Finally, Forgiven him

The sterile smell of the hospital mingled with the muted beeping of machines as Angelic sat vigil beside her father’s bed.
Arthur lay motionless, a maze of tubes and wires connecting him to life support.
The poison that had been injected into his system was potent, designed to destroy his cells systematically.
The doctors had acted swiftly, but Arthur’s fate hung in the balance, dependent on the relentless hum of the machines.
Angelic’s heart ached as she watched her father’s fragile form.

She had fought so hard to reconcile with him, only to be faced with the possibility of losing him forever.
Her tears fell unbidden, a torrent of regret and determination.

"Dad, I’ve promised to find the man behind this,"
she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I’ll make sure he pays for what he’s done."

The doctor, a trusted family friend, entered the room, breaking the heavy silence.
"Ms. Emperial, I’ve done everything I can for now. His condition is stable, but it’s critical. The next 48 hours are crucial."

Angelic nodded, wiping her tears. "Thank you, Dr. Castillo. Please keep me updated on any changes."

Dr. Castillo placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I will. And remember, he’s a fighter. Don’t lose hope."

As the doctor left, Angelic turned back to her father.
She knew that this attack was not random. Arthur had made many enemies in his ruthless pursuit of business success.
She had inherited that same fire, but she also knew the value of compassion—a lesson learned through pain and loss.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a message from Marcelino: "I’m on my way to the hospital. Stay strong."

Angelic’s heart fluttered. Marcelino had been a constant presence, his support unwavering.
She had vowed to destroy him, but now, as he rushed to her side, she felt the cold walls of her heart begin to crumble.

As she stood by the bulletproof glass window, watching her father fight for his life, Angelic’s mind raced.
She needed to find the person responsible for this heinous act.
Her thoughts turned to her father’s business dealings, the rivals who might have wanted him out of the way.

"Dad, I swear I’ll find who did this to you," she vowed, her eyes blazing with determination.
"They’ll pay a hundredfold for what they’ve done."

Minutes later, Marcelino arrived at the hospital.
He spotted Angelic standing alone, her shoulders trembling with the weight of her grief.
Without hesitation, he walked over and enveloped her in his arms.

"Mariam," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm.
"I know how painful this is. Even if you don’t say it, I can feel it. It’s going to be alright. Just lean on me and cry. I’m here for you, always."

Angelic let out a choked sob, burying her face in his chest.
The floodgates of her emotions burst open as she clung to him, her tears soaking his shirt.
Marcelino held her tightly, his hand gently caressing her hair, offering silent comfort.

In that moment, Angelic felt a strange sense of peace.
Marcelino’s presence was like an anchor, grounding her amidst the storm of her emotions.
She had intended to destroy him, to make him suffer, but now, she was unsure. Could she let go of her revenge? Could she trust him again?

"Mariam," Marcelino said softly, calling her real name. "I’m here with you, and I won’t leave. We’ll get through this together."

Angelic pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes.
"Marcelino, I don’t know what to think. I wanted to make you suffer for what you did, but now... I don’t know if I can."

Marcelino cupped her face in his hands, his gaze tender.
"I’ve made mistakes, and I regret them every day. But I love you, Mariam. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust and forgiveness."

Angelic’s heart ached with conflicting emotions.
She wanted to believe him, to let go of her anger and embrace the love she once felt. But fear and doubt still lingered.

"Marcelino, I need time," she whispered. "I need to focus on finding who did this to my father. But thank you for being here. It means a lot."

Marcelino nodded, understanding. "Take all the time you need. I’ll be here, no matter what."

As the days passed, Angelic threw herself into the search for the person responsible for her father’s condition.
She pored over old business records, making a list of potential enemies and rivals.
Marcelino offered his assistance, using his connections to gather information and track down leads.

They worked together tirelessly, a partnership born of necessity and shared pain.
Angelic found herself relying on Marcelino more and more, his strength and support a lifeline in the dark days that followed.

One evening, as they sat in her study, surrounded by papers and files, Angelic looked up at Marcelino.
"Thank you for helping me. I couldn’t do this without you."

Marcelino smiled, reaching across the table to take her hand.
"We’re in this together, Mariam. I won’t let you face this alone."

Their fingers intertwined, a silent promise of solidarity. Angelic felt a flicker of hope.
Maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to move forward, to heal the wounds of the past.

As they continued their search, a new lead emerged.
One of Arthur’s former business associates, a man named Victor Salazar, had recently resurfaced.
Victor had a history of shady dealings and had clashed with Arthur on more than one occasion.
Angelic and Marcelino decided to confront him, hoping to uncover the truth.
They arranged a meeting at a discreet location, a dimly lit bar on the outskirts of the city.
Victor arrived, his eyes wary as he took in the sight of Angelic and Marcelino.

"What do you want?" Victor demanded; his voice tinged with hostility.

"We want answers," Angelic replied, her tone steely. "Someone tried to kill my father, and we have reason to believe you’re involved."
Victor’s eyes narrowed. "I had nothing to do with it."
Angelic leaned forward; her eyes run cold “tell me the truth!”

"Control," Victor said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Again, I had nothing to do with your father, Mariam, oh, I mean miss Angelic Emperial.”
He added, “It’s good to heard what had happened to Arthur, well, he deserved it!”

Angelic’s blood ran cold. This was bigger than she had imagined.

Bang! “Marcelino punched his face.

Victor shook his head and he was shouting and cursed Marcelino for what he did.

“You! How dare you to do this to me!”

Bang! Another punched was landed on him.

“Insulting Mr. Arthur again, and you'll be dead!” Marcelino’s eyes ran cold, it seemed like his eyes has a killing intent.

Angelic nodded and looked up at Marcelino, determination blazing in her eyes. "Thank you,"

As they left the bar, Angelic and Marcelino felt a renewed sense of purpose.
They had a lead, a direction. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but they were ready to face it together.

Back at the hospital, Arthur’s condition remained unstable and critical. Angelic visited him every day, whispering words of love and encouragement.
She had promised to find the person responsible for his condition, and she intended to keep that promise.

One evening, as she sat by his bedside, Angelic felt a hand on her shoulder.
She looked up to see Marcelino standing there, his eyes filled with empathy.

"You’re doing great, Mariam," he said softly. "Your father is lucky to have you."

Angelic smiled, feeling a warmth in her heart. "Thank you, Marcelino. I couldn’t do this without you."

As they stood together, watching over Arthur, Angelic felt a sense of hope. She had faced unimaginable challenges, but she was stronger now.
With Marcelino by her side, she knew she could overcome anything.
The journey to uncover the truth was just beginning, but Angelic was ready. She would find the person responsible,
bring them to justice, and protect her family at all costs.
As she whispered a silent vow to her father, she felt a newfound strength.
She was no longer driven by revenge alone. She was driven by love, by the desire to protect those she held dear.
And with that strength, she would face whatever came next.