Chapter 48

It was the day after I had found out about the baby picture and no matter how much I’d call or text Vincenzo he would not answer.

I was getting anxious since Christian wasn’t here— and even considered asking Olivia, Vincenzo’s address because I could not take it anymore.

“Are you sure you’re not going to eat anything?” Emmanuella who had returned asked and I shook my head while I kept staring at my phone. The last person I had texted was Beau, and I hoped he would reply.

“No, I’m good thanks,” I reassured her. “Yes, but how about the baby?” She asked, and pushed the plate towards my direction— forcing me to eat. Not in the mood to talk to her anymore, I had accepted the plate and started eating.

“Emmanuella, you’ve been in this family for a long time, right?” I asked her as she nodded her head. “Yes, why?”

“Do you know the Alfonzo’s?” I asked her. Emmanuella sat down on the opposite side of me. “Yes, of course, I know them— they’ve been a family friend for ages. It all started with Christian’s grandfather— Franco Lamberti and Matteo’s father— Pedro Alfonzo.”

“What about their children?” I tried to keep the conversation going. I was going to find out answers about this Angelica one way or another.

“Hmm, there is the oldest— Emilio and after that Marcello, and after Marcello they had Carmen and Lucas—“

“Did they ever give up a child for adoption?” I jumped straight to it and tried to read the expression on Emmanuella’s face. “Why that sudden question? Have you heard about what Fabio Garcia did?”

“Vincenzo’s dad?” I asked and she nodded her head. I had to play my cards right. “Uh yeah, but I forgot— what did he do again?” I played along. I felt bad for having to use Emmanuella like this, but I had to find out the truth.

“It’s not what he did, it’s what they all done. Years ago there was an order to burn down a house— but unfortunately, Fabio’s pregnant wife and son died in that fire. No one knew they were still in that house.” Emmanuella sighed.

“He was the one who put out the order, but he needed someone to blame and at the end of the day the Alfonzo’s and Lamberti’s men had done it, so they had to pay.”

“How did they pay?” I wondered and finally felt like I was getting somewhere. The look on Emmanuella’s voice told me that she did not want to talk about it anymore. “Emmanuella, please,” I begged her. “Alright then.”

“At that time Lina Alfonzo was pregnant, Fabio gave them two options, either hand over a child— or go to war.” Emmanuella sighed. “W-war?” I asked as she nodded her head.

“Yes, Lita gave away her baby boy— because he was a boy she had hoped Fabio would have shown him mercy, but as fast as she gave the baby, he had disappeared and god knows how that child suffered.”

So it was a boy?

Then who was Angelica?

“Even then Christian and Vincenzo remained friends,” I spoke to myself. “Yes, sacrificing one child to protect dozen to prevent a war was unfortunately the safest at the time. All the families make up one big family, so just imagine what happens when someone risks a war for a baby.” Emmanuella explained. “They had no choice or they would’ve had everyone against them.”

“Anyway, after that Lita gave birth to two more children, Carmen and Lucas— but she got depressed and never got over giving away her son. She would’ve gone to war for her baby, but Matteo at that time made that decision from his brain and not out his heart.” She sighed.

“And we are sure the baby was a boy?” I asked Emmanuella. All of this did not make sense, as far as I was concerned I was definitely not a boy. “Positive, it was a boy.”

“And who is Angelica?” I asked and saw how Emmanuella’s went into deep thoughts. “I have no idea, why are you asking?” She asked, but just by her reaction, I knew that she could not help me anymore. L

Perhaps Angelica was another baby they gave away. Matteo Alfonzo calling out for Angelica sounded like a father calling out for his daughter.

“No one, I heard Matteo mention that name once— don’t mind me.” I smiled at her. At that moment my phone buzzed and I saw that I had received a text from Beau.

He had sent me a location with simple instructions. ‘Please get here as soon as possible. Don’t tell anyone’

I looked at Emmanuella who had her back turned to me and said my goodbyes before going to my room. The location Beau wanted to meet me at was at a park near the mansion.

“Emmanuella, I’m just going for a quick walk!” I announced and left the mansion. “No drive today?” Vernon asked and I shook my head. My eyes landed on the same grey van which had been following me ever since Christian left, and I knew it had to be one of his men.

I managed to sneak out the gates without the van noticing me and made my way over to the park where I saw Beau sitting on a bench.

‘If I’m dead, this was my last location and I was with Beau, the one who was stalking me’ I texted Luna and put away my phone.

“Beau,” I called out and walked towards him, but made sure to keep my distance. “Serena, we have to talk but there is no time!” He spoke and tried to step forward, but I took a step back.

“I know you’ve been stalking me, please tell me why you have been sticking your nose into my baby pictures, tell me why you’ve been running circles at the club— asking about me!” I demanded an answer and saw how his face went pale.

“I can explain, but you have to listen— I don’t have long!” He said but I shook my head, refusing to listen. “No, you don’t, so tell me what the hell is going on!”

“You might be in danger.”

“W-what do you mean? Where’s Vincenzo and why isn’t he picking up his phone?” I asked Beau. He grabbed my hand and looked in my eyes with a pleading look. “Serena listen, the Canada thing was a lie-“

“You’re not from Canada?”

“Listen!” He interrupted me and squeezed my hand. “Yes I was brought here from Canada— but before that... Serena from the moment I met you I knew there was something...”

“W-what are you trying to say?” I whispered and saw him take a deep breath. “Serena, although you’re pregnant I don’t think you’re randomly here— for the past few months I have been looking for someone and I think you might be her.” He whispered back and looked around to see if anyone heard us.

“W-who? Let go of me!” I told him, shocked at his changed behavior. “My twin.” He said as I couldn’t help but laugh at his weird explanation. Twin?

“What the hell are you talking about!” I tried to get away from him, but his grip around my wrist was firm and with the other hand he grabbed a picture from his suit jacket. “We don’t have long, he’ll be back soon but look!” He pushed the picture into my hands.

My heart almost dropped when I saw a baby who was pretty much identical to the baby in my childhood pictures and even had the same custom made blanket, cuddled up to another baby.

Adrián and Angelica

“W-what, where did you get this from?” I asked and held the bench for support as I tried to catch my breath. Was this all a game?

“I stole it from Vincenzo’s father, Fabio Garcia’s office,” Beau spoke. “The man who made my life miserable, but now I know why!”

“Christian is not the saint you think he is and Vincenzo isn’t either!”

“W-what?” I asked again, on the verge of fainting at all the sudden news I was receiving. “A long time ago something happened between the Alfonzo’s, the Lam-“

“Yes, I know!” I interrupted him to not waste any more time than we already didn’t have.

“I’m sure you trust Christian— but he knew who your birth parents are and didn’t tell you a thing. He put you in so much danger just by being here!”

“And why would that be?” I asked.

“Does Vincenzo..?”

“No he doesn’t, and no one knows about me, but someone gave Fabio a lead and now he knows that you’re still alive.”

“Fabio?” I asked and looked at Beau who had raised his sleeve. In shock, I stared at the purple bruises on his wrist.

“Oh my...Beau, did they do this to you?”

“Fabio did— although Vincenzo is innocent, you can’t hang around him anymore. The only reason he can tolerate me is because Fabio gave me another name and never told anyone about my true identity. I was the price for everyone’s mistake— I’m safe for now because I work for Fabio and he thinks that I do not know who I am.” Beau tried his best to get through to me.

“But you? Vincenzo’s ignoring you because he knows! Although you had nothing to do with all of this, his mom and brother died in that fire— he will never forgive you!” Beau yelled in my face.

Christian knew...

I thought about Christian and his sudden decision to not help me anymore after I had told him about my pregnancy. I had hated him, did not want to be around him— declined the checks he had sent me, and in a way, everything was finally adding up, but Christian why would he lie to me?

I had opened up to him about my true feelings while he wiped my tears. He knew how desperate I was about getting to know my parents, I cried in his arms while he comforted me— so unless he was the devil there was no single way. He wouldn’t...

There had to be a reason.

I fell in love with him and he betrayed me.

Lucio...

He had hired me, always gave me way more attention than the other girls— visited me every week, tried to talk me into getting another job. It was all so he could wash away his own guilt.

“The Alfonzo’s, do they know?” I asked but Beau shook his head. “No, I’ve heard our...birth mother...fell into a depression and regrets her decision, if they knew we wouldn’t be living like this.” He told me.

I thought about the butterfly-shaped necklace which Emilio had given me. It was not a lookalike, it was the exact same. Christian asked me about the necklace and made a damn fool out of me while he knew all along.

This must be a lie, this must be a prank.

“One advice— burn that ring, save your baby, and come with me now, I’ll get you out of here before Fabio gets to you. We only have each other, I’ll protect you.” Beau stuck out his hand.

I looked at his hand.

His offer seemed so tempting, but was I really capable of dropping the life I had?

Was I ready to let go of Christian?