Ysabel Lee vs. Fem Law (4)

"Just a minute, I'll call her." Mrs. Law slowly rose up. Her gentle demeanor slightly pacifying Greg's raging anger inside.

Mrs. Law found Fem lying down on the bamboo chair near the fireplace while seemingly engrossed with her cellphone. "You seem not to care what's going on around you. Your Papa is calling you outside." She said.

Actually, Fem had been listening to their conversation while she lazily slumped herself in the chair. Her thoughts went back to what happened between her and Mark last night and how he pleaded for her not to change her mind no matter what. Now listening to their conversation, she understood the reason why Mark feared she will leave him again.

"What do you need me for? Will I be able to solve your problem with my mere presence?" Fem sat beside her Mom while directing herself to Ysabel and John Paul.

"Fem, have you met this John Paul before?" Greg asked.

Fem looked at John Paul then blinked comically before giving off a faint smile. John Paul stared at Fem in all seriousness as if afraid she might say something dangerous for him.

"Did we meet before brother-in-law? Oh yeah, in the bar right, maybe twice. That's all I can recall. No, thrice.. the first time was you spending a whole 20 minutes finishing just a bottle of beer." Fem tried hard to lighten the mood with her bits of humor. Greg ignored his daughter's playfulness as his blood was still boiling in anger.

"So I guess you should know what's going on here Fem. John Paul here wants to marry your sister and they already have a child. What do you think, my child?" Greg's voice had a hint of pity for her favorite child.

This is one of her traits that he loved in his daughter. She is more sacrificial than the rest of her siblings. The elders who have gone to work didn't bother to help support their younger siblings in school. They are more focused on what can be done for them rather than what they can do for others. Did he fail as a father?

"Am I actually the one to approve your marriage? That's funny! By all means, you have to get married, sister, brother-in-law! With all my blessings! What does this have to do with me?." Fem said as she swallowed the bitter feeling that was stuck in her chest.

"Sorry to say this but Fem, biologically, Ysabel is not actually your sister. It will be less awkward now that she carries my name." Barton interrupted.

"So that means all along, you have planned for this right? Sis, is that the reason why you went changing your name without even informing our parents? How dare you! You're such an ingrate one! I can't believe I have a sister like you! You really never cared for our parents nor us your siblings. You're so selfish!" Fem said angrily.

"I didn't mean to despise our parents Fem. I only thought it would be better for both of us." Ysabel wiped her tears which were streaming down her cheeks.

"Better for both of us? You really have a say on what's good for us? Say for you only! Why do you think you're doing me a favor just to justify your selfishness? To tell you honestly, I'd rather obey my parents wishes first before my own wishes. Well, sorry! I forgot you are not a Law anymore so you are excused. I am a Law, and you are a Lee. As for the men we love, go ahead and continue with the plan. Actually everything is ready for you on the seventh. We have prepared everything for you." Fem said all her mind. That was her decision. Period.

"Fem, you don't have to do this. Mark...I thi... did you talk to Mark? " John Paul was shocked at Fem's words. He didn't expect this lady to be so quick with her decision. He thought she must be spouting these things out of anger and shock.

"The thing is, if you have planned this all along, then I strongly believe Mark have also something to do with this plan. So don't tell me he has not considered this result. Right now, it's all about you and Ysabel first. Papa, let them have their wedding on the seventh. After all, you're the one who raised her. Everyone knows that she is your daughter." Fem said firmly. Her words breaking Greg's heart that his face darkened.

The Law couple bowed their heads in silence. Fem lifted her head towards the dark sky to hold the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. There was complete silence in their midst. Only the sound of crickets and frogs in the nearby creek were heard.

Barton Lee was the first one to break the long silence.

"I understand that it's hard for you to let go of Ysabel. After all, she grew up as a Law. She will always be a Law. But she is an adult now. She has the legal right to decide for herself. The very thing I am grateful of you is that you never hid from her the truth while treating and loving her as your own. " Barton sincerely felt grateful for Greg's way of raising his daughter.

"Barton, I am not angry about the decision our child made. What I am most angry about is her lack of respect and consideration. She must have thought I was already dead that she didn't spare me a single day for the past four years. And then here you come asking my blessing for your marriage? You had better not come! What's the use of coming when you have already settled things by yourselves?! " Greg said eyeing at both Barton and Ysabel.

"Then we shall head back early tomorrow. We're sorry for ruining your New Year Greg. Atleast, I thought you are happy that your daughter found me. It seems I'm mistaken." Barton said.

"Now you have the nerve to attack my conscience Bart. When my sister told you she was pregnant, did you mind her well being? You knew she was crazy for you back then. Did you know how she died? When was the last time you heard about her? Now, don't tell on me, because I witnessed all these while you were out there pursuing your noble career." Greg knew he had all the reason to withhold his daughter but he also knew she was already an adult. The only thing he could do was to let these people know why his stand was like that.

"Now, regarding your wedding, I want to talk to you and Mark together. My daughter said she will give up for the two of you but I want to hear from Mark." Greg's eyes shifted to John Paul.

"I will call him sir!" John Paul immediately searched his phone in his pocket.

" No need Papa, he knows it already. I told him already. Please just allow them to do their wedding here in the seventh to save yours and their grandparents' faces." Fem sensed that things will be much more complicated if her father asked Mark's idea which she knew Mark will strongly oppose. Thus she quickly stopped her father.

"I will ask him to come over early tomorrow." John Paul said, opposing Fem's stand.

"Papa, don't worry. I'll be fine. This daughter knows what she is doing. Please trust me! I will take care of this matter with Mark. Just let them have their wedding on the seventh. They can use same plan but they have to do it here. Don't use the Fem Manor." Fem said coldly.

"What sin have I committed to deserve this treatment from my children?! Why do people love taking them away from me after raising them with all my strength and time?" Greg suddenly wailed so loudly. His hands gripping the edge of the bench . God only knew how much he restrained himself not to turn everything up side down. He wanted to smash everything into pieces and kick all these visitors out.

If it hadn't been the tiny bit of strength and concern he sensed in her favorite daughter's words, he really felt destroying everything even himself.

Everyone was shocked at this sudden explosion. They all fell silent with heads bowed low as if all were praying silently.

"On the other hand, your children are all lovely and are raised well by you that's why others love to take them as their daughters-in-law. If you would see it like this, then it will be much lighter for you Greg." Barton spoke after long deafening silence. He analyzed the whole situation after Fem spoke of her planned wedding with Mark. He just had a vague idea of Ysabel and John Paul's plan but he never expected to learn that Fem was about to marry his soon to be son-in-law's brother. That was quite awkward really specially that people knew that Ysabel and Fem were sisters, and that they will marry brothers! It sure is really embarrassing and not so socially acceptable!

"I said it Papa, I will take care of my issue with Mark. Let sister and brother-in-law to be have their wedding first. After all, they have a child. As for me, Im still young and am not planning to have children this age yet actually, so I will give way. I'll explain things to Mark myself." Fem said seriously.

"Are you sure Fem? I know Mark won't approve of this." John Paul spoke.

Fem glared at John Paul. Is he even thinking? "Even if he does not approve, who is he to go against my father? I said, let me take care of this. You don't have to be concerned of anything about us. You think we need you? We were peaceful when you guys didn't appear, didn't you know that?" Fem's ridiculing tone stung in John Paul's ears. She valued and respected her parents more than any others.

Indeed, since Mark introduced Fem to his grandparents, they have been too excited to pull the date of marriage. John Paul has also been busy searching for the lady he had once met, having suspected of her identity as a sister of his brother's girlfriend. How could things be this coincidental? Why does it have to be this way?