Chapter V

Danielle was probably the only heiress who didn't celebrate her 18th birthday. Actually, her billionaire grandfather hadn't introduced her to the public yet. She wasn't sure if he was waiting for the right time to do so or he simply didn't care about his granddaughter.

As for her Uncle, he sent her a gift five days later. A limitless card that she found to be funny. Did he think she needed more money? Although she had been living on a certain budget, it was already more than enough for her and all the staff that works for her.

For the record, Danie had twenty people who works for her alone. Six bodyguards, two drivers, four nannies that takes care of her every needs, three cooks, one nutritionist and four househelp. Nanny Evelyn, who had been with the Williams since her father's childhood oversees everyone and counted as the twenty first person who takes care of Danie personally.  There were different people who work for her grandfather and her uncle. In the large mansion, the masters were outnumbered by the helpers.

It was crazy for Danie because she didn't need them at all. At least, just a few would do. It wasn't like many people knew that she was the only heiress to the massive wealth of the Williams. She could walk alone at night and no one would guess that she's a billionaire. But for sure she'd turn heads. Danielle was beautiful. She had always been told how perfect she looked. Her skin alone uses the most expensive set of skin care. Her hair was glowing. Everything that every girl could dream of was within her reach.

But despite all of it, Danielle Williams was a lonely soul. If she could exchange all of the things she have for a simple life with a loving family, she would gladly trade in a heart beat.

Especially if that family would be there to celebrate her birthday with her. Well, it's just a wish.

--

"You know what, Dana?"

"Hmn?" Danie, who was looking at herself in the mirror, shifted her gaze at Myrtle who was currently fixing her hair.

"You're very pretty," she mused. "I'm so jealous."

Myrtle was Dr. Levi's long time girlfriend. Danie got along well with her, too. In fact, when she was still in the hospital, Myrtle would take her turn in accompanying Danie.

"Come on, you're prettier!" It was true. Myrtle had a to die for kind of beauty. But importantly, she's a good person, too. No wonder that Levi was so in love with her.

"You're so modest. Look at your skin. If it were not of the scar that you got from the accident, you'd be flawless. If I would guess, you're from a well off family... Don't you still remember anything?"

She averted her gaze and pretended to look at her nails.

"Nah," she shook her head guiltily.

"That's fine. You'd remember everything in the right time. But yeah, my guess is you're a rich girl."

"Do you think the rich people are happy with their lives?" She couldn't help but ask. "Because I think that living a simple life is happier."

"Yeah, but I've always wanted to live in the city and get rich." Myrtle continued braiding her hair, failing to notice the sadness in Danie's voice. "But Levi wanted to settle here. You know, the ministry and his profession are here."

"It's peaceful here, don't you like it?"

"I grew up here, Dana." She rolled her eyes.

"I understand," she let out a low chuckle. "That seems to be normal." Danie grew up in the city and she loved her country side kind of life now.

Perhaps people won't really get satisfied with what they have. It's nature to always yearn for something. And that yearning for that thing is what keeps a person living. Take it out and you'd live a life without a purpose. It's like releasing an arrow without a target.

"How about you? Do you think you're a city girl?"

"I-"

"Are you ready?" Esther interrupted from the door.

"Almost," Myrtle answered. "Is everybody here already?"

To avoid an encounter with Lucas again, they decided that their small celebration will just be held where she lives. Tabitha and Mirriam along with other mommies from the congregation were the ones who cooked.

"Yes, we're just waiting for Dad and Levi but they're on their way." Esther then looked at Danie in awe. "Dana, you're a goddess!"

She blushed a little. She wasn't even dolled up. It was one thing that she stopped doing since living with these kind people. The girls don't wear make up. And she realized that a bare face is more beautiful.

"This dress really looks good on you!" Esther praised. Danie was wearing a maroon maxi dress. "You look like a bridesmaid."

"Had it been white, you'll look like a bride." Myrtle added while putting a flower crown on her head. "It's a pity that Lucas will not see how beautiful you are!"

"Myr," Danie protested.

Myrtle's the only one who could shamelessly say that. Of course, she could only say it in front of Danie but never around Lucas. She was also afraid of her future brother-in-law.

"What? Dana, you and Lucas would look good together. If only that stubborn man would choose to move forward!"

Esther was just giggling on the side. She thought so, too but didn't have the courage to say it out loud. She was afraid to offend Dana, most of all, Lucas.

"Stop it. That's impossible."

Lucas and her? No way. The man hated her to the core. And even if Danie secretly admires him, she could only wish that he'd forgive her. Asking for more than that was like asking for a miracle.

Besides, what would Jane feel if she sees them from heaven? No, Danie couldn't tolerate herself having any kind of feeling towards Lucas.

"Whatever. Alright, you're ready." Myrtle announced after spraying some baby cologne on her. She then helped her got up with her crutches.

"Thank you, Myr." She thanked her sincerely. She was thankful to each one of them.

And she was sure, if the future would permit, she'd rather stay there than go back to her cold and lonely princess life.

Having these people to celebrate with her was her wish finally being granted.

Everybody greeted her like it was really her birthday. Well, it's still a special day. That day marked the first year of her second life. So, that moment when she opened her eyes again after a horrible accident could really be considered as her birthday. Because that day, Dana was born.

"Say something, Dana..." Tabitha urged, the atmosphere was very happy. But Danie was emotional because it was the first time that people celebrated with her because they loved to and not because they're being paid to do so.

"What can I say?" She started as tears were already flowing down her cheeks. "But thank you... Thank you everyone for celebrating with me even if all of us know that it's not my real birthday. This means a lot to me. I feel like I'm really home." She paused when Mirriam handed her a tissue to wipe her tears. "Maybe God has a bigger plan for me why I woke up from that coma. It could've been Jane, could've been Ruth. But it was me. I know I don't deserve to be here. But all of you still welcomed me like I didn't cause your grief. I just don't know how to thank God for giving me another chance to live. But from the bottom of my heart, thank God for all of you..."

'And if only I could tell you the truth... God knows that I don't want to lie. Oh God, forgive me...' She added on her mind.

"We're glad to have you here, Dana. And we will stay beside you until you recover your memory." Tabitha hugged her.

Danielle hugged her back. Tabitha was a mother who lost a child because of her. But there was not a single time when she made her feel that it was her fault. She showed her nothing but compassion and a mother's love. 

They ate after that. It was amazing how Danie found the simple home cooked dishes more delicious than her usual chef prepared meals. Maybe it was the heart of those who prepared it that made the difference.

--

Standing at his room's balcony, Lucas smiled bitterly. He was looking at the direction of Jane's house where a celebration of her killer's birthday was being held.

Why? How were they able to move on so easily? Did they already forget about Jane and Ruth? How could they let that despicable woman live with them? Wasn't it an insult to Jane and Ruth's memories?

Lucas lifted the bottle of alcohol to his lips. All he wanted to do was drown himself with alcohol until he could no longer feel the pain. Why was it still so painful? Why was he the only one who could still feel it?

"Why did you have to leave me, Jane?" He cried. "Why didn't you just take me with you? Do you know that It's tiring to live without you?"

If Jane didn't die, they'd be celebrating their first wedding anniversary in a couple of days. But all that was left now was memories of his happy days with the woman he loved the most.

So why couldn't everyone understand him? Why wouldn't anyone take his side for once? How was Dana able to play with all of them like fools?

She was obviously lying. He could see through her lies and he hated her so much for it. She didn't deserve to live. If someone deserved to die that day, it was Dana. Not his fiancee nor his sister.

So he decided to make her pay. If she would continue lying, then there's no place for her there. It's better that she die since she was not willing to cooperate to find out the truth of the accident.

But Lucas also hates himself for not being rich enough to investigate the matter. He had looked into everything but he was still empty handed. There's no trace of the accident except for a phone call made by Ruth to the local police asking for help because they were being chased.

But even that didn't lead to anything. The car described by Ruth was not found. Instead, the car they collided head on was the only one left on the scene. Fortunately, there was no fatalities there.

If Lucas would say, there were powerful people behind the accident. The caused of death of Jane and Ruth might be the accident, but they also sustained multiple gunshot wounds. 

Somebody had fired gunshots. And those people intended to kill Dana. Jane and Ruth were innocent victims.

And if there's someone who could give light to the case, it was Dana herself. But the woman decided to fake losing her memory as an escape plan. And for a year now, she was successful in keeping the truth to herself.

"I swear, I'll make you pay, Dana!" He thought.

Just when he was about to lift the bottle again, he heard a knock.

It was his father, knocking at the glass that was separating the balcony from his room. Perhaps, he forgot to lock the door to his room and now, Marcus was asking for his permission to join him.

"Dad," he said, caught, he didn't know where to hide the bottle of alcohol in his hand.

"Can we talk, son?" Marcus gently asked.

He nodded, but turned around to dry his tears. He felt his father approached.

"Why did you come home? I thought you're flying overseas?"

"It was moved next week." He looked at Marcus whose hands were in his pocket while looking up in the dark sky.

"Then you should stay with us the whole weekend. Your mother already misses to cook your favorite food." Marcus glanced at him.

He nodded guiltily. It's true that he's coming home from time to time but he didn't want staying too long. For the past one year, his stay in the house would always start a fight between him and his parents or him and Levi.

Most of the time, he stays in his condo in the city or if he had loads of work to do, he stays in his office. He had been burying himself with work just to escape the reality that gone was the woman he wanted to give all his hard work to.

"Good, then I'll tell your mom. She would be happy for sure."

"What are you doing here, Dad? Aren't you supposed to be celebrating with them?" He asked, not meaning to be sarcastic and bitter but still sounded like it nevertheless.

"I was there, I just left first when I saw your car passed by. I wanted to talk to you because we didn't part well the last time." Marcus looked at him in the eye. "I'm sorry, Lucas. You are more important to me, please don't forget that."

"Don't mention it, Dad. I know I was the wrong one in everyone's eyes."

Marcus took the bottle of alcohol from his hand.

"Are you having a drinking contest with this? Lucas, I will not mention this again, but I want you to stop drinking alcohol. You'd never win against the evil spirit inside this bottle. Don't defile your body with something that would just give you a headache but would never solve your problem."

"I'm sorry, Dad," he knew that he hurt his father the moment he was caught drinking. Not only did he disrespect the warnings he had heard from the pulpit. He dishonored God's temple.

"Lucas, let Jane go..." Marcus gently added and at that very moment, Lucas felt anger in his heart. That's asking him too much. But he kept silent. He couldn't keep disrespecting his father just because he was mad at Dana. "Do not imprison yourself in the past, you could no longer undone what was already done. You need to continue to trust God that He has better plans for you. It was time for Jane and Ruth to go."

"Why them? Why not Dana?" He asked, balling his fists. "That liar should've been the one who died!"

"We cannot question God's ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. But He doesn't do things randomly. He always has a purpose and it's better than what we think. We might not understand it now, we might still not in the future. Perhaps, we would never understand it at all. But, it would not change the fact that it was for our own good."

Lucas was crying in his heart. Was his reaction for his loss a let down to everyone? Had he been a selfish brat who wanted revenge in his own hands without regarding his faith?

He was a Minister's son, perhaps, he was expected to understand complex things more. Was he nothing but a disappointment?

But he was a normal person, too. Regardless if his father was a Minister. He had feelings. And he was hurt. But Lucas knew that he was just trying to justify his actions.

The truth was, he couldn't accept that God took away Jane from him. It wasn't fair!

"Trust God, Lucas. We have been serving Him. He would not hurt us like this without a purpose. Besides, your sister and Jane just went ahead of us. If you still want to see them, fix your life. Committing sin now because your mad would ruin you forever."

"What should I do then, dad? I cannot forgive her! It pains me every time I see her. She reminds me that her existence caused us to lose Jane and Ruth!"

"Had it ever crossed your mind that perhaps, Dana, was a victim, too? Don't judge her. This might be God's way of letting Himself known to Dana's life." Marcus patted his back. "I'm your father, Lucas. It also pains me to see you unable to move on. But I don't want you to continue hating Dana. Give the girl a chance. Who are we that we cannot forgive?"

"Did you already give up on giving justice to Jane and Ruth's deaths?" That was what he couldn't understand. Why did it seem that they're already okay without looking for the real reason of the accident?

"Son, when it is time, the truth will set itself free. Don't push the issue now and make another person suffer. What Dana needs is understanding. After all, Jane and Ruth died for her. Are we going to let their sacrifice for naught? We would protect Dana until she needs us."

"I don't understand what makes you trust her, she's a fake. For all we know, she's a bad person. And we've been keeping a criminal alive in our midst for so long!"

"I know a bad person when I see one." Marcus smiled at his son. "I don't believe that God would send Dana here so that all of us would perish. Don't hate her too much or you might regret it in the future."

He didn't answer. If he would be honest to himself, Marcus had a point. But his heart that already took one full year hating Dana was now as hard as a rock. He had already decided not to go easy on her.

Regret? No. He would never regret anything that he had done to that woman who denied him his happiness.

"I would let you rest now. I don't want to see you drinking alcohol again. Talk to God, kneel down if you have to. Goodnight." Marcus pulled him into a light embrace.

"Goodnight, dad."