A V E L I N AAs soon as I arrived home, Carina noticed my change of mood and she immediately rushed over to ask me what was wrong."Nothing.""Tell me what happened. Did that old bitch mess with you?""She was a fucking bitch and I'm glad she decided not to work with me. Can you believe she asked me if I was pregnant? Like how the fuck does she even know? Aren't I hiding it enough? I feel so fat.""You're not fat. You're pregnant.""Exactly. Pregnant! Do you have any idea how many people would judge me for being pregnant while being a single mother of two toddlers?""Who cares? People who aren't in your shoes have no right to judge you. And if they do, then fuck them!"I laughed, "Yes, fuck them. But the world would be a better place if those people didn't exist.""Agreed. Come on, let's get you out of this dress. Your kids are playing with their nanny, they're safe."Carina dragged me back upstairs and helped me out of my dress. "This is so comfortable." I told her, putting on a whi
A V E L I N AEverything felt sore, like I'd been hit by a truck. My body hurt so bad, my head felt like someone was banging a hammer inside of it.When I opened my eyes, I was in a bed, a very uncomfortable bed. My eyes wandered around and I realized that I was in a hospital. "What the hell?""Mommy, you're awake." It was Autumn, my sweet little girl."Sweetheart, are you okay? What happened?""The doctors said you were not feeling fine, so they brought you here."I was still trying to figure out what was happening. "Where's your brother?""He's in the cafeteria, eating pizza. He's with Aunt Carina.""Can you go call them for me?" I asked, rubbing my temples to ease the throbbing pain in my head.Autumn nodded and ran off."What the fuck is going on?""Good afternoon, Ms. Marquez. My name is Dr. Jameson, I'm your doctor.""I don't remember calling for a doctor. What the hell is going on?""Your friend called and had you brought here."I immediately started panicking, as i touched my
A V E L I N A"Mommy, can we stop there and get some ice cream? Please please please." Autumn pleased, pouting her lips as she pointed at a small ice cream stand by the roadside.That didn't look healthy."Yes, mommy. Pretty please?" Zion seconded, and they both looked at me with pleading eyes.The suspicious car at the back of my mind, I decided to let them have their cheat day today. I slowed down and stopped the car in front of the ice cream stand.I came down and looked around, the black cat was nowhere to be seen. I sighed in relief. I had just been worried for nothing.I opened the back door as Carina also stepped down and we helped the kids out of the car. They immediately ran in front of the old ice cream seller who smiled at them in return."Can we get a strawberry ice cream, Uncle?" Autumn asked the old man, pointing at the pinkish color."Sure, young lady.""Me too.""You want the same?""Yeah, the strawberry one." The old man nodded, and he began to scoop the ice cream int
L O R E N Z OThe past few months had been extremely difficult for me, but I managed to push through.The more time that passed by, the more the ache in my heart grew. I couldn't get over her, get over the thought of her. She was stuck in my head like goye twenty four hours of the day.This was the hardest I've ever loved someone and the hardest to let go.Natalia had been my first love and I thought I would never be able to love again after what she did to me. Not until Avelina came into my life. I hated her, hated her for luring my grandmother into making me get married to her. I didn't know I would end up falling so deep for this woman that I didn't ever want to recover from it.I wished things had turned out differently. I wished we had met in different circumstances and fallen in love and had all the good experiences couples had.I treated her badly and I know I didn't deserve her. I didn't deserve to be with her or the kids which I had denied. I had made her go through her preg
A V E L I N A"I need the blood results from the patient. She was involved in an accident. I need them asap." The doctor said, and everyone scattered. "Sir, you can't go inside. Please." A nurse said. "That's my wife in there, and those are my kids." I heard a very familiar voice. Lorenzo? "You can't go in.""Watch me." I pushed her and went inside the room.The heart monitor immediately started beeping faster, then I realized it was my heartbeat.Lorenzo's presence was affecting me. He was the reason for my racing heart.Slowly, I opened my eyes. And there he was, gazing down at me. His eyes were a mixture of emotions, betrayal, softness, confusion, guilt, regret and love."Oh thank god, you're awake." He whispered.I blinked my eyes several times, wondering if this was a dream or not. I tried to move, but Lorenzo held me down."Stay still. You were in an accident.""Where are my kids?""They are missing. My private investigator is working on it.""Missing? Oh God no. It's all my
L O R E N Z OIt has been four days since the incident. I had spent three of those days searching for the kids.I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep. All I did was work.There was no news yet, and we hadn't been able to track the vehicle.I felt useless, and it was driving me insane. I sat at the table with the police and the rest of the people that were searching for the twins. "Anything new?""The vehicle is untraceable. We've been looking through security footage. It has been a total of 128 hours. They are nowhere to be found." One of the investigators said."Well, fucking find them!""Mr. Salvatore, sir, we're doing our best. I'm sorry.""Try harder! They are only babies, and you're all grown men. Act like fucking men and do something useful. FIND MY KIDS!" I slammed my hands on the table, making them flinch.I didn't care. I was pissed, and I couldn't keep it inside of me.I left the conference room and went straight to my car where Nicholas and Santino were waiting. Yeah, they had i
A V E L I N AIt was another day of looking for the twins. I was exhausted, I hadn't slept a wink, and my head was killing me."Avelina." I turned around, finding Lorenzo walking towards me.He stood in front of me, and asked, "Have you been getting any sleep?""No.""Take a break, you look like you're going to pass out.""I can't sleep. I keep thinking about the twins. I don't know how you do it.""What do you mean?""How are you still standing? You've been working yourself to death.""Because I can't afford not to believe that we'll find them. If not, we'll both go crazy. And I can't have that.""Are you sure you're not tired?""I'm fine. Don't worry about me.""Lorenzo, you have bags under your eyes. You're exhausted. At least take a nap or something.""Don't worry about me.""If not me, then who else would? Who will worry about you, Lorenzo?""Just don't. Drop it.""You can't do this. It's not healthy.""Well, if that's what it takes to find our kids, then that's what I'll do. I'm
L O R E N Z OI walked away, leaving Avelina behind. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. But it was for the best. We can't be together, no matter how much we might love each other.I walked into her living room and saw the framed picture of her and the kids. Tears threatened to fall as I took a deep breath.I needed to find the twins. They were the only thing that could give me peace. They were the only ones who could give me the closure I needed.I picked up the picture, staring at my babies. My eyes filled with tears as I felt a sharp pain in my chest."I promise. I'll bring you home." I whispered."Lorenzo." I looked up to find Avelina's Mom, Camila."Sorry, I'll leave.""Stay. It's okay." She sat beside me. "How are you holding up?""Not so good.""You and my daughter have been through a lot. I wish things would have been different. She's so in love with you that she doesn't realize it. She's blinded by her emotions. She's too proud, and won't admit that she's wrong. But, I