Charlene's POV
Kerill and I stayed in his room the entire night.
He held me so tightly—as if even the smallest movement, even just turning away, might make me disappear. Every time I shifted, his arms would only tighten around me.
And strangely… I liked it.
I liked how we clung to each other. How neither of us wanted to let go, no matter what.
My thoughts drifted endlessly that night… until I eventually fell asleep without realizing it.
When I woke up, he was already there, watching me. His gaze was soft, almost as if he were quietly studying every detail of my face.
"Good morning, Adi," he said with a smile.
I frowned slightly. "Adi?"
"Yes," he answered gently. "I want to call you that. It means a blessing from the Lord. Because that's what you are to me. You were given to me… and I'll always be grateful for that. I love you, Adi."
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of it sink in.
"I love you too," I murmured, smiling faintly.
A moment later, he took my hand. He lifted it slowly, pressing a soft kiss against it before closing his fingers around mine.
When he opened his hand again, I froze.
There was a ring on my finger.
"How did you—?"
"This ring is my promise," he said quietly. "When everything is over, I'll marry you properly—in a church. Not because of any contract… but because we truly love each other."
I stared at the ring, my chest tightening. It was beautiful.
And before I knew it, tears were already falling.
---
We made the most of the days when he didn't have work, but even then, he was busy with the case involving the children. He was constantly coming and going, and most days, we didn't even get to share meals because of everything he had to handle.
There were also times when people from the government came to evaluate the children's situation. They interviewed not just the kids, but also the staff and bodyguards. They assessed everything—Kerill's financial capability, the environment, the kind of life the children were growing up in.
Still, I held on to hope.
The children were happy here.
And that had to count for something.
---
"If you had to choose, Lily… who would you stay with? Your mom or your dad?"
I stood quietly behind the door, listening. I wasn't allowed inside.
"Tita Charlene has done everything she can for us. She sacrifices so much… and she's been like a real mother to us," Lily said softly. "I love my mom, but… I want my dad to be happy. So… I choose them."
Something in my chest tightened—but it wasn't pain.
It was something lighter. Warmer.
Hearing that from her meant everything.
---
The same question was asked to Wency and Wyl.
"I… I still don't know," Wency admitted. "I love Mom, but I don't want to leave Dad either. I know how much he's sacrificed for us. I used to wish they'd get back together, but… not anymore. My dad is happy with Charlene… and I'm happy for him."
"And you, Wyl?"
"I always dreamed of having a complete family," he said. "Mom, Dad, and us… all together."
My heart tightened at his words.
"But I also respect Charlene," he continued. "She can be loud and a little annoying sometimes… but she's proven again and again how much we mean to her. I've seen her cry for us. No matter what we do, she never gives up. She keeps choosing us… over and over again. So maybe… it's time I choose this home."
"So you're choosing Charlene over your own mother?"
"My mom?" he said quietly. "She left us for someone else. She doesn't know how much we've been through… how much Dad has been through. I don't hate her… but I don't want to live with her either."
---
I didn't know what I was supposed to feel.
Happy… or heartbroken for Monica.
Because no matter what she did, hearing your own children choose someone else… must hurt.
---
"Hey…"
I turned when I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Kerill.
"You're here," I said softly.
He leaned in and kissed me, then wrapped his arms around me from behind.
"How was it?" he asked.
"I'm nervous," I admitted.
"Don't be," he whispered. "We're going to win this."
---
We kept listening until it was Ericka's turn.
"You're the eldest," the interviewer said. "You understand what's right and wrong. Do you want to stay with your mother… or here?"
There was a long pause.
My chest felt tight.
"If it were up to me…" Ericka finally said, "I'd go with Mom."
Something inside me broke.
But she continued.
"I miss the days when we were all together. When everything was simple. But I know that's never coming back. They've moved on. We've moved on."
She took a deep breath.
"I want to go with her… but I'm thinking about my siblings too. They've already suffered enough when she left. I don't want them to go through that again. So… I'm choosing to stay with them."
Tears streamed down my face.
"Tell my mom to stop all this," she added. "Dad is happy with Charlene… and she should respect that. I'll visit her when I can. I promise."
When she walked out, she saw us.
She stopped… then walked straight toward me.
"I did my part," she said with a small smile. "At least… this is my way of making things right."
I couldn't speak.
I pulled her into a tight embrace, crying quietly against her shoulder.
"Thank you…"
"You're welcome."
She gently pulled away… and left us standing there.