In the end, they were still family, and he thought carefully about everything that had happened. If not for Sofia, they might never have had such a deep and honest conversation.For a man with one foot already in the grave, the picture of an ideal family was one filled with peace, harmony, and stability.The death of his eldest son had been a devastating blow, and now Cosmo losing the use of both legs in the car accident was another cruel strike. If Sofia’s deeds were to be exposed, what would happen to his second son Cris, and to Tania? At his age, he no longer had the strength to face such trials. Everything had to be handled quietly, no matter what.It seemed only right to bury Sofia’s actions, but that would never be fair to Cosmo. He had survived with hope, only to have his life ruined.The old man was torn and conflicted. Gabriel, however, offered a solution: all of his parents’ shares in the Dominguez Group should be transferred to Cosmo. He also thought it best to send himself
The plan back then had been carefully laid out, but people were never as flawless as the plans of heaven. Cosmo’s life was strong. He survived the accident, even though his legs were ruined. He lived.Who would have thought that Sofia, the quiet, gentle housewife who never seemed to have enemies or even a single worry, was the mastermind behind the car accident?Cosmo’s father had long passed away, and if the truth about Sofia’s past were to be revealed, it would not only damage the family’s reputation but also erupt into a major scandal for the entire Dominguez clan.Sofia admitted she was the one behind it all, but how was Cosmo supposed to deal with that? He had no immediate answer.The dead should no longer be disturbed. The living, like Tania and Cris, should not be dragged into this. But what about the innocent lives that were lost, like Kenneth and his assistant? How could he explain it to them?Cosmo held a full recording of Sofia’s confession, and though Eloise wasn’t physica
Cosmo and Kevin spoke for two hours. From being aggressive at first, Kevin eventually ended up holding his head in pain and regret.Eloise had been waiting outside for a while. When she saw Cosmo come out, she rushed to meet him. “You took so long!” she complained.She thought their conversation wouldn’t even last an hour, but it stretched to two. Kevin must have shared a lot. It wasn’t often that Kevin could talk to someone who actually knew Kenneth and was willing to listen to stories about him, things even Eloise herself never knew before.“It takes time to draw out information,” Cosmo said, taking Eloise’s hand.“So, what did you find out?” Eloise pressed.“I need to confirm everything before I tell you,” Cosmo replied. Then he whispered a few words to Francis.Eloise caught some times and places mentioned, it was probably important.When they left the precinct, Cosmo told Eloise about Kevin, how Kenneth had raised him, and how he ended up in prison.“People who are reckless are e
After ten minutes, Lander returned, the irritation still visible on his face. “Sorry, I didn’t know she was coming,” Lander said apologetically. “I hope you won’t take her words too much to heart.”Eloise answered directly, “Lander, she likes you, and you’re important to her. Of course she’d feel hurt if we keep in contact. If you want to try being with her, then be serious about it. Don’t string her along just to please someone else. You’ll only waste her time, and it hurts more than you think.”She didn’t really have to say it, but she didn’t want Michelle to be the one to end up hurt.Lander froze. He stayed quiet for a few moments before replying, “I know.”They were about the same age, but Eloise carried herself with more maturity and deeper thought. Lander knew deep down that he wasn’t worthy of her.After dinner, Eloise went home. On the way, she passed by a cake shop and, on impulse, bought a few small cakes.The villa was quiet as usual. Teresa greeted her like always and as
After Eloise left, Gabriel immediately lost interest in finishing his drink. Lazily, he walked out of the bar. A few people tried to stop him, but he brushed them off.Once outside, Gabriel headed straight to the Dominguez residence and went to the small building where his parents lived. His father wasn’t home yet, while his mother was in the music room, playing a somber piece on the piano.He didn’t interrupt her. Only when she finished and her mood seemed to settle did she notice him.“Gabriel, when did you get here?” Sofia asked, startled at first, but her surprise quickly softened into a smile.“Just now,” Gabriel replied as he walked closer. He glanced at the piano in front of her. “Mom, why are you practicing at this hour?”“It’s still early. If there’s nothing else to do, it’s better to practice. Your hands might get rusty if you don’t play for too long,” Sofia answered.Everyone who knew her understood how much she valued that piano, a piece she had worked hard to acquire at a
Every time Ardiel met Eloise, he would always try to remind her of the times she once loved him, using all the care and kindness he had shown her in the past. But it was all wasted, Eloise had become cold and merciless, even toward the man who had raised her for more than ten years.Because of this, Ardiel was consumed with anger and disappointment. He couldn’t stop himself from scolding her. “What happened to you? Why did you become like this?” he asked bitterly.Eloise answered calmly, her voice void of emotion. “Maybe if you hadn’t handed me over to Cosmo in exchange for your own interests, we could have at least preserved our relationship.”Their bond had been fading for a long time, especially since Elaine returned. If not for her sense of indebtedness, Eloise would have cut ties long ago. In truth, even when she tried to show respect, she no longer saw Ardiel as real family.She looked at him and gave a faint smile. “People always have to choose. You can’t have everything. Yo