Once In A Lifetime

Chapter 43: The Curse

"Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." - Luke 6:28

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Arturo learned that Denise left the house dispirited and unenthused to meet him. Somehow, he sensed Pacita did something upsetting, driving the child away, wrapped in hatred before she could even hear his proposal regarding her safety and the welfare of the company.  He was aware, Pacita was very pessimistic about his plan to bring Denise outside the country and merge Sanrom Corporation with his own company. The only way he knew to save it from further financial losses.

He's ready to take any legal action to gain control over Sanrom now that it's leading to  insolvency and had accumulated so much debts for the past years. He could not just sit and allow this thing to happen knowing that his father and Carlo had sacrificed  their life to sustain the company for many generations to come.  If he was only given the chance to manage it after Carlo died, this would never happen.

Denise is too young to take control of the company. She would be missing so much from her young life if she force herself to be entangled into something complicated and unfamiliar, so much so its condition was yielding undesirable results.

But what even worst is risking her life, engaging in a bout with unknown forces that had never been defeated ever since the curse was cast upon every descendants of his father, saved  himself.

He could never forget those unimaginable and dreadful words coming from the lips of a desperate and dying woman, his very own mother.

Trust is your poison. Snake is your friend. Your silver will turn into ashes.  Your dead is restless even in the grave. From your own the flame will never leave a single soul 'til everyone from your womb is consumed by the devil's fire. My womb shall burn my lips when in your grave my soul to rest.  Then in my tomb my seed shall sleep if love is sweeter than revenge.  

In his young mind, he could not understand their meaning, but not even once those words were rest into oblivion. He engraved them in his mind and heart with the hope that someday, he could dicipher their meaning. And it didn't take long for him to know exactly what his mother meant with those words. 

That's why, he lead Pacita to become a part of the Santos household that she may discover the kindness of Don Joaquin, inspite of his weakness, and grew up anchored on her experiences with the Santos. Hence when she would become expose to the reality of life with its gossips and criticisms, she could not be easily swayed  into the direction of hatred but choose to love them, even the truth regarding the death of their mother would come to her knowledge later in her years. 

The curse became a word of the mouth in the town for sometimes. But nobody believed it. Until it was forgotten and rested in the coldness of the tomb of his beloved dead mother.

Many years after, when he was already part of the company, Arturo saw the spell creeped into the life of the Santoses, bringing the hex too real in the family, sucking every bit of life to dust. He witnessed how the cursed ruined their lives and property. 

He also knew, Luis was forced to embrace priesthood, dedicate his life, and offer his soul in the monastery as an antidote against such malediction, believing with his own penance and faith to the Most High, the curse would be broken someday. 

When tragedy after tragedy happened to the family, the curse was resurrected into the memory of many in town. Rumors started to circulate that the only way to break the spell is to bury his mother in the Santos graveyard.  When Luis heard about this thing, he restricted anyone, except the legitimate heirs of the Santos, to visit the family's graveyard. He posted security guards to ensure that their dead shall never be desecrated. 

Yet, only Pacita and Arturo, with their descendants, were the ones who could break the spell, ending the cycle of miseries for anyone whose Santos' blood run. And  only if there's not a tiny trace of hatred left in their hearts, if they would choose love rather than avenge the death of their mother, then it would be powerless. Love, forgiveness, faith in the goodness of men...these are the weapon against the elements darkness.

It was for these reasons that he distanced himself from their place even it hurt him to be separated from Pacita, the only family he had then. He wanted to start a new life away from the influence of the town people who would surely belittle him and degrade the memory of his mother.

Only few knew how beautiful the love between his parents. But he knew their love story. His mother was his father's first love.  Both of them belong to a poor family.  They were about to settle down but unfortunately, Joaquin's father became very ill that he needed to look for money to address his surgery.  He went down to town and worked in the farm of a rich couple whose only child was Florencia.

Few months later, the marriage between Joaquin and Florencia was announced. Everyone was surprised. Different speculations were formed.

Some said, Florencia was pregnant but the guy was not man enough to face his responsibility. In order to save her from further disgrace, Joaquin was trapped into marrying her in exchange for a big amount of money needed for his father's surgery. Joaquin was left with no choice but to accept the offer. 

Others said, Florencia had love at first sight with Joaquin. Whatever she wants, she gets. It was rumored that she lured him with alcoholic drinks and eventually, ended sleeping together and caught  by her parents doing the very act. Joaquin was forced to take her as his bride in exchange for his life.

Then another version and the most popular and acceptable in town was the potion of love used by Florencia, helplessly enslaving  Joaquin with her uncanny charm to the point of abandoning the woman he truly love.

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I'm nostalgic myself. Can't believe I have made Arturo just a fine man when I originally thought of him as being vindictive.🤔🤔🤔 Spread the love😍😍😍😍

Thanks to all your support. Hope you enjoy this chapter.