There is no love without forgiveness and there is no forgiveness without love.
by Bryant H. McGill

While seated by the window in a moving bus, her head resting on the window, she sniffed and wiped off the tears that rolled down her cheeks. A part of her felt tired, felt the need to just throw in the towel, but no matter how many times she thought of it, she just couldn't. Every single detail from that very night her mother was arrested haunted her all the time. Her mum had urged her to give up, to let her rot in prison, but Kiana just refused to give her that one wish. She shut her eyes for a moment and that's when she recalled the exact incident of about an hour ago. 

She had gone to visit her mother in jail, as usual, but according to the warden, her mum was refusing to see her. She bluntly refused to have a talk with her and Kiana had to turn back without even getting a glimpse of her mother. She didn't know what to do. Was she safe? Is she doing okay? She had no answers to her question. How was she supposed to help when the person in question was refusing the help? It was a tough situation for her.

Generally, at that point, one would just end it, but not Kiana. Her conscience would prick her as long as she lives. She would be leaving an innocent person to suffer, so giving up wasn't an alternative. Her only problem was how to get her mother to care about leaving that hell hole. Somehow, she would just have to do it.

* * *

A man seated at the very last seat focused all his attention on Kiana, who was only about three seats ahead of him. He wore a black turtleneck sweater and on top of it was a black leather jacket in which he buried both of his hands within the pockets. Its hood covered his head. Somehow, he remained hidden, as if in the shadows, not wanting to be seen by the person he was tailing. He had promised to come for her and that was exactly what he was doing.

* * *

The bus came to a stop and Kiana fluttered her eyes open. She looked around and realised this was her stop, so she swung her handbag over her shoulder and forced herself to get up on her two feet. Casually, she made her way off the bus and onto the street. She barely considered her surroundings as her mind wandered off once more, while she walked down the street. She wasn't rushing to get back to the office. After all, it was the weekend.

Kiana exasperated as she continued to make her way down the busy street. Eventually, she decided to ward off all her thoughts and concentrate on the day, so she violently shook her head a bit. She assured herself that sooner or later, everything would work out. After all, nothing was impossible. There's always a solution somewhere, somehow. Suddenly, a slow but strange feeling filled her. Her brows slightly furrowed as she came to a stop, then took a look backwards. Her eyes lurked from one side to the other, but she couldn't see what she intended to find. There were just normal people walking on the street, minding their business. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Turning back to her front, the bugging feeling persisted.

Kiana could swear she was being followed and each time, she took a look back, she just couldn't find anything extraordinary, but that nagging feeling continued. She was worried. Really worried. Her phone rang within her handbag and she immediately reached down for it. The number had no caller ID. She debated on whether to pick it up, especially as she has been weird out by the feeling of someone tailing her. Her heart accelerated with fear and she made a decision not to answer the call.

She stared at it while it rang and suddenly it stopped. She let out a sigh of relief and just as she was about to return the phone into her handbag, an alert came through. A message had been sent. Kiana slightly trembled as she realised it was from the same unknown number. She wasn't a movie freak, but everyone knows this is usually how the hunting starts. Nevertheless, she sucked in all the courage needed to take the next step. She tapped on the message and drew the phone a little closer to her eyes to read.

This is Giulia, Enrico's mother. Let's talk, Kiana. Meet me at Central Park right now.

As she looked away from the screen, Kiana blinked several times as she felt her heart sink in. She should feel better since it wasn't a stalker, but no she wasn't. This person demanding her presence was even slightly a bigger monster. Talk about jumping out of the frying pan and right into the fire.

She shut her eyes for a moment as she took a deep breath. She had no choice but to meet up with her and hear what she had to say. The last time they met up years ago, it didn't turn out so great. It made her wonder how this one would turn out.

Kiana found herself seated on one of the public benches at the city's Central Park. The afternoon was bright and sunny. Whilst Kiana stared at the people spending their time with various activities at the park, she couldn't help but wonder why Giulia would want to meet here. It was in the open. It was public. The usual her, who loves to be secretive, would want to meet at a secluded place. A lot of things didn't make sense to Kiana. She took a look at the time on her phone, she has been sitting here for almost fifteen minutes. Thinking back to the message she read, it sounded as if Giulia was seated and waiting impatiently for her arrival. She couldn't help but wonder if the woman had changed her mind.

As Kiana looked away from the family she had been staring at, she sighted Giulia walking towards her. Nothing much had changed about her. She still looked chic and fitted like always. Her steps were ever so elegant and her attire, simple but exquisite. Her taste in jewelleries was quite posh. Kiana shifted her eyes away from her as the woman drew closer. Without stating a word, she took her seat at the other end of the bench. They sat awkwardly in silence for what seemed like forever, neither took the pleasure in taking a glance at each other.

"I thought we had a deal." Giulia spoke up, breaking the silence between them. Kiana remained silent, not really knowing what to say. Nothing she said would ever be a good enough reason for Giulia.

"You broke your promise." Giulia stated, as she turned her head to the young lady.

"I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose." Kiana finally gave a reply.

"Sure... You didn't do it on purpose. It's by accident that you now work for my son, stay at his home and are in a relationship with him." Giulia read out, a little frustration laced on her words.

Kiana remained silent. Not really ready for the dramatic comeback comments.

"Do you know how hard, how hard Sofia and I have worked to make him what he now is? A few years ago, Edoardo Vineyards wasn't at the top of the wine producing industry. Italy was its base, but we worked our butt off together and finally relocated it to the U.S. Kiana, you're not going to mess things up."

"Why do you think that?" Kiana asked, in frustration as she turned her head to Guilia, so their eyes could meet.

"Why do you think my presence would destroy Enrico?"

"Because, you're a distraction. You were a distraction nine years ago and you're still a distraction today. Nothing good will come out of you two being together." Giulia replied, quite quickly, refusing to give Kiana the benefit of being right.

"Have you forgotten... have you really forgotten who you are?" Giulia asked, staring at Kiana right in the eyes. Somehow, the tone of her comment told Kiana of exactly where Giulia was heading to. She didn't like it one bit, so she embarrassingly lowered her eyes away from Giulia's.

"Hmm, I don't think so." Giulia added, as she noticed how sour the expression on Kiana's face had gone.

"My son doesn't know yet." She commented as she looked away from Kiana and onto the view in front of her.

"He doesn't know anything about you or what really happened years ago. Imagine what he would go through if the truth's out... He'll be devastated." Giulia stated, before getting up on her two feet, she turned to Kiana, who managed to look to her once more.

"Let us assume it's not your fault, it's your destiny's. If not for the sake of both you and I, at least Enrico's... let him take the path he was destined to. He's all I've got... Have a good day, Kiana." She added and without wasting a second more, she turned and walked away.

Kiana watched for a moment until she eventually disappeared out of her sight. Tears gathered her eyes as she lowered her eyes once more.

Have you really forgotten who you are?

Giulia's voice rang once more in her head and the tears came rolling down her cheeks. She wasn't sobbing because her words hurt her, but because of the fact that each of it was the truth. The sweet yet bitter truth. Enrico knew nothing about her. In the past, she never let him in on her family. He didn't even have any idea what neighbourhood she resided in or what her parents did for a living.

Nothing. He knew absolutely nothing.

* * *

Early that evening, when the sun had set, Enrico found himself standing outside a cake shop. Whilst he stood there, he contemplated a great deal on whether to step into the shop or not. His plans might turn out great, but on the other hand, it might not. He shut his eyes for a moment to block out every other thought. He decided not to acknowledge what was right or wrong anymore. Right now, he was simply going to move on instincts, so that was what he did. Enrico took steps forward and further into the shop. While inside, he stared at the cakes with different designs displayed behind the show glass. His eyes searched for the perfect one. He would have ordered a cake earlier, but his decision to do this only became firm a few minutes ago.

What would she like?

He asked himself while his eyes searched. For a moment, he recalled earlier in the morning as he watched from upstairs, while Kiana hurried up with setting up his breakfast before eventually leaving. It made him realise she had forgotten what day it was. Initially, he thought of doing the same thing, but how could he? A part of him ached so much to see a smile on her face. Eventually, his desire dragged him down there. Now, there he was, about to get a cake.

"This one." He stated as he pointed to a roundly shaped cake, coated with a cream coloured icing. He recalled the fact that she wasn't a fan of chocolates.

The female attendant nodded in accordance as she took a look at his choice.

"Would you like to have something written on it?" She asked with a warm smile, as she looked back up to him and Enrico nodded.

"Yes."

"Great. I'll be back in a second with a pen and jotter, so you could write it down." She told him and he nodded in understanding. As he watched take a few steps away, he felt a little lighter on the inside. A simple smile curled up on his face. He could only hope the one, whom he was getting this for, loved it.

* * *

Kiana made her way out of the elevator and down the hallway towards the penthouse. She tiredly gave a light yawn, whilst she stood in front of the penthouse ready to input the password to enable her access into the house. She thought of the fact that Enrico might be home already, but he might also be asleep and she wouldn't want to wake him. The usual ding sound emitted letting her know the door had been unlocked, so she quickly grabbed onto the handle and pushed to open. She walked right in, gently shutting the door afterwards. As usual, she took off her shoes by the door before venturing further into the house, which was clouded by darkness. Now able to tell where things were positioned even through the darkness, Kiana made her way towards the kitchen. Suddenly, the lights came on and Kiana immediately turned with a startle, not quite expecting the lights to have come on the way it did. Sudden.

"Sneaking." Enrico's voice came through right away and immediately, she shifted her eyes towards the direction of his voice.

Enrico stood by the light switch, arms folded, while he leaned on the wall. His contacts were off and he was back in his old fashioned glasses. His hair packed up in a messy and carefree manner. His facial hair slightly grown. As usual, he was in a sweat shirt and trouser. A sly yet dangerously sexy smile played on his face. Upon realising who it was, Kiana forced herself to look away as she let out a silent sigh, refusing to admit to herself just how attractive he was.

"You're getting pretty good at it." He added, as he walked up to her.

"You waited to creep me out?" She asked, brows slightly raised. He narrowed his eyes at her.

"No. I was waiting to have my dinner which, by the way, is now late, thanks to you. Kiana, you're really not doing a good job at being a house help." He commented, as he unfolded his arms, walked past her and took his seat on one of the stools in front of the kitchen counter.