Chapter 11: Doubts

Marcelino left Angelic's office with a heavy heart, his mind racing with questions that refused to be silenced.
Her guarded responses, the way she seemed almost too familiar, yet distant, gnawed at him.
He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her story—more to her.
Determined to uncover the truth, he decided to dig deeper into Angelic's background, hoping to find a connection to Mariam,
the woman who had once captured his heart and whose memory haunted him still.

The next few days were a blur of late nights and early mornings for Marcelino.
He pored over records, reached out to old contacts, and scoured the internet for any hint that could link Angelic Emperial to Mariam Reyes.
The more he dug, the more he felt like he was chasing a ghost. But he couldn't give up—not now. Not when he was so close.

Meanwhile, Angelic tried to focus on her children and her company, but Marcelino's visit had stirred something inside her that she thought she had buried long ago.
Monic and George were her life, and she poured every ounce of love and attention into them, but even they could sense something was off with their mother.
She was distracted, her mind drifting back to memories she had fought so hard to forget.

One evening, as she tucked her children into bed, Monic looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes.
"Mommy, are you okay? You seem sad."

Angelic's heart ached at her daughter's words. She forced a smile, smoothing Monic's hair.
"I'm okay, sweetheart. Just a lot on my mind. But you don't need to worry about that. Sleep tight, my love."

George, always perceptive, added, "We're here if you need us, Mommy."

Angelic kissed them both goodnight, her heart swelling with love and a touch of sadness.
"Thank you, my darlings. You two are my everything."

After they were asleep, Angelic went to her study, trying to focus on work.
She needed to keep her mind occupied, to push away the memories that Marcelino's visit had unearthed.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the unease that had settled in her chest.

Arthur, watching from a distance, saw the changes in his daughter.
He had noticed Marcelino's interest in Angelic and feared that his involvement might complicate things further.
Arthur decided it was time to intervene, to protect his daughter from any further pain. He knew he had to be careful,
as his relationship with Mariam—now Angelic—was still fragile. But he couldn't stand by and watch her suffer.

One evening, Arthur decided to visit Angelic. He found her in her study, staring blankly at her computer screen.
She looked up as he entered, her expression a mix of surprise and weariness.

"Fa.. Arthur," she said, her voice guarded. "What are you doing here?"

Arthur took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Mariam, I—"

"Angelic," she corrected, her tone sharp.

"Angelic," he amended, pain flickering in his eyes.
"I know things have been strained between us, but I need you to know that I'm here for you.
I've noticed Marcelino's interest in you, and I fear it might bring up old wounds. I just want to make sure you're okay."

Angelic's eyes softened for a moment before hardening again. "I'm fine, I can handle Marcelino."

Arthur sighed, stepping closer.
"I know you can handle anything, but you don't have to do it alone. I'm here to help, in any way I can."

For a moment, the distance between them seemed to close, the years of hurt and betrayal almost forgotten.
But Angelic couldn't let her guard down. Not yet.

"Thank you," she said, her voice softening slightly. "But I need to do this on my own."

Arthur nodded, accepting her decision. "If you ever need me, you know where to find me."

As Arthur left, Angelic felt a pang of longing.
She wished things could be different, but there was too much pain, too much history between them.
She turned back to her work, determined to push through the memories and the doubts.

Meanwhile, Marcelino's investigation led him to an old contact who had once worked with Mariam Reyes.
Over a cup of coffee in a dimly lit café, Marcelino pressed for information.

"You worked with Mariam Reyes, didn't you?" Marcelino asked, his voice tense with anticipation.

The man nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah, I did. But that was a long time ago. Why do you ask?"

"I'm trying to find her," Marcelino said, leaning forward. "I need to know what happened to her."

The man shrugged. "Last I heard, she disappeared. Left everything behind. But there's been talk, rumors that she might have resurfaced under a new identity."

Marcelino's heart raced. "Do you know anything more specific?"

The man hesitated, then sighed. "There's a woman, goes by Angelic Emperial. Powerful, secretive.
Some say she used to be someone else, someone who had to reinvent herself."

Marcelino's mind reeled. It was the clue he had been searching for, the link that tied Angelic to Mariam.
He needed to confront her again, to get to the bottom of this.

That night, Marcelino lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing with the possibilities.
If Angelic was indeed Mariam, he had to understand why she had hidden her identity and what he could do to make things right.

The next day, he prepared to visit Angelic once more, determined to confront her with the evidence he had gathered.
As he drove to her office, his heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and fear. He needed answers, and he hoped that this time, she would finally open up to him.
Angelic was in her office, going over the latest project proposals, when her assistant knocked on the door.

"Ms. Emperial, Mr. Buno is here to see you," she said, her voice hesitant.

Angelic's heart skipped a beat. She had known this moment would come, but she wasn't sure if she was ready.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself.

"Send him in," she replied, her voice steady.

Marcelino entered the office, his expression determined.
He held a folder in his hand, and Angelic knew what it contained.
She braced herself for the confrontation, her mind racing with possible responses.

"Angelic," Marcelino began, his voice calm but firm. "I need to talk to you. I need to know the truth."

Angelic met his gaze, her eyes unwavering. "What truth are you looking for, Marcelino?"

He placed the folder on her desk, opening it to reveal the documents he had found.

"I know who you are, Mariam. I know what you've been through. But I need to hear it from you. Why did you hide your identity? Why didn't you tell me?"

Angelic's heart ached at the sound of her old name.
She had fought so hard to become someone new,
to leave the past behind. But Marcelino's persistence and the pain in his eyes made her realize that she couldn't run from her past forever.

She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly.
"Because I had to survive, Marcelino. I had to protect myself and my children.
After everything that happened, I couldn't be Mariam Reyes anymore. I had to become Angelic Emperial."

Marcelino's eyes softened, his voice filled with regret. "I understand that, but why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you."

Angelic shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
"You couldn't have helped me. You were part of the reason I had to leave. You betrayed me, Marcelino. You broke my heart."

Marcelino's shoulders sagged, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him.
"I know I did, and I've regretted it every day since. But I want to make things right. I want to help you, to be there for you and the children."

Angelic looked away, her heart torn.
She had built walls around herself to protect her from the pain, but Marcelino's sincerity and regret were starting to break through those defenses.

"I don't know if I can trust you again," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Marcelino reached out, gently taking her hand.
"I understand that, and I don't expect you to forgive me overnight. But please, let me try.
Let me prove to you that I've changed, that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make amends."

Angelic met his gaze, searching for any sign of deceit.
But all she saw was a man desperate to right his wrongs, a man who had been haunted by his mistakes.

She took a deep breath, her heart pounding.
"Alright, Marcelino. I'll give you a chance. But know that if you betray me again, there won't be a third chance."

Marcelino nodded, relief washing over him. "Thank you, Angelic. I won't let you down."
As they sat together, discussing the future and the steps they needed to take, Arthur watched from a distance, his heart heavy with a mix of hope and fear.
He knew that this was just the beginning of a long and difficult journey, but he believed that with time and effort, they could find healing and reconciliation.