Marianna's POV
After examining Nicko thoroughly during his bath, I was finally content that he wasn't harmed in any way. I pressed my lips on his forehead. "I'm sorry figlio mio. I shouldn't have left you with her. Mommy has been so worked up looking for you. I know I have also been slicing you out of my life but no more! It's you and me forever kiddo. By the way, I met a man. He was here tonight."It's nursing time. We are lying on the bed. He's sucking away mercilessly as some sort of revenge for not being nursed all day. He must be hungry. He does not like milk in a bottle. Once he threw a tantrum and hit me with the bottle. Now it's just baby food and mama's boobs. Mostly mama's boobs.
"He's English. English people are from England. I love his accent. I love his deep voice. I love how handsome he is." Nicko paused. He stared at me. "But not like you. You are in a league of your own."
He carried on. I stra
Marianna's POVI have been thinking a lot.I have been thinking about leaving Nicko with Keller's mom. Will my son be alright without me for that long? We haven't been apart for more than a few hours at a time. Three days is a long time. It's eating me up. Is it selfish of me to leave him behind in search of love? Is it right for a mother to make room for other people beside her child? I don't have any answers but I do feel guilty for not bringing him along. I feel like I'm a bad mother for not even mentioning him to Wayne.I have also been thinking about how I will tell Wayne. How am I to explain it? Is it even something to explain? I'm a mom and that won't change no matter how long I wait to tell him. Won't it be better to just embrace the inevitable? If he will reject me, isn't it better to just get to it so that I can move on? It won't be a big deal! I mean if my baby's father can fail to come back for me
Marianna's POVI have come to the sad conclusion that no one wants us. Maybe I should talk about myself instead of including Nicko but it is what it is.No one will give me a job because I'm not allowed to bring my son along.It's clear I'll never find love because no one wants a woman with a kid. It's supposedly called baggage.My parents have never looked for me. I just ceased to exist.My own best friend has never made contact.My so called friends -the ones I made while I was away from home- are a no show.It feels like falling off the phase of the earth and no one has noticed. It's painful. It really hurts to be rejected over and over again and having to live with this hopelessness is driving me to the brink of madness.I'm trying to tell myself that I'm a mom and i should be strong for my boy. I am try
Marianna's POVI walked past security. They gave me weird looks as I don't fit the crowd that comes here. I marched straight to the reception. "Good evening madam, how can we assist you tonight?""I'm looking for Wayne Bellingerre. Can you tell him Maria is here to see him?""I'm sorry but Mr Bellingerre checked out three days ago. Is there anything I can do for you?"I felt stranded. I came here with a mindset fixed on Wayne. I just need someone with influence and enough money to scare that child services woman into giving me my son back. I have walked a long way to get here. I live in the other side of town. I am too broke to afford a taxi. Just when my mind threatened to explode with a million thoughts at once, I saw a letter head on the receptionist's table. It dawned on me that the solution is in the name of the hotel."Then I want to see Frank.""Who?"
Frank's POV"So what was that all about?""What?" I chose the blue tie over the red one. I have a board meeting later today and my father was fond of saying that blue creates the illusion of trust. Taking on the Harrington Hotels has had its challenges but I take it a day at a time. I can't wait for Cole to be old enough to help out.She took the tie from my hand and draped it over my neck. She raised the collar in order to start trying it. My wife has the prettiest blue eyes I have seen this far. "The late... early morning visitor.""It's Marianna. You don't know her." Nora stilled. She blinked repeatedly. I can guess what is going on in her mind. She must have been at the window to see Maria embrace me like that."Is she your ex girlfriend? Do you have other children?""Calm down beautiful flower. She's Nate's girl." I assured her."Nate fr
Helena's POV"What is it about?" I questioned Amelia. "Why did you ask me to come back?" The young woman pointed towards my office. It has to be Castle who gave the instructions. I'm not pleased that my trip to Greece was interrupted. It's been a stressful couple of weeks with the moving of Bale Industries to Manhattan and I just wanted to go home and relax before I start working here. "I'm here Castle, what is it?"I dropped my purse on the table my eyes fixed on the man I consider my right hand."Helena, this is Marianna."I took notice of the young girl in the room. She's pretty but that's all that crossed my mind. What's her significance? It better not be another rich man's daughter looking for a prominent position in my company! I don't do people favors. They work for my attention."So?" I held my hands at my waist."Your grandson's mother."
Marianna's POVThe sun is trying to shine on my son and I.After the paternity test, Castle took me shopping for some baby things. I was not interested in having him spend money on Nicko but he insisted that it is his gift for everyday he didn't know my son. We got so many things for Nicko and he even bought me a phone, gave me his number and insisted if there's a slight problem I shouldn't hesitate to call him. He's heaven sent. He's a kind understanding man. But as much as I pleaded him not to tell Nate just yet, he said it's not up to him but he will talk to Helena about my request. I want Nate to hear it from me."Do you like your new crib?" I spoke to the sleepy little boy in the white crib Castle put together.He doesn't like where I live. He insisted that I move into the penthouse he shares with Helena but I can't do that. I can't be suddenly dependant on her when I have done this alon
Wayne's POV"I'm so sorry." I can't stop laughing. "I hope we didn't give the kid a heart attack.She stopped laughing to look at her son. The curious wee lad has been watching us since we hit it off in the early morning hours. Maria and I haven't gotten any sleep. Four times in one night and once this morning is enough to keep the little guy awake. Muffling Maria's mouth didn't help. Even I couldn't be quiet."He's fine. But I can't believe we have broken the bed."I'm still on top of her and I'm eager to continue. I rolled over so that we got off the slanted mattress to the tile floor. Like I taught her last night I guided her hips, showing her how to move not only for her own pleasure but for my own. When she got the hang of it, I cupped her full breasts, sitting up to claim her sore buds. We are past the shock we suffered last time. She's okay with it and I like it. With our bare skins ho
Marianna's POVI can't stop thinking about the events of the masquerade party. When a thought is stuck in the mind for longer than a day, it's something big. When it's keeping me awake, it's to paid attention to. Even in the comfort of Wayne's arms I am still unable to rest.The characters from the book I threw away are slowly trickling back into my life. It feels so heavy.I have carried the secret of Nicko's existence for so long without telling them. I have done so not just to protect Nicko as Alexander requested but also because of the uncertainty of whether Nate wants to be a father. We both wanted that pill desperately. While my outlook has changed and I am in love with my little boy, his may be the same. I don't know. It's weighing heavily on me as to whether it will be a good idea for him to hear it from anyone else. I want it to be from me but now, including Francis, Castle and Helena three other peo