Chapter 19

"God, forgive me all my sins. Maybe all these horrific I am experiencing is because of the negative things I had done before. If I hurt any woman, please forgive me. But please spare Callea from all these horrors. Please protect her, " Deive sincerely prayed while kneeling in front of the altar.

He was inside a church in Nagcarlan, Laguna. First thing in the morning he left the Villa Celesta to visit the nearest church and pray. For the first time in his life, he has analyzed what was going on in his life. His impending marriage to Callea was a huge step that would change his life. Perhaps the unusual experiences was a wake-up call to take his life seriously. To ponder the most important things in his life.

He had no plans to have a real marriage. It was a business arrangement on his part after all. But Callea started to grow on him. He found her endearing and quite attractive despite her weird taste in fashion. She was classy and elegant. Every inch a lady. He couldn't just ignore her because she was caring and had a soft heart. She preferred Marina as a friend despite her deformities and treated her as an equal.

Most of the women he had met were too concerned about their appearance. They dizzed other women. They prefer the company of those who were as beautiful as them. He could hear them dizzing other women who were more beautiful than them. Callea's cheeks turn crimson whenever he gives her compliments. As if she was not used to being called beautiful. How would people know of her beauty if she was cooped up inside the haunted house? He doubted if people knew she existed. That was good for him because she was solely his.

The presence of ghosts in the mansion aroused his protective instinct. He was not afraid of ghosts. He was just scared of what those evil creatures could do to Callea. Maybe her future bride didn't just confide in him. He would do anything to protect her.

Therefore, he prayed for the forgiveness of sins. He didn't know if the ghosts were the representation of his karma.

"Punish me but don't hurt Callea," he begged and closed his eyes. He didn't mind if he got tired of kneeling for a long time.

When he thought he already confessed all his sins and asked for forgiveness, he decided to leave the church. God won't allow an innocent like Callea to be harmed. At least he was confident that she was protected. Then he noticed that he stayed inside the church for more than two hours. That must be a lot of sins and lots of asking for mercy. Or maybe he was just really scared for Callea and their future.

It was already past ten in the morning when he looked at his Patek Philippe watch. There were hundreds of missed calls and text messages on his cellphone from his brother Keiran. He had been waiting for him at a mall in STA. Rosa, Laguna. He called his brother up. "Hey! I am sorry! Have you waited for so long? "

"I've been here even before the mall opened. Are you coming or not?" he asked in an irritated tone. "You are wasting my time."

Great! His happy-go-lucky brother suddenly became responsible the moment he held a position in Hontiveros Coco.

"Okay. I am coming."