Chapter 64

MARIA watched her daughter’s rhythmic breathing while she sleeps. The rise and fall of her chest as she breathes is a miracle for her. Seeing Sara safe and sound is one of the best things in life that Maria has been dreaming of. And, now that they’re finally here, free and doesn’t have to hide from somebody, the happiness that she felt is surreal and priceless.

Maria prayed for this moment that she could finally look at her daughter without thinking of those things that could put her life in danger.

She reached Sara’s face and caressed her cheeks. The warm feel of her skin against her palm brought tears to her eyes. “Sweetie…” she murmured. “Mommy will never leave you now…” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I don’t need to work at nightclubs to protect you from them. We can start a new life now, baby.”

Maria promised herself that after this mess and trouble that she made, she will stop working at the club and will never dance again to live. She also promised Wendy that she’ll start a decent job to support Sara’s maintenance medicines. It will be hard for her to start from scratch, but she knew that soon, everything will fall to their right places.

This is the life that Maria been praying for: freedom and safety. She worked hard to have it, and Maria will do everything to stay on the bright side of life with her daughter.

And, Euclid… She’s expecting that after what she revealed in the hostage-taking, Euclid wouldn’t accept her again, and she understands it. What she did to him was unforgivable. Her chest hurt at the thought that Euclid will leave her again, but it’s the best for them. They need enough time to heal and forgive themselves.

“Maria…”

Maria looked up and found Wendy peeking at the door. Her eyes were swollen due to too much crying. “Wendy…” she said and held her arms opened for her.

Wendy ran to her arms. She hugged her tightly as she cried in her shoulder. “I was so worried about you and Sara…”

“You saved us…” she said. “Thank you for trusting me, Wendy.” She pulled free from her and held her hands. “Thank you for taking care of Sara and me, for accepting us in your life even I kept the truth from you. Thank you for not asking questions…”

Wendy squeezed her hands and wept in tears. “You don’t know how much I wanted to ask you all about the things that you did when the night came. I’m worried about you every time you leave the house and felt relieved to see you coming home when the sun rises. I prayed for this day, Maria…” She wiped her tears and looked at Sara. “I prayed for this day that you and Sara will be away from the nightmares that kept hunting you every night. I’m happy that you finally have it, Maria.”

Tears fell continuously from her eyes. “I thank God because He gave you to me, Wendy. You came in my life on the very moment that I wanted to give up.”

“Because of you and Sara, I found my purpose in life…” Wendy said and cried. “Before I met you, I thought I’m a useless person that deserved to die. But, then you came and gave the meaning of my existence. God gave you to me, too. We found ourselves in the middle of our sufferings and mended each other souls.”

Maria couldn’t contain her tears. She hugged Wendy and cried her heart out. Everything is okay now… except with her and Euclid.

“Fred told me about Euclid and Sara…” Wendy told her after a moment of tears.

Maria heaved a sigh. “We haven’t talk…” She looked at her daughter. “I’m sure that he’s mad at me—”

“I’m not mad at you.”

Maria turned and found Euclid standing at the doorway. He was smiling at her, but Maria felt sadness in his eyes. And it’s killing her.

“Wendy, could you give us a minute?” Euclid asked Wendy. When she left the room, he stepped closer to her. “How’s Sara?” he asked. “How’s my favorite niece?”

Maria felt a lump in her throat. She scooted to the side to give Euclid space on the couch. “She’s fine now…” she replied as he sat beside her. “Connor’s prescription helped her heart to be stronger and overcame trauma.”

“That’s good to hear…” Euclid said in an almost inaudible tone. “Marcus wouldn’t forgive himself if something bad happened to her.”

“Euclid…” Maria hesitated. “I just want to say sorry…” Her voice broke.

Euclid reached for her hand. “Don’t say sorry, Maria…” he whispered. “I must admit, I expected Sara to be my child. That the cute and bubbly daughter of the woman that I loved was my own. And during that time, I felt genuine happiness. I started to build dreams and a better future for us.” Tears fell from his eyes. “Sara became precious and dear to me, and the truth won’t change it. I still love her and willing to accept her as my own.”

Maria looked away from Euclid as her tears streamed down again. She couldn’t take to see him in pain like this because of her. Maria doesn’t deserve his love, she doesn’t deserve him because she’s a sinful woman that doesn’t care about anyone but her daughter.

Even Marcus didn’t tell her that Euclid was his brother, it doesn’t change the fact that she used Euclid to execute her plans. She manipulated them to get her freedom.

“Let’s start again, Maria…” Euclid told her. “Let’s be a family.”

Maria looked in her eyes. “What did I do to deserve someone like you, Euclid?” she cried. “Even after all the things that I’ve done to you, you are still giving your love to me that I don’t deserve.”

Euclid shook his head. “No one deserves my heart, but you, Maria. I love you so much that I couldn’t see my future without you. You’re the only woman that I will love for the rest of my life.”

“Euclid…” she said in a stern voice. “You are the only person that I love. Nobody can replace you inside my heart. You’re the person who showed me that love can still be so beautiful even after a storm…” She swallowed hard to prevent her tears from falling. “But, you don’t deserve me… A woman full of sins doesn’t deserve the purest love that you have.”

“Maria, I don’t care about your sins, I only care about my love for you,” Euclid pulled her in his arms. “Please, don’t do this… I love you.”

Maria pushed him. “I don’t know when I will ever learn to forgive myself, Euclid. You don’t deserve me, just like how I don’t deserve a good man like you,” she said as her tears fell. “I guess, this is the end for us…”

***