Songs for the Chapter: Even When You're Running, by Casting Crowns and Where YOU Begin by Mandisa

(Please, you may listen to the last song at the end of the chapter. 🙏🏻🙂✨)

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DISCLAIMER: ‼️‼️‼️
This book is only a work of fiction, trying to be based on facts from THE HOLY WORD OF GOD.

Things might happen differently, but it is to only give us a picture of the last days, hoping to remind us of how soon our LORD'S Coming is.

GOD bless us all richly.

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"Love like you've never been hurt."
— Anonymous

"If life is a play
And we are the players...
Faith is the lyric, hope is the music
God's love is the song."
— VeggieTales 🥰

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"Are you sure it is okay to leave at a time like this?" Vincenzo's personal aide and assistant, Eliseo, asked, brows raised in concern.

"That is why I am leaving affairs in your hands for the time being. I will not be gone for long," Vincenzo replied, wishing to suppress every true emotion from his voice as he had for many years past.

But, it felt impossible, and he could feel Eliseo noticed it.

"You know there is a big unexpected meeting going on with the Elites. I am not sure what it is all about myself," his aide continued to persuade him. "There is no better candidate apart from you, seeing this seems to be an urgent matter."

Vincenzo knew that such emergency meetings which were unusual from their normal formal meetings were rare.

Yet, he knew there had been a great change in his life. A big turning point. And, he felt thirsty—soul thirsty. It felt as though he had been parched for all the years of wandering from THE LIGHT OF CHRIST after his father's demise.

And he knew he had to draw away from it all—the pressure of his icy past and seek the Face of his GOD.

"DIO, aiutami (GOD, help me)," he whispered under his breath after Eliseo had left to the GOD he had for so long run away from after his earthly father had also departed.

He not only felt the need to draw away from it all, but, he could feel a battle waging against his soul and all he knew—including Violet, his beloved wife, he finally admitted to himself.

And he quickly realised that he did not have the strength to face it all by himself. And his wife was also not around.

But, who can blame her? He thought to himself, a pitiful chuckle escaping his mouth.

He sighed a deep sigh. He would have probably done the same if the shoe had been on the other foot.

Vincenzo did not know where she was or where she had fled to. But their side of the Villa felt so lonely without her.

Hence the need for his trip to a privately owned property of his. He remembered how his father had relished spending time away from "the easy distractions that we do not often notice in order to seek the Face of GOD."

He had been young then and had not fully comprehended the meaning. But now, he did understand way beyond what he could have ever imagined.

If only Violet was willing to follow me, he continued to agonise.

For the former had quaked and finally fled out of his sight when he had rendered his apology.

He had never realised the gaping hole her absence could bring.

But, I can't wait forever, can I, LORD?

It had become a slow habit which was building up—for him to communicate thus with his SAVIOUR.

He felt the need to draw away and be secluded. With the exception of two guards and a new maid his mother had hired for him—against his will.

~~~

Violet felt hollow within herself, like a gaping wound that refused to be bound. She had decided to honour the request of Alex's mum to visit them again hoping it would help.

"Vee!" Alex's youngest sister, Joy, threw herself into her arms.

But an impatient Bryan—her twin brother—pushed her away claiming he deserved the right to hug her first.

"She is my best friend."

"No, she is mine!"

Violet knew she had to take action before the usual squabbles continued.

"Hey, how about a big hug for each of you simultaneously?"

"Saimo—what?" A befuddled Bryan scratched his hair.

"Silly you!" Joy teased Bryan. "It means to do something at the same time."

"At least, I don't carry a book everywhere I go as though I was a libarian," he countered.

"It's 'Librarian'! Maybe if you carried one, you would know what is what!"

The twins' banter was quelled when their mother strictly charged them both to go and finish their assignments.

Violet would have normally been intrigued by their usual banter, as it was not the first time visiting them.

And, she had thought the bustle of the large family which seemed to hold a positive contagion for liveliness would help alleviate her spirits from the dump of despondency. But, it had failed miserably.

Her smiles were all forced as she helped serve the dishes.

As the whole family sat, Trevor, their dad, surprised Violet by asking her to pray.

"Why don't we have you pray for us instead today?" He said his way too calm voice, completely opposite from his wife's volume when scolding the children.

Violet was stricken.

So far, she had tried praying, but her prayers seemed to hit an invisible wall. Something was hindering her access to her SAVIOUR.

After a short pause and an intake of breath, she managed to force the words out of her mouth.

"Dear LORD, we thank YOU for this meal. Please, sanctify it with your Precious Blood in our LORD JESUS' MIGHTY NAME. Amen."

All at the table chorused their "Amen," and quickly reached for the food.

Violet tried to be cheery, yet she knew she was going to win the award for the World's Worst Actress of the Year—especially when she noticed Alex's mother quietly glancing her way ever so often.

~~~

"I think I could use a retreat myself," Isabella yawned as they all sat down to dinner. "Why does Vincenzo have to be the only one to have a getaway?"

"Shush, mia figlia(my daughter)! He said he needed some time alone," Queen Giulia gently scolded. "And you are at the most crucial point of your academic year."

"So, no retreat for me? Not even after the mock exam?"

"Probably in the next twenty years," Alessandro teased and Isabella playfully threw a nugget at him as they both chuckled.

"Are you both okay?" Ginevra asked in her characteristically piercing voice, though it had gone down a notch if one took a closer look.

The new camaraderie of her siblings still baffled her if she was honest.

"You both seem to need a hospital bed and a Psychiatrist. I know a good one, I'll text you the number," she said, sipping her juice and watching the amicable exchange in consternation.

Whatever aliens have invaded their bodies? She wondered to herself in something akin to amusement.

She noticed her mother also had a similar look, but it seemed she was getting used to it much more quickly than Ginevra.

"No, ..." Alessandro started. "We don't need a Psychiatrist. We already have JESUS."

"Oh, dear! Here we go again," Queen Giulia sighed and dropped her cutlery, her voice sounding tired. She slowly rose and stared at Ginevra.

"I've been through this session many times than I can count. I will leave you to enjoy it as a welcome back present."

Glancing at the retreating figure of her mother, her brother's words still rang out in her mind.

An even more befuddled expression showed on Ginevra's face as she curiously turned and leaned forward to question her younger brother, with her amusement heightening alongside a slight hint of derision.

"What on earth are you going on about?"

"You see," Alessandro started and then paused, as though he thought of something suddenly.

That got her curiosity piqued to its highest level waiting to hear whatever "idiosyncrasies" he had to say.

It was never past his character. How typical of him.

"Mhmm?" She popped a cherry into her mouth.

He remained quiet for a moment before responding. And when he did, his eyes were as intense as she had never seen, and his words threw her off the amusement park in her head.

"Have you ever dealt with a guilt so great you think no one can ever forgive?"

Ginevra knew it was just for a short moment, but, the images and words that played in her head seemed like they were there to last for all eternity.

The little bits of truth she had learnt of her so-called husband which she hadn't fully gotten a grasp of...

The guilt of knowing the truth behind Violet's brother...

And above all, knowing that a young girl's life had been marred by the very same brother sitting opposite her—even though he had been under some sort of influence at the time he committed the act...

They all came crashing down on her, the question re-echoing multiple times in her head alongside all the overheard conversations and things she had seen.

"Have you ever dealt with a guilt so great you think no one can ever forgive?"

She felt them pour out on her like ice and a shiver ran down her spine. The guilt of what she knew of the man she called her husband was the greatest.

She could not help but ask in desperation.

"Is there ever a chance of for—"

But her words were cut short when someone entered. She was not used to using cliche phrases but she could think of only one that fit the scenario.

Her darling husband, she acknowledged with sarcasm, had finally arrived.

"Tesoro (darling), I am so sorry for being late," he leaned down to hug his wife. "I hope I have not missed anything."

Speak of the devil, she finally used the words that fit her predicament ever-so-perfectly.

~~~

"Are you alright, dear?" Grace, Alex's mother asked in a quiet, gentle tone.

She had had an inkling that something had been wrong with Violet all through the dinner.

And both of them volunteering to wash all the dishes had given her the opportunity Grace had been hoping for.

Violet felt her whole body freeze even as the water continued to run down her hands onto the dishes.

It was not what Grace had said, but how she said it. Violet felt her walls crumbling down and her heart being laid bare to this kind soul.

Trying to gulp down the tears, she failed to hide her emotions—once again.

The torrents had gone loose. She could no longer hold back anymore.

Violet felt her walls crumbling down as her heart was laid bare to this kind soul.

~~~

"Principe, would you mind my asking about what you are reading again today?"

Vincenzo snapped out of his thoughts and smiled at the maid his mother had hired.

She sure is a curious one, he mused to himself. Perhaps, THE LORD has sent her to help me in these difficult times of finding my way back to HIM.

Over their three days of staying in the countryside Villa, they had become acquainted—with her asking him many questions about THE BIBLE.

Though he had no lecherous thoughts, he thought her name, Adara, fit her so well.

Derived from the Hebrew word Adar, which his curious mind had sought out of his new BIBLE dictionary when he got to the Book of Esther, he had learnt Adara meant, "noble," "majestic," or "beauty."

And surely, it seemed to fit her so well. Her big blue eyes, full of kindness, and her ever-so-willing servant spirit were indeed endearing.

But, the more he thought of her, something strange seemed to happen in his heart...

He felt a disconnection. But he could not pinpoint what it was.

Why do I feel like I am going back into my Icy shell again? And how do I get out?

He felt conflicted in various parts of his mind and heart all at once.

What do I do?

He felt like running away, yet, a force was not giving him permission to.

He saw her approaching him and found himself in a daze.

Paralysed by her advances, he had no way of escape as he was somehow fully aware of her intentions as she continued to seductively advance even more.

LORD, please save me, he cried in his heart. His brain was desperately searching and seeking out a way of reprieve as he felt like his soul had been shackled.

Finally, he remembered THE NAME... and it was whispered into his heart.

Though barely above a whisper, he knew he had to say it out loud.

"JESUS."

And he finally gained control over his emotions and shoved her away. And the doorbell rang. The eyes of Adara were menaced at his actions and the sound of the bell.

And in that split moment, Vincenzo thought he caught the glimpse of the true being dwelling in her.

The door opened as someone entered—probably led in by the guards.

He had no idea who it was and how they managed to locate him, but he was grateful nonetheless.

Turning away from the fleeing Adara whose quick steps led to the direction of the kitchen, he turned to find and face his guest.

With the simplest attire of a modesty which rivalled any queen adorned in all their golden ornaments,  a satchel around her shoulder, and a suitcase in hand stood... her.

And it felt like the oxygen that had been sapped from him had finally been restored.

(You may now kindly play the second song)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

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We thank THE LORD so much for this wonderful opportunity to write. To be honest, this chapter has been sitting on the phone for... weeks, over a month, perhaps?

It has not been easy, though we cannot often say much about what we go through.

I was not so sure about this chapter either, but we humbly thank HIM for HIS GRACE and kindly ask for more by HIS Mercies. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙂✨

Kindly let me know how you are all doing and what you think by GOD'S Grace. Your words encourage me a lot by HIS Mercies.

And, GOD bless all those who ask about it and try to get the book ongoing by GOD'S Grace. 🥰

But, I will have to go through it again later in the day by GOD'S Grace.

✨✨✨And, the audiobook is still in mind. Will Spotify be okay for us all, please? ✨✨✨

Love In CHRIST,
Praying for you all constantly by HIS Mercies,
Phela 🩵🤍🕊️