Don't Show Up

"No, Kanalaa. We also didn't know," her grandmothers's response for her and her husband. Her grandmother's answer somehow lifted something inside of her.

Kanalaa's eyes shifted to Karolina and continued to tell her her pain, "For a decade I kept it all inside. I tried to be as cordial as I could to you, Karolina whenever you asks to meet me in the past for daddy's sake. But I'm not as heartless as you. Knowing the real reason of your separation, I can't stand it. I tried so hard to keep it all from you that I know the real reason to preserve whatever you are trying to preserve and guess what? It took a toll on me. I suffered! I'm done respecting your decision. It's time for the both of you to respect mine."

With Kanalaa's revelations, there is nothing in Karolina's mind but the question, "How did you know about it? Was it your dad?"

"Come on, Karolina!" Karl's interjection upon hearing absurd question from his ex-wife.

Kanalaa snickered, "Does it matter? Why? So you could blame dad if it was him? Regardless of who told me, that didn't change the fact you cheated! I thought you are a smart woman? Why can't that fat brain of your seems to understand everything?"

"Kanalaa..." Karl's warning to his daughter for her disrespectful words.

Kanalaa shook her head on how ridiculous Karl is from warning her.

"No, none of you should try to stop me. Don't expect me to respect her when she was the one who disrespected this family first."

Kanalaa paused once again to catch her breath after all her screams and lengthy lines. None of the people present dared to talk.

"Once and for all, don't ever try standing in front of us ever again, after this. Stop coming in this family because you are no longer a part of it."

Karolina who can't hold it together any longer burst into tears once again, shaking her head to plead from her daughter, "I won't ever disappear in your life Kanalaa. At least not in yours,"

"Try me," she dared before turning back her heels on everyone present.

Meanwhile, Karl and his mother and father tried to go after Kanalaa but none of them were spared a glance. Karolina on the other hand, wasn't paid any attention. To Reese's, Kanalaa is so precious nothing could ever compare to her. After all, Kanalaa is the sole daughter and granddaughter of the family.

Hopeless of going after Kanalaa, Florence, her grandmother looked at Karolina who looks like a mess on their living room.

"Have you heard my granddaughter? Don't ever show up in front her. After causing pain to my son, you didn't spare our Kanalaa. Go back to where you belong, cheap woman!" Florence's firm spat, sparing her no leniency. To Florence, she will go against the world for Kanalaa. Her love for her can't be compared anything in this world.

Karolina's world shattered into a million pieces as she absorbed the finality of Kanalaa's words and her grandmother's venomous rejection. The weight of her actions bore down on her, and she felt the ache of remorse deep in her soul. Despite the turmoil within her, she knew she had to accept the consequences of her betrayal. With tear-streaked cheeks and a heavy heart, she gathered what little dignity she had left and quietly left the place, knowing that she will never be welcomed back. As she walked away, she carried with her the burden of her mistakes, vowing to herself to honor Kanalaa's request. This is a way for her to show her accountability. Despite of her reluctancy, she will do it.

Trembling, Kanalaa drove herself back to her condo hoping to get some sleep after the emotinal roller coaster exchange she had. Kanalaa refused to seek refuge to Alistair, the person she could share her burden with. Because only now she realized that she can't open up herself to him to this extent. Also, she thought this is going to be the last time of confrontation with her mother, there won't be a next time. Shouldering this circumstance is not easy but she could live. Somewhow, the heaviness was lifted up. After all these years of bottling up her emotions, it finally burst. But the scar it left is pretty much big and sensitive. Years of therapy didn't do her something because she couldn't let go what's bottled inside her. The wound may have closed today but it won't be erased.

After tossing in bed for felt like hours, Kanalaa went to her kitchen, got a hard liquor and sat in front of her computer. She started working with the Cromwell's case. The murder case isn't relevant yet relevant. She's going to make sure nothing will go wrong in this case and they will take the win. It's a big and dangerous case but it is a losing game to the defense. Only a fool will believe the opposing party yet, why the biggest law firm in the country accepted it? Because it was a Sinclaire's firm, and the person behind it is after her. And, she knew it was its doing with their previous loses. Atty. Riles assistance was not needed but the firm had to show her that people in Alistair's firm can be bought. Not that it is the main reason but a warning to her.

"Consolidate all the documents that needed my attention. Next month I will fly out take over. Tell no one about my arrival. Do it discreetly." Kanalaa's message to her secretary.

After, she moved on from her current case, an estate fraud. This is going to be an easy win also. Given the fact that the documents and evidences she needed to crash the defendant is already laid out. This is a pro bono case she took. She's trying to cover as much various cases as she could.

Night fell and she she was startled with continuous ring of her doorbell.