NINETY

The operation was successful and the doctor assured me that my son was going to live as soon as his recovery phase was complete.

The whole turn of events seemed so surreal. Never in a million years would I have ever come up with something like this.

Three years ago, I ran away from Alessandro to start a new life for myself in a different state after abandoning everything I've ever known or had to stay hidden and three years later, the same man that I ran away from had just saved the life of the child we created together all those years ago.

If this was the universe's way of patting my back and giving me solace after everything I'd been through, I would gladly accept it after years of turmoil.

"I've been patient enough, Gianna." Tiffany began as she stared at me. "I think it's time you tell me the truth about everything that's been going on."

She was right. She was my friend-my only friend here and she deserved to know the truth.

"You're going to want to sit down for this one." I chuckled.

"Is it really that complicated?" Tiffany asked as she did as I instructed.

"You have no idea," I smiled but it didn't quite reach my eyes.

Half an hour later, Tiffany's jaw was hung open as she stared at me with her eyes as wide as I'd ever seen it.

The story I had just narrated shook me to my bones as well.

"You're trying to tell me that you're the daughter of one of the most powerful mafia dons to have existed over the past decade and you were set to inherit the mafia?" Tiffany asked, dumbfounded.

"You were married to Don Alessandro and Ethan is his son as well? And after three years, he finally found you and to top it off, he ended up saving your son from dying?"

She looked like she was about to pass out any moment from now.

"You need to take a deep breath before you slump," I warned.

"Your life has the greatest plot twist I've ever seen, Gianna. What do you plan on doing once Alessandro wakes up?"

That was the question I've been trying to answer myself for the past six hours but I didn't have anything tangible to say.

My first thought had been to plead with the doctor to hide the truth about the surgery from Don Ethan until I mustered the courage to tell him the truth but I still didn't have any clue about what I wanted to do with Alessandro.

"I have no idea, Tiffany. I'm confused and conflicted about the whole thing in general."

"I wouldn't want to be in your shoes right now, Gianna. But you need to come up with something." Tiffany said, rubbing my shoulders.

"Hypothetically speaking, if you were in my shoes, what would you have done?" I asked her.

"I can't come up with anything that would make sense right now but if there's one thing I'm sure about, it's that Don Alessandro wouldn't have done all of these if he didn't care for you and your son. I know he hurt you and trust me, I'm on your side as well. But acts like these only come from a place of love."

***

Acts like these only come from a place of love.

I couldn't get that line out of my head as I walked into the doctor's office.

"You asked to see me. Is there a problem? My son, Alessandro, are they safe?"

"They're fine. You don't need to worry about them, they're getting the best available care right now. But I do have something to tell you."

He had assured me that everything was fine but I still couldn't bring myself to calm down yet.

"What is it, doctor?" I asked, steadying myself as I gripped the armrest of the chair I was in.

"Alessandro has woken up and he's requested to see you."

"What? Right now?" I was caught off guard.

"Yes, right away." The doctor confirmed.

I nodded and made my way to his hospital room, shutting the door lightly behind me.

"You came," Alessandro said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You asked to see me so I had to come. Are you sure we can't do this later? You can barely talk properly." I said, worried about his health.

"I can't, Gianna. I've been unable to find peace for the past three years knowing that I wronged you."

My eyes brimmed with tears as I heard the pain in his voice.

Tiffany was right. This wasn't a gimmick, this was the Alessandro I'd fallen in love with. The man who had opened himself and allowed me in.

"I forgive you, Alessandro. I never thought this day would come but you've shown me what it means to love and the fact that you can do this for a child you've never interacted with shows me what kind of a person you are."

"I wish I could take back everything that happened. If I could, I would. I never wanted to cause you pain and it hurts me every day that I ended up doing that."

"We can't change the past, Alessandro. We can only look forward to what the future has in store for us."

"Do you think he's going to like me? I've been missing in his life for two years now and kids can be quite sensitive about things like these." Alessandro began. He seemed worried and the thought that he was scared of a little boy made me laugh.

"I apologize," I said, slapping a hand over my mouth before I burst into laughter. "But seeing you like this is quite a funny spectacle."

"There's every chance that he might hate me and it's enough cause to worry." Alessandro shrugged.

"Ethan is like you in more ways than you realize and I'm sure you're going to experience it firsthand," I said, trying to calm his fears.

"You're sure about that?" Alessandro asked.

"Why don't you find out yourself?" I smirked. "Ethan's in the room next to this one and I'm sure he would be happy to know his father is finally here with him."