Chapter-13

Annabel Piccolo's POV

I lay on my bed and smile like an idiot as I look at the message. My heart is going all gooey-gooey.

I wish you were here with me, Angel.

It read. I close my eyes and think about the brief moment of how it felt to be in his arms. A giggle leaves my lips and I sigh in bliss.

Me too. I send the reply. Almost immediately my phone pings.

I will be done with the work here tomorrow. I will be coming on Sunday evening.

He will be back in two days. These two weeks without him have already felt like two decades. Yes, it's been two weeks. The long wait. Just two more days.

I will be waiting. Buona Notte (Good night), Lucas.

His reply comes instantly. Buona Notte, Angel.

I can't keep the smile off my face. I put the phone aside and breathe.

It's been two weeks since I moved to the new house, or Mama's house. It's been two weeks since Lucas left. These two weeks passed by so slow, that every minute felt like an hour. I tried to keep myself as busy as possible. I can't measure the happiness I felt. I love the house. I love how free I feel here. I try to pass my time in the garden in the backyard. Papa visited me two times already. The surveillance cameras have been installed so the security guard is no more at my doorstep. It felt really awkward.

Last weekend has been eventful. Marcus has come again as Gemma and Papa have been working on the joint project with Alberto's. Mr. Alberto had visited too. Papa has visited me to the palace. Strangely Felisa is the one who told Papa to invite me. Marcus has been such a delight again. We had a good talk. He asked me about the papers I have published. Apparently, Papa told him about it.

He kept making me laugh. I forgot that we have company for a few seconds and Papa kept looking at the exchange between me and Marcus. We maintained our distance all the while though. It was never flirting. All the while, I can only think about Lucas. I kept zoning out in the middle of the conversations. I even saw Gemma looking at me and Marcus, but she looked away once our eyes meet.

Tomorrow is Saturday and Papa invited me again to come in the evening. They are going to make a final decision on which plan and idea to go with this weekend. I sigh. So much is happening.

Switching off the light, I lay down on the bed and decide to sleep.

"Thank you." I say as I sit down on the chair that's Marcus pulled out for me like the gentlemen he is. We have just finished the meeting and they are near to finalize an idea. Once Lucas is back tomorrow, they will be done with it. Yes! Lucas will be back!

"That went longer than expected." He says as he sits down next to me.

"It did." The meeting went on for two hours. They have kept going. But again, of course, they have it. It's a million dollar deal and they have to re-analyse everything to come up with the best idea. The dinner meetings without Lucas are lifeless. Or maybe I feel so. Marcus is turning from a stranger to a good friend to me.

Once we are all done with the dinner, we go to the garden and everyone is talking and laughing. It felt good. I feel no burden in my heart. A smile keeps constantly appearing on my face. I am happy. Lucas will be back tomorrow and... Oh my! I have never felt like this in my life! Just one more day and he will be here. I decided to go to kitchen and say hello to Melody and Greta. But Papa stops me.

"Bell, you seem happy." Papa says with a smile on his face. He looks happy that I am happy.

"I am Papa. These past weeks have been..." I don't even have words to say. He puts his hand on my head in a loving way. His eyes glimmer with love.

"I want you to be this happy every day. I want to see you smile every day." He says. He sighs. "I have to talk with you. Come." I follow him as I walk beside him to my old room here in palace. Once we are there, he sits on the bed and I sit beside him. He seems to be thinking about something.

"Is everything alright, Papa?" What's wrong? He looks at me as I ask that.

"You grew up so fast. You both did." Gemma and me. He groans like he is in pain and holds his chest.

"Papa, are you okay?" Panic fills me.

"I am fine. I am fine. I am getting old. These are all common." He says smiling.

"We have to consult a doctor, Papa."

"We will. I will go next week."

"Next week. No! Let's go tomorrow." What if it's something serious? I can't have anything happening to him.

"You don't need to worry, My Sweet Bell. I will go this Monday. Okay?" He won't budge even if I try to convince him now. I know him. I just nod my head.

"I am coming with you on Monday though." He is not going alone.

"Okay." He agrees and lifts his hands up in surrender and I smile. "Now, I want to talk to you about Marcus." Marcus? "He is a good guy. I have known him since past few years. He is young and works hard. He is a good man. What do you think of him?" He asks me. I am surprised.

"Um... He seems all those that you said Papa. He is a nice guy."

"He is. Do you feel comfortable around him?" That is weird.

"I do. He doesn't treat me like others did. He doesn't avoid me." Normally, if I go to a party, no one cares to even look at me. That only helped me. I didn't want to be looked at. Everyone knew who I was and that's why they chose to ignore. That never bothered me. "He is sweet." He really is. I think about the way he is around with other people and he puts a smile on everyone.

"I like him and he likes you."

My eyes widen at what he said. "What?" I am in shock. "Papa, I never gave him the impression to-"

"Bell, you don't have to explain yourself if you like someone, not to me." Papa thinks I like him? I never liked anyone except Lucas. I like Lucas, Papa and I will soon tell you about it.

"I don't li-" Oh God! I have to tell him now. I have to tell him that I like Lucas. Suddenly Lucas's message to not go out with anyone pops in my head. I open my mouth to speak, but he beats me to it.

"You know, when Felisa first came up with this idea, I was not a fan of it. But, I saw how happy you were around him." Then, you must see me around Lucas, Papa. "If you don't want to put a name on it, I understand, but give him a chance. Let him take you on a date."

"I don't think he is interested in me that way." I don't think he is. Felisa came up with this? Why? She never cared. Why now?

"Oh, he is, Bell. He is. Also, I have to tell you something." I nod my head. "Don't Gemma about this." It's not like we talk, Papa. "I think she likes Lucas." What? "They have been friends since childhood..." Whatever he is saying suddenly fades in the background.

Gemma like him? She likes Lucas?

Oh no! Please no! Don't do this God!

I know Lucas like me.

This is like Papa, Mama and Felisa all over again. This can't happen!

God! How can this happen?

"Once Lucas comes tomorrow, we will be asking him and Gemma and if they both said okay, we are planning for an engagement." Papa says happily. Every word he says is like a thorn to my heart. I feel like Lucas will say no and that would hurt Gemma. After all these years, we can't rewrite the same history. All of us will get hurt over and over again if I think selfishly. I can't tell him that I like Lucas.

No one has to know.

If Gemma likes him, then I will move out of their life. I will not complaint.

It's not like Lucas and I ever had an actual conversation. It's not like I ever told him that I like him. Oh God! Why?! Right when I thought I will finally have my dream come true, why?

"If everything goes well, this engagement will bring two big houses come together." Of course. The Alberto's and the Piccolco's.

I can't break Gemma's heart. I will never be able to forgive myself for that.

My heart is breaking. I can feel it. I suddenly feel all kinds of things Lucas made me feel. His smile flashes in my mind.

I am sorry, Lucas. I am so sorry. I can't let Gemma get hurt. I can't get in the middle of someone else's story. I see how that can ruin lives. I don't want to do that.

If Lucas and Gemma get together, everyone will be happy. Papa, Felisa, all of the Alberto's and the whole country even. But if me and Lucas get together, it will be deemed as nothing. I am an illegitimate heir. No matter how much Papa loves me or tells me otherwise, it doesn't change the truth. It will bring happiness to no one. Especially not Gemma and if she is unhappy Papa will be unhappy too. If he is unhappy, how I can be happy even if I married Lucas? How is that any good?

I should get in between things. I should let things flow by.

"So, what do you say?" I hear Papa ask. I come out of my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Would you go out with Marcus if he asks you out?" He asks. I don't want to Papa. Even if I am not going to be Lucas, I don't want to go out with Marcus. He can't be a choice. He is a really nice man and he needs to be with someone who appreciates him. But, maybe, if I go out with Marcus, Lucas will take the hint and stay away from me. I can't put Lucas away from me emotionally. Oh Lucas.

"Yes, Papa." I agree and that instantly makes him grin. I haven't seen him this happy in a few days. Is he really that happy about it? I will do it for you Papa.

"My Sweet Bell." He pulls me in for a hug and I hug him back. Tears immediately start falling out.

The reality that I cannot dream of Lucas anymore sets in. Is this really happening?

Everything shattered in a night, in a few minutes. I feel like my whole world has suddenly been crumbled, all my dreams have been stomped upon and all my feelings have been overlooked.

Mama! I wish you were here.

My phone pings and I don't bother to look at it. My heart itches to. I know that it's Lucas. I have to stop this and put a distance between us.

I am sorry, Lucas.

A/N:

Hey my cute dumplings!

Does it hurt? I am sorry. But it is what it is. Right when they are this close. Tell me what you think.

Please VOTE and COMMENT.