CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

Suddenly, someone called Lawrence. 

"Sorry, I'll just step out for a moment." He apologized to his companions. 

Justine just nodded at him; Martin didn't say anything. When Lawrence had left, he checked who was calling his phone.

Sharlene? He found himself questioning his own thoughts.

He quickly answered it. 

"Lawrence, aren't you busy right now?" Sharlene suddenly asked him.

It was obvious from her voice that she wanted to go somewhere now. "Why?" he asked.

"I was hoping to ask for your help. I have so many questions right now." Sharlene just said it.

"I have people to talk to right now." He just said it. "But, if you're okay, I will go to your place after that." He just said it.

"Vivianne and I will just go there; don't worry, we'll just wait for you, if that's okay with you." She said this on the other line.

"Are you really okay with that? And besides, you know the people I'm talking to right now." 

"Huh? Who?" she asked, confusion heard in her voice.

"If you're curious enough, you can come here, and you're welcome to join our discussion." He said.

"F--- fine." Sharlene said to him.

"I'll wait for you." He even said.

"I'll just text when I'm close, so I won't be a bother." She even said. "Okay, bye." He said to him.

"Yeah."

The call ended immediately. He just sighed, and Lawrence immediately walked in. 

"We have a visitor." He addressed the two of them.

His two companions exchanged glances.

"Please be considerate to her." This is merely a gentle reminder to the two men.

"Doesn't she know that the two of us are here?" Justine asked him.

He just shook his head.

"He also needs to know that." 

"Yes, as I previously mentioned, Sharlene has a connection to Leah." He heard Martin say.

He just sighed now. He didn't know what its reaction would be when it saw his two companions.

"Justine, let's be honest: she has a relative residing here." He even said, looking at Justine.

"Why does Sharlene need to know? Does she have a family that she considers family"? Martin inquired as he sifted through the evidence.

"I don't know what happened to you, but don't give her a broken family. You were the one who broke up with her, right?" He calmly asked Martin.

"You cheated on her." Lawrence could only shake his head.

"Cheated? Gosh, we never liked nor loved each other; the family we built was just an illusion." Martin explained it to them while shaking his head.

"If it was just an illusion, then why do you act like she's part of your family?" Justine couldn't help but say.

"Let her go, already." Justine said tersely. "I will help you convince her." Added Justine

"In addition, Sheila is now yours; you miserable father, refrain from interfering with her and your child." Lawrence heard Justine mocking Martin at that moment.

Martin furrowed his brow at what Justine was saying now. "What are you saying? Are you insulting me, Mr. Gonzalez?" Lawrence feels the heated argument will start again.

"It's obvious you're just regretting it because something happened to Ashley." Justine could only sigh.

"What?" Martin replied heatedly.

"Please, gentlemen, please." He calmly spoke to avert further chaos. "I am indifferent to the matter between you two; however, I will not permit you to inflict such harm on Sharlene; she is currently experiencing a great deal of hardship. You don't know the tears she's shedding." He could only stare at the two men.

The two exchanged glances. The silence settled between them again, and suddenly, someone texted him.

"She's here." He could only say to the two.

He immediately went out to greet Sharlene; Vivianne was also there. 

"Are you done? Sorry if I disturbed you during your important meeting." Sharlene apologized.

"No, it's okay, come on; besides, we have a short break for a while." Lawrence could only say...

He noticed that Vivianne didn't follow. He called her. "Come inside, also, Vivianne." He could only say...

"Let's go." He even called her. 

The two men were silent when Sharlene entered; he knew Sharlene was surprised by his visit today.

"Are they your guests?" Sharlene asked back then.

"Unfortunately, yes." He could only utter those words with a sigh.

Sharlene didn't even flinch and stared at the two men. "Please be seated, Sharlene." He even said, "There are plenty of empty seats over there." He saw Vivianne sit next to Sharlene, who also had a puzzled expression. Vivianne just sat next to Sharlene back then.

A long silence hung between each person inside; he didn't know how to handle the conversation among the five of them now.

"What did you find here, Sharlene?" Martin said. 

So Lawrence just looked at the man. He's very insensitive. He just thought to himself.

"Do you know Raymundo?" Sharlene asked them.

The three of them exchanged glances, and he stared at her.

"Why do you know that name?" Lawrence asked, puzzled by Sharlene's question.

"Why wouldn't she recognize that person? Raymundo is her relative, isn't he?" Martin asked.

"Of course, she knew it, because Raymundo Santiago is her grandfather, am I right, Sharlene?" Martin asked Sharlene directly.

Sharlene stared at him, unable to respond immediately. "You already know the truth." Calmly, said Sharlene to the man in front of her now. 

"Of course, Sharlene Ellena Santiago-Gonzalez." Martin even showed the documents Justine had previously provided.

"So? What solution do you have in mind now, Sharlene?" Martin just asked, challenging his wife.

Vivianne was about to speak, but Sharlene stopped her; she just sighed. She took it out of her bag and put on the bracelet.

"We will sue Raymondo Santiago."

Suddenly, Martin burst out laughing. "Oh, I'm truly sorry. What case are you referring to? Are you currently holding onto any evidence?" Martin asked Sharlene bluntly.

"Why are you questioning your wife like that, Mr. Francisco? Are you scared?" Justine rebutted Martin.

"Sharlene, what do you know?" Lawrence said calmly, ignoring the two people in front of him. Sharlene is here to ask him for help in assisting her with what is troubling her now. 

"I—I don't know, but I know that all the deaths of my parents and Leah Martinez are connected to the two siblings, Manuel and my M—-Mom. Additionally, this matter implicates my foster grandmother, who is acquainted with Raymundo. Even if you don't believe it, Raymundo is involved in a big syndicate." Sharlene just said it to him.

He nodded. "What can we do?" Lawrence asked her.

"Excuse me? Are you the only people here?" Martin interrupted again.

"Martin, if you want to help your child, I know you have some journalists who were contemporaries of your father." Sharlene turned to Martin, who was looking at her intently.

"Your father was a prominent figure in his youth, wasn't he? I know you have a lot of knowledge that you've ignored in the past and in your family." Sharlene said

"Just be a father to your child; that's all I ask. When it's over, I'll sign the divorce papers so you can be free." Sharlene smiled with a hint of sadness and just clenched her fists.

Her husband stared at her intently; he didn't say a word. 

"Don't flirt in front of me; you're not free yet, Sharlene. You are still my wife." The statement was his only answer, and he looked at her intently. 

Is he having a difficult time accepting it? Is he no longer requesting Justine to handle her divorce papers? Or maybe he has learned to accept Sharlene? He couldn't help but wonder.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not like you, Mr. Francisco." He just sighed and shook his head.