“It was your father who räpëd me. Your DNA matched your father’s, Cassie. My heart has been shattered. I kept hoping that it wasn’t Robert, but all the evidence pointed to him. I know it hurts. The pain is unbearable. But we will face this. This is the last time. We’ll ever cry for your father.”
Preparation was ongoing for the renewal of vows between Robert and Romina. Cassie was breathless at the sight of her mamma’s gown. Enter the bride of the century: Romina sauntered into the packed wedding venue to Robert who was grinning from ear to ear. As the Mondragons and Bartolomes were transfixed, Robert ki$$ed Romina to the applause of those in attendance.
At the mansion, Romina nudged Cassie awake. Turned out she had only been daydreaming about her parents’ day. Silly girl. Mina asked what the matter was and Cassie said she was just happy because she could imagine how beautiful her renewal of vows would be. Romina went on about how her father had løvëd and helped her heal despite what had happened to her. Listening in from the doorway, Robert came to join them as they embraced.
Alvin met up with Atty. Del Mariano (Hector’s lawyer) and took the money he had on him so he could keep staying in hiding. “Tell my brother Daniela did this to me. And she needs to pay.”
Robert stared at a sleeping Romina, hoping that once he told her the truth, their løvë would be strong enough for her to forgive him for the horrible mistake he had done in the past. Cassie barged into her parents’ room, full of excitement, reminding them not to be late for their renewal of vows.
“She’s more excited than we are,” Robert commented.
Romina grinned. “I know, right?”
Soon, the Mondragons snuggled close to each other on the bed. “Still feels like yesterday when I could carry you in my arms,” Robert teased. “Now you’re a big girl.”
“Daddy, I’m a lady now,” Cassie corrected.
“You’re right.” Robert and Romina laughed. Cassie went on to lecture them not to be late.
Daniela spied. “It’s better this way than for Romina to know the truth.”
Atty. Del Mariano told Hector about how Daniela had made Alvin suffer. Hector asked him to get Robert, Romina and Daniela’s numbers.
“What for?”
Hector laughed. “I’ll avenge my brother. It’s time for me to bring that family down.”
Romina was being made up when Cassie came in, wearing her gown. “Wow. Look how gorgeous you are.”
Cassie who couldn’t hold her energy in, insisted on helping out. Mina was happy to oblige. Robert was having second thoughts about going on with the occasion, saying that the day was too perfect. Daniela started with her emotional blackmail, rambling on about how he would be humiliating Romina like how Carlos had done back then if he didn’t show up. Nanny Esther brought Carlitos to see Carlos.
A moment later, an officer brought Kulas the list of numbers Jessa had last called, adding that she died while giving birth. Esther recognized one of the numbers as the emergency hotline Romina had given her when she had been looking for Robert. Robert was considering telling Romina the truth before she found out for herself. Daniela talked him out of it, feigning concern for Romina and the life she wanted to start anew with him and Cassie.
Daniela briefly glanced at the original cufflink of Robert. (she had one of the originals in her possession while Romina had the other). She stared at the duplicates (the two fakes she had made). “I can’t allow Romina to grow suspicious of dad again. Romina needs to see dad wearing these.”
Daniela laid the set (duplicates) on the table and grabbed her bag. Marga dashed into the room just then, startling her mother, who dropped the original cufflink without realizing it. Cassie found her father brooding by the swimming pool. Robert told her that he was looking forward to the day he would walk her down the aisle to marry the man she would løvë forever.
Cassie said she only hoped that person was just like him – a kind man who always did the right thing. Daniela made her dad wear the fake set of the cufflinks. She soon had a mocking call from Hector. Meanwhile, Romina came down the stairs. She noticed Robert’s cufflinks and stared as if she’d just seen a ghost.
“Is there a problem?” Robert asked.
Silence.
“We need to talk. There’s something I have to tell you.”
Just then, Bonita came to drag Romina away. Alvin looked on as Robert was being driven out of the mansion. “So there’s a wedding, huh? Too bad it’ll turn into your wake, Daniela.”
Romina had donned her gown. Cassie gave her a bouquet of flowers, staring in admiration along with Neil and Bonita. “You look so beautiful, mamma.”
“Thank you, dear.”
Romina descended the stairs in the company of her daughter and entourage. She had forgotten her phone inside and Cassie offered to go get it for her. A moment later, a maid gave Cassie a cufflink she had found in Daniela’s room. Frowning, Cassie stared at it as if it was some kind of ancient trinket. Cassie gave her mother’s phone to her. The battery was dead so she plugged it into her power bank. “I think daddy may have dropped this,” Cassie said.
“Huh? What did he forget?”
Cassie reached out her hand. “This.”
Romina took the cufflink from her daughter and stared in disbelief. “That means…the cufflink is Robert’s? Is it Robert? Is it really his?”
“Ma…”
“Romina, what is it?” Jepoy cut in.
“Ma… what’s wrong?”
Romina glanced at her daughter and stared at the cufflink. At the venue, Bernard congratulated and wished Robert the best. Robert thanked Neil and Bonita for having the place filled up. Meanwhile, Hector called Romina and confirmed her suspicions. “Robert was the one who räpëd you. That’s why Daniela kidñäpped Alvin. Make Robert and Daniela pay. You wanted justice, right? It’s time you finally faced the truth.”
Romina was hyperventilating as Cassie pressed to know what was going on. “I can’t breathe…I can’t breathe…I can’t breathe.”
Enter the misëräble one-eyed-old man who stormed over to spout some crap about Romina knowing what had happened to Jessa, even going to the extent of grabbing her as his equally guilty son tried to restrain him. Having had enough bullshit for one day, Romina shoved the misëräble swine and his son onto the floor.
“How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone?! Don’t test my patience! Not now! Carlos, get out of here! Leave right now. And remember that the next time you come here, I’ll deal with you myself! Get out!!”
Romina received an email of Cassie’s paternity. A flashback showed how she had gone about the DNA testing. Tentatively, Romina opened the mail. Cassie’s DNA was a positive match to Robert’s. Mina sank to the floor, crying out and wrenching her gown as Cassie looked on, torn with conflict and confusion.
“No!” Romina wailed. “Please no!”
Cassie dashed over and took her mom in her hands as she went on, inconsolable. “No…my husband løvës me.”
“Ma, what’s happening?” Cassie sobbed.
“He løvës me.”
“Pease tell me what’s going on, mamma.”
Romina only sobbed some more. Robert, Neil and Bonita along with the guests were still waiting for the bride to show. Meanwhile back at the mansion, Cassie pressed her mom for answers. “I was so desperate to uncover the truth,” Romina began. “But it turns out I didn’t have to look far. To find the truth. It’s been right here in front of my eyes.”
“What?”
“Cassie…” Romina handed over her phone. “It was your father who räpëd me.”
Staring at the test results, Cassie looked stunned and in denial. “No. This can’t be true, mamma. Daniela and I already took a DNA test.”
“I had another test done. Your DNA matched your father’s, Cassie. I know this is painful for you. I am hurting even more for you.”
“No.”
“My heart has been shattered.”
“It’s daddy we’re talking about,” Cassie wailed. “He’s not like that. He løvës you so much. You mean the world to him. He’d never do something like that to you.”
“Cassie, if only I could change the truth for you, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Because I don’t want to see you in pain. I kept hoping that it wasn’t Robert, but all the evidence pointed to him.”
“Daddy would never do that to you. It’s not true. It can’t be true.”
Robert was tired of keeping the secret to himself. Daniela tried talking him out of revealing his sin. Meanwhile, Romina drew her daughter to herself, telling her that they would rise above the revelation and not allow it to ruin their lives. “I know it hurts. The pain is unbearable. But we will face this. This is the last time. We’ll ever cry for your father.”
