Chapter 26: Chapter 26

“Your father is the ran-away heir of the Alcaraz clan, Ana. He changed his whole identity to live a simple life with you — his family.”

My mouth fell open when I heard that from Abraham. I feel like all the words in my mind have suddenly escaped me. It was as if I had suddenly become ignorant. Earlier, he talked about the last will and testament that papa left before he died, but until now I still don't understand anything, especially what he said. I think I was even more confused by what I knew.

“Huh? What do you mean by ran-away heir?” I stupidly asked him while trying to process everything he said in my brain.

He glanced at me for a moment and again placed the papers on his table in front of me. I just stared at it even though he told me to take it and read it carefully.

“Just read it. All the answers to your questions are there.” He ordered me and laid those papers in front of me one by one.

I stared at him for a while. He was just looking at me seriously. Suddenly his goofy side disappeared. Again, I turned my gaze to the papers. I don’t know why I’m nervous. I picked up a folder and opened it. I glanced at what was written there. There was papa’s full name and the details about him but I still didn’t understand so I started reading it.

I looked up at Abraham when I finished reading that. It was clearly stated in that paper where papa really came from. It also states his real name and where he lives. His real name is Anastacio Demitrius Alcaraz but the name we know is Leoncio Alcaraz. It came from the wealthy family of the Alcaraz and as far as I know, that family is multi-billionaire. I remember that whenever I read the article about their family, I was asked if we were related to them but I knew it was impossible for that to happen because we knew papa’s origin. Mama met him as a gardener in their province. They moved to Manila after they got married and Matthew was born and that's where papa started working as a construction worker.

I took a deep breath and turned to Abraham again. “Is this true? How did it happen? Why?”

“Uncle wanted to live a simple life that’s why. He did not like managing his family's respective businesses. He made it clear to everyone that he was dead even before he was appointed as president of the Alcaraz Estate, but five years ago, before he was shot, he approached me and told me everything about you and who you really are, Ana. You are not just Anastacia Solei Alcaraz, you are the heir of all the property left by Uncle,” he declared.

My head almost swelled in shock. “What? What do you mean? And why are you calling him uncle?”

“I’m your first cousin. Your real mother is my aunt. Obviously, this information is already too much for you to handle, but you need to know the truth. You still don't know much about your whole life,” he said seriously and started to put away the papers on his desk.

I was just stunned there when I heard the ringing of his cell phone. He answered that call while I was still confused by what I found out. I would have liked to have just wondered so that I would not have any more difficulties but almost all my questions have been explained by that paper. Does that mean I'm not really mama's child? Aren't Agatha and Matthew my siblings? Who are my real parents? I'm dad's daughter to another woman? Who was that and why didn’t he tell me when he was still alive? What happened to her? Why did I only now find out?

I looked up when I felt someone hold my arm. I saw Abraham's serious face smile at me warmly.

“Let’s go. I'll introduce you to someone,” he said softly. Confused, I just nodded.

We walked out of his office while he was still holding my elbow. My heart is beating slowly but it is very strong. I still have a lot to ask him but I feel like I can’t take it all in right now. I feel like I’m going crazy by the time I know everything.

"Am I adopted?" I asked him as I slowly lost myself. I heard his laugh for a moment.

"You're just an unlucky one, that's it," he teased me as if he was picking me up again so I pushed him. I notice every look at us by the other employees who are there. He looks like a model. Only now have I seen such a handsome and professional man again. The one I know just looks gentlemanly but the truth is rude. Speaking of, Hector never texted me again after his last text to me last night. What could have happened to him?

"Where are we going?" I asked him when we got to the parking lot. He tilted his head to look at me.

“Dad wants to see you. Your mom's older brother. He is in the office now just near here.”

Even before I could react to what he said, he put me in his car. When he entered, I immediately turned my gaze to him.

“But I'm not ready yet! You haven't even told me everything— ”

“Calm down, Ana. Let's settle your inheritance first before your stepmother finds out everything. As far as I know, there already have connections, especially your older brother, since your sister Agatha got engaged to your stupid ex,” he said firmly and started the engine.

I was silent there. I stared at him and fastened the seatbelt then looked out the window. At the speed of events, I did not understand even one of what he said to me. I wonder if there are things I still need to know aside from this.

Just a few minutes passed before we stopped in the parking lot of a large building. When I went down, Abraham was still silent so I poked him as we entered the main entrance. He turned to me because I was at his back.

"What?"

"I'm nervous. Can it just be tomorrow? I didn't even dress properly,” I said while trying to calm myself. I'm just wearing pants and a simple white blouse. My hair is just loose. I didn't even think to put on make-up because I thought we would only talk in his office. Shit!

He didn’t answer until we reached the lobby. A few employees suddenly stopped and bowed to him and then greeted him. They just glance at me so I'm starting to feel embarrassed apart from the awkwardness I feel.

“You’re still beautiful, Ana. The genes of the family you belong to are not a joke, so chin up,” he simply told me as if he was still bragging so I nodded and then followed him into the elevator.

The wind in this man's head was also very different. As soon as the elevator opened, more and more employees greeted him and glanced at me. Others were still mumbling something before leaving in front of us. I can still see this little grin of Abraham.

"Maybe they thought you were my girlfriend," he said and suddenly grabbed my hand so I swear at him.

“You are embarrassing. Let me go— ”

"Anastacia?"

Abraham and I were both stunned as we walked when I heard someone calling to me. When I looked up, I was shocked to recognize who the two were in front of us now. They both looked down at Abraham and me holding hands.

"Do you know them, Ana?" I heard my cousin ask me so I looked at him in surprise. He greeted me with a smirk and winked at me as if he meant something. The tip of my lip lifted and I turned back to the two of them.

"Uhm… I'm not sure," I replied and before I could look away, I saw Agatha's sharp stare at me. Her hand was wrapped around Ares' arm. She has changed a lot. If I just didn’t know her age, I would have thought she was older than me because of her mature looks and attire. Ares' type I guess.

“Alright. Shall we? Dad is waiting for us. He really wants to see you so bad, babe,” said Abraham and tightened his grip on my hand so I quickly turned to him.

“What…” I said when I realized what he did. I just shook my head and drifted away from him. But before we could get any farther, I heard my name again. This time, Agatha called me, so I looked at her immediately. I saw how she looks at me from head to toe.

“I didn't expect I'd see you in a place like this. By the way, you are back. You still haven't changed, huh,” she said arrogantly so my forehead furrowed. Ares just kept staring at me as well. His expression was hard and blank. What does she mean?

"I thought you didn't know them," said Abraham who deliberately let the two hear so I almost punched him. "Just a joke then?" He added.

"I just came back the other day," I replied sparingly to her and was ready to walk again but she still spoke.

"So, why are you here then?" She asked directly so I focused again on the two of them and Ares.

"You're not the reason why I came here, so please excuse us," I said lazily but before we could get away, Abraham stopped me so I looked at him in surprise.

“You’re Agatha, Ares’ fiancé, right? I'm Abraham Ulysses Narvaza, son of the president of this company, and this lady here…” he stopped and looked at me. “This is my cousin. I can bring her here whenever I want to, and you, as our mere investor have no right to ask her what she was doing here. Excuse me, we're in a hurry,” he said and guided me away from the two of them.

I felt relieved when we got away. Abraham still wouldn't let go of my hand so I slapped him on the arm.

“Let me go. It's scary how clingy you are,” I commented to him and took his hand away from me. He just laughed and never spoke again.

"Thank you," I almost whispered to myself. He suddenly turned to me and raised an eyebrow at me.

"Huh?" He asked so I just shook my head and pushed him to continue walking.

I could still feel the weakness in my knee until we got to where we were going. We stopped opposite a cubicle and looked out over there. I just looked at what he was doing.

"Where's dad?" I heard him ask a woman who immediately bowed in front of him.

“Sir Ulysses, it's you. He's inside. Just come in,” she said politely and pointed to the door behind his cubicle. There is a "President" sign on the door.

Abraham later pulled me into that office. When we entered, the large room was exposed to us. There is expensive furniture, large bookshelves, trophies, and a flat-screen TV. There is also a small table in the middle and three large sofas. Then I heard that two people seemed to be talking so I looked at Abraham.

"I think your dad is still talking to someone," I commented and touched the end of his coat so he looked at me. "I really can not do it. Let's just go back tomorrow."

He slapped me on the forehead. “He’s expecting us now, Ana. Let's go,” he insisted and took my hand again then walked towards the back of that wall where his dad was.

I immediately saw an old but still muscular man sitting in his swivel chair. There was a man sitting in front of its table and turning in our direction. The two seemed to be talking seriously so they didn't notice us right away. I sighed violently as I waited for what Abraham would do next. I almost fainted with nervousness when the old man looked up and looked straight at us.

"Son, you're already here," he said and quickly stood up then approached us.

"Dad, this is Anastacia," Abraham introduced me, still holding my hand. The old man turned to me. It was only then that I noticed their resemblance to his son. I saw the twinkle in its eyes and the peek of its soft smile.

“Oh, you're finally here, hija. After so many years…” he said softly and hugged me. That hug lasted for a few seconds when I still didn’t know what to say. I suddenly lost consciousness of what was happening.

Even before I could finally speak, the man he had talked to earlier suddenly stood up and faced us. My eyes widened when I saw who it was. I could clearly see how his expression hardened and his gaze dropped to the hand that Abraham and I were holding. What is he doing here?!

“Apollo, you are here. We saw your brother and his fiancé outside. Did you come here together?” Abraham said without even letting my hand go so I was nervous. Hector came even closer to us without looking away from me.

"No, I didn't know they were here," Hector replied seriously to Abraham. "Your girlfriend?" He asked suddenly.

Stupid Abraham laughed then nodded and pulled me closer to him. “Yes, this is Anastacia. I would like to introduce her to dad today.”

"What--"

I didn't even get to continue what I was going to say when I saw Hector's expression harden even more as he stared at me sharply.

"Ah… but she's my wife though."