Adrenaline rushed through Maya’s veins. "You knew my mom? When did you et her, and where?"
"I t her in Milan, Italy, when I was a kid. She was as beautiful as you, Maya, and you too, Valentina,"
"When exactly was this?" Dalton asked. It was more of a demand than a question.
"When I was eight years old," Marcello answered.
"You are 32, which ans that was exactly 24 years ago," Dalton calculated.
The little hope Maya had in her heart died. For a mont, she thought her mother was alive. But if she were, she had no doubt Aunt Lily would tell her.
Valentina yawned, feigning boredom. "So you t my mother when she was having an affair, cheating on my dad? That’s not news. Everyone knows my adulterous mother was fucking Maya’s father in Italy."
Her words struck straight into Maya’s heart. She slamd her fist down. "Do not talk about our mother like that!"
"Apologize to her!" Dalton yelled at Valentina, making her tremble.
"I’m sorry Maya. " Valentina apologize, her voice shaky
"I let you off easy. But the next ti you try to hurt her..." Dalton paused, staring at Aiden.
Aiden crossed his thumb over his neck. "I will kill you," he mouthed.
Valentina whimpered, burying her face in the crook of Marcello’s neck.
"Oh, there’s too much tension," River said as he opened the wine bottle. "You guys need so wine to loosen up." He took it upon himself to ask everyone to bring their glasses forward and fill them with the wine. He finished one bottle and left a quarter of wine in the second bottle.
"Does anyone have so good news to share?"
"I’m engaged!" Laura announced.
"Oh my God!" Maya squealed.
"That’s so good news! Let’s toast to that." River raised his glass, and everyone followed suit, clinking their glasses together.
"Congratulations, Laura!" Haven hugged her.
"Aww, I’m so happy for you, girl!" Maya got out of her seat and embraced Laura, too.
"Finally! I’m not shocked that he proposed. That boyfriend of yours is a simp for you," Natalia remarked. "Congratulations, but don’t give the maid of honor position to give it to Haven or Maya."
Laura snorted. "Who said I was choosing you to be my maid of honor? That will be Haven."
Haven gasped. "?" She fanned her face. "I’m so honored!" she squealed happily.
"And who is going to be your maid of honor, Haven?" Natalia asked.
Haven beca nervous.
"It’s of course," Maya said, coming to her rescue.
"I’m so excited! I can’t wait to see our bridesmaids’ dresses and go shopping for the wedding gown, along with all the other wedding preparations. I will be in charge of the food, obviously. It’s going to be so much fun!" Maya’s voice was filled with sheer joy.
"What about ?" Oliver chid in. "Will I get a bridesmaid dress?" He jokes making them laugh.
"I’ll get you yours," Laura winked at him.
When Maya returned to her seat, Dalton was looking at her intensely.
"What?" Maya smiled at Dalton, looking confused.
"Nothing," he said, placing his hand on the small of her back and stroking it gently. "I like it when you’re happy, Maya. "
"Aww, isn’t that nice?" River said, his hands pressed against his cheeks as if swooning. "Now it’s all joy and happiness. No more snarky remarks." He pointed a finger at Valentina.
Valentina rolled her eyes and flicked her hair.
"And no more threatening," he warned Dalton.
"Any more happy news? I want to bask in more happiness."
"Well," Oliver began to speak, "I’m not sure whether this is happy news or not, but I’m joining a humanitarian organization to provide free and quality healthcare to underprivileged children around the world. So I will be gone for a while."
From his brother’s reaction, they all knew about it. Maya was the only one left in the dark.
"Really? When are you leaving?" she asked, her heart-stirring; she had already begun to miss Oliver.
"Next week. Sorry for not telling you earlier, Maya. I thought Dalton would have told you."
Maya gave Dalton a disappointed look. "Sorry, it slipped my mind."
"I’m going to miss you," Maya said sadly.
"You are going to miss both of us. I’m going with him," River announced. Dalton and Aiden looked shocked; it seed they didn’t know about River joining his twin brother
"I’m traveling with him. Oliver will be bored without annoying the hell out of him." River ruffled his twin brother’s hair.
"What about your company? Your architecture career?" Aiden asked, sadness creeping into his voice.
"I can create building designs and make blueprints anywhere in the world. Since Dalton has taken over my company, he can manage it in my absence. Staying here is pointless. I can’t let my twin brother travel the world alone; the world is a scary place. He needs to be his companion, to care for and protect him."
And that was the deepest thing River had ever said in his life.
"No more hunting for girls, or I’ll ship your ass back ho," Oliver warned.
"I promise I won’t," River swore. "I’m staying away from won. We will engage in fan activities around the world. I’ll be too busy with that to think about won. You’ll have all my ti, bro."
Maya’s heart felt hollow. Life won’t be the sa without the twins.
To hide her tears, she got to her feet. "I’m going to get the dessert."
"I’m coming with you," Aiden said as he jumped out of his seat.
Maya pulled a raspberry-lemon-polenta cake out of the fridge.
"I’m going to miss them so much," she handed the cake to Aiden as she looked for the dessert knife.
" too,
"Maya, I wanted to tell you sothing concerning your friends, but Haven’s arranged marriage issue made forget."
Maya paused halfway while taking dessert plates from the kitchen cabinet.
"I think one of your friends is working with Vico."
Reviews
All reviews (0)