Chapter 30: Chapter 30

HER DECISION TO MAKE

She didn’t answer Jethro’s calls even before he kept calling. Her decision was finally final. If she wanted to escape this nightmare, she needed to do it now. Her family wouldn’t be involved in this if it weren’t for her in the first place. It was already enough for her that she met Jethro for a short amount of time. Her memories of him are previous but she can no longer stay on his world. She had to make quick decisions and set her priorities straight.

“Cassandra, how many times did Jethro come here now? What’s happening between the two of you? Are you two okay?” her mother asked.

“Mom, I know our world is in chaos but I promise you, this will be the last time this will happen.” Her mother just nodded at her and patted her lightly on the shoulder.

She dialed Julius’s number, as soon as she called he picked up right away.

“Did you make your decision?” Cassandra sighed to herself first.

“Yes, I already made my decision. I want to go away and go back to Manila. I want to go somewhere where no one can reach me anymore.”

“No problem, I’ll pick you up after conversing with Don Fructoso,” he mentioned. “I also need to confront him and tell him all about my mom and how much he needs to pay for his sins,” he added.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

“You chose the right path, Cas. I want us to live a life away from them. After taking everything back, we’ll be free to do whatever we ant.” Cassandra’s chest tightened as she heard those words. The truth was, she had already fallen for Jethro. She didn’t feel anything for Julius anymore; only fear that pushes her to do something she doesn’t want to. She killed those thoughts in her head.

“I’ll wait for you,” Cassandra said shortly. She didn’t even wait for the phone to end and quickly headed to help her family with their things.

It’s painful for her to leave this way. She didn’t even get to talk to Jethro so that they can clarify anything; their feelings included. She wasn’t even able to listen to his explanations and ask what was going to happen. The only thing she knows was that everything is in chaos and right now, she needed to help her family to escape before herself.

Jethro came to Cassandra’s house everyday but she kept rejecting to see him. He knows she’s just inside the nippa hut but he couldn’t see her at all. But today, he’s decided that he’ll finally talk to her no matter what. He needed to explain everything about what happened. He didn’t care anymore about what people might say. All he cares right now is Cassandra and he’ll explain everything.

Jethro was already confused last night. He saw Julius talking to his dad. He knows it was already about them being family. For the past few days, the only person he talks to was his mother who couldn’t help but keep crying. She told him all of her feelings including how she’s enduring everything about Don Fructoso. Jethro isn’t the real son; he already knows that for a long time. But the thing that makes him mad the most was how Don Fructoso stole everything from his real father; the company shares, their things and even them. That was what his mother told him but there were no evidences supporting it so they couldn’t do anything but follow. His mother continued to cry, filled with sorrows and pain. Jethro quickly went to Cassandra’s place. There were no lights in the house nor did it look like anyone inside. He tried calling for her inside but no one seemed to answer. Desperate and anxiety creeping inside him, he kicked the door open. He peeked through inside but didn’t see anything. He confusingly went inside and found how clean the kitchen was. He came inside and checked all of the rooms but their things where nowhere to be found.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” he cursed several times while stroking his head with his fingers. He quickly dialed the number of his assistant.

“Check all the flights today and ship trips, see if there’s someone named Cassandra Jilonan who rode aboard,” he ordered. He can’t bear thinking about Cassandra leaving him.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” he punched the wall several times. It didn’t matter if his hand bled. How could she decide to leave him like this? She promised him that she’ll always be by his side but now?

“Sir Jethro what are you doing?” his head automatically looked towards his maid.

“Do you know where Cassandra went? Did you see her leave?” he asked.

“Yes sir, I saw her leave earlier but I didn’t know where she was heading with her family. She had all her luggage with her and was picked up by a red vehicle.”

“W-what do you mean?” Jethro creased his forehead.

“Someone picked her up here.”

“Fuck!” He immediately run towards his car and rode it towards home. There’s only one person that Cassandra will contact and that’s no other than Julius. He’ll punch the lights out of him, the moment he sees him.

Before he could even reach his house; his eyes widened as Cassandra’s name filled his screen. He stopped his car and answered the phone.

“Hello? Where the fuck are you? Do you even know that I just came to your home just now?” He couldn’t control his feelings. “I fucking miss you! Whatever you were thinking or planning please don’t do it! Please! Let’s talk about this. Don’t leave,” he begged, trying to persuade her. His tears rolled down her eyes, this is the first time he had ever loved someone so much.

“I’m sorry but I need to do this. I don’t want to suffer any longer in your hands. I don’t want everything to become even more chaotic because of me. This was my fault anyway,” she started. He could hear her sobbing from the other line. How he wished he can wipe those tears away. “In the first place, I shouldn’t have stayed so that all of our lives were quiet and peaceful.”

“Cassandra, please… I want to spend my whole life with you!” he continued to persuade her. “You’re the only woman for me and I would do everything to protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you or your family—“

“But you already did. Your family already hurt me. I just tried to endure everything for you because I love you but I don’t know anymore. I don’t want to suffer. We need to end this and let go of each other.” Her voice was now cracking.

“Please Cassandra, please. I’m begging you. Don’t say that and come back. I want to be with you, I can’t breathe just thinking of you away from me.” Jethro’s voice was now cracking as well. He’s desperately begging her to stay. His tears continued to roll down his eyes.

“I’m sorry Jeth but… I don’t love you anymore,” she started. “I realized that loving you was like roses. It was beautiful until I got pricked and hurt. Let’s forget everything that happened and move one. I’ll forget you and live my life. I hope you would do the same. Marry Jillian and build a family; a family that will not repeat history itself.” His heart broke just hearing those words come out of her mouth.

“How could you even say that? You’re the one I love and the one I want to spend my life with. The first time I saw you, I already know you’re the woman I’m going to marry,” he said sincerely.

“Forget me Jeth. Forget that all of this happened; after all everything was a nightmare.”

“How could you say that when you’re the most beautiful thing that happened to me?” he sobbed. It felt like all the tears that came out from him were all the tears that he couldn’t conceal anymore.

“I don’t love you anymore, goodbye.” She finally ended the phone call while he on the other hand had his body weakened from the pain. How can he continue living now that Cassandra left him?

He came back to the mansion with a weakened stature, he wanted to lock himself in his room but noticed a red car parked.

“Aling Sed, who’s car is this?” he creased his forehead. He remembers his servant talking about seeing Cassandra rode a red vehicle.

“This is ma’am Jillian’s,” she answered. “Don Fructoso has been looking for you. I’ll inform him now that you’re here.” He shook his head.

“Don’t tell him yet,” he mentioned. He quickly walked towards the stairs and could hear Don Fructoso’s voice talking with Jillian in the study room. He went back to peek through and saw the two talking. He also saw Julius there with a good relationship with his so-called dad.

“Are you sure that we’re not going to encounter any problems, hija?”

“Yes my future daddy-in-law, my dad secured the investment with you. Jethro will have no choice but to be engaged with me and then marry me,” she smiled. “Cassandra’s out of the picture now and Julius? You did a great job to make her believe something so stupid,” she laughed.

Jus hearing those words, Jethro gritted his teeth. He wanted to recklessly punched both his dad and Julius but he stopped. How could they do that to him and his mother? Instead of being hot-headed, he did his best and recorded every bit of their conversation. He wanted to make sure that this time, they will no longer be able to get away with this.

“As for your bonus, Julius,” he pulled the drawers open. He wrote something on the cheque and gave it to him. “Five million pesos and another five million as long as you can keep Cassandra out of the picture… well, at least until after the wedding.”

“No problem sir,” he smiled and nodded.

“You were good at acting Julius, no wonder your ex was easily fooled,” Jillian added.

Jethro’s chest tightened as he witnessed everything until the end. He knows any longer and he might actually kill anyone without remorse but he controlled himself. He needs to be more careful.

He shook his head and tried to calm down. He needs to act as if he didn’t know anything about their conversation. He knocked on the door and everyone promptly became silent. As he opened it, Julius properly sat down and everyone looked at him. Jillian tried to force a smile on her face.

“You were looking for me?” he coldly asked.

“Yes hijo, join us.” Don Fructoso reached out his hand and pointed towards the sofa. Julius stood up and bid his goodbye as soon as he sat down.

“I need to go dad,” he avoided Jethro’s gaze and headed for the door.

“Jillian here has decided the date for your engagement. I hope you were not thinking of postponing it again,” he started.

“I’m sorry about what happened with Cass. I heard she suddenly disappeared?” Jillian said and acted shock. He simply nodded.

“Let’s not just talk about her. We’re broken up. I already ended what I had with her.”

He saw how the two exchanged eye contacts as if they knew and were thrilled by the news.

“That’s good to know. The engagement will be held two weeks from now, the same day where Asta Lonia will finally seal the deed about the Hacienda Hacie,” Don Fructoso was excited. He couldn’t hide his evil grin at all. “It would be a grand celebration.”

“I’m excited uncle!” Jillian looked towards him and held his hand. “Are you excited hon? It would be a grand celebration for the both of us.”

“Yeah, I’m very excited. It would be grand and newsworthy,” Jethro answered with a meaningful smile on his face.