Chapter 163

Richard's POV.

As Amber and I strolled along the beach, hand in hand, she suddenly came to a halt. I paused alongside her, and my curiosity piqued as I turned to face her, wondering what had caught her attention.

"What's wrong, babe?" I asked. Her gaze was fixed on the water, a thoughtful expression playing across her face, like she had something she was contemplating.

"It's just a thought that crossed my mind," she replied calmly. "Something I've been mulling over for a while now."

Amber turned to me, her eyes meeting mine directly, and I could sense the gravity of her words even before she spoke.

"I know this might be unexpected, but I want to leave the country," she declared. "And I'm not saying that I want to leave just for a vacation; I'm saying that I want to permanently relocate to another country so we can start over."

Her words took me by surprise, not because I didn't want to, but because I realized that she and I were thinking the same thing. I had been wrestling with similar thoughts myself, burdened by everything that had happened in the last few months and wanting a fresh start. With a nod, I acknowledged her words, knowing that we both yearned for a change of scenery, especially now that we were expecting a child.

"To be honest, I've been thinking the same thing as well," I admitted. "We both have way too many bad memories here, and it's time for a change. We owe it to ourselves and our unborn baby to start our family in a place that doesn't give us bad memories."

I reached out to squeeze her hand reassuringly, letting her know that I was fully supportive of her decision.

"Do you have any country in mind?" I asked. "We'll go wherever you choose, Amber. Just let me know what you have in mind."

As I waited for her to reveal her chosen destination, I could sense a hesitance in her demeanor.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" I inquired gently, reaching out to touch her arm. Amber met my gaze with a hesitant expression, her reluctance evident in the furrow of her brow.

"The thing is, I...I'm not sure if you'll like my choice. It might upset you a bit," she admitted. Her words caught me off guard, and I shook my head, urging her to share her thoughts with me.

"Don't be silly," I replied, offering her an encouraging smile. "Just tell me where you want us to go. We'll figure it out together, no matter what."

After a moment of silence, Amber finally spoke up. "I want us to move to Italy. That's where I want us to start over."

I felt a surge of surprise coursing through me. Italy? It was not a destination I would have ever considered, especially given my own reservations about visiting the country. Yet, despite my initial shock, I could see the earnestness in her eyes.

"Why Italy?" I asked. "I know you loved visiting, but I never imagined you would want to live there, especially considering how close we would be to my extended family."

Amber let out a sigh, her gaze thoughtful as she considered her response. "I understand that you may not be fond of the idea, Richard," she began, her words measured. "But Italy holds special memories for both of us. From what I remember, you spent over ten years there before coming to the US, and it's where your family resides, besides your parents. I want that to be the place where our child can grow up, surrounded by love and support from your extended family. I want my child to experience what I never got to experience, which is having a family."

I couldn't help but feel conflicted. While I understood her reasoning and the potential benefits of being close to family, the idea of being in that situation again, where I would become accessible to them, just didn't sit well with me.

I didn't hate my family or anything like that, but most of them were too nosy for my liking, and I definitely wanted to remain as far away as possible from Elena, even though she wasn't fully living in Italy.

I let out a sigh, my mind racing with thoughts.

"Babe, we don't have to stay in Italy for our child to have a relationship with my family," I finally responded. "We could visit them once in a while without having to be around them all the time."

Amber's expression softened, but there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes as she urged me to consider her perspective.

"I understand that you might be uncomfortable with the idea," she said gently. "But we're first-time parents, Richard. We have so much to learn, and having the support of family could make all the difference for us and our child. Don't think about the family you don't like, and let's focus on the ones you like and think would be good to have around our baby. I personally would love to live around your Nonna, and you already know how much I love Bianca. She's like my big sister, and I want my kid to grow up with hers."

I fell silent, lost in thought, as I weighed the pros and cons of our potential move to Italy. It was certainly not an easy decision to make, and part of me wished for more time to consider our options. But before I could voice my concerns, a sudden interruption broke through my train of thought—a ringing phone.

I glanced at Amber, a flicker of curiosity in my eyes as I reached for the phone. With a quick glance at the caller ID, I recognize the number—Bianca. My sister's unexpected call only added to the swirling in me, and I hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Why are you calling?" I asked. There was a brief pause before Bianca's voice came through the line, her tone urgent and slightly strained.

"Richard, please come to the family hospital," she said. "Mom has been hospitalized, and she wants to see you.”

***

My heart raced with worry as I rushed into the hospital room, my eyes immediately finding my mother lying on the bed, frail and pale. Beside her, my father stood, his expression worn with concern. I couldn't help but feel a surge of anxiety at the sight of my mother's condition; her weakened state was a stark contrast to the vibrant woman I saw just hours ago.

"Mom, what's going on?" I asked as I approached her bedside. "Why are you here? What happened?"

My mother's gaze met mine, and I was taken aback by the exhaustion etched in her features. She begged for my father and Amber to leave us alone, and they quietly exited the room, leaving us by ourselves.

I moved closer to my mother's bedside, my heart heavy with worry as I waited for her to speak. She took a moment to gather her thoughts; her expression was a mixture of weariness and sadness.

"Richard, my dear," she began, "I need to tell you something, something that I've kept from you for far too long."

"What is it? What's going on?"

My mother took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she met my eyes.

“I have a heart disease, and I'll be going into surgery soon, because if I don't get surgery now, it'll end up getting to the point where surgery would no longer work,” she announced, and I froze.

As her words hit me, I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Shock, disbelief, and a profound sense of guilt threatened to overwhelm me as I tried to process the truth she just revealed.

"A heart disease?" I repeated. "What do you mean, Mom? Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why are you telling me at the last minute? What's going on?" I asked, feeling both lost and confused.

My mother's gentle touch on my arm snapped me back to the present, her eyes filled with a sadness that cut deep into my soul. She started to explain, her voice steady despite the weight of the words she was about to speak.

"It was not that simple," she said softly. "When I was diagnosed over a year ago, the doctors recommended surgery to prevent the disease from progressing. But they also warned me that the surgery carried significant risks, especially given my weakened state."

My mind reeled at the thought of my mother facing such a dire prognosis alone, without my knowledge or support. How could she have kept something so serious hidden from me for so long?

"Again, why didn't you tell me?" I asked. "I could have helped you. I would have done anything to make sure you got whatever treatment you needed."

My mother's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she reached out to grab my hand.

"I know you would have," she said softly. "But I couldn't bear to burden you with my troubles, especially knowing how much you've been through already. I didn't want to add to your pain, and I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to me, and you breaking down even more because of me."

Her words pierced straight through my heart, filling me with a sense of guilt unlike anything I had ever felt before. The thought that my mother suffered alone, all because she didn't want to see me hurt, left me feeling utterly devastated.

"I'm so sorry, Mom," I whispered. "I never meant to cause you more pain. I wish you had told me sooner. I would have been there for you, no matter what."

Tears blurred my vision as I reached out to embrace my mother, holding her tightly as if to shield her from the pain she endured.

After a while, I pulled away from her, needing to know more about the situation she was facing, despite the overwhelming sense of guilt I felt.

"What time is your surgery?" I asked. "And does everyone else know about it already?"

My mother's gaze softened as she reached out to gently cup my face in her hands.

"We still have about an hour," she replied. "And yes, your siblings already know."

I nodded, frustration and regret churning inside me. I hated that I was always the last to know, always one step behind when it came to my own family. But deep down, I knew that I only had myself to blame for my absence and for the distance I had allowed to grow between us over the years.

I wrapped my arms around my mother once again, wanting her to know that I was there for her. The burden of my guilt threatened to crush me, but I pushed it aside, focusing instead on the love and support I could offer her at that moment.

"I'm so sorry, Mom," I whispered. "I haven't been the best son, but I promise to do better. After your surgery, I'll be there for you every step of the way. I promise."

My mother smiled through her tears. "I know you will, Richard," she said softly. "And I couldn't be prouder of the man you've become. Just remember, whatever happens during surgery, however it turns out, you have nothing to feel guilty about. You've always been a loving son to me, and nothing will ever change that. So don't break down, and be happy, my dear. You deserve it."