Raging Love Ch. 09

Meanwhile, Ethan got scared when he saw how Bruce was looking like. He was starting to convulse and he knew that Antonio was hell bent on killing him. He rushed to him, held his arm sweetly and looked at him.

"Antonio, stop it!" He asked in fear. "You're gonna kill him. Please!"

"That's what I am trying to do." He groaned, adding more pressure. Bruce felt like his head was gonna explode. "I wanna end the life of this bastard for what he did to my Praveen."

"No!" Ethan shook his head. "If you kill him then you'll spend the rest of your life in prison. Please."

"I don't give a fuck!"

"Then how will you get back Travis?" Ethan asked, trying to reason with him. "He still needs you. You haven't asked for forgiveness yet. How do you think he'll feel when he gets to know that you murdered someone and you're in prison? Don't soil your hands with his dirty blood. There are other ways to deal with him."

Antonio felt tears on his face. He groaned angrily and furiously let go of Bruce. Bruce fell to the floor with a thud and started coughing while trying to catch his air. He was still bleeding but he didn't have the energy to cover his nose. His strength was completely gone and he crawled on the floor, trying to get away from Antonio.

"And you...." Antonio roared as he furiously walked to a scared looking Emma. "....you stupid ugly bitch. I should have known that you're a witch from the very beginning."

"Antonio...." Emma sobbed, shaking her head. "...I only did that to save this family."

"Save which family?" Antonio snapped. "You're gonna pay for this, I promise you. I am gonna make sure that you pay for it big time. You're gonna wish you hadn't crossed my path, you bitch!"

Emma dropped her eyes to the floor, crying softly. She knew very well that it was over. She regretted everything that she had done. She needed to explain even if it was just once to him, ask for his forgiveness.

Emma raised her head and tried to say something but she got the shock of her life when she saw the police detective with about five police officers behind him entering the house. Her eyes widened and her heart pounded deep in her chest.

"Police?" She gasped. "Who called the police here?"

"I did!" Eduardo said harshly, folding his arms on his chest. "Did you actually think you were gonna get away with everything you've done? No! Antonio might be soft but I don't have the heart to just watch all your evil deeds."

Emma shook her head. "You called the police to arrest members of your family."

Eduardo chuckled bitterly. "Not my family but criminals that should be behind bars."

Emma shook her head, feeling her strength leave her. She hadn't expected them to involve the police. She looked at the police inspector who was standing there without saying anything and she felt a shiver go down her spine.

"This is a family matter. Shouldn't we just talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Emilia snapped as she furiously walked to her sister in law. "What the hell should we talk about? Should we talk about how you framed and destroyed an innocent boy or how you tried to kill mother? Women like only give other women a bad name. You're supposed to be a mother, building a home and not destroying it. But you're the poison in this house. For so many years I have kept quiet ignoring you but not anymore. Who do you think you are to do this to my son?"

Emma sobbed. She had never seen Emilia as mad as she was at that time. The woman had her fists clenched.

"My husband was the most unfortunate man on this earth for having a heartless sister like you." She added, pointing angrily at her. "On one hand you pretended to love and care for my son and on the other... you were destroying him." Emilia's eyes became glassy. "I thought my son was in good hands but it was a show for you, a game. You played with three lives here."

"I didn't intend to hurt him. You know how much..."

"Not another word from you!" Emilia warned, breathing like she was in labor. She had never felt so angry her entire life before. "For six years I have lived in hatred, hating a boy that was innocent. I have been laying curses on him when it should have been you I was cursing!" She yelled. "He was never wrong. He was only a victim in your disgusting game. That was what this entire thing was to you. But you destroyed that boy's life. Only God knows what he went through when he left this house."

Emilia covered her mouth and cried. "I told him some awful things but you are the witch and not him. Praveen was so innocent and even when Antonio used to hurt him, he never said a word to me or mother. He was always so cheerful and had the welfare of this family in his mind. But I had hurt him."

Emilia cried uncontrollably, remembering the harsh words that she had used on him. Oh God, it hurt like hell and she felt like she had been stabbed in the heart. "I failed my husband. I failed Praveen's mother. I should have stood by his side. But Eduardo is right. You're gonna pay for all your sins against that boy."

Emilia proceeded and looked at her daughter who looked weak and sobbing uncontrollably. She was always her sweet daughter, so innocent and beautiful. How did she turn so evil, Emilia thought as she got closer?

Andrea looked at her mother and just got weak. "Mother, I am sorry..."

But Emilia gave Andrea a really hot slap that left her crying. "I wonder what sin I had committed that the almighty decided to punish me with an evil child." She muttered. "I thought I had done my best in bringing you up but... I completely failed as a mother. I am not evil and neither was your father. I wonder what genes you carry."

"Mom, I... I..."

"Now I am your mother?" Emilia sniveled. "What happened to bitch, evil woman and wicked woman?"

Andrea was really quiet. She couldn't even utter a word because she knew that her mother was angry. She had never seen her that angry.

"Your selfish ambitions turned you into an evil bitch!" Emilia yelled, surprising everyone in the room. That was the first time she used a word like that. "I understood your hatred towards me but what about your brother? What did he ever do to you? And what did your granny do to you that you tried to have her killed? Up to now, I still can't believe that my only daughter turned out to be the enemy of her own home.

You collaborated with Emma and Bruce to destroy your own brother? You'll pay for this."

"Mom, please!" Andrea put her hands together. "Forgive me. I will change. I don't want to go to prison, please. Talk to..."

"I will do no such thing. You deserve to be there." Emilia barked. Although she was saying that to her own daughter, Emilia was getting pain from it. "You deserve to suffer a thousand times more for what you did to Santiago and to Praveen. I will pray to the almighty every day that your suffering increases tenfold every day until you meet your demise."

"No!" Andrea threw herself at her mother's feet, holding her leg tightly. "Please, don't say that."

"And from today onwards...." She paused and closed her eyes. She was feeling so much pain from what she was about to say. "...I don't have a daughter called Andrea. You're dead to me and I don't ever wanna see your face again. I pray you rot in jail."

Andrea's strength left her. Her heart started beating weakly and she dropped on the floor, crying softly. Her mother had just cursed her and she had never imagined that before. She was always so understanding and called her her little baby.

"Detective!" Eduardo called harshly. "Take these criminals away from here and deal with them however you wish."

Andrea's eyes widened at her brother's words. She quickly got up and looked at him, giving him puppy eyes but he just looked away.

The detective chuckled. "The three of you are under arrest. I am taking you to a place where murderers like you should be. Cuff them." He ordered.

At the detective's words, three police officers went to cuff the three culprits. They handcuffed them and Andrea was still pleading but no one was helping her. Antonio was just standing there quietly, crying to himself.

"Antonio, please..." Andrea screamed. "...please, don't let them do this to me. I am sorry."

But Antonio didn't even look at her once. He was just so mad.

The policemen started dragging them out but Bruce stood still and looked at Antonio for a long time. "This isn't over, Antonio!" He said, chuckling through his pain like a maniac. "It is you and I forever. We're married and nothing will come between us. You'll surely hear from me."

"Please, detective, take him away from here." Ethan pleaded.

The detective and his policemen took the three culprits away.

Seeing her daughter leaving, Emilia felt something inside of her move. She couldn't bear it anymore. She covered her mouth and started rushing away from there. But before she even reached the staircase....

"Mom!"

Emilia felt chills when she heard that voice. She quickly turned and found Antonio walking slowly towards her with tears in his eyes. He looked really miserable and in pain. Emilia felt her heart jump with joy and she cried even more. After six whole years, she finally heard her son call her 'mom' again. It was a joyful moment. But she just stood there and looked at him.

Antonio walked to Emilia and once he reached her, he dropped to his knees and put his hands together, staring her right in the face. He remembered the way he had been treating her, the insults that he had rained on her and all the pain that he had caused her. He didn't know what to say to her and where to start. So he just cried uncontrollably.

"I am so sorry, mom..." He muttered, dropping his eyes to the floor. "...I don't even know what to say to you after the way I treated you. I was a bad son to you and I caused you nothing but pain. I don't think I deserve your forgiveness, mom. I don't even deserve to be called your son."

Emilia covered her mouth, looking at him.

"All I can say is that I am truly sorry. I don't know if you can ever forgive me but..."

"Shh!" Emilia dropped to her knees and held his hands, kissing them softly. "I don't want you to say another word. I am your mother and even though you hated me, I loved you a lot. That's what mothers do."

"But..."

"It wasn't your fault." Emilia reassured, bringing him closer. "You were hurt and I understand what you did. You were in love with him and you thought he had betrayed you. Andrea, Emma and Bruce are to blame for this. I am just so happy that you've called me mom again."

Antonio gripped her and pulled her into a hug. Both mother and son just cried uncontrollably as they hugged. It was really emotional for everyone that was present and their eyes got glassy.

"Please, save me, mom." Antonio cried. "I can't take this pain. Please, I can't take it anymore. Why do these things always happen to me? I love Praveen so much and I want him back."

"And you'll have him back." Emilia said, holding him tightly. "I promise you baby that Praveen will be back in your life. Now that the truth is out..."

"But he hates me." Antonio sniveled. "He doesn't want to ever see my face. I tried talking to him but he chased me away, mother. I don't know what to do."

"Shh..." Emilia was rubbing on her son's back to make him feel better. "...everything will be fine. I am right here for you. All of us are here for you."

Antonio closed his eyes and just cried on his mother's shoulder. He was hoping to feel better again but the pain he was feeling was just too much. It was from out of this world. He didn't know what he was gonna do.

***

Travis was seated closer to the bed where his son was sleeping peacefully, holding his hand sweetly and kissing it from time to time. He had tears in his eyes and he hadn't left his son's side since the time he had been brought into the room.

His son had a bandage wrapped around his head and although his wound wasn't deep, Travis was still worried. His son had woken up and had cried of a headache. The doctor had given him an injection to send him back to sleep and hopefully when next he was gonna be awake, he was just gonna be fine.

Travis sighed, burying his face in the mattress. He had a lot going on in his head and he just wished they could go away. As he was busy thinking, Travis felt a hand on his shoulder and he slowly raised his head and found Santiago looking at him with a stern face.

"Are you okay?" Santiago asked softly. "I am really so worried about you."

Travis nodded softly but before he did, tears started rolling down his cheek. He quickly got up from the chair and buried his head in Santiago's chest, crying softly.

"Hey!" Santiago wrapped his arms around him. "Everything is gonna be fine now. You've finally proved your innocence to the entire Gonzalez family. You should be happy."

Travis raised his head and looked at the hunk. "But why do I still feel like there's still a lot that I have to do? I am really worried, Santiago. My son is hurt and... and Antonio won't leave me alone. I just want to leave in peace. Can't I have that?"

"You will." Santiago assured. "You deserve it more than anyone. Now that the truth is out, both of us are free. The entire world will know that we didn't do anything wrong. You'll be vindicated and they won't see us as cheaters anymore."

Travis sobbed. "Thank you so much, Santiago."

Santiago sighed, cupping the boy's cheeks. "For what? I didn't do anything."

"For being with me to the end. You never left me when you had every chance to." He said in an emotional tone that made Santiago teary. "You stood by my side through thick and thin. You saved my life and you're still here. I don't think I deserve this. All I did was cause you and your brother pain."

Santiago slowly rubbed Travis' tears, locking his eyes with him. "Until when will you stop blaming yourself. I chose this path myself and I don't regret any of it. I have learnt a lot from you and I am stronger because of you. If I could relive every moment I have spent with you all over again, I would. Only this time, I wouldn't want to see you in pain."

Travis smiled sheepishly, wondering what he had done to deserve someone like Santiago. From the very beginning, the man had been with him, showing him nothing but unconditional love. Travis and Santiago were so lost that they didn't even realize that Vanessa had entered the room. The next thing they heard was someone clearing their throat, bringing them back to reality.

Both of them stood still and looked like they'd been caught doing something. Vanessa couldn't help but chuckle to herself.

"Sorry for that." Vanessa apologized, getting closer to Travis. "How's he?"

"He's okay." Travis sighed. "But I will not be at peace until I have him out of here. I am really scared, aunt. Antonio already knows that Sean is my son. What if he finds out that..."

"He won't find out!" Vanessa reassured. "Only the three of us here know that you were pregnant when you left that mansion. He won't find out and besides, you're a man."

Travis ran his fingers through his hair, taking a seat closer to his son. He held his hand and kissed him. He felt his son stir and he couldn't help but smile.

"Still. Until I get out of here, Antonio won't stop pestering me. I need to get my son out of here and take him home. A doctor will come and check on him until he's completely fine."

"I understand and I agree." Vanessa sighed. "But are you okay?"

Travis nodded. "Did you call his house to inform him about granny?"

"Yes! I called Celine and she told me she was gonna tell Eduardo."

"Good!" Travis sighed gloomily, glancing at his aunt with a smile. "We can now leave without having anything to worry about. I don't want to have any connection with Antonio."

"But are you sure you want to leave without seeing granny?"

Travis was quiet for a second before he nodded. "I am sure. It will be better this way."

He rubbed on his face. 'I am so sorry, granny.' He thought. 'But I cannot take you with me. I need to cut out everything that still connects me to Antonio.'

Travis just prayed in his heart for the almighty to give him strength and peace. He didn't wanna dwell in the past anymore.

***

Eduardo burst into the room like the hounds of hell where after him. He stopped in his tracks when he found his granny lying on the bed with a doctor checking her up. She looked really peaceful and she wasn't acting the way she did. He had no idea why he felt so emotional when he saw her. It had been really long.

"Granny!"

Eduardo rushed to her and buried his head on her chest, holding her tightly. "You've got no idea how happy I am to see you, granny."

Eduardo closed his eyes and just held her tightly. He was expecting her to start her tantrum again but got shocked when he felt a hand on his head, playing with his hair.

"My grandson!"

Eduardo gasped, quickly raising his head. When he looked at granny, he found her smiling brightly with tears in her eyes. He thought he was dreaming but the woman caressed his cheek and chuckled softly. Eduardo couldn't hold himself. Tears of mirth made their way to his cheeks and he started chuckling.

"Granny, are you okay?"

"Yes!" The doctor that was checking on her nodded. "She's very much okay. It seems the impact of her fall was able to bring her memory back. Along with her mental problem, she had retrograde amnesia. She has been fine for some weeks now and she tried to walk but fell down. Miraculously, her memory came back and she's now fine."

"Granny!" Eduardo chuckled in tears. "You've got no idea how much I missed you."

He quickly glanced towards the door. "Antonio, come and see. Granny is fine now."

Antonio was standing in the door way with tears in his eyes. He was putting on a black skinny jean with a white shirt and brown sandals. He looked like he had been crying the entire night. Eduardo had taken him with him. Of course, he wanted Eduardo to help him talk to Travis, make him understand.

"Antonio!" Granny opened her arms widely, a tear going down her cheeks. "My grandson. Please, come here. I missed you so much."

Antonio sobbed and rushed to granny. He fell right in her arms and cried. She held him tighter and kissed his head.

"It's okay, my baby." Granny said softly. "I am fine now. You don't have to cry."

"It's over granny." Antonio cried. "I have lost him. He doesn't want to forgive me. He hates me so much. Please, you need to help me talk to him. I had found out that he's innocent. All that happened six years was all a frame up by Aunt Emma and Andrea. I cannot afford to lose Praveen again. Please."

Granny lost the smile on her face when she heard Antonio's words. "Antonio, you cannot lose him. Travis is a good man. He's just hurt because of what you had made him go through, son."

Antonio raised his head and looked at his granny. "What am I supposed to do, granny? He told me to my face that he doesn't want to do anything with me."

Granny shook her head. "You cannot lose him." She sounded really scared. "You need to fight no matter what happens. You need to get him back at all costs. You cannot lose him, not now that...." She paused and just looked at him.

Antonio frowned. "What are you saying, granny? Are you okay?"

Granny nodded. "Antonio, you need to fight. You cannot lose that boy. You need to fight at least for your son."

The moment Antonio heard that, he felt his heart pound sharply in his chest. His eyes widened and he got confused, a frown appearing on his face. He couldn't understand any of the words that granny had just uttered.

"What are you saying, granny? I do not..."

"Listen to me, son." Granny cupped his cheeks and looked into his eyes. "Travis has a son. His name is Sean. He's been hiding him from you and..."

"Yes, granny!" Antonio nodded. "I have met Sean already but he's not..."