As Patricia ran wildly, she suddenly saw Victor walking back from the river, his heart heavy with the truth the river goddess had told him. But nothing prepared him for the sight of Patricia running toward him like a crazed woman. She fell to her knees in front of him, crying and wailing. “Victor, please forgive me!” she screamed. “I did it! I threw Amanda into the river! I lied to you! I said the river took her, but it was me! I hated her because she reminded me of your first wife! I’m sorry! Forgive me!” Victor stood still, his face filled with shock. The words hit him like thunder. The goddess had spoken the truth. Patricia crawled closer, grabbing his feet, sobbing uncontrollably. “Please, Victor, forgive me! I was jealous! I didn’t mean for it to go this far! Forgive me!” Victor looked down at her, his heart heavy with anger and pain. Without saying a word, he pulled his feet away, turned around, and walked away, leaving her crying and screaming in the dust. But Patricia’s madness grew worse. She tore at her clothes, screaming at the sky. Then she ran wildly into the forest, her screams fading into the distance, swallowed by the trees. No one saw her again.
When Victor reached home, he found Amanda waiting at the doorway. The moment he saw her, his heart broke with guilt and love. He rushed to her, knelt down, and hugged her tightly, tears streaming down his face. “My daughter,” Victor whispered, his voice shaking. “I’m so sorry. I promise I will never leave you again. I will protect you with my life.” Amanda smiled gently and hugged him back. “Daddy, don’t worry. I will always protect you too.” And in that embrace, all the pain, all the loss, all the darkness that had haunted their lives began to melt away.
For complete cooking times, go to the next page or click the Open button (>), and don't forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.