CHAPTER 64

Three days passed in which the life of the couple in love was very happy, the engagement reception was scheduled for the following week, the preparations were going smoothly, the specialists hired by Antonni were in charge of it, his hacienda was looking beautiful with all the decorations and so on.

The patriarch was not present because he used those three days to punish his grandson, who after those days was taken out of there, he was unrecognizable, they took him to his grandfather's house where the doctors were in charge of his cures, they looked at each other and between them they spoke in a low voice.

"Poor thing, his grandfather has beaten him with a whip, look at those marks, those blows look like they were made by some steel material, his lips are parched as if he had not drunk water and his hands are broken, they are fractured, what a horror".

Another doctor said, "We must do some tests, he could be suffering from starvation, thirst, at once, besides, we must not talk about this, you know how Mr. Lombardi is, discretion, first of all".

They rushed to take his blood, to make x-rays to see the fractures, which was the first thing they did to fix them and put plaster on both hands, while waiting for the results of the other tests they put him on serums to feed and hydrate him, he was unconscious without feeling anything.

Antonni Lombardi went to the Black's house to look for Jenna and to go to the registry to change her last name from Black to Lombardi, after certain requirements were fulfilled by them, the official certificate and registry with the name of Jenna Lombardi was delivered, to which his great-grandfather was very happy.

They had gone alone without Mark and Alice, as the patriarch wanted to be alone with his beautiful great-granddaughter, they had lunch together talking about the plans he had for her, telling her about the companies and what would happen when he passed away and Jenna commented.

"But you are going to live many more years grandpa, don't think about death yet, besides with my studies I will be able to manage your businesses very well, but I want to ask something else."

"Grandpa, do you have illicit businesses, right? Please don't hide it from me."

Antonni let out a long sigh, but answered.

"That's true Jenna, but I leave that to Carlo so he can manage them, I don't want you to be involved in that, you are a decent woman, he will only deposit you a certain amount that will be stipulated in my will".

"Thank you grandfather, another question, what do you think about Mark? I mean, about what happened between us, does it bother you that he raised me as his daughter and now I'm going to be his wife?"

"Jenna destiny forged the path for you, because of Luiggi's bad decision this confusion was formed, but you love each other and you are going to be happy, I agree in your union, I already have everything ready for the proposal, the reception is going to be beautiful, all for my dear great granddaughter".

They raised their glass to celebrate when Jenna finished the contents of her glass and spoke jocularly.

"This cranberry juice is delicious, what an idea, hahaha".

Antonni guffawed along with her saying.

"I did it for my great-great-grandchildren who are on their way, besides I need to give myself a break between so much whiskey".

Such a warm atmosphere of the meeting of two people of the same blood, while Marck was in the company solving some requests of his employees, always favoring their requests that's why they worked conscientiously for him.

Loretta, Ralph and Richard were waiting for him to have lunch, they laughed their way out of there, they had lunch then went to Marck's parents' house who received them with joy and encouraging news, Dereck spoke with enthusiasm.

"Marck son, come we have news for you, Mr. Antonni announced that the hacienda is ready for the reception, besides he left this for you to put on Jenna's hand, he said it was his late wife's".

He put a beautiful diamond ring on his son's hand, his friends smiled to see him so happy as he mused.

"What a beautiful ring worthy of Jenna, friends I am overjoyed, I love Jenna like no one else."

Loretta commented.

"Today Jenna will have her real name Lombardi, but Mark, it seems to me that Mr. Lombardi is going to leave her in charge of his companies, because she is his only heir, I am very sure".

Richard expressed some doubt.

"I know you have business in the underworld, I don't think he'll leave those up in the air."

"With Luiggi gone, maybe he'll give them to his other grandson, I wouldn't want my Jenna to even get close to illegal things" opined Marck.

They observed that he was worried about it, but Ralph commented that he should calm down because she would not accept him if he insinuated that she would take care of things of the underworld.

Carla replied, "I don't think that will happen, she loves her great-granddaughter, she wouldn't complicate her life, don't think about it son and be happy, they will both be back right away and if you want to ask her, love.

"You are right mom, I better ask her, I am not going to stay with the uncertainty" expressed Marck seriously.

Later the couple returned and entered the Black's house being approached instantly by Mark who anxiously asked.

"Hi are you a Lombardi yet Jenna?"

To which she approached him very slowly and replied.

"Yes my eager boyfriend, I am already a Lombardi we will be the Black Lombardi family what do you think love?"

"The most beautiful thing I have ever heard, now I think at the reception we should explain our situation as society and our friends, our partners know us as father and daughter they may find it strange that we are sweethearts."

The Lombardi patriarch cleared his throat and opined sitting down on the sofa.

"The best thing to do is to talk about it at the reception, there will be all the acquaintances and friends of the Lombardi and Black family as well as the authorities, they will be told only what is necessary and I will introduce myself as their great grandfather, it is a routine thing, leave it to me, don't worry about that, you should only worry about being happy and taking care of my great grandchildren who are in my great granddaughter's tummy".

The day of the engagement reception arrived, Jenna was at her maternal grandparents' house, Juliet was a woman who thought of everything and had everything in order, so the beautiful bride was ready, she looked pretty in her black cocktail dress, her jewelry on her fine neck, she turned around to admire herself in the mirror, her pregnancy was almost no noticeable yet.

Alice had her hands clasped together and a smile of happiness to see her happy to hear her laugh, outside her car was ready, while at the Black's house everything was a run here run there, because the Lombardi and Black men were getting dressed.

Antonni was the only one ready, while Carlo, who was already dressed, could not find his tie, Mark was with his pants changed, Dereck was with his son's pants and Marcus could not find his jacket.

The shouting went on and on until the Lombardi patriarch shouted.

"Quiet please, calm down, it is getting late and you look like women about to give birth, you are all upset, I am going to give you instructions to solve this mess that you caused in a hurry".

Jenna was already there, but Antonni had secretly called her to plan a chaos at the reception as an additional punishment for having said those harsh words that hurt her at the clinic and Jenna replied.

"But Grandpa don't you think what happened to us is enough?"

"My little girl more the devil knows by old than by devil, so do as I say, it's going to be exciting, ah instruct all the women that only the others care" commented Antonni.

Jenna expressed already agreeing.

"Ok I will do it grandpa, poor Mark."

She walked to meet all the women gathered there and told them about her great-grandfather's plan, they all agreed not to say anything about where she would be hiding, she would only come out when they saw how desperate he was.

The women were conveniently outside looking everywhere, inside they were amused by the role they had to play, the men arrived in their cars, they all went out smiling, walked to the entrance and saw the women outside, but they did not notice their looks because the euphoria of entering for the reception blinded them.

One of the first to enter was Mark who looked everywhere and could not find his beloved Jenna, he went into a few places, got to the kitchen and she was not there, he thought it was strange when he realized that there was no woman there.

He went outside to look outside and approached his mother Carla asking.

"Mom what about Jenna?"

Carla looked at him very quizzical and answered.

"I thought she was coming with you son that's why we were all here waiting, wait a minute I'm going to call her."

Carla grabbed the cell phone and called her, it rang a few times, but she didn't answer, she looked at her son who was anxious and called back and nothing then Mark spoke in alarm.

"She's not answering, but why isn't she answering, but what happened, where is she?"

Alice approached asking.

"Mr. Marck and Jenna?

With that more startled he began to speak nervously.

"She didn't come... she didn't come, it's not possible we love each other, I don't think... she would leave me again, she knew today is the reception."

When he spotted Antonni he approached him asking nervously.

"Mr. Lombardi, did Jenna tell you something bad about me?"

The patriarch looked at him saying very calmly.

"No man, she was excited about the reception unless you did something to her, remember if she said something to you or did something to you that made it hurt."

"I didn't do anything wrong, we were fine she even called me to say she was ready, something happened I'm sure, I'm going to get her."

He went back to look for her, she was standing behind a leafy tree, Mark passed by it and didn't see her, he kept calling her, but she was so excited that her hand touched a rope that was holding one of the tents that covered the place where the drinks were, the bartender saw the tent fall on him, he shouted and everyone went back to look at him and some went to help.

Then Jenna took two steps back and Marck who was further away saw her and ran back, Juliet gave him her hand and they both ran away followed by Marck's screams.

"Wait Jenna wait what's going on? Jenna!"

They both arrived outside and made a wall of women covering the beautiful bride, when Marck came out he noticed that they were together and smiling, he missed that attitude, but when he saw Juliet he asked.

"Where did he leave her? You took her, I saw her, please tell me where is she?"

Jenna's voice was loud.

"Mark, are you really sorry for the words you said to me at the clinic?"

That question was strange to him as he had already apologized to her, but he only answered with the truth.

"Jenna if I am sorry for the stupid thing I did, I will always carry that burden with me, but why do you ask me that again love? Are you regretting being with me? Jenna, don't leave me again because I'm dying without you.

The wall that had hidden her opened up revealing a beautiful smiling woman in love who was glistening in her dress, Marck's eyes sparkled with love, almost as she reached him she replied.

"Marck I just wanted to be sure that you were truly sorry for everything you said to me, I love you and I will always love you."

"Jenna you are my true love, I would never ever hurt you, I already made a mistake once it won't happen again my love, for me you are everything, you are the owner of my love, of my life of my heart of my soul," said Mark pulling her to hug and kiss her making the applause resound there.

The orchestra started to play, they took each other's hands and went to the dance floor, they started to dance very close together and then the others danced with them.

Their love could be breathed all over the place, their gazes fixed on each other, the smiles on their mouths, their kisses in love at every moment.

Antonni was with the other family and was talking about his plan to scare Mark, Dereck did not agree very much because the two of them had already suffered a lot, most of all his son, but Lombardi only commented.

"Mr. Black only wished that the differences between the two of them were smoothed out and that Jenna was very sure of her son Mark's love, because I want them to be happy".

Carla opined cheerfully.

"Seeing him worried again brought back memories, but even I got into that plan hahaha and you Juliet running with her to hide her from my son, you are tremendous."

The orchestra was silent and everyone was watching where the lovers were when they were left alone and Mark looked her in the eyes, took out a little box from his pocket and took out a beautiful ring with diamonds, put one knee on the floor and spoke.

"Jenna you are everything to me, I love you and I want to ask you here in front of everyone will you be my wife and be with me all the days of my life?"

Her face lit up and she answered very happily.

"Yes I want to be your wife Mark."

To which he smiled, got up and put the ring on her finger and they kissed, the applause was loud and the cheers everywhere.

Finally Marck asked Jenna to marry him and she said yes, life is rewarding true love, all the family and friends are happy with the event, only the date is missing to unite their lives forever.