Two Days Later:

I wished this was a nightmare that I could wake up from.

That I was only having a bad dream and that

I would somehow wake up and everyone is safe and sound, and that my father would still be here with us.

But it's not a bad dream. I am truly living a nightmare, and my father really is gone.

It happened three days after he had had the stroke. The doctors wanted to slowly take him off the medication. One hour later, as I waited with my mother, Gio, Pilar, and Cris for my father to wake up, my father's heart simply stopped beating.

Of course, the doctors tried to do everything medically and humanly possible, but my dad didn't make it.

It was too late to save him.

My mother was distraught, we all were.

It was a shock to all of us, and the pain of his loss and absence was almost too much to bear for all of us.

Pilar and I decided that she would watch the kids and help my mother emotionally, while I made the arrangements.

But I never realized just how difficult it would be to make the arrangements for my father's funeral. In fact, it was the hardest thing that I ever had to do.

I don't remember getting up in the morning, or changing the kids or myself, I just felt completely numb. I knew people were usually distraught, mourning the loss of their loved one but somehow, I couldn't bring myself to allow myself the loss, because I knew my kids needed me, my mother needed me, and my sister needed me. Frankly, I didn't know if numbness was good or bad.

I just wanted to be strong. I wished I could go back to when I first left and decided to come home. To be with them longer than I had been. I would probably regret not coming home for the rest of my life.

Feeling remorse was probably better than being numb. I wished everything had been different.

But none of those feelings compared to the anger and hurt that I felt when Edward showed up as I was making my way towards the funeral.

Cris had offered to give me and the kids a ride, he showed up at the house with his son, Junior, as Pilar and everyone else was finishing their morning tasks.

When I raised a brow at him as he and Junior walked in, he explained that his mother and sister had something come up and that Junior couldn't go. So, there he was nervously sitting next to Nati and Santi, as I finished getting ready.

As we walked out of the house, a car pulled up, and Edward got out of it.

"Cris, take Nati and Santi to the car please…" I said, calmly, as they gasped at the sight before them.

Cris nodded in response before making his way towards the car. Making sure the kids are safely inside before turning to look at me in concern.

"Bella, I am sor—!" He began as I made my way over to him.

As soon as I heard their retreating footsteps, I hastily made my way over to him and pulled my hand back, slapped him across the face, so hard that he staggered back in surprise clutching the right side of his face.

"You have some fucking nerve to show your face here." I growled, balling my fists at my side trying to suppress the urge to hit him again.

"Honestly, I didn't know anything about the will until Amun showed up to tell me. What the hell was I supposed to do? I only came to speak to you the other day because I wanted to warn you about this situation. I didn't want anyone to get hurt." He explained while rubbing his face.

He came to warn me? Oh, please! This smelled like the same bullshit he spewed to me years ago, while we were still married.

¡Maldito mentiroso! Hijo de puta! (Damn Liar/ Son of a bitch!)

"So, you don't want anything to do with me or my kids and suddenly you show up to warn us? What game are you fucking playing at Edward?" I asked, stepping away from him, ready to strike him again only to be pulled back by a pair of arms.

"I am not fucking playing shit! Will you fucking listen to me! It's true that I didn't want kids, I still don't. It's true that I have been an asshole to you in the past, I swear this wasn't me. My mom and her parents did this because they didn't want my dad to keep anything. I could care less whether I get their money or not! I have my own fucking money!" He growled.

I glared at him, wishing once more that I was free so I could hit him again.

"Oh please. Your father? This is more ridiculous than the shit you spewed years ago! I don't believe it either way!" I scoffed.

"Bella, I swear. I may be an asshole, I may be selfish, but I am not this ruthless." He said, tensely.

No, you're much worse. You are a selfish, egotistical, narcissistic prick.

"What makes you think I will believe anything you say? That I will ever listen to anything you have to say? Your actions fucked me over in the past! You have always done this shit. Always thinking about you and your needs. How is your wife by the way? Still fucking her way through your team?" I asked, icily.

He flinched, and stepped back as if I had struck him again. "Leave her out of this. This isn't about her. This is about you and the kids. My dad sees you as a fucking hindrance. He's planning something. I may have been an asshole to you but I still fucking cared for you…" He said.

Cared for me? Oh this is fucking unbelievable. He cared for me?

"I suppose you treating me as a piece of property was your way of showing me you cared for me right?" I asked, scathingly.

He flinched again. "I—"

"What did you think I wouldn't find out that I was nothing more than a fucking investment on your part?! Did you honestly think that I would fucking marry you again just so you and your family could keep living comfortably? What is wrong with you people?!" I thundered, as I heard the fast approach of someone headed our way.

"I'm sorry." He quietly said.

"Yeah, so am I." I muttered.

"What for? This isn't your fault." He replied, frowning

"I am sorry I ever said yes to you. I am sorry I ever met you. But most of all I am sorry I ever believed you could change. You really are a narcissistic bastard. You have done enough damage to me and my family. Leave." I ordered, feeling my eyes begin to water.

"Bella, I swear this wasn't something I wanted. My dad is the one who thought you would agree." He tried to explain, stepping back as someone arrived.

I could care less whose idea it was, I needed him to leave now.

"Didn't you fucking hear me?! Get the fuck out of here! I fucking hate you! I hate you! Maldito seas! Te odio!" I yelled as I tried to walk closer to him, only for someone to pull me back. (Damn you! I hate you!)

"You— you don't mean that…" he said, flinching back.

"No, I do! I really do. Because if I had never met you, my dad would still be here. You took so much away from me. But that didn't matter, I got over that, I got through it. Now that you have taken the only man who has truly ever loved me, and I don't think I can ever forgive you. I don't even want to look at you. So leave, and don't come back ever again." I said, as I struggled to get out of the hold I was in, on to feel someone pull me back again.

"Masen, there is no reason for you to be here. You have already done enough. Get the fuck out of here." Gio said as Cris slowly attempted to lead me away.

"I am only here to speak to her. I am not here to cause trouble." I heard Edward say quietly.

"Haven't you fucking noticed that every time you appear something always happens to her? Leave, by being here you are only hurting her. She deserves better than all the shit you have put her through. Let her be happy. Leave and don't come back." Gio asserted.

I took a deep breath as Cris led me to the car, as I felt the cool air hit my face. I wiped my tear-stained face, as I looked out of the window as the car began to slowly move.

"Mami, no está aquí para vernos, ¿verdad?" Nati asked, nervously. (Mommy, he's not here to see us is he?)

"No, cariño. Él ha venido para hablar conmigo. No te preocupes." I replied, reaching back to hold her hand and Santi's. (No sweetie. He has come to talk to me. Do not worry.)

"Will you be alright?" I heard Cris ask, as we pulled into the church.

I took a deep calming breath before looking up and nodding, before we all exited the vehicle wordlessly and made our way into the small church.

A/N:

I know many of you wanted Isa and Pilar's dad to survive, but this is something that needed to happen.

As they say things get worse before they get better.

Hope you are enjoying it. Until next time. Be safe, and make good choices.