“It's all clear now, it wasn't Antonio who killed Jace,” Doris had said, her voice laced with a mix of anger. “It was Damon! He manipulated you and made Antonio the monster to get you on his side.”
“I thought this was all Antonio's idea,I …I did it because I was so angry he had us captured…and Jace ..I ... .I don't know what to say Doris…”. Angela sobbed with a hand over her face.
Doris was restless thinking about the next possible step, a way to fix this. “This is bad..Angela…Antonio is going to be framed by Damon and you helped him! Do you have any idea how much you've hurt him already?” She said pacing up and down in front of Angela, who sat on the couch sobbing loudly.
“I…did it to pay back…I thought he killed Jace..I…I…I am so stupid”. She cried out. How could she have been so blind? Her thoughts raced back to the moments she'd spent with Damon back at Diana's captive building when he released her from her bondage, his smooth lies that she fell for.
She imagined a vivid image of Antonio's anguished face after he must have been shown the tape of her accusations. "I... I can't believe it," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I helped him. I helped frame Antonio.”
Hot tears continue to stream down Angela's face, blurring her vision, her heart twisted with guilt. Doris stopped walking around and stole a glance at her pitifully. “Angela..it's okay”. Doris said softly but Angela's sobs grew louder, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"What have I done?" she cried. "How could I be so foolish?" She cried out ,buried her face in her hands. The image of Antonio's tear-streaked face, came flashing back,the night she promised never to leave him,haunted her. She had not only turned her back on him and left him hanging with no explanation. She betrayed him once again,by working with Damon.
"I'm sorry, Antonio," Angela whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so, so sorry.I never meant for it to go this way. I am the worst!"
“Angela, stop! This isn't your fault anyway..”. Doris snapped at her. Angela shook her head. “But it is Doris…if only I had opened up to Antonio,Jace would still be with us…we will still be together,I was so scared of Diana taking my place in his heart and afraid that he would hate me for the things Diana told him. I should have fought for us. I made Jace pay ultimately for my mistake…I ….I…I don't deserve to live”.
Doris knelt in front of her and shook her shoulders. "Hey ! Angela, look at me," she said, her voice a mix of anger and compassion. Angela hesitated and finally,she slowly met her gaze,tears streaming down her face. "You were manipulated by Damon. He's a master at deception, and he used your grief and anger against you. You lost your only brother and you believed it was Antonio who killed him. Honey, it's understandable,I would do worse than frame him if I was in your shoes”.
Angela sobbed loudly again looking down,after that statement. “Look up here, please. Doris shook her again gently, forcing Angela to meet her gaze again. "Stop crying,it won't solve anything”.
“I am such an idiot I am the worst”. Angela continued cursing at herself crying heavily. Doris closed her eyes, a hand on her forehead then she sighed and sat down beside her grieving friend. She wrapped her arms around Angela. Who cried into her chest. “It's okay Angela,you are not to be blamed,you did that for Jace's sake,like I said ,anyone in your shoes will react the same way”.
“I left Antonio without giving him the answers he longed for…and now this…tell me Doris…is he ever going to forgive me?” She sobbed looking at her friend searching for answers.
Doris felt her lips heavy to answer her. “I …I….don't know Angela…I am very confused. You and Antonio…things are getting more mixed up and complicated…Antonio truly wishes you two could make things right but ... .that damned asshole Damon…I wonder what he is really up to”. She said thoughtfully.
“He is going to get Antonio locked up and it's all my fault…Grandma Elizabeth will be so disappointed in me if she finds out what I did..”. Angela sobbed.
“Angela,you need to stop thinking about the Monteros and think about safety now”. Doris pointed out. Angela pulled away from her arms to stare at her face. “Safety? What safety?” She sobbed.
Doris sighed. "Look. I've been thinking. It's no more safe for you and the twins to stay here. There will be a big crash between the Montero's brothers and Damon knows you are here,he is the real villain that killed Jace—he could be hunting for you next, and Antonio breaking his heart and now this…I don't think he will be kind enough to ask for an explanation this time. He will lose it!"
Angela looked up, her eyes widening with realization. "You think they'll come after me…us?" Doris nodded solemnly. "It's a possibility we can't ignore. We need to move you and the girls somewhere safe, somewhere they won't think to look. Far away from the country, Angela."
Tears welled up in Angela's eyes once again. "But... where would we go? I have no one outside the country…the girls…what about Kerry? Is there nothing I can do to make things right…like calling Antonio and confessing all this to him? I need to fix this." She sobbed her head bowed in shame knowing that her friend will likely scold her.
“Oh really, now you want to confess this to him? You had the chance to do it before all of this but you didn't,I am sorry honey but it's too late now…I don't know what's going on with Antonio, he is not looking very emotional stable when he visited….but for now let's get you and the girls out of this country, because this city,the country is going to blow up”.
Angela swallowed hard, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty. “But…I really don't have anyone outside the country”.
“I have a friend... in Japan. It's far enough. They won't find you there”. Angela looked up in surprise. “Really? East Asia... That's so far away. Will the twins be able to adjust?”
“Well they will adjust, Angela. People do. And Liya and Lia? They'll amaze you with how quickly they'll adapt,they are lovely kids. Besides, it's a chance for them to experience something new, something different and start a new chapter”. Doris replied.
Angela nods slowly, contemplating the decision. "What about Kerry? Are we going to let her know at least?..."
“No…for her own punishment,she needs to learn a bitter lesson”. Doris replied strictly.
Angela nodded slowly, her heart heavy with sorrow and regrets. "Okay,I guess you are right," she whispered, her voice trembling.
“I will make the arrangements for the trip as soon as possible,you need rest,and remember this isn't your fault,the twins are still here,your mental breakdowns will affect them, try as much as possible to be strong for them please”. Angela nodded with her lips pressed together.
“You got your passports?”
“Yes and the girl's too”.
“Alright.I will call my japanese friend and let her know immediately”.
“Thanks Do ris,I am lucky to have you”. Angela hugged her again,then sobbed.
“Yeah yeah,enough with the crying already”. Doris teased and kissed her friend.