Chapter 47

“Martin, please?” I pleaded with him on the other line because he is currently in Spain but will be coming home tomorrow.

(“I said no. We already discussed this,”) he replied.

I kicked in frustration because he would rather not agree to my plan.

“I have to do this, Martin… Please, babe?”

I didn’t know how to persuade him. I might have to kneel and unzip his zipper. Annoying!

(“Shut up. You can’t manipulate me like that, Ana,”) he said.

I rolled my eyes and let out a deep sigh. “Fine! I hate you!”

(“What the hell—”) he didn’t finish his sentence because I’ve been annoyed with him since earlier. He’s the one flirting with others. Damn you, Martin.

I glanced at my phone, and he was calling again, but I ignored his call and turned off my phone to make him feel my annoyance. He’s the one stressing me out, not Mateo.

“We’re here,” Alexis said.

I just nodded to Alexis and got out of the car. It’s been a long time since I last visited them.

I placed the flowers I prepared for Alexis and lit a candle. And I smiled when I saw their names.

“Hi Mama and Papa… I’m sorry it took me this long to visit you.” I gently touched the gravestone of my foster parents. “I know everything about my real parents… Just like you, they’re no longer here.” My smile faded and was replaced by sadness because all my parents had left me.

I lay down on the grass and looked up at the beautiful sky, even though it was windy.

“You were right… There are people who are greedy for power, people who will do anything just to rise. You know, Mom, I haven’t forgotten all the lessons you taught me, but I can’t keep the promise of not becoming a bad person.” I raised my hand and clenched it. “I’m at my breaking point, Mom and Dad. I don’t know where my anger and desire for revenge will take me. I want to end this, but how?” I grimaced bitterly because they always reminded me that I wouldn’t gain anything by seeking revenge on those who hurt me.

“Mom, Dad, if it weren’t for you, if you hadn’t adopted me, I might still have no idea who I am. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I can’t promise to be good. But I love you both always…” I stood up, but I paused when the wind suddenly picked up, so I just smiled and dusted off my pants.

“Oh my god! Ana?”

I stopped and turned to the person calling my name. Her eyes widened when she saw me completely and she covered her mouth.

“It’s you… Oh, god…” she said trembling and slowly approached me. “You’re still alive…” she still couldn’t believe that I was standing in front of her. “I-I thought—”

“That I was dead?” I interrupted her. She nodded at me, tears welling up as she looked at me. “I’m still alive, Jane,” I grinned, causing her to hug me.

Jane was one of my friends at the office. She was also the one in my dream before my memories returned.

I took her to a nearby café to catch up. I knew she still couldn’t believe that I was still alive.

“I was there at your wake and when you were buried. I suspected that it wasn’t you they buried,” she said. I just smiled but then shifted my gaze to the young boy next to her. It seemed like she noticed, so she smiled. “This is my son, Luis. He looks just like his father, TSK.”

I smiled and ruffled the hair of her son who was just staring at me.

“He’s 5 years old. He was conceived when I was devastated by your disappearance.”

I lost my smile and averted my gaze from Jane.

“Everyone was saddened to hear that you’re gone. Do you remember when you told me about your dream where you died? I didn’t take it seriously because I knew it was just a dream, but when I heard that you died in an accident, I suddenly doubted your dream.”

I looked at her, but she just smiled sadly at me. “I asked Mateo what happened, but it seems even he doesn’t know the answer.”

I furrowed my brow and just shrugged. Mateo couldn’t say that he was one of the reasons why the former Ana died.

“And after a year of your death, her father won the election and he married Chloe. What happened, Ana? If you were still alive, why didn’t you show up?”

I swallowed and just sipped my coffee because I couldn’t explain everything to her.

“I always visit your grave. Occasionally, my husband accompanies me because I don’t want you to think that you’ve been forgotten. And now, as I was about to visit your parents' grave, I saw you. I thought I was just seeing things, but I can’t be mistaken because I know you.” She looked at me seriously. “I’m happy to know that you’re alive, but I also want to know what really happened to you.”

I stared at my glass, wanting to tell Jane everything, but I couldn’t because I didn’t want her to get involved, especially now that she has her family.

“Ana…”

I blinked and looked at her. “There are things that can’t be said, Jane. I don’t want you to be caught up in the chaos of my life,” I replied. She nodded and smiled at me.

“Even just the basic details, Ana.”

I took a deep breath and smiled bitterly.

“The night we went out after work, that was the same night I had an accident,” I began.

“The news said you committed suicide? But I didn’t believe it because I knew you wouldn’t do that, especially when you were pregnant at that time.”

I paused because she was right. I was pregnant at that time.

“When I got home, I found Mateo and Chloe having sex in our bed. He cheated on me. I left the house in a daze. I couldn’t bear to hear Mateo’s explanation. While I was driving, I was shocked to find that my brakes weren’t working.”

“Oh my god!”

I just smiled at Jane because I was sure she was hearing this for the first time.

“I tried to stop the car, but it was too late because I fell into a ravine. I thought I was going to die at that moment, but I managed to find a way out of the car and threw off my blazer until the car exploded. I was weak as I walked out of the ravine until someone helped me, and I lost consciousness, so I didn’t show up. I’m sorry,”

She shook her head and held my hand. “No, no, no, what you went through was much harder. I don’t know how you survived all of that.”

I’m sorry, Jane… I don’t want you to be involved in my revenge.

“I’m glad you’re alive. Call me if you need my help,” she said as she handed him a piece of paper with her number on it.

I just smiled and waved at them as her husband picked her up. Even her husband seemed surprised to see me, probably because Jane might have mentioned me to him.

“Jane!”

She turned to me.

“Sorry!”

She just smiled at me. “Even if you don’t tell me everything, Ana, I still know because I know you. You have my support, Miss Ana Mystica.”

I was taken aback, but she waved at me before finally getting into their car.

I miss her. She’s my best friend.

“Lady Ana, let’s go.”

I nodded to Alexis, and she helped me get in.

After talking to Jane, I knew what I had to do to entirely ruin Mateo and Chloe’s relationship.

“Meet me at the falls, Mateo,” I said and hung up. “We’re going to the falls, Alexis.”

Alexis just nodded at me, so I took a deep breath and looked out the window.

I will shatter your fantasy, Chloe.