CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Sharlene is still staring at a bracelet she saw in her grandmother's cabinet today; it was pulling her, so she pulled it into her hand.

Ellena, who are you really? She found herself questioning in her mind. When she mentions that name, it seems like a memory is trying to break free in her mind, but something holds it back until her head hurts when she tries to let it go.

Lawrence visits her, but for now, they won't be seeing each other, and Tashia has also returned after her business in town.

She was surprised by the story she heard from Lawrence that this was Leah's residence.

That's why I still have connections with her here. She just thought to herself now. 

Tomorrow, he needs to return to the city because he needs to watch over Ashley. 

Ashley, Mommy will be back right away. She thought to herself.

Suddenly, her senses snapped; she remembered seeing the promise made by the parents that they would return and take the child from the scary place where the child was hidden.

Sharlene got up then, looking for her ointment to apply to her aching head. She felt someone looking at her, so she immediately raised her head. 

She met Leah's gaze; it was the first time she had seen her wearing a white dress; she remembered her last outfit when she was buried alive.

She did not speak; she just stared at her in silence, tears falling on Leah's face.

The darkness enveloped Sharlene, still clutching the bracelet in her hand. She was shocked to find herself back in Leah's territory, where she saw the three souls imprisoned by Leah and her child sitting beside her on the throne. 

There, she was looking at her with a mix of emotions. Leah looked at the bracelet she was carrying back then.

"Why do you have that bracelet?" asked a man who was still shocked by what he saw.

She looked at Manuel, and her gaze kept shifting back and forth between the bracelet and the person in front of her now. 

Manuel looked at Sharlene's grandmother Felicia, who warned her not to make a scene about it.

But she didn't back down; her mind was telling her that she knew something.

"Grandma, I saw it in your notebook before. I remember seeing their names in your notebook. "Who is their young child?" she asked directly.

"W—What are you talking about? Are you losing your mind now?" Felicia's voice begins to panic, unable to stay still.

"Grandma! Tell me the truth! Okay, here's the deal: I'll set you free in exchange for the truth." She even said this while glancing at Leah.

Leah raised an eyebrow at what she said, but she remained calm, looking at them. 

The two souls and the woman with them fell silent.

"Speak up! Speak up!" She didn't know it, but she was sensing an impending truth that would be difficult to accept.

"Before anything else, where did you find that bracelet?" Manuel asked her.

"Grandma Felicia hid it in her cabinet." She answered Manuel's question.

"No, I don't really remember much about my childhood, but I know you know the truth about who Carmela's child is, right?" Sharlene asked her grandmother again.

"Fine! I know Carmela; I didn't help her find her child because I cannot give them my ability as a free service. I'm working to ensure you have something to eat. Are we okay now?" Felicia asked Sharlene after she heard the truth.

"Felicia!" She heard Manuel's enraged voice swallow the darkness. "Why did you lie to me?" Manuel asked Felicia.

"I apologize, Manuel; I had to conceal it from you due to a significant issue." Felicia addressed the man, who was visibly upset.

"Spill that reason of yours, Felicia." Leah challenged her grandmother, who was looking at her.

"Spill that. If you could provide an honest update, has Sharlene clarified whether the child is alive?" Leah looked at Felicia intently. 

Sharlene's mind is now confused. 

"So, you really know the child I was looking for back then? If you have that bracelet, you have found my missing niece," Manuel even exclaimed.

"Heaven knows I searched everywhere for my niece Ellena! I kept searching and searching! Then, it turned out that what I was looking for was right there! Damn! Felicia!" Manuel's voice was furious.

Sharlene can no longer speak; she is now overtaken by fear.

"Felicia! Where is Ellena"? Manuel's voice is full of authority.

"She's right in front of you! She's right in front of you, Manuel!" Felicia pointed at Sharlene.

When Sharlene heard that, time stopped, and something long hidden in her thoughts emerged.

"Mommy and Daddy will be back right away." 

"I will take care of you, Ellena." 

"I'm scared." 

She knelt down because of the rushing memories that had escaped her mind.

A—Am I Ellena? She questioned it in her mind back then.

No, no, no, no— I am not Ellena. She said this to herself, her mind desperately trying to deny the truth.

"Sharlene Ellena is your real name." She heard Leah say back then. 

"Y—You also know the truth, Leah?" Sharlene asked Leah, her voice now soft.

"We were just dating. Manuel always claimed that he was searching for a child to see and care for the child that his younger sister had abandoned due to illness. However, you know the truth about who really killed your biological parents." Leah explained it to her truthfully.

"Back then, out of kindness, I looked everywhere for you, but I couldn't find you because your grandmother had hidden that bracelet to conceal the fact that you were Carmela's child at the time." Leah added.

"Sharlene," Manuel called out to her. "Forgive me, forgive me; I couldn't save you from Dad's hands. I'm so sorry—I'm so sorry, Sharlene." Asking for her forgiveness. 

She was quietly weeping; she no longer knew whom to believe, whom to side with in the current situation. 

"Grandma, I loved you like a real family. I loved the Rosario family. Please explain why you didn't share the truth with me." She couldn't resist asking Felicia, tears streaming down her face.

"Grandma! Tell me that I am truly a Rosario! There is no blood running through me from those clans! Grandma!" She couldn't control her emotions today; she couldn't accept the truth.

"Accept the truth, Sharlene, that our chaotic lineage runs through your veins; you are part of that lineage, and it cannot be avoided. Besides, you married Francisco; it was really well-planned." She listens to Leah while looking at her grandmother.

"Isn't that right, Felicia?" Leah asked her grandmother.

Suddenly, everything became clear to her: why her grandmother was so insistent on marrying her off to Martin. She looked at the three souls and shook her head.

"I don't know— I don't know what to do anymore." Sharlene could only say. She looked at Leah.

"Put me back; I'll decide whether to set them free." She even said her heart is full of rage at what she's discovered now; she couldn't decide yet who to help.

"Sharlene!" Forgive me!" Sharlene heard Manuel's shout.

Sharlene was already on the bed; Leah's soul was still there, looking at her. Tears drenched her cheeks, and she couldn't stop them from falling.

Suddenly, she heard Lawrence's voice; he caught her crying then. Leah's soul was lost.

Lawrence looked at her, utterly confused. "H—Hey, Sharlene, w—what happened?" Why are you crying?" he asked, concerned.

She just shook her head. Lawrence quickly took out a handkerchief and gave it to her.

Her head and heart ached from what she learned, a world full of pretense. How will she face them again?

She burst into tears now.