#LOVE_OVER_BLOOD
©Sir Zach
EPISODE 48
Aisha didn’t know that she fell asleep. It’s seems like she had a dream that Ethan ki-ssed her li-ps earlier. Well, if this is a dream, she never wanted to wake up. But she woke up and she hated it!
Who the hell wake her up?! She heard a knock. Once, twice and thrice! She doesn’t want to wake up. She just wanted to stay right beside Ethan.
She lazily stood up and head to the door. She slowly opened it.
“Who is it —-” her eyes grew seeing the person before her. She pursed her li-ps in anger.
“What do you think you are doing in here?” She was irritated.
“I came to visit a friend.” The woman casually answered.
“Then you are at the wrong room.” Aisha was about to closed the door but Sherry Gray stopped her. Aisha glared at her.
“Please.” Her eyes were fixed to hers. Aisha clenched her teeth. As if she has a choice.
She let her in. Sherry was looking at Ethan as if she is examining him from head to toe. Aisha was looking at her at the corner. What a pretentious woman! she scoffed.
“I’m truly sorry that this had happened.” Sherry faced the lady dressed in a hospital gown.
“You should!” Sherry was shocked to hear her response.
“Ms. Stacy, I hope you are not viewing me and my husband as the culprit of what happened to you and to your husba—-”
“But I am. You did it, right?” Aisha interrupted with sarcasm. Sherry gulped.
“I don’t have any ill-intention towards you or your husband. I hope you will believe that.”
“But your husband does.” Aisha crossed her arms.
“Do you have any evidence?”
“Sherry Gray, are you blind or what? your husband’s attitude towards us last night, wanting to dethrone and rob my husband in his own company and in front of the crowd— how do you call that?”
“That’s absurd! He might be harsh sometimes but he is not a murderer!” now sherry was irritated.
“Heh!” Aisha sneered. “Seems like you don’t know your husband very well, Ms. Gray.”
“You don’t know what you are saying Ms. Williams! Don’t just accuse us of things that you haven’t proven it yet.”.
“I saw you and your husband last night, looking at the sniper’s location. too bad I got shot. If not, I should have caught that guy.”
Sherry’s eyes grew. Indeed, his husband was acting strange last night that’s why she looks at where he was looking but she didn’t see anyone.
“Shut up! My husband is not a murderer!” she insisted.
“Wish as ha-rd as you can Sherry Gray. Cause if I found out that you and your husband has something to with this, I swear, I will make you pay with your own life!” she threatened.
They were glaring at each other. It was the scenario that Caleb, Lisa and Eli saw when they opened the door.
“You can hide as ha-rd as you can but I’m telling you, I will find the truth. You hurt my family? I’ll take yours!”
“Are you threatening me? Ms. Williams?”
“Is that already a threat to you? Cause I’m telling you, it’s just my advice for you and for your husband.” She smi-rked.
“Unfortunately I am not threatened Miss Williams. I don’t think that my husband has something to do with what happened last night. and I trust him!” she emphasized the word TRUST.
“I hope you’re right. But if I were you, I better do my own research.”
Sherry curled her hands into a fist. She’s infuriated.
“And would you mind?” Aisha pointed the door.
Caleb and Lisa were peeking at the door when Aisha pointed to their direction.
“S-sorry to disturb you.” Lisa for-ced a smile.
“Mom? you okay?” Aisha suddenly soften when she heard Eli.
“E-Eli?” Eli run towards her and embr@ced her knees. She knelt and ki-ss his head.
***
Sherry was rooted to where she was standing earlier. she was looking at the mother and son tandem. Ah, what a beautiful sight.
“Mom!” Sherry heard a little child running to meet her.
“Mom! Are we going to the park today?” The little child continued.
“Umma! Umma!” She heard another tiny voice approaching them. She can’t see their faces clearly. They were embr@cing her feet, one for each knees.
“Who is she? Is she grandma?” Eli suddenly asked when he parted from her mom’s embr@ced. He was looking at Sherry.
Sherry suddenly shuddered. She woke up from her momentarily stance.
“No, she’s not.” She stood up as she held Eli’s hands. They walk towards Ethan.
“What’s happening in here?” they heard a familiar cold voice. They all look at the door’s entrance.
“Uncle Rio?” Caleb exclaimed. Rio’s eyes wide-ned when he saw Sherry. What is she doing here? He thought. He also looked at Aisha who’s holding a child. She met his gaze.
“I’ll see myself out.” Sherry bid farewell. She pas-sed throu-ghRio. Aisha looked away when she saw Rio’s eyes followed Sherry outside the room. she sneered. Rio was able to see her scornful eyes. he lowered his head.
Will he go after Sherry or stay for his daughter- Aisha?
After a minute, the door of the room closed. She scoffed. Rio chose to chase Sherry. She felt a pang of pain in her heart.
“Mommy, will daddy going to be okay?” Eli sadly asked her mother who is now cuddling him.
“Yes sweetheart, daddy will be okay.” she gave out a faint smile.
“Aisha, I bought some of your things so you can change you’re clothe.” Lisa in.
“Thank you.”
“I also bought some food. Let’s have a lunch together?”
“I think that’s a good idea.” She let out a for-ce chuckle. “Thank you for watching Eli.”
**
She was walking fast. Now she regretted visiting the hospital. She never expected that woman to talk against her and Silver.
Then she remembered the things that she saw earlier. Was that her imagination? Memory or what? she’s not sure. Could it be that a particular memory from her past was triggered when she saw a similar scenario?
Well, maybe.
“Sherry Gray, wait!” she heard a male voice. Was he calling her? she didn’t care. She walked fas-ter.
“Wait!” the man held her arm. She paused then looked behind her. she grasps when she remembered something.
“You!” she held her breath.
#LOVE_OVER_BLOOD
©Sir Zach
EPISODE 49
“Eli, for the meantime, we won’t be able to see dad for a couple of days, okay?” she knelt before Eli as she tried to explained the situation to him. With his young mind, Aisha knew that Eli won’t be able to un-derstand what is happening so she nee-ds to as-sure him that everything’s gonna be okay.
“Okay mom.” Eli frowned.
“I’m sorry sweetheart, but don’t worry, Dad’s gonna be alright and he will wake up very soon.” She let out an encouraging smile.
“Ehm”. Eli nodded. He took the stairway to his room.
“Do you want to have a coffee first?” Aisha offered it to Lisa and Caleb. they can’t possibly turned her down. coffee for them is their moment to share their thoughts. Caleb and Lisa knew that very well.
They knew that Aisha must have something to tell them. They went home directly from the hospital after they spent time with Ethan. Master Omni placed some skilled men to watch over him so they are confident to leave him for the night. Aisha wanted to stay with Ethan but she thought about Eli. She can’t possibly abandon him.
She prepared the coffee then sat beside Lisa. She was in de-ep thought.
“It was Silver. I am sure it was him.” Aisha uttered immediately.
“How did you know that?” It was Caleb who answered.
“I saw him while he was looking at the sniper’s direction.”
“Have you seen the sniper?” she got Caleb’s attention.
“No. I didn’t have a chance. But the bullet, I know for sure that it came from above.” She pursed her li-ps when she remembered Sherry Gray as well.
“Could it be that Silver is a boun ——” she restrained herself from speaking. Caleb’s eyes wide-ned when he realized the same thought as Aisha. Lisa crea-sed a brow. She didn’t un-derstand their conversation.
Caleb and Aisha didn’t educate Lisa about her being a Mafia heiress nor being hunted by bounty hunters that’s why they usually left her out whenever they spoke about confidential matters. It’s not because they don’t trust her but they don’t want her to get involved.
“What?” Lisa curiously asked. But their sudden silence helped her un-derstood that there are things that she didn’t know and doesn’t nee-d to know.
She un-derstand the silence very well.
“Lisa, I nee-d to asked you a favor.” Aisha suddenly uttered
“What is it?”
“I can’t keep you in this house any longer.” She slumped.
“I-I un-derstand. I’ll move back to my old apartment as soon as possible.”
“No, not at your old apartment.” Lisa crea-sed a brow. “I wish you could stay with Caleb for the time being.”.
Lisa knitted her forehead as well as Caleb.
“I hope you are just joking.” Lisa sarcastically uttered.
“Sadly I am not. Just for the time being Lisa. With you at Caleb’s side I won’t be worrying that much. Just a little longer. I’ll just iron some things out.” she pleaded.
“It wouldn’t be a problem for me.” Caleb’s countenance was serious. Lisa realized how serious their conversation is. Guess it can’t be help.
“Okay.” Lisa uttered dejectedly.
“I’m truly sorry Lisa that you were caught on this mess.” Aisha was apologetic.
“It’s okay and I un-derstand.” Lisa tou-ched her trembling hands.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll come and get you tomorrow morning.’ Caleb spoke as he stood up. “You should rest both of you.” They nodded in agreement.
Lisa was on her room packing her stuffs while Aisha was standing on the veranda as she watched Caleb drove off. She was trying to an-alyze all the things that had happened.
Aisha can’t ba-rely sleep. She has a lot of things in her mind. She strides to Eli’s room; she can see that Eli was already fast asleep. She went near him as she knelt before him, her hands glided on the child’s hair.
“I’m sorry sweetheart. I am really sorry.” She ki-ssed his forehead. A tear escaped her left eye.
“It’s all my fault. If only I didn’t invade your lives, then things won’t be as messy as this. Sorry for ruining your life.” She was sobbing silently as she whispered.
“Sweetheart, I love you and I will always do. Even if I am not your biological mother, know that this woman loved you so much. You and Ethan was the most precious disaster that have ever happened to me. And I will never regret the day I met both of you.”
She stood up, “I will end this as soon as I can, I promise. I am hoping that you will never forget me when the day comes that I have to say goodbye.” She wiped her tears and headed down the kitchen.
It’s already twelve midnight but she’s fully awake. she has been planning her next move all along. It seems like her enemies kept multiplying. She didn’t resolve her other problems yet but here comes another one. It’s blowing her mind.
Caleb arrived early morning. He’s ready to pick up Lisa as Aisha requested.
“Are these the only things that you have?” Caleb sarcastically raised a brow as soon as he saw the boxes at Lisa’s room. how would these be able to fit his car? Why so damn many!
“You have a problem with that?” Lisa answered.
“Nahh! Then I guess you have to walk so we can fit your things inside the car.”
“ehm, I can drive. Why don’t you do that instead?” she returned his sarcasm.
“Damn this woman!” he grinned his teeth.
As soon as the maids fix her things inside the car, Lisa went up to wake Aisha.
“Caleb is here. We’re about to go.” Lisa voiced. Aisha just woke up. She looked at the clock, it’s already 9am?! Damn she woke up late.
“I’m sorry I was not able to help you pack.” She lazily stood up from the bed. They went down the garage.
“Caleb, let’s eat first before you go.” she yawned.
“Nahh, I’m good. I have to do something later so I have to show the house to Lisa.” He declined. Aisha’s ears grew bigger, she made a face.
“Hey, are you that excited to take my friend away?” she raised her brow teasingly. “You! You better get your act together or I will cut that yours! Just Not Lisa!” She glared at him.
“Ha-ha. she’s not even my type, duh!” Caleb laughed but Lisa scoffed.
“Aisha, please tell me it’s okay to strangle your friend.” Lisa was irritated. Aisha chuckled.
“Go.” she embr@ced them both. She watched them drove off before she went inside the mansion. She went to Eli’s room and took a travelling bag and placed some of Eli’s stuff inside.
“Mom, where are we going?” Eli asked her when he came out form the bathroom.
“sweetheart, mom has something to do today so I have to send you to great paps for the meantime, okay?” Aisha didn’t hear a reply. She raised her head to see a teary little kid.
“Eli…?”
“Are you going to leave me? And dad too?” tears welled down his cheeks. Aisha was surprised.
“Eli, that’s not what I mean —-”
“No! you’re leaving us!” he interrupted her. “I heard you last night, you’re going to leave us!” he was crying. Her heart broke at his desolate look.
“I’m sorry.” She went near him and tou-ched her shoulders, “I will never leave you. Always remember how much I love you— and your dad as well. Mother’s will never leave their children behind, you know that, right?”
“But you’re not my mom! You’re not my real mom!” he bawled. Aisha was surprise to hear Eli. she gulped as she released Eli from her grip. She staggered backwards.
“Y-You k-knew?!” she faltered.
_______
“But she can’t remember anything! Not even one from her past!” Rio was pushing his thoughts to Archie.
He told him about his encounter with Sherry at the hospital. He chased her when she exited Ethan’s room. When he was able to get a hold of her, he tried to introduce himself but she doesn’t remember anything about him. she only knew him because of his intervention last night.
“She can’t remember anything from her past. She can only remember things from five years ago.”
“Didn’t you consider the fact that she might be a different person?” Archie emphasized the word different.
“No, I am positive that she is Cherry Ann, she still has that birthmark in her left back shoulder.”
“Then what do you think happened to her?”
“I don’t know. I have to investigate as to why she is with Silver.”
“Is she that important than your daughter right now?” Rio pause when he heard him, “Rio, your daughter nee-ds you right now.”
“I know.”
“Have you already talk to her?”
“No.”
“What?!” Archie bellowed. “I thought you went to visit her earlier?”
“I chose to talk to Sherry instead. I didn’t go back after that because I know she doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“Rio, what is happening to you?!” Archie howled in annoyance. “Aisha, she is your daughter! She may not be your biological daughter but are you going to end everything just because of that woman?!’
“She’s not just a woman Archie! You know that!”
“Are you saying that the woman who left you is more important than the one who stayed beside you all along?”
“That’s not what I mean. What if it was Silver’s plan all along? To get to the Williams using Sherry? Aisha may be his target too.”
“He doesn’t know about you nor Aisha.”
“He’s not that stupid to enter a war without planning his strategies. I know him very well. He’s my brother after all.”
“Step brother.” Archie sighed. “So what do you have in mind?”
“I’ll watch him closely.”.
“How about Aisha?”
“She’ll un-derstand.”
“But you should talk to her. she nee-ds you.”
“Ehm. That’ll wait.” Rio only nodded.
_______
She drove off to the ancestral mansion. She looked at the pas-senger seat.
Eli was sleeping soundly. She remembered her conversation with Eli earlier.
“You’re not my mom! Not my real mom!” she was taken aback. She didn’t know how Eli discovered it.
“Eli, sweetheart, what are you saying?”
“I know you’re not Stacy.” He desolately crumbled on his bed. Aisha’s eyes expanded. She covered her mouth with her hands. How the hell did he knew? She was dumbstruck.
“E-Eli, How could you say that?” she faked a chuckle.
“I heard you talking to someone over the phone – in the kitchen, before. I heard everything.” He tried to hold his tears.
“Besides, Stacy doesn’t care about me.” That phrase wrenched Aisha’s heart. She went near Eli.
“Please, don’t leave me and daddy!” Eli started to shed tears. Aisha felt a pang of guilt. She embr@ced Eli.
“I love you, Eli. Don’t ever forget that okay?” she felt Eli nodded.
“Sweetheart, I have to bring you over to great paps for the meantime so that I could watch over your dad, okay? I promise to visit you as often as I can.” she gave an as-suring smile when she released him in her embr@ce.
“Okay.” Eli wiped his tears away then he helped Aisha packed his things. “Mom, if you’re not Stacy, then what’s your real name?” she heard Eli but she was not prepared to answer that yet.
“how about this? I’ll tell you and your dad all the truth once he woke up. Is that a deal?” she faked a smile. Eli nodded with a smile.
Aisha was in de-ep thought while driving. If Eli knew about her identity, how about Ethan and Master Omni? Do they know the truth? It’s not possible isn’t it? But if they do, then they should have confronted her already.
Once again, she glanced at Eli’s innocent sleeping face. Eli discovered her real identity but he wholeheartedly accepted her anyway. The thought of Eli pleading her not to leave them brou-ght her tears. She was happy that Eli didn’t hate her.
How about Ethan and Master Omni? Would they be able to accept her? for all her lies and pretentions? Well, it’s a risk but she nee-ds to tell them anyway. She nee-ds to tell Ethan the truth. He deserved to know it.
She already prepared her next step. She’ll confess the truth to Ethan, then she can leave and face her enemies. She has to get away from Ethan and Eli so they won’t get hurt. This is her fight!
They were able to reach the ancestral house after a few hours’ drive.
“Eli? Wake up, we’re already here.” She slowly woke him up.”
“Ehm…” Eli stretched his arms as he yawns. He looked outside the car’s window. He saw big men lined up to greet them. They are indeed in the ancestral mansion.
They can see Master Omni coming out to see them. One of the men opened the car doors.
“Great Paps!” Eli greeted.
“Eli sweetheart! It’s good to see you. Come, let’s go inside!” he carried him. he didn’t fail to give a warm smile to Aisha.
“In fact, I have them prepared your favorite meal!” Master Omni excitedly informed Eli.
“Yehey!” Eli was excited. Aisha smiled at the beautiful scene that she is seeing right now. she’ll definitely miss those kinds of moment.
After their late lunch, Eli had been wanting to ride a horse with Aisha so they went to the ranch and spend some hours of happy moments. They went beyond the ranch, Aisha decided to bring Eli in the mountains too. When they reached the peak, Eli was in awe. The ancestral mansion looks so small. It was Eli’s first time to see the vast horizon. Also, he was able to witness the beautiful sunset.
“Mom, it’s so beautiful!” he was dumbfounded.
“Sweetheart, can you see where this horizon ends?” she asked. Eli shook his head.
“Eli, see how wide this horizon is. I want you to remember that my love for you and your dad is beyond this.” Eli stared at her with tears beaming in his eyes.
“Mom… I love you too!” he teared up. Aisha embr@ced him behind.
“Eli, there’s one more thing I have to tell you. You have to know that there’s a time for everything. A time to be happy and a time to be sad. We don’t know what tomorrow brings but we have to treasure and enjoy each moment. We will meet people that will leave footprints in our lives, but there will also be times that we have to let them go.”
Eli made a face. “Mom, I don’t un-derstand.” He guiltily lowered his head. This made Aisha chuckled.
“I know. But someday you will.” She ki-ssed his forehead. “Just remember that whatever life throws at you, be strong but always be kind.” Eli giggled.
Eli fell asleep when they were going back to the mansion. One of the men carried Eli and brou-ght him to his room. Aisha followed. She made sure to see Eli on his bed, she bend to ki-ss his forehead before going out. she took a glas-s of wine as she strides towards the veranda. She was looking at the sky while in de-ep thought.
Unknown to her, Master Omni had been observing her. He went and stood beside her.
“How was your wound?” Master Omni asked.
“It’s fine. I can still feel it, good thing.” She chuckled. The Old man stared at her.
“Dear, It’s okay to show some emotion sometimes. Keeping things on your own will kill you slowly.”
“Thanks grandpa but I’m fine.” She for-ced a smile then sip a small amount of wine.
“I hope you are.”
“Grandpa, I-I will be leaving Eli here, for good. I already packed some of his things. Also, Ethan, I might not be able to see them for the time being. Please watch over them.” She uttered.
“What do you mean? Are you planning to leave them? For good?”
Aisha smi-rked. Is her plan really obvious? Damn.
“Stacy already left them for good, are you going to repeat the same pain and same miseries that they had experienced before?”
Aisha was dumbfounded. Her eyes wide-ned and her jaw dropped. She accidentally dropped the glas-s of wine that she was holding.
“W-What did you just say, G-grand pa?”
“You already heard me. Don’t let me repeat that.”
“Y-You —- H-How?” she stammered as she stepped backwards.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 50