"A flower cannot blossom without the sunshine, and man cannot live without love." - Max Muller

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Giovanni Leone, Santorini's POV

               I FINISHED all the documents for the week and tried to do more, but my head was still reeling with why Enna is at the walk-in clinic. Vito nor Sai hasn't reported anything yet. I even sent all the necessary information to the police to keep Salvo behind the bars, but not all that I know. I hated him, but my love for his daughter left me torn between leaving him free or getting the justice I always wanted.

I decided to call Dick 1. "Why is Ms. Giudici at the clinic?" I barked as soon as the call connected.

"She's pregnant, sir. According to the doctor."

Pregnant?

My heart suddenly hyperventilates as soon as the word sunk in my head. I wanted to scream with joy. I felt like I won a lottery. I felt so damn ecstatic.

I'm going to be a daddy! Yes, I'm going to be a daddy. I was mentally doing a fist pump.

"How did you know?" I asked with my voice softening, concealing the warm sensations overflowing throughout my whole system.

"I pretended I was her boyfriend, sir-"

"You, WHAT?" Suddenly, I felt enrage.

"I-I a-am sorry, s-sir. I thought it's t-the e-easiest way to know it. The doctor doesn't want to tell me because of confidentiality, but when I pretended to be her boyfre-"

"SHUT UP!"

I hated it, but he was right. Still, I don't like the idea.

Her Boyfriend?

No one can claim her as his girlfriend, even just for pretense!

"YOU ARE FIRED!" Then I hang up the phone. I dialed Vito's number.

"Speak," I heard Vito's growled on the other line.

"Change plan. Plan B,"

"Is there anything that made your mind change?" Vito asked.

"She's pregnant!" I said enthusiastically. I'm feeling like I was floating on a cloud nine.

"Dick told you already?" Vito asked surprised.

"I called him since none of you reported it to me yet." I scowled at oblivion. I was bouncing on my seat, like a boy who just got his favorite presents. I'm so ecstatic.

"I'm so going to fire that fucker," Vito mumbled and my forehead puckered into deep folds.

Cocking my eyebrow I responded. "I already did," in a nonchalant voice.

"YOU WHAT?"

"That's exactly my line when he told me he pretended to be Enna's boyfriend.

"FUCK YOU, GIO! He just did his job!" Vito growled and I knew I was impulsive. I already fired him. I can't hire him back.

"Well, I can't hire him back, can I?" I said dismissively.

"You're very impossible, Gio. Fine, I'll hire him back." Vito said in resignation. "Anyhow, I want that to be a surprise and that ass just ruined it. Well, plan B it is." Vito ended the call and I smiled.

I dialed my pilot and tonight, I will visit one of my estates.

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Athena Giudici's POV

               "Congratulations! You are three weeks on the way, Ms. Giudici." The words of the doctor echoed in my head, replaying over and over again. My legs strolling around the mall with no apparent aim. After that news, I drove straight to the mall. I needed to clear my head.

After knowing dad surrendered, and now behind bars, I felt numb. My family is broken after knowing dad's biggest secret, and now here I am. Pregnant and fatherless.

I'm still battling if I need to talk to Gio about this or should I just let it go. He didn't bother to come and talk to me, neither he exerts an effort to send me a text just to say hi. He really put a wall between us.

I felt the tears prickled under my eyelids and it fell freely, unable to contain it.

I quickly wipe the tears off and quickly walk back to my car and headed back home. I don't want to look like a crazy and catch attention. The tears seemed too uncontrollable.

Not long, I was driving along the parking underground and parked my car in my usual spot. Just as I got out of my car, I saw Vito climbing out hastily from a black SUV.

He looks apprehensive. "Hi," I said with uncertainty. I don't know why he's here. My eyes discreetly looking over his shoulder and around him, looking for him, but instead, I saw that two guys who always with them. Morgan and Mason, I think.

"You need to come with me, Enna!" He said.

"Why? What happened?" I asked, my heart racing, as different scenarios flooded my head.

"Gio was struck in the heart! ... by cupid's arrow." I froze feeling like all my blood ran out dry, with my heart pumping furiously against my ribcage. "Where is he?" I croaked, feeling my throat as dry as the Sahara dessert. "He's alive, right?" I gulped inaudibly. My tears poured out like streams of the river. Unable to stop it.

"He's dying ... of your love. And he needs you right now." Vito looks sullen and I didn't wait for any seconds.

I tug his hand. "Bring me to him!" I cried out desperately, with my heart wrenching.

"He can't die, damn him!" I grit out through sniffing.

"Of course, he can't. Now that he has a baby, for sure he'll beat death ass just to be with you and his baby." Vito stated with humor, but he's face held unamused.

I ignored him and felt the tears kept streaming down my cheeks. "He'll be fine," I heard him said, with no emotions carried his tone. All the more my tears streaming incessantly, soaking my cheeks.

I felt the van stops and a frown made its way up my forehead when I saw we are on the tarmac. "Where are we going?" I asked, confused.

"To him," he answered so briefly. His nonchalant tone kept me from asking more.

He looks rigid and tight, and I so desperately wanted to know what really happened, but he looks like he's not going to say anything.

I wipe my face with the back of my hand and tried to stop the tears, even if it was too hard. My heart felt like it was twinge with a vice gripping, ever so slowly, leaving a gnawing pain. Nothing beats the pain that I felt right now, thinking he's dying or he maybe dead by now.

No.

No.

I inwardly shook my head, not wanting to entertain the negative thoughts clogging my head.

I followed him quietly. I don't know where he is, but I didn't dare ask for more. The small plane doesn't look like the plane we used when we flew to Cuba. It was small compared to his and looks extremely extravagant than this one. Though this one looks fine and good enough to bring us to our destination.

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Giovanni Leone Santorini's POV

         "Are you sure that guy is legit? I want this to be official," I asked Sai as I cocked my head to the bald headed guy who looks like he's going to shit his pants. He is in his mid-fifties I believe. He was wearing a white shirt tucked in his well-ironed black pants. He looks respectful if I may say.

"Of course. He had been doing civil marriages. He's working at the New York city hall. We had to bring him with us." Sai explained briefly. "Hey, Morgan," Sai called Morgan who was talking to Mason, leaning against one of the pillars of the pavilion in the back of my mansion house.  The backyard offers a breathing space from the sun for midday dining. The bald minister was sitting on one of the armchairs facing the pool though his eyes were discreetly scanning the area and us.

"Bring Mr. Baldwick here!" Sai ordered him.

Morgan approached the old man who was sipping his tea, and places his tea on the wooden coffee table and stood up. Morgan led him to where we are, rounding the pool. We are standing, facing the pool across the pavilion.

Mr. Baldwick stood in front of us and Morgan stayed behind.

"Mr. Baldwick, this is my friend, Giovanni Santorini. He is Mr. Lazaro Baldwick. He officiates wedding ceremonies and he's legal." He introduced.

"How are you doing, Mr. Baldwick. I hope my friend didn't scare you when they invited you here in my resting place," I smiled and Mr. Baldwick relaxes and smiled genuinely.

"I'm deeply honored, Mr. Santorini," He responded shortly with respect. I smiled to feel him relax. His head looks around the area.

"Where is the wedding going to take place?" He asked.

My forehead scrunched. "Here," I said, with my hand pointing to the open area in the back. The minister looks at me with surprise, then his eyes roamed around. I have several men stationed surrounding the area. There were only two women in this house who cooks and cleans.

"Is this the bride's idea?" he asked with his forehead scrunched matching mine.

"Ye-yeah. Actually, it was a surprise." I smiled trying to convince him.

"Oh, I see."

"Well, I never officiate a wedding in an open backyard without any decorations before. This is going to be my first," he said and he walk around the pool, then headed to the pavilion, then to the back of the pavilion where the huge open space, and a garden, in awe. We were trailing behind him.

"So, should we do something? Do a little decoration?" I asked with uncertain in my voice as I stood beside him, with my eyes following his trail.

"If you think she'll like an open space with no decorations, then it should be fine." Mr. Baldwick said.

I suddenly felt uncertain. I wanted, at least, to make the surprise more exciting.

"What should I do?" I asked.

"Well, usually, at the back of their backyard, there's a gazebo, decorated with flowers, where to hold the ceremony. The pavilion should work out fine," he said nonchalantly.

"Anyhow, I can show you some pictures in my photos how it looks like." He then started tapping on his phone and then after a while, he showed us what a decorated gazebo looks like.

"We can decorate the pavilion and you could do the ceremony here," Sai pointed to the pavilion in across the pool and I agreed. There's not much of attendance and it's only us. The grand wedding will just soon be followed. I just want to make her mine as soon as possible, now that she's carrying my child.

I was supposed to only take her with me for a while, but things change when I found out she's pregnant. I can't wait any longer.

I felt the box inside my pocket. I've got it before I left New York.

"It's perfect!" The minister agreed.

"Get whatever flowers you get in the garden!" I barked to everyone, and my whole securities went to work.

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Athena Giudici's POV

              I WOKE up when the speaker went off. In my disoriented state, I just realized then that I was in a plane with Vito and according to the pilot, we are in California. I bolted sat upright and saw Vito across me, with shut eyes.

I felt the plane slowly descending, and it gives me butterflies in my stomach. I shut my eyes off, thinking of our happy moments together and Gio. A ghost of a smile broke out on my lips and then I felt a hard jerk when the plane touches the ground, then leveled down.

Not long, the car drove off for like hours and hours along dusty roads until a what it looks like a farm estate, with a huge expanse of green grounds, and a beautiful garden surrounding the estate.

The van pulled into a very long driveway, and into the a round-about then stopping in front a grandeur property.

"Let's go," Vito assisted me out of the car and led me inside the huge brick mansion. The cold breeze of California kissed my skin and it feels good.

My eyes then scanned the whole the property right before my eyes.  The grandness of the property is marked by a sweeping staircase, as focal of the huge foyer. A ceiling dome, which allows light to filter down from the sky, illuminating the tile finish on the walls and trim. The massive custom ironwork balconies juxtapose the space's soft creams and whites; urns and candelabras serve to pronounce the grandeur.

Vito drags me to along the huge hallways.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked. Isn't supposed to be at the hospital?

"Just follow me and stop questioning, before I'll kill him," he hissed. "That's why I hate this love, thingy. It makes you insane!" He blabbered.

"I'm sorry?" I asked. I heard what he said.

"I said, stop asking questions."

We stop before a double wooden door, I believed was the back door. I could see the open space from the open window-ceiling window glass.

One of the men in suits standing on the side of the door opens it for us. The backyard reveals before my eyes. It includes a pavilion, that shades a portion of the swimming pool, as well as four sheer decent water spillways fed with fiber-optic light bars underneath. Made to entertain. The backyard oasis includes a large outdoor dining room with an adjacent full bathroom and outdoor kitchen, twelve outdoor speakers, two mist systems, and two outdoor TV sets.

Suddenly, my eyes caught a sight of a bald short man wearing a suit, holding a book, standing in front of a small table with two chairs across him. It just dawns on me the sprinkled petals of roses and other  flowers on the whole ground. The pillars of the pavilion were decorated with flowers of different hues. It looks like it was done in a rush or probably whoever did it, had no sense of art or styles.

Then out of nowhere, Gio appeared looking so handsome in a tuxedo. Then what was happening, suddenly spark in my head like a lightning.

I suddenly look at Vito, accusingly. He just shrugs his shoulder and cocked his head towards them, motioning me to walk towards them.

The thought that they fooled me, my anger rose swiftly. I almost had a heart attack. I cried like a river thinking he's dying. For hours and hours, I felt so vulnerable, so hurt, and thinking I would live alone with my baby.

My eyes turn into slits, lips pursed and at that moment, I really want to kill him and just make it happen that lies they just pulled off.

"GIVE ME YOUR GUN!" I spat at Vito who looks surprised. My palm extended as I waited for him to hand me the gun.

"Bambolina," Gio suddenly walks in our direction, his face lit up like a bulb and my heart races rapidly. His eyes held mischief as always. His smile is as bright as the sunshine and my insides starting to melt.

I was picturing a dying Gio lying on a bed, not a happy and ecstatic one. And, my anger bubbles up in my system, ignoring that familiar tingling sensations his presence triggered me. My eyes starting to moisten with all these mixtures of emotions swirling deep within me.

I knew he planned all this!

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A/N: Here you go, ladies. Hope you all like it!