PresentAugust 2017Luc was still the same, a little more stable for passing the critical stage, but the same.I spent the day with all of them, Diana left early to be with her baby and me, Giulia, Enzo and Lilly went to the cafeteria for dinner."What do you want to eat? I talked to the manager of the cafeteria and juggled to get something decent," Enzo said and I didn't even know what to say."I'll just eat some fries and a soda, today is the day to break the diet," Giulia said and her brother shook his head, but didn't say anything."I'll eat a hamburger, thanks," Lilly said.Both she and Enzo saw me and I had no choice but to lie to them, so I sighed deeply and said:"Like Giulia, I don't have much of an appetite and I don't know if I'll be able to eat anything else.”Then a man not so old, perhaps about Uncle Ismael's age, appeared and Giulia got up to go and hug him tightly."Who is it?" Lilly asked and I shook my head."I don't have the slightest idea about it," I admitted.I s
PresentOctober 1017"Well, Luciano, you can start exercising, soft things, nothing high-impact, you must recover your previous condition, but yes, I give you my blessing to have intimacy.”We burst out laughing, I saw my sister typing mischievously and I asked her:"Did you write to my girlfriend?""No, I wrote to the one I want to be mine, but it's very hard to crack, I have a feeling it's going to be a very difficult ninja path to travel," he blurted out solemnly and I shook my head over his nonsense."Take it easy, Alice has a past that hides beneath that noble heart, be careful and don't pressure, she must have her time...""Well, I'll drop you off at home and then I'll go to the academy, so...""No, I need to go to the headquarters of the companies, I have something very important to do there and I'll take one of the cars I have there," I asked and he looked at me suspiciously."Well, let's go.”When I got to my office, I looked at the person who was filling in for me, a person
Three years later...LucianoWe would finally have our happy union.She, as an adventurer, decided that she didn't want a big gala or celebration, but wanted to have a quick and fun meeting in Las Vegas, that's why we were there, in one of the most iconic chapels on The Strip.Emma seemed like a goddess in every sense of the word.Seeing my wife walk towards me in a beautiful champagne satin silk dress and with a long neckline that incited all my desires, was not only what excited me, but my biggest dream more than fulfilled. I felt in the clouds because of the beauty she gave me, because of the immense love she gave me and because she agreed to be with me, before that, I could not avoid some tears, it was something automatic that not only touched the audience, it touched her much more who also let some tears slip from her eyes and when she arrived at the altar, Bruce gave it to me with great love."Here I give you my granddaughter, live to make her happy, don't break her heart again
Months later...EmmaWe went for Aurora.I was a little girl who was abandoned at the entrance of a church, she had a terrible story, but she was one who told me she needed all the support in the world. She came from a family of Latino immigrants, she was a beauty of a creature, but she was afraid of people, of the world, of people.And rightly so.I couldn't blame her for it, it was just a matter of trust.She was eight years old when we met her, isolated from the rest while drawing fairies and magical creatures. The first one who saw her was Luc, when I looked for him, I ran into her and I just fell in love and even more so when they told me that she went through many shelters where she ended up with some kind of problem because people had no patience for her silence. That caught my interest and when I found out that she was aware of how a family member left her, pushed her aside, I just wanted to do all the paperwork right away.She was hurt, lacked confidence, and deserved all the
Emma's BirthHannaI was tired of fighting.I had to do it for the child I was carrying in my womb because otherwise, I had no reason to continue. I was weak, discarded, and with my soul in pieces, without the consolation of saying that no one had told me. My whole family was at pains to remind me how foolish I would be if I let myself be carried away by the love of a man who wasn't worth it.They were right.The result was to run away with him, leave my house like a thief, and travel with the thought that my love story would have a happy ending. It didn't—quite the opposite. What would be a life away from a controlling father and siblings, where I could do whatever I wanted and no one would force me one more day to do what I didn't like, became a dark hole that swallowed me up without letting me get out of it.It was scary and very disturbing.Bruno was just the bait that someone else used to kidnap me from my life, my roots and origins in Britton. After a twenty-two-hour drive to Ne
Part I. Reunion Present September 2016 If there was one thing I had learned in the years I had been living in New York, it was that fall weather could be the most treacherous of all. It could start as a cool day, but then, without warning, the temperature could drop so rapidly that New Yorkers had no choice but to always carry a coat with them. That's why I rummaged through my closet for a Chanel coat that a client had given me on a trip to Italy. I found it at the bottom, next to items that had never left their packaging, and I smiled with delight because it was in perfect condition. "This will look good on you over that magnificent dress," I told Alice, and she looked at me mockingly. "I don't need a coat for a gala; I have to show off." "I'm not talking about that, smarty. You know perfectly well that Dr. Koch will take you to a bistro after the gala. He likes to show you off, and if you put him in a good mood, he's sure to leave a generous tip." She crossed her arms and si
Present September 2016 Freezing in my tracks wasn't good, but I had turned to stone when I realized that Luc was not only in front of me, but he looked impeccable, radiating a mature beauty that his face had acquired over the years. It had been seven years since the last time we saw each other. It had been seven years since we said "I love you" for the last time. It had been seven years since he lied to my face before leaving without looking back. "Are you okay, Emma?" Alice asked when she noticed my condition. That snapped me out of my stupor, and I nodded, forcing a smile in an attempt not to show how much it was affecting me. "You have to stay focused," I told myself to give the right impression. "You're as beautiful as Rocco told us,” One of the brothers commented, and I smiled with enthusiasm. "I'm Adib, the eldest. These are my brothers Haid and Yusuf, and this gentleman is none other than Luciano Basciano, the CEO of the Basciano conglomerate." I couldn't help but rai
Present September 2016"At that moment, I couldn't tell you who I was, Emma...""I'm not interested in hearing your cheap lies, Mr. Basciano," I interrupted, "I'm only here because I'm fulfilling a service."With that, I got into the limousine, trying to hold back the anger that made me want to cry. He followed me immediately."Why did you become this?"If someone had told me that Luc would show up and question me about why I had become an escort, it would undoubtedly have been the epitome of comedy, so I couldn't help but laugh."What are you laughing at? I'm asking you something serious. How the hell did you end up being one of Rocco's girls?"The urgency in his voice, the veiled disappointment, stopped my laughter immediately. How could he even ask that?I didn't hesitate to respond gracefully before telling him to go to hell."What I was doesn't concern him; what I am now is what matters. I'm here to work, so I don't intend to talk about the past when I have a job to do. Just tel
Emma's BirthHannaI was tired of fighting.I had to do it for the child I was carrying in my womb because otherwise, I had no reason to continue. I was weak, discarded, and with my soul in pieces, without the consolation of saying that no one had told me. My whole family was at pains to remind me how foolish I would be if I let myself be carried away by the love of a man who wasn't worth it.They were right.The result was to run away with him, leave my house like a thief, and travel with the thought that my love story would have a happy ending. It didn't—quite the opposite. What would be a life away from a controlling father and siblings, where I could do whatever I wanted and no one would force me one more day to do what I didn't like, became a dark hole that swallowed me up without letting me get out of it.It was scary and very disturbing.Bruno was just the bait that someone else used to kidnap me from my life, my roots and origins in Britton. After a twenty-two-hour drive to Ne
Months later...EmmaWe went for Aurora.I was a little girl who was abandoned at the entrance of a church, she had a terrible story, but she was one who told me she needed all the support in the world. She came from a family of Latino immigrants, she was a beauty of a creature, but she was afraid of people, of the world, of people.And rightly so.I couldn't blame her for it, it was just a matter of trust.She was eight years old when we met her, isolated from the rest while drawing fairies and magical creatures. The first one who saw her was Luc, when I looked for him, I ran into her and I just fell in love and even more so when they told me that she went through many shelters where she ended up with some kind of problem because people had no patience for her silence. That caught my interest and when I found out that she was aware of how a family member left her, pushed her aside, I just wanted to do all the paperwork right away.She was hurt, lacked confidence, and deserved all the
Three years later...LucianoWe would finally have our happy union.She, as an adventurer, decided that she didn't want a big gala or celebration, but wanted to have a quick and fun meeting in Las Vegas, that's why we were there, in one of the most iconic chapels on The Strip.Emma seemed like a goddess in every sense of the word.Seeing my wife walk towards me in a beautiful champagne satin silk dress and with a long neckline that incited all my desires, was not only what excited me, but my biggest dream more than fulfilled. I felt in the clouds because of the beauty she gave me, because of the immense love she gave me and because she agreed to be with me, before that, I could not avoid some tears, it was something automatic that not only touched the audience, it touched her much more who also let some tears slip from her eyes and when she arrived at the altar, Bruce gave it to me with great love."Here I give you my granddaughter, live to make her happy, don't break her heart again
PresentOctober 1017"Well, Luciano, you can start exercising, soft things, nothing high-impact, you must recover your previous condition, but yes, I give you my blessing to have intimacy.”We burst out laughing, I saw my sister typing mischievously and I asked her:"Did you write to my girlfriend?""No, I wrote to the one I want to be mine, but it's very hard to crack, I have a feeling it's going to be a very difficult ninja path to travel," he blurted out solemnly and I shook my head over his nonsense."Take it easy, Alice has a past that hides beneath that noble heart, be careful and don't pressure, she must have her time...""Well, I'll drop you off at home and then I'll go to the academy, so...""No, I need to go to the headquarters of the companies, I have something very important to do there and I'll take one of the cars I have there," I asked and he looked at me suspiciously."Well, let's go.”When I got to my office, I looked at the person who was filling in for me, a person
PresentAugust 2017Luc was still the same, a little more stable for passing the critical stage, but the same.I spent the day with all of them, Diana left early to be with her baby and me, Giulia, Enzo and Lilly went to the cafeteria for dinner."What do you want to eat? I talked to the manager of the cafeteria and juggled to get something decent," Enzo said and I didn't even know what to say."I'll just eat some fries and a soda, today is the day to break the diet," Giulia said and her brother shook his head, but didn't say anything."I'll eat a hamburger, thanks," Lilly said.Both she and Enzo saw me and I had no choice but to lie to them, so I sighed deeply and said:"Like Giulia, I don't have much of an appetite and I don't know if I'll be able to eat anything else.”Then a man not so old, perhaps about Uncle Ismael's age, appeared and Giulia got up to go and hug him tightly."Who is it?" Lilly asked and I shook my head."I don't have the slightest idea about it," I admitted.I s
PresentAugust 2017"I wondered if you would follow the route of the road, but no, I thought that the best thing you could do was to seek help," Adriano said mockingly as the six men around us laughed."Don't do this, Adriano," Luc muttered clemiciously."Of course, I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it very well, so well that I'm not only going to go get you, but I'm going to make sure that Giulia and Enzo suffer a lot," he blurted out angrily, and I watched as the dogs we heard came out from behind the trees."Put me down so I can help you," I said softly to my beloved, and he ignored me."Separate them," Adriano ordered, and that made Luc squeeze me much tighter.The men came over and the dogs growled, that's when I knew it would all end badly, so badly that my tears came out without any filter. I was thrown at the feet of Mr. A, who bent down to see me with a wicked smile."What I'm going to do with you will be the funniest thing, Emma.”I swallowed hard and restrained myself fro
PresentAugust 2017Guido was a demented one."Please don't do anything stupid, murdering a billionaire like Luciano Basciano will put a target on your back, you won't be able to live, you won't be able to run away easily," I said in an attempt to negotiate with him and touched my earrings, begging Enzo to pick up the signal."Don't want to see my idiot face, just... Don't do it, it's your fault that I already have that bullseye on my back," he explained cheerfully."You're not thinking with your head, release him before the FBI sneezes and does an unprecedented search," I offered, and he laughed."Emma," Luc said a little nervously."Just be crafty, if you leave Luciano near the road, he'll pay you a lot for me, use that, give you anything to free me later...""Shut up! You talk incessantly and if you don't want me to lose patience with both of us, just shut your mouth," he blurted out furiously and I restrained myself.”He kicked the seat and I squealed with some drama that made Luc
PresentAugust 2017"I'm all ears," I said with difficulty."Things have become difficult for me in these months. I'm not going to lie to you, it's still hard to understand everything, but now I'm coping calmly and the therapies help. Opening up was something I always wanted and didn't imagine it would be so painful.” His voice cracked a little, and I held back. “Now I see events more clearly and I am able to accept my mistakes.” He smiled with a bed. “It's up to me to give myself the opportunity to supplant hatred with love, to recover the illusion of the uncertain and to believe in what is really worthwhile.”"That's good..."It was unmatched."Yes, it is. However, it's not an easy thing to do, saying it motivates you, but doing it is taking it to another level. Continuing in pain won't do anything for us and I want to remedy that.” The understanding of his words showed me the clear and stark reality of us. “Your life went on after you left Britton, it's such a different one... Whic
PresentAugust 2017"Say what you have to say.""My cousin will never forgive me, and I'm aware of that.” The phrase made me hesitate, especially because of the perennial lament she had. “I want to tell the whole truth once and for all.”"What are you talking about?" I asked, not understanding anything.She avoided the gaze as if she had a hard time holding it."When you guys started dating, things changed a lot for me. Emma was all about her family and she was immersed in the love they feel... That made me feel displaced and I made stupid things because of my jealousy that affected both of us.”"Why tell me and not her?""It's something I'll do in due course, when he's able to hear me... Now, I know it's not the time and I must tell you something that involves you. That's why I came to you first, Luciano.”His tone of voice was weak, but the firmness in the last few sentences was all seriousness."I don't know what you mean by telling it now. What makes you think I want to know anyth