Beautiful and Healed

Lucy POV

Tomorrow is my last day in jail and it almost feels like I’ve only been locked in here for a week. Time passed by so fast, and my five-year sentence is finally coming to an end. 

I was convicted of a crime I didn't commit. It's ironic that I’m the one who took all the blame when the guilty were out free having the time of their life with my son. 

I clenched my fist in anger. I looked at the metal bars in front of me that made me feel like a murderer for five years. Life is unfair. If you're poor, you're always poor, and if you're rich, you will become richer. 

Just wait, though, the world will soon be mine. 

"Hey, Lucy, aren't you excited? We're going to be free at last tomorrow!" Cassandra sat beside me with a smile on her face. I can see how happy she is and how she waited for this day to come. 

Arian and Gwen only stare at us like jealous neighbors. They were only nice to me after the incident that they would never forget. 

---

Flashback All of the inmates were taken out to do a clean-up outside the prison. It was Lucy's second day, and she was just following her group silently. 

"Get brooms and other cleaning materials, ladies, and we will start the beautification of this backyard," one of the officers shouted.

Everyone, including Lucy, started to get their materials when Arian intentionally pushed her. Lucy fell to the ground and got a deep bruise on her arms. 

Cassandra saw it. 

"Hey, what did you do?" She quickly crouched to help Lucy. 

Lucy didn't want to stain her hands with violence, so she held her anger. She glared at Arian and the other women who cheered Arian on, and laughed at Lucy. She made her hand into a ball, secretly clutching a stone inside. When she got up, her hands flew like a rocket and launched a stone directly at Arian's nose. 

She felt dizzy and screamed when blood started to flow from Arian’s nose. After two minutes, she dropped to the ground. Everyone started to applaud her. Since that day, no one dared to touch or bully her. Even Cassandra praised her. 

"Wow! You're so cool! I didn't know that you knew how to box!" she said, and Lucy smiled at her finally. That day they became friends. 

---

It feels good to be free from prison. I miss the fresh air of the outside world. 

I promise to get back all that you’ve taken and stolen from me, Eloisa and Kent. I will never forgive either of you, even in your last breath. 

"So I guess it's time for us to part ways?" Cassandra said while both of them were waiting for a cab. 

Lucy shrugged her shoulders but couldn’t help feeling sad. 

"Yes, maybe. You're lucky because you have a beautiful daughter waiting for you. All I can say is live a good and fruitful life because life is short. We don't know what will happen next."

Cassandra was grateful that she met Lucy. She never had a friend like Lucy, who would listen to her about her life. They both waved their hands to say goodbye to each other.

Lucy decided not to see her father for the sake of his safety. She also didn't want to disturb his peaceful life. She hoped that Gregory took good care of him and visit him a lot. She was ashamed to show her face after the scandal that happened five years ago. 

At the age of thirty-two, Lucy is mature enough to make decisions on her own. She was thinking about where to go and stay. She thought she found a new friend, but sadly he evaporated into thin air. She didn't know why she didn't care to visit him. Her face was all over the news, so how could he forget her? She was certain that he looked like Kent. Was it a coincidence that he resembled Kent? She knew that Kent was the only son and heir of Mr. Alexander Stone. It was impossible that he had a brother. 

She had nothing in her wallet, except for five dollars. When they brought her to jail, no one remembered to visit her and that broke her heart. She tried to contact Gregory, but his phone was off. She asked the police to check her father for her, but they told her there was nothing to worry about because they assigned an officer to guard him for twenty-four hours. 

Past is past. Nothing will change. She was broken into pieces and the only person who could fix her was her son, Austin. Tears started to stream down her face. No, she couldn't cry right now. She should be glad that she was free, which meant that she was free to get her revenge. So why was she crying in the middle of traffic? 

"No, Lucy, you're not a fool anymore. Don't cry, please!" she's told herself over and over again until a taxicab stopped in front of her. 

The driver rolled down the car window and asked if she needed a ride, but Lucy told the driver that she had only five dollars. The driver was wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses, which made Lucy hesitant to ride with him. 

The guy smirked while taking off his hat and sunglasses. Lucy's eyes widened when the driver finally revealed himself. 

"Gregory? How did you know that—"

"Just hop inside. Let's talk later. I know you're broke. Come on, let's go to your father!" Gregory commanded her but Lucy had clouds of questions in her head. 

He hadn’t shown up for five years to visit her. She tried to call him, but his phone was not available. How can he show up now as if nothing happened? She had to act and think smart. She can't be fooled by anyone anymore. 

"No, thanks. I'm good,” she said and ran away from him. 

"Wait, Lucy, come back! Let me explain! I'm sorry!" Gregory called her, but she didn't look back.

Everything was clear to her now. The world was a cruel place. 

The only place she needed to go was in Tagaytay, where she and Gale used to go to release her burdens. Maybe he was right. She wasn't ready to go back to the real world if she held back everything—if she still had heartaches and deep scars. To be prepared for the war that she must face alone, she must leave all this remorse and guilt behind. 

"Why! Why me? Why of all people? Ahhh!!" she yelled to no one. 

While she was in the middle of cursing everyone and herself, a familiar voice called her attention to stop. 

"I thought you forgot this place!" a man said while ambling closer towards her. 

Lucy slowly turned her head. She knew that sweet and calm voice. 

"Gale?" she mumbled, and a smile crossed Gale's face. 

"I'm sorry I missed coming here for five years. I just got back from the U.S." That's when Lucy realized that he was ignorant of what had happened to her. 

 

 

 

 

Two Months Later…

 

"Daddy, I want ice cream!" Dilan puppy eyes on his father for his favorite dessert. 

They had just landed at the airport. It's been five years since they visited the Philippines. Eloisa decided to build a new building in Makati while Kent was taking over her family's company, The Kings and Queens Hotel. 

Eloisa hid what happened to Lucy from Kent. He had no idea that Lucy was put in jail and sentenced to five years because of him.

"Just wait baby, I'll call your mommy to buy it for you. Wait here, okay?" Kent put his son in the lobby area and looked for Eloisa. 

While Lucy was busy looking for ingredients for dessert, she heard someone crying. It was a little boy wearing a striped polo t-shirt with jumper pants. His face looked familiar. He resembled her ex-lover, Kent Oliver Stone. 

"Hey, why are you crying? Where are your parents? Are you lost?" She came closer to ask the little boy. 

Dilan shook his head. 

"I'm not lost. I want ice cream!" he answered her. 

Lucy held his hands and smiled at the sweet child. 

"May I know your name? If you tell me, I will buy you ice cream!" she happily promises the little boy. 

Dilan's eyes sparkled. 

"My name is Dilan. You're so kind, miss pretty!" He looked so cute when he smiled, just like Kent. But Lucy was disappointed to know his name. She thought he was Austin. 

Five years had passed and whenever she saw a five-year-old boy, she was reminded of her son. 

"Oh, thank you. Wait here, okay?" she said, and the child nodded his head. 

 

Lucy came back with a mango-flavored ice cream. She gracefully gave it to Dilan. 

"Here. Just wait for your mom and dad, okay?” She stops.

"Daddy! Mommy!" Dilan shouted and Lucy slowly got up to see Dilan's parents. 

"Kent? Eloisa?" She couldn't believe who she was seeing right in front of her.

She quickly looked back at Dilan again.

‘If he’s their son,’ Lucy told herself, “that means he’s Austin, my son. But he said his name was Dilan. Where is my son, Austin?"

She hurriedly put on her sunglasses and took her groceries with her. She hid behind the candy stall. 

"Dilan, I'm so sorry you waited so long. Here is—" Kent noticed that his son was holding an ice cream. His face was covered with ice cream too. 

Eloisa noticed it too. She came closer to ask her son who offered ice cream to him. 

"Baby, who bought that for you?" she asked Dilan. 

Dilan looked around to find the beautiful stranger he had a chat with, but she had disappeared like a ghost. 

"She was here, but ran off when I called you, daddy. She was kind to me. She told me to stop crying, and that she would buy me ice cream!" he said, and the couple just stared at each other. 

Eloisa took Dilan and pulled him beside her. 

"Let's go. Let's talk later." She said and dragged him into the car. 

Kent was mad.

"He's your son. Don't treat him like that!" he yelled at her inside the car. 

Dilan started crying when his parents started fighting. At such young age, he has already lived with miseries. His mom always yelled at him wherever he made a small mistake. He felt like she was not his mom. His dad always took his side. He loves his dad so much. 

----

The Stone Residence "I told you never to talk to strangers, right? Why did you disobey me?" Eloisa hit Dilan on his legs. 

He cried and called for his dad, but Kent had left to have a drink at a bar. They had just gotten home yesterday but they were already fighting. 

Eloisa grips Dilan’s shoulders. "Your dad is not here. He left us because of you. If it wasn’t for my legacy, I wouldn’t have taken you from your mother. Go to your room!" She yelled at him and he burst into tears while running to his room. 

 

----

One Hour Ago...

 

Lucy POV

So they changed Austin's name to Dilan? How could they?

I miss my son. He was so sensitive and delicate the last time I saw him. If I had known that he was Austin, maybe I could have taken him with me. 

I was right. His features were like his father. How could I not know him instantly? My chest tightened and my eyes moistened with my tears. I could still recall when they took him from me. I wasn't there when he first said the word mommy. I wasn't there when he took his first baby steps. I wasn't there when he was hungry to feed him his milk. I wasn't there when he had his first immunization. I feel like I didn't fulfill my obligation as a mother. 

I jump, surprised when my phone vibrates. I check, and it's my husband Gale calling. 

"Honey, I'm still in the supermarket. Do you have a request before I pay at the counter?"

"I just miss you. Hurry and get home. I'm starving!" Gale says and makes kissy noises. 

Lucy turned off her phone and took a deep sigh. She was thinking that if Gale was Kent's stepbrother, then he knew about Austin. 

Since they met that day and Lucy decided to accept Gale’s marriage proposal, she had failed to ask him about his brother. Gale had a grudge against him too, so they decided to join forces to take them down. 

Gale was the one who told her to change her name to Greta. He wanted Lucy to be reborn as a strong and sophisticated woman in the business industry. He helped her to be the new Lucy who wasn't afraid of anything that came her way. 

She was now Greta Stone: a billionaire's wife wearing a sparkling dress, high heels, and a beautiful smile.

She got into the car. She was glad that Kent and Eloisa hadn’t recognized her. No one would remember Lucy Mason anymore. Because Lucy Mason died two months ago. Eloisa ordered Brian to tail her after she got out of prison. Lucy was shot twice in Tagaytay and was buried alive. 

Greta Stone may look like Lucy, but she wasn’t the same woman anymore. After that incident, she decided to forget all about her past and move on as Gale Stone’s wife. 

 

---

Zeus Residence "Honey, I'm home!" Greta walked into the three-story mansion where five maids waited for her. 

She was like a Hollywood actress who stepped onto the red carpet. The mansion looked like a palace. Giant chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and expensive paintings hung on the walls. Golden chairs and tables were arranged in the dining room, and the massive staircase called her to step on its plush carpet. 

Lucy, as Greta, was now living life to the fullest with her rich husband Gale. 

Gale Stone, chef and business tycoon, owned the Zeus Palace in Manila. He was the most popular businessman in all magazines and was a regular tv guest. 

He was the one who helped Lucy out of the dirt. He gave her new hope and new life. 

She looked up and saw Gale coming downstairs. He was holding a glass of wine in his hands. He looked like a king, and the way he gazed at Greta made her melt like ice cream. 

"I'm glad you're here," Gale said as he reached her. He planted a light kiss on her forehead. 

"I bought you your favorite, egg tarts!” She shows him two boxes of Apollo egg tarts. Gale licks his lips feeling excited about the gift. 

"Wow, I've been craving egg tarts since our honeymoon to Korea!” He put them on the kitchen table. 

"Come, honey, eat with me!" he called Greta and she came over to join her husband. 

She was lucky to have Gale in her life. He helped her recover from everything that has happened to her. Now, she must act like she didn't know Lucy Mason or anything about her. 

Gale's family, especially his dad and brother, had no idea that he secretly married Lucy. Of course, Lucy was dead, and his wife’s name was Greta. She only resembled Lucy now. 

Her hair was now wavy and long. Her facial expressions and attitude had changed too. No one could recognize her as Lucy, who had straight ebony hair, no self-confidence, and was immature and powerless. 

"Gale, I want to confess something I saw today," she said seriously. 

Gale quickly ate the egg tarts and focused on her. 

"What is it honey, tell me," he told her. 

Greta sighed before telling him. 

"I think I saw Austin," she said, and Gale looked confused. She didn’t know why.