Mia crept out of bed carefully not to wake Ryan. She had a gut feeling that Ryan wasn't telling her everything and there was no way German hadn't spoken to Ryan. Ryan was definitely keeping her in the dark, she was going to find out. She was cautious while going through the drawers where Ryan kept some important stuff but she couldn't find anything substantial.

      Mia glanced back at Ryan as she was about leaving the room, Ryan seemed soundly asleep but she wouldn't know, he was a light sleeper. The littlest noise could wake him up.

     She closed the door, sashaying away. Mia held Ryan's phone in her hands, as soon as she got to the living room, she tapped his password and started scrolling down.

    There had to be something!! She kept checking his phone almost giving up, but she found a file. Mia opened it, the first thing she saw was a photography of Saint Caterina adoption center. The next thing she saw was the same picture of the adoption center after the fire.

     Wait! After what fire?

    Mia saw a headline.. Tragic strikes as Saint Caterina Adoption center burns down in flames.

    It was a headline of seven years ago, at the time Mia had given away her child. She scrolled to read the news. There were records of children, babies, religious sisters burnt in the fire. A total of forty people perished! As she tried to scroll further, the phone was snatched from her hand.

     "Do not go through my phone universe." Ryan said, glancing at what she had been looking at. Oh no.

    Mia shook her head slowly... "You never have a problem with me checking your phone, why now? You... You lied to me, you said there was no news concerning our daughter when there is!" She ran her fingers down her hair. "No. That news can't be right, my daughter wasn't there." Mia's fears was beginning to crawl up her skin.

     "Universe...."

    "It's not true! Ryan we have to find her."

   "Universe listen to me...."

    "No! My-my baby girl." Mia shook her head hysterically. "She was not in the fire!"

     Ryan reached out to hold her but Mia stepped back. "I didn't want to tell you anything until German was sure. Universe, there's every possibility that our daughter... Our daughter was one of the victims." He said with a heavy heart.

   Mia shook her head. "How can you say that?! How can you say that?!" Uncontrollable tears ran down her face. "It's my daughter we're talking about!!" Mia yelled at him. "Take back what you said!!" She was going to go crazy if no one brought her daughter. She pulled down two vases seated on a table.

     "Mia no please, you'll hurt yourself." Ryan pulled her into a hug.

     Mia struggled to get free, screaming and yelling. "Let me go!! You're lying to me!! My daughter is alive you hear me!!"

     "Please stop. Universe stop." He begged her. It took a lot to trap her in his arms as she kept on fighting him.

      "I have to find her!! I need to find her!! She needs me Ryan!! It's all my fault she... She needs me..." Mia was losing consciousness. "My... My baby... She... She needs.." Her eyes rolled back into her head, blacking out in Ryan's arms.

    Ryan held her, picking her up in bridal style. "Oh Mia what have you done!" Anxiety gripped him as he led her back to the room quickly.

    Mia woke up thirty minutes later with a severe pain, hitting her stomach. She was faced with Ryan who stood frowning at her at the corner of the room.

    "What happened?" Mia tried to get up but the pain was unbearable.

    "You screamed yourself to sleep." Ryan said to her. "Do you see why I kept everything from you?" He walked over to the bed. "You hurt the baby because of your behavior."

         Mia clutched her stomach. "Is... Is he okay? Did you invite the doctor, what did she say?" Mia was alarmed.

     "She said from now on you have to be confined in a bed. You're on bedrest now." Ryan told her.

     "No, I can't be on bedrest. I need to find my daughter." Mia said to him. She managed to sit up, resting against the headboard.

      "Are you going to be stubborn? Mia this isn't just about you okay? You're putting the life of our baby at risk and you're fine with it, what's wrong with you?" He frowned at her.

       "My baby will be fine. My daughter needs me. I'm not going to give up finding her. It's my fault she's missing so it's only right I look for her."

      "And you don't think the baby you're carrying needs you? My baby?" Ryan was not taking her answers likely. It was only giving him more reasons to get mad.

      "My daughter is missing Ryan, missing. Don't you get it? She's also your child too, why can't you understand me." Mia shook her head.

      "You are not leaving this house, I will not let you put your life in danger because of your stubbornness." Ryan said to her.

    Mia frowned, "You don't care about our daughter because you think she's dead." She suddenly broke down into tears. "We just need to try harder to find her." Mia said in between her tears.

     Ryan sighed... "Baby I know you're hurting right now. Seeing you this way is making me helpless. Don't do this to yourself." He sat beside her. "We'll get through this my love." He leaned over, kissing her cheek. "The doctor says you'll be on bedrest for a week to see if there will be any improvement on your health.  Once the doctor confirms that you're better, we'll go on a vacation. Away from the noise, problems and only return when you want." Ryan explained.

At this time, Mia was hiccuping. "What about," hiccup. "About our daughter." She hiccuped again.

     "Don't worry about that for now. Focus on getting better." He told her.

     "I'm sorry for lashing out on you. Baby I'm sorry." She laid her head on his laps.

      "It's okay. I know you're concerned and that's what every mother should do in your place." He stroked her hair. "You'll be fine okay, I promise." He said to her.
✴✴✴✴✴

     "Baby, I'm going for my fitting!!" Mia yelled out to him while heading for the door.

    Ryan came out to stop her. "Hold on, hold on, but you just started getting better. It's only been a week and a few days, give it two or three more days to ensure you're really fine."

      "Don't I look fine to you?" Mia twirled around. "Baby," she smiled. "The doctor said I'm now free to go wherever I want to as long as I don't stress myself and I promise I won't stress myself."

     "But... But the doctor said that only yesterday."

     "Thank God right? I know! Have you tried bedrest before? I don't pray for anyone to experience it." Mia was excited as she turned to leave.

     "Wait wait, wait." He hurried, grabbing her hand. "Can you not go today? I miss you already." He said to her.

   Mia laughed... "Seriously? Baby don't you want me to try on my wedding gown? Because of you, I keep postponing the date." Mia wrapped her arms around his neck. "I would have asked you to come with me but you know a groom can't see his bride in her dress." She kissed him.

    He pulled her into a tight embrace, securing his arms around her. He deepened the kiss. "Do you have to go?" He asked, between their kiss.

     Mia pulled away from him. "Hey look, you've got my lipstick smeared on your lips." She reached to clean it but Ryan stopped her.

     "I love the taste of strawberry." He kissed her again, making her grin against his lips.

    "Okay okay. Can I go now please?" She gave him a peck on the lips. "Alex and Natalie are going with me if you're worried about my safety." Mia assured him, slipping from his embrace. "Okay baby?"

    Ryan sighed... "Okay. Be safe, I'm gonna be calling you every minute okay?"

     "Isn't that a bit too much?" She chuckled, walking out.

    "If you sense anything unusual, call me immediately!" He said, watching her leave.

      "I will!" Mia said opening the door.

     "I love you!" He yelled at her.

    "I love you too sweetheart." Mia blew a kiss to him before closing the door behind her.

   Ryan picked up his phone to text Alex. Ryan had been paranoid after the incident at his office, he didn't want something like that to repeat itself and with the culprit on the loose, Mia was prone to be attacked. That was his greatest fear.

  ... I'm entrusting her in your care. If a single strand of her hair is missing, I'll kill you...

   He sent the mesage and then got a call from German.

      "Hello German?"

        "Sir, I had spoken to the supposed only living survivor of the fire incident."

     "And?" Ryan frowned. For awhile now, their search had only been going around in circles.

     "Her name is Anne Russo. She was 45 when the fire happened and she is from a religious order. The event was a traumatic experience so she didn't have much to say. According to Anne, a baby girl was first evacuated and she was given to a Sister Beatrice who was later found at the scene without the baby, burnt beyond recognition. Till this day, no one knows if the baby survived."

      "How do we know that the baby in question is the one we're looking for?" Ryan question.

       "Your baby was born in saint Caterina hospital, the hospital owned by the sisters. Now, Anne said she had given Beatrice that same baby. Mr Webster, there is a slight possibility that your child may have survived. In the police review a total of four out of five babies died. They never found the fifth, no body, no bones, nothing."

   "What do you think?" Ryan asked him. 

     "In my own opinion, your daughter went missing. I don't know how a baby could get out of a burning building but if she did, she had help from someone. I think we're missing a piece of crucial information. Maybe Anne isn't the only surviving victim." German explained to Ryan.

     Ryan heaved... "You're saying there's a chance my daughter is still alive?

     "I'm saying it's possible."

     "Okay. Do not tell my fiancée, it's better to keep it from her than to get her hopes up, besides, she's just recovering." Ryan told him. 

      "I understand Mr Webster."
✴✴✴✴✴

    Mia, Alex and Natalie were at Vera Wang bridal store.

   "Mia these dresses are so pretty." Natalie said to Mia as the store assistant invited to into the exclusive bridal dresses.

     "These are our latest designs madam, so, do you have any particular dress you have in mind?" The Asian American assistant wearing her hair in a tight bun asked.

     "A ball wedding dress. Nothing heavy or tight, something I can breathe in, it doesn't necessarily have to be stoned or beaded. Something simple, yet outstanding and elegant." Mia said to the attendant.

      "Okay." She nodded, leading them to some mannequins dressed as brides.

     "Aw, these are so beautiful!" Natalie exclaimed. "Can she try them on?" She asked the assistant.

     "Of course." The assistant smiled. "This is an A-line v neck long sleeves wedding dress with appliques."

      "What do you think Mia?" Natalie said, touching the beautiful dress.

     "It's nice." Mia smiled, looking at the dress.

      "Let's try it on then." The assistant said, calling on two other attendants for help.

      Mia was led into the dressing room to change into the dress. She liked it, it was so lovely.

   Natalie gasped as soon as she saw Mia walk out of the dressing room. "You look... Amazing."

    Mia grinned... "Thank you." She turned to Alex. "What do you think?"

     "It's absolutely gorgeous." Alex complimented, giving her a wide smile.

      "Hey, while you were out, I picked out a few more that you might want to try on. It's fits with what you would like." The assistant said to Mia.

      "I swear they all look fucking beautiful." Natalie told her.

       "Let's try them on?" The assistant asked.

    "Yes, of course." Mi nodded, lifting her gown.

    Mia had changed into three different wedding gowns, trying to choose. This time, she was dressed in an A-line princess sexy high slit off shoulder lace bridal dress.

    "Wow, I love this one!" Natalie squealed happily.

     "You said that to the last three." Alex rolled his eyes.

    "It's suitable for a beach wedding. Very lovely. But... I don't think Ryan would like the idea of my wedding dress running down my thigh." Mia shook her head. "It also doesn't have the kind of train I want."

     "True." Natalie nodded in agreement.

      "I am thinking of getting my wedding dress customized, what do you think?" Mia asked both Natalie and Alex.

       "It's your wedding, whatever you say goes." Natalie smiled.

      "It'll be something more me." Mia shrugged.

       "That's another great idea. I'll get the designer." The assistant said before leaving.

      "I'll just change out of this." Mia walked out, heading to the dressing room.

     Mia stood at the full length mirror admiring the dress as she waited for the attendants. She just couldn't believe everything that had happened to her in just a little time. She found out her true identity and also found her soon-to-be husband –Ryan, who she fell madly in love with, she was expecting their baby, now she was getting MARRIED in only two months!!! Her life was happening so fast that she never imagined it to be the way it is now. Her life was perfect for her, now that everything was all falling into place.

    Mia touched her pendant necklace, the same one Ryan had given to her seven years ago. She was never taking it off her neck. Mia smiled, drowning in her thoughts of the life ahead with Ryan.

       "Don't you look gorgeous." The familiar voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

     Mia whipped her head back in shock, seeing Ares DeLuca.

     "My pumpkin..." He smirked wickedly at her. "All getting ready for her wedding."

    Mia faced him directly... "How... How did you get in here?" She asked with fear behind her voice.

      "I am a DeLuca, I can be anywhere I want." He said, walking towards her.

      Mia kept moving back until she hit the wall. "Yo-you shouldn't be here. I'll... I'll scream." Mia warned him.

   "Go ahead. Scream." Ares pulled out a gun, pointing it at her face. "I'll make sure this immaculate white turns bloody." He threatened her.

   Mia swallowed, her breathing heightened. "Ares..."

     "Don't worry." He leaned dangerously close to her. "I can't even think of hurting a strand of your hair."

     Mia's heart was beating so fast that she thought she'd collapse. She closed her eyes when she felt his hot breath on her skin.

      "You look so beautiful in this wedding dress, like it was made for you for our wedding." He said with his lips brushing her cheek. "I missed your jasmine scent." His lips traveled down her neck as he buried his face into it. "It drives me crazy, just like you do." He placed his hand on her waist.

       "No... Please.... Please no." She begged, visibly shaking.

      He chuckled, leaning away... "I won't hurt you pumpkin, relax."

      "Why-why are you doing this?" Mia choked out.

      "Because I love you but you don't seem to understand." He frowned, tightening his hand around the gun.

      Mia swallowed nervously. "It doesn't have to be like this, we can always talk about it." She said fearing for her life as she opened her eyes slowly.

    "Talk?" He chuckled sarcastically, leaning away from her. "Talk you say?" He pointed the gun at her again, this time placing it on her forehead. "You're marrying that sonofabitch and you still want to talk? Screw talk! You can't marry anyone other than me, do you understand? I've waited patiently! You're mine, MINE!" He snapped at her.

    Mia cringed slightly, what if he wants to hurt Ryan instead? "Please don't hurt Ryan." She whispered enough for Ares to hear.

    He scoffed... "Oh sweetheart, I'm gonna do more than just hurt him." His evil smirk was back. "I'll see you around pumpkin." He said, replacing the gun. "I'm doing this because I want you to realize we're made for each other." He said as he took his leave.

   Immediately the door closed shut and Ares was out of sight, Mia almost stumbled on the floor as she realized she had been holding her breath for sometime. She waited, trying to recover from the deadly shock.

     She ran out of the dressing room. 

     "Oh Mia, you haven't changed..." Natalie stopped talking when Mia ran past her, ignoring her. "Mia where are you going?"

Mia ran into the showroom. "Excuse me," she called out to an employee.  "Excuse me!" She called louder.

     "Sorry ma'am, what can I —" Before the lady could finish her statement, Mia interrupted.

     "Did you see a man, he was wearing a blue jacket, thick black curly hair? No?" Mia asked her but the woman shook her head. "Okay." She went to meet another person, she asked but no one had seen Ares. How was that possible?