CHAPTER 2

**Two Years Later…**

“Hello, my baby boy!” she said as she leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on Nathaniel’s pouted lips.

Her son was undeniably handsome—healthy and already showing signs that he would grow into a strong man, just like his father. She suddenly paused when the memory of the man she had met two years ago crossed her mind.

His name was Matthew. Yes, that was all she knew—his first name, and of course, his face. Physically, he was the kind of man any woman of Eve’s lineage would dream of. She had never forgotten the face of that stranger. Even after two years, she could still remember his strikingly handsome features with perfect clarity.

She shook her head, trying to erase his image from her thoughts. She shouldn’t be thinking about that Tuscan-Filipino man anymore. Even if he had played a significant role in her life during that one night they shared in Viareggio, it wasn’t right to dwell on the past.

She was deeply thankful for that one night.

Because of it, she now had a little angel—Nathaniel. And because of Nathaniel, her parents’ plan to marry her off to Robert had never happened. She was finally free.

But the consequences of her decision had not been easy.

Her parents had disowned her and driven her out of their mansion. In the end, she had stood on her own two feet. Fortunately, that wasn’t difficult—she had already grown used to independence during her three years in Italy. She had supported herself entirely back then, never asking for help from her parents. She knew she could raise her child on her own.

She had a job and earned well. She also had savings from her time working as a designer at Armines in Italy. But with pregnancy and supporting herself alone, her savings had significantly dwindled. That was why she had no choice but to leave her child during the day to work, taking care of him only at night. She had hired a nanny to look after Nathaniel whenever she wasn’t home.

“Ate, please get dressed so you can have dinner,” said Lilet, the young girl she had hired to care for Nathaniel.

“Lilet, thank you for taking care of Nate. Don’t worry—once I get accepted into the company I applied to, I’ll increase your salary.”

Her savings weren’t completely gone yet. Technically, she could already afford to give Lilet a raise, but she prioritized her child and emergency needs. She decided to increase Lilet’s salary once she secured a new job.

Just last week, she had submitted her resume to a large and well-known company—La Fashionista. It was conveniently close to their apartment, just within walking distance. If she got accepted, commuting would no longer be a problem. She could come home earlier in the evenings and still have time to take care of her son before bed.

“Oh, Ate, you don’t have to say that. I’m fine even if you don’t increase my salary. What you’re giving me is already more than enough,” Lilet replied shyly.

Lilet was a stowaway she had found at the port during a trip to Cebu, when she was seven months pregnant. She had taken pity on the girl, who had been hungry and dirty at the time. According to Lilet, she had run away from her aunt’s house after narrowly escaping an assault from her aunt’s husband.

The girl was kind—shy, but hardworking and trustworthy. Zenna had treated her like family ever since taking her in. When she gave birth, Lilet had been by her side. In the time when her own family had abandoned her, Lilet had stayed.

“Well, whether you like it or not, I’ll still do it,” Zenna said with a small smile. “I know you’re saving up to continue your studies.”

“Yes, Ate… but I’m really okay with my salary. Everything here is provided for. You even buy my personal necessities,” Lilet said, clearly embarrassed.

Zenna patted her shoulder. “You deserve the increase, Lilet. Taking care of Nate is a big help. Without you, we might already be struggling. I owe you a lot.”

Lilet simply smiled in response.

“I love you, my baby.”

Zenna kissed Nathaniel and tucked him into bed. She lay beside him, intending to lull him to sleep before returning to her own room. Lilet was still washing the dishes, so she took charge of putting Nate to bed after bathing him and feeding him milk.

“M-my… love you,” her son mumbled, still struggling with his words. He kissed her cheek.

She smiled brightly as she watched her nearly two-year-old son. Nathaniel was her everything—her world, her life. Since he came into her life, she had found the strength to stand up to her parents.

They had wanted her to abort the baby when they found out she was pregnant. But she had firmly refused. She had made that decision herself while she was still in Florence. This was what she wanted—what she had planned. Why would she give up her child?

She had found courage because of the life growing inside her.

She had felt the absence of her family after being cast aside, but when her son was born, he filled the emptiness and loneliness in her life. Everything became brighter, more meaningful.

“You look like your dad, you know? You’ve got his eyes, nose, and lips, baby. You’re as handsome as him.”

She gently stroked her son’s small, adorable face.

“Dyy?” he asked, his brows furrowing.

She smiled. Even that expression, he had inherited from his father.

“Yes, baby, your daddy.”

“Whey?” he struggled to pronounce.

“He’s far away. He’s in Italy.”

“We go Italy, Myy? Nathaniel want Dyy!”

His sea-blue eyes lit up—eyes he had inherited from his father. He looked like a younger version of Matthew, the Tuscan man she had met two years ago.

She remembered how she had been captivated by those blue eyes that night.

She closed her eyes as memories resurfaced.

That night, she hadn’t slept. He had taken her again and again. She had lost her innocence on the sands of Viareggio. On top of Matthew’s black jacket laid out on the shore, she had given herself to him.

“Are you sure you want this here? We can go to my suite if you’re not comfortable,” Matthew had said, thinking she might be hesitant because they were in a public place.

If there had been other people around, or if it hadn’t been so dark, she might have agreed. But it was late at night—quiet, empty, and secluded.

She wanted her first time to be memorable. She wanted to give her virginity to a stranger under the dim moonlight, with the sound of crashing waves as their backdrop.

“No. I want it here. No one will come this far—it’s dark and far from the hotel.”

They had been at the far end of the shore, near the wooded area of the resort. The chances of anyone seeing them were slim.

“As you wish,” he had said, smiling before kissing her deeply.

He was an incredibly good kisser.

She had been completely lost when he bit her lower lip and explored her mouth. She gasped as he held her close, her body responding to every touch, every sensation. Warmth spread through her, awakening unfamiliar feelings—desire, need, hunger.

She moaned softly as his lips moved along her skin, her body arching in response.

Abruptly, she pushed the memory away.

Those recollections stirred emotions she couldn’t quite name—and perhaps didn’t want to understand.

“We’ll visit your godmother Candice on Christmas, baby. So yes, we’re going to Italy.”

“See Dyy?” he asked.

She gently stroked her son’s small face. “No. Daddy is very busy, and Mommy doesn’t know where he lives,” she said softly.

Her son pouted, sadness evident on his face. It tugged painfully at her heart. *One day, he’ll understand,* she thought.

“Go to sleep now so you’ll grow fast and make your Ninang Candice happy this Christmas.” She rubbed his back soothingly. “Goodnight, baby.” She kissed his forehead.

After a few moments, he fell into a deep sleep. She slowly stood up and quietly left his room.

---

“Finally caught you here in your office, you secretive bastard.”

Rael walked straight into the room and immediately dropped onto the couch.

“Call him that again and you’re dead, Israel,” Ezikiel said, lounging casually on the single sofa across from him.

“Oh, he won’t—if he still wants all the information about that girl.”

“Is there any development, Rael?”

Matthew’s attention was pulled away from the pile of documents he had been signing as his cousin spoke.

“Girl?” Kiel cut in. “Matthew Sylvester hired you to investigate a woman? Wow. Who is she?”

“Her name is Mari,” Rael answered, ignoring Matthew.

“Mari who?”

“Oh, that’s none of your business, Ezikiel. But if you want her personal information too, you’d better pay me first. I’m a high-paid private detective, idiot!”

“Come on, cousin, I just want to know who the girl is—the one behind Matthew’s and his ex-fiancée’s called-off wedding,” Kiel insisted.

But everyone knew Israel Cameron Ricaforte—he never gave information for free. Not without payment.

Matthew had hired his cousin to investigate the woman he had met in Florence. Rael didn’t give family discounts. He had charged him a hefty f*e for his services.

Matthew didn’t complain. His cousin’s skills in gathering information were proven. Even the smallest secrets were never beyond his reach. As far as Matthew knew, Rael had never failed a case. That was why Israel was one of the highest-paid detectives in the world.

Besides, Matthew truly wanted to find the woman.

Rael wasn’t even the first detective he had hired. Over the past two years, he had hired several others—but all had failed. No one had managed to find the woman named Mari.

Thank God Israel was finally back—from wherever he had disappeared to. The Ricafortes were already used to Rael’s sudden disappearances and reappearances. He was like a mushroom—popping up whenever he pleased.

“Tell me the goddamn information, Rael,” Matthew said in a firm, authoritative voice.

But his infuriating cousin only smirked.

“Relax, Sylvester. I’ve finished your assignment. It was so easy to find her—she’s been right under your nose this whole time. But you know my visits aren’t free. And besides, I prioritized your request over my girls, so…” He chuckled.

*Damn this idiot Ricaforte.*

Matthew exhaled sharply. He knew Rael was going to squeeze more money out of him before handing over the full information.

But he was desperate to know where Mari was now.

He was lucky he hadn’t lost his mind after two years of searching. The incompetent detectives he had hired before had nearly driven him insane. He had wasted money—but he didn’t care. All that mattered was finding Mari.

“How much do you want now?” he asked.

“Just one million, cousin. That’s already a bargain. You already paid me before I even completed the job. I just want my bonus,” Rael said with a grin.

The audacity. Asking for a bonus before it was even offered.

But as long as he had succeeded…

“Here.” Matthew handed him a signed check. “One million pesos. Now give me the information.”

“Okay, boss. Here.” Rael pulled a USB from his pocket and handed it over. He kissed the check once it was in his hands. “I’m rich again,” he added.

“Money-hungry!” Ezikiel kicked Rael as he stood up.

“Idiot! You should be happy—I’m treating you to drinks and girls!” Rael shot back, throwing a punch at Kiel.

“That’s good. You’re so generous, cousin. But you’re still stupid—why only one million?”

“Who are you calling stupid, idiot? Fine, forget it. Maybe this one million isn’t even enough for me,” Rael retorted.

“You two—get out of my office now!” Matthew snapped, driving his cousins out before their nonsense escalated further.

“Aren’t you coming?” Ezikiel asked.

“I have important things to do. Now leave, dimwits.”

“Fuck you, lover boy!” his cousins chorused as they left.

They didn’t say proper goodbyes. That was how the Ricaforte cousins were—never one for polite farewells, always cursing at each other before parting ways.