Unfortunate Encounter

Three years had passed since they arrived in Italy. Leandro was a very busy man, and Nicole worked with him in his company as his personal assistant. Despite being occupied, he made time for Nicole and their baby. Bouquets of red roses continued to arrive at their house daily.

She thought that despite not having started in the right way, what she did was not right. But she felt very good with him; he made her feel secure. He was so different from Bruno, whom she still couldn't get out of her head.

Leandro had become someone very important in Nicole's life and that of her son. During this time, he hadn't tried to force her to be with him. Their relationship was more like friends. She was willing to try everything for her son.

He insisted on throwing a big birthday party for him, even bigger than the previous two years. Little Santi was more than happy.

The party took place in a large garden. Leandro went all out, hiring a small fair with games and candy stands. The children were delighted.

Santi was very popular at his school. He was a bright child with a huge heart. He always asked Nicole why he had to call Leandro "uncle" when he would prefer to call him "dad."

After the party, they headed home. The little one fell asleep in the car; it had been a day full of emotions, and he was exhausted. Leandro offered to take him to his room, and Nicole stayed in the living room. She felt happy with the life she had, sitting in a chair while sipping a glass of wine.

Leandro came downstairs at that moment and stood in front of her, finally observing her. He took the glass from her and placed it aside. He pulled her towards him and kissed her—a warm kiss. Nicole responded, although she didn't feel the same as when Bruno kissed her, but it felt good. They stayed embraced for a while, enjoying each other's lips. Nicole started unbuttoning his shirt, and a slight growl escaped his lips. However, he suddenly stopped her.

"Wait, Nicole. I don't want you to think that I don't want to be with you—damn it," he said. "Believe me, it's what I've wanted for a long time, and you have no idea how hard it's been for me to have you by my side and have to hold back. But I don't want to do it without taking a step that's very important to me."

Nicole felt disappointed when he stopped her. She didn't understand what he meant until she saw him take a black velvet case out of his pocket. Upon opening it, she noticed a beautiful ring inside. At that moment, Leandro knelt in front of her.

"Nicole Williams, would you accept to be my wife?"

"Leandro, nothing would make me happier, but you know I'm still married to Bruno."

"I will contact the best lawyers. If we can prove the abuse you were subjected to, I have no doubt that you would soon obtain a divorce."

"You know it will be difficult. He's capable of anything to have me by his side, not because he loves me, but because he enjoys making me suffer."

"He's a complete idiot. I will make him pay dearly for everything he's done to you."

"No, despite everything, he's the father of my child. I don't know what he'll do when he finds out about his existence. I'm afraid he'll try to take him away from me."

"I won't allow him to do that."

Leandro kissed her forehead. In reality, he was a very tender and attractive man. They exercised together every morning, and Nicole couldn't help but observe him. She felt herself melting before those muscular arms. 

Since they started their relationship, the sexual tension between them was very obvious. The caresses were becoming more intense, but he insisted on waiting until she became his wife. Despite his desire, he respected her and didn't want to see her as his lover. She liked how considerate he was.

Bruno had tirelessly searched for Nicole during those three years. It seemed like she had vanished off the face of the earth, or at least that's what he thought. He could only hope that she and their child were well. He dreamt of a beautiful child with brown hair and blue eyes like Nicole's. He didn't know if he had a son or a daughter, but he loved them from the moment of their existence.

The time without her had been a living hell for him. There wasn't a moment when he could erase her face from his mind. He missed her smile and the warmth of her body. He recognized that he had acted like a complete fool. He didn't give her a chance to explain what had truly happened that night. He blindly believed Sondra's words. Now he knew that the hatred he felt towards Nicole was so immense that he didn't care about lying to hurt her.

He was lost in his thoughts when suddenly a terrible shrill voice brought him back to reality.

"Hello, Bruno."

"What the hell do you want here, Sondra?"

"Simply put, I wanted to see you. You know I love you, and I'm sure that sooner or later you'll forget about Nicole, and we can be together."

"Get out of here, or I'll have you thrown out. I forbid you from entering here or my office. Spare yourself the embarrassment and never come back."

"Why don't you open your eyes once and for all? Nicole is with someone else. She doesn't love you, understand that."

"Get out, or I won't be held responsible."

"I'll leave, but sooner or later, you'll come begging for me to come back to you."

"Get out of here."

Days later, Bruno received news that left him frozen. A friend who had attended his wedding had traveled to Italy and called him to say that he saw a girl very similar to Nicole at Art De Santis Construction. Bruno immediately flew there, and the next afternoon, his friend had a meeting scheduled with them and would accompany him.

He would introduce his friend as his business partner, hoping it was Nicole. He needed to know how their child was doing.

They arrived on time for the meeting and were promptly shown into the boardroom. A few minutes later, a couple entered with big smiles. Bruno felt like the ground was collapsing beneath him. His first reaction was one of surprise, followed by intense fury, as he realized that the couple before him were none other than Nicole and Leandro De Santis.

He thought that maybe Sondra was right all along, that she had been deceiving him all this time. The love he felt for her had prevented him from seeing the truth. As soon as they saw him, their smiles disappeared.

When Leandro scheduled the meeting with his business partner, he told him that he would be accompanied by a potential investor who was his father's partner. The couple was sorting out some documents in Nicole's office when they were informed that the partners had arrived. Carlo took her arm, and they made their way there. He was an incredible man who treated her and her son very well. She was confident that with time, she would come to love him as much as or even more than Bruno.

As they entered the boardroom, they were surprised to see Bruno Leone standing before them. Nicole suddenly felt everything spinning, and Leandro held her as she almost collapsed. She saw that Bruno still looked as handsome and elegant as ever. Bruno approached until he was face-to-face with her.

"Where is my son?" Bruno tried to contain the rage he felt in that moment.

"What son are you talking about?" Nicole hoped he would say anything but that.

"Don't play games with me, Nicole. I know for a fact that you were pregnant when you left me."

"It's not true. I don't have any child of yours." In that moment, Nicole thought that Bruno must be mistaken. Santi was solely her child.

"Stop lying once and for all, hand over my child, or face the consequences." Bruno grabbed her arm and squeezed it tightly.

"Let go of me, Bruno. You're hurting me."

"Didn't you hear? Let her go right now." Leandro had been holding himself back from intervening until he saw Bruno hurting her.

"You stay out of this. Nicole is still my wife."

Bruno was completely beside himself. Seeing that he didn't release Nicole, Leandro forcefully pushed him. Bruno retaliated with blow after blow, and Leandro returned each one. Bruno's friend tried to separate them but failed. Nicole called for security, but even then, it was difficult to separate them.

"I swear you'll pay for this, De Santis, and you, Nicole. You're still my wife, and you will come back to me. I guarantee it. And when that happens, I'll make your life a living hell."

"You've already done that in the past. I won't allow you to do it again. I'm not afraid of you anymore. I want a divorce. Leandro and I are getting married."

"Hahaha, over my dead body. I once told you that you're mine, and you'll continue to be mine until I say otherwise." Bruno trembled with fury as he was held back by the security personnel.

"Yes, I permit it, Leone. Nicole will be my wife. Tomorrow, my lawyers will visit you to initiate the divorce proceedings."

"Don't you dare interfere in our marriage. Nicole will come back to me, whether you like it or not."

"Have you ever considered her as a person with feelings, rather than an object that you own?"

"That's something that shouldn't concern you. It was her who resorted to dirty tricks to be by my side."

"That's not true. It was a trap set by Sondra. You didn't give me a chance to explain."

"I don't believe a single word you're saying. I'm leaving, but consider me your shadow from now on. If you're lying to me and you have my child with you, I will make you regret it. I'll give you five days to think things through. Either you come back to me with my child, or I'll take him away from you, and you'll never see him again."