THE ILLEGITIMATE DAUGHTER

CHAPTER 5: Can I pursue her?

Aivi confirmed, “Yes. It was Tito Nick’s Christmas gift for me. As usual, they gifted me expensive gifts again, while I only get to give them some crocheted and knitted items that Shayne thought me how to make.” Then she told Shayne – Anyway, I need to cut our talk short, Shayne. I will be driving already. See you later. Love yah.

Shayne responded – Okay. Love yah too.

She already drove.

Beverly then continued talking, “The Vernals are very kind to you except for Daphne and her Mom.”

She responded, “At least they are very civil to me when the other Vernals are around.”

Beverly reacted, “But whenever they are not around, those two are not holding back anymore in showing their indifference towards you.”

She opened up, “That is why I will not work for Lola’s OPC anymore once another company hires me. But, of course, I won’t settle for less. If the company is not supportive of their employees’ career development and would not be considerate of my class schedules, then I guess I just have to endure them. At least I am working and trying to earn my keep. Plus, they also got to give me birthday presents and Christmas presents even if they don’t like doing them, since they don’t want others to know how they treat me behind their backs.”

Beverly asked, “Are you not telling Atty. Fatima about it?”

She replied, “Yes, I didn’t tell her. It is just much better that way. I don’t want to be the reason that they got reprimanded. Those are just harsh words that I got to receive from them anyway. They would not dare to physically hurt because it might live a mark.”

Beverly asked, “So what did they give you?”

She answered, “The mother gave me a bathtub tray caddy and several scented candles while the daughter gave me a 250-piece jigsaw puzzle of a lion which was 20 inches by 28 inches in size. When Lola saw that I had already finished it within more or less an hour, she had it framed. It is now displayed in the bedroom along with the previous lion cross-stitch set of the same size that she also previously gifted me.”

Beverly was curious, so she asked, “Why lion of all animals?”

She replied, “Perhaps because I was born under the Leo zodiac sign.”

Meanwhile, Damien went home to the Vernal Estate after his short dinner date with Rosie Abellana. Naturally, they didn’t hit if off since Damien despised entitled upper-class ladies the most. He opted to go home to the family’s ancestral estate to avoid his mother, who would surely nag again.

Lola Fatima naturally guessed it right and told him, “Another failed arranged date I believe. Did you even finish the first course of your meal before you bolted out?”

Damien shared, “We didn’t even get to order. She came an hour late, so as she arrived, I immediately told her that it wouldn’t work, since I hate waiting for tardy people. Then responded harshly, even saying curse words.”

Lola Fatima said, “Then let’s go to the kitchen. I will ask the maid to heat up the food that we reserve for you. Your grandfather and I kind of expected already that you would come home here again.”

Damien cheerfully replied, “You’re indeed the best, Lola,” and then recalled, “Anyway, I heard that the LAE results for SBU were already out. Did Aivi qualify?”

Lolo Dominico, who joined them, was the one who answered the question, “She just did not only qualify, she even topped the examination just like you did. So she took the half-day off from her work at your Lola’s OPC and processed her admission and enrollment right away. You and Duncan can already send all those old notebooks as well as those law books.”

Damien remarked, “Wow! She is indeed very smart. She has a very pleasing personality, unlike those upper-class ladies that Mom is setting me up with. Why can’t one of them just be like her?”

Damien’s dinner had already been served.

Lola Fatima answered his question, “Well, your Ninang have the same personality. But let us just say that Aivi is a much upgraded version in terms of intellectual level. Adina knew that. So she saved a lot for Aivi’s future. That way, Aivi could reach for her dreams without worrying much about the school fees. Aivi had been raised by Adina modestly and with so much practicality.”

Damien asked, “Does that education fund not run out yet?”

Lola Fatima stated, “It had been replenished with the interests of the portfolio investment and the time deposits that I advised her to set up. Then she also worked every term break and even took private tutorial jobs for young students in their compound while she was studying. The fund might have not been fully replenished, but at least she is already working. She has sound plans for her future.”

Damien stated, “She could work under me instead.”

Lolo Dominico reacted, “I already suggested that since she submitted her application to almost all the companies here in the city, but never in our firm.”

Damien was curious, “Why?”

Lola Fatima answered, “She said that she didn’t want the other employees to think that she only got the position because she was my former ward. But I believed that she just wanted to avoid Daphne. Aivi might not be telling me, but I knew that she had been verbally bullied by your sister time and time again when we were not around. Shayne and Bev somehow hinted that to me in the past.”

Damien said, “Then I can just fire Daph. She is not doing her job well, anyway. She is just one big headache that I have to deal with every day. She is turning into those entitled upper-class ladies that Mom has been setting me up with.”

Lolo Dominico had another thought about Daphne, “Don’t fire her just yet. Demote her. I am giving you all the power to discipline your sister. Don’t mind about your parents. I will back you up on that. Consider this as your advanced lesson about parenting. That way, when you already have children, you will not allow them to behave like entitled brats. You and Duncan were basically raised by Adina during your formative years, since we were all busy with our careers. Then your Mom used to work as the chief-of-staff of your Lolo Carmelo. Thus, you both turned out to be respectful of all individuals from all walks of life.”

Lola Fatima added, “We cannot entrust the care of the three of you just to anyone. So Adina took a night shift for her work and agreed to supervise the household employees here during the daytime and personally look after you all. We offered her remuneration for the work she had done, but she declined, saying that we had already helped her way more than enough when her parents died. So we just helped her in any way possible. When she decided to sell their old home far from the city proper, then purchased her own car and that condo unit where Aivi lives now, we helped her out in all the legal and financial aspects. I also helped her out manage her finances well. And we also gave her lots of gifts since she didn’t want any monetary p*****t. You might not even remember it, but you and Duncan got used to calling Adina Mama because you both thought when you were both just learning to speak that she was your mother.”

Damien stated with sadness, “But then she just disappeared from us suddenly. Then, when she returned to prepare for Aivi’s future, she might not have even planned to reach out to you if you hadn't met her that day at SBU.”

Lola Fatima expressed, “And I am very glad that we met that day. Else, we might not have been a part of Aivi’s life. She might have just left Aivi’s legal guardianship to Manuel. I have nothing against Manuel. He and his family had also treated Adina as real family. But then he is gone now because of that blasted virus. With his death as well as that of his mother, Aivi experienced the loss of loved ones again.”

Damien was already done eating so he decided to confess to his grandparents, “I have been meaning to tell both of you this. I like Aivi very much. I think I am in love with her. So would you allow me and give me your blessings? Can I pursue her?”

He received the firm answer of his grandparents, who even chorused, “Never!”

He was confused, so he asked, “Why? You like her a lot. We also have so many similarities. We get along just fine. If we end up together, then you will have her as your granddaughter-in-law.”

Lolo Dominico spoke calmly, “We should discuss the why at the study room. Follow me.”

Lola Fatima then said, “I will just ask the maid to prepare us some calming tea, then I will also follow the two of you.”

When Lolo Dominico and his firstborn grandson reached the study room, he opened up the secret compartment on the wall behind the study table hidden behind the movable center of the antique display cabinet where a painting was mounted.

Damien then saw the safety vault below the painting, which sent him dumbfounded. It was the old portrait of his grandmother when she was just in her 20s. He recalled that it used to be the painting that was displayed on that center movable wall. He then realized the striking similarities in some of the facial features of his grandmother and Aivi.

His grandfather also got an envelope inside the safety vault and then closed the movable panel again and then sat on the sitting area of the study room. They sat down.

Lola Fatima had also already arrived with a maid carrying the tray of teapot and teacups. When the maid left, she locked the door and then sat beside her husband, asking, “Did you already show him my portrait?”

Lolo Dominico affirmed, “Yeah. It rendered him speechless.”

Damien then finally spoke, asking, “Why does Aivi look like you, Lola?”

Lola Fatima stated, encouraging their grandson, “Tell us your theory as to why.”

"She has a Legarda blood on her," was Damien's initial thought, and then he asked, “Is she Dad’s daughter? Did he have an affair with Mama Adina? How come he did not even know that he could be Aivi’s father?”

Lola Fatima stated, “Those were the same questions that I asked myself when I first saw Aivi. Your Lolo had the same questions upon seeing Aivi at BMC for the first time when we were notified that Adina was in critical condition and might not last until midnight.”

Lolo Dominico continued the story, “I kept that portrait of your grandmother a long time ago and replaced it with our wedding portrait and then, eventually, our family portrait. So we assume that your parents didn’t suspect Aivi to be your Dad’s daughter. Anyway, their similarities are not that visible any more because of Aivi’s other facial features. But if one has seen that portrait of your godmother, then Aivi will definitely be mistaken as her at first glance.”

Lolo Fatima said, “We had our suspicions early on, but we dared not pry much deeper since Adina said that she didn’t want to complicate the lives of Aivi and Aivi's father. Then your mother asked Adina at the hospital if she was indeed sure not to inform Aivi’s father about her existence.”

Damien was curious, “What was Mama Adina’s answer?”

Lola Fatima responded with, “Her exact answer was – Aivi’s life would just be more complicated if she knew her father. So it is best that I just bury his identity with me. That night, I was drunk and he was also drunk. He might not even remember what happened. It was just me having no inhibitions at that time and acting on my unrequited love for him. I didn’t even expect that I would get pregnant. He also has his own family. I would rather have my daughter suffer the verbal insults of being an illegitimate daughter than suffer indifference from her father’s family. I also do not want to ruin his life knowing that he has an illegitimate daughter. He is a good man. I was the one at fault, loving a married man secretly and one-sided.”

Lolo Dominico then said, “But your grandmother here couldn’t stop herself from prying much deeper. So when Aivi got sick and was rushed to the hospital before she even turned 18, your grandmother ordered an anonymous DNA testing not revealing the name of owner of the other DNA sample which included hair strands form your Dad’s and cheek cells from his electric toothbrush here at the mansion,” and handed the envelope to Damien.

Damien unwound the thread and took out the contents. The DNA Test results showed a 100 percent match, “She is indeed my sister.”

Lolo Dominico emphasized, “That is why you cannot pursue her. Never. You can only love her as a sister. Those test results also explain why the two of you have several similar traits."

Damien then expressed, “So that’s it?! We won’t even tell Aivi the truth?!”

Lolo Dominico then responded, “Tell us then what could possibly happen if Aivi knows the truth. We sided on Adina’s point of view more. So we just decided to care for Aivi like a real granddaughter without her knowing the truth.”

Lola Fatima admitted, “At first, I also wanted her to know the truth. But upon realizing that Aivi will just stray away from us if she knew the truth, I also agreed to respect Adina’s decision. We are so still making arrangements for her once we both passed away. You are the best candidate to be Aivi’s secret protector from all the people that might harm her if we are already gone.”

Lolo Dominico also pointed out, “If this truth comes out, then it will definitely ruin your family. We know that your Mom is just being civil towards Aivi. Else, she won’t allow Daphne to verbally bully Aivi. Your mother does not truly like Adina and that indifference extends to Aivi. If your mother knows the truth, Aivi will not just receive verbal insults. Will you be able to pick a side then? So it is best that Aivi lives her life freely. That is what Adina wanted for her daughter anyway. All we can do is to support her in any way possible.”

Damien debated, “But Aivi deserves more than we are now providing for her.”

Lola Fatima said, “Your sister is not a materialistic person. But she loves eating. So we just send her food supply randomly. That way she won’t feel that she is abusing our kindness and generosity. When we die, she will have more than enough monetary inheritance. We are already drawing up our own last will and testament. But we are still in the process of finding a trustworthy third party lawyer to execute our will without revealing the truth. I also planned to leave all of my maiden properties to her. Then all of your grandfather’s fortune will just follow the usual inheritance protocol with the Vernal Clan.”

Damien reacted, “My family will surely wonder about that, Lola. You must make the transfer of your properties to her incontestable. I will definitely not contest it since I know the truth, and they are your maiden property. You can leave them to anyone you feel worthy to continue your legacy, which also includes all the charitable organizations and activities being funded by the revenues of those properties.”

Lola Fatima said, “I cannot transfer them to Aivi through deeds of donation. She will definitely not agree to sign them.”

Damien said, “Then I will make her sign those documents without her knowledge. If any member contests your will and testament, then I promise that I will defend her. I can also be the notary public to these deeds of donations. I still have my own law office.”

Lola Fatima replied, “Thank you very much then. Perhaps we also have one of your associates to be the lawyer to execute our last will and testament."

Damien agreed, “Then I will choose my best associate for you, Lola,” and then reverted their talk about his father and his godmother, “Anyway, I still wonder how Dad didn’t even know what happened between him and Mama Adina.”

Lolo Domino responded, “It was a puzzle to us at first too. We even invite the idea that Adina might have dated someone with foreign blood like your grandmother.”

Lola Fatima added, “But things seemed to have been much clearer to me upon hearing Adina’s answer to your mother’s inquiry. Your Dad usually doesn’t remember what he does the morning after if he is drunk. We also traced them back to the past and did some estimations based on Aivi’s date of birth. She could possibly have been conceived on All Saint’s Day. Your parents had an argument back then, so your father decided to head home here while we stayed in our other residence near the city proper, since the private memorial garden was located near there. Only the security guards were around here that time. Adina came home here after her night shift and early morning visit to the memorial garden to have her usual sleep. She had scheduled for her mandatory leave for that long weekend to be able to travel with Manuel and Noreen. They usually traveled together. Most of her things were here. They might have drunk together. Something happened. She left for her trip with her friends and when she realized she was pregnant, she planned to disappear from us with Manuel’s help.”

Damien acknowledged, “Yeah, that scenario makes sense.”

Damien’s smartphone then suddenly rang. Aivi was calling. Damien put the call on speakers for his grandparents to hear why she called as well.

Damien responded casually – Yes, Aivi. Why did you call? Do you want to schedule another game of Go so you can have bragging rights again once you defeated me?”

Aivi answer – No. I called you because of Daphne. We are at the same bar and dance club where she and her friends were too. She seemed to have been drugged and one of their male companions seemed to have planned on doing dirty on her. So we stopped it. I am with Bev and Shayne. I don’t know if we should take her to the hospital or report it to the police. This will be a big scandal and Tito Nick will definitely not like it. What do I do?