❝ Your existence colliding with mine was a beautiful thing, I thank you for it. ❞
In the afternoon Athena walks to the port of Santorini, the sky was full of stars, it had rained earlier, which made a beautiful rainbow come out in the sky.
She then spots her new guy, with a wide smile, he raises his hands waving at her. She jumps to her feet, and waves back, the wind plays with her red hair, she reaches up binding her hair.
He grabs her by the waist. - I've been looking forward to your arrival, come! - He takes her hand.
Athena raises her eyebrows. -Hum, where are we going? - She opens her eyes when she sees the big boat in front of her.
He points to the boat, and she stands still and then he steps into the boat and holds out his hands.
- What, you're not getting on? - he asks with a smile on his face.
- How did you get this boat, did you get rich or what? - The redhead puts her hands on her rosy cheeks, and squeezes her eyes shut from the excess sunlight.
Sebastian laughs and frowns, seeing her get on the boat. He looks at her and his eyes sparkle and his breathing quickens, his heart couldn't hold in joy.
He looks at her and his eyes sparkle and his breathing quickens, his heart couldn't stand it with joy
- You're in a hurry, you know that, young lady? - He says caressing her nose. - My chef gave it to me. - He looks away and puts his hands on his waist.
Athena's eyes widen, and she's stunned. - Gee, didn't he lend it to you? - She leans against the railing of the boat. - He gave it to you? Just like that? You hardly know each other!
- Yes! - He scratches the back of his neck. - I thought it was strange, but Mr. Stefan made sure, he said he didn't know how to give gifts.
- Wow, but that's a lot! - Athena exclaims suspiciously, her eyebrows arched, and stares at him. - You're growing a beard! - She says putting her hands on his chin.
- Yes, but you don't have to worry or anything, he's rich," he shrugs, "Normal, let him give gifts like that," he avoids looking her in the eyes. -I couldn't say no, my love!
He takes her hand and kisses it.
- Yeah, yeah it's okay! - She takes a deep breath and her shoulders hunch up a bit. - And her mouth curves into a smile.
Athena puts her arms around his shoulders, drawing closer to him.
- We're going to the other side of the island, to have a picnic. - He seals his lips slowly. - I thought it would be nice, since we won't see each other for two days before the wedding. - he kisses her on the neck quickly.
Her eyebrows lower and a broad smile comes to his face.
Athena is happy and he goes to the mast and takes the ship to the other side of the island, emptier, and they have a picnic that the two of them could describe as "perfect.
Sebastian had prepared everything, Athena's favorite fruits, rose wine... He was happy.
Both looked at each other with a significant gleam in their eyes. A perfect day, before they spent the rest of their lives together...
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The next morning Julia got up early and said she would go to the church, Cybele begged for her help but she made up an excuse...
She looked hurried, barely holding the bread in her hands without shaking, she asked for the blessing in a broken voice and walked to the church. She would go to church, but for sure it wasn't to pray...
She arrives at the church and blesses herself as she enters, and walks to a place where it is filled with candles, near the confessional. Her eyes widen, and her fingernails are already worn out from all the biting she does, when she sees him.
- Julia? - He called her attention, stopping in front of her, his face taking on a nostalgic look.
He was still almost the same, even wearing the same perfume, she notices.
- Giovani? - She pressed her fingers to her lips, and her face paled, -Let's get on with it, I don't have time! He rolls his eyes, and says low.
- É anche bello vederti, Julia! - He tastes her cheeks, and moves his head the other way, You're still beautiful, he presses his lips together, looking at her with a certain gleam in his eyes!
(Translation: É anche bello vederti, Julia = It's also good to see you, Julia)
- Please, Giovanni, I don't have time for this," she lowers her eyebrows, "tell me why you were so insistent on the phone," she swallows dryly.
Before he speaks he stares at her, and her mind to take her back to Verona in the summer. She shudders at the memory of Giovanni's touch, of his kindness. Of the love that can never live. Her heart hit the floor when she saw the ring he and she exchanged in front of the Santorini sea in his hands. She knew it was the one because it had her name engraved on it.
- You know, Julia.
She regains consciousness and he pauses again for a long moment while looking into her eyes.
- I always thought life was funny, I never believed in fate I must confess. - He looks to the side, and raises his eyebrows. - But, the other day my nephew was showing me the girl, who he met and who was pregnant with him, and he showed me a picture on Instagram. So he passed the photo around to show me his family, and when I look, to my surprise there you are.
Julia swallows dryly. "So he was Pietro's uncle, but it doesn't make sense the way he described him.
She raises her eyebrows, "What? But how is that possible? - She puts her hands on her waist, "It seems that life likes to torture me by bringing you back into my life, Giovanni... Stay away from me, and from my family. Please! - She shows her palms. - You are...
Tension and nervousness take over her body, her voice choked and almost broken, speaking for her.
Giovani approaches her and puts his hands on her shoulders trying to calm her down, she steps back and wraps her hands around his elbow.
- He is my younger sister's son, she died and I raised him. - He bites his lips, but that's not the only reason I'm here. - he takes a breath of air and stares. - She looked so much like my mother that I almost cried, it took me a while to put the facts together, tell me she is my daughter, isn't she?
- What? But of course not, you're crazy. - Julia gets excited and opens her arms, saying something. - Where did you get this madness from? That's enough, I'm out of here!
She turns in the direction of the exit, passing through the pews of the church, he stutters, squeezing her steps. And she stops in front of the church when she realizes that he is following her.
- Porfavore! I know that... - He takes her arm and looks at her, twisting the corner of his mouth.
And in his eyes they seem to long for the answer.
- What, Giovanni? You know what? - She shouts. - You know what it's like to wake up, hearing shots. - She grabs at his collar and pulls him away. - I could have died that day! And everything about that day left me traumatized, seeing you like that, running away like that, and I want my daughter, never, do you hear me? Never! Go through this! - She is gasping for breath from screaming.
Blessed ones and people who were praying and lighting candles there look at them in irritation.
- Julia, I'm sorry about that day, and I blame myself for it to this day, if anything had happened to you I would never forgive myself. - But things have changed now, I'm a Capo now. Nothing gets to me, it's different I...
- No! - He held up his hands. - I don't care, you can be anything, just leave her alone. - Julia scratches her hair quickly, feels confused and sits down on the church steps. - Just tell me one thing, does Pietro know about this? Is he in on it? - She looks up, and her eyes widen.
He comes down a step, standing in front of her.
- No, my nephew doesn't know the family business, Cecilia would never forgive me... - She elegantly smoothed the sleeves of her suit and looked around.
- Keep it that way. - She stood up, fixing her purse. - And please leave me alone! I beg you, Giovanni, in two days it's my eldest daughter's wedding and everyone is so happy... Me, then I'll build a new life and I don't want you in it, or in Alexia's.
- Does she know about me? - He twists his mouth, and puts his hand on his chin, - What's she like?
- Incredible! - He speaks with tears streaming down his face, his lips trembling with nervousness. - And she knows about you!
- Why did you keep this from me Julia? - Tears run down his red eyes, and he takes a blue handkerchief from his pocket and rubs it over his face. - I want to meet her, it will be safe here in Greece! I beg you please...
- Our conversation is already over, Giovanni, she knows about you, and she didn't come after you, please understand! - She climbs up on her shoulders, and takes out her bag, and puts her hands on his shoulders. - Good-bye...
She leaves with her head down, trying not to cry, Giovani watches her go and scratches his ears, and immediately picks up his cell phone making a call.
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- Buongiorno, or should I say Buon pomeriggio? Since it's 11:30 you haven't left this room. - said Amanda, placing the bags on the table inside the suite where Pietro was staying.
(Translation: Buongiorno = Good morning! Buon Pomeriggio = Good afternoon!)
- I lost her! I had her right in my hands and I lost her! - He runs his tongue over his lips, leaning over the table with a glass of whiskey in his hands, - And she won't even take my calls. - He shrugs his shoulders, taking a long breath, but who can judge her? I'm an idiot! I deserve to die alone. - He takes a sip from his glass.
- Consequences! You've always dealt badly with them. - Amanda approaches him with her hands on his shoulders, and her cheeks taste a little thin. - She takes the glass from him.
- I just wish I had another chance, you know? I miss her so much," he swallows dryly and scratches his throat. - I don't know what came over me.
Pietro feels an agony in his heart, everything he wanted. She had broken down in just a few hours, and it was all because of him, to recognize this now hurt more than his headache, and he would do anything to get her back.
She shifted from one foot to the other in front of him, and shook her head saying, "Well, it's like they say, women fall in love first and then realize they're the wrong person. Men screw up first and then realize it's the right person! She gestures with her fingers, gives a half smile.
- Wow, that helped a lot.
He gives her a wry smile, and glances at the gin bottle, picking it up, Amanda takes it from his hand immediately.
- Look here, you just have to stop thinking that Cybele is the salvation from your problems, because she's not! Nobody is. Or think that she or anyone else is the key to your change because she's not, only you are. - He frowned and ran his hands through his hair. - You should consider therapy! -She opens her eyes.
- You're right! But I already told you I don't go for that kind of thing. - He scratches his elbows, "But you're right, I need to stop passing the responsibility of my actions and attitudes to other people. - He crosses his arms - I think I need to grow up! And that includes giving Cybele some time!
She rests her chin on her palm. - Pietro, therapy is great, not that it's going to be salvation, but it's a great help! A start, and yes, I agree that you should give her a break. - He walked to the exit.
- And how else am I going to do that, with this invitation. - He points to the small table near the door.
She then sees the invitation to Athena's wedding, under the lampshade.
- Wow, you're invited?- she widens her eyes in surprise. - Well, I guess I shouldn't go," she puts her hands on her waist. - I checked out that crazy gift you asked me for, and all she did was kill me for even mentioning your name, and I didn't even tell her you were here. After all, you know how angry Greeks are! - She squared her shoulders with the invitation in her hand.
- Got it. - She said, yawning and putting her hand to her mouth, then pursing her lips together, her eyes downcast and sad.
- And go to sleep, drinking at this hour is ridiculous, get yourself together, okay? - She blinks at him, and gives a half smile, and opens the door, but takes a step back into the room.
- And hey, you're not despicable, okay? - She has her hands on the door - You just need to learn that who you spend your time with will have a big impact on the kind of life you lead. Spend time with the right people!
- Gee, that's actually great advice! - He opens his eyes, reflecting. - Thanks, Amanda! - He smiles.
- You're welcome, my therapist told me! - She gives him a wry wink, closing the door.
∴━━━✿━━━∴
Two days pass, and Atena's wedding arrives, the girl wakes up so nervous, her racing heart said it all.
Cybele was nervous too, but with Apollo's help everything was calmer, Alexia was concentrating on her hairstyles to make them as beautiful as possible.
Iris got a job as a tour guide, and was really enjoying it, her role in the wedding was to sing, because she had a beautiful voice! Everyone on the island loved it.
Julia was speechless, but the tension and anxiety kept her awake.
Her grandmother and aunt's task was to bake a cake. Which they did with mastery. It was the best cake in all of Santorini.
She tried to focus on other things, but the meeting with Giovani had shaken her too much, but she kept it a secret, she couldn't even imagine the reaction of Cybele and her other daughters, she had finally made peace with Alexia.
But finally it was time for the wedding and Cybele goes up to prepare the bride.