The Missing Manuscript

Epilogue

It's been five years. Five years since that incident happened.

I'm now a licensed psychologist, and I bet Zyir is now a successful journalist.

About Stellar, after she was apprehended by the police, she underwent a mental evaluation to determine if she was competent to stand trial.

Even though she was diagnosed as a psychopath, it did not automatically mean she was not criminally responsible. Thus, the court evaluated whether her mental state affected her ability to understand the wrongfulness of her actions at the time of the crime.

Since she was found guilty but was deemed mentally ill at the time of the crime, she was sent to a secure psychiatric facility instead of a regular prison.

She will stay there until she is rehabilitated and deemed no longer a threat to society. The duration of her stay is indefinite and depends on her progress in treatment.

Steven, on the other hand, will be imprisoned for 6 to 12 years because he was only an accessory, and his lawyer used a legal defense, arguing that he was unaware of the full extent of the crimes.

As for Mr. Stevan, he regained his memory and is now living peacefully in the States.

He sold his mansion, and I bought it. That mansion holds a lot of memories, both bad and sad, but I still want to remember it, even though it hurts.

I have no news about Arci and Chance, and I have no intention of finding out.

So much has happened in the past five years, and there is still much more to come.

Today is the day of their wedding.

Yes, Zyir and Rebecca are getting married.

Actually, I have not kept up with any news about him; I have avoided hearing anything about him.

But their wedding is big news here. Two prominent families are uniting, so their wedding has been widely discussed.

I'm actually planning to go to their wedding. I'm not there to cause trouble; that's not in my vocabulary.

I just want to see him after five years, and for the last time. After the police arrested Stellar and Steven, we didn't have a chance to talk again.

I get dress and put some make up on my face, because their wedding is about to start soon.

It's already 1:00 PM, and I'm here inside the church. The ceremony is about to begin.

She's beautiful. I once dreamed of walking down the aisle, with the man I love waiting for me at the altar.

But that dream will never come true. The man I loved is now at the altar, waiting for the woman who is walking down the aisle.

The scene is so magical.

Rebecca looks like a princess, and Zyir looks like a prince. They are perfect for each other.

I felt a pang in my chest at that thought.

I admit that I love him, but I still haven't forgiven him for what he did.

They say time heals all wounds, but not my wound.

I will probably carry the fear of trusting others for the rest of my life.

I will never give my trust again; it's too frightening to be betrayed and hurt once more.

I didn't realize Rebecca had reached the altar because I was lost in my own thoughts.

Zyir took her hand, and they faced the priest.

The officiant led the couple in taking their oaths. They exchanged vows, promising love and commitment. They exchanged rings as a symbol of their union. The officiant pronounced them married.

Zyir lifted Rebecca's veil and kissed her. They shared their first kiss as a married couple.

They looked so happy. I smiled at the scene, but I could feel the bitterness in my smile.

They started taking pictures, and here I am in the corner, seeing them move on from the past while I'm still here.

I'm genuinely happy for him, for them, but I can't stop myself from feeling hurt.

As I was about to leave the church, someone grabbed my arm, and I turned to look.

It was Zyir.

"Why are you here?" I asked him, glancing around nervously. I worried about what people might think if they saw us together.

The incident when the police arrested Stellar was a big scandal, so it wouldn't be good for people to see us together now. They might think the wrong thing.

While I was looking around, I noticed Rebecca watching us. She smiled and nodded, as if giving me permission to talk to Zyir.

I turned to face Zyir.

"I just want to say sorry, again. I know what I did is unforgivable, and I know up until now you haven't forgiven me. But I still want to say sorry. Sorry for everything, Shy. What I made you feel that time was true; none of it was a lie. You're a great person, and I hope someday you will find someone who wouldn't break your trust," he said and hugged me. I hugged him back. Well, this is the last time.

Maybe for some, what Zyir did was not a big deal, and they might think that if I truly loved him, I would forgive him.

But no, not for me. I value trust above everything. What he did wounded my heart and left a scar.

I love him; until now, I love him. But I can't forgive him.

I broke the hug and smiled at him before leaving the church.

Some love stories end before they even begin.

Not all love stories have happy endings. Not all female leads get their happily ever after.

And I know I'm one of those.

This journey taught me many things that I will carry into my future journeys.

This story may remind me of sad and painful memories, but it also shaped me into who I am today.

I'm happy that I brought the justice that Ate Siphane deserved. I'm happy that I overcame all the obstacles I encountered along the way.

I found the missing manuscript that revealed all the hidden facades.

So, this is Shlyndrea Brimon. See you soon.