CHAPTER 2 - A GHOST FROM THE PAST

MATTEO’S POV

The sound of clinking champagne glasses and polite conversation faded as I kept my eyes on the woman across the room.

 “Bianca.”

It was impossible.

Five years of silence, with everyone thinking she had disappeared, but now she was back, appearing in a stunning red outfit and exuding a new level of self-assurance.

However, what really hit me hard was the presence of the boy next to her.

A young child, roughly five years old, is trapped in the realm of a plastic dinosaur.

Is he my child?

I couldn't shake the impossible from my thoughts. I had created a life with Toria that I truly believed was everything I desired.

A devoted spouse, an adorable daughter, and a contented life.

However, the initial excitement I had with Bianca, the small hint of a bond I had ignored as childish foolishness, now appeared to taunt me from a distance in the room.

"Matteo, my love? "Are you doing okay?" Toria's worried tone brought me back to reality. The soft lighting made her diamond ring shimmer, serving as a constant reminder of the life I had decided on.

"I'm just a bit taken aback," I muttered, trying to smile.

I quickly looked back at Bianca, only to find that she had disappeared. Was it just a trick of my mind? Frustration gnawed at me. ‘I need an explanation,’ I muttered. Weariness battled against the peculiar allure of curiosity.

"I'll return shortly, my dear," I told Toria, planting a brief kiss on her cheek. The falsehood left a sour taste in my mouth.

Navigating through the crowd of guests, I headed towards the balcony.

 The chilly evening breeze seemed like a jolt of reality.

Bianca stood facing away from me, looking out at the moonlit Tuscan scenery. Emotions intertwined, my chest throbbed with my racing heartbeat.

Struggling to speak...

“Bianca.” I finally managed to call out.

Turning slowly, she widened her eyes in surprise. In a brief instant, I observed a glimpse of the weakness I once took advantage of, as the years seemed to disappear. However, it vanished just as fast as it had come, being replaced by a strong determination.

“Matteo.” Her tone was calm and detached. "What an unexpected turn of events."

Her voice had a sharp edge that caused pain. She was not the passive woman I had been acquainted with. This Bianca was unfamiliar, a woman who exuded a sense of authority that I had never considered achievable. I felt intense shame in the pit of my stomach.

"I... I caught a glimpse of you earlier," I stuttered. "The young boy…"

"Luca," she added, her gaze intensifying. "The son who belongs to me."

The term hung prominently in the atmosphere. The child belongs to me. The idea filled me with a sudden rush of fear. Fear of the unfamiliar, fear of accountability, fear of how Toria would react.

"I-I never..." I hesitated, the words getting caught in my throat.

"Should I've informed you?" she concluded, her voice filled with resentment. "Wasn't it pointless? You clearly indicated that you did not want me around you anymore because I was an embarrassment."

Her words felt like a blow to the stomach. The truth is unpleasant and impossible to deny.

In the past, I was fixated on creating an empire, and Bianca, who was reserved, didn't align with my idea of achievement.

However, as I observed this woman, this mother, my regret felt heavy on my shoulders like a heavy cloak.

"I...I made a mistake," I stammered, the words struggling to escape my throat. "I was wrong."

Bianca's mouth formed a chill smile, lacking any warmth. "It's convenient to say that now, right? When you have an ideal wife and a child of your own." With a nod of her head, she indicated the direction of the hall.

I directed my eyes in the same direction as hers, where I saw the flawless picture of Toria holding our infant daughter. Guilt wrapped itself around my heart like a poisonous snake.

I blurted out, surprising even myself, that it was not perfect. "Everything isn't."

Bianca's gaze became more focused. She demanded an explanation.

A conflict between hesitancy and a sudden desperation for answers arose. “Is it possible for us to have a private conversation?” I asked. The unfamiliar words felt odd in my mouth.

"There is nothing more to be said, Matteo," she responded, her voice carrying a sense of definitiveness that made me feel uneasy.

"Please, Bianca," I begged, the urgency in my voice taking her by surprise. "Only... five minutes."

Her gaze lingered on me for a prolonged, uneasy moment, with an inscrutable expression. As I was expecting her to potentially walk away, a hint of something - perhaps curiosity - briefly appeared on her face.

"Okay," she breathed out, her voice strained. "Just five minutes, no longer."

I felt relief as it briefly replaced the jumble of emotions swirling inside me. I motioned towards a private corner on the balcony, where we could avoid the curious gazes of the other guests.

While we were strolling, a voice we recognized pierced the silence.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm. See who has arrived. The former runaway comes back."

Alessandro Moretti, with a gleam of amusement in his dark eyes, leaned against the railing, swirling a glass of champagne in his hand. Bianca felt his presence as a forceful impact, serving as a clear indication of the life she was creating without me.

Bianca greeted Alessandro with a cool tone, her voice lacking any warmth.

"Interesting view," he drawled, his eyes moving back and forth from one of us to the other. "Would you like to update me?"

There was tension in the crackling air. Bianca's jaw tightened briefly, but before she could reply, I moved closer.

"This is a private conversation." My tone revealed a possessive edge that caught me off guard.

Alessandro chuckled, emitting a deep, throaty noise. "Still the same sensitive Matteo I remember. Surely it's harmless for old friends to listen in a little, right Bianca?"

He gave her a meaningful gaze, a quiet dare lingering in the atmosphere. Bianca's gaze narrowed, yet she stayed quiet. I clenched my teeth. I wasn't going to allow this cocky womanizer to disrupt my time with Bianca.

"I said, Alessandro, this is not your business," I stated with a tense voice.

An eyebrow lifted with a sardonic smile on his lips. "Maybe not," he admitted. "But believe me, Matteo, secrets tend to come to light, especially in environments like this."

He then proceeded to have a prolonged drink of his champagne, keeping his gaze fixed on Bianca's face. After that, he sarcastically bowed before casually walking back into the crowd of guests.

Bianca and I remained in silence for a brief moment, feeling the weight of Alessandro's words pressing down on us. The lighthearted teasing I had imagined disappeared, and was instead replaced by a heavy feeling of discomfort.

"So," Bianca finally stated, her voice lacking inflection. "It has been five minutes. What do you want to discuss?"

The question lingered overhead, serving as a stark realization of my diminishing time.

Gazing into her wary and guarded eyes, I realized this discussion would be difficult.

However, after years of despair, I finally felt a glimmer of hope. I hoped that there was a slight possibility to repair the bridges I had thoughtlessly destroyed.

I started, inhaling deeply, and addressed Bianca. "I made a mistake, Bianca. Totally.”