Amethyst St. Clair's POV

"Are you sure about this?" I kept asking Franco that same question since we left his home to visit Chiara Rizzo at the hospital.

Franco who stayed silent throughout the drive glanced briefly in my direction before focusing his gaze back on the road. "Yes."

I sighed deeply, looking at our intertwined hands. I still don't think that this was the best idea. What if this thing blew up out of proportion when Chiara saw me arrive with Franco?

"Stop worrying, will you?" He reminded me gently while his gaze was still focused on the road. "Everything will be fine."

"I am not so sure about that," I muttered under my breath trying to remove my hand from his hold but he just merely tightened his grip on my hand. "She just wants to see you, Franco. I am sure she will not appreciate the sight of me in her hospital room."

He looked at me with a hard set of his jaw. "I don't want to leave you home. I want this thing to be clear for all of us for one last time."

"But—"

"Relax," he said to me with a slight smile on his handsome face. "I will not let anything happen to you. I am always here to protect you, my love."

I just stared at him silently watching him raise our hands together and kiss my knuckle affectionately. Somehow with his words and gestures, the uneasiness in my heart lessened a bit.

But there was still part of me thinking that once we got to the hospital. Her family would somehow blame me for Chiara's depression. If I didn't show up again in Franco's life then she would probably have a chance with him.

I looked at him silently as he drove to the hospital where Chiara was admitted. There was something in his expression that I couldn't fully comprehend. What was he thinking right now? I thought silently.

"What is it?" He prompted me when silence filled inside his car.

I schooled my features to remain blank while my heart skipped a beat. "I don't know what you mean."

He smiled briefly in my direction but I could see that there was still a troubled expression in his eyes. "You keep on staring at me for quite some time now. Tell me, you are not planning to run away again now, are you?"

I gasped at his words. How could he...

"Let me tell you, Amy." He added before I could formulate any reply to him. "If you are thinking that this is somehow our fault because of an unfortunate thing that happened to her—then don't. You don't have to feel guilty because we're both innocent of this. Chiara doesn't know how to handle rejection well."

"I know that," I replied, my throat suddenly feeling dry. "I think she just loves you so much that's why she did this thing."

He looked down at me with annoyance on his face. "She doesn't love me, my love. I think the more appropriate word to describe what she feels about me is obsession."

"That's kinda harsh, Franco."

He smiled cruelly in my direction. "That's the truth, darling. If she truly loves me she will accept the fact that we can't be together and that I am in love with someone else."

I gasped at his words while my eyes widened in his direction. I don't think I heard him right. Did...he just say...

The maddening man tilted his eyebrow at me. As if he was enjoying the shock on my face. "What's wrong, my love?"

"D-Did..." I started and then I cleared my throat because no words wanted to come out. I tried again one more time. "You are in love with somebody else?"

"Yes. I am." He smirked at my stunned reaction.

"Oh..."

He was still smiling devilishly in my direction. "Can you guess who is the woman who holds my heart utterly so?"

"Can I?" I replied absently. I was only aware of how my heart beat so wildly in my chest as my brain had stopped functioning.

"What do you think, Amy?"

"About what?" I asked distractedly. My brain had stopped working.

He chuckled, shaking his head in the process thoroughly enjoying this whole thing more than he should have. "Do you have any idea who is that woman, darling?"

"I don't think so..."

He laughed this time there was a mocking look in my direction. "I don't know if you are playing this dense woman or you just don't have a clue at all."

I glared at him hotly. "Well, it's not my fault if..."

"That woman is you." He said with a smile on his gorgeous face. "I love you, Amethyst St. Clair."

"What?!" I asked in skepticism. "No way!"

"That is not the reply I am hoping to hear from you when I finally confess my feelings, you know."

I felt my cheeks suddenly go hot at his announcement. "But you caught me off guard!" I protested at him. "You surprised me with your sudden declaration. I don't know what to think or say."

He kissed my hand again with much love shown in his eyes. "You don't have to answer me right away. You and Massimo on my side are more than enough for me."

"Really?"

"Of course, my love." His eyes twinkle with delight. "I know you are not yet ready—"

"I love you." I blurted out all of a sudden before I could even stop myself. I knew deep in my heart what I truly felt about him and if I have to be honest it never changed even if I thought he broke my heart and married someone else in the past.

Even if, I tried to spend the last six hating him I knew deep inside me I still loved him. How can I forget my love for him whenever I look at Max I can see his face.

Franco abruptly pulled the car to the side of the street. "Say that again, please?"

I smiled tenderly. "I love you, Francesco Calvetti."

"Thank god!" He exclaimed before taking my face in his hand and kissing me ardently. "I love you so much, Amy. More than life itself."

This was probably the sweetest kiss we have ever shared because now no barrier separates us. From the moment we laid eyes on each other in Lake Como fate had sealed our love.

We finally managed to break apart he was smiling at me with his whole face filled with love for me alone. "I know your stance about marriage but I hope that you can find it in your heart to think about it..."

I placed my index finger on his lips to stop the words from coming from his mouth. I smiled at him merrily. "Are you asking me to marry you?"

"Yes..." He said with uncertainty in his eyes that made my heartache."...I hope that you will think about it. I am not pressuring you—"

"I don't need time to think about it." I gave him a sweet smile. "Yes, Franco. I will marry you."

He broke into a heart-aching smile but then groaned covering his face with his hands. "This is worse than the marriage proposal I have planned six years ago. I don't even have a ring with me this time."

I laughed at him. "It's okay. I don't need an engagement ring."

He looked at me for a moment. He was about to say something but didn't bother to continue. "Let's go and get this over with so we can go home with our son, my darling."

I gave him a happy nod. He stole one more kiss on my lips before driving again.

It didn't take long before we finally reached the private hospital where Chiara Rizzo was confined. My heart was pounding so loud in my chest as we walked hand-in-hand in the lobby until we rode the elevator.

I glanced at Franco, his face was unreadable as we waited for the floor of Chiara's room. I squeezed his hand reassuringly. He smiled down at me before staring straight ahead again as if preparing himself for this encounter.

When the elevator finally opened up I forced my frozen feet to move and follow his lead in the silent hallway of the hospital.

I noticed Chiara's brother standing outside her room. He didn't waste his time giving us disapproving looks when he saw the sight of me.

Franco was about to enter the room without even saying a word to this man he was once considered his friend. Dario stopped us from entering by blocking the doorway.

"My sister only wants to see you." Dario Rizzo said with hidden anger in his eyes. He slanted a look in my direction before focusing his gaze back on Franco. "She will not appreciate unwanted visitors."

Franco threw him a scathing look. "Do you think I give a damn on what you want? I didn't come here because she requested as if I were her damn servant. I came here to set things straight."

"You can come inside but she needs to stay outside." Chiara's brother stated not moving an inch from the doorway.

I saw Franco shrugging his shoulder. "Fine. Your choice, you will let us get inside or we will just go home. Either way, Amy is coming with me whether you like it or not."

Dario's eyes filled with hatred. "This is not a game, Franco. My sister's life is at stake here."

"Move," Franco announced coldly, his eyes were cold and distant. "You are wasting our time."

He reluctantly moved away from the door before we could even get inside his sister's room. I couldn't miss the parting warning from him. "If your presence aggravates my sister's condition I will never forgive you."

I just stared at him and didn't say anything. I was not sure if Franco heard him. My heart was in my throat when we entered Chiara's room.

"Franco!" She said jovially. She was already reclined on her bed with a stack of pillows on her back while there was a rolling table in front of her with her laptop.

"How are you?" Franco asked tautly. I could feel the tension in his body with the way he was holding my hands tightly.

"Better now that you are finally here." She said answering merrily. It seems that she hasn't yet realized that I was inside the room in Franco's back. "I know you will come at once if you learn about this, my love."

"I am glad to hear that you are fine, little girl." I heard him reply emphasizing the word 'little girl' making sure Chiara Rizzo knew what Franco felt for her.

"Franco..."

It seems that he realized that I was intentionally hiding behind his back when he abruptly pulled me forward in Chiara's full view. "I hope you don't mind if I bring someone with me."

The change in Chiara's angelic face was instant. The rage in her eyes didn't go unnoticeable. "What are you doing here? Did you come here to mock me?"

I cringed at her words. I was about to answer her when Franco drew me into the warmth of his embrace as if protecting me from this woman's anger.

"I brought her with me." He said calmly while staring at the venomous look of the woman in the bed. "Chiara. I would like to introduce Amethyst St. Clair, the woman who owns my heart, my fiancée, and the mother of my son. My love, this is Chiara Rizzo, a woman who is like a little sister to me."

"No!" The rage on her face right now was quite alarming. "You can't marry that bitch! I will not let you do it."

"Watch your mouth!" Franco snarled at her, his eyes were hard and ruthless. "I will not let you insult the woman I love like this."

There were now tears shimmering in her eyes as she looks Franco with pleading eyes. "Didn't you feel at least a bit worried about me? I nearly take my life because of you."

I gasped at her. Her love for Franco was misplaced, I thought silently.

"Maybe it's better if I am dead." She gave me an acid look. "Maybe you will be happy if I am already dead, are you?"

"You need help, Chiara," Franco informed him gently. "Seek professional help. This unhealthy obsession you have with me will not do any good for you."

"You don't know what you are saying, Franco!" She shouted at the top of her lungs as tried to get up from her bed. Instantly, her brother was on her side trying to stop her. Dario gave us an angry look for upsetting his sister. "She is just poisoning your mind. I will show you her true color."

"This madness needs to stop," Franco announced with a bored tone. "Check yourself in the facility, Chiara. And get a life after that. I am not the man for you, trust me."

"No!"

"We're leaving." He said eyeing the Rizzo siblings with a haughty look. "I hope this will be the last time we have to see each other." He warned dangerously. "Because if you bother my family again I will make sure you will dearly regret it."

He didn't waste time before he led me outside the hospital room. I was still aware of Chiara's frantic call for Franco's name as we went out.

Franco looked down at me. He affectionately caressed my cheek. "Don't worry about them. They will not bother us anymore. I will promise you that."