THE ARRANGE MARRIAGE (COMPLETED)

(Chapter 49)

"Hi dad... Can we talk?" Tanong ni Chandria sa ama.

"Sure my princess... You wanna go to the study?" Tanong ni Marcos.

"That would be great..." Sambit ni Chandria.

Nang makarating sila sa study rokm ay hindi alam kung paano sisimulan ang sasabihin sa ama kaya si Marcos na nagsimula magsalita.

"So Whatis that my princess would like to talk about?" Tanong ni Marcos sa anak.

"About the... About the Monteverde Inc. Dad..." Sambit ni Chandria.

Napatingin naman ng matiim si Marcos sa anak bago nag salita.

"What about it Chandria?" Tanong ni Marcos naging seryoso ang mukha.

"Their company is going down right after the presscon was released. Help... Help them out dad. One word from you and I know it'll be better..." Sambit ni Chandria.

"And why I should do that Chandria if I wasn't impressed at all?" seryoso tanong sa anak.

"It's... It's because... I owe Don Rafael a lot dad..." Sambit ni Chandria na hindi inaakala na masasabi sa ama.

Tinitigan siya mabuti ni Marcos at hindi agad kumikibo.

"So my daughter is really willing to go this far. I guess you're ready to spill everything to me for their sake." Sambit ni Marcos sa kanyang isip bago sumagot kay Chandria.

"Why is that the Countess Of La Marche owe something to someone like old Monteverde?" direchong tanong ni Marcos.

"Dad... Remember what I've told you way back when we were still in France? That... That I have been married...?" Sambit ni Chandria.

"Yes what about it?" Tanong ni Marcos.

"It's... It's Vladimir Monteverde... He was the man I married dad..." Sambit ni Chandria at doon niya nakita ang pagyukom ng kamay ng ama..

"Sorry dad if I didn't tell you... I just... I just don't want to complicate things... I kno-" Sambit ni Chandria pero pinutol na ni Marcos ang ano pa man ang sasabihin niya.

"Enough Chandria..." Sambit Marcos nanakapikit ang mata nakayukom pa rin ang dalawang kamay sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

"Dad..." Sambit ni Chandria.

"You don't have to say a word Chandria. I know everything about the bastard who made you cry which happens to be the same asshole who killed my grandchild." Sambit ni Count Marcos na ikinabigla ni Chandria.

Hindi niya inakala na alam lahat iyon ng kanyang ama. A tears fell down from her eyes.

"And you are doing this... Because of me...?"Sambit ni Chandria.

"Yes, And I will make him pay for all the tears you've wasted." Malamig na Sambit ni Marcos.

Hindi agad nakapag salita si Chandria. She knows how scary and powerful her father is if he's mad but she never saw him this way. With the look on her father's face, it makes her want to step and run out of the room but she gathered her guts and speak up.

"Dad... Everything's all in the past now... I'm... I'm already moving forward... Can't... Can't you do the same?" Tanong ni Chandria sa pagitan ng pagluha.

"It may all be in the past but it will never change the fact that you've been through hell Chandria. It doesn't mean that it will bring back my grandchild. It doesn't mean that it can erase the bruises that you had. It won't change the fact that you nearly died as well. So no, I will make it to the point that he will experience the same hell you've been through." Malamig na Sambit ni Marcos.

"Who are you?" Sambit ni Chandria.

She can't believe that the man in front of her is her father.

"A father Chandria Margaretha, a father who is in the pain that can't forgive himself for I let all those things to happened." Sambit ni Marcos.

"I have forgiven you dad... And so as grandma... I never blamed you for what happened to me in the past. I never did and never will. If not for all the things that happened, I wouldn't be able to see you. To have a family. Please dad..." Sambit ni Chandria na umiiyak pa rin.

"Drop it Chandria. I won't change my mind. "Sambit ni Marcos.

"No dad. Tell me... If you can hold such grudge. Have you forgiven Grandma Margarret? Have you?" Tanong ni Chandria.

Hindi naman nagsasalita si Marcos kaya sinamantala iyon ni Chandria.

"Why can't you answer me dad? We have faults. All of us. Grandma for making mom leave. You for not standing by her side. Mom, for not fighting for you. Vladimir for hurting me and even me because I chose to let him go..." Sambit ni Chandria.

"Stop it Chandria." Sambit ni Marcos.

"No dad... You're not just hurting one person. A person I owe my life with is hurting too. Lolo Rafael didn't have any seconds thoughs of choosing me that his own so that he can take care of me. He's hurting and I'm hurting too... You think I would just stand here and watch you ruin everything that he put up with his own blood? No I won't dad... I won't let you... I won't give it a second thought... To take his side..."Sambit ni Chandria.

"What are you saying Chandria?" biglang pagtataas ng boses ni Marcos.

"I'm saying that you have to stop dad. You have to stop this now. Lolo Rafael haven't done anything wrong to suffer in your hands." Sambit ni Chandria.

"His grandson has a lot of Unforgivable things Dammit! Can't you see that?" Sambit ni Marcos.

"Yes he did! That's Vladimir and not Lolo Rafael! Why would you go to the extent of hurting people that did not nothing wrong? Unforgivable? Who are you not to forgive? When I went through that myself can put it behind and let go for the sake of what I have right now! "Sambit ni Chandria.

"Princess..." Sambit ni Marcos.

"Dad... Please... Don't make me change the way I look at you. You're not a monster... You have to stop this... Hatred right there in your heart is eating you up..." Sambit ni Chandria habang tinuturo ang puso ng ama.

"Let him sign the annulment papers Chandria, after that, I promise to let this go... I don't want you to have anything to do with him anymore..." Sambit ni Marcos.

Hindi agad nakapag salita si Chandria sa sinabi ng kanyang ama.

"Chandria, you have to let him go right? He is just a part of thr past now who has no place in your present right?" seryosong tanong Marcos sa anak.

"Yes dad and I will make him sign the papers that you want." Sambit ni Chandria.

"Don't make me hate him even more Chandria." Sambit ni Marcos.

"I know dad. I'll go ahead..." Sambit ni Chandria saka lumabas ng study room at nakasalubong naman niya si Andrew.

"Are you alright my lady?" Tanong ni Andrew.

"Yes Andrew,I'm fine. Please excuse me. I'm tired." Sambit ni Chandria.

"Alright... You want me to bring you to your room?" Tanong ni Andrew.

"No Andrew. I'm good. Thanks but I'll go ahead... I'll see you later."Sambit ni Chandria.

Dumirecho na siya sa kanyang silid.

Wala ng nagawa si Andrew kung hindi hayaan ito pero may kung anong kakaibang kaba ang bumalot sa puso niya. Parang ang layo ni Chandria sa kanya.

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-TITANIAMAGNUM