Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Final Goodbye : Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

“Amara,” Alex called the moment he saw her stepping out of the house she now shared with Martins Cooper. His voice trembled, strained with longing.He looked nothing like the proud man he once was. A long coat hung carelessly over his shoulders, not buttoned, only shielding him partly from the morning cold. Beneath it, he wore just a pair of shorts and slippers. His hair was scattered, his face pale, his lips dry. Even the air around him carried the smell of whiskey and cigarettes.Amara froze the instant she heard his voice. She stiffened, then quickly turned back toward the door as if retreating was the only way to breathe.“Please,” Alex’s voice cracked again. “Please, stop avoiding me. I just wanted to see you.”She stood halfway turned, her hand on the doorknob. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her words came out cold, sharp. “Well, you’ve seen me now. You can leave.”She tried to open the door, but something in his voice halted her again.“Amara…” His tone this time was ra

Martins adjusted the blanket carefully over Amara as he laid her gently on the bed. Her lips trembled with a weak smile as her eyes fluttered half-open.“I’m fine,” she whispered, her voice faint but stubborn. “You should return to work. Don’t waste your time watching me like this.”He hesitated, studying her pale face, then brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “Rest first,” he said softly. “Work can wait.”But when he stepped away and moved to the living room minutes later, silence engulfed him. The sunlight outside streamed faintly through the curtains, casting strips of brightness across the floor. He sat hunched in the living room, his elbows pressed to his knees, fingers clasped tightly together. His mind kept circling the same thought: Amara looked fragile, too fragile. Her insistence that she was fine could not erase the worry that gripped his chest.Martins had been a man of action all his life. A man whose empire grew because he faced storms without trembling. But

Alex sat in his study, his elbows resting on the mahogany desk, eyes sharp, voice steady as he gave instructions. The air smelled of leather and old books, the chandelier above spilling warm light over his determined face.“James, Chen,” he said firmly, “everything must be arranged as I want it. No suits. No white gown. This wedding will be purely traditional—Igbo style from start to finish. Red caps, ivory beads, wrappers, dancers, masquerades if possible. I don’t want anything foreign in it. It must show class, but it must also scream our tradition.”James shifted uneasily in his chair. Mr. Chen, who had been quietly noting every word, cleared his throat softly, lifting cautious eyes to his master.“Sir,” Mr. Chen began, his voice respectful, “forgive me if I overstep. But shouldn’t you take this slowly? Madam Amara… she has not even accepted your proposal yet, neither has she forgiven you. Planning this wedding without her knowledge, won’t it…”He trailed off as Alex’s eyes darken

Benita sat, hands clasped tightly on her lap, her lips moving in silent prayer, though she had never been one to pray often.The doctor sighed, lowering his stethoscope. “He suffered another episode of gastric bleeding,” he said quietly, his tone clinical yet weighed with concern. “It was caused by irritation of the stomach lining, aggravated by excessive alcohol and cigarettes. His system has been under severe pressure for months.”Benita pressed her hand to her chest, as if her heart would break open. “Doctor… is he going to survive this?” she asked, her voice trembling.The doctor nodded slowly. “He will, but only if he follows instructions strictly this time. No more alcohol. No more smoking. He must rest, eat properly, and avoid emotional stress. If he continues like before, I can't promise another chance.”James exhaled sharply, looking down at the floor, guilt flooding his eyes. Eva sat beside Alex’s bed, her fingers brushing against his limp hand. She leaned forward, studyin

Alex returned home later that evening, tired from driving aimlessly around town, but something strange caught his attention before he even stepped into the house. The parking lot, usually sparse, now looked full. Cars lined the driveway, polished headlights glinting in the dim lights of the compound. Some of them, he recognized as belonging to his company’s directors, but many were unfamiliar.He slowed his steps, eyes darting around suspiciously. “What’s going on here?” he muttered. His chest tightened. Could it be a party? But why hadn’t he been told? And if it was truly a party, why was the house so quiet? No music, no laughter drifting outside. The silence outside only made him uneasy.With careful steps, Alex reached the door, his hand hesitating on the handle. Finally, he pulled it open.The moment he stepped inside, a thunder of voices and applause exploded in his ears.“Surprise!!!!!”The shout shook him. He flinched, his shoulders jerking. Lights flashed from cameras, hit