POV EmmaI wake up in an unfamiliar place. I stare at the ceiling in the hope of understanding where I am, but my head spins as I try to see my surroundings.Memories and flashbacks invade my mind instantly. I remember lying on the bed of that damned captivity, feeling my legs, stomach and whole body ache, trying to call for help, but to no avail, they didn't care.My blurred vision showed that I wasn't well and was going to fall. Suddenly, everything went completely dark. And I don't remember anything.“Emma,” I hear a voice echo. I start to regain consciousness and look around again, it's a hospital room.“Ize?” I stared at her. I… What happened?“Andrew rescued you, and we brought you to the hospital. Are you all right?” His words have a tone of concern.“I feel better. But everything feels weird, my body hurts.“Everything will be fine. Sister. I won't explain too much now, first you need to rest and take it all in, you've spent many days dehydrated and eating badly, that worm An
POV EmmaAfter two long days under observation, I was discharged. I still wasn't feeling fully recovered, but I was grateful to be out of that captivity where I was condemned to death.Andrew entered the room while I was putting on a dress and approached me quickly.“Let me help you, don't strain yourself,” he said, helping me put on my blouse.“No need to exaggerate,” I smiled weakly, “I'm fine, I swear.We looked at each other, and he moved closer, facing me and holding my hands gently.“You've been through so much. I just want to, and I promise I'll do my best to make it up to you,” he assures me. “Thank you for saving me and risking your life for me, for us. “I stroke my belly into shape.”“I've done no more than a man should do, Emma. And I want to be a good man, a good father to this baby.”“What happened to him… Well, your uncle.”“He's seven feet off the ground, anyway,” he said good-natured.” But I don't want to talk about this, the driver is waiting for us, we're going home
EmmaReturning to the mansion and setting foot in it is strange and exciting, I admit, my heart freezing as I remember so many things I've been through there. “It's okay, I have a surprise for you. “Andrew says, comforting me.“It's okay, I'm just a bit traumatized”.After that crazy sex in the limousine, nothing else was going through my mind, I admit. It was all I could think about. When we entered the mansion, I was startled. Gian, Ize and Lorenzo were waiting for me with a surprise party. There was a cake and some decorations celebrating my return.“Guys, I can't believe it,” tears ran down my cheeks. “Did you like it?" Andrew asks. "Of course, I never thought I'd get this." I said, still emotional. I hugged everyone, and out of nowhere I heard a voice."Emma."I'd recognize that voice anywhere in the world. It was my father. I turned around and felt the tears coming again. I couldn't believe he was here. It was unbelievable, really. "That's the surprise I've been talking a
POV Andrew Dealing with the return of my adoptive mother left me with a rollercoaster of feelings. I can't deny that for years I harbored feelings of anger and resentment, thinking that she had abandoned us, leaving me with a void. Now, discovering that she had been through so much, left me completely stunned.As she entered the mansion, I could sense the nervousness that was consuming me. Her presence was a constant reminder of the truths I preferred to leave in the past. I wasn't sure how to react, whether to hug her or simply walk away.Sensing the tension in the room, I decided to take a sip of my whiskey to calm my nerves. The crystal glass, cool to the touch, seemed to offer some comfort in the midst of the storm of emotions that was raging inside me.She approached slowly, her expression worried, and leaned over, perhaps to get something from her handbag. My hands automatically squeezed the glass, a way of disguising the anxiety that was growing inside me.Her every move was a
POV EmmaThings finally seemed to be falling into place, despite all the turmoil and confusion that had plagued my life recently. So I hoped. We organized a quick dinner for everyone. Sitting at the table, a special wine that I was waiting to open on the counter, the food served was pasta.The waitress served us and left.“Thank you, Clara,” I said.Still, there was a strange atmosphere. I knew that my mother could have chosen another way and not left us. Her three biological children, and one adopted, me. But sometimes not every mistake can have a consequence, and I know that she made a mistake trying to get it right. I believe that her mistake only deserves forgiveness. I think we all make mistakes and failures, especially me.“This food is wonderful,” said my mother, taking a bite. Emma, you mean you and Andrew are going to be parents.“Yes, you're going to be a grandfather,” Emma said.“It's all so confusing, we're all your children,” Ize smiled.“I'm adopted, Ize,” I say wryly
POV EmmaI could honestly say that I never imagined so many twists and turns in my life. My mother's arrival was one of them. I don't know if my father knew the truth, but this was something they had to sort out between themselves.After dinner, I lay back in bed, the pregnancy was beginning to weigh on me, and I was feeling a little hard. But I knew that this child was a warrior from the womb. Just by going through so much and staying well.I heard footsteps, and the door slowly opened, piercing blue eyes staring at me in silence.“Did you talk to her?” I said to my mother.“Yes.” That's all she said.“You annoy me with your monosyllabic answers.” I rolled my eyes.“There were so many topics in this conversation. My adoptive parents are Chiara and Matteo Romano, whose names I've never seen, they were friends of my adoptive parents. And when she died in childbirth, and my father ran away due to external consequences, they adopted me. “Wow, Andrew, that's heavy.” I put my hand on his
POV Emma Today we had another appointment to check that everything was in order with the baby. We chose not to find out the sex, it made me feel anxious, but it was more exciting.The appointment was very early, and this time Andrew was going with me.I was taking all the vitamins and following the right rules. Knowing that I would have his hand to hold and that people wouldn't judge me at reception for being alone, was relieving. People were so prejudiced, couldn't there be a solo mother at the reception? What we saw most of the time were women struggling to look after their children on their own.My mother and Ize stayed here to sort out the party. She even asked me to call my father, there was a lot to clear up between the two of them. Ize hadn't told anyone the reason for the party.“Are you ready, mom?” He held my waist as I looked at myself in the mirror.“Yes, I am” I put on my jacket.It was the first time we'd been to a baby appointment together. And I was excited.We got in
Emma's POV I'd always wanted to know more about my childhood with my mother, and having her here to tell me about it was wonderful. My mother sat down next to me while she braided my hair - for some it was a simple thing, for me it was something important. "Your father and I talked," she said. “And what did you talk about?” I asked curiously. “We talked about everything, I told him the whole truth. And he didn't understand at first, you know how your father is, daughter.” “You'll get along, my father is trying to be a better person,” I smiled. “I'm so happy to have you, daughter.” He hugged me. “Me too,” I smiled. “This amulet, it was yours, do you remember?” I showed her the necklace around my neck. “Of course I remember, dear. I left it with you when you were still a little girl. I love you, Emma. “Mum too. She finished braiding my hair and I decided to talk more. We went out into the garden to enjoy the beautiful day, I needed the vitamins that only the sun provides.My b