Chapter 55: 55- The Threatening Connection

POV- Narrador.

Donatella finished her shower and left to tell her husband, who was very angry. And so that no one would notice his fury, he left early and let his wife serve dinner alone. 

When Matteo arrived in the servants' wing, he entered Martina's room, who was lying on her bed, crying copiously. 

"Martina?" He called to her, and when Martina's dark eyes fell on him, he shook his head as if he didn't believe it was true. Since he always boasted that Martina was a good girl. "I'm disappointed in you." He spoke feeling disgusted, which made Martina cry even more. "What now? What will it be like from now on? They will never accept her as a daughter-in-law and may even take the child away from her." 

"Dad, Alfred is a good guy and he won't abandon me. Of that I am sure..." He whispered, making his father sigh. 

"But still, you are not old enough to take on such a responsibility. Alfred is not old enough to get a job that pays well. Martina, why did you do something like that?" 

"I didn't know I could get pregnant." This was particularly the fault of her parents, as they did not talk to the girl about her sex life. 

Suddenly, there was three low knocks at the door, and the girl already knew who it was. Alfred knocked slowly so that no one could hear anything. So Martina's father opened the door, and the young man felt that he was going to die at that moment. 

"Come in, boy. We have to talk." The boy swallowed hard and entered the small room. He was worried when he realized that Martina was crying and, even though he was ashamed, he asked: 

"What happened?" 

"Alfred, I'm pregnant." Said the girl, in a thread of voice. 

"I am with you and I will never leave your side. I'll help with whatever it takes..." His eyes went to his "father-in-law," and then he said, "Lord, I know we messed up. But I'm not going to let her and the baby go through need." 

"Young master, if your parents know what happened, they will want to take the child. And honestly, since I have no choice but to accept that I'm going to be a grandfather, I can't let them hurt them. The only thing to do is to send her away." Hearing Matteo's words, Alfred shook his head negatively, not accepting the idea. 

"If Martina goes away, I'll go with her. I'm not going to leave her alone." 

So everyone got ready for the young people to leave alone in the dead of night. But one of the maids had overheard the whole conversation and, as she was jealous of Martina, she ended up telling Bianca Castelli, Alfred's mother. 

The woman didn't think twice and went to talk to her husband about what happened. Then, on the day of departure, the two were stopped, and the Castellis sent Alfred back to America. As for Martina, they forced her to marry Francesco Mantovani. He had always been in love with the young woman and, instead of judging her, accepted her pregnant. 

Fate proved to be less cruel, and over time Martina learned to like Francesco, for the way he treated her. And even more so with the birth of little Eleonora, which brought them even closer. However, as much as her husband showed affection, the love between Martina and Alfred was eternal and would never be forgotten. 

By the time he came of age, Alfred no longer had chains binding him and decided it was time to get his family back. Returning to her homeland, she discovered that Martina and her parents no longer lived there. And before he returned, he began to look for his son or daughter, since he was prevented from accompanying the pregnancy of his beloved. 

Feeling defeated that he had not been able to get any clue to his family's whereabouts, he searched for the Castelli mansion, and when he got there, his mother came to greet him. But Alfred did not accept that she touched him and only asked where Martina had gone. The old woman already knew that he would look for her again, and so she introduced little Vittoria to her. 

As incredible as it was, the girl seemed to have the same traits as "her" mother. Bianca said that Martina had abandoned the child and left it in her care. 

Alfred did not want to believe that his beloved might be able to abandon the seed of his love. But there was the child, looking at the same with his innocence. He collected the girl and took her with him to France, to work with his uncle. 

The years that followed were increasingly intense, and even if dormant, that love remained in their hearts.

...

POV- Eleonora Vitale.

Heading to Alfred's house, he couldn't stop noticing how tense Viktor was. I'm about to ask you what's wrong, but before I could say anything, I realize that we're already in front of the mansion. This was not the house it used to be, as it had a more classic model. On the side of the house was a large fig tree, which looked so well cared for. 

Viktor opens the car door for me and offers me his arm, which I take and continue to admire the huge mansion. Renzo, who was close behind, parks his car next to Viktor's car. Suddenly, the doors of the big house are opened, and Alfred comes to greet us with a wide smile. I end up being the first person he reaches out to for a hug. 

From the beginning, when I met him, Alfred was affectionate, and felt a paternal affection for him. Which was strange, because, although we got along very well, we rarely saw each other. 

"You know, my dear, I missed you very much." He speaks as he walks away and holds me by the shoulders. 

"Hello, Alfred, we're here too." Renzo said next to Viktor, waving to Alfred, who rolls his eyes and goes to greet them friendly. 

"Well, come. Let's go in, it's cold." He said, doing the honors and walking into the mansion, while we followed him. 

Maybe it was my mind playing tricks on me, but I feel a different aura coming from this house. And also a feeling of déjà vu, as if I had already come here. 

"I have the feeling that I have been here." My voice makes everyone stay silent. Viktor widens his eyes, and Alfred is static, while Renzo just doesn't understand the situation. 

"Well, I think we've all felt something like that, don't we?" Renzo suggests, and we nod. I observe the strange attitude of Alfred and my husband. 

"Absolutely. Well, my boys, go and go down to your rooms and go downstairs so we can have a bite to eat." We agreed and so we went upstairs and went to the rooms. 

The feeling of recognition didn't leave me, and that couldn't be a coincidence, and much less would it be my brain deceiving me.