I won't be updating until next week. So sorry for the pause, I'll make it up to you. Promises. Ava.
Elena's POV.The night before, I had slept off, hoping to start my day as early as possible before he woke up, or even dreamt of it, Going into his office, then maybe searching.Searching for? You might ask, but I, too, didn't know; there had to be something, something that would either get me relaxed or running for my life.Consider my shock when I slowly opened my eyes to find him sitting next to my bed, a glass of scotch in his hand, while he stared at the smudged painting of Mia he had hung on our wall.I had wanted to ask him why he had done that when he could have easily made another one, but like all of his actions recently, It was hard to understand.Like why he was holding a glass of scotch in the wee hours of the morning.It was shocking to see him sitting there calmly rolling the cup and doing nothing, but I felt too paralyzed to jerk.Out of habit, my eyes moved to my alarm clock; now I was sure my alarm was being disabled, for I remembered setting it up after watching Doc
Authors POVClara knew what she said when she demanded if he was planning on getting caught, Nico thought, Signing and grimacing as he read through the pages.Elena didn't just have a clue or suspect; she was set to prove her assumptions, true or untrue, which was an audacious but wrong move.He had his hands tied; he couldn't do anything about her."Why does Matteo have to go to school every time?" Mia asked, pressing the round solid surface against the paper, her little hands holding the handle firmly.And unlike he did to others, he raised his head to answer her question; It was wild how she overturned his concentration and drew all his attention."To learn, the books won't read themselves."She shrugged, "That bad,"He folded his hands before him, peering into her busy face; if he continued like this, he would never get any job done, "Why is it bad?"She shrugged, "he comes back and continues studying."Now that wasn't his or any teacher's fault; Matteo's other half was his maths
Elena's POV.I relaxed against the chair, hating how uncomfortable I had been since we fought last night. That was the first he had gotten pissed at me, the first he had raised his voice.All of this was because I refused to get paid for being stupid for three years, it was a lot of money, and probably the reasonable thing to do was take it and stash it somewhere for when all of this was over.But then, my pride wouldn't let me; I wasn't sure if it was because I cared what he thought of me or that I didn't want him gifting me a lot that I couldn't repay.Then I would be indebted to him and become a puppet like I was to Alessandro. He had angrily reminded me he wasn't Alessandro, but then how would I know?Especially when he was bent on interchanging occasionally; even Noah had told me not to get attached.Then why did I see him in all of my dreams last night? Why did I relish the memory of his hands caressing my body, his fingers around my neck, stroking the base of it and muttering f
It was dark already, yet my hands shook as I gnawed on my fingers from the fear that enveloped me. The image still stuck in my head; it didn't help that there had been no call regarding how he was.The country was at a standstill, reporters screaming into the mic, standing close to the heavily guided Quirinal palace, all of which I watched without hearing anything. My knees shook at the thought that he was dead.Immediately after the accident, Matteo was snatched out of school like I was pulled out of work and surrounded until I got into the car.Now the three of us were on lockdown, not allowed to move out of the house. School was paused for Matteo, which wouldn't be a big deal since they'd be closing the next day anyway.The kids were sleeping in their room when I left quietly, shutting the door, still hugging the phone to myself, waiting for a call, any call that would ease the unease raging in my head.I sat right at the center of the bed, my knees raised to my chin, and each time
Authors Pov.He had almost forgotten how painful a bullet wound was; he had forgotten how it found its way into one's skin, forgotten how the burning sensation felt like.Nico felt lucky, unlike the bodyguard who had been unfortunate; it was a storm of events, for despite the noise of the gathering, he had felt the excruciating pain before he heard the bullet whizz.He had opted out of another round of Anesthesia, for it left him exhausted and his brain fuzzy; besides, this hospital couldn't be that safe.If the sniper had gone that far to get him right in a public gathering, then it was also likely they would come looking for him on his surgery bed.The pain was raw and reminded him of home, When Milo, who had decided he wouldn't be the only one being sent to the hospital, had found it a game to pull them along when he made trouble.This resulted in a few almost mortal injuries until their father found a way to rid him of his ideas.They still didn't know how the senior Don did that.
Elena's POVThe sirens brought him early the following day when the kids were still asleep and watched the window because my insomnia had come knocking again.When he climbed out of the car, He looked weary and hurt and had his arm in a cast, his jacket around his shoulder; being walked on both sides, I could see the discomfort on his face.Guess he also wasn't comfortable with the life he told me to be satisfied with.And I wasn't sure if I was excited to see him back or just satisfied he was alive; I hurried down the stairs before maintaining simple steps when he was close.He was alone with Noah, who was hovering around, offering help that was refused over and over again.When his eyes met mine at the top of the stairs, he stopped, making me rub my arms in anxiety.All traces of weariness left my face when his lips turned up in amusement, "I don't want to believe you came down for me?"All of my concerns went down the drain; he had that look, the look when he had countered me in his
His eyes danced, almost like he was happy to see me in his personal space, glad I had broken in. With the towel wrapped around his waist, I suddenly felt unsafe.He swept his damp hair back, muttering, "Sikes."I began the awkward apologies knowing I was turning pink right there in front of him, "Look, I'm sorry I know I shouldn't be here," I started, walking around to get past him, "I'll just go, and you'll never see me again I promise."He gripped my wrist, pulling me to him, my body crushing against his, "I think it' is; what are you doing here, Elena?"I bit my lower lips stuttering to get my excuses out; no word was formed; what more, he held my gaze, seeing me coil in my terror."I thought so," he grinned, and using his foot, he kicked the door shut. "Now that you're here, why don't we make you a souvenir."Pushing me backward towards the table, I struggled with him, but he gripped my hand firmly behind me, trapping me between himself and the desk."Hush love, a little too much,
He sat with his legs on the desk, the MacBook on his lap as he scrolled through search results, grimacing and scoffing.Sensing the worry from Noah, he had decided to say nothing, although both knew nothing was right with him.He had tried, by God, he had tried, but all came crashing down after years, all because of a messy human who had decided his way of living didn't apply to her.She had rubbed off on him, not that; she had pushed him back into his rabbit hole, and now he couldn't believe how much he missed this; it was almost like he was back home where he could be himself.Only this time, she'd be the only one handling him, taking all the bad things he had in store, which was a lot after being suppressed for years."Sir, you're smiling to yourself again."Noah would, too, if he knew what he had in his left pocket.The grin turned wider, and Noah almost groaned."Any luck?"Nico raised a brow at him, "Not to sound cocky, but that shouldn't be a question" With his focus back on th
"Is that it?" Gianni frowned when I finished. "You've got to be kidding me." Midway, I had almost burst into tears, explaining in as much detail as I could that the men's beachwear collection, which would have been next week, had to be postponed because of the lack of models."You don't get it." I sniffled, dabbing my cheek. "It's bad for business. Bad publicity goes a long way, and the investors...""Hey," Maya says, wrapping her arms around my shoulder, shooting Gianna, still sitting, a glare. "There has to be something we can do about it." "You've got to be kidding me!" Gianna retorts again, "That's why you're crying?" "I'm so sorry," I sobbed. "I don't know why I'm so emotional; what's wrong with me?!" "Oh, I know." Clara mumbles."Gianna!" Maya's tone is laced with a warning tinge. "Be nice." But she was right. This was nothing to cry about; I was a grown woman. It was shameful that once they thought I was the epitome of strength, but now they knew I was just a crybaby."Do
The next few days we spent indoors; still, it was hard to see Nico. The air in Calabria was hearty, the laughter infectious. It wasn't hard to notice that Nico and Zayne still stayed away from each other. They had tried to hide it, but they didn't try hard enough to take off our suspicions.Milo, sometimes in the middle of a conversation with the whole family, set up opportunities for them to exchange a word two, but like two peas of the same pod, we found them, mouth full and chewing slowly until the attention was taken off their back."You want me to do it for you?" I asked Nico when we were alone in the room, watching his face as I applied my lipstick, "I could talk to Zayne, Nico. It doesn't have to..." I wasn't done when his arms curled around me, flattening his opened palm against my stomach, sending my heart racing, and then he kissed me, shutting me up briefly.When he broke it off, sending me breathless and wanting, he searched my eyes and murmured, "It's all right. It's my
Authors POVElena didn't look back as she walked away with the others, Milo staring at the top of her head with amusement as he pushed Gianna out of the sitting room.Nico didn't like that look in his eyes. It was the same look he held for Gianna, and now, whenever Milo was around, Zayne had to work for a bit of time with his wife.He pulled his eyes off the door they just walked out of, and when he turned to Zayne, who continued to give Matteo audience, his countenance a mixture of pride and sadness, Nico felt his stomach churn.He wasn't prepared for this, wasn't ready to be knocked down from the truth he believed in. He thought that Zayne would let the children die, all for petty malice, but all this while, it had been him who did nothing to help.Then why did he hide it? Why did he go through all that only to give all of the praise to Milo? Was that why Milo distanced himself for so long? Suddenly, he felt like he wasn't part of a family he had always known."How are your injuries
Author's POV.Matteo continued to chatter, "...He said you were coming for us, Dad, and you came." his innocent smile didn't match the struck expression on his father's face, which also mirrored mine."Can I say hello?" He askedSeeing Nico couldn't say a word, I took charge, "Of course, Matteo, go tell your uncle Hi.""My uncle?" His eyes widened, "Cool Ma," before he was running off towards his sister and Zayne, who, on seeing him, seemed unsure at first, but then slowly, he went on his knees and wrapped his arms around my son.That first hug held a lot of warmth for someone who had ensured he avoided Matteo initially."What's going on?" Maya asked Nico, "Why is everyone so quiet?"Nico, appearing utterly helpless, felt his tense muscles relax as he gazed ahead, overwhelmed by guilt and discomfort. Without even making eye contact with his mother, he softly responded, "Yeah, just surprised," his voice almost trailing off, "Mia doesn't talk to strangers."Although Maya wasn't entirel
He returned to tell the kids they could move before he was gone again.After a bit of fun with them, to which half my attention was not in, I left them an hour later, only to discover Nico was gone.Out of the Manor, no information, just like that, disappeared into thin air, making me wish I had stayed long enough at work, for in my head, I was running wild, helpless, and perspiring.The deja vu kept coming repeatedly; it hit me out of the blue. Standing there, watching her get into his car, his chin up, refusing to spare me a glance as she planted her thumb on his chin.My stomach churned as I let out a bitter laugh. Adding to the already complicated situation, I was pregnant. It felt like the only missing piece to complete that agonizing scene from years ago was walking into his office and discovering the papers on his desk.But I wasn't going to do that; I folded my fist against the window pane, and neither was I going to cry; that girl was gone, and in her place was a grown woman
"You're so choosey." Joey huffed, biting into a doughnut, the chocolate toppings sticking to the tip of his nose as he narrowed his eyes at Charlotte."Well, I'm sorry for wanting to make everything perfect instead of just picking out anything my lazy ass tells me to," Charlotte retorted, shuffling through the pictures on my desk, "And believe me when I say, I still haven't found that perfect model."Joey sipped noisily from his coffee cup, and when Charlotte narrowed her gaze at him, he rolled his eyes at her.Seeing this made me wonder how La Belle had endured two people who would fight about everything, including what toppings they wanted for their doughnuts.If I had come to La Belle with the hopes of finding everything for the launching of the men's beachwear project finished, then no surprise, it wasn't even half done.With all of the models unappealing to Char's taste, everything was left on standby.Remembering I left all of the work to them for weeks, the least I could do was
"Can't believe you're giving her thirty million, Elena," Noah huffed, "There are a million reasons she doesn't need it but wants to see your pride smolder."Complaining was never Noah's thing until I came to him that morning, cheque in hand, and explained everything that had happened while he was away.His reaction made me understand why Alexa demanded he didn't come alone.I did feel as if my pride was smoldered, but the feeling was nothing compared to how it would have been if she had eventually waltzed back into Nico's life.Nico had written the cheque immediately after he walked into the room, even before he strolled into the bathroom. When I entered the room, while the showers still gushed, it was sitting pretty at the edge of the bed.The first action I took when I picked it up was to inhale it, proving my desperation. The unbelief was gone. In its place was a dripping heart that he was bent on proving me wrong on all of my beliefs.He hadn't asked. Yet I had been digging up a l
Nico and Noah were unavailable for two days straight until, watching the news, I discovered the campaign for this year's election was about to commence.There he was, the smile on his face giving the aura that he had no problems, shaking hands with his shoulders straightened and chin held high.The control he exhibited standing right on that platform, the mic close to his face, talking to crowds was unnatural, and although I was just behind the TV, it was as if he was staring straight at me.I spent most of the time in the sitting room, losing my attention at the slightest distraction. 'That's a small sum for the two people that mean so much to me.'When I told Clara, she didn't look as affected as I was; instead, she frowned, "I'm surprised you don't have that amount on you right now."It dawned on her immediately, "Really, Elena?"At first, the decision to be financially independent had come from a place of keeping up my esteem; I mean, being paid to be a wife was low enough. Or t
"What did you just... What?!"The sterile white walls and the scent of antiseptic were starting to affect me, along with the news that Clara had just uttered in the most awkward imaginable.She knew this wasn't good news; she knew how much this would ruin my life. I didn't need something like this now! Not when I wasn't sure I could even hold myself up..."You're six weeks pregnant, Elena," she repeated, the papers in her hold; she seemed to be scared of my reaction had to explain why she was a safe distance away.I clutched at the buttons of my shirt, fighting to breathe, every damn passionate night returning to me.That was what the morning sickness was all about, the emotional roller coaster that had me weeping my eyes out with every bit of provocation.I thought it was stress, the children's abduction, and now the fear that Nico would leave me.And here I was, within the four corners of a hospital that I and Clara had driven to, with Noah waiting in the car.Nico had been called t