When the Funeral ended, Adrian remained by his mother's tomb and sobbed. All he could say was “Mom, Mom…” he would definitely miss her.
The last time he was with her was when his father took him to be a mistake and wished that he was never born. He remained by the tomb, Jess wouldn't leave but stayed with him.
Richard stood aside and scooped Elsie in his arms. It's unfortunate that he has to introduce Elsie to Anna as their first grandchild. She definitely would long to hold her in her arms, but it was too late already.
Elsie is the spitting image of his lady mother. Father would definitely be pleased that he'd got a great granddaughter that took after his late wife. He was so happy to have her.
Aurora stood by, leaning her head against Richard's arms, sobbing silently. She wished that she returned to Anna Lester as her daughter again and not the poor tramp she used to call her.
She dislikes Anna but she didn't wish that she died the way she did. Alone, away and separated from her son. Adrian was her life but she died, without her cherished son by her side, the futility of it all.
“If you keep sobbing, you're going to make me unhappy. Adrian needs you. I don't know that woman by his side” Richard stuttered.
“I think she's his girlfriend, father” Aurora replied. She's jealous that Adrian has that woman by his side and he feels comfortable with it. She'd observed how he appeared so familiar with her.
That's her place and not another. Elsie's father is there and it could have been her, by his side. But then, she's stepping back. So many things mingled together, everything seemed complicated.
He thought she's Patrick's girlfriend. And then,he saw her nudity. He probably might be thinking, Ray Grimard already had a piece of her flesh.
“And you're comfortable with it, that another woman becomes my granddaughter's stepmom?” Richard asked, wishing it shouldn't happen.
Adrian shouldn't have kids from different women like him. There are a lot of things in his life that he wished would never happen.
“Is uncle Adrian still crying?” Elsie asked,her gaze on Aurora. The latter shrugged but Richard corrected “He's not your uncle, he's your dad. Patrick is your uncle”
A Megawatt smile appeared on Else's face. Finally someone told her what she'd always wished for. Uncle Adrian is her father and Patrick is now her uncle.
“I am your grandfather and Patrick is your daddy's brother. Your great grandfather just returned home and your paternal grandmother has just been buried…” Richard explained.
“I'll get down grandfather” Elsie said, struggling to get down. Richard placed her down and she ran going towards Adrian “Dad..my daddy..” and ran into his arms.
Adrian's tear filled face beamed with a smile. Elsie, she calls him daddy. How sure was he, except he got a DNA he finds it difficult that she's his daughter.
Jess squinted. That's it. She knew something was off and now, she understood partially. As they started walking away, she asked “She's your daughter with that woman?”
“I don't know. But that woman is Aurora Blake, my ex-wife” Adrian replied and gently placed Elsie down before his dad and Aurora “I'll see you again, Elsie” he said and waved his hand at her.
As they got into the car, Jess intertwined her fingers with his and Adrian gently pulled it apart. A while ago, he would hold her firm as if he was going to kiss her and now, he couldn't even let them intertwine.
“You still love her?” She asked and to her utmost surprise, he didn't deny it. He nodded and added “I love her but we can't be together ever again”
Yes, they can't be together. She's with Patrick, his step brother. She'd always preferred and loved him. And he feels they've been together while being married to him. They both cheated on him, he's sure of that.
But thinking about it now, he doesn't blame her at all. At that time, he loved Lola Carrero and never gave her a right as a wife, as his wife. He cheated on her with Lola and if she does it to him with Patrick, it's even.
And for that reason, he would always treat her as his ex-wife and respect her. As for Elsie, if she turns out to be his daughter, he would accept her and if she's Patrick's, he would treat her as a niece.
“Would you like to share what your marriage was like and why you think that girl isn't your daughter?” Jess asked. Did she cheat on him? Why else will he say he wasn't sure the girl was his?
“No, Jess. Aurora is a woman that I respect. I can't let you in, on my life with her and my doubt of fatherhood over her daughter” Adrian refused.
***************
“You don't have to blame yourself for what happened to Anna Lester. It's normal that you sought for justice after you were innocently imprisoned. Or was it inappropriate to search for the whereabouts of your son?
If searching for your son and seeking justice,Anna Lester was caught in the web of her criminality, why would you blame yourself for that?” Patrick cautioned his mother.
His mother hadn't stopped sobbing and sniffling since they returned from the funeral of Anna. He isn't comfortable with it, but they didn't do anything wrong at all.
If that family splits apart when his mother is released or when his real identity is discovered, it only means that the family has always been sustained by lies and deception.
Whatever couldn't stand firm and unswerving in the face of truth, it only means it was devoid of honesty and transparency from the beginning. Truth was supposed to bring things to limelight and not the other way round.
“Did you hear what he said to his father earlier at the funeral? What does he think about us now? I know he would always point fingers at us on what happened to his parents' marriage” Luna complained.
“He would eventually think right, mom. Adrian is only worried and mad with me because of Aurora. He thinks we're dating and he's not happy about it” Patrick explained.
First thing he needed to do was clarify that aspect with him. Aurora loves him and she's ready to start afresh, her life with Adrian but the dude avoids her like a plague.
“Get things straightened out with him. Richard is sad and unhappy that his relationship with his son is estranged. Any parent in his shoes would feel that way too” Luna instructed.
“I'll do so,” Patrick replied.
Richard waited for Adrian to return home but he didn't. He was told he'd moved to his penthouse with Jess. He was unhappy, Adrian is head bent on having nothing to do with him anymore.
He informed Clem to notify him that Aurora and her family had stayed behind to extend their condolences to him, wouldn't he come home and appreciate it.
He told Clem that he doesn't have to be there in person for that. He asks that he go there and tell them that he needs time to rest and couldn't come around.
As soon as Clem left, he sighed softly. Whatever he needed to do to get Aurora off his mind, would be done. The more he pushes the thought of her to the back of his mind,the more it sprouts out to the surface again.
He'd had dinner with Jess and retired to his room for the night when he received a call that someone was in his sitting room, to see him and had refused to leave except he stepped out.
Adrian sighed audibly: