The Wedding Night

“If love is a crime, I’m willing to be hunted.”

Giovanni POV

“Why are you here?” I asked my mother as soon as melody left the office. “What do you want?”

“Stop asking me questions son and listen to what I have to say.” She begged and took a seat opposite me. “That’s lady shouldn’t be here. She is a bit of bad luck.”

I gave her a suspicious look but didn’t say anything. “She needs to go. She doesn’t belong here.” She added. “Giovanni, you need to send her away.”

“What is your issue with her? If you know something mother, you better tell me before I find out myself.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I am not threatening you mother, I am warning you because you might not like the outcome once I find out the truth.”

“She needs to leave!”

“Why?” When she didn’t reply, I smiled and then stood up from the couch. “You know something mother. You know about her. You know she was my wife before the fire incident. You knew everything but you chose not to say anything!” I yelled. “All of you knew about her but you lied to me. You made me felt like a fool!”

“It’s not what you think son. She is manipulating you like she used to. She is not whom you think she is. ” my mother also stood up and walked closer to me. She touched my shoulder and caress it gently. “Please, believe me, son, she is not who you think she is. She is a liar, a manipulator, and a homewrecker. She caused all those fights between you and your brother.”

I brushed her hand away as I couldn’t listen to any of her lies. “Lorenzo and I had always hated each other before melody came. Don’t bring her into our messed-up family.” I warned.

“Can’t you see what she is doing to you? She is ruining you again as she did five years ago.” She shouted. “Didn’t she tell you about your wedding? She manipulated you to not invite your family and when she got her chance, she set you on fire and run away. She is back again and she is manipulating you!”

“Until I remember everything that happens five years ago, I need you to stay away from melody. ” I advised.

“She needs to go away!” My mother refused to heed my warning.

“I’m not ready to let go of her yet!” I yelled back. “She is my wife and it’s my duty as her husband to protect her.”

“Do you even know what she is hiding from you? Do you know?” My mother mocked. “I hope you come to your senses and realize that she is a manipulator.”

“Whatever she is hiding from me must have a reason.”

“That’s your problem, Giovanni, you trust too easily.”

“That’s who I am. If you are done mother, please leave.” I told her.

“Listen,” she tried to say something but I stopped her and pointed to the door. “Very well then,” she took her bag from the couch and walked towards the door, and just then, the door burst opened. Dennis walked in and the first thing I noticed was the bloodstain on his shirt. No one needs to tell me because I knew something had happened to Melody.

“Where is she?” I quickly asked not bothering to hear what he has to say.

“Hospital.”

“You knew about this?” I directed the question to my mother. “You knew she would be attacked. Did you plan this with Lorenzo?” I accused.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

“What are you saying, Giovanni? Who was attacked?” She sounded innocent but my mother could be pretending and you’ll never know.

“If you know something about this mother, I swear I’ll..” I didn’t finish my words as I walked out of the office with Dennis behind me. I took the private elevator to the Car Park where one of the bodyguards was waiting inside the car. “Only Dennis should come with me. The rest of you should stay behind.” I ordered.

The bodyguards bow and left the car park. Dennis and I entered the car and the driver drove out of the park into the street. “What happened,” I asked him.

“I found her inside the elevator. I don’t know how it happened but the elevator stopped for a while.”

“Why didn’t you alert me?”

“Because I thought it was a simple issue I could deal with.” Dennis defended and then continued with the story. “She was barely breathing when I saw her. I think she was attacked by the person who attacked you last night.”

“I need you to find more about this attack. Use your connection and find the fool who is behind this.” I ordered.

“Yes sir.”

“Was the attack severe? Is she going to be fine?”

“I don’t know sir. After the ambulance came to take her away, I decided to come to tell you. Whatever happened to her was worse than you could imagine.” He explained.

I couldn’t say anything but hope she will be fine. Just when I found out what she meant for me, she was attacked. The person who attacked me must have found out that I suspected something. The only person I could think of was Lorenzo. He hated me but he hated melody more. “I need you to keep an eye on Lorenzo. He could be involved in this.”

“Yes sir,” Dennis agreed.

Throughout the ride to the hospital, my mind was not at rest. When we finally got to the hospital, I rushed out of the car and entered the hospital. “Is a Melody Davis admitted here?” I asked the receptionist who was busy battling her fake lashes at me.

“Yes,” she replied in a seductive tone. “How are you related to her?” She asked.

“She is my wife,” I announced and her smile quickly changed into a frown. “Where is she?”

“She is in the emergency room.” She pointed towards the left side. “If you want, I can help you get….” I stopped her before she could finish.

“Don’t say another word. You look pathetic right now.” I told her and walked to the left side of the building. When I saw her, she looked like a ghost. Her face was pale like all life had left her. Her pretty pink lips had turned dark and she looked dead. I rushed towards her and tried to touch her but a doctor stopped me.

“Who are you?” He asked.

“I’m her husband,” I replied him.

He looked at me for a while and then he looked at Dennis before he said anything. “She was poisoned with BT monoxide.” He explained.

“What is that?” I asked because I’ve never heard of such poison.

“It a deadly poison that was bought into the country by the corrupt Daniel Hamilton that was captured two years ago by the justice team,” he explained but I didn’t get why he was telling stories I didn’t want to hear about. “Your wife is lucky to be brought here on time because the poison reacts fast.”

“Is she safe?”

“Not yet,” my heart thump as soon as he said that. “The poison needs to be flushed from her system to prevent future complications.”

“Then what are you doing?” I yelled, “treat her and stop talking.” I shouted at him.

“Sir, I need you to calm down.” The doctor beg.

“Calm down! You want me to calm down when she is dying and you are doing nothing about it. What kind of hospital is this?” I grabbed the doctor’s collar and shouted at him. “If she dies, I’ll burn this hospital down!” I threatened.

“Sir,” Dennis pulled me away from him. “We need to save melody.” He reminded me.

“Listen, Doctor,” I said to him. “What do I need to save her? How much do you need?”

“We need to prepare her for surgery,” he stated.

“Then do it!” I yelled again. “Save her,” I grabbed his hand. “If she dies, I’ll kill you and your family.” I threatened.

He yanked his hand from mine and walked away. A few seconds later, he bought a file asking me to sign, and then Melody was wheeled into the theatre room. I prayed silently for her safety. I prayed she survives so I can remember the moment we spent together and tell her I am sorry over and over again for treating her like I did.

“Sir,” Dennis called for my attention, when I looked up at him he pointed at a woman and a girl. “I think that’s her friend and daughter.”

“Her friend?” I stood up and walked towards them. The little girl saw me first and waved at me. She was the little girl I saw in her house two days ago. If she was melody’s daughter then that means…

“What have you done?” Her friend grabbed the collar of my shirt and shook vigorously. I let her did as she wanted because everything that happened was my fault.

“Ma’am,” Dennis came between us and dragged her away from me. ” stop!” He shouted at her.

“Let her be,” I walked closer to the woman and took her hand. “I’m sorry, it was all my fault.”

“All she wanted was for you to remember her,” she cried. “She loves you. Every night she cries for you to come  help her. She blamed herself for your death.” I had no clue what she meant by my death but I knew it had to do with melody and myself.

“She is going to be fine,” I assured her.

“How are you sure about that? You never treated her well ” she accused.

“You are right about that. I’m ready to make things work out.” I assured her again.

“Stop crying aunty Lorena,” the little one finally spoke up. “What did you do to my aunty?”

“Erm, Hope it is not what you think.” Lorena defended me. She carried the girl and pointed to me. “He is a good friend of mummy.” She introduced.

“Thank you,” I said to him and turned to face the girl. “I am Giovanni. It’s nice to meet you.” I offered my hand for her to shake.

“Hope,” she places her tiny hand on mine. “Nice to meet you, Giovanni,” she smiled at me.

I smiled back at her and offered to carry her. She gladly accepted my offer and bury her face in my arm.

“Blood is thicker than water they say,” Lorena commented.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked her. Although I already figured she was my daughter but I didn’t want to jump to conclusions yet.

” it’s not my place to say.” She raised her hand in defeat. “I called the office when I couldn’t get through to her and I was informed that she was taken to the hospital,” she began to cry again. I placed my hand on her shoulder and console her. “I hope she is fine.” She prayed.

“I hope so too,” I replied.

“Did she tell you anything?” She asked but I shook my head. “You need to find the attacker because they are likely to strike again.”

“I’m already working on that. ” I replied her. “Whosoever is behind this doesn’t want me to remember anything. They attacked me last night in my home.”

“What?” She shouted but I shushed her and pointed to the sleeping girl in my arm. “But how?” She whispered.

“I have no idea but I suspect someone,” I admitted. “I have seen you somewhere haven’t I?” I asked because ever since she walked in, I had cracked my head to see if I’ll remember where I’ve seen her.

“Of course you have. You saw me at the motel remember?”

“No,” I shook my head. “I’ve seen you somewhere else. You were at my parent’s mansion yesterday right?” At first, she didn’t reply but then after a few seconds she nodded. “Why?”

“Because I wanted to protect my friend. I don’t trust your family.”

“I’ll advise you to stop whatever you are planning to do. If my family finds out about you, they’ll kill you.”

“I’m ready to put my life on the line for Hope and melody.”

“And you think she will be happy if you die? Stop whatever you are doing Lorena. I’ll take care of this,” when she tried to argue again, the theatre door opened and a doctor stepped out of the room.

Whatever he says was going to determine how I’ll react to my family. If melody dies, I’ll never forgive them but if she lives, I’ll make sure I keep apologizing for the years we’ve lost. Now that I know I have a daughter, all I need to find is my memories. Once I do, everything else follows.