CHAPTER 264. A DIFFERENT SIDE OF THE ONCE ENEMY

"Like why Gracia turned me against you from the moment I learned to speak. Why her love for me feel so odd from the beginning? Why didn't she even support me college? And why she didn't care about what I did with my life as long as it didn't her plans. That meant even denying me the right to know my biological . That's why, when I met your father, even if we didn't get along well, no matter many times we crashed, I wanted so much for him to treat me like his own . Then again, we kept crashing, because the only connection I had with him that of a fatherless daughter longing for a father. The little affection I got from meant the world to me. But even that, Gracia took it away from me too."

"But at least now, you have the chance to live freely. Forget about her and the past, embrace the new dawn that life has given us. Pains come and go, and wounds heal. No matter how much this pain you are feeling is, it will someday fade . And those wounds, no matter how deep they are, will surely heal. But like in life, healing is also a process." I say.

"And the scars, Ellie? They will always remind us of the past and the cause of them— wrong choices and our lost battles." She argues.

A good point, but here is the best version of it.

"But if we chose to look at things from the ending point—how the battles ended and we were fighting for, if we won or lost—then we don't have to be saddened by scars. We, on the contrary, look at these scars and smile, because our wrong may have cost us a lot, but in the end, they made things beautiful in the most way. As long as our fight was for a good course, whether we lose or get , the scars shouldn't make us sad or regretful."

"You sound like a philosopher, but thank you. Even though I am a pathetic wandering , you've managed to ease my guilt a little. But still..." Her face turns pale, and she away.

"Don't think about it, Nelly. Everything will fall into place at the right time. And we all the time in the world." I say, hoping to get this frown off her face, but I, , made it worse.

"I will spend most of it in jail." She murmurs and turns to me. "I deserve it, and I am complaining. I covered up for a criminal for years, a murderer, and it's only fair I pay for my crimes. If I get a chance to get out, I will set a path that even my -grandchildren will want to follow."

Wow! People really do change, or it's just us who refuse to see people for who they are! Someone once said that, sometimes, things aren't exactly what they seem to . At times, what seems to be real isn't, and what seems fake isn't either. I never have thought that deep inside this woman lies a beauty and a tormented soul, that it was obscured by a mask that was forcefully and unknowingly put on her .

"Mrs. Almenda." We snap to the voice of Drew, with a few officers with him.

Nelly and I spring to our feet.

"Drew! Hi." I greet.

"I'm good. How is your husband doing?" He asks.

"She still hasn't woken up yet." I respond.

"I am sorry about that. But is he at least responding?"

"Not quite, but the doctor says he can wake up any time. We are waiting for that." I .

"That's a good sign. The guy is a fighter. He will pull through this."

"Thanks. I know he will. So, what brings you here?" I ask.

"I came to give you news, both good and bad."

What? Bad news? I thought we were past this kind of news.

"Hey, it's nothing serious, okay? Relax!" Drew says this after noticing my worry.

I sigh.

"What is it? Bad news first." I ask.

"Unfortunately, someone leaked Gracia's medical condition out. We are still trying to out how the information got out, but it might be just any person since she isn't a high-profile hospital. The problem is that the media is right outside. You know reporters are. Of course, they won't come in here, but it would be better if they something to chase them away for now."

Those... Anyway, they are just doing their job.

"I don't want any commotion or gossip. I will tell my lawyer to release a statement as as possible. I hope that will do for now." I respond.

"Nice idea. I will tell them to wait for the statement. You should also tell your friends avoid social media in the meantime until you address this issue, miss. Sorry, Mrs.

Almenda." Drew speaks again.

"Okay. I will do that. What's the good news?" I ask.

"Gracia will be moved to the jail hospital tomorrow, and after she regains , she will head straight to jail. You gave her quite a beating and deep wounds."

It's high time she goes where she belongs, and I hope those wounds will forever her of her crimes.

"Mmh. Okay. She should have been behind those bars a long time ago. At least things 't have probably gotten this far." I state.

"But now she will face the law for everything. I'm sorry, but we have to take her as ."

I look at Nelly, and at the same time, my friends come back from the cafeteria.

"Are they arresting her? Poor woman." Rose whispers behind me.

"I feel for her," Sherry adds.

Rose nods her head, urging a weak smile, indicating that she is willingly accepting the .

More than sorry, I feel bad and kind of guilty. If only I hadn't been too hard on her she came to my home alongside her mother, if only I had tried befriending her than seeing her as an antagonist, maybe she would have chosen the right path sooner. Maybe she wouldn't be going to prison with her mother. Is she really ?

"We will go ahead now. Please, excuse us." Drew says, guiding Nelly away.

"Please, wait!" I call before they walk away. "Please give me a minute with her," I say, Drew nods his head.

"What do you want to say to her, Ellie?" Sherry asks, and I look at Nelly as she walks to me.

We are writing wrongs, all of them, and there is no room for mistakes. Hate aside!

And grudges too! We need to use this second chance not just well, but wisely.