Helena's POV
Alexander Christos.He's one of those people who leave a mark too significant to forget or get over. Twenty five years of not seeing him yet his memory feels like yesterday. It feels like the day he met Nate, held him and then left us. It's so fresh in my memory I relive it every second. It's not the good memories I remember. It's the painful one where he walked away and it hurt like hell.
Nathaniel has never met him; at least not at an age he would remember Alexander. No one has ever mentioned him. Castle and I agreed not to. Yet even with all that distance between them, he turned out almost like him. I find it haunting to be around Nathaniel sometimes. His company was enjoyable when he was just a boy. He was easy to raise. He had an abundance of opinions but he was agreeable to my methods. When he became a man, he became difficult. He does what he wants, when he wants.
Alexand
Nathan's POVMost relationships begin with a name. When someone tells you their name, it opens up a way to get to know them. It's an opportunity to learn more about the person behind the name. Usually, it's a two way street where one person opens up and the other does the same, hence a relationship starts to grow. Alexander Christos; I have a name. But there will be nothing normal about this. He didn't willingly tell me his name. If anything he has been hiding from me all my life. Like Chris said, it suggests an unwillingness on his part. In this relationship I'll be the only willing party sad to say. It makes my heart heavy with anxiety but at the same time I remain curious to know him. I gently wiped the sand from her face. She's a beautiful girl with a body to die for. I'm struggling not to stare at her breasts. She looks good in the yellow bikini. Marianna exhibits a measure of s
Christopher's POV"Who is the brunette?" Both of turned out heads to look at the French royal in the back seat. It's not my first time being a chauffeur to some royal. I have done that in my efforts to get away from the Major. Everytime he has sent a bodyguard to do a job in another country, I take their place. It's a amazing what a little blackmail can do. I'll go anywhere even to Timbuktu just to run away from the Major. All this just to get away from my father. He's a bully! But this time, I'm not the Royal's bodyguard or chauffeur. He's Frank's friend. He ditched his bodyguards earlier in the day and we have been tourists since then. "Which one?" Frank inquired. It better not be Marianna. Men are preying on her innocence. There's a measure of naivety in her brown eyes. It's like someone seeing the world for the first time after being sheltered all her life. She
Giovanni's POV"I think your prayers go as high as your head."I ignored the remark. Her voice is the last thing I want to hear but she insists on making herself audible. "Please go away.""You do know we might as well grab shovels and dig our graves right? They're coming for us Giovanni thanks to your stubborn daughter!""Isn't she yours?" I questioned her. "Didn't she come from your deceitful womb?" I exploded with rage. "We are in this situation because of you! You started this mess because you couldn't keep your knees together! You Sonia! Just you! Don't drag me into it!""She's half yours Giovanni! Half yours! She's just as treacherous as you are!" She screamed at me. She's a wife from hell! "It's been eight years! Get over yourself!""And you still reek of the stench of betrayal!" I lashed out. "No amount of Bottega Veneta can cover it Sonia!"
Nathan's POV"You were not drowning, were you?"A crooked smile settled on my face. I stood beside the man looking at the menu written on a chalkboard by the side of the food truck. My mother never eats street food. Everything she eats is either made by a gourmet chef or is from a five start hotel and nothing less. It's humbling to see a man like Alexander Christos buying food from a food truck surrounded by commoners. There's a high end restaurant across the street but he's here instead. A simple cap, a v-neck t-shirt, pants and a pair of sneakers seem to be his favorite look. He doesn't stand out but he blends in well till he's hard to notice. It makes me wonder how many times I have walked past him and probably never noticed him."Nope.""I swear if you were a child I would discipline you." He glared at me. He expressed so much with that one gaze. What kind of father would he have be
Marianna's POVThey say money can't buy everything. Others say the only people who think so must not have enough money. I think that the ones who said it can't buy everything are right. I have not always had everything. My father was away for so long. In his absence we lived in a bad neighborhood surviving hand to mouth. My mother rationed food and some days we were borderline starving if not for her friend -a man I simply knew as uncle Armando- we would have died from hunger. He wasn't really my uncle and he spent a lot of alone time with my mother. I don't want to assume she was cheating on Gio. It's only when Gio came back that we started living in the villa that he grew up in. Since then I have had everything a girl could want. Don Giovanni is generous. He spoils me rotten. Even with everything handed to me on a silver platter, it hasn't done much for me. At this moment, all that money can't buy me the freedom I desire from Fabian
Marianna's POVChris and Courtney have been bickering all morning. It was the same thing all night because Chris was hogging the blanket. Unfortunately, I was stuck between them as they argued with each other while yanking at the blanket. It kept moving from left to right. At some point their argument became a lullaby and I fell asleep.Frank did warn me that Chris doesn't live like we are used to. His adventurous ways move him to live in tents and things like that. We are camping in the woods. Yes, the woods. He took us hiking. It was fun though Court wanted to push him off a cliff. If I didn't hold her back she would have. All that was because he told her she has a cute butt. It's a complement! He noticed and she threw a tantrum about it. We only settled in this camp site yesterday at noon. Now they are fighting over who will make breakfast. Chris caught two fish but Court wanted three so that everyone can eat a whole one.
Marianna's POV"What's taking so long?" "Maybe they want to be alone." Nate rested his chin on the top of my head. His hands settled on my waist. "Like I want to be alone with you." My throat became absolutely dry. He's hot on my case. It's not just the little things like brushing his hand over my arm. It's outrightly kissing me like a mad man wh n he pleases even in front of Court and Chris. He's not shy but I am and it leaves me blushing like a fool. But thanks to Court's merciless glares, I usually snap right back into reality. It's been a hot couple of days. "It will rain, right?" "Maybe, I don't know." He turned me to look at him. This tall hot Greek man is a sinful delight. He has a strange hold on me. He demands and I obey. He doesn't even need to ask. "I know you want a label. I know you want commitment. It's a big ask especially because we don't know each other that well. We have se
Marianna's POVThe breeze blew past me sending a chill through my body. It looks like it will rain or maybe I'm just that gloomy! As heated as last night was, it's cold this morning, really cold. I'm freezing inside and it's not just the the dark clouds hovering above us. It's the scary feeling that I could be pregnant right now. Of course that is not logical. I may not be book smart but I know it takes around two weeks. It doesn't happen over night. The thought that I had unprotected sex scares me to death. The pit of my stomach is frozen. Dio! A baby! I'm barely seventeen! A baby! Gio will die of a heart attack. My mother will laugh at me. What about Nate? The guy has been grim since he explained it to me. We stayed up all night by the fire in silence. He kept looking at me strangely, like he had made a mistake. It's the worst way a man can look at me after I gave him my virtue. I feel dirty.Chris kept us company for most
Marianna's POV"Rock-a-bye babyin the tree top.When the wind blowsthe cradle will rock.When the bough breaks,the cradle will fall.And down will come Baby,Cradle and all."I kept humming after her eyes became heavy with sleep. She can't keep staring at me. She's giving up. Her pretty brown eyes won't last. I hummed softly lowering my tone until i kept silent. I lay her down in her crib. She's really pretty. I'm truly blessed to have her.I straightened the picture frames on her dresser taking a seat in the rocking chair just to take it all in. It's been a crazy twenty five years. If anyone were to ask me to narrate it I wouldn't know which story to tell first because so much has happened since Nate proposed to this moment right here. My favorite story has to do with the simple go
Nathan's POV"Don't forget what we have agreed on." I kept up with her fast pace. "I'm getting him at sixteen. You have promised me that.""Why not eighteen?""You bend the vine when it's still young Nathaniel. Marianna and i have a deal. Honour it. Please honour it.""Consider it done mom. He'll be all yours at sixteen. We will still do our part."She squeezed my arm peering into my eyes. "Are you alright Nathaniel? You seem lost.""I'm just dealing with something. Nick is starting school pretty soon.""You can afford it, right? I'm aware of your financial limitations and I know I have made it impossible. You've risen to the challenge every step of the way and I'm so proud of you. You never asked for help. You never failed even if you gave up your comfort for your son.""I love that boy. I'll give up anything for him. Yes I'
Marianna's POVNathaniel and I can't keep our hands off each other. The night of the overflow opened up a new world for us filled with ecstasy and passion. It's hot as hell in this world and often as much as we don't speak we certainly sound our satisfaction. There's no limit as to where we have sex. As long as no one is looking, we carry on. Once daddy almost caught us. Nate couldn't find his pants in time so we had to stay really silent until he left. But we had a good laugh and yes, we finished.I can't get enough.It will never be enough.He's still residing in the guest house. I want him in my room. He's come up the window twice for the fun of it so that's we can feel like teenagers. He did it with ease. He's amazing not just in the way he loves my body but how he takes care of me before he goes after for his own release."Can I make a polite request?" Daddy spoke to me
Nathan's POVMy mother and I haven't had much of a conversation since she disinherited me. We only greeted each other the day Nickolas vanished. It wasn't even a greeting. It was more like:"Nathaniel.""Helena."She kept her eyes focused far into the distance. She has gotten much older. But she's every bit as difficult. "What?" She asked."Can we talk?"She glared at me. Helena can be a good mom but she can be a bad one too. Any onlooker wouldn't believe she is my mother. She's treating me like a stranger and it hurts. "What about?""May I sit?""No because you're not staying."Gio invited her to something he calls 'the overflow'. According to him, he gives away free wine to his neighbors because he has hit his profit margins. "I live here.""I still don't understand why Gio allowed you to."
Marianna's POV"I need to talk to you."I paused my conversation nodding my head. Nate entered the bedroom. "Have you eaten? Has Nicko been eating?""The only thing he is happy to do is eat. We are okay. We miss you though, I miss you. When are you coming back?""Soon. It's just a few more days. Are you sure Nicko doesn't want to speak to me?""It's not just you. He's not speaking to anyone. I think Mr Bale broke him." He laughed in a mean way."I love you. Tell him I love him. See you soon. Put nonno on the phone.""Am I having a third grandchild?" He laughed as soon as he spoke.I paid attention to the handsome man sitting in an armchair. If we get back together and we are stable enough, I'll definitely consider a third child. "No you're not.""Good because you two have a lot to work out. It's not
Nathan's POV"Buddy, no no no!" Chris sighed. He placed the bottle of wine on the counter. His facial expression is borderline funny. I almost want to laugh but then I'm tired from not sleeping too well. The sofa isn't comfortable. I even tried the floor. "What are you doing there? Didn't you get any?""Sleep?""No blondie. Didn't you get laid?""Buddy you're the blond. I simply have silver hair.""Point taken but still..." He looked at me expectantly making weird expressions.I woke up six times to walk to Marianna's door but I couldn't bring myself to enter. It seems to them like I'm not trying but the battle I'm going through is intense. I want her badly yet after thirteen years, Nicko may be more experienced than I am. I have no idea where to start. I don't want to mess up the 'first time'."Nothing.""You need a drink."
Nathan's POVI feel stupid for thinking it would mean anything to her by showing up today. Perhaps I'm delusional for assuming that time heals all wounds. Even if it heals it doesn't change anything else. Maria will only see me as Nicko's father. Regardless of the kiss we shared, I'm just Nicko's father and I'm not allowed to be anything else. She's my everything. It hurts but I'm responsible for her decision to keep me at arms length. I did this to myself."Nathan! Nathan wait up!"Courtney hurried to catch up with me. I noticed the others as well. "Where are you going?""I'm going back to Italy. I have a troublesome teen to deal with.""So that's it? Wilton just leave with your tail tucked between your legs?""What do you expect me to do Court? She's fine without me. She has someone else in her life! I'm not going to get in the way.""I expect you to go back
Marianna's POV"What's all this for?"I smiled at my assistant. The whole dressing room is full of an assortment of flowers."A lot of people are congratulating you. The collection is beautiful." I closed the door shutting out the loud music from the runway show. A popular pop musician is singing as the models make their way down the runway. The audience is excited.I invited Court, Chris, Freya and Frank to see the collection. Nate stayed in Italy to watch Nicko and Tony. Raúl is also in the audience separate from my friends. The only thing giving me relief is Nate's absence. I can't introduce him to Raúl. Something tells me it won't end well. I picked up the biggest bouquet."These are from Raúl." I read the card. He is always sending me red roses. They smell divine."I think these are the most beautiful ones." She offered me a bouquet
Nicko's POV"We barely made it out." Lupe held a pack of frozen peas over my swollen face. She held her own pack over her face. The girl can fight! She held her own until Julio stepped in and finished the fight.There was the issue of the gun.That day nonno shot at dad, he dropped a gun. I picked it up and hid it. That's the whole reason I was locking my room and not the magazines. I wouldn't care if they found the magazines but the gun? Mom would go nuclear on me.I fired it but it wasn't loaded. That sacred them but it is Julio who really saved us. We got separated when the Belucci bodyguard started to pursue us. We got lost while passing through the estates and in the end Lupe brought me her home. It's not much."How do we look? Are we still beautiful?" I laughed."I don't know about you but I know I am."I set the frozen pack of peas dow