After five minutes and seeing that her husband still hadn't arrived, she decided to call him to find out why he was taking so long. However, she received no answer, which made her uncomfortable. Nervously, she dialed her husband's cell phone number again.With no response once more, she called the company to inquire, and one of the secretaries told her, "There was a shootout not long ago, and many people died. As far as I know and from what I've seen, Joshua was leaving at that moment.""Please, tell me nothing happened to him," Madeleine said to her friend Deva.The brunette woman had a strange sensation in her body."If you want, I can ask..." Deva said."You'd be doing me a great favor," she said nervously."I'm sorry, Madeleine, but... Joshua is one of those who died," Deva informed her with sadness after a few minutes."NOOOOO!" she screamed, not caring where she was, tears in her eyes. "No... Joshua, no... Noooo!" she screamed again."What's going on, Madeleine?" Junior asked,
"What…?" he murmured, surprised.Katia took a deep breath."That newborn girl is your daughter, Stefan. I didn't intend to tell you, but... I don't want them to kill you if I can keep you alive," she confessed, her gaze fixed on the white hospital bed sheets.The German man was stunned, looking at the young woman lying in the bed, then turning his head toward the baby peacefully sleeping in the hospital's glass crib.For a moment, he began to walk towards her, until he stood by Katia's bedside. He sat on the edge and gently kissed her on the forehead.This affectionate gesture surprised Katia, as it was the first time he had shown affection outside the bedroom and kissed her on the forehead so tenderly. She also didn't expect his calm reaction.But what truly surprised her was when Stefan said:"You don't have to claim she's mine to save my life. To be honest, I've been prepared to die for many years.""But…" she began, still surprised."Katia," he called, interrupting her, and placed
"What... Happ...?" She whispered, not taking her eyes off him. "I'm... very tired...""You had a hemorrhage that the doctors hadn't noticed when you finished giving birth, and it worsened because you followed me," he told her. "You shouldn't have done that, Katia. You could have..." his voice broke."It's your daughter... Stefan. Believe me..." she insisted, her tired eyes fixed on him."Katia...""Remember I was taking medication when I twisted my ankle. It nullified... the effects of the pill..." she grimaced in pain while trying to adjust in the bed. "If you don't believe me or you're unsure, you can have a paternity test done... if it puts your mind at ease...""So, is that baby really my daughter, and you're not lying to save me?" She nodded and turned her head towards the baby in the crib. "My... my daughter..." he whispered, amazed."You can...""I believe you, Katia," he interrupted, and she looked at him intently, swallowing. "You're not like me. You're someone with a good he
Half an hour later, the brown-haired man left the room, closed the door, and winced as he leaned on his injured leg. His wounds had been hurting since before Katia lost consciousness when he was leaving.He took out his cellphone when he felt it vibrate in the inner pocket of his jacket. He sighed when he saw it was his grandfather and put the phone away.He didn't feel like listening to the scolding his grandfather would have for him.Now that he was a father, his grandfather should give him complete control over everything, but he wasn't sure it would be that easy. His grandfather would surely come up with some tricks, as he had been doing since he was seventeen. Back then, his grandfather had determined the kind of relationship they would have from that moment on."Sir," he suddenly heard a male voice beside him."Where is he?" Stefan asked with a serious expression, a stern look, and his gaze fixed on the door in front of him."I don't think it's a good idea, sir. You are...""I s
When Katia and her daughter were discharged, against medical advice, they went to Madeleine and Joshua's house two weeks later.Based on what her brother had told her, Madeleine had been losing weight for weeks after the painful event, and upon seeing her, Katia could confirm it. The brunette woman had a haggard face, dark circles, and swollen eyes.Joshua's mother was holding little Ashley in her arms, and Lucy was sitting on the floor playing with her dolls, while Madeleine was on the couch with her legs up.Without thinking further, Katia left her daughter's stroller, who was asleep in it, and approached Madeleine. Squatting in front of her, they hugged tightly, and her friend tried not to cry in front of her daughters.Mariah, Joshua's mother, took her granddaughters to their older granddaughter's room.At that moment, Madeleine broke down. Katia listened to her cry, curse, and complain about what had happened. The blue-eyed girl felt bad for her friend because when she learned ab
She looked at her little one and gave a beautiful smile.Before Joanne was born, during her pregnancy she had decided to give her up for adoption since she wasn't in the best place to care for a baby, especially after Oscar's death. But she was glad she hadn't gone through with it.Stefan was a wonderful father, but she didn't want to deceive herself, and she didn't want her little one to get attached to him.She raised her head when she felt a kiss on her temple and was surprised to see that it was the father of the child she held in her arms. Why had he done that?Madeleine smiled amusedly at her friend's expression. Katia's bewildered face amused her."Mommy..." Lucy called her. "Come, Mommy."Madeleine carefully got up from the couch so as not to wake her daughter and approached Junior and her daughter. The child showed her what the man was teaching her, and she smiled.Junior was a fantastic guy and treated them wonderfully.Meanwhile, Katia and Stefan continued to gaze into each
"Mom... When...?" Junior began to say."Your uncles have been renovating everything over the years... I think I should have told you before they came," Alice replied with a smile."Well, it's much better than before," Katia commented, looking around carefully."Of course. Your grandfather has renovated all of this thinking of his grandchildren and your families," Alice confessed, still smiling. "Someday he will leave all of this to one of you, and I hope you'll continue the legacy he leaves behind.""But, Mom! There are hundreds of us. Have you counted all the grandchildren Grandpa has?" Junior complained. "What the grandmother and grandfather used to do...""Richard Junior, don't complain, dear. We are thirty-five grandchildren, although we should be thirty-six... but I'm sure that among all of us, we'll find someone willing to stay here," Katia spoke, shrugging.Stefan gazed at the magnificent landscape that stretched out before his eyes."I have no intention of living in the countr
She was wearing a short-sleeved navy blue boat neck t-shirt with a contrasting print on the front and navy blue geometric-print pajama shorts with lace details on the sides and the hem. The shorts had an elastic waistband and a drawstring to adjust.She leaned on the edge of the countertop with her arms crossed and a faint smile as she watched her approach one of the refrigerators and began searching for the milk.Something about Stefan's presence, especially in those pajamas, made her nervous.She pulled out a carton of milk, trying to appear calm, and then went to the shelf where the glasses were. Stefan watched her every move attentively as she moved around."Do you add cocoa, honey, and sugar?" he asked when he saw the mixture she made once the milk was hot."Yes. When I was little, my grandmother used to make it for me, and I would fall asleep within a minute," she replied, looking at the glass. "Do you want to try it?""No, thanks. I don't think I'll like it," he declined, and h
"Madeleine, welcome to our family," she said to her son's wife and then walked away to sit next to her wife.Katia swallowed hard, butterflies in her stomach were fluttering with force.Stefan and Richard Jr. had positioned themselves on either side, forming an intimate circle with them just before the ceremony began."Katia, tell him before the ceremony starts," Madeleine urged her friend, whispering in her ear.There was anticipation, but also uncertainty pulsing in her words.Katia nodded, gripping Madeleine's arm in silent support. The Judge, an elderly man with a warm smile, was adjusting his papers at the front, getting ready to commence the ceremony.It was the right moment to share the news."What to say?" Stefan asked in a whisper, looking at Katia.Katia swallowed hard again before letting the words out."I'm pregnant, Stefan... and it's twins," she told him in a hushed voice, her eyes meeting Stefan's, filled with excitement and expectation.Stefan was left speechless, for
Hilbert helped his friend by taking his arm to help him stand, and then everyone congratulated the couple.At that moment, Madeleine and Katia decided to get married on the same day and... in Lourmarin.For each of them, that place held a different meaning, but they both agreed it was a beautiful location for a double wedding.Joanne and Stefanie Elein were overjoyed. Their parents were getting married, and they would become one united family. Richard, the father, looked at his eldest son and his youngest daughter, and seeing them happy, he was happy too.For some reason, he looked at the lawyer and smiled half-heartedly."I should start having more conversations with that man, as he's the one my daughter Elyse has chosen," he thought. He looked around the room, and taking advantage of his wife's proximity to their children, he approached Hilbert and said,"I think I'll need a lawyer to help me with my will. Can I count on you?""Of course, sir," Hilbert replied, somewhat surprised, a
A group of men gathered behind the young brunette, but the leader of the group took Katia as a hostage, pointing a gun at her. Müller, despite having something against Stefan, had nothing against the woman who looked at him with fear, feeling the gun against her temple. Katia began to silently cry, looking at the inspector for help.The police were in a dilemma. They couldn't shoot without harming Katia. Both the gang and the law enforcement group had their weapons aimed at each other, with the young brunette caught in the middle."Stefan... help me..." Katia silently wished, her eyes closed as tears streamed down her cheeks.She was so focused on seeking help from the man she loved that she didn't realize someone was speaking behind her. Suddenly, she felt the man shifting, and as she turned around, she was surprised and relieved to see Mark.The man nodded for her to run towards the group of men behind those traffickers. The other Richter family's hitmen surrounded Katia to "hide"
Once they had landed at Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport, Stefan's chauffeur Frederick picked them up to drive them to the brown man's house, but Katia refused.She wanted to go straight to the hospital to see Stefan.After arriving at the private hospital, they went to the room where Stefan was resting. When they opened the door they found Federica sitting next to him and Jürgen, who was leaning against the wall. The dark-haired man looked at him in surprise, as he didn't know how the woman had found out. Katia walked over to the bed and stood next to her ex-husband. She caressed his face, holding back her tears, and kissed him.Federica approached her husband and smiled at him after hugging him. Hilbert began to ask what had really happened and Jürgen told him. Katia listened to them sitting on the edge of the bed.Suddenly the door opened, ushering in the police, but the one who caught everyone's attention was a tall, slender man, although at first glance it could be seen that
The sound of the cell phone she had in her left hand since she sat down to eat made her snap out of her world, fixed on a single point.She didn't have the number saved, but upon seeing the number it began with, she knew it wasn't from there."Hello?" Katia answered and took a sip of champagne."Katia, it 's Federica. Happy New Year," she heard on the other end of the line, but it was clear that Federica was sad about something."Happy New Year to you too, Federica. Is... your brother around?""Katia... I don't know how to tell you this, but...""Federica... don't scare me. What's going on?" This made everyone look at her. "What's happening?""Do you remember that my brother and Jürgen were trying to stop the mafia war?""Of course, I remember. That's why he went back to Germany. Has something happened to him?" she asked with fear. Madeleine approached her sister-in-law and put her hands on her arms. "Please, Federica. Tell me what's going on.""My brother was shot in the chest. He's
She had finished showering and the only thing around her body was a towel that reached a few inches below her butt. Took off the towel that surrounded her hair and dried it with that cloth while she looked at herself in the mirror.She stood still as she thought of Stefan. Since he had left she had been using the masturbator she had before she met him, and while she was showering, she had been touching herself thinking about him.Katia needed him to touch her the way he only knew how to touch her and feel his kisses around her body, her neck and kiss her lips.She shook her head not to think about him and not to tempt desire again.She took off her towel and then put on a black strapless set and a colutte also in black and combed her hair a little to get rid of the knots that had come out after wetting her hair.Then she came out of the bathroom and stared at the dress on the bed."Why did you have to choose pink, knowing that I don't like that color?," she said with her hands on her
That night, after putting her daughters to bed, Katia returned to the living room and poured herself a glass of red wine. Ever since she had broken up with Stefan, she did this every night when she felt down.She left the bottle on the coffee table in front of the couch.Katia took the glass of wine and took a small sip while she thought about what Zelig or Stefan had told her. Although to her, he would always be Stefan, as that's the name she had known him by.Did either of them really have the blame?She, barefoot with the glass in her hand, walked across the floor to the entrance and approached a small bookshelf in that area. She sat on the floor, leaving the glass by her side, and opened the door of the piece of furniture, starting to search inside.After a few minutes, she pulled out a frame. She sat on the floor, staring at the photo, and took a sip of wine."You have no idea how much I wish I could talk to you, Oscar... Why did you have to die?" Katia thought, without moving fr
Federica and Katia went up to the top floor where the cafeteria was located. They sat at a table near the large window, and the brunette waitress brought two soft drinks, one for each of them.Unable to help it, Katia felt uncomfortable, but she didn't want to tell the woman sitting across from her. The babbling of the triplets caught her attention.They were three beautiful children, just like their parents, and they were utterly adorable with their chubby cheeks. Judging by their age, the babies couldn't be more than a year and a half old.Not knowing what to say, Katia took a sip of her drink and sighed."My brother told me that Joanne looks a lot like you," Federica commented, making her companion look at her. "Listen, Katia. It's true that my brother is... a mafioso," she said in a hushed voice so no one could hear. "But there's something I'm sure of: he loves you and misses both of you. Over these five years, he's delayed his visit to the Seattle Delegation because of your rejec
Suddenly he saw his daughter suddenly stand up and run into the President's office. Zelig jumped in surprise and crouched down to keep up with his daughter.He noticed that Katia had not moved from where Joanne separated from her and that she was not looking at him."I promise to come another day," Joanne said to her father."I'd love to," he said with a smile. "Now go on. Your mother is waiting for you.""Daddy, why didn't you say hello to mommy?," she asked innocently.Zelig noticed Katia watching them and saw her snort."Mommy is mad at me for something I did a long time ago, but as long as I get to see you again, I'll be happy. Do you know why?" The girl shook her head. "Because you look so much like your mother.""Grandma says Stefanie Elein looks more like Mommy..." she pouted tenderly."I don't think so. You... you have the same look as your mother and her same smile," she stroked his cheek, smiling. "Go on, go. Your mother will be more upset with me as long as you're still her