Encounter

Dear Readers- The following chapters will now use Third POV. ThanksThis belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Third Person’s POV

All of them were waiting for Aleia in the living room when she went back inside. A different kind of ambiance enveloped and surrounded the place. There was unbearable silence, too, when Zach’s father decided to break it.

“Aleia, I am sorry for this convenience. I do not know what has gotten into my son’s mind. Nathalie, I’m sorry for all this mess,” he said apologetically.

Nobody answered. Everyone was waiting for the right time to talk but Aleia could feel the raging emotions of the people involved.

“Anyway, Aleia, what can you say about Zach’s proposal? Do you consider marrying him?” he continued.

“No. I mean we still need to discuss this matter as family,” her dad responded.

‘Aleia’s mouth formed an Oh after hearing it. Family? Nice word! She was not informed that she had one,” she thought.

All these years, they treated her like trash, and now they suddenly become a family. Miracles do exist.

“Sir, please tell your son that I am willing to marry him anytime and anywhere he wants,” Aleia declared.

She knew that it was a tough decision because Zach was mad at her for deceiving and for leaving him on Isla del Fuego. But she was still having some sort of hope to work things out and earn his trust again.

This is an offer that would not knock on her door every day. He hated her now but maybe he would learn to love her someday. That was why she still decided to marry him despite all the odds.

“No way! Are you insane? Matthew is supposed to marry me and not you,” Nathalie screamed in front of everyone, showing her true colors

“Nathalie, relax,” her dad came to rescue her beloved sister. What A beautiful scenario? She was deeply moved that she even wanted to cry. Well? How about her?

Zach’s dad stood and bid goodbye.” I’ll leave that matter to all of you. For now, I will leave to give you some time to think about it.”

Her father escorted him outside so she was left with her stepmom and stepsister inside. Both were throwing her a death glare.

Somehow, she wanted them to feel the same thing when her dad chose them over her. That feeling when something is to be taken away from you and all you can do is weep and cry in an empty room.

“Aleia, don’t you dare marry Matthew! I’m warning you!” her stepmom said.

She smiled sarcastically.” Why not? He is a good catch and besides it was him who proposed to me. Who am I to refuse him?”Aleia answered.

Nathalie came to her and tried to slap her but she caught her off guard and threw her hand away. But Nathalie was persistent to hurt her. She did her best to protect herself because nobody would do it for her.

“Instead of hurting me, why don’t you beg, dear sister? Ops! Don’t bother anyway. It won’t work right now because my decision is final.”

Her stepmom was trying to pull Nathalie away from her.” Nat, you should take care of your heart,” she said. She was even hugging Nathalie from behind. Nathalie stopped, sat on the sofa, and had difficulty breathing.

Aleia was somewhat alarmed. She did not want to cause any trouble especially when it comes to her health.

“Water! A glass of water please”, her stepmom ordered the nannies. One of the nannies came running from the kitchen with a glass of water.

Aleia came to help but her stepmother stopped her. She had no choice but to watch it as if it was a scene from a dramatic film.

“Nathalie!” her dad shouted from the door. He even ran that distance between them. “What happened? Reign?”

“Why? What did I do? It was her who attacked me first like an idiot,” Aleia answered

It was then that her stepmom slapped her. His dad came in between to stop them. Aleia was not able to hold back her tears. It hurts like hell, not just the slap but the whole scenario.

“Go, bring Nathalie to her room. I’ll talk to Reign,” her dad ordered her stepmom.

She was waiting for her dad to say sorry and even to comfort her. But none of that happened. He was just looking at her apologetically without any words. She stopped being her father a long time ago so why would he do it.

“Reign,” he started.” Of all people, only her dad called her that name. It even sounded like she was a princess. Maybe that was before when her mom was still alive.” I do not know where to start. I knew that I failed my duty to you as a father since you live with your mom. I don’t have any right to ask any favor from you. But your sister is sick. I’m afraid it won’t do good to her if you insist on marrying Matthew.”

Aleia wiped her tears with her hand and smiled sadly. ” Do you want me to give up on him for your precious daughter, dad?”

“Can you do that for me?” he answered.” Nathalie loves her so much even when she was a kid. She can’t take any of this. She will be badly hurt.”

“What about me, dad? Don’t you care about my feelings? I love him.” She chuckled.” Of course, you knew nothing about it. You were so busy with your business and with your new family. You forgot that you still have me. You even threw me somewhere so that you could focus on them. Am I not your child? Isn’t it enough that they have you. They have everything while I only have myself,” Aleia said while her tears are flowing like a river. It was their first time talking after a very long time.

“You love him?” he asked. Maybe for confirmation of that very shocking truth.

“Yes, dad. I’m sorry I can’t give him up. I have been giving way to Nathalie since I came here. But not, now and not Matthew. It’s like you asked me to give my heart to you and you ended up seeing me dead. Besides, this is the first time that I wanted to keep something to myself. Excuse me.”

She went back to her room and wept silently. Alone, like the old times. During this time, she would always miss her mom. The only person who loved her truly.

She was staring at the sky filled with stars, thinking one of those is her mom’s. She once told her that when we die, we become a star to look out for the loved ones that we left behind.

She wiped her tears and tried to fake a smile. She does not want to see her crying. She would be sad out there with no one to hold on to – just like her.

“Am I doing the right thing, mom? You told me before to follow my heart and so I am doing it now,” she said.

“Sis! Can I come in?”

Her thoughts were interrupted by soft knocks on the door. She was even hesitant to open it. But it was Morraine, her little sister.

Morraine was bringing a glass of water when she opened the door. “I just thought maybe you need this. I saw you crying awhile ago,” she said shyly and handed a glass of water to her.

She pursed her lips to control her emotions. She hugged her right and cried in her arms. Her sister was tapping her shoulder to comfort her. How nice it is to have someone like her?

“I am sorry if you feel that way, sis. I thought you were just having some fun when you were not here. That’s what they told me every time I look for you,” she said in between sobs. Morraine was crying too.

Aleia looked at her sister. “It was not your fault, dear. You were just trapped in between. You were still a baby when I first came here and you smiled at me – I fell in love with you since that day.” She hugged her again as they wept and cried together.

Morraine stayed in her room after that.

“But you and Matt look good together, though.” Morraine said all of a sudden. They were sitting near the window that was facing the balcony.

“Really?” Aleia asked with a smile.

“Yupe! You two would make a good couple with cute babies,” she said giggling.

“Mmm. But she was mad at me.” Aleia covered her mouth. She almost tells her secret to Morraine.

“Why?” Morraine asked with pure innocence.

“Ah, maybe because I’m not his type.” She lied.

“Says who? I noticed his secret glances at you. His eyes were sparkling at that time,”

She smiled with the thought. She wished he offered marriage out of pure love.