PAYBACK IS A BITCH

Chapter thirty six: The end

Forty years later

Isla achieved what she set out to achieve: becoming the best divorce attorney in the city. She never lost a case. She was a force to be reckoned with. Though her work life was a success, the same couldn't be said for her personal life.

Her life with Billy and everything that happened in between made it impossible for her to give her all to someone again and to love freely, and she ended up marrying three husbands before the end of her life.

She managed to take her secret to her grave, and no one ever suspected the role she played in all the misfortunes that fell on the Reinhardts family.

She lived well with her children, and they grew closer each year.

She succumbed to death at the ripe age of ninety, and today, on this rainy day, her three kids are laying her to rest.

They were all gathered at the city's burial ground, friends and family, each attired in black, holding a black umbrella to shield them from the drizzle.

Dave, Josh, and Sophie have grown up with their families. Though the loss of their father years ago left a hole in their hearts, they were able to live through it because of their stepmother. She was everything to them, and they have come to pay their last respects to her.

Her friends, those still alive, also came, even though they were all old.

The only surprise at the burial is the appearance of Kate, their first stepmother. The kids were shocked to see her and immediately approached her when Bella was put to the ground.

At the age of ninety, Kate still looked beautiful, with her magnificent hair now turning all silver. She, too, remarried and had kids but has never been able to forget her life with the Reinhardt.

She had been at their father's burial. After she was discharged from the mental institution, she wanted to apologise to the kids for the way she treated them. They had just lost their mother, and she wasn't there for them.

Also, she felt terrible for being with Billy while he was still married. Her stay in the mental institution helped her put a lot of things into perspective.

Karma got her back for sleeping with a married man cause that is what she believed happened between Billy and their nanny. She couldn't be angry with the girl because she did the same thing. Not brave enough to face the kids that time, she had walked away.

This gave her another opportunity to apologise for everything she did to hurt the kids.

After her story and apology, the kids stared at her with their mouths ajar, confused about how to react.

Josh was the first to make a move. "We forgive you, Mum," he hugged the older woman.

His words made Kate tear down, and when Sophie and Dave joined in the hug, she cried harder.

After their reunion, Kate introduced her stepchildren to her other children. They were happy to make each other's acquaintances and promised to keep in touch.

As evening approached and the guests dwindled, the kids sent their families back to their hotels and stayed back to sort their stepmother's things.

While they were sorting through her things, Sophie found an old diary hidden in a secret compartment in the closet.

"Guys, I found Mom's diary," she yelled to her brothers on the other side of the house. Their curiosity drove them to join her in the bedroom.