LOVE YOU, UNCLE

“Ghea, Mom, I beg you, please drop the charges against Giselle’s husband. Mom, I know he’s wrong, but at least show your compassion.”

“After trying to live peacefully for days, Clara suddenly visited Ghea at her residence. Despite what her stepmother had been doing all this time, she approached and pleaded with Ghea, asking that her youngest daughter be released or at least given a lenient punishment.”

“Clara felt Giselle didn’t deserve a harsh punishment. Especially after all the things she and Giselle had done, Maxwell also took a firm stand. The man she had been with for thirty years was now filing for divorce. He didn’t even want to accept an apology for what he had done to Ghea.”

“Enough, Mom, suffering from being kicked out and divorced by Dad. Now, Giselle is Mom’s only hope because Mario is not willing to help at all. That’s why, Mom, I’m asking you, please free Giselle in any way you can.”

Ghea sat silently in her seat, listening. For a moment, she didn’t comment on the request addressed to her.

“Mom, please, Ghea. Mom, I beg you to free Giselle.”

Clara stood up. Unexpectedly, she approached where Ghea was sitting, then knelt under her feet while pleading again.

“Please, Ghea. For God’s sake, I’ve never humbled myself like this in my entire life. Only you can help Giselle. It’s pitiful to see her in jail. Surely her life is not peaceful.”

“Has Mom ever thought about whether Ghea’s life has been peaceful or not all this time?”

From the direction of the door, Randy appeared. Having just returned from work and about to enter the house, he unintentionally saw his mother-in-law kneeling. Even the one who usually acted arrogantly was now dropping his pride, whining, pleading, and seeking help from the stepson he had been tormenting and neglecting.

“Randy,” Clara murmured with a surprised and embarrassed expression. After all the boasting and arrogance, she finally had to humble herself to save her beloved daughter from suffering any longer in jail.

“Why? Is Mom now so confused about what to do that she has to lower herself by begging Ghea?”

“Randy… Mom is begging you and Ghea.”

“Begging for what?” Randy asked afterward. He smirked mockingly. Perhaps his face now clearly showed that he was pleased to see someone who used to mercilessly torment Ghea, now experiencing difficulties similar to what his ex-wife had endured.

“Please release Giselle.”

“Release?” Randy laughed bitterly this time. “After what my sister has done? After she repeatedly tried to harm Ghea, even confidently wanting to take Ghea’s life? And now Mom casually asks me and Ghea to release Giselle? Don’t talk bullshit, Ma,” Randy expressed, shaking his head. He wondered where his mother-in-law’s confidence came from, thinking that he and Ghea would grant her request. Randy had even made a determination before. One day, everyone who had made Ghea suffer in the past had to receive appropriate punishment.

“M-Mom apologizes,” Clara whispered fearfully. Staring at Ghea and Randy alternately, she displayed a pleading expression, hoping that her daughter and son-in-law would be moved and grant her request.

“Forget it!” Randy rejected bluntly. “Giselle must be accountable for what she has done. Mom is lucky I didn’t involve her in this case. If she wants, Mom can even accompany Giselle in jail.”

“Randy, please!” Clara, who was calm earlier, now sounded hysterical. Feeling that her efforts were in vain, she displayed an expression of despair. Even tears seemed to flow freely, wetting her cheeks. “Mom pleads. Please, just this once, release Giselle.”

“No way! That will never happen,” Randy replied half-angry. “I even want Giselle to rot in jail. If necessary-”

“Sis…” Ghea interrupted. After intentionally remaining silent all this time, the girl turned to her husband, shaking her head. Signaling Randy to stop arguing with her stepmother. Then Ghea turned to Clara, reaching for her stepmother’s shoulder, urging her to get up.

“Get up, Ma. No need to kneel, prostrate, or whatever it is.”

“But, Ghe-”

“Ghea can’t comply with Mama’s request to set Giselle free.”

Clara’s cry broke again. Ghea grabbed her stepmother’s wrist, holding it tightly, then more pleading words came out of her lips. “Please, Mom. For God’s sake, I apologize for all the things I’ve done all this time. Mom, I beg for forgiveness.”

“Ask for forgiveness from God, Ma,” Randy quipped, deliberately mocking, and was immediately met with a glare from Ghea. “Okay, I’ll be silent,” Randy replied, as if understanding the code his wife had given.

“As Ghea mentioned earlier, Ghea can’t help to release Giselle from her punishment. But….”

“But, what?”

Spontaneously, Clara and Randy, who were both listening, spoke the same sentence.

“But, Ghea can try to ensure that Giselle’s punishment won’t be long or severe.”

“Ghea!” Randy exclaimed. Shaking his head, he displayed his disagreement with the unilateral decision Ghea made.

“Enough, brother. Calm down,” Ghea responded, then turned to her stepmother. “Now, Mom, be calm. Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, Ghea has forgiven what Mom has been doing all this time. Ghea considers this as retribution for what Mom, who raised Ghea, did to her family in the past. From now on, Ghea asks to put an end to the revenge Mom has been holding. Instead, Ghea will try to ensure that Giselle’s punishment is not as severe as demanded.”

Clara nodded in agreement, looking relieved after Ghea’s offer. It’s okay if she can’t be completely free. At least, her beloved daughter doesn’t have to stay in jail any longer.

“Thank you, dear. Mom is truly grateful. Once again, Mom apologizes for what Mom and Giselle have done to you all this time. This time, Mom promises not to bring up or hold a grudge over the events that happened in the past.”

Ghea just nodded. After listening at length to her stepmother’s words, she let Clara leave her residence.

***

“Are you serious about your decision? She almost harmed you and our future child, Ghe.”

In the bedroom, before deciding to sleep, Randy revisited the issue of Clara who had come to plead in the afternoon. Randy, of course, did not fully agree with the unilateral decision Ghea had made. He wanted to teach his in-laws a lesson. However, Ghea couldn’t stand firm; she melted seeing her stepmother begging for mercy and help.

“Let it go, dear. Giselle won’t be released. I just asked for a reduction in her sentence.”

“What she’s receiving is not proportional to her actions. I even want to instruct a lawyer to charge her with attempted murder.”

“But, there’s no evidence against me, right?” Ghea debated.Material © NôvelDrama.Org.

“Not yet, Ghea. There’s a possibility that after she’s released, she’ll cause trouble again.”

Ghea approached Randy, who was sitting on the side of the bed. She sat beside her husband, looking closely to ensure that the decision she made was indeed the right one.

“Trust me, after this, Mom and Giselle won’t cause any more trouble.”

She reached for Randy’s wrist, holding it tightly. Ghea reassured her husband to believe in what she was saying.

“This time, I’m confident that Mom will keep her promise not to do anything dangerous or beyond the limits.”

Randy remained silent, possibly still upset about what Ghea had done.

“Uncle…” Ghea called again. This time, she took Randy’s face, which was looking away, and turned it to focus on her. “Don’t be angry. I just want to end the long-standing conflict. I’m tired, bro.”

“If you’re tired, rest, Ghe. Let me handle it,” Randy replied, his tone sounding cold.

“Please… let’s end all of this. I want to live peacefully. I want to go through this pregnancy happily without any problems. You don’t want me to get stressed, do you?”

Seeing Ghea looking at him with pleading eyes, Randy’s heart softened. He couldn’t bear to see his wife in distress. He had sworn to himself that Ghea had to experience happiness.

“Okay… if that’s what you want, I’ll go along with it. Whatever it is, as long as it makes you happy, I’ll try to do it, even though honestly, I’m already reluctant to reconcile with Mama Clara.”

“Darling…” Ghea called softly. “Please end this feud. I know it sounds naive, but I’m serious right now about wanting to live peacefully.”

“I know,” Randy replied immediately. “That’s why I agree to your request, Ghe.”

Ghea smiled widely. She cupped both of Randy’s cheeks to deliver a kiss on his lips. She kissed him for a while, and then, unsatisfied, she began to gently nibble on both of Randy’s lips alternately. Without any hesitation, Ghea took the initiative to be affectionate with Randy. Consider it a reward for his agreement to grant her request.

In her heart, Ghea promised herself. She made sure that tonight, she would lead the game, and if necessary, make Randy powerless.