Chapter 35 Ariele

I wake up every morning with a sense of gratitude for having a loving family and a morning routine that brings me peace and balance. As soon as I open my eyes, I feel the warmth of the sun streaming in through the window and the sound of birds singing outside. It's a wonderful start to the day.

After being awake for a few minutes, I get out of bed and go to the bathroom to do my morning hygiene routine. I wash my face with cold water and brush my teeth carefully, paying attention to each tooth and the spaces between them.

After getting dressed, I head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Since I am Toni's nanny, I make sure she's ready for school before I start preparing breakfast. I help her get dressed and choose her backpack and lunchbox.

Once she's ready, we go to the kitchen together, and I start making breakfast.

After she finishes breakfast, we grab her backpack and head to school. On the way, I talk to her about her classes, her friends, and her hobbies. I try to be a supportive presence for her whenever possible and always let her know that I'm available to help her.

When we arrive at school, I help her carry her things and find her classroom. I give her a goodbye hug and tell her to have a good day. Then, I return home and start cleaning her room.

I start by organizing her toys and clothes, trying to keep everything in order so she can easily find what she needs. Then, I make her bed carefully, so she has a cozy place to sleep at night.

After I finish, I sit down for a few minutes and have some tea. I take this time to relax, but the peace is short-lived when Cassandra enters my field of vision, clearly not trying to hide her contempt.

"So, Ariele," she said, "what's that ring you're wearing?"

"It's just a gift from Eric," I could hardly believe my eyes when Eric showed me the diamond ring. It was so beautiful, so brilliant, and so perfect for me that I could only admire it.

"A gift? An engagement gift, perhaps?"

I felt a twinge of fear in my stomach, but I didn't want to show weakness in front of her.

"Yes, Cassandra. Eric and I are engaged."

She widened her eyes, looking shocked and angry at the same time.

"It can't be true! Eric loves me! He has always loved me! He would never do this to me!"

I knew I needed to stand firm. She seemed out of control.

"Cassandra, I understand that you're upset, but Eric has made his decision. He wants to spend the rest of his life with me."

She glared at me.

"You can't do this to me, Ariele! I hate you! I hate you, and I hate Eric for doing this to me!"

She seemed like she was about to come at me but then stormed off, leaving me bewildered. Cassandra seemed to be getting more out of control every day, and no one seemed to notice that she needed help.

When night fell, after dinner, Eric and I were sitting in the living room, talking to Toni about our wedding. I explained to her what the big day would be like, the dress I would wear, and the flowers that would decorate the ceremony. But Toni didn't seem to like the idea.

"Toni, what's wrong?" I asked, concerned.

"I wanted mommy to marry Uncle Eric," she replied, sobbing.

Eric tried to intervene: "Toni, your mom and I were never a couple, and it will never happen. I love Ariele."

But Toni continued inconsolable: "I don't want Aunt Ariele to be my aunt! I wanted mommy with Uncle Eric! I hate Aunt Ariele!"

I was surprised and saddened at the same time. I didn't know what to say to Toni, but I knew I needed to be strong for her and for Eric.

"Toni, I understand that you're sad, but I love your Uncle Eric, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. But that doesn't mean I don't love you or won't take care of you. You will always be my dear Toni," I said, trying to comfort her.

Toni sobbed a bit more, but I could see her slowly calming down. Eric also hugged her, showing his love and support.

After a while, Toni finally said, "I love both of you, but right now I don't like Aunt Ariele. I'm sorry, Uncle Eric."

Eric gave a sad smile and said, "It's okay, Toni. I understand that you're sad right now, but over time, you'll see how wonderful Ariele is and get used to the idea that she and I are getting married."

I felt sad to see Eric so upset, but I knew it was a matter of time, and Toni would eventually accept our love. It was a tough moment, but together we would overcome it.

I woke up in the middle of the night with Eric by my side, sleeping peacefully. His face was so serene that I couldn't help but smile. I loved him so much and missed him during the day when he was at work, and I had to spend time alone.

I knew Eric was an important man in the mafia, with many responsibilities and a crucial role in the organization. I respected his position and knew he needed space to deal with his affairs, but I couldn't help feeling that I needed to know more about his steps and activities. Maybe it was because I worried about his safety, or maybe it was because I wanted to feel more connected to him.

In any case, I hoped that things would change when we got married. I knew that marrying a man in the mafia wouldn't be easy, but I was willing to face any challenge to be with Eric. I wanted to be by his side, support him, and love him unconditionally, no matter what happened.

I snuggled closer to Eric and closed my eyes, trying not to think about the challenges that lay ahead. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was ready to face it all with him. I loved him too much to give up.

I dropped Toni off at daycare this morning, and she wasn't very talkative. I could tell she wasn't happy about her Uncle Eric marrying me. I understand that it can be difficult for a child to accept such a big change in her life, but I'm patient and will work to help her understand and accept the situation.

Arriving at my grandfather's house, I was once again impressed by the grandeur of the mansion. I knew he was a wealthy man, but it was still hard to imagine such opulence. Upon entering, I was greeted by my grandfather with a huge smile on his face.

"Ariele, my dear! What a joy to see you here again!" he said, hugging me tightly.

"I miss you too, Grandpa," I replied, returning the hug. "I needed to come talk to you about some things."

"Of course, my dear. Sit down and tell me everything," he said, leading me to the living room and having me sit on the couch.

I told my grandfather about my upcoming marriage to Eric and how excited I was to start this new phase of my life. He listened attentively, but that wasn't really why I had come here.

"I'm very happy for you, Ariele. But I must admit, I didn't want you to settle down so soon," he said, with a worried expression. "I enjoy your company very much, and it would be great to have you living with me."

"I enjoy your company too, Grandpa. But I love Eric, and I want to build a life with him," I replied, trying to comfort him.

"I know, my dear. And I support you in all your choices," he said, smiling again. "I'll always be here for you, no matter where you are."

"Thank you, Grandpa. I love you," I said, hugging him once more.

"I love you too, my dear," he replied, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

"Now, let's talk about the wedding. I want to help in any way I can to make it a perfect day. And soon, you'll be able to talk to your mother."

I agreed nervously, apprehensive about the conversation I would have with my mother. Learning my true story might not bring back everything I had lost, but I was grateful to be here.

I was in shock. My mother had just told me a story of love and betrayal that I would never have imagined was a part of my own life. I stood there for a moment, trying to absorb everything she had said, while she watched me with tears in her eyes.

"Mom, how is this possible? How could my father have told me to be aborted or given up for adoption? How could he do this to you and to me?" I asked, my voice trembling.

My mother took a deep breath before responding.

"I don't know, my daughter. He was a powerful man, and I was just a servant in his house. He didn't truly love me; he only wanted someone to fulfill his desires. When I got pregnant, he was furious because I could ruin his plans to marry a wealthy heiress. He forced me to choose between aborting you or giving you up, and I chose to fight for you, even if it meant giving up my own life in that house."

I was speechless. Everything I knew about my life had been shaken in seconds. But then my mother continued speaking, trying to explain her actions after my father's death.

"After he died, I didn't have the courage to seek you out, my daughter. I was afraid of being rejected, of not being accepted by you. I didn't want you to know about your family's past. But now, looking at you, at the strong and courageous woman you've become, I see that I made a mistake. I should have come for you earlier. I'm so sorry, my daughter."

I hugged her tightly, feeling the weight of that story in our lives. I didn't know what to do or say, but I knew I loved her and was grateful for her fighting for me.

"Mom, I forgive you. I love you," I said, tears in my eyes.

We stayed there, embraced, for a long time. I knew there was still much to be resolved regarding my father and my past, but for now, I had my mother with me, and that was enough.

It was a long and difficult chapter, but I felt like I was finally beginning to understand the story of my life and the people who had shaped who I was. And even though I couldn't change the past, I knew I could choose how to move forward from there.