FATED

CHAPTER 5: Shadows of the Past

As Brent and Queenie already returned to the San Carlos Mansion along with Bernadette, Kevin and Brianna were already at the mansion. Kevin's parents were also there talking to Lola Rosario, the Governor and his wife regarding the  agreement to keep the elopement and civil wedding of Kevin and Brianna as secrets.

Lola Rosario had insisted, "I want my two granddaughters to have a double wedding towards the end of the month. This the only way that we can cover up all the scandals. Most of the people here in Calginne City are aware of the relationship between Kevin and Brianna, anyway. As for Brent and Queenie, they already got engaged this morning. Most people here in the capital know the close friendship between our families. Anyway, Brent is still an adopted son of your sister Divina, Enrico. This is also the best way for the public to see that the Fortich Clan had never really turned their backs on Divina and her family, that your family had just simply let Divina have her way in dealing with her own family affairs. We will announce both of their wedding engagements this evening at  the wedding anniversary party of  Arman and Brenda."

Enrico Fortich had agreed, "We have no reason to disagree with what you want Doña Rosario. Rest assured that we'll cooperate in whatever decisions you preferred regarding the wedding between our two families. It seems that our families are to be bonded even more through marriage. Divina and Brenda had been bosom friends since they were children. Arman and I has been good friends as well for a very long time. Now our offspring will be joined in matrimony." But in his mind – So you also want to take advantage of the fortune of the adoptive son of my sister.  But how did you manage to convince that shrewd adoptive son of my sister? He is so calculating. What will he gain by marrying into this family?

When Brent and Bernadette went home for lunch to their family residence after dropping off Queenie back at the mansion,  their parents talked to Brent privately at the study room after lunch.

Divina asked her adoptive son, "Are you really going to marry Queenie, son?"

Brent answered, "Yes, Ma."

His adoptive father, who can already speak clearly after his stroke, questioned him, "Did the San Carloses coerce you?"

Brent responded, "No, Pa," and then he decided to confide, "I really like Queenie for a very long time. When Tita Brenda asked Ma regarding the possible marriage between our two families, the first choice was Brianna. I told the Governor that I need to check first the financial status of their company before I can make a decision."

Divina then inquired, "What was then the status of their company?"

Brent confided, "It's beyond repair. The twins have been pocketing money. I told the Governor that I cannot help them unless I have the control over their company. I don't want to bluntly decline him. I don't want our family to have any problem with then. My rejection could affect your friendship with Tita Brenda and the friendship of Bern and Queenie. I pointed out Brianna's relationship with Kevin, but the Governor insisted that Brianna had no other choice but to follow him. I also do not want to have problems with your family, Ma. So I told the Governor that I'll reconsider the deal once any of his daughter agrees to marry me. I know that Kevin and Brianna will not agree on the deal with Brianna as the bride. So obviously, their last resort will be Queenie. Brianna had run away last night. She and Kevin had already secretly married in Missi. Lola Rosario had helped them out. Lola Rosario had also talked to me regarding Queenie. I told her my feelings for Queenie and so she told me that she will let Queenie decide on the deal herself and just support whatever decision she makes."

Julian asked his adoptive son, "Does Queenie  know your real feelings for her?"

Brent replied, "I had told her that I have grown fond of her. And I also promised her that I will treat her well. But as for my real feelings, I intend to court her  when we are already married. Her family had not much time left to save the company so they are rushing the marriage this June. Lola Rosario wanted a double wedding at the Ilid Cathedral." 

Divina then asked, "What will you have done then if Queenie happened to disagree?"

Brent told the truth, "I really intend to court her formally. But then I have to take the countermeasures to save Queenie if her parents will have her as a last resort. If I will decline then Queenie might have been married off to another man."

Divina then told her adoptive son, "The San Carloses are manipulative so you need to be very careful in dealing with them. You should also beware of Brenda. We might be friends for a very long time but I am not blind of her flaws. She is quite materialistic and envious. God thing Queenie did not inherit such trait of hers. She is very different from Brenda. I guess Queenie had inherited her kindheartedness from her grandmother."

His adoptive father said, "If you really like Queenie, then we'll support this marriage. But you should promise us that you will be strong with all the challenges that you will encounter with your future in-laws."

His adoptive mother added, "Your father is right, In addition, you should also be good to Queenie. She is just a sweet young lady like your sister. She has a very sheltered life because her grandmother doted on her the most. She is still young and so you must be very patient with her."

He acknowledged such, "I will, Ma. You got nothing to worry about," and then reminded his parents, "Anyway, our wedding engagement will be announced this evening. So I hope that both of you can attend the wedding anniversary party the Governor and his wife."

His adoptive father had gladly responded, "We will attend it, son. We will all be united." With the therapy that his father had been undergoing, he could already speak clearly and walk using a cane. His physical appearance due to his left side paralysis had also improved.  Though there are still times when he had to use the wheelchair so he would not overexert physically. He was so happy for his adoptive son that he added, "Your parents will definitely happy up there that you will be marrying for love."

Brent then recalled his biological parents. He had not forgotten them. He had so many happy memories of his childhood with them.

That evening Brent, together with his family, had attended the wedding anniversary party of Queenie's parents. They did not usually attend social events as a family because of what happened to his adoptive father. But since there had been so many improvements after undergoing therapy, he really felt happy that his adoptive parents and sister were present in such momentous event.

Majority of the members of the Fortich Clan were also present in the party. Thus, Brent and Bernadette were able to meet hem all. His adoptive parents had not been in contact with them for a very long time. But with the parents of his adoptive mother dead already and with the financial problem of the company that he was able to solve, they air seemed to have changed quickly. They were suddenly not indifferent with their family anymore. In his mind – Mama Divina's life choices were  not accepted by all of you. But now that I was able to help the company from its financial problem, you have all been very cordial to us. For sure, if I have not been this successful, then you will not even talk to us . Mama Divina had suffered all these years from your indifference and harsh words.

The announcement of the wedding engagement of the two beautiful daughters of the Governor had been such a huge surprise to the crème de la crème of the Ilid upper class society. It had also been an opportunity for them to have finally see the youngest daughter of the Governor as a grownup.

A lot of people had these comments  –

The youngest daughter of the Governor and his wife seems to have inherited the looks of the Governor's departed sister. She was very pretty. It was just sad that her life did not last long.

Queenie San Carlos looks like his Aunt Regina.

Who would have thought that the Governor has been keeping a very pretty daughter who looks like his sister?! She had not been much exposed in social gatherings like these.

Queenie San Carlos got her Aunt Regina's beauty, a beauty that melted the heats of so many men back when she was still alive. But their personalities seem to be the exact opposites. Regina was very sociable while her niece was so timid.

Queenie was still not this pretty when she had her debut party. But now, she has grown up as a very beautiful young lady. Just sad that she is already engaged to be married to the richest man in the state. I did not even have the chance to court her even if we had been classmates from kindergarten to high school. 

She is just so pretty! No doubt she had been well-protected by her elders. Her family might not want the repeat of what happened in the past. Her aunt, who looked like her, had so many suitors back then.

Why did the Governor allow his youngest daughter to marry right away? She had just finished college.

So, the Governor is marrying off her pretty youngest daughter to the richest bachelor in the state even if he is not a genuine member of the Fortich Clan.

So Queenie is the reason why the richest bachelor of the state had rejected to have a blind date with my daughter. Brent Crisostomo seems to have been eyeing his sister's best friend for a long time. He had not been linked to any lady in the past. 

One of the female cousins of Divina had then asked her while they were on their way to the restroom, "Why have you allowed your only son to pursue a San Carlos? Her look alike had been one of they many ladies whom your husband had flirted with?"

Divina had responded, "Queenie is the best friend of my daughter. We know her very well. She is very much different from her Aunt Regina even if they have the same looks. She is very sweet, thoughtful and kindhearted. She is also not the liberated type like her aunt."

Her cousin said, "Well, the San Carlos had always been known to choose their connections wisely. They had definitely done a great job having a connection with your very capable son."

Divina responded, "Our family have known Queenie since her kindergarten. She is like a family to us. My son adores her and so we, as his parents, are just supporting him in his choices. It does not matter if he is engaged to a San Carlos or not. What matters the most is that he is happy."

He cousin then asked, "So, how did their love story actually start?"

Divina had to keep the truth, "I really have no idea. My son seems to have bid his time. Anyway, Queenie is eight years younger than him. My daughter and Queenie were really very close. So naturally, there have been so many interactions between  Queenie and my two offspring for a very long time."

Her cousin then said, "Queenie really looks like Regina. Could it be possible that she is Regina San Carlos' daughter? She just suddenly disappeared back then. Her family had told everyone that she went to Australia. But I cannot just seem to believe such excuse. She had been gone for almost a year and then she just returned to the country already dead."

Divina had no idea about it. She was then too occupied back then fixing her marriage after so many extra-marital affairs of her husband. Thus it made her think – Could it be possible that my husband fathered a child from his extra-marital affairs back then? Yes, I am aware that Regina was one of the ladies who flirted with him. There could also be a possibility that they had slept together considering Regina's reputation back then. She was just a people charmer with her beauty, then add the fact that she was also very liberated when it comes to s*x. She had always been seen with a company of a different man. She seemed to have been playing the field back then but no one dared talking about it because her father was then the state governor of Ilid. But, if my husband really fathered a child back then, the woman could have already approached us. Our family had gained prominence in the state because of my son Brent.  But no woman did. So I do not think that my husband had fathered a child from his philandering days. But could it really be possible that an unexpected pregnancy was the reason why Regina was sent off by her parents in Australia? Brenda told me in the past that the family she had married into has so many  secrets that she should rather not talk about. Did Julian and I  do the right thing supporting Brent with his decision to marry into this family? We have been included in their circle of friends for a very long time due to my friendship with Brenda. Brenda and I might not have seen much  when we have already settled down but we still tried catching up from time to time. She had been very busy being a politician's wife and a mother to their four offspring while I have been busy being a wife and a mother as well. I really hope that Brent will not be influenced by the true colors of the San Carlos Clan.

And so Divina just responded this way, "Let us not gossip about these things. We are in their territory. There is also no proof with your assumption. You should better not bring this matter to anyone else. We  are all aware that Brenda had a third pregnancy and Queenie was the child from such pregnancy."

Her cousin pointed out, "But she did not stay much here in the city back then. She stayed most of the time in Branei Island."

She recalled, "Because Arman was then busy managing their businesses there. I also recalled that she had a not so easy pregnancy with Queenie. So she and Arman decided that she and their children spent a less stressful life away from the capital. So drop this story if you did not want to have problems with the San Carloses. I thought you have already changed. But you still like gossiping about peoples speculations of this and that."

Her cousin responded, "Guilty as charged! I am really trying to change but then Queenie just look like her aunt. Queenie is not very much exposed to the social, political and business gatherings of her father. I barely saw her in the city as well. The only time I had seen her was during her debut party four years ago."

Divina said, "Well, Queenie had been busy like my daughter studying in Missi. They had just graduated last May."

Her cousin said, "But I heard that she had not been allowed to entertain suitors. There had been a lot of young men along the upper class here in Ilid, who had tried courting her, but none of them was entertained."

Divina told her cousin, "Well, it was the same thing for Brianna. She was only allowed to entertain suitors when she already finished her college education. So nothing is really new about it."

Her cousin agreed, "That's true! It seems that they do not want the two San Carlos daughters to be like Rebecca. She was also admired by so many back then that she had often been seen with a company of a man. It had been a different man everyday."

Divina reiterated, "Drop this topic already, cousin! Regina had long been gone already. So try not to disrespect her. It was all in the past so leave it in the past. Queenie is different from her. Queenie is also Brenda's daughter. I saw her pregnant back then. Julian and I were then in the process of adopting Bernadette. And then when Brent lost both of his parents from a car accident, we also took him in and legally adopted him as our son."

He cousin commented, "Yeah. You've been very lucky with both of your adoptive son and adoptive daughter. Bern will soon be a newscaster for MGA News and then Brent is a very prominent businessman. Kuya Enrico might have not accepted you back into the family if not for your son. He had no other choice but to turn to you just to save the company."

Divina stated, "As I said, things in the past must be left in the past."   

Queenie had heard such conversation between her future mother-in-law and another Fortich woman.  In her mind – What secrets of my family do I not know yet? Is it really possible that I am a daughter of my aunt? Could it be the reason why Mom have not paid much attention on me over the years considering that I am the youngest in the family? I am even much closer to Lola than her.  So Aunt Regina  was the liberated type. I do not know much about her. Lola always talks about how much she misses Aunt Regina. Could the family have secrets involving her? What's that secret?