" Thank you all for your warm welcome yesterday although I'm sorry for the unexpected attack, it wasn't like any of us saw it coming," I said to my family as we all had breakfast, I couldn't wait for them to be on their way. Especially Emilia
" Oh dear, it wasn't your fault." My uncle's wife, who I know spends all his money on plastic surgery spoke and I smiled at her, mind you it was forced. " So what's your plan?" My closest cousin asked and all I could manage was a shrug. " What plan could she have? She has everything planned out for her, you know being a spoilt princess and all." The sooner they leave my house, the better chance I have of avoiding prison on my second day in Italy. Emilia was getting on my nerves. " Emilia, stop!" Someone said but I didn't care, I was channeling all my energy and calling all the gods of calm so I wouldn't kill her. " Thank you for the breakfast, I'll be leaving first. And thank you all once again for the welcome." I said as I stood up from my chair making my way out of the dining room and heading back to my room, I had places to be. A message beep came through and I was hoping it wasn't another threat message. 'Are you up for a tour today? I'll be your special tour guide.' I couldn't help but smile, it was a text from my childhood bestie Rodrigo, I was sure he saw me on TV, and my surprise was ruined. He wanted to give me a tour of the city we grew up in, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. 'Okay fine, please bring a lot of chocolates, let's meet in twenty minutes.' I sent him a reply and his reply came quickly and I didn't bother checking, I knew what was there without even checking. I changed from what I was wearing which was a big shirt and shorts then I picked a blue short dress, a black Versace bag, and blue heels, it was a blue day, and no way would I forget the sunglasses. I chose my blue Ferrari to go with my outfit before I got into my car and drove off. The sound of the seagulls was pleasing to my ears, it reminded me of high school when I and my group would run away from our drivers to come to spend time here until I bought one of the yachts or more like made my father buy it. " My beautiful goblin," Rodrigo called, I mentally facepalmed. When was he going to grow up? I was a mean girl in school back in the days and that was how I earned that name. I was really brutal. I didn't know where I had all that bitterness back then in school, but not like they did anything to stop me, more like they fueled it whenever they laughed at what I did. " And you are a troll." I fired back. He rushed to me as he engulfed me in a hug "At least you missed this troll." He said and there wasn't a doubt I didn't, we did video calls here and there but it wasn't like seeing him physically, I had told him several times to come visit me in America but he always told me he didn't want an American girl to sweep him off his feet, the idiot. I missed this. Being hugged by the only person who supported whatever I did, I meant like anything, even if I was being an evil witch, he would still support me. Some might call him a bad friend but to me, he's my perfect friend. When I noticed he was getting deliberate with squeezing me tight I pinched his shoulder and he released me. " You never change," he groaned in fake pain. " Where would you be taking me to?" I asked as I folded my arms looking up at him. " Wherever you like my princess." That made me roll my eyes at him, when would they all stop the nicknames? We ended up going to the museum, the park, and finally to Wonderland. I was tired but I couldn't deny the fact that I had fun and the thought of someone out there trying to kill me didn't even bother me. " That was fun, we should probably get something to eat." I had missed eating Italian food. We have a lot of Italian restaurants in the States but nothing beats eating it in the home country. " You mean to tell me there was an attack just yesterday you arrived in Italy?" Rodrigo asked as we went up the stairs heading to the entrance of the restaurant. I nodded my head at his question as I told him to bring his voice down. " What is wrong with people these days? Why can't we just live in peace? Did you report to the police?" He asked as he took my hands in his affectionately I knew he was telling me he had my back, he always did. " I think my parents must have, I just know one thing, whoever it was, I would never be scared or let them affect me." " That's a good thing." We did our best to catch up on the gossip in town, he was a guy didn't mean we couldn't gossip, having a guy bestie was the absolute best, they give the best gist. We paid for our food and stood up to make our way out of the place. Just as I reached the exit, someone bumped into sending me falling but Rodrigo held me preventing me from falling and the person didn't even apologize. She just rushed away. " Hey, that was rude," I said but she didn't even bother turning. When I steadied myself I saw an envelope on the floor, it must have fallen off from the rude bitch, whatever was inside must be important. I picked up the envelope and contemplated opening it, but when I turned to Rodrigo he had that look like he wanted to know what was contained in the envelope, so against all the voices telling me not to open it, I didn't listen. I opened the envelope and what I saw inside made me freeze as the envelope fell off my hand.“By the power vested in me by God, I now pronounce you husband and wife…again,” the priest said and the congregation burst into laughter."You may kiss your bride,” the priest didn't even need to say it twice. Antonio leaned down as he claimed my lips in a hot kiss.I could hear Rodrigo and Leo whistling as Antonio hand held my waist pulling me closer but I had to quickly pull away although he didn't want to leave me.“People are watching babe," I said and he chuckled against my lips before pulling away.“I love you, I love you so much," he whispered as I looked into his eyes wondering how I got so lucky.I turned to the congregation and threw my bouquet and it fell on Rodrigo's lap. I couldn't help but laugh.“I don't even have a girlfriend," Rodrigo said with a groan and everyone burst into laughter. I felt so good and happy compared to the last time I and Antonio got married, I didn't even want to think about it. I turned my attention to my husband as I wrapped my arms around him
I woke up with an unbearable pain shooting up my shoulder and I groaned before trying to sit up but firm hands held me softly preventing me from standing up.“Hey, hey, there's no need to stress yourself, just rest,” I couldn't help but smile as I opened my eyes to see my husband's eyes staring at me with concern,"Am I in heaven?” I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper, and he chuckled but quickly stopped himself as a frown took over his face."Why are you so stubborn?” he said with a sigh as he took my hand and dropped a kiss. “I couldn't just hide and let you face them alone, I needed to be there for you, remember we have to do everything together," I said as I tried to raise my hand to touch his face but I couldn't.“Stop trying to do anything, just rest, okay?” he said as he brushed his fingers through my hair."What about…" my chest tightened as I thought about how everything that had been happening to me has been my mother's doing, and no matter what she did a part of me
'NO!! Lilly!!'Time froze as I heard the sound of the trigger being pulled. My heart stopped, waiting for the deafening bang that would end everything. But... nothing. There was no shot.Lilly stood there trembling, her breath shallow, but alive."How? Why the fuck is there no bullet in my gun?!" Veronica Lilly's mother screamed, frantically checking the weapon in her hands.That was the moment my wife snapped back to her senses. With strength I hadn't seen in her before. Lilly pushed her mother with a force so fierce it sent Veronica sprawling to the ground. But there was no time to celebrate her bravery.The man holding Rodrigo down reacted instantly, lifting his gun and firing at Lilly. She ducked just in time, the bullet narrowly missing her.Everything descended into chaos.The door burst open, and the reinforcements I had been waiting for finally stormed in.“Get down!" one of the officers shouted, his gun trained on Adrian.Adrian froze for a moment, his wild eyes darting aroun
The room became dead silent and it was like everyone held their breath as I turned to Lilly before turning to Rodrigo..“Stay here," I said and was about to stand up but Lilly held my hand shaking her head.“I heard that there was a party here and I brought friends," a familiar voice said from outside and I turned to Lilly who had her eyes wide in shock,“She followed you," she mouthed as she stood up before turning around in confusion and I held her hand stopping her. I knew I was going to be followed but I didn't know who was going to follow me. I didn't know that Lilly's mother was the mastermind behind everything but I knew that someone might have been watching me in case my wife was alive so I had everything planned out.“Do you trust me Lilly?" I said as I held her shoulders trying to calm her down from how panicked she looked. “She's out there Antonio, there's no way out of this, she's going to kill us," she said as her eyes welled up in tears but I shook my head.“Rodrigo do
Thank God she was alive. My wife was alive. The thought of it made me smile but I had to remind myself that I made a promise. I couldn't let anyone know that she was alive, if she was telling me to keep it a secret there must be a reason. I took a breath trying to calm myself down before I opened a room door and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me.The house was quiet as everyone was sleeping. I quietly climbed down the stairs not wanting to make any noise as I made my way to the door but just as I was about to walk out the house, I heard a noise and stopped. I slowly turn only to be met with Lilly's mother. She yawned as she looked at me with half asleep half awake eyes.“Why are you still up son?” she asked, her voice filled with concern."I just wanted to go out for a drive, I don't feel good being in here without my wife, this house reminds me of her so much," I said with a sigh and she moved close to me and then without warning she hugged me. “I know how you fee
Sleep felt foreign to me, I couldn't sleep, couldn't bring myself close to my eyes. The hollowness in my chest was one that could only be filled by my wife's presence. I turned from the balcony to the bed wishing that I would see her sitting on the bed and everything was just a terrible nightmare. But it wasn't, she wasn't on the bed nor did I know where she was. I have long silenced the voice that was telling me to just give up that my wife was dead. I couldn't give up, I had to keep hoping, praying that she was alright, that I'll find her. I closed my eyes as I did a silent prayer hoping that God would be merciful to me and bring me my wife. I wasn't the best person, yet I still wasn't the worst. I turned away from the balcony as I walked into the room towards the bed. My eyes were heavy but sleep was a luxury I couldn't afford. Sleep had cost me my wife. I rubbed my head burying my face in my hands. “Lilly, why would you do this to me? Why would you walk into danger? Didn't