Chapter 784 - Seven Hundred And Eighty four: Closure 3
"Hi," she waved her hand at the crowd, a bit nervous, "Some of you might not know me and some of you might. However, I\'m glad to be a part of my daughter, Anabelle\'s day,"
There came a hushed murmuring from the crowd. Eden had raised Anabelle by himself so well that people hadn\'t even thought about her mother, assuming she was dead or something.
"I did not play an active role in my daughter\'s life hence it\'s a big privilege and a blessing that she extended an invitation to me today. Although I wouldn\'t have blamed her if she didn\'t anyway, I deserve it. I contributed nothing but the womb that brought her into this world. We were young, stupid, and scared teenagers when I got pregnant. It was a drunken mistake hence you can imagine what a scared teenager could do.
"I was all for aborting the baby, I couldn\'t do this. There was just a lot hanging on the line - my education, my career, my life. But then Eden said to me, he would take her. He needed her. I couldn\'t understand him at all when he said she was his redemption. However, I didn\'t have the heart to remove the little being inside of me at the first scan. So I kept her because she was a gift.
"She was a beautiful little thing when I had her and was thankful I never aborted her else I would have regretted that for the rest of my life. Sadly, I couldn\'t be with her, not because she\'s not worthy, but because life doesn\'t always work out the way we plan it.
"However, not one day went by that I didn\'t have her in my heart and I\'m so proud of the woman her father raised her to be. I\'m proud that she grew up to be a great woman even without her mother by her side. I\'m proud of the fact that she found the love of her love and is about to start a journey of her own,"
She turned to stare straight at Anabelle saying," I give you all of my blessings, my baby girl. You would make a beautiful mother to your kid more than I was to you,"
By the time she was done, both mother and daughter were hugging and crying on each other\'s shoulders. Anabelle couldn\'t hold it in anymore, her mother was proud of her.
After that scene, many other family members gave their speeches that made the couples laugh and cry, however, there was huge anticipation when it was Reina\'s turn to speak.
"Okay, I don\'t why you all are staring at me that way, it\'s kind of making me nervous. Is there a drumroll effect before I start," Reina said and the crowd burst into laughter.
"Thank you, Isabella. Thank you, Anabelle," Reina said even before the laugher died down causing everyone to stare at her with rapt attention.
"Thank you both girls for giving me the first taste of motherhood. It all seems years ago but I can remember vividly those days you both spent your energy fighting over me. I miss those times,"
The crowd went deadly silent, all eyes focused on Reina as if she held the key to their soul and manipulated it to her desire.
Reina went on, "I miss our crazy?sleepovers nor can I forget that day you kids sent us crazy with worry thinking you were lost when in reality you naughty kids were drunk,"
Laughter took over once more however, it was emotion-filled as if Reina had taken them back to their childhood. They were reminiscing about the past.
"I miss those days when Isabella would bring my stubborn husband down to his knees with one of her great pranks. It pains me a lot that you kids have grown up. It pains me a lot that you can\'t stay under my cover anymore. If there\'s a way I can pocket you guys for the rest of my life, I would. However, there\'s a whole new world out there to explore, a new destiny, and your own generation to raise.
"I would miss our times together but I\'m more pleased you\'re starting your brand new family with our principals inculcated in you. Our times are over and yours is starting today. I pray that love and peace lead you.
"Thank you Anabelle for always standing by me, even when I couldn\'t be your mother you wanted me to be. Thank you Pedro for being there for the guys, most especially for Isabella. I\'m glad you got the happiness you deserve. Thank you Julie for being the one for Anabelle. It\'s funny how we first met but fate sure has a weird way of intertwining destinies,"
Reina then turned to Isabella, holding her gaze, saying, "Thank you Isabella for holding onto faith. Thank you for always being on my side because I\'m sure as hell I wouldn\'t have married your father without your permission. Thank you for delivering him on my doorstep like a present from Santa on a Christmas morning. Thank you for helping me tame that stubborn billionaire, my child. And you should know that you\'re beautiful inside and out no matter what the others say. I\'ve never regretted knowing you for once and I\'m so proud of the woman you grew up to be. God help us because you\'re going to be the terrific mother the world has ever seen and I, the best grandma."
Isabella had sworn she was never going to cry however, she didn\'t even realize when the tears began to run down her face. Soon the silent tears turned into deep sobs as Isabella realized she was going to miss the life she lived - most especially, her father.
Hence, it came as a shock to everyone when she asked, "Is there a way to undo this wedding?"
"What?!!"