Chapter 31: Chapter 31

THE GRAND REVELATION

For two weeks, Cassandra didn’t contact him either via text nor call. He tried to contact her or find her where ever she was in Manila but he couldn’t see her at all. He tried to explain his side and tell her about Julius’s plan but to no avail. He misses her so badly. He wants to hug her and kiss her but he couldn’t.

“Hijo, are you sure of you’ll do this afternoon?” Her mother was concerned for him.

“I need to do this, Mom. This is for you and everyone who suffered so much in this mansion. This is supposed to be ours and it’s time to take it back. So I need to do this,” he said.

“What if you’d be in danger? Fructoso is a ruthless man. He won’t worship anyone,” she added full of fear in her eyes.

“We can’t escape this Ma. If we’re going to continue living a lay low life and let him step on us then nothing’s going to change. It’s time to reveal everything. It’s the right to make them pay for all their sins. This is the only thing that will set us all free and I’ll do it later in the engagement party,” Jethro said filled with determination.

He turned around and looked at himself in front of the mirror. He sighed to himself and let the maids fixed his suit. He can hear the car engine’s from downstairs, reminding him that they were his guests for this supposed engagement with Jillian.

“Hijo, everyone is waiting for you. The Elverios are here.” His mom peeked through the door and called for him. He only nodded. “I hope everything will turn out right tonight, hijo.”

“I know it will,” he answered. He looked at himself one last time in front of the mirror and then promptly went outside. As he walked at the hall, everyone stared at him. Some people were smiling, applauding for his presence. Don Fructoso did plan everything. All of the prominent people were there, big shots who could do business and negotiations.

Jillian walked towards him and kissed him on the lips. He forced himself to smile in front of everyone; to his family and the strangers in his house.

“I’m so excited,” she said.

He didn’t answer at all and only had his attention towards his dad; busy enough while smiling and talking with Don Elverio.

After a few minutes, the host finally spoke. He made the two of them stand in front of the crowd, above the platform so that they can exchange engagement in front of everyone and say their feelings towards each other.

Jillian was the first one to speak. Jethro didn’t bother to listen, all he knows that she talked too much and how she adored him for how many years. She persuaded Jethro for so long and how much she loved him. She even shared the most little thing that was not worth mentioning and the rest was history. To him, it was obvious that she just made everything up. When she was done sharing and declaring her love for him, it was now his time.

It was the perfect moment to do whatever he wanted and how he waited for this. For those two weeks, he decided to patiently wait and stay quiet but now, he can finally speak. Jethro will do whatever it takes to take down this selfish ruthless bastard named Don Fructoso just for his mother and for everyone involved.

But before he could even speak, everyone stopped. Their attention was taken by a huge door in the mansion that slowly opened and revealed a woman. It was no other than Cassandra. She was dressed in a blue haltered dress with little raffles in the chest. She looked too different from her usual self. She looks very regal and sophisticated. Her hair was long and straight and her lips were shaded by a light color.

Jethro’s eyes widened. There was something in his chest that he couldn’t explain at all the moment he saw her again. He wanted to embrace her into a tight hug. His eyes were sparkling but he stopped himself.

Cassandra proudly walked on the huge red carpet. Everyone’s eyes were darted only on her. The place was suddenly wrapped around by countless rumors and whispers. They couldn’t believe it.

Jillian suddenly blocked her way. “What are you doing here?” Cassandra swiftly pushed her away making her lose her balance. “Are you crazy? Guard, please escort this woman out!” Jillian shouted and looked at the guards.

“No need for that,” Cassandra started. “They won’t listen to you anyway,” she continued and smirked. “Anyway, I’m not the one the police are after.” She proudly looked at Jillian who is now fuming in anger. “Listen up everyone! I have an important announcement to make!” Cassandra shouted gathering everyone’s attention.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Jillian gripped her shoulder tightly but she immediately yanked it away from her. Her eyes were focused on Julius who had an uneasy look on his face.

“Who the fuck give you permission to come here and ruin the celebration!” It was Don Fructoso pointing at her with his cane.

“I did have an access for a very personal invitation of coming here but that’s not the reason why I attended,” she started and slowly tilted her head. “I’ve come here to bring you down and make you crawl the way you made people do so out of torture and punishment,” Cassandra threatened. Obviously he made him fuel in anger. She laughed before slowly gazing towards a familiar figure. It was Jethro, walking towards her right now but she ignored him.

“Are you fucking out of your mind? And who would believe?” Jillian unbelievably said.

“Everyone will,” she answered. “The question is… after this, will anyone still believe in you?”

“How dare you!” Jillian was about to slap her when she caught it in midair.

“I did warn you before not to mess with me right? You don’t listen.” Using her other hand, she promptly slapped Jillian in the face. She held her cheek and glared at her. Jillian was about to retaliate when she slapped her again.

“Guards, get this fucking woman out of my house!” Don Fructoso shouted but no one seemed to move. “Are you deaf? I said get this bloody creature out of my house!”

“House? Do you hear yourself Don Fructoso? This house doesn’t belong to you!” she shouted. “This house and everything belonged to someone else and you’re only claiming for yourself,” she added. “Everything in here belongs to Don Hidalgo!”

“You’re insane,” he gritted his teeth.

“Am I? Why don’t we call Don Hidalgo so that everything clears up?” she asked provokingly.

“And how would you do that? Hidalgo has been dead for all these years. You are insane!”

“Then let me prove it to everyone that Don Hidalgo is alive, straight from the flesh.” Everyone looked at the door as they noticed someone walking. It was a man who looked quite tall. He was masculine despite being a little old. He had a scar on his right face but moved normally. Everyone’s jaw dropped as he slowly approached them. Cassandra seemed to smile and gazed to look at Jethro and his mother’s reaction again. Indeed they were all shock.

Donya rushed towards her husband and threw herself for a hug. She couldn’t her happiness as tears rolled down her eyes. Jethro on the other hand couldn’t believe it.

“D-dad?” His were still widened, not sure what to say to him.

“You are a fool if you think you can make us all believe that you are Don Hidalgo.” Don Fructoso couldn’t believe what he’s seeing.

“Yes, Fructoso. I’m came back from the dead and crawled out of my grave just to haunt you.” He said. “I think it’s time for me to take everything back including my family, my business and all the things you stole,” he said before following it up. “You even tried to kill me.”

“And do you really think that would be easy?”

“I know it might be hard but I think it would be harder for you to escape now.” From the person standing by Don Fructoso’s side, he reached out to give him a white paper.

“These are the legal documents that tells everyone that you faked the documents just so you can take everything from me and convinced my wife to sign!” he said full of anger. Don Fructoso couldn’t utter a word. “And that’s not all, you even lent money to the Elverios just for the two of you to share the company’s profits! You sneakily processed all the documents and tried to kill me!”

“A-and who would believe you?”

“Those papers already said enough about you and the Elverio! Stop lying because we have enough evidences for you!” A lawyer suddenly emerged and operated a USB. “These CCTV pictures and videos were taken from the moment you tried to kill me,” he continued to explain. “Remember these men? Three men appeared cuffed. “They were your minions who tried to kill me! I told myself I will come back and claim everything back!” he continued.

“No… No one’s going to believe you! No, no no!” Don Fructoso finally felt weakened in his state. He almost cried looking like a pitiful man.

“Do you think you guys can escape sins now?” Cassandra finally spoke again. “The police have now authentic copies of the files,” she mentioned.

“Chief, arrest this man!” Don Hidalgo pointed towards the crimpled man.

“No! You can’t do this to me! I am Fructoso the rich! No!” He kept struggling from the police’s gripped. As the place was now slowly engulfed in chaos, Jethro looked at Cassandra; his eyes trying to talk with her. He hugged his dad with all his might and tears finally streamed down his face.

“Jeth, please don’t involve me and my Dad with this. I didn’t do anything!” Jillian begged in front of him as she was being dragged away by the police.

“You have to pay for your sins as well, Jillian.” Jethro turned away from her.

Cassandra finally walked towards Julius bent down in front of him. He was spacing out. She slapped him hard in the face. “I’ve trusted you, Julius. I gave you my heart and myself to you before but all you’ve done disappoint me. I didn’t think after lying once, you’ll do it again for the second time.” She laughed. “I just realized how horrible of a man you are. You will never change,” she spouted sharp words at him.

“Cassandra, I’m sorry. Please let me explain—“

“I don’t need your explanation. Your mom told everything. Be thankful that I didn’t do anything to you. Never show your face to me again,” she added.

“Cas, I’m really sorry.” Cassandra turned away, not hearing his words anymore. She continued walking away. Her role was now done. Jethro’s family is now happy. She just needed to go back to Manila and live her life as if all of this never happened. She will do her best to forget about him now.