…
“I guess I am the only one privileged to see that side of him” she shakes her body excitedly, “He makes me feel spe-” she was interrupted by the breaking of glass.
Everyone turned to where the sound came from and saw that it was from Sofia who had a look of shock on her face as she looked at something or someone from a far distance.
Audriana and Emily came rushing to her aid and took her from where the broken pieces were.
Max immediately rushed out of the kitchen and saw some broken piece of glass on the floor that was in the path to the kitchen then his eyes went to Sofia who was surrounded by her bestie and friend.
He went over to her and made sure she sat on the couch then took off her sandals to check her feet if any of the broken pieces went in her legs.
“Il mio amore,” he said still searching for any broken piece. “What happened? How did it slip from your hand? Are you hurt? Are you okay?” he kept asked looking so worried.
She looked at him and her shocked-looking face calmed down and she placed her palm on his worried-looking face then she shook her head.
“I am fine, it was just a mistake,” she said.
“Is everything fine?” Patricia asked with her husband, Moana, and Kingsley railing behind her.
“Yes, aunt. I just fell a glass but I am fine” Sofia answered.
“You sure darling?” Moana asked looking worried too.
“Yes, I just wasn’t expecting what I saw”
“What did you see?” Audriana asked then looked at the door to see her new-made friend by the door dressed in a red off-the-shoulder flared gown, silver flats, and had her red hair in a tight bun with a rose by the side her hair.
She smiled and turned to Sofia.
“That is the lady I was telling you about,” she said to them and Sofia looked at her with wide-opened eyes.
“Daniella?” Emily asked when she looked at her in shock.
“She is the one you are friends with?” Sofia asked.
Daniella came further into the room with a very friendly smile portraying on her lips and she gave them a little wave.
“I do remember you, Daniella Copello?” Patricia asked with furrowed brows.
“Yes, I am her. Hi Sofia, Emily” she said to them.
Audriana already clueless as to what was happening around her stood to her feet and shook her head then pointed at Daniella, her mother-in-law, and two friends.
“You all know each other?” she asked after a while of trying to process it all.
“Yes, we do” Emily answered with gritted teeth. “Why didn’t you inform me you were out of the me-”
“I don’t need to tell anyone of my whereabouts, I am an adult and can take care of myself without anyone questioning me,” she said.
“Well, you would have behaved like one ye–”
“Okay, ladies we don’t want to disrupt this peaceful gathering. You can discuss your differences after the party” Patricia said with a little bit of annoyance lacing her voice.
She looked from Daniella to Sofia to Emily and to the clueless Audriana then gave them all warning looks before leaving with her husband.
“Audriana we need to g-” he was cut off when he saw who was standing there in the midst of his wife and her friends.
He just couldn’t believe his eyes and what he was seeing now.
She is real… and… here… at his parent’s place… at their little family get-together.
How did she know they were hosting something like this? And who let her in in the first place? How did she get in? And through the security?
He knew she was around but didn’t think she would make her appearance known like this and… he doesn’t know.
He was just standing there looking at her she was looking back at him longingly.
Audriana turned to look at Dimitri who had his eyes on someone that wasn’t her. She traced his look to see that he was looking at her guest and a frown made itself on her face.
Why was he looking at someone he just saw for the first time in that manner? She felt a bit embarrassed slash offended he would look at the woman like that.
She was aware Daniella is a gorgeous-looking woman but he was married and should at least respect the fact that his wife was there and not ogle another woman in front of her.
She looked back at him and noticed something a bit odd. He looked a bit pale and… should she say scared? Shocked? Unexpectant? Angry?
She couldn’t read his expression as they would show some emotions one minute and would go blank the other.
She wanted to go meet him when she heard Aiden say from behind her.
“Oh men, she finally decided to show up.”
“Damn, this is a disaster,” said Caleb and when she turned to look at them, they were already beside Daniella and when they noticed Audriana looking at them they all portrayed a happy nonsincere smile.
Including Daniella.
“I think she isn’t supposed to be here so she would be leaving now,” Aiden said putting his arms on her shoulder and was about to drag her out of the living room when Audriana came and caught hold of Daniella’s wrist.
“I do not know what is happening here but no one is leaving here till the party is over”
“Who invited her then?” Caleb asked.
“I did and she isn’t leaving. She is a guest and you don’t treat guests in such a manner” she said pulling Daniella from Aiden’s hold.
It was fine they didn’t cause much of a scene, only a few of the guests looked in their way but they would look away after some time since it wasn’t worth their attention.
“Now, let’s not create a scene and let this slide till the end of the pa-” she was interrupted by someone holding her wrist and pulling her to follow the person.
When she saw the back of the person pulling her along with him, it was no one else than her very own husband. Dimitri Lorenzo.
What was his problem and why did he have to drag her like that? He could have politely asked her to come with him and not pull her like she was a little girl that was about to be reprimanded by her father.
“What… is… wrong… with… you… Dimitri Lorenzo?” she asked in between breaths as they made their way up to Dimitri’s former room at his parent’s mansion.
When he reached the brown-colored door, he opened it and entered taking her in with him and in one quick moment, she put her against the closed door, put both hands above her head, and glared angrily at her.
She was going to say something to him about respecting her more but the look he shot at her shut her up and she felt intimidated.
She cant remember him giving her this look since they’ve known each other and this was a first for her so it scared her a bit and she closed her mouth from saying anything.
He saw how scared she looked and had to soften his glared so as not to make her scared of him. He had not seen a scared look on her face and he doesn’t want to be the one to put that look on her face.
He leaned back a bit and relaxed his tensed muscle then looked away from her trying to calm himself down so he doesn’t yell at her.
Did she have any idea of what she had just done? She invited her and she was so casual about saying it. She was even defending her.
What was wrong with her? This was someone he hadn’t seen in years and he knew about her watching him and lurking at places he would go and he told himself he wasn’t prepared to see her or come in contact with her.
After almost nine years, she showed up and at a get-together for family only.
How on earth did they meet? He knows it is a small world but how did she meet with her and had to invite her over? She couldn’t even consult him first before inviting her.
But the question here was, did she know about them? Their past? The things they shared when they were younger and all the memories they made that was taken for granted? Was she aware of all this?
The thought of that made him calm down and he turned to look at Audriana who was just looking at him with confusion. That scared look was already gone and it made him happy.
Did Daniella tell her anything? Did she mention anything to her? Or…
Was this her way or revenging for all the wrongdoings he did to her? Did she know and thought it was okay to remind him of his painful ex? Was this a plan between them?
‘I told you not to trust women, they are the same and would do anything to bring a man down’ his inner thought said to him and the anger he felt seconds ago resurfaced and he glared at her again.
She was just confused why he pulled her like that and is giving her weird kinds of looks.
Did she do something bad? Why is he behaving in such a manner? What was wr-
“So you invited her here” he spoke coldly after a while and interrupted the questions she was asking herself.
“Well, yes. I did invite her, do you have a problem with that?” she asked with raised eyebrows.
“That woman had no right to be here, in our presence and you went ahead to bring her in. At least you would have consulted me first before going ahead to invite a stranger” he said raising his voice a bit.
Oh, it was all about that woman? That is the reason for his outburst and for him treating her like that? She was bothered by the way he looked at that woman and wanted to ask what was it that made him stare at her for too long.
And about consulting him, he was neither right nor wrong about that statement. She knew she was supposed to at least inform him she would have an extra guest in and not just let everyone be surprised like they were minutes ago.
“That is the reason you dragged me like that? I am sorry I didn’t call your attention to it but that didn’t give you the right to drag me in such a manner” she spoke angrily.
“Okay fine, it wasn’t my intention to have dragged you like that but I don’t know how you will do it but I don’t want that woman here,” he said moving her away to leave when she spoke something that stopped him.
“What is with that woman in particular? Do you know her from somewhere else or is there more to this that you are making it to be?” she asked the question she wanted to ask.
“I saw the way you looked at her when you came in and I couldn’t understand the emotions that played on your face but I know there was a look of familiarity there.” she came closer to him, still looking at him.
“Even Aiden and Caleb made a remark about her being around or showing up. Sofia, Emily and your mum too knew her name. Is there more to it? Is there something I don’t know ye-”
“Just make sure she is where you can watch her,” he interrupted her then looked at her. “If I were you I wouldn’t trust to leave her alone” and with that, he left the room leaving her with many thoughts producing in her head.
***
Il mio amore – My Love