Chapter 375 - Till Death Do Us Part...

After the beautiful breakfast, Tanaga and Ashley left to pick up Tanaka - who was already waiting for them when they arrived - to leave for the office. 

Ashley contacted him before they left the house to make sure that he's ready by the time when they arrive. She was extremely surprised to see him already standing outside, waiting patiently.

"Good morning!" Tanaka greeted them as he entered the vehicle. He seemed to be in a good mood, especially since he didn't have to apologize for his mother's actions anymore since she wasn't here.

"Good morning to you too!" Ashley greeted him with a smile. 

Tanaga nodded in return while secretly looking at his brother's expression. 

"Did you have breakfast already?" Ashley curiously asked. It was instinct, and she didn't want to leave any family member hungry. 

"Yes, I went out and walked around the condominium area this morning and found a bagel place," Tanaka politely answered while still averting his sister-in-law's caring gaze.

The ride to the office was quiet after that. 

Tanaga was busy with his tablet, and Ashley couldn't find anything else to talk about, so she just kept her mouth shut. 

Tanaka, on the other hand, was quietly observing the couple. 

He was ecstatic for his twin brother to find such an amazing and caring woman. He wished that he, too, would be lucky to find another Ashley somewhere around the world. 

A moment later, they arrived at the office, and the driver was quick to open the door. Tanaga stepped out and extended his hand to help his wife. A gesture that Ashley found surprising since he'd never done that even though they've been married the whole time.

The security guard opened the door for them to enter, shocked at their sudden arrival.

No one knew that they'd be coming, so there was no one there to greet them. The trio walked straight to the President's - or Ashley's - office. Ashley quickly turned on her computer monitor to check what's happening in the company while she was away. 

Tanaka sat down on the sofa while Tanaga got his tablet out and continued doing some work.

A few minutes later, a knock on the door was heard.

"Come in!" called Tanaga.

"Good morning, CEO and President Jones! I hope you had a pleasant trip," greeted Manager Hoshi to the couple as he walked inside Ashley's office. 

But what had shocked him were the two identical twins in the room. He stopped and blinked, making sure his eyes were not faulty. 

"Your vision is doing just fine, Mr. Hoshi. That's Tanaga's twin," Ashley said from behind the President's table.

She needed so many things to turn over before she and Tanaga could leave for the treatment. The night before, Tanaga and Ashley had discussed what to do with Tanaka. They had a conversation on the way to the condominium, and they learned that he had studied business and was the Vice President of their stepfather's company. It was a piece of good news for the couple, especially because they needed someone to hold the port of the THJ Group in America while Tanaga was undergoing his treatment.

"I want you to meet my twin brother. This is Tanaka, who will be taking over for President Jones while we're away," stated Tanaga while Tanaka got up and extended his hand towards Manager Hoshi.

"Nice to meet you," he said while taking Manager Hoshi's hand, shaking it with a firm grip.

Manager Hoshi made a slight bow before vigorously shaking Tanaka's hands, "Nice to meet you as well, sir Jones." 

Tanaka curtly nodded. 

After the brief introductions, they got down to business. Tanaga let Manager Hoshi do the talking and explain the whole operation to Tanaka. 

Meanwhile, Ashley, who finished what she was doing, got up and went to the break room to prepare snacks and drink for the trio. When she returned, they were discussing some company matters and were glad to see her carrying a tray with beverages and snacks. 

Tanaga, being the new gentleman that he was, got up to help her with the tray and helped set it on the table.

When she was about to return to her desk, Tanaga motioned Ashley to sit right next to him and listen in to the conversation they were having. 

She happily complied and about to sit next to her husband. However, just as she was about to sit down, the office phone rang. 

Since Fumika and Sato were still in Florida, there was no one to answer the call, Ashley got up to answer it outside.

When she finished taking the call, she was about to go back to her office when she saw the door open, and Tanaka and Manager Hoshi walking out the door.

"President Ashley, I will be taking Mr. Jones for a tour of the building and introduce him to the rest of the employees," informed Manager Hoshi. 

Tanaka was quietly standing right behind him, not looking in her direction. 

Ashley thought he was cute being shy towards her like that. 

She nodded while smiling at Tanaka's attitude.

Ashley had no idea that her husband was standing at the door looking at her reaction towards his brother. He didn't like what he was seeing, and the huge scowl on his face was a testimony of that.

Everything was set, and after lunch, Ashley and Tanaga turned over the THJ Group Marine Division to Tanaka, who was now the acting President of their company. 

Ashley happily thanked and embraced her brother-in-law when they were about to depart.

Tanaga's face turned sour after seeing his wife hugging his twin brother. 

He didn't like what he saw and was getting jealous of how close his wife was with Tanaka. 

So when they were in the car on the way home, he was quiet and in deep thought, jealousy brewing within him, but Ashley had no idea that this was going on, and just snuggled near him and fell asleep.

===

Once the couple made it back home, they had a meeting. Tanaga and Ashley informed everyone of their plans and asked them for their cooperation to take care of the twins while they were away. 

They didn't know how long it would take, and Ashley knew she couldn't visit her children, so she asked her parents to take care of them for her.

"Don't worry! We wouldn't mind taking care of our grandchildren, it would be a pleasure! Take care of your husband first and return when he's cured. Then we could have that big wedding," Jessie said as he assured his daughter with a tight embrace and a light kiss on her forehead.

"Thanks, Dad," said Ashley from under his tight embrace.

Fely came and joined the moment the father and daughter duo were having. 

When Arnold and Arnel saw this, they too went and joined. 

Tanaga watched the scene unravel in the distance. He was envious of how loving the Gusman family was. He could only wish his family was half as loving as they were. The only thing they excelled in was business. The word 'love' was never heard in his household.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed him and jerked him towards the family's direction.

"Come on, brother-in-law! Come and join the family hug." Arnold said as he pulled Tanaga up and squeezed him inside the hug right next to his wife. 

Tanaga was in tears, overwhelmed with happiness by the sweet gesture.

Jessie patted him on the back, and Fely gave him another tight embrace as she whispered something in his ear, "Thank you for loving our daughter for accepting her in your heart. You are now part of our family, 'till death do us part'."

Tanaga couldn't believe what he heard from his mother-in-law. He wondered how people could be so nice and caring to someone as unloving as him. 

"Son-in-law, let me tell you, once you marry a Filipina, you're basically married to the whole family. You didn't marry only our daughter, but all of us too. That's why when you said the word 'till death do us part.' You were saying to all of us. That's why I told you that now you are, and always will be a part of our family. 'Till death do us part.' Don't you ever forget that!" Exclaimed Fely proudly, her eyes twinkling. 

Tiny, Ruffy, Inday, and Juanita who were standing by the sidelines were watching the whole thing, having gathered tears in their eyes. They were all extremely happy for Tanaga because he found a loving family that would give him the love that he needed and craved. 

Especially after that witch of a mother, Naomi showed up and ruined everything, causing her mother to get a heart attack while her own son was in a coma.

Now, it was all over and the only thing they needed to worry about now was Tanaga's treatment. 

Once that's done and he's finally cured, the wedding shall commence and the show will go on.

***

Chapter edited by marichat_nettenoir

If you like the edited version of this chapter, kindly check her novel: 'The maid's daughter'