25 DECISION MAKER

"Did I make the right choice dad?" Innocent Esmeralda asked her father.

Her father exhales, his daughter is too innocent to be suffering like this, maybe this is all his fault, if he hadn't agreed to Patrick's proposition then all this won't have happened and she also won't be going through all the pain she is right now.

"Esme, look here, the truth is nobody knows what's best for you better than you do, only you know what's inside of you, and dear only you know your desires and your wants" Robert moves closer to his daughter, "nobody else know except you, even I, your father doesn't either… so if you want to forgive Elias and give him another chance then I will not object as long as that's what you want and it will make you happy!"

Esmeralda snuggles in her father's embrace, "I don't want to forgive him, dad… no one forced Elias to do what he did, he did it on his own accord."

"He doesn't deserve my forgiveness, and dad, earlier today during our conversation I told Elias I will try to forgive and maybe in the near future we can be friends again…" Esmeralda stops. Earlier she told Elias that because she truly thought she can forgive him but now she realized she can never. After thinking over everything that happened…

Yeah, he was honest with her, but the fact that no one forced him to sleep with that girl is the truth. He did it all on his own accord with his full consent.

"I can never be friends with him again" it was horrible watching how he was enjoying having sex with that girl enough. She never wants to see him all the time as usual again.

But Esmeralda knows she is going to see Elias often whether she likes it or not since both the two companies will now be merging, "And dad, please don't allow this to affect your friendship with Uncle Patrick at all… Elias's action is not word destroying so many years of friendship over."

"I know my child… what Elias did has nothing to do with Patrick or his mother either so don't worry because I won't allow this to affect my relationship with either of them."

Esmeralda is now relaxed after hearing her father, she doesn't want her father to be hurt at all, because she knows how much Patrick means to him. Yes, she is starting to lose trust in Patrick. That's why she is going to keep her eyes on him the time in case he is up to something.

Esmeralda doesn't even know what to think anymore, will her uncle Patrick ever try to harm her father? That's the question lingering right now. That's why keeping an eye on Patrick is very important and she knows Linda will be with her every step of the way.

"One day, you will find someone who will be a great partner, a great love to you in your life who will give all the happiness in the world." Esmeralda suddenly hears her father mutter.

Esmeralda disagrees with her father, loving someone again is the last thing she wants in the future, she just gave her heart and Elias shattered it into pieces without any thinking at all. "Not ever will I allow myself to get hurt again, dad!"

"Dear, one day when you finally find and fall in love with the right person…. Then you will have to will take back your words."

"That day won't come and am sure of it!" she nods and says more to herself than her father.

"Alright, we will see then."

"Oh! Dad, you are too much," Esmeralda grumbles.

"My gosh… am I?" Robert gasped jokingly.

"Yes, you are!"

"Am not!"

"You are... old man"

"hun, you call me an old man… I will not play with you again" Esmeralda laughs at her father's behavior, he is the best. He is doing all he can to bring a smile out of her.

Robert exhales, finally his daughter is able to know what she wants. Now he is sure she will be fine after some time. And here he thought he will get Linda and Petro married next after Esmeralda and Elias, he is thankful he hasn't informed anyone regarding his decision yet.

At least now he learns his lesson, what if Linda or Petro already have someone they like? It would be a terrible disaster if he is to force them into an arranged marriage.

Robert feels like the worst father in the world, from now on both his children will be the ones to decide what they want in their lives. He will not be anybody's decision-maker for anyone to get hurt again!

Esmeralda can't believe her father, he has gone mad, her falling in love again after she just got her broken? No not love again, never!

Six months have passed since the incident with Elias happened, the two companies were merged and Watson Enterprise was saved from bankruptcy.

Esmeralda and Elias do meet regarding business-related matters, and Elias stood up to his words and never borders nor insists on Esmeralda giving him another chance again. And this made Esmeralda feels he never actually truly loved her, because if he were to be in love with her then he won't do it even though she asked him to.

Elias is supposed to keep trying to win her over but he never did, at first, she was hurt but as time passes by, Elias's behaviors gave her the courage she needed to move on.

They behave formally towards each other whenever they see one another. It was hard to control Linda from bouncing on Elias whenever she sees him keeping his cool if they meet but at last, she was able to do it.

Esmeralda managed to stop Linda from pestering Elias so they can forget all that happened.

During all these months, Esmeralda thought she was never going to make it out since she is going to be seeing Elias all the time. But she did, she is well alive and alright, stronger than ever all thanks to the support of her family. It wasn't easy the past few months but she is here today, happy and content without love…