My brows furrow as I look at the woman whose voice rings loud and clear inside the room. She looks like she is in her mid-fifties, but a strong and domineering aura emanates from her. Her presence speaks of authority, and the lift of her chin and fiery gaze is enough to tell she holds a high position that even James bows down in respect.
“My queen! Why are you here?” exclaims James, his previous arrogant look melts down against the power and authority of this woman.
“Put down your weapons!” she orders, moving her eyes around. The three burly men instantly bend down and put their guns on the floor. I look at James and also find him conceding. He raises his hands in a gesture of surrender, then bows down, placing his gun on the floor.
“Surrender all the weapons, not only those in your hands!”
My eyes grow wide at her command, and my gaze darts toward the men pulling the pistols and knives hidden inside their jackets. I also watch James disengage an olive, round thing that I perceive as a hand grenade.
I then remember Zed. To my relief, I see him standing in a corner, his left hand pressing his right deltoid area. His white sleeve now turns bright red, and the pressure he applies to the site has slowed down the bleeding.
I pull out a deep sigh, happy that he is still standing alive. Unfortunately, he has not dodged the bullet entirely despite his lightning-fast reflexes. But that is fine with me, a surgery later can fix that.
I turn to Ella, worried that the commotion has woken her up. Thankfully, she has not. Mitch must have given her a strong sedative to spare her from this horrible experience.
Just then, the door opens again, and Mr. D comes in. He still bears his signature bored expression as he scans his eyes around. The woman looks at her, and her lethal aura immediately dissolves.
“Where’s your uncle?”
“I’m here,” comes a man’s voice that almost sucks my eyes out of their sockets. Making the situation more confusing is the presence of Yen walking beside him; her expression is as bewildered as I am.
Dear skies, what is going on?
“What the hell is going on?” asks James. Anger and confusion emanate from his expression as he lays his eyes on Mr. D and Kim.
“Nothing. Only that you have sinned against your queen. And do you know the consequences of touching my family?”
James’ lips turn pale immediately. “My queen. How have I hurt your family?"
The woman casts her a disdaining gaze. “Look at me. Who among the people here take my resemblance?”
I follow James’ eyes as he looks at Mr. D. A massive shock flashes on his face, mirroring my expression.
“Dennis?”
“Brilliant. But can’t you see that there’s someone else?” The woman glues her eyes on James, then slowly moves towards Zed.
Oh, my goodness! How is this happening?
I move my eyes between Zed and Dennis, and something in my brain snaps at the realization that there’s indeed a slight resemblance between Dennis and Zed!
My eyes fall subconsciously at Yen. Her jaw drops so wide, and her eyes freeze on Zed! Zed doesn’t look any better either. He stares at the woman, his face wincing in shock and denial.
“What? Do you mean Mr. Ramos?”
The woman shuts her mouth for a moment as she looks at Zed. Then, he turns to James again.
“If not because you intend to hurt my sons, this secret would have stayed forever. But aside from this immense offense, we have also monitored your movements. You have pocketed the proceeds of the Mandala Project, deceiving us that the authority had confiscated them.”
Mandala Project. Whatever was that, I am sure it was one of their underhanded operations.
“What did you do? You use the money in building Jamella Tech, a project you design to topple down my brother’s business.”
"How does Kim becomes your brother? I know him since childhood because he is my cousin."
"Like Zed and Dennis, I am also a love child of the mafia king. Only that, I am introduced secretly to my sister."
"But your age difference is not that great."
"Uncles and aunts can be younger than nieces and nephews." I nod in approval, even if I'm not the one being asked.
Mr. D suddenly raises his hands and claps them, his gaze holding James.
“I would just like you to know that Kim Yuan doesn’t lose anything because he is the one buying Jamella Tech.”
“But Ella still has 30%.”
“It doesn’t matter. Because what Ella gets will also go to my brother.”
“You’re not marrying Ella?” James asks, his face contorting into an expression of rage.
Mr. D rolls his eyes. “I’m not stupid. Why would I marry someone whose heart belongs to my brother? But I’ll fight for the role of a wedding designer.”
Mr. D grins and turns to Zed. “The thousand diamonds is on me. Uncle Kim and his inspiration will donate another one thousand. And mom will donate ten thousand. That makes me the most outstanding designer of the century and the creator of the most expensive wedding gown in the world.”
Zed freezes in his place, too astounded to understand the information overload. He stares at Mr. D and the woman, too lost at the explosion of truth.
“I told you I’m giving you the chance to escape from this moron forever. And only mom can give that chance.”
The woman snaps her fingers, and another three burly men enter the room. They stop behind the woman, waiting for her signal.
“James, you know so many secrets that our organization has. Aside from that, my children wouldn’t want me to shed blood on people connected to them. I also don’t want Zed to bear the guilt that her mother causes the death of her wife’s ex-boyfriend. Because I also understand that there is a deeper reason why she still chooses you over him.”
“Because of this, I’ll have you exiled to Limbo Island instead of allowing you to rot in prison. You will live a normal but non-extravagant life. Aside from that, you’ll be staying there forever. I can even send Maezy if you like."
"But I’m sorry, my son will be the father of your child. I’m sure you don’t want him to grow up knowing what kind of a father you are. Just as I refuse to let my children know how despicable their mother is.”
“Who are you?” We all turn in the direction of the voice, and our eyes find Zed speaking finally.
“I am the mafia princess who fell in love with your father at the age of 16. Sadly, I was betrothed to an incoming mafia king, and we both know we are not for each other. So I pretended to study arts in a faraway land to keep you all away from harm.”
“When I gave birth to both of you, I placed you in an orphanage that I have founded. I opened a branch later in Japan and the Philippines under Kim’s name so that he could take care of you on my behalf. But later, I allowed your father to take one of you in the form of adoption.”
Suddenly, the sound of a helicopter landing disrupts our moment. The woman then turns to the burly men at her back. Without saying anything, they walk over to James and cuff his hands.
“Wait. Can I at least kiss Ella and my son goodbye?”
The woman nods, and we all watch him hug and kiss Ella later on top of her head. He breaks into tears and says, “When I said 'I love you,' I meant it, Ella.”
I cry with him. I presume I am the only one getting so emotional, only to hear Yen sobbing beside Kim. Kim pulls her closer, gathering her lovingly in his arms.
I didn’t see how it happened after I got carried away. But the next thing I see is Mitch handing the child to James. He hugs him close to him and showers him with many kisses.
“Please know that daddy loves you, pretty boy. But you will grow up with a much better daddy than me.”
“James?” Ella suddenly sits up and looks around, her eyes reflecting her many questions.
But James pulls her in an embrace, then kisses her on the forehead. “Bye, Ella. I have had so many women, but you are the only one who stays in my heart. I wish you and Zed a lifetime of happiness.”
He then rises to his feet and walks straight away without looking back. The six burly men follow behind him, and soon we hear the helicopter roaring again, its sound slowly fading in the background.
THE END