I hope you didn't forget to vote the first chapter.

So, here is the last chapter.

It was his graduation party. He was twenty-three and never missed anything about his hometown. He did invite Harry but he never expected him to actually come. But he felt good seeing him after seven years. Martin was happy to hear that Harry left the town too and now was settled in New Jersey.

"I am happy that I can see you more often now." Martin genuinely told him.

"Same here, man," He replied.

They talk about the old days and the mention of Lydia was inevitable.

"It was a marriage of convenience. Her mother wanted her to settle and the butcher's son was the only one who offered to pay the bills for her brother." Harry mentioned.

"Oh, poor Lydia," Sofia said.

"But what we can do about it?" Martin replied squeezing Sofia's arm.

"Yea, she looked so sad to me, even in her wedding dress. I tried to talk to her mother but, Man! she didn't budge. But now Lydia is fine. With her four sons, she looked happy last time I saw her."

"Four sons!" Sofia and Martin cried out in unison.

"Such people are the reason behind the population problems," Sofia commented.

"Such things start the never-ending loop of poverty and are the reason behind increase rate of crimes eventually," Martin added.

"You two are really something. Always so judgmental. She gave birth to twins twice. That's it. And those four kids have their parents. Let them figure out." Harry said with quite an irritation.

Somehow the party ended but he never called Harry ever again for the next three years. After three years he sent Harry his wedding invitation. He was marrying an elite lady, Josephine.

This time he came to know that Lydia and her husband were having some differences and filing for divorce. Because of some unknown reason his husband sold out his or her old home, his restaurant, car and everything else. She was forced to live in the store of the company she was working for. And she had adopted a colleague's daughter too.

He knew Lydia was incapable and will fail miserably at life. But he didn't know she will fall this hard. He couldn't do anything except feeling sorry for her. And then he looked at his wife who was rich, well-mannered, educated, was amazing when it comes to business and even running a foster care. She was making a difference in society. This is exactly what he wanted in his life.

The time went by. He was forty-five when he came to know about Harry's demise.

Harry's family wanted him to burry in his old hometown, and planning to shift forever. He paid his last visit to his friend in New Jersey before his body was taken to Ohio, their old place. Though he wanted to be there at his burial time, he was busy with his business dealings and second wife. His first marriage only went for twelve years. Josephine was nothing but an imposter of someone he wanted. She doesn't want to work for anything at all.

He felt sorry for Harry's daughters. They were only aged sixteen and eighteen at that time. He offered some money to his widow that she declined saying that they can manage. He never got the time to check on them. They shifted to Ohio, and he never heard from them ever.

He was sixty years old when he decided to retire. He got three hospitals from his father that he managed to make nine. Four of these hospitals were specialized. He was famous in his line of business and indeed owned billions of dollars in his account. It was after three days after his retirement when he was sitting in his living room and reading a newspaper. He looked at his watch while reminiscing the day when his third wife gifted him this. It's been four years that she lost the war against leukemia. His son was thirty-one and was very busy nowadays. He was a great kid, never forgets to give him time and still manage to visit him at least once in a month. His daughter was a traveler and someone who hardly shows up in any of the family dinners. The last time he saw her was eight months ago.

To pass his time he would go to an old age home and loved to talk to the people there. He was also planning to open a foster care home for homeless kids because he wanted to do something that would make a difference in people's lives even after he leaves this world.

"Mr. Watson, your son is here." His maid came to inform him.

He spent an amazing evening with his son, gave advice on some of the matters and listen to his propositions.

"Dad, I am leaving for Ohio, next week. You want to come?" He asked.

"What's in Ohio?" Martin asked.

"Well, for one it's your hometown, and we never went there together. For second Care Pharmaceuticals has invited me to attend their anniversary ceremony. The company recently completed their 100 years." His son replied.

Well, for your reason number one we can go there. We own a place there and it will be great. But for the second, that company always invited us. Then why now?" Martin asked his son.

"Dad, we are procuring all of our hospital supplies from that company. The company deals with every medical instrument and is hosting almost every hospital in twenty states. But this event is gonna be big. The owner of the company Mrs. Adam's is a famous personality now. She is given a lot of awards recently for creating and providing jobs to almost one hundred thousand people. And soon, she is going to be family with a very famous minister of Spain, Mr. Knight. As Mr. Knight is coming there a lot of his political and billionaire friends are also going to attend the event because the wedding is just a week away. Definitely, we are not invited to the wedding but we can attend this high profile ceremony and socialize to potential investors."

Somehow he recalled a highlighter orange overall. Care Pharmaceuticals was famous even then. He remembered the girl but he couldn't recall her name.

"Fine, let's do it. I might pay a visit to Harry's family." He replied to his son.

They reached two days before the ceremony. A lot of things had changed. His son liked their place very much. In the morning Martin went to see his school and was happy to see the upgraded building.

For some unknown reason he wanted to look for his old classmates but he decided to do this after the ceremony.

He received a message from his son that they will see each other at the ceremony as something is up. With his driver, he reached his destination in his latest Limousine. He decided to wait for his son a little more but then something so familiar caught his attention.

She was right at that place where she was then. In the very same highlighter orange overall having the company's monogram and distributing flyers maybe. He couldn't tell because he was at some distance. But it was so easy to recognize her. She still looked beautiful like old times.

Face huh? She was always nothing but a face. He thought. He could see that her interest in makeup was still young. He couldn't recall her name but he remembers the incident. It was the same place where he broke her heart once. But it was necessary, someone needed to show her the reality. He thought.

He could see that she was a failure at that time and nothing was changed even now. All she could ever have was his pity.

Looking that his son was nowhere to be seen he decided to leave for the ceremony without him. He was going into the building when he heard her say.

"Martin, is that you?"

He turned to find her right behind him.

"Yes, it's me..." He trailed off. He tried to recall her name but couldn't.

"Lydia, it's fine. I, too, forget my name sometimes." She joked as a very bright smile was plastered on her face.

"Yes, of course, it was Lydia. How are you?" He asked.

"I am good but it's been such a long time. Let's see each other more often once this ceremony ends." She offered.

"Actually, I have a lot to do and I am only staying here for three more days. You see there is a lot to catch up." He softly declined.

"Oh, let's go inside. I am almost finished here." She said as she walked inside and he walks beside her.

"You still look so good." She complimented.

"You too, Lydia." He answered with a smile and retrieved a laugh from her. She was about to say something when a very young lady appeared and yelled.

"Lydia, you are late."

"Oh, excuse me, I got some work to do, Martin. Why don't you enjoy some food stalls." She excused herself with a bright smile.

Martin was taken aback looking at so many people. Later, he came to know that eighty thousand people were invited. He went near to food stalls and tried out some kababs. He was still there when a very familiar pair of green eyes caught his attention. He still had his long hair. And if he was not mistaken he was Lydia's ex-husband. Wearing a chef clothing he was directing some young people about something regarding the food arrangements.

Martin couldn't contain his curiosity, he wanted to know why they got divorced so he went to him and decided to say a hello.

"Hello," Martin said making that man look at him.

A frown appeared on his face. "You are Martin, right?" Jacob asked.

"Yes," He replied.

"Mark!" Jacob called for a boy. And when that boy appeared, Jacob proudly said.

"Hey Mark, this is Martin. He used to be my love rival. He lost eventually as you can see." He stopped to brush the collar and then continue "And Martin, this is my and Lydia's grandson. He attends Harvard."

Martin's jaw dropped to the floor. There was no such thing ever. It was a lie. He has to come back with something.

"I heard you two divorced a long time ago," Martin said.

Jacob's face dropped and then he said.
"And I heard that you die with typhoid a long time ago."

"Uneducated, so uncultured. I know coming to this town was a bad idea." He growled and was about to turn when he heard Mark saying. "I wonder what grandma saw in him."

"I know right?" Jacob replied.

Martin shook his head in disbelief but then everyone was called into the hall. The hall was big enough to accommodate all the audience.

He saw his son already seated beside his seat. The ceremony was started by a man who looked to be around his early forties. Two minutes later he called for Mrs. Adam's appearance.

But instead of Mrs. Adam's, Lydia appeared and introduced herself as Mrs. Adam's.

For a second he couldn't take it. There was no way that she was Mrs. Adam's. Suddenly, she doesn't look like who is a failure or even sixty years old. She looked very young and active. Speaking at that stage in front of so many people she looked like someone who runs this world.

He tried to listen to what she was saying but no he couldn't. He could only recall a girl who used to brought him lunch. He could only recall the girl who was holding her brothers' hand and standing under the shade of that restaurant.

"...... no going back. But our vision will be same. We will work harder not for just the sake of growth and spread the business but to create jobs for our community. In the last thirty-three years, from the day I owned this company I have never said no to anyone for a job. And even before me Mr. Jonathan never refused a person looking for a job. We have to bring his legacy forward......"

Everyone started laughing and she stopped the speech.

"He is right behind me. Isn't he?" Mrs. Adam's said and everyone laughs harder.

And then Martin saw Jacob giving her some medicines that she took with quite a disappointing face but then she gave him a peck on his lips before continuing to her speech.

"Well, all of you already know him. He is my husband for the last forty-two years now. I still remember the day when Uncle Jonathan decided to sell the company off. I came home and I don't know why I mentioned that I wanted to help Mr. Jonathan. Employment of six hundred people was at stake including me of course. I was working as a marketing manager at that time. And my husband sold everything he ever worked for without thinking. Do you know why? Because he always thinks I am meant for big things. It's been quite a long journey, Jacob. Thank you. Thank you so much. And I thank my sixteen children who always listen to me and never became a bother. I thank you to my thirty-six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren who came into our lives to make it brighter. But yes, today I also welcome Mr. Knight between us who is going to be my son in law soon. Welcome to the family son. I still remember when two years ago my youngest daughter introduced him as a boyfriend.

I knew even at that time that he is not going away anytime soon." She stopped as everybody started laughing." Wellcome son. So, I won't take much of your time and would love to call our marketing director now." She said and left the stage in a loud applaud.

A lot of people came to share how beautiful was their journey with the company. The food was served and only five thousand people were invited for the after ceremony party. The venue was amazing and again owned by Mrs. Adams. She looked beautiful in her black gown and was not seen alone for a single second.

He wanted to approach her. He didn't know what he would say but he knew that he need to say something.

"Hello, Mrs. Adams," Martin said and she turned.

"Martin! How are you doing? I hope it's not boring. And it is always Lydia for you." She said the last part mischievously.

"Mr. Martin, can I have a picture with you." A sixteen-year-old girl asked.

He turned to find a miniature of Lydia.

"Amber!" Lydia exclaimed in joy and hugged her.

"I am so glad that you make it," Lydia said once she hugged the girl.

"I had to granny," Amber replied.

Amber gestured the photographer and hold Mr. Martin's and Lydia's arm to pose for a picture.

"This is gonna be perfect. I am going to caption it, My granny catching up with his high school crush." Amber said before leaving.

Lydia looked at Martin and shrugged her shoulders. "You know kids these days."

Martin doesn't know what Amber told others but then a lot of kids from Lydia's family came to have a picture with him. He became from no one to the most wanted person in the party.

"Hey, Martin, Why don't you come to our get together tomorrow. It's Lydia's birthday tomorrow. Only our family will be there. It would be so nice to have you there." Anna, Lydia's niece offered him.

"We will definitely come." replied his son. And once they were alone his son was giving him a knowing smile.

"Why you didn't tell me you knew Mrs. Adams from school? I can see you were a little famous dad."

"A lot of girls used to bother me. Lydia was one of them." Martin replied.

"And there was no love rivalry as his husband has been mentioning," Martin said with quite an irritation this time that made his son laugh.

He came to know that she adopted twelve kids in her lifetime. Three of them were even one year older than her first born. That was also the reason that she had great-grandkids. Her sons were all married. Only one of them was associated with her business. The second son was helping out his father in their franchises of the restaurant. The last two sons were running an advertisement company. He was beyond shocked to see Harry's family there too.

His eldest daughter was married to Lydia's fourth son and the younger daughter was married to her third son. Well, both were twins having only ten mins of difference.

Next day, he was sitting in his study. A very same blue diary that he left behind in this place was on his table. The diary has the most cringy fantasies ever. She wanted him to be her first kiss. She even decided the name of their kids that never happened of course.

Things were going to be so different if he had decided to make her His life partner. She was always beautiful, smart and devoted but he never noticed such things about her. She had to marry that butcher's son because he was not there to hold her hand.

Next day, Martin and his son got ready to attend her birthday party. She was going to be sixty years old and Martin got her Tiffany's bracelet.

Even her family function included almost three hundred people. Some close people from her company and adding up her in-laws made the count go up.

She looked mesmerizing in her white gown. He recalled the day when she was waiting for him in front of the cinema.

Her husband would say something funny in her ear and she would laugh sometimes or blush the other times.

The dance was started. He was asked for a dance by endless women. Mostly her daughters, granddaughters and even daughter in laws. Harry's daughter remembered him from their father's funeral.

He tried to find Lydia after cake cutting but couldn't. Her husband was outside with his son but she was nowhere to be found. He asked around and was eventually directed inside the house. He heard some whispering and on following he accidentally eavesdropped on her conversation with her granddaughter.

"... It's fine, you will find someone far better." Lydia consoled her heart broken granddaughter who was sniffing.

"tell me, did you share a kiss?" Lydia asked.
"Yea," She replied.
"Oh, girl, then he is coming back for ya," Lydia told her.
"What makes you think....." That girl was cut off with
"Because I know this. It's in our genes. Once you kiss a boy he is bewitched and never going to leave."

"But my mother was adopted." She cried.
"I breastfeed her, she is almost mine," Lydia answered making that girl giggle.

He regretted the day when Lydia and he were this close to sharing a kiss. A kiss that never happened. It was common sense to kiss a beautiful girl when the time comes but what he chose to do. He ignored her all signs.

"Now go upstairs and wear your best outfit. It's my birthday girl, you can't miss it for some lad." Lydia said and the moment Lydia appeared from the room she was startled to see Martin.

"Hey, Martin, you want something," Lydia asked a little taken aback from his sudden appearance.

He mistook her flustered state, thinking he still had some effect on her.

"You remember the blue diary that you left behind. We were doing a project together at that time." He tried to make her recall.

A shock was evident from her face. "Don't tell me that you have that diary. Oh my God, it's so embarrassing." She said.

"No, Lydia. I am so sorry that I was so blind not to see your other qualities at that time. I was quite mean. I knew that it might be disturbing for you to recall all the things I said." He tried to apologize.

"It's fine, Martin, I don't even remember the words you said. There was a time when they used to ring in my head but I don't remember a thing now. I do remember that you rejected me and I cried and felt bad but I don't really remember what you said. It's been a long time." She told him as she started walking past him and looked back when she saw him still at his place.

"What?" She asked.
"I should have kissed you," saying this he took long strides and was about to kiss her when she gave him a punch on his guts and left without saying anything.

He took hold on himself and when he came out, she didn't spare him a glance beside the fact that he was standing just a few feet away. A girl in her twenties came to Lydia holding a baby boy.

"Hey, Lydia I think he is not feeling good. I think we should take him to the doctor."

He was still looking at Lydia when she said.

"It's fine, scarlet, we do have a child specialist here, don't we Martin?"

*******************
Thoughts on Jacob humor?

Thoughts on turn of events in Harry's family.

Leave a message for any heart broken person that could light up his/her day.