SISTER IN LAW

TWENTY: THE NEW LIFE

"Mi amore."

I turned my swivel chair in the direction where the voice came from.

I smiled at him.

"Don't call me like that, remember you are not single anymore, Ed."

It made him frown at what I said so I just laughed. "Whatever! Take the kids home later; I can't have a quality time with my wife, because she spends more time with your children." He complained like a child with tantrums. I just laughed again because of his reaction.

"After you borrowed them from me, now you don't want them anymore. Fine! I'll really get them. I already missed them, they've been with you for three long days," I replied and got up from sitting in my swivel chair.

I grabbed Eddy’s arm and dragged him out of my office with me.

"And where are we going, Miss CEO," he asked me irritably.

"I will pick up my children. And of course to also ate dinner in your house," I replied and entered the private elevator that was just for me, but of course with my dearest friend.

As I got out from the elevator, almost everyone we passed, greeted me… that’s why I also gave them a smile as a reply.

It's been 6 years... six years ago when I chose to stay away from them all.

For a few months I also became a trending topic in tabloids and news on televisions and Radio stations in the Philippines. And even on the internet, search for the word or term, mistress... my

name will appear immediately.

Everyone called me different names.

Whore....

Home wrecker....

Mistress....

Husband-stealer…

Bitch…

Ungrateful sister…

A disgrace to the family....

A fallen heiress....

But damn! I'm not a stealer. Hays... people for their judgmental perceptions. But who cares... none!

Even my parents, rejected me... maybe my sister already inherited all the Frank's wealth, oh well I don’t care anymore, anyway that's what she wanted from the very beginning, I hope she is happy and contented, now.

I returned to Spain, fortunately I had my own unit there... days passed, I was ready to get up again and face the new life for me.

But when destiny does play with you, it really makes sure that you will have a hard time before winning the game of life.

2 weeks after I arrived in Spain when I found out a thing that could change my life, my whole-being even more.

I still remember how the Doctor dropped the words...

"You are 8 weeks pregnant, Madam." After hearing those words, my mind suddenly blocked out. I didn't know what to do, but I stayed calm, and thought for the best solutions to this. But I also admire myself because it never crossed to my mind to abort them. And I also made that a reason to be more brave to face life and live for them. They are the gifts, the blessings in my life... proof that God still loves me, that I still have hope. That I am not a hopeless case –that’s something right is still going to happen in my life.

With the help and guidance of my dearest friends, Edward Custodio and Hana Czartoryski, I was able to overcome my ups and downs in my life.

I sold my unit in Spain and I left my clothing line in Eddy’s care for the meantime. Yes! I gave up everything I had to start a new life and I used the money I got from selling my apartment to start a simple and new life in Switzerland.

Eddy helped me find a small house to stay there and I also looked for a job, even if the salary is small as long as it was safe for me and my babies but the income was enough to provide for our needs, push.

Every now and then, Eddy and Hana visit me there, until I gave birth to the angels of my life... that brought so much happiness and fulfillment to me.

After two and a half years of living a simple and happy life in Switzerland --together with my kids, I did not expect the person to visit me there. I remember that day, it was my day-off at the supermarket where I work when suddenly there was a knock on the door of my little house.

I thought it was just Eddy or my kind neighbors who never get tired to gave us help and food. But then, when I opened the door - I was shocked.

It was an old man with a scary and strict aura. I have never met or seen him in person, but I know him --I really do know him.

Don Leonardo Guevara, my mother's father. Yes, my rich and famous grandfather who rejected my mom when he chose to go and sneak with dad.

I never met him because my mother still had a grudge to him, and she never let me meet him in person. But I saw him in the photo I once saw in my mom’s belongings, and also in the content of the news about him.

But I was surprised why he is now here in front of my house. And what does he needs from me; I also do not know how I will approach my Grandfather that I got to face personally just now.

I heard my daughter crying so I let the door hang open and to give it as a signal for my Grandfather to enter the house. I carried up my daughter to put her to sleep again when I turned to where he was that still not coming in, he was just standing outside the door and looking at me while I am carrying my daughter and my son was in the cradle.

I smiled at him, a sweet and welcoming smile that he deserves, "Come in Sir," I just said and that was a signal for him to enter without hesitation.

When I put the children to sleep I turned to face my Grandfather. Questions were visible on his face as he looked at my children, so I spoke up.

"Ahh. You know, I mean maybe you already know about me became a mistress of my adopted sister's husband. And yes, I got pregnant with a twins," I said without hesitation to him as he looked

at me, I saw no sarcasm and judgement in his expressions. I can only feel questions that he wants to know the answers directly coming from me. Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

"And why is that? I have been following you since your mother was carrying you in her womb, until you grew up, so I know there is a good reason for everything that you are doing. And I want to know why you did that action of yours, granddaughter?" I suddenly felt happy when he said those words. I just can't believe how blessed I am that there was this another person who has been my ally since then and my heart was filled with joy when he called me his granddaughter.

I smiled calmly and told him everything he should know, the reason for my revenge until I ended up in this situation.

"Damn that good for nothing father of yours, he didn’t even first opened his ears for you to know the root of everything that happened, before deciding to reject his own daughter. I hate that man since then. He stole my only daughter from me and now abandoned his only true heiress because of the wrong sequence of events," he said angrily. I saw his fists crumbled because of anger, so I reached for it and hold it.

"It's alright, Grandpa. Partly, I also did something wrong. I thought the wrong way to get revenge to my sister. But I don't regret that. Look, I have them now. The best blessings I ever received," I said and smiled, while looking at my children.

We talked, catching up for the lost years that I was not with him as my Grandfather. But I thought it’s just all that… just a visit to say hello to me, to get to know me, little did I expected that the life I wanted two years ago will change again, because of the decisions my Grandfather made for me and my children.

He gave up everything, all his riches –he gave it all to me and my kids. Yes, he bequeathed to me all the wealth of the Guevara. My mother is the only daughter he had but because he rejected her

and my mom also did not want to have connections with him anymore –so what my mother should have, he left it all to me, everything.

So I did nothing but to go with him together with my kids back to England, where the main branch of the Guevara Estate was based.

**

I was brought back to the present when Eddy knocked on my car window.

By the way, I was so consumed by looking back at what happened to me 6 years ago, I didn't notice that I already arrived in front of Eddy and his wife's house here in England.

So I got out from my car.

I looked at their house from outside; it was simple and just right for the two of them, because Eddy just bought it for them to have a comfortable home to stay while they were here in England, because their main residence was still in Spain.

He just had to come here because I took him as an Architect to work for me and of course he can’t refuse me, because he loved me so much. We are best of friends, for goodness sake.

And if you think it's possible for us to have something more as friends... nope, never, and it's been three years since he married my Spanish friend, Hana Rosalinda Czartoryski.

We just entered their house when suddenly someone hugged me tightly.

"Mama! I miss you!" I looked and picked up my baby girl who is now five years old. I kissed her chubby cute cheeks.

Freda Ysabel, my dearest baby girl... she had snowy skin, that she got from me of course, a curly brown hair and brown eyes. She is taller than a normal five year old child, probably because of their father's genes.

While I was carrying Freda, another kid approached and clung to my legs. He just hugged me tightly; I sat down so I could level to him. He's just staring at me and when he makes that expression, I can only remember one person... I brought them nine months in my womb, gave birth and raise them for almost six years, and then they will just look like their father, tsk. Oh well,

Frederik Leyson, my dearest baby boy. His skin color is not that white and also not that dark, just a fair complexion, like their father's skin color, curly brown hair and dark brown eyes, and he was also taller than a normal five year old boy. He is a photocopy of you know who, even Eddy is deeply moved by the genes of his best friend because nothing is wasted from his sperm cell.

Before we went home to our own house which is in Grandpa's mansion, we first ate dine with Eddy and Hana. Just talking some stuff when Eddy asked a question that made me looked at him.

"So, are you ready?" He asked seriously.

"As if I have a choice. If I do not go home, Grandpa will scold me. He prepared everything, so that when I get there, I and the children will have no problems to face. And besides I just need to go home because of the expansion of Guevara Estate in the Philippines, that’s all," my long litany.

And yes, I am going home to the Philippines, the country I left, 6 years ago.

Together with my kids and being...

Leysa Guevara.