Chapter 73: Chapter 73

“I-I…” she lowered her head, her vision was staring on the floor. She couldn’t find a word to say after hearing everything what I had said. I smiled, tilting my head to my right while waiting for her reaction.

A drawn-out earsplitting silence filled the whole room. I glanced at the man who was standing behind her. He took a step forward before placing his hand on her trembling shoulder. Her wails almost filled the whole room, and it was followed by her siblings.

“I-I d-don’t know what to say…”

She doesn’t need to weep that much but I understand her reaction. It was heart breaking, even my heart could still cry even at this age. I let my head rest on the heard board when her hold on my hand tightened. Harry cups her cheeks, wiping off the tears that were pouring. She looks up then their eyes locks for a minute.

“Your mother fought so hard during her younger years, Ettasha…”

“She’s a brave warrior.”

“But…” Ettasha spoke again, looking at me from her shoulder.

“What happened to my twin? Where is she?”

Harry, and I glanced at each other. We were contemplating whether I should tell her or not because I know it would break her apart but she deserve to know about her twin, and about her father. I have been keeping this secret for the past sixty years, it’s hard to hold it anymore especially when she grew like…

Like him.

“She did not survive.” I slowly stare out of nowhere. I couldn’t shed a tear anymore but my heart is aching every time I had the chance to recollect those memories with his father who fought so hard just to keep us alive.

“I was beaten all over my body when we finally reached the other continent. Your father, Harry, did make sure to give medical support, to treat me just to keep us three alive. However….” I trailed off, looking at her siblings from Harry who are still weeping off.

“Only the two of us survive.”

Ettasha broke down, covering her face. The only thing I could hear was her cries that’s lingering the whole room. Narry, and Heart stood up then hugged their older sister. They snuggled against her neck, whispering sweet words to ease her down.

“D-does that mean that Daddy-” Ettasha looks at Harry who is waiting for her to finish her sentence.

“Isn’t my real Dad-”

“Hey.” Harry immediately shook his head, stroking her head. Despite of his senior look, Harry still looks healthy, and kicking.

“Even if I am not your biological father. Still, I treated you as my own daughter. I love you for who you are, Ettasha. I know you might think that you don’t truly belong because your real father is dead but please, don’t think of yourself like that. You are my first child…I treated you as my own.”

Harry isn’t bluffing when he said those words to her. He really did fulfill his promise to him. He did everything he could just to give Ettasha the life she deserves until she left us because she’s already married to the man she loves.

Ettasha was Ethan’s gift for me before he died. Well, there were two angels but the other one did not make it. I cried for years, thinking where did I go wrong to suffer like this? I was an orphan. I saw how my sister died before me. Nathan betrayed me, and used me. Then Ethan….my only reason why I am living finally set off into this world just to protect me, and our daughter.

“Even though Narry, and Heart were my real daughters but you’ll always be part of us, Ettasha.” Harry exclaimed with finality while looking at us with warm loving smile of his.

“Your father, Harry, was a great husband to me. He was loving, and gentle. Even though your father was killed. Still, I learned how to love Harry. After all, he’s not that hard to fell in love with.”

“Yeah, I mean Dad is so obsessed with you, Mom.” Heart agreed while nodding.

Narry crossed her arms, “Dad is literally a walking green flag. Even though Mom here was in love with someone else before yet he didn’t give up on her. What a simp!”

“Young lady! Don’t call me like that. I am still your father.”

I couldn’t help but to shake my head while watching them before me. They act like kids, as if they don’t have family on their own, whenever we are gathered in the same place.

Well, I shouldn’t be complaining. Looking at them with my weak eyesight still brings delight, and felicity to my heart. If it weren’t for Harry who kept his promise to Ethan, I don’t know where would I see myself after all this years.

“Are you okay now, honey?”

I glanced at Harry who slowly sat on the edge of the bed. Probably his back pain is acting up again.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry too much about me.” I smiled at him ensuring that my heart is beating normally.

“I am glad you did not cry, or else your condition would-”

“But Mom.” Ettasha jumped in before Harry could even finish his sentence.

“What happened to Auger? The one who killed my father? Is he still out there? Is he still alive?”

I paused, thinking for a minute when Harry caressed my shoulder, motioning that he would do the honors of explaining to them.

“He’s already dead, Ettasha….”

“He did promise us to leave us alone after they killed your father, and took his body away for science experimentation. They tried to conduct a DNA sample of Ethan to dispense it in their body so they would have strength like what your father possessed. Luckily, the research project was demolished, and all of their hard work was thrown away.”

“Their body didn’t handle your father’s blood. The government dispatch them, and turned their back on the organization that Auger created.” I continued Harry’s explanation.

Words can not describe how relieved I was after finding out about it. I believe this was karma’s work for pulling out all that effort just to kill a man who repent from his sins.

“I did all I can just to erase your mother’s name from public. She was once a wanted criminal for loving a beast but God was truly amazing for letting us heard.”

The world is now throwing loathly names on Auger, not on us. It’s all thanks to Harry’s endeavour to pull off some strings. Like what he said before, he wasn’t labeled as the most notorious, yet, wealthy man for nothing.

Now that years have passed, and he still possess that title.

“At least my father’s death was brought to justice. I will not forgive that man. I will hate him for the rest of my life.”

“I know how you feel, Ettasha.” I smiled at her weakly, “But hate is a strong word. You know what they say. Anger is one letter away from danger. Learn how to control your emotion, and how to set forgiveness to those who already perished.”

“Mom-”

“You’re old enough, Ettasha. I know you’ll understand it. Just let the choler flow in your system. It’s normal to feel something especially after finding out about your mother’s back story.” Harry pinned before Ettasha could say something.

“I can’t believe you jump off from a helicopter, Mom, just to chase after uncle Ethan.” Heart aforementioned afterwards.

“Believe me, I thought that fall would kill her. But it didn’t.”

They all started to talk about my recklessness. I couldn’t help but to watch them in awe. I know they are all here for a reason, that’s why before something happens to me, I wouldn’t regret my decision of telling to Ettasha who’s her real father.

Someone knock on the door, and Heart stood up from her seat, opening it. Heart, and Narry looks like their father. All of my kids were. Especially Ettasha who looks exactly like Ethan, but his girl version.

She holds an exquisite beauty that anyone couldn’t resist.

“Good day, Dr. Campbell.” Heart gestured her head in honor for his appearance.

“Good day too, Ma’am-”

“Grandma!”

Dr. Campbell was pushed to the side when someone rushed their way inside the room. Three men peeked their head from the entryway, scratching the back of their head.

“We’re so sorry Dr. Campbell for the inconvenience, we lost control of our kids. They were so excited to visit their grandma.”

“No worries. It’s nice to see a family all gathered here.”

All of my grand child jumped on the bed with them, cuddling against the soft mattress. Narry, and Heart have one son. Only Ettasha have one daughter. Usually, I thought she would give birth to twins since Ethan is her father who holds the curse of their ancestors. But I was daze when she only give birth to a child.

The curse halt from Ethan’s generation when my other child was killed before I could give birth.

The whole room went chaotic in a good way. All of my daughters looks blessed with their husband, and their kids. I smiled when a painful sensation reaps through my system. I acted like it’s nothing because I don’t want to ruin this moment.

“Harry…”

“Yes?”

I feebly open my eyes so that I could look at him. I raised my hand so I could touch where his heart is beating. Harry’s eyes widen when he realized something.

“Natasha-”

“Protect them, Harry…”

“Natasha, don’t say that. You’ll live, okay? You will-”

“Harry…promise me you’ll watch after them, okay?”

“Natasha…” tears started to fall down on his cheeks while shaking his head. He wrapped his arms around my shoulder, snuggling his drenched face in the nook of my neck.

“M-mom?”

“Call Dr. Campbell!”

“Shit! Mom! Hold on!”

“Natasha!” Harry’s shriek filled the whole room while the heart monitor was creating an alarming noise.

“Promise me Harry, okay?” I told him while cupping his cheek. He did not say anything but he nodded. He took my hand then kissed my brass knuckles.

“I-I don’t want to let you go…but-” he painfully look away, his shoulders are shaking dreadfully.

“But…say hi to him for me, okay? I love you so much.”

My silence answered him. I was gradually getting drowsy, while everyone was creating a commotion inside the room. My sight was getting bleary, and unsteady when I finally saw a light approaching.

“Natasha…”

“Ethan?” I mumbled, looking around to see where he was. Something was shaking my shoulder, and pumping my chest but everything was slowly fading until everything is blinding my sight from the eternal light.

I could no longer feel any pain here.

“I have been waiting for you, love…”

I slowly turned around when I felt someone’s presence. The moment our eyes locked, my lips formed into an uncontrollable sob when I finally saw him. He was offering his hand to me, telling me to come with him. He cocked his head to his right, the smile on his face did not waver when we saw each other. Behind him was…my sister. She was with two persons who I don’t have any idea who they are.

But they hold resemblance of us.

“I am glad we’re finally together.”

“Ethan!” I shouted before I let my body jump on him, my face was buried on his neck.

“I love you, Natasha…”

I pulled out then cup his cheeks. My face was drenched with tears when I look at him lovingly in the eyes.

“I love you too, Ethan.”