A MONTH LATER
Gisella and Agnes fully recovered and were discharged home. Gisel returned to her studies and handling of her father's company, being herself without fear or intimidation with the help of Mr. George, Antonio's secretary.
She became very brave, confident, bold– full of herself. She no longer allowed the words and behavior of others to pull her down.
She became a role model to a lot of young ladies going through low self-esteem and excelled in everything she did.
Loretta finally got out of a coma and was later placed on therapy to help her overcome the experience she went through in Bello's hands.
A few weeks later, she confessed her relationship with Bello and how she planned to eliminate Gisella with the help of him.
Ciara and Ben, on the other hand, were so disappointed in their daughter after hearing her confession.
" How could you do this, Lore? – Is that how we trained you?" Ciara had exclaimed in tears.
" Your mother and I worked endlessly to make sure you had everything good in life and this is what you turned out to become?– A murderer?" Ben shouted on an impulse.
Loretta spontaneously jerked off the bed and knelt before his father in tears as she held his hand. Ciara stared at the other end of the bed in tears.
" I'm sorry, dad" She sobbed. " Please forgive me" Loretta cried but Ben was torn apart by her daughter's dark side which he never knew existed. He couldn't bring himself to forgive her deeds.
" Let's go off me, Loretta– From henceforth, you seize to be my daughter!!! " He yelled and stormed out of the ward.
Ciara and Loretta glanced at his back, shocked as their tears flooded their inner being. Ciara instinctively sped after him " Honey, wait, please"
She cried. Loretta faints to the floor in tears.
Bello was arrested after his recovery and interrogated. He confessed all his evil deeds and the reason for his attack on Loretta.
They were both charged and sent to court for kidnap, attempted murder, conspiracy, and rape. Bello was sentenced to life imprisonment and Lore for three years.
THREE YEARS LATER
Gisella and Desmond finally graduated from the university. She later enrolled in a job with the criminal investigation department and started using her potential to save lives.
Her father's company also became one of the best leading companies in the country.
Gisella was later assigned the head of Crime investigation department (C. S. I) due to her hard work and how she had been able to save lives and arrest the culprits of crimes in the country.
THE ANTONIO'S MANSION
It was a lovely weekend in the Antonio's mansion and Gisella's birthday. Lizzy and Agnes woke up very early and rushed towards her room.
Gisella was already seated in front of her dressing mirror, with her father's frame in her hands.
" Miss you so much, daddy. " She sobbed. " Today is my birthday and I miss how we used to celebrate it together but don't worry, we can still celebrate it as we used to. I'll visit your grave today so we can spend much time together " She muttered.
Agnes and Lizzy barged in with a shout. "Happy birthday, Gisel" They chuckled.
She jolted. " Gosh, guys, you startled me" She exclaimed with indifference.
" Oh, sorry dear. We just wanted to wish you on your birthday " Lizzy explained as they slipped in, gliding towards her.
" I don't want to celebrate it. I'll be at my father's grave now. It's been a while I visited " She replied in a cold tone and grabbed her coat from its hanger as she trod out of the room.
Lizzy and Agnes stared at her worriedly while she exited the room.
" When will she move on? It's been almost 6 years now since her father passed on. I wish she could just be happy like every young lady of her age" Lizzy sighed.
Agnes held her shoulder with an inaudible sigh. "She'll be fine, dear– She just needs some time to overcome that pain"
"Sometimes you said? it's been 6years for God's sake. How long will it take for her to be happy again, forever?" Said Lizzy.
Just then, Gisel's phone rang–Lizzy turned to the side of the bed and noticed the phone on her wardrobe.
" Gosh, she left her phone and Desmond is calling. What should I tell him?"
" Anything, just pick up and talk to him"
Lizzy stared at Agnes for a while and sighed, answering the call.
" Hey, girl, I've been calling for the past three hours now. Why weren't you answering? " Desmond's voice echoed from the other end of the phone.
" Uhm, sorry, Desmond– This is not Gisel, It's me, Lizzy. Gisella went out so early today"
" Where did she go so early. It's a weekend and she had no work today. Has she forgotten it's her birthday which we need to celebrate together? "
" Uhm, yeah, but I'm sorry to let you know that, she doesn't want to celebrate it. She wishes to be at her father's grave so she left".
" What? Damn it, is she insane or something? How could you allow her to go all alone, aunty", cried Desmond?
" We couldn't do anything to stop her. You know how she behaves when it comes to that ", said Lizzy.
" Alright, so sorry for what I said earlier on. Was just worried about her. Don't worry, I'll bring her back home but I'll need your help"
" Sure, what is it, spill it out"
" Uhm, I want to propose to her today and I need your help. Can you kindly set the place up for her birthday party?"
" Wow, that's great. Everything will be ready, trust me"
Thanks, Aunty. I'll handle the rest. Got to go now"
" Alright, dear. Take care, bye", responded Lizzy with a smile and hanged up.
She happily hugged Agnes, chuckling.
" Hey, what's it, Lizzy? Why are you so happy? "
"Desmond will be proposing to Gisella tonight"
" Wow !!!!!, finally", shouted Agnes happily.
" Come on, let's go now. We need to get the place ready ".
They hurriedly stormed out of the house.
EVENING
It was almost 6 pm and neither Gisella nor Desmond had returned home. Lizzy shuffled nervously around the hall with Agnes pacing behind.
" What's keeping them so long", said Lizzy.
" Calm down, I'm sure they're already on their way home. Remember, Desmond promised to bring her home safely "
" At least they should call"
" Relax, dear. Maybe they were caught up in something ", said Agnes.
Just then, they heard a ring at the door. They rushed to the door immediately.
"Oh, goodness. You guys are finally here. Come in", she exclaimed and sped aside for them.
Gisella sighed and strolled in, followed by Desmond.
" Wow, what's going on here?", exclaimed Gisella, bemused at the decor. She turned back towards the door only to find Desmond on his knees with a ring.
" Please, marry me "
She gazed at him and back at Lizzy and Agnes, marveled. Agnes and Lizzy nodded with a smile.
She stared down at Desmond, blushing.
" I'll love to, Desmond. I'll marry you ", she cried and hugged him smiling amidst tears.
Desmond placed the ring on her finger and kissed it," I love you, Gisella"
" I love you too, Desmond ", she replied with tears of joy. He hugged her and kissed her forehead.
Lizzy and Agnes chuckled, happily.
" Congratulations dear", they chorused and hugged them.
TWO MONTHS AFTER
WEDDING DAY
It was a busy day in the Antonio's mansion. Lizzy and Agnes with other maids rushed through the house hastily, arranging the place for Gisella and Desmond's marriage.
The whole place was decorated with sea blue, white, and pink flowers.
GISELLA'S ROOM
Gisella sat in front of her mirror, surrounded by her braids maid and make-up artist while they got her ready for her big day.
A few minutes later, she was all set and beautifully dressed in her sea-blue gown and styled hair with her tiara on.
" Here comes our princess, beautiful as always", a Lady exclaimed. It was Catherine, Desmond's mother.
" Thank you, mum", said Gisel, staring at herself in the mirror.
" You look so beautiful in your gown, Gisel ", said one of her Braid's maids.
She smiled. "come on, girls. Let's get downstairs and check if all is set. We need to get to church early enough," said Catherine.
They nodded and followed her out of the room.
As soon as they left, Gisella drew her drawer beside the mirror and took out her diary. She dropped it on the table and smiled as she wrote.
" I'm Gisella Antonio and this is the story of my life. Although life wasn't so easy on me I stood and fought an endless battle which I almost lost but finally won in the end.
I once looked down on myself. Feeling so useless, aimless, and unwanted. I felt like a curse rather than a blessing.
I made the words, thoughts, and feelings others had about me become "MY REFLECTION" which wasn't right. Till the day I realized what I lost feeling inferior.
Today, I wrote this to encourage you not to allow what people think or say about you to be your " REFLECTION" but be the " REFLECTION" of yourself.
You can be whoever you wish to be when you stop listening to what people say about you and decide to be who you want to be best.
Just love yourself. Don't gather low self-esteem but build good and high self-esteem to help you move on. Love who you are and make the best out of life.
Protect those and what you love without fear if you've got the chance to. Don't wait till you lose them because the feeling of that pain is greater and incurable.
This is who I am now, a warrior. And I love how I was created.
To anyone who will one day come across my diary, remember to love yourself first".
GISELLA.
************
She heaved a sigh as she returned the diary to her drawer where she took it from. Just then, she heard the door rack open.
" Shall we?" A voice called.
She cheerfully turned towards the voice and was stunned at the presence of the person. It was Antonio's ghost.
" Oh, my God, daddy" She happily mumbled and sped to his side; She instinctively hugged him in tears
" Oh, my God, you came for my wedding ."
Antonio patted her back, gently with a smile.
" Hey, don't spoil your makeup." He picked her cheek, his lips curved in a smile. "You know I wouldn't miss that, dear– Come on, let's go. Everyone is waiting downstairs for you " He uttered and gave her his arm.
Gisella smiled and wrapped her arm around his and they strolled out of the room.
**********
Gisella and Desmond happily got married and gave birth a year after to a handsome baby boy who looked just like her father, Antonio and they named him after him dad and she lived the rest of her life happily and peacefully with her family.