CHAPTER TWO

VALENTINA’S POV

I knelt in front of my parents and elder brother’s graves with tears rolling down my eyes nonstop as I reminisced about how life was when they were still alive and we lived happily.

We were the Di Maria family living peacefully and minding our business. My brother Taviano Di Maria would always take me to a river on the outskirts of our city telling me that we'll get to see a mermaid because he knew I loved mermaid tales.

My Dad was just a businessman who was benevolent enough to show my uncle who is his younger and only brother Santiago Di Maria his way of business and they both excelled together.

When I was 5 years old, we were all going on a holiday and armed men ambushed us on the same bridge on the river my brother Taviano used to take me to, so that we'll search for mermaids and the armed men began shooting at us.

My mum Rosalia Di Maria pushed me into the river to save me before they shot her. Luckily a woman saved me and took me to my Uncle Santiago when she saw the news on tv that they were searching for me. My uncle had been the one taking care of me since then.

When I had no tears left to cry, I stood up and placed flowers at all their graves and left to the bridge where it all happened. This has been my routine on their remembrance day since I was 6 till now that I am 23.

I got into my car and drove to the bridge. Memories began flooding back into my head about how my family died and I began crying. I packed my car a safe distance away from the bridge and began to walk through a path that led down the bridge to the riverside.

I hadn't even reached the riverside yet when I suddenly began to hear the sound of gunshots at first I thought the sound was from my heart due to the flashback I got whenever I came here but then when I reached the riverside I saw a bullet hit the water, that was when I knew it was real.

I ran to hide and suddenly there was an explosion, that wasn't what caught my attention, what caught my attention was that I saw a man fall into the river and that part of the water turned red so I knew he was hurt.

Being an excellent swimmer, I dived into the river wanting to save this man at all costs. When I found him I grabbed him and pulled him out.

I was taken aback by this man, striking handsomeness, his hair was dirty-blonde in color and packed in a low twisted bun, tattoos filled his hands and neck, and he had a sharply pointed nose and well-chiseled face and jawline.

From all these he looked like a gangster, I began weighing in my mind, if I should save him or not and ended up saving him because why not, I'm a medical doctor and surgeon it's my job to save people's life.

I took him to my lab at home and removed the bullets that were shot at him. I doubted if he would survive because the bullets were shot too close to his heart and he had lost so much blood already but I still tried.

I bandaged his wound after I was done removing the bullets and left him, Not knowing if I should contact the police or not but I followed my gut feeling and didn't.

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It's been the fifth day now since I helped this strange man that is still unconscious and I transferred him from my lab to my guestroom.

I always administered his drugs to him before I went to work and did the same whenever I came back from work.

I went to check on him but got carried away admiring his handsomeness while I was checking his vitals, he suddenly opened his eyes, and oh my!! His eyes were green.

It took me a moment to compose myself before I ran to get water, judging from the fact he had been unconscious for five days his throat would be dry.

When I came back into the room he was trying to sit up. I see, he's the stubborn type. But he wasn't supposed to stress himself now since he was just waking up.

All the while I was talking to him he didn't answer until I told him he'd been unconscious for five days and he choked on the water I was giving him.

I found everything about him fascinating, from why he fell he got shot, and why he suddenly choked on his water, but It was his privacy and I wouldn't dare ask or interfere.

He asked for my phone and called his friend, telling him to come to pick him up. I persuaded him to stay and finish his treatment but he was hell-bent on leaving so I gave him some painkillers and left feeling upset.

After I had saved him he couldn't even say a simple thank you, what an asshole he was. A few minutes later I heard someone continuously blaring his or her car horn and checked through my window to see who it was I was surprised to see five latest models of parado jeeps lined at the front of my house.

“ I guess they are here to pick him up, “ I said to myself, seeing them made me realize that this man I saved whom I didn't know his name and to be honest was no longer interested to know his name even though he knew mine already was wealthy.

I went to my guest room and told him his friend was outside and he stood up even though I saw that he squinted his eyes due to the pain he was feeling, I kept quiet and decided to mind my business since he was after all ungrateful.

I went to the door to wait for him and when he came out of my guestroom, our eyes locked and it took everything in me not to ask his name before he goes but instead I just opened the door for him and he stepped outside.

I waved nodded at him and waved him goodbye for courtesy’s sake and went into my house. I watched them drive away as I peeped through my window.

All the guy's who stepped down from the Prado jeep to greet the man I saved all had the same marking tattoo on their neck and they bowed at the man which looked spooky and weird to me.

I flinched in fear when my phone started ringing and heaved a sigh of relief as I saw that it was just my phone ringing and it was Uncle Santiago that was calling.

“ Hello uncle, how are you doing? “ I asked with my most sweet voice so that he wouldn't notice I was scared. Because if there was anything uncle Santiago was good at, it was being observant.

“ Come to my house now! '' Was the only thing he said and ended the call afterward. I became worried and rushed out of my house, getting into my car and driving to check on Uncle Santiago hoping nothing was wrong with him, he was the only family I had left.

****************************************

Getting to Uncle Santiago's house I rushed in only to find my uncle sitting in a wheelchair in his garden waiting for me.

“ What's wrong uncle? “ I asked him with concern and saw the biggest smile on his face as he raised his head. I began to wonder what was going on but his next words shocked me to my very core.

“ Get ready Valentina, you're getting married, “ He said. I just looked at him dumbfounded, not understanding where what he said was coming from.

“ I don't understand uncle, you're joking, right? “ I asked and laughed nervously but his face told me he was serious.

“ Look, before your parents died, they promised the Dicaprio family that you'll get married to their son Diego and the young man is back in the country rich and powerful so don't be afraid because you won't have to suffer at all “ Uncle Santiago said still with a big smile on his face.

“ Uncle I respect you a lot but I can't get married to someone I don't know on such short notice. You told me you wanted me to study medicine because it was my parent's wish that I did so. I respected you and studied it but this one uncle I'm sorry I can't “ I said to him.

“ Listen, Val, he has arranged for us to have dinner together at the most expensive restaurant that is in the city and you won't embarrassed me you hear me? You would dress beautifully and see the young man first before you judge him “ Uncle Santiago said, raising his voice at me slightly annoyed.

I decided to do as he has said for now and look for another way to stop me from marrying Diego or whatever his name is called, just from the name I already disliked the guy.

“ Alright uncle what time would be the dinner and location, “ I asked my uncle after I tried to put on a fake smile and hoped it looked convincing.

“Don't worry I'll text it to you later, it's just 2 pm now, take from now till evening to plan and shop

for the dress that you'll wear, “ He replied with a big smile appearing on his face again.

“ Alright uncle, are your legs paining you today do you want me to massage them for you a little, “ I asked him but he shook his head.

“ No Val, I feel fine today just go and get ready, “ he said urging me to go. The way he was behaving right now confirmed to me that there was more to this marriage than he was telling me.

I left his house, drove to my house, and entered my bedroom to take a nap since I took a leave from work yesterday because I was feeling drained and partly because of that strange man I saved.

***********************************************

I woke up from my nap only to find out that it was 6 pm already and damn It's been a long time since I slept well and comfortably like this without any bad dreams.

I took my phone and saw series of texts and messages from Uncle Santiago. I rolled my eyes as I checked the time and location, after which I got up to prepare because the dinner would be by 7 pm.

One hour later I got into my car dressed in a red strapless evening gown with thigh slits and packed my hair in a messy bun not wanting to look overdressed.

Reaching the restaurant I went in and saw my uncle and my supposed fiance Diego, he was handsome but not compared to the stranger I saved. Shit, why was his thought crossing my mind.

“Good evening gentlemen sorry I'm late, “ I said as I sat down facing Diego and Uncle Santiago.

“ Women are always late, we understand and I must say that you look ravishing and stunning Valentina, “ Diego said and suddenly I felt the strong urge to pee.

“ Excuse me please I need to use the convenience, “ I said to uncle Santiago and Diego.

I made my way heading for the toilet but when I wanted to open the door to the toilet and go in, a handkerchief was placed on my nose and everything went black after I inhaled the content of the handkerchief.