Giovane gasped, looking around to see where he was now. The surroundings were dark, and he could see nothing but himself.
Is this what it's like when you die? He questioned in his mind, stood up, and walked around in the endless darkness.
A blinding light greeted him, striking his vision and nearly blinding him. He closed his eyes, but it disappeared immediately, so he slowly opened his eyes.
A familiar face greeted him, so he just stared at it.
"Giovane," he recognized that voice; it belonged to his second mother, Bella.
Next to her were her two siblings, Ellese and Felisa.
Giovane felt Ellese was still scrutinizing him with her gaze, but she just sighed at him. Ellese extended her palm.
"Come on," that's all he heard.
He just laughed at that. "Are you the one who will take me to hell?" Giovane asked Ellese.
She glared at him. "You have many sins that you regretted when your memory returned; you are the child of Aunt Bianca's sister, aren't you?" Ellese asked him.
"Come so you can remember what happened to you back then." Felisa held her palm.
His mind was filled with images, transporting him to a time when Giovane was just five years old.
On the way home to Regondo, they crashed; his parents died before reaching the hospital, and he was left at the scene, clinging to life, until someone helped him.
There, he met the couple who were pregnant with twins at that time. When he was treated, he couldn't remember who his parents were and where he came from.
The only thing he remembered was his name.
"Giovane Mendoza—Roman." That's all he remembered.
The couple exchanged glances, but since Giovane was still a child, Bella protected his innocence, hiding the truth until he was of the right age to be told the real story.
However, before Bella could find out, the young Giovane's mind was slowly poisoned, making him the heir to the Fuego fortune. Bella stopped him, but she was also afraid of what would happen to the child.
He turned seven years old, and Bella also gave birth to twins, Ellese and Mikaela. She knew that young Giovane was fighting against what Bernard was planting in the child's mind.
He met a boy his age back then. This is Felix Tejero-Blanco, who was vacationing in the town and was also a friend of her mother Bella. He became close to Felix.
Sometimes they would discuss things from the past that both of them enjoyed. But their meeting was only temporary, as he would return to the nearby town to study. He met his cousin Jake back then; like him, Jake was also of Roman descent, but he wasn't close to him.
The twins grew up and even had a younger sister, Felisa. He couldn't hurt her because he considered her a real sister as he grew up.
Back then, his recognized father sent him to the warehouse. In his young mind, he saw something that someone like him should not see. There, Bernard's teachings gradually seeped into his mind until his mind broke, and Bernard succeeded in his plan for Giovane.
He became like his father, fearless. At twelve years old, he was already capable of killing those who betrayed his father, with no trace of pity in his eyes. Giovane's inner child is in danger of death.
Even though Bella tried to distance herself from Giovane, she couldn't bear it any longer; she was worried for his well-being because she considered him her real child.
Until Bella passed away and Bianca took over, who knew Giovane's true identity. She secretly monitored his movements and tried to reclaim his true identity. However, Bernard had a strong influence over the child.
The memories he was recalling startled him. He laughed then.
"I have killed many with these hands." He looked at his hand; he saw the blood dripping from it.
"That's why—no wonder I suddenly remembered Felix, because I knew him back then." He laughed convulsively.
"Take me to hell." He looked at the siblings. "I didn't save you back then, so it's only right that you don't save me either." He said.
Bella suddenly hugged him. "Giovane, forgive me; if only I had had the strength to take you home back then, your character and innocence would not have been tarnished." He said.
When will I feel the warmth of a mother's embrace again? Giovane could only ask herself.
"Come on, child. You are free now, free from the darkness created by your father; they are waiting there." Bella pointed to the light that was shining then.
Giovane shook his head. "I do not deserve to end up in a peaceful place; I have killed many, I have wronged many." He added.
"Even if you have committed many sins, and you sincerely regret them, even if you are not forgiven by the families left behind by the young women killed by the organization, for us, we also want peace, so we have forgiven you, brother Giovane." Ellese added.
"So come on, your real parents are waiting for you." Felisa added.
"Ellese, follow me." He said.
He even saw Ellese shaking her head.
"Why didn't Ellese come?" Giovane couldn't help but ask.
"She is waiting for someone; don't worry, your sister will be back soon."
"Brother, we are all victims of greed in this world; we all have forgiveness here." Felisa, who was looking at him, said.
He was unaware that forgiveness existed for a sinner like him.
He heard someone speaking, as if the judge present was judging him; the only verdict for him was to correct his sins, and he would live again in another form.
Before that, he saw his parents again, who embraced him tightly. His soul was delighted to see it again.