Six years ago

Roxi's POV

Pete was right.

I should have gone home.

I sighed as I struggled to clean off the coffee stain,but to no avail. It had been thirty minutes. Thirty whole minutes since I saw Richard off to the airport. The whole ride to the airport,I had smiled and pretended to be okay.

But I wasn't okay....

I was far from being okay.......

I bit hard on my lower lip and then drew in deep breaths. I could feel his burning gaze on me. There was no way I was going to break down here,in front of all the customers,not in front of him.

What did I care anyway?

He was just another regular customer,just like the rest of them.

I didn't realize I had been staring at the coffee machine for what seemed like ages until I heard Pete's voice behind me,causing me to jump.

"Are you sure you're okay Roxi?" He asked,his eyes filled with worry. "You should take the day off. I'm sure I could manage the cafe on my own today." He continued. I smiled faintly and sighed.

"I'm sure you can." I grabbed a menu. "I'll be fine." I assured him as I slipped away and then moved towards the two men who had just walked into the cafe. They were both dressed in expensive tuxedos.

"Good morning and welcome to Morning Glory. What can I get you?" I faked a smile. The both of them exchanged confused glances for a short moment before one of them spoke up.

"Uhm... Buongiorno." He started.

My jaw dropped!

Foreigners........

This day couldn't get worse.

I didn't even know what language that was.

"Vorrei un cappuccino." His voice was dismissive. He wasn't even looking at me. The other man beside him seemed nicer so I focused all my attention on him.

"Uhm---" I smiled broadly. "I. only. speak .English." I said as slowly as possible,hoping they'd get the gist. The second man finally looked up. He gave me a questioning look that made my knees buckle. I drew in a deep breath.

" Benvenuto nella Gloria Del Mattino. Come posso essere di aiuto?"

I whirled around quickly. My jaw dropped. I didn't notice when he stood up from his chair, or when he walked towards me. But he was standing directly beside me now and I definitely couldn't ignore that now.

"Ciao. Come stai?" The first guy smiled broadly,his initial sulky attitude completely disappearing, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Molto bene grazie." He looked at me for a mini second and then gave me an assuring look that said 'I've got you.'

Or maybe it was just me assuming things.

I felt my body relax a bit.

"Come posso aiutarti?" He asked again.

"Vorrei un cappucinno per favore." The first man answered. " Mi piace il mio caffè un po 'più dolce del normale se non sarà un problema."

"Certo, certo, sto arrivando." He smiled and then turned to the other man. "E cosa vorresti avere?"

"Mi piace il mio caffè nero." The second man said,a kind smile on his face.

" Qualunque altra cosa?" He raised an eyebrow.

" No, sarà tutto." The first man smiled.

" Va bene. Arrivando subito." He returned the smile and then gestured for us to go. I smiled faintly at the customer I thought to be friendly as I followed him to the counter.

" Quello più amichevole vuole un cappuccino e l'altro vuole il suo caffè nero." He said awkwardly when we got to the counter. I raised an eyebrow.

"Whats that supposed to mean?" I raised an eyebrow and then tucked some loose strands of hair behind my ear. He watched me for a few seconds.

"I'll tell you." He paused and then flicked his tongue over his lip. I could tell that he was trying to put on the whole confident facade because he was failing terribly at it. He kept on starring down at his white Nike sneakers and for some absurd reason,I found it somewhat adorable.

"On one condition." He added. I raised an eyebrow.

I definitely did not see that one coming.

"Just dinner." He paused. "At some nice restaurant uptown." He paused. "Or around here,w-wherever you like." He paused. "We-we can do it right here if you want. I just--" He paused. I snickered. He was quiet for a few seconds. "They don't serve real food here right?" He asked after a while. "I mean,I--" He paused. "I'm sorry. I sound pretty stupid right now,I know and I promise, I'm not this stupid in reality." His eyebrows narrowed. "In real life." He paused. "That sounded stupid." He turned red as a beetle. "I'm-I'm sorry,can I--" He paused. "Can I start over?" He asked.

"Sure." I tried to hide my smile as I turned to face the coffee machine.

"I want to know you." He said slowly and then paused when he seemed to notice just how creepy that sounded....coming from an older guy too. "I don't--" He paused. I smiled. He was stammering again. "Just have dinner with me." I looked at him for a few seconds.

What was I thinking? Richard just left less than an hour ago.

And I didn't know this guy.....he could be a serial killer for all I knew.....

Okay,maybe I was going a little bit overboard.....but still..

"Its not a date?" I raised an eyebrow. He shook his head and then shook his head.

"No." He shook his head. I nodded.

"Fine."I said as I tightened the bow of my apron." I close from work by--"

"Seven. I know." He cut me off and then paused immediately. I could tell he'd probably realized just how much of a stalker he'd sounded like. "Cappuccino for the one over there-" He pointed at the first man. "Black coffee for the other one. Also, the first one likes his coffee a little sweeter than the normal." He said after a moment of awkward silence. I raised an eyebrow. "Their order." He added quickly.

"Oh." I looked at the mugs, and then the two men who seemed to be growing more impatient by the second. "I should get working then." I put the mix in the machine. He nodded.

"You should." He said. "I'll pick you up seven o' clock?" He asked,stuffing both hands in his pocket. I smiled as I reached for the mugs and then placed them beneath the mixer.

"See you seven o clock." I told him and then turned around to give the coffee my full attention.

But even as i did, i didn't miss the smile on his face as he turned to leave....which again,I thought was creepy, but somewhat adorable.

Roxi's POV(Present time)

"And after our time together is up, I will leave. And I will do whatever it takes to keep my baby." I licked my lip and then sighed.

Silence.

He said nothing. He just stood there,saying nothing. I drew in a deep breath.

I thought as much.

I shook my head and then moved towards the door.

"How can you do this? He asked, causing me to stop dead in my tracks. I bit hard on my lip. Every single bone in my body compelled me to turn....but I fought it. I fought against it hard. I drew in a deep breath then took another step forward. " Its been six years,Roxi. How can you still pretend not to know?" He asked slowly.

"I-I don't know what you're talking ab--" I turned around, defensive mode fully activated. I watched him inhale deeply and then turn around. My eyebrows furrowed.

"I know you saw me outside those walls." He stated slowly, tears welling up in his eyes . I drew in a deep breath and then looked away. I was supposed to be stronger than this, I wasn't supposed to feel any pity for him.... Not after what he'd put me through. "I know you saw the writing on the table." He took a step towards me, making me cringe backwards. He halted."I gave you my life!" His voice broke and as much as I hated it,I turned my gaze to meet his. I felt a drop of tear roll down my cheeks.

"You promised to always be by my side--"

"And you promised me happiness!" I snapped before I could control myself. "You promised to respect me,you promised me you wouldn't change. I guess we both lied!" I cleaned my tears away with the back of my hand.

Silence filled the room for a moment that filled like forever before he slowly ran his hands through his hair.

"Fine." He said slowly. "I fucked up, Roxi. I fucked up big time." He paused, seemingly calmer than he was seconds ago. "But don't you dare act like this is all my fault." He took another step, closing the space between us. "Because you shut me out the moment your father died and you figured you didn't need me,or my money anymore." I watched a drop of tear fall from his eyes. "You wouldn't talk to me,hell you wouldn't even look at me. I'd loved you for years. I would have given you the world if you asked me to." Another tear drop rolled down his eyes. "You said that marrying me was a mistake. You said you couldn't care less whether I lived or died." He paused and then ran his fingers through his hair. "What was I supposed to do?" He asked, almost in a whisper, his eyes searching mine desperately for an answer.

"You were supposed to not give up." I answered, tears filling my eyes. "You were supposed to not screw the maids that I employed." I sniffed. "That is not love,Will. Love is persistent. Love is pushing when it seems like the other person doesn't want it. Love is supposed to be a beautiful thing, William." My voice broke. "We're having a baby and we're fighting about it. "This is not love." I looked him right in the eyes, watching a drop of tear roll down his cheeks. He nodded, defeated.

"Can you at least tell me why?" His pupils dilated. "All this time you shut me out,can you tell me why?" He placed a hand on his hip. I sniffed and then pulled my gaze away.

I couldn't.

I promised myself that I'd never say those words out loud.

Those three words that had destroyed my chances of a happily ever after.

"Goodnight, Will." I told him and then walked away.

Short A/N

Hey guys,so this is the longest chapter I've ever written. It took a lot to put this chapter together so I really hope you guys enjoyed it.( Any italians in the house??😀)

Please don't forget to hit the star ★ below. Comments will be very much appreciate too. Don't be a silent reader.

--Love,Chay.