154 The Truth About the Hidden Pas

Dennis' anger exploded. He picked an ashtray he saw on the table and hurled it on Gallante. A guard stood and received the hit, preventing it from reaching Gallante.

Dennis screamed in rage. "You're evil. No wonder Mama didn't want me to know you."

"Stay here and don't leave. If you do that, I promise I won't let anyone harm Diane."

Dennis hauled a glass table and smashed it on the floor.

"Smash everything if you like. I don't care. I will come back to you later," Gallante said and left.

After that, whatsoever Diane did, searching for clues, investigating the insurance fraud, and even writing against Gallante himself, Gallante tolerated. Diane continued to call Dennis but Dennis ignored her calls. He wished he could console her but he had no courage to face her knowing his own father planned her father's death. He also had to keep his distance for her sake.

As days went on, Dennis couldn't bear being separated from her. Her lonely face taunted him in his waking hours and haunted his dreams. Hence, he dared to visit her house, in the hope to see her. He peered at the gate but lost his confidence when he saw her in mourning clothes. Dennis decided to leave. As he crossed the road, he met Janice, who was on the way to Diane's.

"Dennis, we've been looking for you. Diane wanted to see you. Why didn't you visit during the funeral," Janice said.

Dennis ignored her. Janice was offended being slighted, mostly she also liked him. "What's bothering you? I'm here to listen."

He stopped. "Can you accompany me for a drink?"

"Sure," Janice replied wholeheartedly.

They went to a beer pub and drank until Janice was too drunk to stand. He also had no strength to bring her home. So he decided to bring her to his boarding house, which was very near. When they were in, Janice, who was severely drunk, opened up and confessed to him.

"I like you, Dennis but you like my cousin. It hurts," she said as she pointed her heart while Dennis was holding her.

"You're drunk, sleep." He laid her on the bed. Without warning, Janice pulled him and passionately kissed him. As a man influenced by alcohol, her flaming kisses conquered his good sense and his manly desires took over. They devoured the forbidden fruit.

That night, a neighbor informed Diane that he saw Dennis entered his room with Janice. Without delay, Diane went to Dennis boarding room. She unlocked the door using the spare key Dennis gave to her. When she strode in, she discovered them stark naked. Dennis was on top of Janice, doing the deed.

"Dennis!" Diane gasped. Her voice calling his name awakened Dennis from his lust. He turned around and saw her darting out.

The next day, Diane sent him a message to break up the engagement and their relationship, for good. Dennis didn't reply and reluctantly let go of her.

Gallante assigned him to manage the warehouse to keep him busy. Out of the blue, he heard Robert's insurance was taken by Gallante's man named Lino Peralta. As he was on the way to confront Gallante in his office, he saw a lady almost the same as Diane inside but he knew it was not her. His indicator was Diane's mole under her ear. Thus, he didn't go in but waited outside.

Later, the lady strolled out. He followed the lady until she reached a corner, away from Gallante's surveillance cameras and far from any soul to witness, then he blocked her tracks.

"Who are you?" Dennis said.

"I'm Diane Castillon," the lady said with no knowledge of Dennis' identity.

"You're not Diane. You're the impostor," he said as he grabbed the girl's hand. "Come, we'll go to the police station and you'll tell them the truth."

"No, please let me go. They forced me to do it. They will kill me and my family if I disobeyed,"

she said, trying to wriggle out from his grasp.

"Who forced you?" Dennis asked. His gripped went rigid.

"I'm not allowed to speak. Let me go or I'll scream," she said.

"Scream and I'll shout out your sin louder than you. You only think of your family but you are harming someone else. You are evil with no conscience. Same as the guy whom you obeyed. The true Diane's family is suffering now because of you."

His word cut deep the girl's conscience but she was adamant not to cooperate. She struggled hard and were able to escape. She couldn't rest and decided to call Gallante, who confronted Dennis.

"Where is your proof that is was me?" Dennis asked, unconcerned.

"The description is vividly pointing you," Gallante said.

Dennis lifted a brow. "You believe what others tell you more than your son's words. What a shame," he said and ease his way out Gallante's office. Dennis was still his son, who had more weight in him. Gallante dismissed the girl's complaints and blamed her for not being careful. The girl lost Gallante's protection in the end.

Henceforth, the girl lived in fear, scared that one day the authorities would come and put her in prison. More so, Dennis' statements haunted her and led her to commit suicide. Panther heard of it and sent her body to the morgue with a note that the girl was Diane's relative. Her purpose, a warning to Dennis that she would revoke her promise to Gallante. It was also a reminder to Gallante to control his son.