Chapter 19: fake news

Angelic’s heart raced as she realized the magnitude of her slip. She had accidentally revealed the existence of her twins to Marcelino, and his shocked expression told her he wasn’t going to let this go easily. She quickly diverted the topic, trying to buy herself time to think of a plausible explanation.

"Mariam, tell me the truth," Marcelino pressed, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Are you hiding something important from me?"

Angelic took a deep breath, her mind racing to fabricate a story that would satisfy his curiosity without revealing the truth. "Marcelino, the twins... they’re not mine by birth. I adopted them from an orphanage."
Marcelino’s brow furrowed; his gaze intense. "Why would you keep that from me? Why wouldn’t you tell me about them before?"

Angelic’s mind flashed back to the day she had decided to adopt Monic and George. She had been lonely and desperate for a semblance of family after everything she had been through. The orphanage had been a place of solace, where she found two beautiful children who needed love just as much as she did.

"I didn’t tell you because... I didn’t want you to think I was weak," Angelic said, her voice trembling. "I was afraid you’d see me differently if you knew I had adopted children."
Marcelino shook his head, his expression softening slightly. "Mariam, you should have told me. I would never think less of you for giving those children a home."

Despite his words, Angelic could see the doubt lingering in his eyes. Her explanation had flaws, and she knew it. But before Marcelino could probe further, the doctor called them, interrupting their discussion.
"Mr. Buno, Ms. Emperial," the doctor said, his voice urgent. "Arthur is beginning to regain consciousness. He’s starting to talk."

The news was a perfect distraction, and Angelic seized the opportunity to escape the uncomfortable topic. "We need to go," she said quickly, moving towards the hospital room. Marcelino followed, still troubled by their conversation but focused on Arthur’s condition.

As they entered the room, they saw Arthur stirring, his eyes fluttering open. Relief washed over Angelic, and she hurried to his side, her hand gently squeezing his.
"Dad, can you hear me?" she asked, her voice filled with emotion.

Arthur’s eyes slowly focused on her, and he nodded weakly. "Mariam... Angelic... I’m so glad to see you."

Tears filled Angelic’s eyes as she smiled down at her father. "We’re here, Dad. You’re going to be okay."

Marcelino stood back, watching the tender moment between father and daughter. Despite his lingering doubts, he felt a surge of hope. If Arthur could recover, maybe there was a chance for all of them to heal and find some semblance of peace.

Arthur’s voice was weak, but his determination was clear. "There’s something you need to know," he said, his gaze shifting to Marcelino. "About the man who did this to me..."

Angelic and Marcelino leaned in, eager to hear what Arthur had to say. "He’s dangerous... more dangerous than you realize. He has connections everywhere. You need to be careful."

"We will be, Dad," Angelic assured him. "But we need to know more. Who is he? Why is he targeting us?"

Arthur took a labored breath, his strength fading. "He... he’s... connected to our past. Someone... someone who wants revenge for something that happened years ago. I don’t know all the details, but you need to dig deeper... find out who he is."

Marcelino placed a reassuring hand on Arthur’s shoulder. "We will, Sir Arthur. We’ll find him and make sure he can’t hurt you or anyone else."

Arthur nodded, his eyes closing as he drifted back into a fitful sleep. Angelic’s mind raced with the implications of her father’s words. There was a deeper conspiracy at play, one that tied into their past and threatened their future.

As they left the room, Marcelino turned to Angelic, his expression serious. "We need to find out more about this man. Sir Arthur’s right – he’s dangerous, and we can’t let him win."
Angelic nodded, her resolve hardening. "I agree. We need to uncover the truth, no matter what it takes."

Marcelino’s eyes searched hers, looking for any sign of deception. "And Mariam, I need you to be honest with me. No more secrets. We’re in this together."
Angelic hesitated, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She knew she couldn’t reveal the full truth about the twins, not yet. But she also couldn’t afford to push Marcelino away.
"I promise," she said finally, meeting his gaze. "No more secrets."

Marcelino nodded, accepting her words for now. But Angelic could still see the doubt lingering in his eyes. She knew she had to be careful, to play her cards right if she wanted to keep her family safe and find out the truth about their enemy.

The days that followed were a blur of investigation and strategy. Angelic and Marcelino worked tirelessly, piecing together clues and following leads. They discovered a network of connections that hinted at a larger conspiracy, one that reached into the highest levels of power and influence.

As they delved deeper, Angelic couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. She was constantly on edge, her instincts screaming at her to be cautious. Every step they took brought them closer to the truth, but also closer to danger.

One evening, as they pored over documents in Arthur’s study, Angelic’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and saw an unknown number. Her heart pounded as she answered, a sense of dread settling over her.
"Angelic," the familiar voice said. "I see you’ve been busy. But you’re getting too close. It’s time to stop, or you’ll regret it."
Her blood ran cold, but she forced herself to stay calm. "What do you want?"
"I want you to leave this alone. Stop digging, or there will be consequences."

Angelic’s mind raced. She knew she couldn’t back down now. "I’m not going to stop until I find out who you are and what you want."
The man laughed, a chilling sound that made her skin crawl. "You’re brave, Angelic. But bravery can get you killed. Remember that."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Angelic with a sense of impending doom. She turned to Marcelino, who had been listening intently. "We need to be more careful," she said. "He knows we’re getting close."
Marcelino’s expression was grim. "We can’t let him scare us off. We have to keep going."

Angelic nodded, her resolve strengthening. They were in too deep to turn back now. They had to find out the truth, no matter the cost.