“Let’s go.” Daniel said. “We haven’t got time.”
“Come on.” Emmy told Serena. “I know it’s hard right now but we have to fix this. You want to fix this, right?”
“I’ll stay here.” Audrina said. “I’ll see if there are some police officers we could trust…”
“Come on.” Emmy told Serena once more. She then got back on her feet, tears in her eyes.
CHAPTER 17
DIE, BITCH
“Audrina said that she called the police from Mountain City.” Emmy said. “Apparently, a friend of a friend works there. They’re going to take Frank to the hospital then some of them are going to be here in a bit.” She held Serena’s hand. “It’s going to be okay. You did the right thing.”
Then, they found themselves in Lena McMahon’s house. It was what Frank called his house while Lena was working at the jail. They went inside to find Lena talking to Tripp Meyer in the living room.
“Oh look what we have here.” Tripp Meyer said. “You’re all setting yourselves up for disaster. And wow, Troy, my old friend. Finally seeing things the way they’re meant to be seen, huh?”
“Enough of this, Tripp. This has gone on for too long.”
“It’s enough when I say it’s enough.”
“Lena,” Troy said. “For the sake of your child, stop.”
“I don’t know what you’re doing with them, Serena, but they’re not your friends.”
“Mom, please.” Serena said. “You have to stop this. Frank’s already in the hospital—“
“What in God’s name did you do?” Lena said.
“So, you’re more worried about Frank than for your daughter?” Emmy asked. “What kind of parent are you, Lena?”
“You don’t know one thing about parenting, Emilia. You never even had the chance to be with your mother for so long. You don’t know what a mother does best.”
“Yeah?” Emmy said. “And a mother kills people just for the sake of it? That’s what’s best? How many more are you going to kill?”
“I never killed anyone.”
“You are so in denial.” Emmy said. “You worked with Tripp on this. You’re still working with him, you know?” She then looked at Tripp. “And you, what kind of heart do you have? You already killed your own daughter!”
“That was supposed to be you!” Tripp said. “It was supposed to be you and yet…yet my daughter died.”
“That should have been a wake up call, Tripp.” Troy said. “The fact that your daughter died should have reminded you that there are far better things in life than just trying to get revenge for a love that you weren’t given. This has to stop, Tripp.”
“You’re forgetting that this isn’t all on me.” Tripp said. “You hurt Lena, too.”
Troy took a deep breath and faced Lena. “I know I haven’t been there for you all along and I haven’t been a great friend—“
“I never needed you as a friend, Troy. I loved you.”
“Lena,” he said. “What we had happened a long time ago. It’s best to just let it go.”
Lena laughed. “That’s so easy for you to say because you’re such a player. I was there for you all along, Troy. I was waiting for you. But what? Your heart was set on Rita! You even married her! You married her even if she didn’t love you as much as I did. And where did that leave you? It left you without a wife, caring for your airheaded child who only left you for Paris. You were all alone while I was just around. So, when Tripp asked me to work on this, to finally kill your daughter, the last remnant of Rita in this world and voila! Your daughter survived! I got to admit, it’s like she has nine lives or something.”
Troy said. “Leave my daughter out of this.”
“Why should I?” Lena asked. “Without her, you’d probably think that everyone’s going to leave you already so you can finally be with me. I don’t know why you find it hard to understand that I’m here while all of the people in your life are just leaving you. They don’t deserve you. I do.”
“You’re insane.” Emmy said.
“What did you just say?”
“Enough!” Serena screamed. “I hate you so much, mom.” She said. “You keep on saying that you’re there for him but where were you all these years for me? You were never around. There were times when I actually wondered if I had a mother because you just weren’t there and I’m so sick of being the perfect girl because deep down, I knew that I was so broken and that nothing was perfect in my life. I didn’t have a mother. I didn’t have anyone to fend for me while everyone else was happy. I’ve been alone all along!”
“I never wanted you!” Lena said. “You almost ruined my plans for me when I got pregnant with you after one night of drunkenness with Tripp!”
“What?!” Serena asked. “You mean, that guy’s my father?”
“You didn’t tell me this, Lena.” Tripp said.
“It does not matter.” Lena said. “Because I never really wanted you, you know? You were a fluke! And now you let Frank be in danger! It’s such a shame! That should have been you!”
“I can’t believe you.” Serena was crying now. “I cannot believe you.”
“Stop,” Emmy told Serena. “Don’t cry. You don’t deserve her.”
“Oh go ahead.” Lena said. “Feed her with your evil thoughts, Emilia. Who cares? You know what? I think it’s time for you to be with your mother wherever she is. It’s time for you to leave this world, Emmy. It’s time for you to die, bitch!” She took the gun from Tripp’s hands, pointed it towards Emmy and hit the trigger but Daniel pushed Emmy aside, letting himself take the bullets that were meant for Emmy. Those few seconds felt like an eternity as he fell down the floor, just as policemen came inside the house, ready to arrest Tripp and Lena.
“Daniel!!!!” Emmy screamed. And then the world turned pitched black.
CHAPTER 18
IT’S OVER
Emmy always hated hospitals. They reminded her of the time when her mother was sick and she had to be in the hospital over and over again. It reminded her of the time when her mother died and she cried so hard she wished her tears would bring her mother back.
But today was an exception. Today, the stillness of Daniel’s hospital room gave her some sense of peace—at least for a bit. The doctors were working on him as he just woke up a couple of minutes ago; they’re checking if it will be okay for him to talk to people again. Nana was allowed inside as she is a family member.
Emmy was sitting beside her father and Audrina. “I’ll go get us some drinks.” Audrina offered and Emmy nodded her head. Troy wanted to go with Audrina but she asked him not to.
Yesterday, he took the bullets that were meant for Emmy just before the police came. Emmy was supposed to be in that hospital bed now; she was supposed to die but Daniel saved her.
It was crazy when the police came to arrest Tripp and Lena. Lena was in denial all along but apparently, the fact that Lena never told Tripp that Serena was actually his daughter shook him up so he finally told the truth that he was behind all of these fiasco. He was behind Annabeth’s death. He worked with Ruby to ruin Emmy’s life in a time of confusion in Ruby’s life, but at the last minute, Ruby changed her mind, especially because she killed Edward, her own husband. But Tripp did not want to let her tell the cops about everything so he asked some of his people to mess with the brakes of Ruby’s car so she could fall off the cliff—which she did.
Tripp was almost losing his mind at that moment, he said, then Lena took things into her own hands. She asked Frank, who was willing to do everything for her, to pretend to be this new guy, because no one knows him anyway, and trick Emmy into falling for him. This was her way of getting back at Troy.
Tripp also admitted that he paid Jimmy to say that he was the mastermind in all these, so Jimmy’s sentence would now be reduced. He called Emmy a few hours back to say thanks and that she should now move on with her life, the same thing that his ex-wife, Michelle said.
Tripp and Lena are now incarcerated
and are waiting for their trial to begin. Sky Valley’s police team has also just been revamped so that no cohorts of Lena McMahon will be there.
But moving on will take a while, Emmy thought. It will take a long time.
“It’s going to be okay now.” Troy said. “I’m sorry for everything.”
“I’m sorry, too.” Emmy said. “Dad,” she looked at him. “This family will still work, right? Even if there’s just two of us? Even after everything.”
“Yes.” Troy said. “Of course.”
Emmy took a deep breath. “Actually, there might not be just two of us…” She smiled. “I like Audrina for you but, that’s up to you…Mom will always be special, I know that, but you don’t have to pretend that you don’t need to move on. You have to and I know you can. Audrina’s amazing. I know it’s weird that this is coming from me, but she has taught me so much about life. And she seems to be the perfect fit for you.”
Troy laughed. “Thanks.” He said. “And don’t worry, Daniel will be okay.”
She smiled lightly. Just then, nana saw them and the doctors were also getting out of the room.
“He wants to see you.” Nana told Emmy. Last night, Emmy gave her a long hug and she cried so hard because she thought that Nana will be so mad at her because of what happened to Daniel, but as always, she was loving, and forgiving and definitely understanding.
“Nana,” Emmy told her, “I’m—“
“Emilia, please stop saying sorry.” She said. “Daniel’s alright. You’re both alright. You can both move on now and as I’ve said, he wants to see you.”
Emmy nodded her head, said thanks, and went to see Daniel.
Emmy thought that he still looked frail, his body plastered with bondage because of the gunshot wounds that he obtained yesterday. But his eyes, Emmy thought, were full of hope.
“Emmy,” Daniel said and reached for Emmy’s hand.
Emmy sat down beside him and held his hand. She couldn’t help but cry. “I’m so sorry.” She said. “This shouldn’t have happened.”
“You really should stop crying.” He said and smiled. “It’s over now.”
“Yes,” she said. “But I almost lost you.”
“But you didn’t.” He said. “And I guess, that counts for something. Actually, that counts for a lot because it means that we can finally move on with our lives and be together. It means we can finally start over.”
“You’re still willing to marry me after everything?”
“I always will be willing to marry you, Emmy. The question is, are you willing to marry me?”
She laughed. “I already said yes and I haven’t changed my mind.”
He smiled. “Good.” He said. “It’s settled then.” He grinned. “I love you.”
And after everything, Emmy finally found the courage to smile from the heart. “I love you, too.”
EPILOGUE
6 months later
The party was in full swing. Some couples were dancing, others were eating. There was pasta, and cake, different kinds of wine, a lot of fruits, and more delicacies from all over the world. For a moment, everyone forgot that Sky Valley was just a small town because of the worldwide flavor that they had in their mouths.
Everyone was happy; they had a lot of reason to be. It’s been months since big mishaps happened in Sky Valley. Tripp Meyer and Lena McMahon were in prison. Serena McMahon is now in Italy, trying to start fresh. Once in a while, she and Emmy still talk and exchange e-mails. Frank is gone, his death marking them but not scarring them. Grace, Ruby’s sister, finally got the closure that she needed. Jimmy’s still in jail but the possibility of being given parole is not far from happening. Michelle is now in Nebraska with her daughter, Rosie. Somehow, things have fallen into place. Even nana’s dating again!
Emmy couldn’t believe that just a couple of hours ago, she finally married the man she loved all her life—the man she will love until their very last breaths are taken away from them. She was not sure about a lot of things but she was sure about this.
The walk to the aisle was precious, she thought. Being given the chance to walk through a carpet full of red and white petals, holding her own bouquet, and being greeted at the altar by the man who was in her heart and who had always been in her life. When they finally said their “I do’s” and exchanged their first kiss as husband and wife, she knew that she made the right decision. She knew that somehow, she had her chance of getting her own happy ending—and everything was right in the world.
“Congratulations!” Audrina beamed as she and Troy went up to them. They looked so happy and comfortable together. Emmy had to admit that it’s been too long since he saw her father that way and that thought made her happy.
“I’m so proud of you two.” Troy told them. “And, well, there’s something else we need to tell you.”
Emmy and Daniel looked at each other. “What is it, dad?” Emmy asked.
“Well,” Troy said. “Audrina and I are going on a cruise. We’re going to see the world, see where things will take us—“
“Oh my god!” Emmy exclaimed and hugged her father then held Audrina’s hands. “I am so happy for you.”
“This trip will do you a lot of good.” Daniel smiled.
“I know.” Troy said. “And besides…I really think, it’s high time to move on. Audrina deserves the best.” He smiled.
“You are so cheesy!” Audrina said, although it was evident that Troy’s statement made her giddy. It made her fall for him even more.
They all laughed, looked at one another, and enveloped each other in a hug. At that moment, they were four of the happiest people in the world, and finally, everything made sense.
A couple of months ago, Emmy would not have thought that they would be this happy. But now, she realized that there may be challenges that you are given in life—but you can always move on from them.
Whatever happened already happened and now, it was time to move on.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William Jarvis loves writing mystery stories. Writing is his passion since he was a child. Now, he shares this gift with everyone through his books. He has been writing several book series and aims to do more as he grows more with his writing.
Currently, he is traveling the world while he continues to write where his feet take him.
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Check Out My Other Books
Wolf In Disguise: Once Bitten
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PH8QGTO
Wolf In Disguise: Never Forgotten
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PHJSF5Q
Wolf In Disguise: The Past Bites
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PHJSF10
Wolf In Disguise Trilogy
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RD4JH1O
Forbidden Passion
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PHF6YQM
Second Chance
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PHQ6HO0
Closure
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PHF6XZY
Black & White Trilogy
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PHJSF10
Beautiful Temptations
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RTLZTQ8
Mission To Accomplish
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RTMJN82
Reconciliation
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RTMK2PA
Beautiful Temptations Boxed Set
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY5JGHW
My Best Friend’s Wedding
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY9MGXO
Edge of Paradise
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY9MJTU
Going Full Circle
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY9MH42
Swept Away Groom Boxed Set
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY9MGGG
Haunted Eyes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RVYXQWC
Living Vicariously
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RVYXEFG
The Pa
st Comes Back
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RVYY2T8
Tap Out MMA Romance Box Set
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RVYXMQM
William Jarvis - Sky Valley 04 - Murderous Coffee Crumble Page 6