Allie felt hesitant to give out her information but then she remembered that she would be revealing herself the following day. She no longer need to hide her identity, if not for the fact that she still had not met her family again. She was almost tempted to free herself from the web of guilt right then but her desire to see her daughter first, prevailed.
She thought she had lost all the courage to live for another day just as she lost the strength to fight back against all odds in her life lately. One thing she realized at this moment was that, love indeed hurts.
When she finally realized that everything about her and Ajie was over, it was then that she felt that the midnight of her life had fallen. And she was no longer willing to see another morning.
"I used to live in this city a long time ago, sir, but eversince I decided to work overseas, I lost my family." She finally thought of a safer answer. It hinted something confidential and Mr. Dioko understood then that she was not willing to talk about it.
"Okay, dear, if one day you would be ready to talk about it, then we would be more than willing to listen. " Mr. Dioko waved a hand to dismiss the topic.
"Sir, I wish to talk to you. " She finally lifted the hammer and nailed it. The need to explain herself why she could not accept his son suddenly surfaced and compelled her to make an apology. She wanted him to know her reasons ahead before his son would come crumbling at his lap.
Mr. Dioko raised a brow but he was kind enough to quickly change his facial expression. "Sure, dear."
Allie glanced up at Hayri, giving him a look that she wanted a privacy. He answered her with a frown and a curious expression which was closer to a contempt but after a second of hesitation, he stood up and left. Mr.Dioko smiled at the obvious change his son had shown. He was no longer the stubborn child who refused to accept 'no' as an answer. Whether or not it was because of his love for her, at least it was an indication that there were indeed changes in him. His son has now grown up into a responsible person and a gentleman. Whatever may happen to him, he need not worry anymore. His son is already strong enough to stand on his own. On top of it all, he has already found someone to motivate and bring out the best in him.
When she was sure that Hayri would no longer hear them, Mr. Dioko urged her to go ahead. "What is it, dear?"
"Sir, everything that I have achieved, all these educational attainment I have accomplished is all because of you. How can I ever thank you enough?" She started pouring her heart out and the proof of her sincerity shone in her eyes.
"Your success paid it all." Mr. Dioko smiled and patted her head before he continued. " I just provided you the vehicle and the fuel but it is you who take the wheels and run it."
"But, sir, I'd be straight to the point. I can't repay you by accepting your son's love be-because..." She started to stammer in hesitance to continue.
Mr. Dioko's jaw dropped down in surprise and frustration. He felt slapped with the unexpected truth that someone from scratch would refuse such a great opportunity. He may be convicted with a crime but his name still spoke of wealth and fame. Anyone would do anything just to gain their favor but this woman who had seen the extent of what luxury they could well afford, got the heart to turn his son down?
"Because? " He fixed his gaze at her, seeing to it that he wouldn't miss any of her reaction. This woman roused in him a sense of interest which was too peculiar from the rest of the women of her age.
"Because I don't deserve him and any of your family member." Ally bent her head down as she answered softly, overwhelmed by the sense of guilt.
"What exactly do you mean?" Mr. Dioko was not particular with statuses and social standings. Many times in his life he had proved that sweeter is the success of those who toil for it. More than anything else, he believed that success is not only for those who were born with silver spoon but also for those who work hard for their dreams. And he valued and appreciated those gems of people who could serve as role model to this morally - declining society. That was why he launched scholarship programs to scout for these rare talents and two of them as his best examples were she and Mr. Lopez.
"I did something which broke your hearts, sir. Though, for me and the rest of the world, it is right but it destroys you and Hayri so badly."
In every moment that passed by as Allie faced Mr. Dioko, her plans also swerved into a complete 360 ° turn. She felt she could never stay a single minute in front of him in a lie or pretention. She also thought that if she would show herself as Allyza in front of Hayri, Joshua must had carried out a back - up plan to rescue her and put Hayri to the edge instead. She could never allow anything unlikely to happen to him
He just didn't deserve it. If he would kill her due to his anger, Joshua would record all the evidence against him and she couldn't allow that, either. Joshua didn't fully understand the magnitude of her gratitude for Hayri nor did he understand why she wanted him to live life to the fullest.
"Darling, tell me straight to the point.What do you mean? " Mr. Dioko's voice was already quivering. He may had not confirmed his speculation yet, but he was already feeling uncomfortable about it.
"I'm not worthy of forgiveness sir, so I will not ask for it. I am already ready to die."
Before she could continue, the urge to break down and cry harder pressed on her. The innocent and beautiful face of her daughter floated in her mind as well as Ajie's lovestruck gazes towards Jane. She imagined them on a park, running around to play cat-and -mouse game with Chloe. She imagined them lying on the bed with her daughter in the middle, laughing at the stories each of them took turns in telling her. She imagined them anywhere together, and that anywhere was always except her. And this made her dropped down on the floor, wailing in deep agony.
Hayri was already tempted to run at her side and picked her up but the seriousness in the atmosphere stopped him. His dad needed respect and so was she.
With so many failed attempts, she finally got the words to declare her death sentence with shivering lips.
"Sir, I am Alyssa, the one who gave out the blueprint of your secret passageways towards the mega lab..."
Allie then closed her eyes tightly after saying this, waiting for her fatal verdict. Her tears came rolling down fast in an unrestrained force. She was already expecting the worst and was no longer thinking she could still go out alive.
Mr. Dioko, on the other hand, felt greatly astounded. He froze in his seat as his eyes remained glued at her...