Evelyn's POV

Nick looked at Riccardo and shook his head. And my newfound brother looked everywhere but me. Uh oh! Wrong question to ask at the wrong time.

Now sitting at the table next to Nick, with different varieties of mouthwatering dishes in front of me, I asked him. "What was the look that you gave my brother?"

"A look that said, 'I will tell her later myself.' Why?" He said and I shook my head as 'no' and continued to devour the food.

The entire time, I thought as to how I ended up in my mum and dad's hands. They were cruel, yes. Rude, mean, unfair and partial... but I still considered them as my parents. I only just ran away, but I never thought of hurting them.

Nick held my left hand bringing me out of my thoughts. "You're not having anything?" He asked.

I looked at my untouched plate. "I'm having..." I whispered back at him. Except for Raymond... as in my father. Everyone was happy looking at us, extremely happy with Nick since he was behaving like a more than a perfect husband. Raymond kept staring at him, every time I took a look at him, he glared at Nick. I guess it'll take him some more time to get adjusted to Nick.

Once we were done with the lunch, Nick and I got up to leave. "We should be leaving." Nick said first. I had never seen him this awkward ever before. He had some kind of authority or power over my parents, my fake parents, but here, with them.... I can say he is left with no other option and has to kind of respect them.

Serena suddenly became sad with tearful eyes.
"Genero!" Raymond pat Nick's shoulder and continued "why don't you stay for another night here... Serena will be getting operated tomorrow, and she will like it if she gets to see Evelyn." Nick looked at me with questioning eyes.

I already wanted to stay, this is my chance at getting to know them especially now that we have the DNA results to prove, and it was just my luck, that my father got to know my heart's wish. "As Evelyn says." he smiled at me, then nodded, agreeing to stay.

"Riccardo will be here... I'll have to take Serena to the doctor for a checkup, prior to the surgery you know." he said. "Make yourself comfortable." He came forward, then touched my head, like he was blessing me. With that, he left holding Serena who seemed really happy that we agreed to stay. But I was surprised, shocked even, as to how Nick agreed so easily?!

Riccardo left saying he'll be back with a surprise not before he showed us to a room that we'll be staying in. And I heard the silent message that they secretly conveyed to each other with their eyes. Nick needed some time alone with me... to talk?

"Are you trying to impress my parents?" I asked thinking about his good boy behaviour that he portrayed in front of them.

"No... I don't have to. They're already impressed.... but your father will get there. Soon." He replied winking at me with mischief. I playfully got up to hit his arm, but he held it and pulled me upon him, making me sit on his lap comfortably.

"Sorry...?" He asked kissing my shoulder.

"For what?" I turned away from him. I really agree too easily. He convinces me soo well.

"For ignoring you.... for being an ass."

"You got thaaat right!" I murmured, which he heard, obviously.
"Can you take me to bed. I'm tired." I said with puppy dog eyes.

He nodded and picked me in his arms effortlessly before he deposited me on bed really carefully. "You're tired? Isn't it like... not healthy? Or-"

"No, it's completely normal." I smiled at his worried face. If he really does worry so much, then why does he provide me with such stress. "Now... will you tell me what had actually happened all those years ago? I know already that you know the story."

"I don't want you to be stressed Eve... Riccard said that I'm not to stress you out."

"Riccard? Really now?" I teased. "And I thought you both hated each other all these years." He looked away from me again and came around the bed to get settled next to me. I sure make all situations awkward than usual. He pulled my body closer and rested his head on my belly, giving small pecks as he murmured something to our baby, as I ran my fingers through his hair.

"Once we left the clinic... two days back. I got a text from Riccardo. Remember, before we went to the clinic, we stopped at your parents' place. But none of them were there... and by the looks of it, I can tell! They've left forever. Door locked, all furniture covered with clothes... somehow, I knew they were the only people who knew why you were there with them and not with your real parents. I wanted to find out... and the only other way was Riccardo. So, I approached him myself." he kept thinking for some time until I shook him.

"This is something big Eve... real big. We... we... never found my sister's body."

"What?!" How is me missing connected with his sister's death? "Nick, I don't understand."

"I asked Riccardo about you... how you went missing. He told me that... you were kidnapped by their close, loyal servants. George and Eleanor... who had two kids." He said slowly letting it sink in. "And those names seemed really similar to those of your parents. Fake parents. Without doubt, I knew it was Gregorios and Elena, and their two kids were Rosalinda and Peter. And you were only six years old then. Other than few bits and parts.... I don't think you can remember anything.... you were that young."

"But I do remember that man." I said remembering the man who called me a princess. I so clearly remember his voice, his familiar face. "Only him. Why not others?"

"That we don't know... maybe something happened during that time... but it's confirmed that it was the Linards! They're missing from their house." Missing...

"How did you meet my parents? I mean Gregorios and Elena." I called them father and mother but never took their names. It sounded really odd to me and really disrespectful.

"I spoke to my dad last night. And the entire family came to us for help, saying they were starving since a week. Their landlord threw them out and he might be suing them for not paying the rent for six months. He said that, you were a little child, lying in their arms, unconscious. And my father has always been kind to helpless people, he literally melts. His ritual for friendship is sharing a gun, my dad handed him a gun and with that their friendship grew." He sighed, almost rolling his eyes at his father's foolishness. Well a good heart cannot be considered as foolishness if the other person intends to cheat.

"What about your sister?" I asked, he still didn't answer how we were connected.

"It's that... both Riccardo and I last spoke to Niyah when she was lying there... almost dead on the ground. I didn't see Riccardo anywhere around. So, I clearly thought it was him who was responsible for her condition. He left her like that. And she was even making me promise that I make sure nothing happens to Riccardo. I thought she loved him enough to even forgive him for what he did. Little did I know he hadn't done anything. I remember I held her hand the last time and she asked for water... she wasn't able to breath. I ran to my car to get it, and by the time I came back. She wasn't there. I thought she was buried or taken away by the Salvatore's. When asked Riccardo said that he too went to get her water. But he was hit on his head with a rod like thing... he thought it was us... who took away Niyah's body and when he woke up his found himself near a dumpster. She made him promise to her that, he shouldn't hurt any of us. Ever! And he thought it was us who killed Niyah because she made the mistake of loving him. But none of us ever found her!" He had that look of hope in his eyes.

"You mean to say that you both think that she still might be alive?"

"No, only I think she might be alive. Riccardo...well... he's of the impression that someone else took her. I don't want to give him any hope. Your brother's still living with her memories. He-"

"And he deserves to finally live his life." I said completing his sentence.

"Hmmm" he hummed pulling me more into him as he kissed me.

"Why were you late yesterday?"

"I had to tell my parents as well didn't I? Now that you are the daughter of those who they think were the reason for my sister's death..." my eyes widened at the insinuation. "Don't worry... they're getting there. My father is fine but my mother's a bit.. angry with you."

"Angry? She has always been that way." he chuckled at me. "I can't change who I was born to." With a sigh of annoyance at the woman who I thought was the sweetest in the world, I pushed up to his side to bring out the bigger weapon. "I've to go to the hospital tomorrow... evening." I said. I remembered the doubts I got because of him.

"Doctor? You said the baby's fine. Everything's normal." He sat up on bed, looking from my face to my stomach.

"I know what I said. I didn't lie." He raised his eyebrows in question. "I spoke to the doctor about abortion-"

"What?! You fvcking crazy?!" He screamed.

"Don't-use-that-tone with me!" I said through gritted teeth.

"Eve, we both decided that we're having the baby right? Right?!" He repeated when he didn't get any reaction from me.

"Right. But I don't want to punish my child by being a parent as we are!"

"What do you mean by that?" By now he was already up and in front of me, and I was still laying on the bed, feeling very intimidated and inferior by his presence hovering me. But he

"Nothing. It's my body, it is a decision that I should take more than you. You have no say in this." I didn't mean to say it the way I did. But it definitely came out wrong.

"You will not take such foolish decisions about my child! You're not aborting it-" I held my head at his rising voice and he quickly stopped, crouching down to my side.
I only just held my head to emphasise my irritation. It wasn't really aching.

Now I really feel bad for worrying him. But he needs to know that he just cannot continue to treat me like shit and expect me to accept that.
"Nick! Listen to me. And listen well- let-le-" I help up my hand when he tried to interrupt and continued. "Let me complete and you can say anything later. I went to the doctor yesterday. Everything's fine and only just asked about abortion as an option. She said I can go with it since I haven't completed my third month yet." He let out a frustrated sigh.
"I don't have any appointment for tomorrow. I just... I only wanted you to know that these are the thoughts that you bring in me when you decide to ignore me. I cannot and I will not take it again." I waited for him to answer.

"You're playing the baby card." I shrugged not having an answer to that. "I wasn't ignoring you! I just don't talk to anyone when I'm angry. Niyah always said that I behave like a giant animal when I do get angry. So, I try to stay away until I'm calm. When you have such thoughts, you need to talk to me Eve, and not take such drastic steps. I might be doing things for some reason, for some good reason. And you might not like my way of doing things. We need to understand each other and adjust together." I shook my shoulder asking if I was even listening.

I nodded my head understanding his point. "You do love me then? You didn't say that out of any kind of responsibility?"

His face grimaced with a sad, painful sigh, he pulled me onto his body hugging me tightly giving me all the answers, all the reassurance I needed.

"Evelyn.. baby sister.. where are you? Here's your surprise!" He screamed with excitement from downstairs interrupting our moment.

What is it?

"Princess?"