~ marceline ~

The whole gang was in the hospital much to the nurse's dismay. Luna and Lake, Amara and Chael, Tabi and Calhoun, Sachi and Japeth, Simon, my mother, and Winter. My mom was at my side as the nurse stitched up my face.

My clothes are still covered in blood. Winter lent me his jacket as we went to the hospital. It all happened like a blur. Philip shielded me from Earl when he charged and was supposed to stab me even if he was shot in his knee. I remember Luna and Lake explaining to me Philip's status but I can't seem to understand anything. He's in the ICU for observation tonight.

"I took care of the event, Marceline. Please don't worry about that now." Sabi ni Simon.

"Let us know if you need anything." Tinapik ni Sachi ang kamay ko bago silang nagpaalam na tatlo.

"I need to talk to you, Marceline."

I looked at Winter. I am used to his serious face but something in his tone doesn't sit well with me.

"Magpalit ka na muna, anak. Sige na." Alok ni Maman.

I nodded and changed my clothes like I was on autopilot. By the time I was ready, Maman left us to talk privately. We booked a private room in the hospital where Philip will be transferred by tomorrow.

"Philip told me to tell you this if anything happens." He laid out a few papers in front of me.

"What are these?"

"These are DNA results, Marceline."

My forehead knotted. "I don't understand."

"Philip had a gut feeling that you were Grazhiella since the beginning. I know it was an absurd idea. He eventually told me that he was sure you two are different people. But then he came back again a few weeks ago and told me about your tattoo. It resembled the bracelet he gave to Grazhiella ten years ago." He showed me pictures of the bracelet. Some of the pictures were of Grazhiella wearing it. "He told me that each of the charms is engraved with a date and initials. G.D. Grazhiella dela Merced and her birthdate."

My hand flew to my mouth. Those exact specifications are the same ones I have on my bracelet. I knew that from my heart from the years' worth of staring at it.

"He got some samples from Lucilla, Grazhiella's grandmother and you. It matched. You are Lucilla's granddaughter. I tested the exhumed body against Lucilla. It was negative. I looked into the old case and there were a lot of discrepancies."

All the information is overwhelming for my barely functioning brain but I understand two things. I am Grazhiella and there was a cover-up on my "death" ten years ago.

"I heard Earl say a name. Bert. Sabi niya kasama niya noon si Bert para patayin si Grazhiella."

He showed me another picture. I didn't know the face but then again, my memories haven't come back yet. "This is Bert. He was a primary suspect then but was cleared off. I am rounding up the police officers involved in the case before. I should be getting some information about them in 24 hours."

"Am I right to understand that I am Grazhiella, Winter?"

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "It is a fucked up case. But yes, you are Grazhiella dela Merced. 30 years old."

"I take it your memories haven't returned yet?"

I shook my head. "No..."

Winter nodded. "I'll get back to you on the rape case as soon as I have the complete information. Also, I got hold of the rape footage shown in the fashion show. We are in the process of deleting all digital traces of it. It is a piece of strong evidence against Earl and Bert. Both of them were in it."

"Is he...is he still alive?"

Winter smirked. "As much as we wanted to kill him, we figured Philip wanted something else done to him. He's just...incapacitated. He's alive and will probably be for a long time. Damon is handling all legal matters. He is Philip's lawyer after all. He might drop by tomorrow with Philip's grandfather."

I nodded. "Thank you. I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm so lost."

He squeezed my shoulder. "Just hang in there. You're stronger than you think. I have designated some security staff for you and Philip. They are discreet so don't feel uncomfortable."

"Thank you, Winter. For everything."

Nang makaalis ito ay pumasok si Maman. She sat beside me on the hospital bed.

"I finally know who I am, Maman. I don't remember who I was but I know who I am. I am Grazhiella...I was her all this time..." Tears started rolling down my cheeks. It's like a dam broke down and my Maman held me tightly. All the fear and exhaustion is finally taking a toll on me.

"I'm sorry, anak. I kept some of the information from you about how I found you. Hindi ka lumalaboy noon. We found you in the middle of the road. Somebody left you there to die. If a driver was going fast enough, you have been run over. I didn't look for your family because I was afraid they were the ones behind attempting to kill you. I'm sorry, anak."

I shook my head. "You protected me, Maman. They would have found me if you looked for them. I still owe you my second life. I owe Philip my third one. I...I need to see him..."

Umiling si Maman. "He's still asleep, Marceline. He might wake up tomorrow. You need to eat and rest. You'll need it when you deal with him tomorrow."

"Where do I go from here, Maman? Sino na ba ako?"

Maman touched my chest over where my heart was. "What is this telling you?"

"I can't be someone I don't know, Maman. What if they all want me to be Grazhiella?"

"Don't hurt yourself with assumptions, Marceline. Hear them out."

I nodded. I ate a little before sleeping. When I woke up the following morning, I went to the ICU immediately. Philip was still sleeping just like how I left him.

"Feeling better?"

I looked at Luna who was standing beside me. She was wearing a protective gowns too like me.

"Physically better. Mentally and emotionally, I'm wrecked. Messed up."

I briefly told her what Winter told me yesterday. I told her what I was feeling and why am I conflicted.

"I've been there, once. When I was sent on a medical mission before, Lake and I weren't in the best place in our lives. I was determined to leave him. We were done. And then things happened. He saved me that day. He took bullets for me. I realized that I still loved him after all. I owed him my life, yes. But I didn't give him a chance to repay for what he did. The thought of losing him that day made me realize that I can't live like that. I love him so much, Marceline. We had issues but we love each other too much so we wanted to work those out. We should learn from our mistakes. Not make our lives revolve around them. The only direction we had was forward."

"He saved me, Luna. He wanted me to live my life. He said that to me like he wasn't going to be with me anymore."

"What did you think when you thought you were losing him?"

"It broke me, Luna. I saw how devastated he was when he said his farewell to Grazhiella. He told me how sorry he was for not being there to save her. He told me how sorry he was that he wouldn't be able to know how to live without her. He told me how sorry he was for trying to live his life and falling in love again. I felt that. I felt that when I saw his blood on my hands. I felt that when he went limp in my arms. I felt that when he stopped responding to me. I was scared. I was so scared that I wouldn't see him again."

"Do you love him, Marceline?"

"I love him very much."

"But you're also protective of yourself. It's normal. You don't have to defend your feelings to yourself. He broke your heart and for that, he should earn everything back. His risking his life will not erase all the mistakes. But maybe, just maybe he earned that chance to prove himself again." She squeezed my hands. "If there is one lesson I learned from you two? I learned that love will find you even if it's on different timelines. Even if it's on different lifetimes."

PART II: CHAPTER 49 >>