GIAN"Sissy, Yan! Yan! I groaned and covered my ears with a pillow. It's only six in the morning, but Sander is already knocking at the door. "Mommy and Daddy are still sleeping. Everyone is still sleeping. Let's go to the park ourselves and Lily. Come on, uncle. " I heard our six-year-old daughter whine. "I told you to stop calling me uncle. I'm only five years older than you. " Sander said, and I could hear the annoyance in his voice. "But you're my mommy brother, so you are my uncle.""I feel old every time you call me uncle. Just call me by my name. It's fine with me. ""But mommy and daddy will get mad at me. They will think I don't respect you if I only call you by your name.""Just tell your parents I asked you to call me by name. So please stop calling me uncle, okay? ""In one condition." I chuckled. Sander was always fooled by Gia when it come to not calling him Uncle. "What condition? ""Let's go to the park, please. ""It's still early, and your parents will get mad at
EPILOGUE GIAN I smiled as everyone enjoyed Gia's seventh birthday with my pregnant, beautiful wife beside me. Mom, Dad, and Grandpa entertain our guests while Sander, Christian, and Gia entertain the children. I cannot leave Lyza because she is already nine months pregnant and needs help every time she moves from one place to another. We will have our baby boy soon, and Gia was so excited to meet her brother. I chuckled as I watched Dustin chasing their three-year-old daughter around. Dina is a hyper child. You won't see her staying in one place. She's always running or jumping. Christine and Dustin got married when Christian turned two years old and a year after Christine got pregnant. The twins Alice and Ana are also present with their husbands and children. Ana has two children, a boy and a girl. Annalise is five years old, and her brother Adan is two years old. Annalise is Gia's best friend, together with Christian and Alex. Alex is Alice's five-year-old son, a timid boy,
MARA Since my shift started, I've been running back and forth, taking orders, serving food, and cleaning the table. We were five servers during this shift from twelve noon to eight in the evening, the busiest hours of the day in the diner, but our boss needed to hire another server during these hours. We couldn't even sit for a minute except during our break, and my legs were killing me. "Mara, table seven. Move faster. Can't you see there's a lot of customers waiting for their order?" Our manager said, glaring at me. Sometimes, our manager is so mean, but I endure it. It was hard to find a job here in the city, and It took me a few weeks to get this job; if ever I was fired here, I would need a few weeks again before I could find another job, and I don't have any savings left. "Coming." I moved to the city three months ago to find a better job after finishing my studies. I don't have any relatives, and I don't know anyone here, only Jared, my boyfriend, but I don't want him to kno
MARA It's been three weeks since I brought Grandpa home, and no one has been looking for him. What kind of family does he have? Aren't they worried about him, whether he is still alive or dead? What kind of family are they? I found out that Grandpa has Alzheimer's because a few days ago, I saw him pass out again. So I brought him to the clinic, and the doctor told me about his illness. I need more money. I used some of my savings to pay for Grandpa's check-up and bought his medicine. His medicine is not a joke at all; it's expensive, and the doctor said it's dangerous to skip drinking it since he already did for more than two weeks. I sighed. I can't bear to kick Grandpa out of my apartment as well. I asked him where he lived, but he said he forgot even his name he forgot. The only thing I know about him is that he has a grandson named JayJay, but how could I find him when I don't know his surname as well? I knocked on the door again when I got no reply, with my heart pounding
MARA It's been a week since I saw Grandpa. I missed him despite the fact he only stayed with me for three weeks. I missed the funny thing he did whenever he couldn't remember me. Every time I stepped inside the door, he would ask who I was, and then he would stay in the corner, his eyes following me as if I would attack him any chance. I would chuckle, stealing glances at him occasionally, and, at the same time, sad because I knew why he was acting like that. It was the woman that beat him. He was traumatized and scared that he thought I would hurt him like that woman did. That's why he stayed in one corner for over an hour until he remembered me. I wondered if he was like this in his home whenever that woman was around—just imagining him crying while the woman beating and pulling his hair angered me. I always let him be and waited until he remembered who I was, and once he did, he would rush to me, hug me, and say welcome home. Pretty good lady. I'm sorry I don't remember you so
MARA"Grandson?" The word echoed inside my head. I tried to step back, but Grandpa's arms prevented me from moving. Does that mean he is Jay Jay? But what if he is pretending? Grandpa said he didn't know him. What if he is a bad person? I need to confirm if he is his grandson. "How could you be his grandson? He said he doesn't know you." "Miss, he is his grandson. Grandpa has Alzheimer's, and that's why he forgets him once in a while." The guy with him said. But it doesn't convince me. "If you are his grandson, what does Grandpa call you?" I'm sure only his grandson knows. If this guy is a fake one, he won't know. "Jay Jay," He replied. I gasped and quickly bowed my head. "I'm so sorry, sir. I thought you were a bad person. I only want to be sure," I explained. "I want to talk to your manager," he said, and my eyes widened in fear. What is he planning to do? Is he going to ask my manager to fire me? The way he dressed, in a sharp suit and polished shoes, and looked, with his pier
MARA "About a few weeks ago, when I was away. Is there something that happened?" Jay Jay asked casually, leaning on the couch with Grandpa beside him while I just stood behind Grandpa. Everyone looked nervous instantly, and their eyes darted everywhere but him. "Babe! A woman's voice said, and I looked up to see a beautiful woman wearing a black dress that showcased her stunning body figure. I'm sorry for not informing you, babe. I also told the helpers not to tell you because I know you have an important business, and I'm sure you'll come back as soon as you find out that Grandpa ran away again. I searched him silently. I told the authorities not to report it but asked them to keep searching for Grandpa." "But still, you should tell me. What if something happened to Grandpa? What if bad people got him, recognized him, and asked for money, like what happened a year ago?" He angrily said. "Sorry, babe, it didn't cross my mind. I thought he would come back soon or we could find him
MARAThe following morning, I woke up at six a.m. I quickly bathed and put on the extra clothes Cassy gave me. I blew dry my hair and tied it in a high ponytail. After that, I went to Grandpa's room to check on him. I smiled to see that he was still sleeping. I went downstairs to the kitchen to prepare Grandpa's breakfast. "Good morning, Nana." She's in the kitchen together with the chef. "Good morning, Mara. Come. Every morning, Sir Phil wanted someone to read a newspaper for him while he was eating, and after that, he needed to walk for thirty minutes in the garden behind the Mansion, and after that, you prepared his bath. It would be best to eat first because he will wake up at eight. "Okay, Nana." "Sit down. I'll prepare your food." "No need, Nana, I can do it." "Just sit down," she firmly said, and I gave in and settled in one of the chairs. She took a plate and went into the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returned carrying the plate and placed it before me. My mouth w