Katerina De Luca

My tired gaze rested outside the private jet's window as I sat quietly and attempted to sort through my thoughts and feelings. Less than 24 hours ago, I was fully prepared to run away from the most dangerous man I have ever met, Arosio De Luca.

So why in the hell didn't I abandon him when I had the chance?

Why did seeing him passed out worry me so much that I was unable to leave the room as the guards called a doctor?

Why did I willingly take care of Arosio throughout the night and become frantic and depressed when he still hadn't woken up this morning?

Why did I fight with Alejandro and Giovanni to let me sit beside Arosio on his private jet as he laid unconscious on the sofa beside me?

Those two were adamant on keeping me away from Arosio after the doctor confirmed last night that he passed out due to the sleeping pills I had slipped into his milk. Due to a high amount of the drug, complications occurred and now we are flying back to Los Angeles where the De Luca family's doctor resides. Needles were hanging off of Arosio as an Iv drip was secured to his arm, making my heart clench in pain at the sight of him hooked up to those machines.

As soon as they found out this was because of me, Giovanni almost lashed out at me before Alejandro held him back and told him to leave the room to calm down. Those two were almost as scary as Arosio, so how did I gain the courage to fight with them to let me stay beside Arosio on the private jet?

A bitter laugh escaped my trembling lips as the answer to all of these questions finally dawned upon me. I could feel Giovanni and Alejandro's gaze land on me from across the jet as they sat on the opposite side, playing chess together but I ignored them. Lifting one shaky hand up, I wiped the tears that had escaped my widened eyes as I finally realized and accepted a truth that I was blind to before.

I am in love with him.

I am freaking in love with him.

I love Arosio De Luca.

How could I have let this happen?

Was it the moment he held me in his protective embrace when I felt broken and weak after my grandparents were abducted, and he promised to help me through every difficulty in life?

Or was it when he disappeared for hours and returned with new identification documentations, gifting me with a family name that I had been denied by both my birth family and maternal grandparents?

My body slowly turned towards Arosio who laid on the sofa, breathing calmly with his eyes still shut tightly. Since the moment he passed out last night, my heart has been yearning to see those dark eyes again. At first, I thought it was due to guilt but I quickly realized that wasn't the case.

I found myself praying all night for Arosio to get better and for me to be able to see that same dark gaze that had frightened me in the past. The thought of never being able to look into his eyes again, petrified me and deprived me of sleep the whole night.

Unbuckling my seatbelt, my feet slowly shuffled towards Arosio before sitting on the edge of the white sofa. With a shaky hand, I caressed the side of his face with more tears falling from my eyes. I don't like seeing him so vulnerable and weak. It doesn't suit him at all, what I did last night was wrong. So very wrong.

"I'm so sorry, Arosio. I'll accept any punishment, I promise. Please just wake up, please," my pleads fell on deaf ears as Arosio laid perfectly still. More tears fell from my eyes as I leaned over him and cupped both sides of his handsome face in my shaky hands.

"Please, open your eyes. I'm scared, please Arosio? I can't live without you, I really can't. Last night you confessed your feelings but I didn't get to tell you how I feel. Arosio, I really...I mean... I," my words came out as a nervous ramble at the end as I tried to calm my flushing cheeks.

Suddenly, Alejandro and Giovanni appeared behind me as they each placed a hand on my shoulders and smirked down at me as if they weren't furious with me when we first entered the private jet. Before I could question their sudden change in attitude towards me, Alejandro gasped dramatically and pointed towards Arosio's right hand.

"Look, principessa! Aro's fingers twitched! Continue talking to him," Alejandro stated with a hint of giddiness behind his words as my eyes widened at the sight of Arosio's hand actually moving.

My hands instantly held onto his and brought it up to my face as I silently kissed his palm and held his hand tightly for a few moments. For some reason, I could feel the two men behind me growing impatient at my silence.

"Principessa, continue talking. Aro is reacting to your words, finish telling him what you were saying earlier," Giovanni's emotionless voice rang through the silent jet as I turned towards him and nodded slowly before directing my softened gaze back to Arosio.

"Arosio, I..." my words came out nervously, barely an audible whisper but his other hand began to twitch this time too. This was enough encouragement for me to finally confess the words that would change my life forever.

"Arosio De Luca, I love you. I love you so much, it hurts to see you laying down sick like this and I hate the fact that I caused this. Please wake up, I promise to accept whatever punishment you give me. Please, I love you, please wake up, Arosio" my words came out soft but firm as I confessed my true feelings of love to a man for the first time in my life.

"Your punishment is to live the rest of eternity by my side as Mrs. Katerina De Luca," my mouth fell open in pure shock as Arosio's deep husky voice suddenly fell into my ears.

Before I could even blink, Arosio's eyes snapped open with a wide grin on his face as he shot up from the sofa and pulled me into a bone crushing embrace. Confetti poppers were set off behind us by Giovanni and Alejandro as I pushed Arosio away from me in shock and stared at the three men in pure confusion.

Arosio...looks...completely...fine?

"What...you...weren't you..." I mumbled in confusion as Arosio held my hands tightly in his and smirked at me mischievously.

"I am the Italian Mafia boss, tesoro. Did you really think that I wouldn't be able to tell whether my drink was drugged or not?" Arosio's darkened gaze penetrated mine as my cheeks flushed red in embarrassment upon realizing that I was tricked by these men.

"Wait! That means this whole thing was your plan? The doctor, Gio and Ale getting mad at me, you twitching your fingers until I confessed? It was all your plan?" I yelled in frustration before pulling my hands out of Arosio's tight grip but he wouldn't let go.

Instead, he pulled me straight into his arms and kissed my lips softly. I almost instantly melted into his safe embrace before recovering my pride and attempting to push him away while hitting his hard chest with my fists.

"You...stupid...Mafia...jerk! You scared me...I was so scared, I thought you..." a broken sob came out in between my words as I continued to beat Arosio's chest and he let me do it until I felt weak and let my hands fall to my side.

Arosio took that as his chance to sit upright and pull me onto his lap. My arms wrapped around his neck tightly before I buried my flushed face into the crook of his neck while Arosio rubbed soothing circles onto my back.

"I am sorry, my cucciola. This was the only way I could get you to reveal your true feelings, I won't do it again," Arosio promised as I hiccuped before wiping my tears away and leaning away from his neck.

"I forgive you. I am sorry about the milk but if you knew, why did you drink it anyway?" I couldn't help but question as Alejandro and Giovanni returned to their chess game when Arosio waved them off to give us privacy.

"Since my beautiful wife was on the verge of tears after reminiscing about drinking milk with her grandfather, I had no choice but to indulge, tesoro," Arosio stated huskily before leaning down and kissing my lips again. I was too dumbfounded by his reply and was only able to lean away from his kiss after a few seconds.

"Huh? That makes no sense! You could have gotten sick, Arosio! If I ask you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?" I questioned with anger evident in my gentle features but froze when the man nodded his head without any hesitation.

"I will do anything and everything to make you happy, even if it means my own deat--" my hands instantly shot up to cover Arosio's lips before he could utter such words.

"No, never say that. You can't die, I won't let you. I already felt the pain of almost losing you when the doctor spoke of complications. It took me feeling that much pain, to help me finally realize that I love you. You can't die, not now, not tomorrow, not ever, understood Arosio De Luca?" my words came out louder than I had intended, making the two men across from us pause in their game of chess and chuckle towards us.

My whole face instantly flushed red as I buried my face into the side of Arosio's neck once again and tried to ignore the snickering of Alejandro and Giovanni. Arosio's shoulders shook up and down, indicating that even he was chuckling softly.

"Understood, Mrs. Katerina De Luca," Arosio whispered into my ear before kissing my head softly and holding me even tighter as if he was afraid I would disappear again.

***

My footsteps came to a complete halt outside of the entrance of Arosio's childhood mansion as the worst scenarios kept replaying in my mind. It was already close to dinner time and we were going to head to Arosio's personal mansion but I wanted to see Elijah first and apologize to him and the rest of Arosio's family.

Alejandro and Giovanni held the double doors open as Arosio held onto my hand and turned to look back at me when I stopped walking. He rose his perfectly arched brow at me as I refused to budge when he tugged my hand towards the doors.

"What if he's mad at me for leaving? What if he doesn't want me as his mommy anymore? What if he hates me now?" my brows furrowed with worry as I nervously bit my lip and tears welled in my eyes at the thought of little Elijah hating me.

Arosio's dark gaze instantly softened before he chuckled lightly at my nervous rambling and pulled me into his warm embrace.

"That will never happen, tesoro," Arosio stated firmly as his intense gaze rested on me with utmost sincerity. A small smile took over my lips and I looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

"Promise?" I whispered softly and he nodded without any hesitation. Looking behind him, Alejandro and Giovanni were nodding as well, making me giggle at them before I heard the small voice I had been missing since the moment I ran way from here.

"Mommy! I think Mommy is here!" Elijah's excited voice squealed from within the De Luca childhood mansion as I slipped out of Arosio's embrace and practically sprinted into the home before heading straight for the living room.

"Eli! My little prince!" I screamed with tears of happiness in my eyes as soon as I saw Elijah jumping up and down on Alanzo's lap in the living room with his grandparents and uncles seated on the sofas.

My eyes briefly met with Arsenio's darkened gaze, making me instantly freeze in my steps towards Elijah. Eliana sat down with her lips pursed tightly as well while Alanzo glared at me furiously, not a single trace of his playfulness present as he refused to let Elijah out of his hold. Adriano looked at me with his typically emotionless face but his jaw was tightened in anger.

I'm so stupid! How could I expect them to forgive me?

They're probably all furious at me for running away and slapping Arosio in front of everyone. I blinked several times as my eyes instantly fell to the ground, nervousness quickly taking over the happiness on my face.

"I...I know you are all mad at me, especially little Elijah. I sincerely apologize for pretending to act as my twin sister but the days I spent with this family were the happiest days of my life. I truly hope to become a part of this family, and I hope you can forgive me," my soft voice filled the grand room, as I waited for a response from Arosio's family but was met with complete silence.

My heart instantly clenched in pain as I realized they would never forgive me. I almost ran out of the room in tears before Alanzo's booming laughter suddenly rang through the living room. Soon Arsenio's deep chuckles and Eliana's melodic laughter mingled into the atmosphere as I felt Arosio enter the room with Alejandro and Giovanni in tow.

"Don't look so confused, principessa. We were only messing with you," Adriano stated in amusement as Alanzo nodded his head while releasing his hold on Elijah.

"Welcome home, figlia," Arsenio stated as Eliana smiled at me widely, making tears of happiness fall from my eyes again.

Before I could reply, Elijah had run straight into my legs and hugged me tightly. My heart instantly pained with guilt as I wondered how I was ever capable of leaving this sweet boy behind.

"Mommy! I missed you, you aren't allowed to leave ever again. I will watch you 24/7, you are my mommy! Mine! Promise me you won't ever leave me again?"Elijah yelled in a fit of fury as the room erupted into laughter while I bent down and carried him up into my arms.

Those cute chubby cheeks, beautiful light green eyes and dark curls. My little prince is so perfect, I can't wait to raise him as my own son.

"Yes, my little prince. Mommy promises, I will never leave you. Thank you for allowing me to be your mommy again," I smiled down at the little boy whose cheeks tinted pink as a wide toothy smile appeared on his innocent face.

"Little Eli, you can't watch your mommy 24/7," Alanzo suddenly stated as Elijah looked towards his uncle with a frustrated glare. His expression resembled Arosio when he is annoyed, making me instantly giggle towards Arosio who smirked at me as if he could read my childish thoughts.

"Why not! She's my mommy, I can do whatever I want!" Elijah stated stubbornly as I kissed his cheeks and rubbed his small back to calm him down.

"because, my innocent little nephew, if you do that, then you won't be able to have a little sister or brother to play with," Alanzo teased as my cheeks instantly flushed red and this time it was my back that was rubbed with small circles by Arosio who smirked devilishly down at me.

"Ah...food? Dinner! Yes, dinner! Let's go, my little Eli," I rambled off nervously before escaping Arosio's side and running towards the dining room.

The whole room erupted into laughter from behind me as I felt Arosio's heated gaze on my back before his familiar steps quickly caught up to Elijah and I. He wrapped his arm around my waist before kissing my cheek softly and the top of Elijah's head.

The happiness I felt in this moment was something I never wanted to forget. I finally have my own family, people who love and accept me for who I am. People who never saw me as a curse and will do anything to protect me. I feel so happy and lucky to be a part of this family.

If only...

If only I had known what would happen exactly one month from today...

I would have never stayed with such a cruel, sadistic man.

Arosio De Luca, I hate you.

***

HELLO LOVELY READERS,

AHAHAHAHAHAA I'm so sorry I can't stop laughing at my own cruelness, how could I end this chapter like this???

Anywhoo, here is a long update to make up for not updating for five days! Truthfully, I am taking a summer chemistry course (I am a student in McGill University) and I had a midterm on Wednesday so I was studying for that and then I was busy with planning my friend's birthday party (safety precautions and all with covid-19) and then I went to a zoo on Saturday so yeah very busy aha

I hope you enjoyed this update, I wonder what happened a month from now? If you leave nice comments, I'll try to update by Monday :) I work all day sunday and it is also Father's Day but my dad passed away so I'll be visiting him with flowers so please don't expect an update Sunday!

Thank you for your patience and as always please read, vote & comment!