Marcel Wellington's POV

It's today.

The day for me to walk back to my past started off with rain. Winter is fast approaching, and Mother Nature tries to bless the plants with plenty of rain before the cold kicks in. The cold to come already brews within me.

I try my possible best to stay in higher spirits, but how can I when I'm going back there?

My second wedding went wonderfully. If you can overlook Marci's gloomy mood throughout. She knows her wish for us to be a family won't last. All she wanted was a wonderful family, and I couldn't provide that.

A man should provide for and protect his own, but I gave them trauma instead.

No matter how much I dismissed it, I knew one day my demons would catch up to me. I only hoped that it wouldn't reach out to my loved ones. The hope died when Valentiá aimed a gun at Dinah when she was pregnant.

The woman reminded me of my younger sister. We were the closest pair among the adopted spawns of the Lealtad clan, and her betrayal dug the hole in my heart deeper.

Since it was my last day with them, Abuela requested my presence for the night with them. Given her persuasive tongue and her roll of newspaper, there was no way I could say no.

As I zip up my suit, I take a long look around the room. It was my old room, and it had many fond memories. A common one was Santiago, Valentiá, and I raiding Abuela's cellar and drinking ourselves into a stupor.

I come out of the room and take in the scene. My whole family stands there with glum faces, and I take my time to tell them goodbye as I leave.

My last goodbye.

Abuela pulls me into her arms and mutters a prayer for me in Spanish. She pulls away, cups my face, and sighs, "I hoped after all these years, he would let you be."

"Sadly, men like Sam don't work that way." I roll my eyes and pat her cheek. "Thank you."

I turn to Abuelo and say, "Thank you for taking me in and raising me as one of your own. You put up with me and my demons and turned me into what I am today. I can't express my gratitude even more than you take in my daughter and watch over her and my wife. I promise I'll keep the darkness far from this household once I can tame it."

Abuelo chuckles, "Taming darkness belongs to those who can dine with Lions and Tigers. Marcel, you're a fine spoon that's already moulded. Don't allow them to bend you to their will."

I force out a smile and approach Santiago. The man opens his arms wide and gives me a tight hug. I return the favour and slap him on his back.

"I'm gonna miss you, man," I tell him, and he tightens his hands further.

We release each other, and he cleans a tear leaking from his eye. "I couldn't have asked for a better best friend and brother. Growing up with you was phenomenal. You made every day an adventure, Sherlock. And I'm happy we continued the gang with our kids. As you leave, don't forget that you will always be a Lealtad. You've proven yourself to be loyal, and that's something I know the rat bastards in the Empire were too blind to see."

I nod at his words and ruffle his hair. Maya offers me a hug and a kiss on my cheek.

Turning to the youngest men in the Lealtad clan, I roughly grip their shoulders and bring them down to my height. I find it hard to believe that these two knuckleheads I used to give noogies are tall enough to return a favour.

"You two dimwits, take care of your sister and cousin, alright?"

Diego laughs and throws his hands around my shoulders. "Will it be bad if I give you a noogie?"

"Not if you have a death wish."

"I'll take my chances," Mateo says and rubs my head aggressively.

Before I can whack this nitwit, he makes a run for it. Diego playfully pulls on my air and follows his brother's lead.

Acting like sons of my own.

Last but not least, the youngest of the clan and a recurrent face in my household. She could have even passed off as my second daughter and Marci's twin.

"I'm gonna miss you, Uncle Marcel." Giá launches at me with a force to be reckoned with.

She wraps her hands and legs around me as she hugs me. I chuckle and hug her back. After a few minutes, she returns to her feet, and I return to old habits.

"How about a deal? If you can keep Marci from making-"

She cuts me off. "You don't need to bribe me, Uncle Marcel. I'll always have Marci's back. Even if she acts like a donkey, I'd still have it."

I smile fondly at the girl and tap her hair.

I turn around and face the family. These people helped me when I was at my lowest. I'd lost the meaning of life and happiness, but they showed me how to get it. They lit the light at the end of my dark tunnel and showed me the way.

I should reciprocate such acts of kindness with the same intentions in the heart.

I sigh. "No words can express how happy I am for meeting all of you. And as much as I want to stay, I have to return to home. Back to the people who broke me, but as I leave, I leave as a new man. Not the same lost boy they threw away, but a man who will stand tall and proud and protect everyone he loves. Ningún clan mejor que el clan Lealtad."

Translation: No clan is better than the Lealtad clan.

We raise our right hands to our heads in salute.

Stepping into the rain, I approach the Uber and enter. The cab driver greets me and starts driving.

Rain pelts the windows, making it hard to see. I wipe the mist off the window and see Wellington records. The place started from nothing, and to nothing, it returned. I sacked all the workers because I knew I won't return.

Caleb took the news the hardest among the staff. I'd grown fond of the boy over the years, and it broke my heart to tell him I would no longer be his producer, father figure, and friend. His crestfallen look will always haunt me.

I sigh and flick my head the other way. We drive past the penthouse next and keep moving.

I said my goodbyes to that household yesterday. I spent most of it reassuring Caleb that his career was not over. There was no way in hell I would allow Caleb to work for that idiot called Leo Stuarts. I called another associate of mine and offered her a deal.

She takes Caleb as her client, and in return, she gives half of the royalties to my wife.

Dinah.

She didn't want to see me today because she wouldn't let me get onto that plane. The woman insisted on keeping me within her sights until I mustered the courage to tell her the truth.

The cold, hard truth.

I wasn't coming back, and she'd have to continue her life without me in it.

Of course, it turned into an argument and, because I have a bone to pick with God, Marci walked in at that moment. She left the house that night and went to stay in the Penthouse.

Dinah stayed in my arms throughout the last week. She'd wake up in tears and sweat in the middle of the night. Nightmares aren't a norm for her. But as the day of my departure grew nearer, her nightmares became more gruesome. Some were of her watching me die at the hands of Sam, just like the original Wellingtons. Others were of me having a new family when I took over.

It was a battle to reason with her, and I'm not sure I won. The woman's last words still ring in my ears.

"Promise me we'll meet again."

I sigh, "Dinah, I-I"

She cups my face and rests her forehead on mine. Her breaths come out uneven as she hiccups. "Promise me Marcellus. We've come too far to throw it all away that easily. The British Empire can't determine how your happiness should be, so why should you let it?"

I kiss her, "I promise. We will meet again."

The car pulls up to the private airstrip and parks. I come out of the car and see a dazzling white jet with a golden Griffin imprinted on its side. The rain makes it look like a shelter, like a place I can seek refuge. But it isn't. It is a cage painted as a paradise.

I fought.

I fought for myself, but he killed me.

I fought for my family, but he killed them.

I fought for Faith, but he killed her with his words and action.

Faith Margret Griffin.

The first woman I ever loved. I loved her with a passion that could burn down cities. It was my love for her that got her killed. The same love ripped my family apart, and thrusted into a world of freedom, but the scars never healed. I force myself to remain calm as the memories I buried flood into my head.

Troy, Faith and I

The next generation that they were grooming for takeover. We were the future of the Empire, but it changed in one night. I was ready to cut my tongue from my mouth as I left, but something told me not to.

Thank fuck I didn't.

I push away from the car and approach the jet. The jet's steps collide with the floor silently and wait for me to climb them. I grip the handles with so much force that they groan. Placing one leg on the first step, I hoist myself upward.

I didn't know which one was scarier. My fear of heights or the fear of the unknown.

"So, you're going to leave without saying goodbye?"

A familiar voice stops me

I inhale, but don't turn around. I'm not sure I can.

"You were, weren't you? I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay here. Stay and continue to be part of the Lealtad clan. Part of the Wellington records. Be with your wife and be my dad. That's the only thing I've wanted this year. You're one of my favourite people in the world, and I can't continue to live without you. So, I'm begging you, Dad." Her voice breaks, and I hear a small thump. "Stay and be my dad."

The last part breaks my resolve, and I turn to a sight I never thought was possible. My daughter. My flesh and blood. Tears stream down her face as she kneels in the rain. She clasps her hands in front of her as if she's praying.

All she ever wanted was for her dad to be there for her, and I can't do that. In the long run, I'd add more pain and tears if I remained here. Sam would send people to drag me back, and I won't allow Marci to witness that. Not after everything she's seen this year.

The Empire is my cross to carry and mine alone. If it were possible, I'd make sure Marci never steps a foot in it. I'll find another someone to take over as third in command. If I can't, I'll die trying.

I approach her and bring up to her feet and wrap my arms around her. I say no words as she cries into my arms. The rain grows heavier with each passing second, but I refuse to let go of her. I'm not ready to let her go, but the choice of leaving my family behind has never been my choice.

She pulls back and sniffs. "Please don't go."

I sigh and kiss her forehead. Turning my head slightly, I nod at Shane, who's been watching the scene from behind the plane.

The ghost comes out from the hidden spot and nods at me. Marci looks from him to me and frowns. I pull my ring and slip it into her palms and step back. She reaches for me, but Shane holds her back.

Marci thrashes against him and tries to reach for me. She kicks and screams at Shane, but he remains stone cold and holds her in place.

I take one step back, and she yells at me.

Another one, and she kicks Shane.

I turn around, and she yells at him.

From curse words to begging; my daughter is relentless as she tugs at Shane to let her go.

Her glare freezes me as I climb the steps, but I continue. Suddenly, I hear Shane mutter a curse word and turn around. He cradles his crotch as Marci rushes to me, but she never made it.

Taryn's sketchy twin comes out of nowhere and scoops her off the ground. Marci resumes her yelling, and Terry turns his attention from the screaming teen to me.

"For fuck's sake, Marcel! Get on the damn plane before I'm forced to tranquillise her."

I inhale and force myself to climb onto the plane. I sit by the window and look at them through the rain. Marci hits Terry's chest as she sobs. Her black bangs were wet and glued to her face, makes it hard for me to see her eyes.

The plane taxis, and Marci continues to struggle. She thinks there's hope that she can stop my departure.

Terry continues in vain to talk her out of it, but the girl remains adamant. Shane finally recovers from his pained groin and joins Terry to hold her down.

The sight of my thrashing daughter finally makes one tear slide down my face. Her screams cause another. The pain her mother feels makes a third one appear. Abuela and Abuelo praying for me to have a fourth one coming down. The sight of Abigail and Caleb, red-eyed and sniffing, was the last straw.

I hide my face in my palms and cry. Cry for those that died because of me. I cry for those that lose themselves trying to save me. And I cry for the people who believe I'd come back alive.

A fool's dream indeed.

-

The plane finishes taxi, and I come down from the plane. I step onto Mother soil for the first time in years, and it should have made me go into cardiac arrest. I'm greeted by Penny and Danny as they stand at the sides of the man who caused it all.

The man who should a second father to me. He destroyed all forms of my happiness in one night.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before Sam Griffin.

"Welcome home, Marcellus."

Home sweet home.