Chapter 130 - Caught and Clarity (3)

"I don't recognize this. Do you?" Theo took the pendant from the doctor and handed it to Ted to see.

Ted accepted the pendant and shook his head. "No, I don't remember seeing this on her."

The two fell silent. Malcolm stared at the pendant and randomly suggested an idea. "Let's ask the kids? Maybe they gave it to her by chance?"

Ted nod his head and handed it back to Theo. "Ask your son. He was the last person who visited her that day. Maybe he'll know."

Accepting the pendant, Theo sighed. "I'll be back." He then left the tent.

Malcolm sighed and shook his head. Although he said kids, he knew very well that Colm might not be the person who would give April a necklace. Not because he didn't want to but because of his pride. His son was extremely hurt when April rejected him.

"Is it bad that I want the pendant to be hers but I don't want her dead? Am I a bad father?" Ted sighed. Malcolm sighed with his best friend and patted him on the shoulder.

"No, your not a bad father. You did your best to raise your daughter well. Just that...." Malcolm couldn't finish his sentence. His chest was tightening.

"Just that, she was too unfortunate to live in this kind of life. The reason why I want to recognize this dead body as my daughter is so that she could finally be at peace. She's been through hell and back. I feel bad for her to keep reliving this kind of life. But I still want her to be alive. Who's father would wish that their children be dead?" Ted closed his red eyes. Trying to stop the tears that were about to come out again.

Malcolm could only tighten his fist and pat his best friend's shoulder. He fell too helpless at the moment.

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Alex was laying down on the backseat of the car while covering his eyes with his arm. It looked like he finally fell asleep but he wasn't. He just closed his eyes but he was awake. Fully awake for a matter of fact. Although there was a lot of noise outside, it seems like his brain all blocked it out. He was fully focused on reminiscing his memories with April.

April... April... April...

He kept repeating her name inside his head. If this was their fate, he could not fight it. If this was their fate, he could only accept it. He had to continue living for their son's sake. At least April left him a son. If not, he no longer knows what to do with his life. It was like April was the brightest moment in his life. Without her, his world was no longer the same. No longer would it have a purpose in life. So just let him be, for now, he thought. He needed silence to be able to accept their ill-fated destiny.

Just as he was inside his own selfish bubble. He felt a tap on his shoulder. He looks up and saw his father, who was looking at him as well. No word was said and yet Alex felt his chest tightening again. This was it. This was the moment that he was waiting for. No, scratch that. The moment that he was scared of. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily before struggling to sit up. He didn't look at his father's face nor ask him. He didn't want to know but he didn't want to leave this place either. He was torn in between two decisions.

Looking at his son, Theo too was helpless. He didn't get in the car but only stretched out his hand towards his son. "Do you recognize this?"

Alex didn't reply and bravely looked at the item on his father's palm. As soon as he saw it, his heart finally broke apart. He didn't know when his tears started streaming down, all he could do was lift his hand and took the pendant out of his father's palm.

"April..." He whispered. His mouth twitching, fighting hard not to cry out again.

Looking at his son's reaction, it seems like the inevitable has finally come. "Are you sure this is hers?"

Alex held the pendant close to his chest as if hugging what's left of her. He started sobbing while nodding his head.

Theo sighed and a tear fell from his face as well. A lovely and nice girl just had her life ended like this was indeed very sad. Seeing his son like he too would closely follow her end was heartbreaking as well. "Did you gave it to her?"

Alex didn't want to answer anymore but he knew he had to. He just had to. It was the last time he had seen her. His whole body was trembling and his chest felt constricting. "I gave it to her. The day that I last visited to see her."

Theo sighed again, patted his son's shoulder before leaving him be. He gently closed the car door, gave his son one last look before leaving the area. Theo hated to be the one bearing the bad news. He wiped the tears on his face before heading for the tent.

Seeing Theo come back empty-handed. Malcolm and Ted already had the answers on their hearts. As if losing all the strength in him, Ted collapses on the spot. Luckily, Malcolm was close by and was able to catch him.

"You better bring him to a hospital to check. Although the pendant is identified as April's, we still need to do a DNA test. Just to make sure." The doctor advises the family.

"Thank you, doctor." Theo helped Malcolm to carry Ted.

When they reach the car, they helped put Ted inside. Malcolm looked at Theo before going inside the car. "Was it really hers?"

Theo nodded. "Alex gifted it to her, the day before she got kidnapped."

Malcolm heavily sighed. "I'll take ted to the hospital. Do you mind watching my son until I settle Ted? Don't tell him anything yet. I'll handle him."

"No problem." Theo nodded.

"Thanks." Malcolm patted Theo on the shoulder before getting inside the car.

As the car left, Theo stood there and sighed again. He felt like he had age 10 years over the span of one night. Now, how will he tell his wife that they lost their grandson's mother?

He shook his head and head to check Colm's state of mind.