It's on the 31st of December in California. Sabrina just came right in time before New Year. She planned to speak to Marga. Athena's lonely and she's depressed too. It's hurting her and Marga knew well that it's what she wanted. However, she didn't want to let Marga win, ever. But this is not about her and her past. This is about Xavier and Athena. She knew that Xavier loves Athena as much as Athena loves him. 

"Love, I can go there." 

​​

"No." She shook her head and placed her palm that was covered with gloves over his chest. "This is between me and Marga." She said softly. "Please don't involve yourself. Let me do this for Athena and Xavier." 

"I will be waiting here, then." He bent down and kissed his forehead. She nodded. Gabriel watched her walk to the doorbell while he went back to the car and turned on the heater. He watched as Marga opened it. 

 Sabrina gave her a tight smile and lifted a basket of Marga���s favorite wine and champagne. Marga crossed her arms. 

"What are you doing here, Sabrina?" 

"I wanted to speak to you." Sabrina pushed the basket to Marga's chest and Marga held it. Sabrina entered and closed the door. 

"You just get in feeling at home?" She put the basket on the bedside table nearby. Sabrina sighed and looked at him. 

"Please, let's stop the heat between us. I come here not because of our past, Marga. I came here for Athena and Xavier." 

"Wow," Marga said a little amused as she stared at Sabrina. "Hearing you talk makes me think of what I told you about me as a mute." She tilted her head and looked at her from head to toe. "You are always the same." 

"I never change, Marga. But this time, I let my ego down and my pride down for my daughter. Xavier left Athena just like that without explaining so much after he promised his love to her." Sabrina shook her head. "You won. You hurt me. I should hate you, but I don't. It's the past, Marga. I already forgive you for everything you've done to me." Sabrina sipped some air and puffed it out. "But whether you like it or not, your mother killed herself and your father was given to Ivanov. Francisco killed Calvin's wife. Did you know how he killed her? Just right in front of his daughter. He did the same right in front of his other daughter. You should be glad that I didn't make you pay for it. I know that you are manipulated and were raised that way." 

"It wouldn't change a thing," Marga said stubbornly. 

"Marga, if your father didn't die, you'll still be with them, controlling you, and forever will be caged in hell." Sabrina bit her lower lip to avoid her tears. She could contain it. "My Athena didn't do anything wrong to you, Marga. She loves your son so much more than her life. Seeing my Athena cry every time she thought of him pains me. Is this how you want revenge, Marga? I just told you that you won." 

"Enough! I don't want to hear your lies, Sabrina. I want you to leave." Marga screamed at her and she opened the door. 

"I spoke nothing but the truth here. You are still the same. You brush off the truth and live in lies" Sabrina paused for a while and looked directly at Marga's dilated eyes. "Why are you torturing your son like this? Do you know why I let you off when I heard that you are pregnant? I let my cousin Andromeda handle you and keep you safe together with your son. I know that it wasn't your fault to be someone evil as your mother. You were raised that way." Sabrina looked at Marga's clenched fist. She knew well that her nails were digging deep to her palm trying to contain herself. "Have you ever thought of Xavier? I know that he loves my daughter."

"Sabrina…" Marga growled. 

"Let go, Marga. Let go of all of your hatred." 

"Did she really kill herself?" Marga asked as she wiped her tears. 

"Yes," Sabrina answered. "I don't want your mother to die. I want her to live longer for her to pay for the sins she made. Do you know how much I am in rage when I heard that she killed herself? What your mother does to my mom should be paid by suffering for long." Sabrina sniffled. "If you don't know, I saw everything in my innocent eyes. How she told those men to raped my mom and what they should do to her. My mom was tortured by your mother right in front of my eyes and I did the same, ten folds to pay for what she did!" Sabrina exhaled to compose herself. "But it's the past. My bidding is done. But is it right for Xavier to pay for it? Is it right for my Athena to pay for it? They are innocents. You aren't. I let Xavier be close to my daughter even though he's a threat. Because if he did betray her and hurt her, you know well that he has to pay. But you already won. You hurt my daughter through your son." Sabrina said it without stopping. Her heart felt like it's been crumpled. Like the past is going back to her and all of the traumas. She turned back from her and left.

 Gabriel immediately opened the car door and approached Sabrina. He glanced at Marga and he opened the car door for his wife. He drove off safely as he held her hand. Sabrina burst into tears. He stopped the car in the corner and he removed his seatbelt and moved closer to her to comfort her. He removed his gloves and wiped her hot tears. 

"Shh, it'll be fine." Sabrina removed her seatbelt and crawled to his lap. Gabriel hugged her and lent his chest for her to cry. She's crying like a little girl and that's what he wanted. He wanted her to pour out her feelings so she can let them go through crying. "I'm here, my wifey." 

 It takes time for Sabrina to stop crying. She settled back in her seat and Gabriel drove to their hotel. It's eleven-forty in the evening and they should meet New Year with happiness. But they stayed in a hot jacuzzi tub in the wide bathroom. They are on the top floor where they could see the fireworks. He gently caressed her thighs kissing her cheeks. 

"Well, it's up to Xavier to go after her." 

"How's Athena?" 

"She's having fun with her brothers at the beach." 

"Hmm, good." 

"Xavier will go back to the Philippines. You don't have to worry." 

"I know… but I think Marga needs help." 

"Don't worry. Xavier will set it up. Marga couldn't accept the fact. She needs to help herself too." 

<><><><> 

 Back at Marga's house, Xavier heard everything. The time that he heard a car outside, he peeked at the window to see Sabrina and Gabriel. He immediately went down and listen to them. Hearing everything from Sabrina and seeing his mother's reaction, he knew well that Sabrina is telling the truth. The painful looked in her eyes is real. So, it's his mother. Now he understood everything. He waited as her mother went to the living room with weak knees. Her eyes widen seeing him on the stairs. 

"Is it true?" He asked calmly. Her mother wanted to hurt Athena. The very first thing that he never wanted to do. His heart felt like going to explode. "Is it true?!" He screamed at her. She looked jumpy when he raised his voice. 

"Yes!" Marga started sobbing. "I want you to hurt her precious daughter!" 

"The day you sent me away and I left my phone… did you blocked Athena's number from my phone?" Xavier asked again and she didn't answer. "Did you?" She looked away guilty. "You even set me up with Kylie." Xavier scoffed. "So, everything that I heard from Ferdinand is true? Your mother is a cunning bitch. My mother too." Because of emotion, Xavier let go of some painful words that he shouldn't say. Marga rushed to him and slapped him across his cheek. Her hands shake when she did that. She immediately regrets hurting him. 

 Xavier's eyes are full of pain and anger as he looked at him. Like he detests his mother. 

"Hurt me, mom. I ignored it all. The way you hurt me and you hurt yourself. I ignored it all. I love Athena, with all of my life. I can't live without her. I promised to marry her. And if I can't have her, then I should remain like this. Boring, get old, miserable." Xavier covered his face as his tears rolled down his cheeks. "My heart has been smashed into pieces... into powder. I can't hurt my Athena but I just did." Xavier looked away. His knees became weak as he fell his butt on the staircase. He miserably brushed his fingers through his hair. 

"Don't leave me!" Marga desperately hugged his son.