Chapter 50

“I am sure you will be pleased with my projects if you elect me as the mayor of this town.”

The crowd applauded in agreement with the projects, except for the demolition of my parents' mansion.

Levi was about to step down from the stage when a video suddenly appeared.

His eyes widened, and the crowd whispered as the video showed the former chief who handled my father’s case.

(“I was ordered to arrest Don Ignacio for a crime he didn’t commit. Don Ignacio is innocent and is actually kind to people, always helping the poor.”)

(“Who ordered you to arrest Don Ignacio?”)

(“I-I-It was Don Levi… He also ordered us to beat Don Ignacio while in prison and make it look like he committed suicide to hide the truth… I hope Don Ignacio forgives me for betraying him, the one who appointed me as the chief of police.”)

The whispers grew louder as Caridad panicked. I was stunned by the video, clenching my fists.

(“Why is Don Ignacio being blamed for a crime he didn't commit?”)

(“To prevent him from winning the election… Don Levi rigged the votes to be elected as the new vice mayor of the town.”)

(“It was also Don Levi’s order to poison the rice fields and harm the farmers to blame everything on Don Ignacio. He also ordered us to let the people raid the Montes' hacienda…”)

“That’s not true! I don’t know that person!” Levi shouted frantically. “Stop it!”

“Don Levi, there’s no one on the sound system!”

It’s not over yet… Watch, Levi, and feel the betrayal of the people you once paid. Feel the shame in the town you love the most.

(“We apprehended Don Ignacio… Don Levi also prohibited Don Ignacio from having visitors and instructed us to put Lady Stella under house arrest.”)

(“What happened next? Did Don Ignacio have a trial to clear his name and reputation in town?”)

(“No trial took place, as Don Ignacio was killed by the police under Don Levi's orders.”)

(“Where is Don Ignacio’s body then?”)

(“We disposed of him in the river to eliminate any evidence that could be traced back to us.”)

“No! That's not true! Ignacio committed suicide!”

“Honey…”

“Don’t believe in baseless truths!”

I just watched them in chaos.

(“As for Lady Stella, Lady Caridad ordered the rape of Don Ignacio’s wife while she was pregnant with their first child…”)

Caridad’s eyes widened as she looked around at the guests, whose whispers grew louder and louder. I glanced at Uncle Max, who was watching seriously, but I could feel his sorrow. I held his hand, which also held mine.

“Unbelievable… Is all of that true? Don Levi is truly a demon!” I heard Arielle whisper, but she apologized for being talkative, and I just nodded.

“Please! Stop it! Those accusations are not true! I would never do that, and neither would my husband!” Caridad shouted, but no one listened to her screams, just like what she did to my mother.

The video ended, and they thought it was over, but suddenly an audio from the dash cam of my car appeared. I thought the car was completely burned due to the explosion, but the dash cam was thrown out when I fell into the ravine… So I asked Tyron to look for the dash cam, and they found it buried under leaves and dirt.

It was evidence I found against Caridad and Chloe, proving that they were there during the incident.

(“Is she dead, Aunt?”)

(“Of course. I disabled the brakes of her car. She’s dead now. The woman who stood in the way of our plans is gone, and you, Chloe darling, will be my son’s new wife.”)

(“I love it, auntie,”

“I’ve been sick of being nice to her for a long time.”)

Chloe’s eyes widened, and she looked at me, but I just stared blankly at her, seeing fear and anxiety in her eyes.

“What the hell?!” Mateo exclaimed upon hearing the voices of his mother and his wife. “What the heck is this, Mom? Is that you?!”

Caridad shook her head and tried to approach Mateo, but he backed away.

Now, Mateo, are you still going to play dumb? Now that you know the truth about what happened to me.

“Stay away from me! I thought my wife had an accident, but it was you behind it? And you, Chloe!” Chloe looked away, trying to make Mateo believe that the voice he heard wasn't hers.

Oh, Chloe…

“Did you conspire with Mom? Were you planning to seduce me that night, so my wife could catch us, and you could carry out your plans?! What the heck! Are you out of your mind? What kind of… What kind of mother are you, Mom? And friend, Chloe?” Mateo shook his head, stepping back to avoid Chloe getting closer to him.

“Mateo… Please! That’s not me! That’s not us! Listen to me! It’s all Ana’s fault! She’s playing us—”

I smirked and grinned when Mateo slapped her. Ohh… He’s really mad, but you can’t bring back the old Mateo. My heart has turned to stone a long time ago.

“Shut up! Shut the heck up! You’re the ones to blame for everything! Damn! I'm so stupid!” he shouted, then turned to me. “I’m sorry…”

I stood up and approached him. “You can’t bring back the old me with just one sorry, Mateo. They ruined my life. Now, choose… Be a puppet of your parents or become a better man for your son,” I said, turning away from him. But I stopped when he spoke again.

“Is everything you’ve shown me… all just an act?”

I grinned and glanced at Chloe, who was now crying uncontrollably. “Maybe your wife is right. I despise you. Just leave a nightmare because I’m not the wife you used to know,” I turned around and wiped my tears, grinning as the picture and video of Chloe’s cheating appeared on the LED screen again.

“Oh my gosh! Stop it! That’s not me!” Chloe shouted. “Ana… You bitch! I will kill you!” she lunged at me, but I turned to face her and slapped her hard.

“Look at you, a disgusting, pathetic bitch. If I had known you were planning to kill me back then… my child would still be alive.” I said firmly, shocking everyone, so I burst into laughter.

“Yes, I was pregnant at that time, and he's an unborn child when I was in a coma. While I was suffering, you were enjoying the wealth, you didn't earn. You’re all cunning, heartless people. I will never forgive you!” I wiped my tears forcefully and turned away from them, but someone suddenly pulled my gown, so I turned back.

“T-the video isn’t true, Ana! You weren’t going to pull out your investment, right? I had nothing to do with your accident! They were the ones who planned it!” Levi said, kneeling in front of me.

Oh, this is what I want… For him to kneel in front of me.

“Levi?!”

“Dad!”

“Shut up! You’re a disgrace to my reputation!”

They were shouting in front of me, and all I could do was speak up in front of them. This was my only plan, but because I wanted this night to end with them knowing who I am.

“Shh! Shh! I want to introduce myself to everyone here,” I said, putting my index finger to my lips and smiling at them.

A waiter suddenly passed by my side. “Are you sure, Ana?” he whispered. I just nodded and smiled. “This was not part of your plan,”

“I want to end this… I don’t want to hear my parents' names coming from their filthy mouths,” I turned to him. “I intend to end their lives full of guilt and nightmares,” and I looked back at the people and those who chose to stay by Levi's side rather than my father's.

“If that’s your decision, end it,” and he slowly walked away from my side.

I looked at Uncle Max and even at Martin. I mouthed to them, “I’m sorry,” before I went up on stage.

“I am Ana Mystica, known to all of you but not by my real name…” I smiled. “I am Anastasia Montes, the missing daughter of former Vice Mayor Ignacio Montes and his wife, Stella Montes,” I announced.

They all gasped and widened their eyes upon hearing my real name. I looked at Levi, who was standing in disbelief that the missing Montes daughter was alive.

“I am here before you to introduce who I really am. I only recently discovered my true identity and who my real parents are. Most of you here know that I came from an orphanage with no identity, but when I returned to San Alfonso, I discovered many things,” and I looked back at Levi. “I discovered my identity, who my parents are, especially what happened 28 years ago before I was born. How the people betrayed my father, my father who was one of those who provided you with a livelihood and a home.”

Levi’s supporters started to argue because they knew they were among those who betrayed.

“Not only that, you burned down my family’s property, the mansion, and the entire hacienda… You accused Don Ignacio of a crime he didn’t commit and had him arrested without a fight. Many died in the tragedy, the servants, and some of my father’s employees. You ruthlessly drove my family away from their town!” I pointed at them, shaking, as tears continued to fall.

They all knelt down, feeling guilty of the truth.

“It’s not over yet, they killed my father without a fight, cheated in the election, and betrayed by the whole town!”

I noticed that even Paris was covering her mouth, perhaps shocked by my revelation.

“He was beaten to death and made to look like he committed suicide to cover up the truth! And my mother was locked up in the mansion to prevent her from visiting my father, but out of envy, Caridad ordered men to rape my mother while she was pregnant!” Martin approached me, but I didn't stop. “They were not satisfied, and they killed Lady Stella to make them disappear from the map!”

I took my mother’s diary from Uncle Paul and showed it to them. “This is the diary containing the whole truth of what happened 28 years ago! How demonic the Villalobos family is! And they lived as if nothing happened and forbid discussing the tragedy because they don’t want the truth to come out to the people under their control.”

They gasped and shouted for forgiveness from my father for what they did and believed in baseless accusations.

“You were trusted by Don Ignacio, but what did you do? You betrayed them! You accused and spoke hurtful words to them! Don Ignacio did nothing wrong to deserve all of this! And that’s not all!” I clenched my fist tightly. “I lost my parents. I kept asking myself if they no longer loved me to just leave me in an orphanage, but the truth is, I can’t be with them anymore because they’re gone. They sacrificed themselves just to save and protect me until their last breath.”

I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath. “And now, feel the wrath of my vengeance.” I released the mic and the fire ignited in the Villalobos mansion.

“The house given by Don Ignacio is burning! The entire Villalobos rice fields are burning too! Even the town hall is on fire!” a man shouted as people scrambled to escape the mansion.

“Ana! This is not you!” Mateo shouted. “Many will die!”

I just stared blankly at him. “I have no mercy, Mateo. I lost all my mercy when I heard the truth. They didn’t listen to my parents' cries and continued their accusations! So why should I have mercy on the people who caused my parents' death? This is my revenge, and you can’t do anything about it…”

“Ana…”

I didn’t even look back at Mateo and just stared at the people losing consciousness and the guests running exhausted.

“Come on, Mateo!” Chloe pulled Mateo out of the mansion while he looked back.

“Ana! Damn! Let’s go!” Martin pulled me, and we ran out of the mansion together.

As we got outside, I suddenly heard Tyron. “Levi is escaping, Ana!”

I clenched my fist again and quickly snatched the car keys from Alexis and immediately got into the car.

“Damn! ANA!”

I rolled down the window. “I love you, but I’m sorry, I’m the only one who can end this…” I said to Martin and closed the window before speeding off.

“Tyron, have you tracked the location?”

(“Hmm, he’s heading to his warehouse. End him before it’s too late. Be careful, Ana, we’ll meet again.”)

I smiled and touched my earbuds. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

(“This is not just for you, but for my uncle and all his victims. End him.”)