Once a Wife [English Version]

Chapter 20

Maricar didn't expect her kids to warm up to Abby so quickly—except for Raven. Huffle, on the other hand, enjoyed her company. Maybe because, growing up around boys, her youngest daughter longed for a female friend.

The day came to an end, and it was clear how happy Slyther was. She hadn't spoken much with Dominic, except for when he thanked her for letting the kids come.

"Shall we go?" Maricris asked. "Boys, is everything packed in the back?"

"Yes, Tita!" the boys replied in chorus.
"Bye, Dad! Bye, Abby!" Slyther and Gryffin waved.

Maricris had just turned the key in the ignition when the engine made a weak clicking sound, then fell completely silent. The sisters frowned.

"What happened?"

"It won't start..." Maricris replied. "What now?"

"Everything okay, My?" Raven asked quietly.

Maricar forced a smile. "It's alright, anak. We'll figure it out."

Dominic came over after a few more failed attempts.

"It might be the battery or alternator. You won't get it started tonight," he said, then added gently, "Let us drive you home. It's getting late."

"Let's just go with them," Maricris urged. "If we wait for Eugene, it'll be even later when we get home."

"What about the car?"

"I'll handle it," Dominic assured them. "I'll return it once it's fixed."

Maricar stayed quiet for a moment, torn between doubt and worry—what if people start talking?

But when she glanced at her sister and her children...

"Okay."

Halfway home, Dominic pulled into a gas station. "Anyone need the restroom? The next one's a bit far."

"I do, My!" Huffle said. Before Raven could offer to go with her, Abby volunteered first.

"I'll come with you," Maricar said. "Let's go."
She hopped down from the car and walked with the two girls toward the restrooms.

As they passed the convenience store, someone suddenly called her name in shock.

"Maricar?"

She looked up—and there stood Allie, a friend and business associate of Tristan, brows raised in surprise.

"Allie... Hi." Maricar gave a polite smile.

Allie looked at the girls. "You must be Huffle. Your Papa talks about you a lot. And you are...?"

"She's Abby. My children's sister," she explained.

Just then, Dominic walked over, unaware of the tension. He nodded quickly at Allie, then turned to Maricar.

"We can go now."

Maricar cleared her throat. "Allie... this is Dominic."

Dominic gave a brief nod of acknowledgment.

"Dominic, this is Allie—a friend of Tristan's and mine..."

Allie pressed her lips together, suspicion creeping into her voice. "Ah. I see."

A heavy silence followed. Then Allie gave a stiff nod.

"Take care," she said coldly, turning on her heel and walking toward her car—phone already in hand, likely dialing.

Maricar felt a knot in her stomach.
She needed to talk to Tristan. Soon.

—

"You looked so happy..." Abby told Dominic on the way home after they dropped off Maricar and the kids. "You have a beautiful family, Dad."

He couldn't deny it. He still couldn't believe it had all happened again—like a dream. Not long ago, he could still carry them on his shoulders. But now, he had conversations with them, played, and even laughed with them.

"You miss them, huh?" Abby asked.

He nodded. But the truth was, he had missed too much. So many years. Too many memories lost.

"I'm just curious, Dad..." Abby hesitated before continuing, "Why did you leave them? I mean... why did you abandon them?"

That question always stung. He didn't even have a clear answer himself. He wished he knew what he had done, so he could make it right.

"Honestly, Abby, I don't know," he said, eyes on the road. "I just woke up one day... and they were no longer mine."

Abby nodded, her voice calm but heavy. "You must've really loved Mama..."

She looked out the window. "You know, growing up, I never understood why you didn't come home every night. Until Mama told me... that we were the other family."

Her words stunned him.

"I was angry at you back then," she continued, "But Mama said you had a plan... a plan for us. But I couldn't take it anymore. That's why I left. Maybe that's why you barely remember me, right?

After all, what child wants to be the product of an affair?"

Her eyes shimmered with tears.

"But then one night, you came home. You were getting married to Mama. And everything changed."

At a red light, Dominic finally looked at her. "I'm so sorry, Abby..."

He didn't know what else to say.

What kind of father hurts his children this way?

What kind of man does this from the very beginning?

"It's okay, Dad," Abby said softly. "What matters is that we're okay now."

She gave a faint smile. "They're all really nice... except for—Kuya Raven."

"He's a good kid, Abby..."

She shrugged. "I think he hates me. Or maybe he's just mad at me. I'm not sure."

Dominic sighed. "He's not mad at you." He's mad at me, he thought.

The rest of the ride passed in peaceful silence—until they reached home.

Cynthia was still awake.

"You said you'd be home before 7 PM—it's past 12!" she snapped.

And here it was. The fight he'd been trying to avoid.

"What, did you have too much fun? Huh?" She shoved him. "Why? What else did the two of you do?"

Dominic clenched his jaw. "Enough, Cynthia," he warned.

"Why? What are you gonna do?" she spat, eyes sharp with accusation.

She was trembling, not with rage—but with pain. Fear. This was the moment she'd been dreading.

He sighed. "I'm still here because I respect our marriage, Cynthia," he said, stepping forward and towering over her. "Our marriage... which I don't even remember."

He wished he could've said it differently. He didn't want to hurt her. But there was no way to soften the truth anymore.

"She won't take me back, Cynthia. So stop acting like the jealous wife—because whatever was between us... it's over." His voice cracked a little, even if his words were solid. "Am I really the one with amnesia?"

She turned to leave, but he gently held her arm.

"Did you forget that I left them... her... for you?"
Cynthia froze. Tears welled in her eyes. "Please stop making me remember, Cynthia. Because believe me... just seeing you is already torture for me."

He let go of her arm and walked away.

Cynthia stood there in silence, stunned. She looked up—and saw Abby, watching from the corner.

And in that moment, she realized—

Sometimes, people can die again and again inside...

And still be alive.