Chapter 253 - The Islet Mystery 69...

Shiela was watching them from the upper balcony with Ryan.  Her eyes didn't leave the couple as they went through the whole ceremony. Jullien caused her heartaches for a long time, and seeing her now in the arms of Andy, made her cry. Finally, their struggles ended peacefully.

As the guests proceeded to the reception area, Jullien and Andy remained and met Ryan and Shiela in the upper balcony. They flung each other into an emotional embrace before words came out from their mouths.

"Ryan, I'm sorry for what I did to uncle Gerome. I promise to give him the antidote once you have settled in UAE," Jullien said, initiating to break the emotional tension building within them.

Ryan saw the questioning look of Andy, and so he gave a brief explanation of what he did. He also talked about his plans for the people in Isla Uno as they would be a significant part of continuing their business.

"I will continue the management of the people in Isla Uno just as you want it," Andy promised as Ryan asked his assistance for that matter.

"There's also one thing you should promise," Ryan replied in a sincere tone and expression. "Stop the production of addictive Myrtle Shade creamers."

"How about the people who need it?" Andy inquired as his mind went over to the vast market Mr. Te was distributing.

"They will die a natural death once they know what happened to their supplier." Ryan was referring to the current situation his father was in. Without his order, the distribution would get stunted.

"Ryan, we promise. My parents and I have already talked about this. And they also agreed to stop it and settle into a peaceful living."

Ryan nodded in satisfaction and was about to end their conversation when Andy interrupted. "What about the case you intend to file against Mr. Te?"

"I asked Dino to take care of it with the help of Allie. My parents don't want me to take revenge because, as they said, it will only make me find more troubles. I will focus now on our wedding plans once we are there in our other world. See you both there."

They hugged once more before Shiela and Ryan left for the airport. The whole Dioko and Lopez families, as well as Cherry and her mom, were already waiting to bid farewell to them. Ryan's parents were also there with Yanyan, excited to start new lives away from the claws of Mr. Te.

Just as Shiela was about to descend the stairs, Andy called out. "Shie, I hope you already meet the shareholder of your company who falls in love with you."

"Who?" Shiela creased her brows, feeling uncomfortable that Ryan was listening.

"Remember, there are three of them. And the third one has never shown his face to you yet. He's the one that I mean." Andy chuckled as he reminded her.

Shiela indeed recalled that aside from the three of them who shared capital to start their business, someone asked to join. She didn't mind much about him because he only kept in touch and gave his instructions to one of them. Later she learned that the investor refused to place his investment under his name. He decided to add it to the share of Shiela, making her the top shareholder under a separate memorandum of agreement between the two of them. After that, she no longer heard about him as her focus was on the production and marketing side.

"It's not my problem if he won't show up, and if he keeps his love for himself," Shiela frowned as she turned to retrace her steps towards the stairs.

"Don't worry! He's going to marry you!"

Shiela eyed Ryan suspiciously, and the latter laughed and pulled her close to him. 

"There are still so many things you need to know. I am also the one who supported your medical expenses."

Shiela stopped and faced him, gaping at what she heard.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Shiela's voice echoed into the walls of the church, and Ryan placed a hand over her mouth.

"It's not important."

"But it is, for me. I could have thanked you a long time ago."

"I'm sorry."

Shiela was about to argue further, but Ryan silenced her with a deep kiss. She melted in the kiss like a heated wax, overwhelmed by the revelation that Ryan was there all along. There was no reason to doubt his love anymore. He proved it in his own, silent ways.

"Why are you taking my limelight? We should be the only couple kissing today," Jullien complained,  a teasing curve broke on her lips. And all of them burst into a round of laughter.

______

The next few minutes found Shiela and Ryan in front of a building. The guards let them in after his routine inspection. "To your right, is the jail warden's building."

The couple nodded, and soon, they found the said building. One of the guards recognized Ryan, and he quickly ushered them inside. "You want to see Mr. Te?"

"Yes, please," Ryan replied while Shiela stayed beside him nervously. This man hated her and even asked for the death of her son. What if he would recognize her?

Mr. Te soon came out of what looked like a room that he was using as his bedroom. He sat inside the couch as if he didn't notice them, turning on the TV set using a remote control. Ryan stood up to take it away from his hand.

"Dad, let's talk first."

Mr. Te frowned as he stared at Ryan. "What do you say? Why are you calling me like I am your father?"

Shiela felt agitated. He was right. He was never Ryan's father by blood or by emotional attachment.

"Because I am Ryan, your adopted son."

"I have a son?" he furrowed his brows, gazing at him with a sense of doubt in his eyes.

"Yes, dad. You have a son, and it's me."

"Go away, I don't know you," he swept his arm to dismiss them. He then stood up and walked back towards his room, murmuring for his disturbed sleep.

______

As Ryan and Shiela went out, Ryan was silent. His heart sank in seeing him like that. He used to be a proud and dominating man. Yet, he couldn't blame Jullien.

"Sir Ryan," Dino's voice broke into his reverie.

"Dino!"

The men greeted each other with a shake before Ryan spoke out. "Thanks for coming to see me. I am running out of time already."

"It's alright, sir," Dino replied with a shy smile.

"I'll keep in touch. Just please make sure dad would lose his power and influence over his men. Until he still has it, corruption, crime, and addiction wouldn't end."

____

Shiela and Ryan finally found their way towards the airport. He knew he still had so many things to complete, but that could wait. He wanted to enjoy first with his son, his parents, and Shiela as they worked on their wedding plans.

The farewell wishes from the Lopez-Dioko family,  as well as from Cherry and her mom were so emotional that they cried hard in recalling what happened in Chara island. Despite their awful experiences there, a beautiful and more important thing happened. And that was the gaining of a special bond and friendship that could last for a lifetime.

While the a.d.u.l.ts were busy with their emotional chat, Chloe and Yanyan sat on a bench not far from them.

"Yanyan," Chloe began to speak, and her round eyes were shining with tears, "promise me that you'll come back and that you'll take me to the caves."

"Baby girl, I do not like caves because it's scary, but I will take you to the beach, and we will watch sunsets together."

"Then I'll wait."

"Please, do."

The two kids then hugged each other with tears trickling from their eyes. The a.d.u.l.ts who saw them smiled, wondering what the future may hold for both of them.