Chapter 42: The Wrong coincidence
"Common you two, stop being a slug and move further!" Maria and Marco groans at Leonora and Tiziana.
Nora and Tiz came to visit them at their residence earlier and dragged the twins and their mother to shopping. At first Gisella protested but in the end, she gave up totally in sync with both of her best friends and colleague. Tiz and Nora have been dragging Marco and Maria from shop to shop.
"I hate shopping aunt Nora," Maria groans. "I wish Papa is around," Maria grumbles.
They all look at themselves and back to the nine-year-old. "Girls love shopping, Maria" Tiz added. "And thank goodness he's out for a business trip with Alessandro and your uncle Diego,"
"Can we rest? I'm dying from walking!" Marco groaned in a complaint but everyone except Maria went deaf on him.
"Brother Marco is right! can we rest for a few minutes or maybe hours?" Maria immediately allianced herself with her brother because they feel each other's pain right now.
Nora and Tiz look at both of them and back to Gisella, They sigh and give in. "Fine," Nora looked around for a convenient place for the five of them to sit.
"Over there." Tiz pointed at the empty bench and they followed. Marco and Maria happily sat down and it felt like heaven for them. shopping with their godmothers and Mama tire them out, they might even collapse from all the walking they did.
Right after they relaxed Marco and Maria felt uncomfortable by the people staring around them. They both know the reason because aunt Nora's voice was really loud.
The Caruso's are known to the public and the way some people stare at Gisella was amazing and some are not. "Look at those two kids... Are they not Nicolo Caruso's Twins?" A woman from the crowd said loud enough for everyone to hear and turn their grazes to Marco and Maria.
"And that is their mother right there," Another woman added with a bright smile that made Nora swink.
"She's really beautiful in person. She is the wife of Nicolo Caruso that was hidden for almost a year and a few months. The kids look so majestic like their Mama and Papa." Everyone started to compliment the Twins, some even try to say bad things about Gisella and the twins but they failed.
"I am starting to hate making an appearance at Grandfather Guiseppe's birthday party," Maria said aloud for only Marco to hear. Back then, she can walk freely without being noticed by the public and it annoys her very much. Marco likes commitment and the spotlight but Maria doesn't.
Marco just giggles at his sister's complaint, he can relate to Maria's feelings right now. Maria doesn't like to be the center of attraction but Marco does.
"Well, what can I say... you and I came from a very prestigious family that many people looked into."
"Tch! qualunque cosa sia" She rolls her eyes looking at her Mama and the rest two, who were busy laughing at their own story while she and her brother talk on theirs. Maria does prefer a lonely life. Having such a great background.
"Common, don't say that! Where's the fun at? I mean being normal has its fun. You know Mama and Papa history more than I do, You know Mama got enemies in her past and I know that they might be planning evil against us by now but we won't allow that to happen." Marco said with a wide grin on his face. Maria is starting to think that her brother is acting weird and there is a side of her that hopes that he should be up to good things.
Thinking about what Marco just said, Maria felt it is so ironic for her. People make fun of her mom in her past and even threatens to kill her. people like the one she had looked into, Bianca, Brizo, and Viola Santoro, Neils mama. They already did humiliate her Mama in the past.
After their almost an hour break, they resumed their shopping. Right now, all the moment Marco and Maria are forced to try new clothes over and over again by Tiz and Nora.
"Zia Nora, Zia Tiz, I think I have enough clothes already... you don't need to buy more for us.. me and my broth..." Before Maria could finish her sentence, Nora cut her off.
"Assolutamente assurdità," Nora glared at Maria. "Kids like you and your brother need tons and tons of beautiful clothes to show your radiance!" Maria and Marco can only give the three of them a forceful smile. Most especially Nora, Since she gave birth to baby Melody, she always leaves her with her aunt and it hard to beat her at her own game and Gisella isn't helping the both of them. Their mama keeps on agreeing on whatever they say.
"Maria, try this..." Tiz gave Maria the dress that she saw and then Nora turns from Gisella back to Marco. "... and you try this also," Marco and Maria just sigh in defeat and drag their feet to the dressing room.
A moment later, Maria came out of the fitting room. Both Gisella, Tiz and Nora's eye sparkles in appreciation. Maria looked like a pure soul in those white and green pattern gown and at the same time, Maria is sending such a mature aura around her.
Soon after, Marco came out of his fitting room. His slender legs on fitted skinny jeans and a pure white shirt. Gisella and Tiz look from the two not so identical twins back to Nora who her mouth was wide opened, even the salesman and the sales ladies were looking at them can't take their eyes office, Maria and Marco.
"Oh my God! You two are my kids," Marco and Maria looked at their mama with disbelief, they can't believe that they just heard their Mama say that. "Both of you look so stunning like me!" Gisella can be narcissistic sometimes.
"Ain't you forgetting something, miei amici?" Nora looks at Gisella under her lashes with a dull mode.
"And what am I forgetting?" Gisella asked.
"That they are not only your kids but also Signor Nicolo's genes," She rolls her eyes at Gisella.
"So, What are you implying?" Gisella asked in a taut.
"I am just trying to remind you that your husband is the one with the handsomeness overdose," she grins at Gisella who was about turning pale.
"Whatever!" Gisella rolls her eyes at her, making every one of them laugh at her.
"Well, well, well... who do we have here?" A long lost voice was heard from behind them and Immediately, all happy face was gone.
"Viola?" Gisella's smiles died.
"Gis... Gisella..." Pietro stammered.
"Maria? Marco?"
"Vincenzo fucking Santoro?" Maria rolls her eyes sarcastically at him then back to Vince's Mama. "Now I see, you're the Viola Moretti?" Maria points out at Viola.
"Shush..." Gisella drag Maria behind her.
Vince was just staring at Gisella's beauty. He has never seen Marco's Mama before but seeing her now makes him confirm all the good stuff his father said was true.
Pietro and Gisella's eyes locked for over a minute before they both realized that people were staring at them. "Gisella, longest time, you're still beautiful as ever..." the words slip out without him knowing it, he flinched as he looks Viola who was already boiling in anger.
"Thank... Thank... you," Gisella blushes.
"We meet again after so many years," Viola smirk at Gisella at the way Gisella, the way she knows that it ain't a good sigh.
"Yes, and so?" Nora intervenes for Gisella because she knew what Gisella is passing through right now, seeing Pietro again.
"Still lousy as ever!" Viola rolls her eyes at Nora.
"Is this your boy?" Gisella interrupted Nora's next speech.
"Yes.. yes, he is and his name is Vincenzo Santoro," Pietro smiles at Gisella.
"That's nice," she smiles back. "How are you doing Vince?" Gisella asked Vincenzo.
Vince looks from Gisella's pretty face and back to his mother's frowning face. He became scared to reply because of the way his mother was staring at him.
"Vince, she is asking you a question!" Pietro glunt at Vince.
"I..." He stammered. His eyes landed on Maria's cute little face and Hazel eyes. "I am..." He paused remembering the treats his Mama give to him. "Leave me alone," He said lastly.
Hearing this from Vince, Viola smirk at Gisella's confused face. Pietro was in shock. "Is this what I've taught you? to ignore your elders?" he raises his voice at Vince.
"I can't believe you, Vince, how dare you speak to my Mama like that?" Marco flames up in anger.
"Don't you fucking raise your voice at my son because of your ex-lover. Let's get what we're here for and leave before I start from where we stopped." Viola warns.
"Vince," Maria called. "You better fucking stay away from me and my brother," She added with a frown as her eyes turn dark. Vince's hand was down in shame.
"Or else what?" Viola says with a smirk. "I bet your Mama didn't tell you of how dangerous I can be. Did she?" He threatens Maria.
"I am not scared of you at all... Mrs. Viola Santoro," Little Maria fights back and Viola looks at her in shock. "I am not my Mama, I am not like my Mama and I am not naive as my Mama," she added.
"Let's go," Gisella grabs Maria's arm and Nora grabs Marco's, while Tiz quickly paid for the dresses and they started walking pass the Santoro.
"Bye Pietro," Gisella whispers.
"Bye and I am sorry," he added.
Gisella looks at Viola who was giving her a death glare. "You've just invited me back to your life again Gisella Caruso," she mouthed. This word sting Gisella in a way or two. Then her mind runs back to how dangerously her past is building up Maria.
WORLD TRANSLATION
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