I know what it is to feel unloved, to want revenge, to make mistakes, to suffer disappointment, yet also to find the courage to go forward in life. -Tim O'Brien-Gisella got up early and took her bath. "Where is Nicolo?" she asks herself. she went to the outside balcony of the hotel and saw him sitting down on a chair. "Mia caro!" she calls as she runs to hug Nicolo. Nicolo was stunned as always because Gisella is a strange lady sometimes. he pants her back and kisses her cheek slightly."Buongiorno mia adorabile moglie," Nicolo smiles. "Why are you up so early and why are you so happy?" Nicolo ask.She smiles and holds his hand. "I'm happy because I want us to go out today, I want you to show me around Rome," she grins.Nicolo was just smiling. "Okay, then. But I want to ask you for a favor!" he added with his normal grumpy look and it made Gisella set herself straight thinking what she has done wrong."Ok, dai, sto ascoltando," she swallows hard.Nicolo holds her arm, looking strai
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." ~ Aesop-We stopped by a roadside shop that sells hats of different kinds. I took one and wear it on my wife's head, I brought out my phone and snap a quick picture with her. We decided to sit down on an umbrella stand that was beside the Hat shop and ordered orange juice with lime toppings. My phone Vibrated.I reach out for my phone in my pocket. "Hello, Padre. what happened? Did something occur in the company? I'll be back tomorrow."Don't worry about the company, Figlio. Lorenzo will be back tonight, he will take care of it. You and Gisella should enjoy yourselves for at least five more days, don't bother to come back," I was speechless as my eyes came in contact with Gisella's hazel eyes that were filled with concern. "Padre, Gisella has to go to work tomorrow,"he yells on the phone, making me shift away from the phone. "What work? work is not that important as compared to your honeymoon." he his
I wanted a relationship like the one my mother and father had. It wasn't perfect; they had to work on it. But there was unbelievable mutual respect. -Mary Steenburgen-Nicolo and Gisella arrived at the fashion mall and every eye is on them, people taking pictures of Nicolo and Gisella who was dressed in disguise. Nicolo walks behind her, holding her hand. "Is that not Nicolo Caruso?""That lady who is all cover up in hijab, who is she? is she Nicolo's new mistress or his secret wife?" "Since Nicolo regained his sight he has not gone public to the eye of the people and also, I've heard that his secret wife is pregnant but we don't know if it's for Nicolo or her ex-boyfriend,""What do you mean?" A lady who was about Gisella's age says."I've heard that his secret wife was in a relationship with another man before but the man betrayed her, only God knows if that baby is for Nicolo or her Ex,"Hearing all these, Nicolo covered Gisella's hand fully with his and walks faster with Zeta w
Being right too soon is socially unacceptable. -Robert A. Heinlein GISELLA"Signor Moretti?" I called Viola's father, Luigi Moretti, who was about to climb the stairs. The sparkles escaping his eyes were indescribable.With a grinning smile. "Gisella, my dear, you're here," He walks up to me and hugs me."Gisella Caruso, you have the gots to come to this house?" Viola shouts from upstairs. Her mama held her arm as they both walked down. "If it weren't for you, Pietro wouldn't have broken up with me. It's all your fault," she added with anger from her voice spreading in her mother's eyes.Immediately, Viola's mama tugs my arm angrily. "I knew you were up to no good after all we've done for you," She says. "I even invited you for dinner without knowing that you're the reason why our daughter has been locked up in her room crying,""And how is that her fault? She's happily married, for chrissake," Signor Luigi sides me. I raised a confused eyebrow at Viola. "What is going on?" Signor qu
GISELLAI stood beside one of the decorated trees with my not-so-pointed pregnant stomach, watching from afar as Viola and Pietro stood on the altar. I felt my heart stumble, looking at both of them. Nicolo warned me not to attend the wedding ceremony of the two people who betrayed me, but I can't seem to miss the very event. Zeta helped me with my wish. She drove me here because I pleaded with her."Breathe, Signora," Zeta says in a worried voice.I felt broken as I watched both of them exchange wedding vows and rings, the priest holding both their hands together. "Zeta," I whimpered.She shrugs. "Yes, Signora,"She held my shoulders. "Look at that lady standing at the altar. She is getting married to the man I loved, my first love, and do you know who that lady is to me? She's my best friend,"Zeta was immediately angry. "Signora, you know what? How about we get a little drama started without getting caught?"I furrowed my confused eyebrow at her. Only God knows what Zeta is thinkin
GISELLAThe drive to Vecchio Maestro Guiseppe Mansion was a bit tiring. "Honey, why are we here instead of your stepmother's house?" I asked confusedly.He smiles lightly at me. "My dear, Papa told me he's back this morning, and Signora Ludovia and Lorenzo are there. So, I'll see my Papa in the first building. The house help and Zeta will follow you to meet them in the second building," he points at a gray building closer to the first building. I sighed as he exited the car, and then Alessandro drove further. Zeta opened the gate and gestured for me to go in. "You're here, Mia Signora. Signora Ludovia is here," the house help says with a bright smile.Immediately I entered the sitting room, my eyes landed on angry faces. Is this the Signora Ludovia and Lorenzo? Lorenzo looks way different from Nicolo and Diego; he is smaller in stature and a bit older than them, but Nicolo is the most senior, and the way Signora Ludovia is looking at me right now, it's like she wants to rip me apart
"Gisella Molinero, please come here," Signora Jolanda called from her office landline.I got up from my chair and walked down to her office. "Here I am, Team leader,"She looks at me with a bright smile. "Gisella, you did very well last month. Thus, I was hoping you could do this important interview. Director Santoro from the Apex company will be broadcasting live, so we'll interview him this time,""Director Santoro? Pietro Santoro?" I flinched in shock.Signora Jolanda's face was immediately fixed with confusion. "Yes, that's him,"I grasp. "I...I..think, I can't..." I murmured.She raised a confused eyebrow. "Why not? Several people in the company saw him and came to see you,"Oh dear lord, It's true, Pietro has been here before. "It's not like that, Team leader, I..."She exhales. "Gisella, I see you as a great person. That is why I decided to let you do this interview. You are the perfect interviewer for this, so prepare the interview's print line first!" she smiles. "You can go
Gisella's POVI sat on my chair and glanced through the note on my desk. "Why is she doing this? What have I done to her? " I look at Leonora, who was in a rage at what was written on the note. She groans at me. "Gisella, Why do I think that she is provoking you? "To ease the tension in our presence, I fake a smile at her. "Nora, you overthink. It's just a letter," I smile reluctantly. "I need to go to the washroom,"She sighs with a breath of relief. "Okay, but just to let you know that you look pale and a bit fat lately," These words got me in shock as I looked at her. My pregnancy plumpness is not that visible yet because of the kind of dress I put on. My pregnancy is twenty-one weeks old, six months in particular, and I am already pale. What to do now? I gave her an assured smile. "I'm okay. I'll be out in a minute," I walk into the washroom, leaving her muted. With a slight splash, the tap was running, and I started washing my hands. I felt a little footstep behind me. With
Ursula finished her story, and they all were in awe."Are you in love with him now?" Zia asked. Maria and Ursula looked at themselves and burst into laughter."Oh, common Zia, am I twelve?" She jested."Well, love at first sight does exist," Zia said, and Ursula caught on to that same dreamy voice she had used the other day at the cathedral."Zia, is there something you want to share?" Maria went along with the teasing. They both stared deeply at Zia with mischievous smiles playing on their faces."Stop it, you girls. We're talking about Ursula now," she blushed."Zia Benedetta, one day, we will force you to tell us about your secret lover," Ursula said and laughed."What about you, Maria? Have you ever been in love?" Zia asked."Love," she repeated like it was the strangest word she had ever heard. Just then, Maria's phone rang, successfully taking her out of a tricky spot."Who could be calling me at this time?" she complained. She hissed when she saw the ID pop on the screen."Who
She couldn't react fast enough as he scooped the juices that clung to her mouth and licked it, his eyes never leaving hers. She didn't know if it was his boldness doing something so sensual in public without care if her driver or his mother was watching or how he was looking at her like he wanted to ravish her, but Ursula was well and truly undone. She desired to know who this bodacious man was. "Stop playing with food and attend to the customers," his mother scolded, coming out from the kitchen. The spell was broken, and his perfectly mischievous smile came in place. She wanted to ask for his name so badly since he knew hers already, but she didn't want his mother to look at her a certain way. The food was ready and handed to them. In no time, customers filled the stall. He became preoccupied and didn't even spare a glance at her. Ursula felt disappointment consume her, and she shook her head violently as if it were some physical force she could ward off. "Do you think we could
Ursula felt suffocated, so she exited the house to get her head together. The only way Ursula knew how to do it was through shopping. Zia Benedetta was busy so she couldn't come with her. Maria locked herself in her room since the confrontation with the crazy Viola and refused to come out. Everything was getting too intense for her, and she just needed to press pause for a minute. She needs time to calm down her nerves, or else our next step might cause havoc.They drove past an ice cream shop, and she begged him to stop. It had been quite a while since she indulged herself in sweet treats. Ursula needs some sweetness to kill the bitterness of the sight of that wrench Viola Santoro.Another thing that caught her attention when she came down was the small building that sold the most interesting-looking food she had come across in her short stay in Milan. She made her mental note to taste that roadside food after her quick stop for some Ice cream."Common, let's go take some ice cream,
Maria's POV"Aghhhh!" I screamed and smashed my phone on the wall. Damn, Vincenzo! I thought to myself. It wasn't just his words that made my toes curl in disgust, but also how he said them. He wanted to hurt me. Have they not hurt me enough? At what point does that family stop and say it's okay? 'Why do they keep hurting me!' I raged and began to smash everything in sight. Ursula must have heard from her room because she panicked into mine."What is going on, Maria?" She looked at me in fear."I am going to kill Vincenzo! I will do it with my bare hands," I replied."What is it again?" she stood before me, stopping me from damaging my mirror. "Wait, does this have something to do with social media's trending topic? Did you perhaps have something to do with that?" She asked. I could hear the panic in her voice. I wondered if she was disappointed in me."Yes, I did," I announced proudly. Her face fell, and she shook her head as if it were a dream. "Marie, I would slap some sense
Vincenzo led Matteo to the room where he kept Marco. At the room entrance were two hefty men, obviously to keep watch of the man. They bowed slightly as Vincenzo and Matteo approached the door and allowed them to enter. Matteo looked around, taking in the environment where what might be their most prized possession was being hosted. It was a large room with a bathroom and barely any furnishing: just a large bed and a table stand. The captive was looking out the window when they came in. Not even the sound of footsteps approaching was enough to get his attention."Well, that's him," Vincenzo pointed to the tall, skinny man. Matteo wished he would turn around to get a better view of him. Unfortunately, the man looked adamant about remaining in that position. "He's not much of a talker or a looker, I guess," Matteo replied Dryly, Vincenzo shrugged, short of words. "Why did you take me?" A strange voice suddenly asked. It took the duo a while to notice it was coming from Marco. Weir
Matteo walked into Perini Navi as a force of habit rather than enthusiastically. He had taken a break from work because of Vincenzo and his many shenanigans. However, he is doing much better now. Vincenzo's selfishness no longer annoyed him, and the thoughts of the sharp-tongued princess trumped it. Ursula.He tested her name in his mouth, and it came out nicely. The image of a furious woman flashed before his eyes, making him chuckle slightly. The mere thought of seeing her again made him smile. He almost wanted to try to run into her on purpose, coincidentally. He walked into the reception and contemplated between visiting Vincenzo's office and the workshop. He was going for the former when a loud noise stopped him. It was coming from the direction of the workshop. He strained his ears to hear, realizing he was the only one present at the reception. He followed the sound of the noise, which led him to the path of their workshop. Stepping out, he met a chaotic scene. Uniform men
MARIA'S POVMy bodyguard led me into the house. Ursula and Zia watched their favorite telenovela in the living room when I arrived. I tried. I tried to look like everything was fine, but seeing them, my resolve shattered. They ran to me when they saw how much I was shivering. They didn't say anything but only hugged me."I lost him," I struggled to say, but they did not understand me. I don't remember how, but the next thing I knew, I was immersed in the bathtub.Zia Benedetta turned on the warm water, letting it cleanse me. I don't know if she knew this, but it wasn't only my dirty body. My soul was in rot. I was in so much turmoil.Whenever the thought of how I was so close to reuniting with my brother resurfaced, I shuddered at my weakness in being unable to protect him. The image of his face caught in chaos appeared in my head. He looked so scared and clueless.He didn't recognize me, which was worrying initially, but it didn't trump my desire to save him. The tears fell from my e
It was good while it lasted, but now Maria was over it. She wanted to go straight to what she came here to do. She took the last bite from her plate and waited for the table to be cleared before she cleared her throat and asked the question on her mind."Why am I here?" she directed to no one."You're here-""Now that you've asked, I'll say it plainly," Vincenzo interrupted his mother.He was bored of whatever game Maria was playing. He also could not stand the sight of Roy for one more minute. He believed it was in their best interest to get to the crux of the matter before he lost control."I want my prototype back," he said."What do you mean by that? What does your prototype have to do with me?" she asked, feigning confusion."I know you took it, Maria. Just drop your silly act and return it to me," he warned dangerously."That's some serious accusation you're throwing around, Vincenzo Santoro. I hope you have proof to back up this ridiculous claim if I sue," she said casually, si
Vincenzo and his family ordered a table at the restaurant. It was one of the best restaurants in Milan, and it belonged to them. His mother had carefully planned this venue so that they could have an advantage. She didn't want them to be cut off guard."We've not been to this restaurant in ages, and suddenly, Mum chooses this place for dinner?" Vincenzo whispered to his father."You know how your mother is. She probably has her reasons for making us come here. Just follow her lead, and everything should go on smoothly."His dad said reasonably.He was always on the quiet side. He thought things through and was never ready to pass judgment. Vincenzo was glad he took his wisdom from his dad. It was just a pity he never quite forgave himself for the role his foolishness played in losing the love of his life.He got his impatience and quick temper, however, from his mother. He wanted things to be done as soon as he asked. He had no room to occupy failures of any form. Maybe that was why i