Chapter 22: The masked man

Angelic’s heart pounded as she looked at the man standing before her, holding the document that supposedly held the truth about Marcelino. Fear and curiosity battled within her, but she stood firm, determined to uncover the truth.

“Who is Marcelino?” she demanded, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.

“Relax,” the man said, his tone almost mocking. He took out a document and handed it to her. “Take a look at this. You can open it now to see who Marcelino really is. But be prepared; the truth inside may shock you.”
Angelic hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly as she took the document. Her curiosity won over her fear, and she opened it, her eyes scanning the contents quickly. She saw pictures, old and faded, of a boy with his family. The resemblance to Marcelino was unmistakable, even though the photos were from long ago.
“Who is this?” she asked, confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Read the papers first, and you will understand,” the man replied, a sinister smile playing on his lips.
Angelic took a deep breath and began to read the document. As the words sank in, her eyes widened in shock. Marcelino Buno was not his real name. The document revealed that his real name was John Innovation, and his past was far more complicated and darker than she had ever imagined.

“Who is John Innovation?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Is it Marcelino Buno?”
“Exactly,” the man replied, satisfaction evident in his voice.

“So, what’s his connection to you? And how did he become a dangerous man?” Angelic pressed, needing to know more.
The man removed his mask, revealing a face that was both familiar and foreign. He had sharp features and piercing eyes that seemed to bore into her soul.
The man removed his mask, revealing a face that was both familiar and foreign. His sharp features were marred by scars, and his piercing eyes seemed to bore into Angelic’s soul. Her breath caught in her throat as she tried to process the sight before her.

“Do you know why I took off my mask and revealed my real identity to you?” he asked, his voice steady and calm.
Angelic was confused and overwhelmed. “I don’t understand. Make your point directly!” she replied, her voice tinged with frustration.

“Still don’t get it? Angelic, Marcelino has been your enemy from the start to the end,” the man said. He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. “Let me tell you something about myself. Angelic, I’m related to you. The man you’ve known as your father is not your real father.”

Angelic’s eyes widened in shock. “No! I can’t let you fool me! You’re the one who killed my father, and I’m going to kill you now!” Her eyes blazed with a murderous rage, her body tense with the urge to attack.
“Do you think that if I weren’t related to you, I would allow you to still be alive? Think about it, Angelic,” the man said, his voice steady.
“Then why did you kill my father? Why?” she demanded, her voice cracking with emotion.

“Angelic, you’re wrong. I didn’t kill your father,” the man said, his tone softening slightly. He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “Let me explain everything to you.”
Angelic hesitated, her mind racing. Despite her anger and confusion, she wanted to understand. She needed to know the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
“Start talking,” she said, her voice hard.

The man took a deep breath. “Many years ago, your mother and I were deeply in love. We had you together, but due to circumstances beyond our control, we were separated. Your mother married another man, the one you’ve known as your father. He raised you as his own, but I always kept an eye on you from a distance.”

Angelic’s heart pounded in her chest. Could this really be true? She had always felt a strange disconnect with the man she had called father, but she had never questioned it.
“Why are you telling me this now?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Because it’s time you knew the truth,” he replied.

Tears welled up in Angelic’s eyes. “Why should I believe you?”
“Because I have no reason to lie to you. I’ve revealed my identity to you because I want to protect you, to help you understand the danger you’re in,” the man said, his voice filled with sincerity.
Angelic felt her resolve crumbling. Could this man, this stranger who claimed to be her real father, be telling the truth? And if so, what did it mean for her future?
“Why did you stay away?” she asked, her voice breaking.

“I had no choice. Your mother and I were forced apart, and I couldn’t risk exposing you to the dangers of my world. But now, with everything that’s happening, I had to come forward,” he explained.
“We need to deal with Marcelino. He’s a dangerous man, and as long as he’s free, you’re not safe,” the man said. “But you’re not alone in this. I’m here to help you, to protect you.”
Angelic nodded, feeling a strange sense of relief. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel completely alone. She had someone who understood the danger she was in, someone who was willing to stand by her side.

"Let me tell you something more, Angelic. Remember seven years ago, when you were kicked out by the man you called father? You went to the United States and became successful. Angelic, I was the one backing you up. I was watching and monitoring you all the time," he explained.

Angelic’s mind flashed back to those years. She had always believed that her success was due to her own talents and skills, but now she realized there had been a hidden hand guiding her. She had been accepted by big companies so easily, something she had attributed to luck and hard work. But now, she saw the truth.

“All those hardships, all the big companies accepting me, partnering with me so easily...was that you?” she asked, her voice trembling with the realization.
“Yes,” he said simply. “Living in the United States without connections is hard, almost impossible for someone starting from scratch. But I made sure you had the opportunities you deserved. I couldn’t be there for you physically, but I was always watching over you.”

Angelic’s emotions were in turmoil. Part of her wanted to reject everything this man was saying, but another part of her knew he was telling the truth. Her success had always seemed almost too easy, too fortuitous.
As she stood there, processing the truth, she felt a mix of gratitude and anger. Gratitude for the protection she hadn’t known she had, and anger at the manipulations and deceptions that had surrounded her life.
“Why now?” she asked. “Why reveal yourself now?”

“Because the danger has never been greater. Marcelino is more dangerous than you realize. And you need to know who you really are to face what’s coming.”
As they stood together, Angelic knew that her journey was far from over. She had a long road ahead of her, filled with danger and uncertainty. But with her newfound ally, she felt a glimmer of hope. She would find a way to bring Marcelino to justice and protect her children from harm. And she would finally uncover the truth about her past and her real father.
Her journey for revenge had truly begun, and she was no longer alone in her fight.