Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Final Goodbye : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Benita climbed the stage with a firm step, her face composed but her heart beating hard. Without saying a word, she walked down from the stage and headed straight to the restroom where Eva had run into moments earlier. She ignored the penetrating gazes of the crowd, the reporters’ restless murmurs, and the piercing flashes from the cameras that refused to rest. She didn’t even look back. Her eyes were fixed only on Eva.When all a mother wants for her son is to live happily and peacefully, even after she's gone, every other thing becomes meaningless.Alex stood frozen, unable to move, his chest rising and falling heavily. James beside him was equally stunned. They watched helplessly as Benita disappeared behind the door. The weight of whispers spread around the hall like wildfire.The reporters, hungry for news, seized the opportunity. They rushed towards Alex in unison, like wolves circling their prey. Their voices overlapped, throwing questions that turned his stomach.“Dr. Spen

In the living room, Benita sat stiffly on the couch, her phone pressed tightly to her ear. Her face was stone, her tone sharp.“Yes, I need you here now, to attend to someone,” she said firmly.On the other end, the family doctor’s voice sounded calm. “What exactly am I coming to treat, Mrs. Spencer? I’ll need to bring the right tools.”Benita’s lips tightened. “I want you to check if a bitch is pregnant, and to identify the true father.”There was silence for a second, then the doctor cleared his throat. “Okay, Mrs. Spencer. I’ll be there shortly.”She ended the call, her hand dropping heavily to her lap. For a moment, she stared blankly at the wall, her chest rising and falling with slow, angry breaths.The room was heavy with silence. Even the ticking of the clock seemed hesitant, as though it too feared Benita’s mood.Just then, footsteps sounded on the staircase. Alex and James descended together, their expressions taut. They entered the living room and found Benita seated, unmov

James sat across from Alex in his office, his face calm but his words sharp. He had been pacing before, but now he leaned on the edge of the desk, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on his friend.“Alex,” he said quietly, “the stakeholders were right. You know they don’t talk that way unless it’s serious. The media has been on our neck since the whole uproar about Eva’s pregnancy. Headlines everywhere. It’s not just you, it’s dragging the company down.”Alex pressed his lips together, biting them hard enough to feel the sting. He turned his swivel chair slowly, his back to James for a moment, his face catching the faint reflection of the glass walls. His voice came out tight.“So what do you suggest I do now then?”James hesitated, his eyes searching Alex’s back as though weighing the effect of the words he was about to drop. He took a slow breath and then said it plainly.“You should engage Eva. Make it official. Then make a public announcement of your wedding with her. By so doing, all

Dinner had been laid neatly on the long mahogany table, the glow of the chandelier giving the dining room a golden warmth. But the atmosphere was nothing close to warm. Only Alex and his mother sat there, plates before them, spoons clinking softly against porcelain. One chair, the one that belonged to Eva now, stood empty. Earlier, a maid had gone upstairs to call her down. When she returned, she looked troubled. Benita noticed. “Where is Eva?” Benita asked, her brows already tightening. The maid swallowed hard before answering. “Ma… I went to inform her that dinner is ready. But Ms. Mendes sent me away. She said…” The girl hesitated, her eyes darting nervously between mother and son. “She said what?” Benita’s voice was sharp now. The maid’s lips quivered. “She said she’s not interested in poisoned food. She doesn’t want to die before her time.” Alex threw his mouth opened, shockwaves filling his entire body. He wondered how such words could come out of Eva's mouth.

By evening, Alex was seated in his office, his back straight against the leather chair, his gaze fixed on the polished desk.Across from him sat James, leaning carelessly in his chair, his hand tapping the armrest, his eyes darting at Alex with unease. Beside James sat a poised woman in her mid-thirties, neatly dressed, her smile calm but professional, Ms. Adams, a highly recommended event planner.James cleared his throat. “Are you sure about this, Alex?” His voice carried the weight of hesitation, his eyes narrowing slightly. Everything about the scene felt off to him. It wasn’t the wedding itself that made him uncomfortable; it was the speed, the rush, the sense that Alex was running toward something without looking where his feet landed.Alex’s face turned sharply toward him. “What are you saying, James? You were the one who advised me to do this, remember?”James pressed his lips together. He hated being reminded of his own words. “Yes, I said it,” he admitted, nodding. “But no