Miggy's POV
When I finally came to my senses, I walked. I don't even know why I didn't hail a taxi. A few passed by, but I ignored them. My body was screaming for rest, but my feet moved on their own, stubbornly dragging me through the quiet early morning streets. I didn't care what I looked like anymore. I could feel the stares from strangers—drivers, pedestrians—but I kept walking.
"Was I cursed at the altar in a past life to deserve this fate?" I was probably a good child, except maybe during those last moments with Daddy. But even that—I only snapped because I was hurt. I never stepped on anyone. I never became selfish. So why is my life falling apart? I thought Mommy would be the only one I needed to confront about Daddy's son from another woman. But now… this? Who is the real Gabriella Therese? Why are there two? What am I supposed to do to find the truth? Everything's a mess!
I didn't realize how long I'd been ranting in my head until a voice snapped me back to reality.
"Brother! Come on!"
I felt a hand tap my shoulder. I turned, dazed.
"Meynard? Why are you here?"
"That's what I should be asking you! You have no sense of self-preservation, you know that? Good thing I called Jhay to check on you!"
"Huh? Gabie—what happened to Gabie?" I asked, suddenly alert.
"Nothing bad happened to her," he said quickly. "I called Jhay to check on you. He told me you just walked out of the hospital and disappeared. He couldn't leave Teresa, so he couldn't follow you. I had no clue where to look for you, but I figured you might be walking aimlessly. I've been calling you, but you didn't even notice. You were totally out of it."
I bit my lip, overwhelmed. "I just… I needed to think. My life is falling apart, Nard. I don't know what to do anymore. Why is this all happening to me?" My voice cracked.
"Bro, calm down. I don't know everything that happened, but I can see how exhausted you are. Let's just go home. You can rest, and we'll talk things through tomorrow."
I followed him like a lost child. The ride home was silent. When we got to my condo, I didn't even bother to shower or change. I collapsed on the floor beside my bed, crying as the weight of everything crushed me.
"Why does it hurt this much?" I thought I could handle it, but the truth is—I couldn't. I just wanted to be happy again. To love again. But maybe I fell for the wrong person. Maybe I never should have followed my heart. Maybe I should've known it would only end in pain.
Meynard stood frozen at the doorway, unsure of what to do. He'd seen me cry before, but never like this.
"Meynard? What's happening?" Gabie appeared, shocked to see us on the floor.
She rushed toward me. "Big bro? Please talk to us. Tell us what's wrong. We're here. We can help." She pulled me into a hug.
I wanted to speak. I really did. But how could I tell them what I'd just found out? How could I tell Gabie that maybe she wasn't my sister after all?
"It's not her fault." It's not her fault we thought she was Gabriella Therese Alonzo. The documents matched. Her mother's name was Teresa Alonzo. But how were there two women with the same name and birthdate? Both claiming the same identity?
And now that Teresa—her mother—is gone, who can we even ask? Who can explain any of this?
Meynard returned with a glass of water. "Bro, drink this first. You need to rest."
But Gabie noticed something. "Why is there blood on big bro's clothes? Even his hands—there's dried blood!"
I didn't respond. I couldn't.
Meynard stood and guided Gabie away. "Help me prepare his bath and clothes. He needs to clean up."
They moved around quietly, gently. When they returned, Meynard helped me to the sofa. I sat there numbly.
"I'll get you something comfortable to wear," he said softly.
Eventually, I made it to the bathroom. I'm not even sure how I got clean. I just let the water run.
When I stepped out, the sun was already rising. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the horizon.
"Isn't sunrise supposed to bring hope? Then why do I feel so empty?"
"Big bro," Gabie said, entering with a glass of warm milk, "drink this so you can rest."
"I don't want to sleep. I need to talk to someone. Send Meynard."
She sighed but obeyed, leaving the milk on the side table.
Meynard came in. "Bro?"
"Call Willie. I need to talk to him. Now," I command with a raspy voice.
"I already did last night. He's on his way. Should I bring him up here when he arrives?"
"Yes. And file an emergency leave for me. I won't go in today."
"Drink the milk at least?"
"I said I don't want milk. Just bring me coffee."
He sighed again and left.
The air felt heavy. I stepped out onto the veranda, hoping it would clear my head. Gabie and Meynard were talking softly in the living room. I didn't try to listen.
Meynard brought my coffee and sat nearby. "Gabie made breakfast. Maybe eat a little?"
"I'm not hungry."
He didn't push. For that, I was thankful. Even without knowing the full story, Meynard understood I needed space.
And space was all I had right now. Because until I figured out the truth, I didn't even know who I was anymore.
I didn't know how many minutes or hours I had stayed out on the veranda, staring blankly into space. Then I heard Meynard approach and tell me that Willie had arrived.
I took a deep breath and got up to meet him in the living room.
When Willie saw me, he said, "Good morning."
I couldn't even return the greeting. I just looked at him coldly and said, "Follow me."
He didn't ask questions, but I could tell from his face that he was confused.
"Sit down first," I said curtly, then stepped away from him.
"Meynard!" I called out when I saw him carrying the mug of coffee he had brewed for me earlier from the veranda into the kitchen. He was already dressed and clearly ready to head to work. He quickly set the mug in the sink and came over.
"We'll talk here first. Tell Gabriella to wait for my call. She'll come back after, because I need to speak with her too," I ordered.
Then I returned to the study to wait for Meynard. I didn't want Gabriella to overhear this conversation. I needed to clarify exactly what kind of investigation Willie had done.
I was disappointed—everything had only gotten worse. When it was confirmed that Gabriella wasn't my real sister, I knew it would break her. I had no intention of destroying her life or dragging her into mine. If only I could undo the damage… but it was too late. All I could do now was try to fix what remained.
I knew I had made mistakes too. I was too sure, too fast. I didn't even verify the truth before believing it.
A few minutes later, Meynard entered and closed the door behind him.
"Gabriella came down. I locked the door before I came in," he said.
I turned back to Willie, fixing him with a cold stare. I saw how his eyes widened, how he froze. He looked stunned—just like I had been yesterday when the truth exploded in front of me.
"How did that happen? That's not what I found in the investigation," he stammered.
I closed my eyes and ran a hand over my face, the memory of yesterday's events rushing back with full force.
"What? How did that happen?" he repeated.
"I don't know. I don't understand either," I said, my voice low. "I didn't want to believe it at first. But when I looked at her daughter… she had the same eyes as my father. And then it happened—unexpectedly—they needed blood. Same as my blood type. So, I asked Meynard to speak to the technician who drew mine, to take a sample from Gabie too. That's when we found out. But the woman who introduced herself as Teresa... no one really knows her."
I paused. My breathing grew shallow again. I needed to calm down. The silence in the study felt suffocating.
"Gabriella doesn't know yet," I continued after a moment. "I wanted to talk to you first. Later, I'll tell her. But right now, I can't handle this all at once. She's going to be devastated. We disrupted her peaceful life. That's why I want to be sure we're clear on everything before I face her."
Meynard cleared his throat before speaking. "Should I call Sir Rick? Maybe he can help us identify the real Teresa. If he sees her, he might remember."
"Yes. That's a good idea. Call Uncle Rick. Ask him to come here as soon as possible," I said.
I muttered to myself, "Why didn't I think of that sooner?"
After a few quiet moments, Willie finally asked, "What do you want me to do?"
"Let's wait for Uncle Rick. Honestly, I don't know anymore. My brain hasn't stopped spinning since yesterday. I haven't even slept."
"He's on his way," Meynard said after ending the call. "Sir Rick is coming. What about Sir Manuel?"
"I don't know yet. Maybe after we've spoken to Uncle Rick."
Silence settled over the room again. My mind wandered—to Gabie, still in the hospital. I didn't even know her condition.
"Nard, please call Jhay. Ask for an update on Gabie. Tell them not to worry about anything—her needs will be taken care of. And if the hospital calls, you know what to do. After that, feed Willie first. He probably hasn't eaten yet. He can eat in the kitchen while we wait for Uncle Rick," I instructed.
Then I left them and returned to my bedroom.
I lay on the bed, hoping sleep would take me, but it didn't. I stared up at the ceiling, my thoughts tangled in everything that had happened.
I still couldn't believe it.
Wasn't this supposed to be my happiest day—with Gabie? But I was wrong. Again.
"When will things ever be right for me?"
I'm tired of the misunderstandings in my life. My heart is too tired to keep getting hurt. My mind, too exhausted from trying to fix what keeps falling apart.
"Dad... what's the truth? Who is Teresa? Who is Gabriella Therese? Why did they become two different people? Could it be that Gabriella is your real daughter, not Gabie?"
"If that's true, it will break me. Because I love her—not like a sister. And if she is... if she truly is my sister…, what will I do? And if she's not, then we've dragged her into a mess she didn't deserve."
"I hope Uncle Rick still remembers Teresa's real face. He may be the only one who can lead us to the truth."
Tears slid down the sides of my face as I continued to stare at the ceiling—silent, overwhelmed, and lost in everything I couldn't understand.