UNVEILING THE MASK (Sequence 2)

CHAPTER 29

EMILIA'S POV

Soon after he was layed to rest.. A small Thanksgiving was held..
I had requested Marc to prospone the remembrance service for the men who laid their life in the battlefield.. I was certainly not in the right frame of mind..
Bottling up my feeling wasn't the easiest thing to do.. But I had to act brave and support my family.. Our family he entrusted to me..
"Child.. The lawyer would be here any moment.. Please eat something before he arrives"Grandma urged me but I refused..
"Stop been stubborn sis, you need food in your system.. You've not fully recovered"Nils beackoned me but I refused pushing the tray of food away for me..
"She won't listen to any of us... Let's call her kids.. They know how to handle their mother better"Zena suggest  but she's wrong only Ardo knows how to handle me better..
"Cassius.. Castilo"mom yelled their names..
There're just wasting their time.. Am not hungry.. I haven't been hungry since I became a widow.. Ardo's death is something I need time to recover from.. It's like a big part of me left me.. That's how important he was to me.  Too bad.. I never realized his importance in my life until I lost him...
"Yeap.. We're over here grandma"Castilo shouted..
"Your mom haven't eaten for days.. Please persuade her to eat something"mom spoked up in a sad tune and her worries evident in her voice and face..
"We can't.. Grandma.. Only daddy knows how to persuade her in this situation she'll end up yelling at us.. I don't want to provoke her pleaassse. Count us out.. Tick... Tock.... Mission impossible..."Cassius blurted out..
"Don't worry too much grandma.. Daddy will perform his magic soon.."Castilo tries to assure them..
But I hope he does.. Ardo please perform your magic.. I need to hear your voice..
Speak to me..
Scold me..
Boss me around..
Like I do to you.. Please...
Just one..
"Mom... The lawyer is here"Cassius snaps his fingers at my face drawing my attention..
"Good day your majesty"the lawyer greeted grandma.. before exchanging greetings with the rest of the family..
"Mrs Gate"he called my name drawing my attention
"This is for you.."he said handing over an envelope to me.. I stare at him in awe..
I relunctantly grab the envelope from him and opened the the envelope...
A disk...
"He requested you all watch the video before we proceed with reading of the will"the lawyer said.. I handed the disk over to Marcelo who has already arranged the projector.. He seems to be aware of the video..
He set the laptop in front of me..   switched off all the lights in the house.. the only source of illumination is from the projector..
"Play the video, dear"mom urged me, placing her trembling hands on my lap..
I wanted to hear his voice and here I am giving another opportunity but for the first in my life.. I lack the courage when I needed it the most..
I inhale a deep breath and played the video...

My heart missed a beat as his face appears on the screen.. smiling for a while..
Oooh that smile I craved for...
"Hi..."he waved his hands at us.. And I also waved my hands at him..
Ooh, for a moment I felt he was real..
Like we're having a video call..
"Back to earth.. Mia"Ardo voice boomed into my ear..
"I know you're probably waving back at me.. Pherhaps you're thinking we're having a video call.. If my assumptions are true.. That means you missed me alot...
Mom.. Am sorry.. I couldn't bring myself to tell you the truth.. I was afraid you'll try to talk me out of it.. Mom.. Forgive me please.. You may probably be wondering why I made this decision..
I did what I did for my one true love.. Also for the betterment of my unborn child.. She needs a mother to guide and love her..
Growing up as a child, I was denied of my parent love..
Mom was engraved to her occupation..  You were barely around when I needed you the most..
Always traveling from. One country to another.. Neglecting your duties as a mother.. All you cared about then, was the award.. the contest..
As times goes by, you became my dream mother I yearned for.. Despite your flaws you're still the best mother and am glad to be your son..
But Mr Gate.. He's a monster.. Am ashamed to call him my father.. But as much as I despise him I cannot deny the fact that his blood runs through my blood.. That's the bittersweet truth..
Grandma, you're the best..
You always put behind your duties to take care of me.. Though i had a nanny but you always sing lullaby for me and read a lot of bed times stories for me.. You've always supported me in all my endeavours.. You also gave me your blessings..
Your blessings gave me all the strength I needed.. I love you so much..
Sandra, my sister..
I always wanted  a baby sister.. I hated being the baby of the house..
You became my best friend.. My patner and my jewel..
And am very lucky to have you as my sister..
Oops!! Am blushing right now..
I love love love you sister..
Muahh.." he blew a kiss...
"Marc.. Bro.. Keep your promises... I won't hesitate to kick your ass from up here if you fail.. Thank you bro..
You're the best brother.."he paused taking a deep breath and smiled.
"My champs.."Cassius and Castilo began to sob out loud..
"Hush.. Don't cry.. Am gonna cry if you don't stop crying..
You're mom will also be sad.. Who then will console us..
My champions"Ardo paused...
While Cassius and Castilo wipe off their tears courageously..
"No more pranks on momma..
You're the man of the house so take charge..
Make sure she eats on time and sleep well..
If she refuses you, then tell her I won't be happy with her..
I love you guys alot..
Am so fortunate to have you as my sons.. Am just so lucky.."
"We love you too daddy"they said chorusly..
"Altagracia darling, you're my little princess.. take good care of yourself.  Don't act naughty like your brothers.. I love you baby gracia..
Mia.. Mia.. Mia..
My wife.. Am so damn lucky to have you..
When I first saw you, you were attending a funeral..
Emilio's mom funeral to be precise.. I was that naughty boy who couldn't get his eyes off you.. You were so pissed off at me.. My first crush..
I never believed that love do last forever..
I thought at first, it was just a crush...
Later on, I felt I was just lusting after you because you made me feel things I never knew existed..
But later on, I became confident in us..
I never gave up..
I fought for what I believed in..
I believed in you.. in us..
And I never gave up..
You ended up as my first love and my last love....
Have always loved you.. Mia
Forgive me for kidnapping you six years ago..
I was just following Williams order.. But am grateful I did..
It brought us together..
I'm shameless i made out with you then like a maniac.. But I don't regret my actions.. You drove me crazy.. You still do..
Don't hate me please for leaving you behind with so much enemies after you..
I hate to leave.. But I had no choice.. I had to..
I would've die without you..
Life would be meaningless without you..
Who then would take care of our children.. Then they would lack proper upbringing...
I don't want our children to suffer the same fate like I did..
You're a great woman.  The best mother.. I trust you with my life.. I trust you..
It pains me to see you in so much pain.. I love you alot.. more than life itself..
You complete me.. Mia..
Do you remember, when you were still living at my father's house as bill's wife..
I usually sneak up just to see you.. To hold you in my arms and watch you fall asleep..
I derive joy in your smile and laughter.. You may not have loved me the way I did..
But you showed me so much love and affection beyond my expectations..
When I fell sick.. You stayed awake all night to take care of me.. it's a sign of love my dear..
I know you love him more but am contempted with the love you have for me..
We're not Romeo and Juliet..
We're Edwardo and Emilia..
We've created our own love story..
Ardo who took away his Mia's pain away for good..
I'll always surrender my life to keep you safe over and over again... Protect you from danger..
Have shortlisted some vital information which might be useful for you.. I gave it to Marc..
I know you're not interested in my money or anything that belongs to that bastard that's why.. I decided to donate all his money to the poor.. His mansion can be renovated into something useful like an orphanage home... Please don't be mad at me.. I bought back your company from Emilio... My companies and everything that belongs to me once, officially belongs to my children.. Cassius, Castilo and our unborn Ximena.. Our angel...
I would have love to hold our child once and express how much she means to me, but I know perfectly well that.. She needs a mother whose so damn capable of giving her both parential love... And there's no mother like you..
I love you with all my heart, spirit, soul and body..
I'll always Love you...
Ooh!!! This is it...
Be happy Mia..
I'll always be with you..
And you'll always be with me in my heart....
Goodbye for now..
I'll see you soon.."he blew a kiss at me as tears falls from his eyes..
I struggled within myself, withholding myself from crying...
Sniffing back my tears..
"Well, that went well"I breathed out.. Easing the tension between us..