The Finale

Note: Thank you for reaching this far! Hope you learn a lesson or two from Cedrick and Sherin's story! Love you all! I appreciate you a lot guys!

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"Come on Cairo... Let's go." I said and walked passed Cedrick. At first, I thought he would really let us leave because when I got out of the mansion, he didn't bother us but when we were about to reach

the gate... But suddenly someone knelt down in front of me and held my hands.

Cedrick was sobbing.

I looked at my son and my tears started to fall. "Baby..." I called Cairo.

"Mommy..." He started sniffling because he was crying also watching his dad cry. I felt a pain in my chest because of his condition but... I can't bear the pain now.

"Turn around first. Don't look, hm?" I ordered him gently.

"Why, mommy?" He was about to cry again. As if he already had an idea of what was going to happen.

"Just do it baby, please? Listen to mommy." When I said that, he turned his back.

The pain, anger, hatred in my chest completely rules me. My head was getting hot as I faced Cedrick and slapped him. "You're an animal! You are such a devil! Bullshit!" I said emphatic, angry, but

softly while slapping him so my son won't be able to hear my voice.

He did not respond. Though he didn't stop my hand from slapping him instead... He let me slap him until my hands hurt.

I cried in front of him. "Look... Look all of you... You know how painful and difficult it is for me to lose my family. You witnessed those days when I almost went crazy, lost myself and almost committed suicide. In all of those, in everything... You! Uou must be the person to know how much it hurts me. You must be the one who takes care of me since you had witnessed all of it, right? But shit... You're an evil Cedrick... It's been a long time... We've been together for

few years but why didn't you tell me even for a few minutes? Why did you keep it a secret to me?!" I yelled and hit him on the chest.

He joined my cries and hugged me. But I struggled because I was here. I'm right here with the two of us. How did I manage to have sex with the son of the murderer of my family? How could I betray my family like this?

"Sorry baby please... Forgive me... It wasn't me who did it... It wasn't me..." Cedrick cried.

"It's not you?! Really? Your family! Your father! How cruel your souls are?! Bullshit! What have we done to all of you for you to punish us?! What have we owed you for you to took the lives of my loved ones? Damn! Your family are devils. I fucking hate you to the bone!" I almost lost myself in front of him.

I could hear my son's cries and felt his little hand holding me back. "Mommy, daddy, stop. Olease... hug each other mommy please..." My baby cried.

I don't want to show him all this but I can't do anything... Anger prevails in my chest.

I stood up and held my son again. "Come on, let's not waste time here."

"Sherin please!" Cedrick almost screamed while crying and holding my hand... stopping me from leaving.

I wanted to leave. I don't want hearing him calling me his wife. I... I am so ashamed of myself. I am a disgrace to my family.

"Don't leave me. Please... Please I can't take it, baby. Please... I don't want to be alone

anymore... Sherin, I'm sorry... Sorry... I wasn't aware of my dad's action. No I really knew that. It was too late for me to know about it... And... I loved you when I found out... I was afraid to tell you because I knew you would be angry with me... I knew you would leave me if i ever told you. I... Was so afraid. I am so afraid." Cedrick explained.

There is a part of my heart that wants to leave him, but despite that, I want to listen to him.

My hpeart seems to be asking for so many answers.

Tears flowed as I felt Cedrick's hand holding mine.

"You know... If you had said this first... I

would have forgiven you... But why you let me know this way? You lied to me... You've been cheating on me..." My jaw was very tight. "At least I'm very ashamed of my family... Because of all the people in the

world... It was you... I married you, the son of a murderer. Do you know how much I hate you now? And myself?"

Cedrick was crying in front of me while still kneeling. "I know... I know you will feel that..." He looked up at me. Still holding my hand to make sure I don't leave. "Your family was not the real target of my dad, but the house that was built near your house, the house owned by his business

competitor." Cedrick started to explain so I tried listening to it.

"And... The fucking assistant of dad

misunderstood it, and got your house burned instead of the house dad was referring. Foolish and funny but that is the fact. My dad's assistant committed a wrong move and even killed innocent

lives..."

"You see... Because of your greed... Even us... Who just live in silence in this world... You moved..." I shook my head.

"I am so sorry for your lost. But it was not intended. But even so... Dad is already in jail. Even if your family's lives cannot be restored, I have long since given justice to their deaths." His story raised my eyebrows.

"Is your daddy in jail?" Even if it's a mess, that's just right for him.

"Do you remember the day you left my house after you graduated from law school? That was the time his case started to roll over. I knew you would do the same so I did it... I do not tolerate what he did Sherin... Believe me... Believe me, baby, please..." He then kissed my hand.

"Don't leave me... I don't really know that... I don't know anything about his plans... I'm not part of that plan... But I'm the son of the killer of your family... I made you tied to me... I lied... I kept a secret... But Sherin.. Baby... I love you." Cedrick cried while kneeling.

"My family's sin to your family was very heavy... Cruel. And I know I can never pay for it... I can't replace it. I must admit that I regret what my daddy did. I feel guilty.

Even me... I'm also furious to him... It's been a year since I last saw him." He hugged my

hand while crying.

"But Sherin... Baby... You love me, don't you? Everything we shared together is still worth making... I didn't like everything that happened either. If only i could rewind the time, I will gladly stop dad. I will force hims top his doings, his greediness. But, on the other hand, other part of me is thankful that happens. I just thought... If that hadn't happened, would I see you? Would I be with you? Would I love you?" His last question caught me. And he is right... If we won't ever met... Will I have Cairo?

"Maybe... People are right... Everything is destined to happen. No one likes it. No one wants to see the majority in tears. Baby... Forgive me... If you still can't forgive dad... I hope... I hope you'll forgive me..." He took a breath.

I looked to my side when someone grabbed my other hand. And our eyes met... My chest was filled with sadness. My heart. It was my baby. My Cairo. He has pleading eyes. His nose is red because I know he's been crying for a while.

"Mommy... I don't want to leave... I don't want to leave daddy... Let's leave but take him mommy. Bring daddy with us..." He was crying with every word. "Mommy... You are kind mommy... I know you will forgive daddy... Forgive daddy please..."

I knelt down and stroked his cheek loudly. If we leave... I will deprived my son again a complete life he is dreaming ever since.

I will let him experienced again the incomplete life, the incomplete family.

He will once again feel jealous while watching his friends played with their own dads.

I moved my eyes to Cedrick. He hugs our son now.

Cairo hugged him back.

My husband. My son is hugging each other. Both are crying.

I looked away. Pain drift in me.

And then I remember... Cedrick grew up in a broken family. He knows how it feels to have a missing piece in your heart. I know how sad it is to celebrate the new years ever by yourself. I also know how painful it is to lose a parent.

And as a being who had lost an entire family... I know how painful and difficult it is... I know the pain I will cause my son if I let him be away from his father. He hasn't even been with his father for a long time.

And I am also aware of the pain I'll endure for the life time if ever I will leave my husband... I loved him... Despite the fact i just knew now.

I loved Cedrick. And he's the only one I dreamed to be with, to grow old with, forever.

I sighed and wiped away the tears...

Cedrick is his father's only son. And if his father did something wrong then... He should be out soon.

Because what he says is true... It has nothing to do with that. Most of all... He had no intention of what happened. He is also a victim of his father's shamelessness.

I remember that he grew up without a mother... His father was often absent.

Cedrick was very good to me... He used to bed me often... I knew his heart was good and clean... That's why I fell in love then. And of the two of us.. I was the first one to love him.

I tried placing myself in his shoes. If my father was the one who killed his family... And I fell in love with him too... We gave birth to a child... Will he choose to leave me? Or he will ignore my family of origin because first of all... He loves me.

That's right, he loves me. And that's what matters the most.

These were just part of hardships brought by life, challenges that are meant to happen.

So if I make the final decision... No... I won't let my family fall apart. We are here. We were happy before I knew it. We have an easy life with the child we have as a couple.

So in the end... Just like I said with all my heart when we both got married... I swear to God.

That... Despite the pain... Despite the hardships... Despite all the trials... Even if we progress or struggle... I will never leave him.

I cried and joined the hug of the two men I love the most. The three of us cried while

hugging each other. I was happy despite the tears... Until Cedrick let go of Cairo to let him stand and he wiped away the tears.

Then he turned his attention to me. And our foreheads were pressed together. He held my face very carefully and tightly. And I feel that he loves me very much.

He loves me. He loves us. Too much. And that's the one important.

I brought his hand on my cheek. And looked at him full of hope and love. I took a breath before speaking.

"Remember our wedding day?" I asked him to which he nodded, closing his

eyes for a moment to stop the tears.

I gulped and continued the words I dreamily wanted to say. "I had already taken you as my husband... And promised God to have and to hold, from that day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for

poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part... I love you, Cedrick... More than the life I'm loving." I cried as I muttered those words from my in love heart and kissed him.

We kissed, so soft, and so sweet, like it's never ending.

- THE END