章 6: The Invitation

Maria's POV

"Mama? Papa?" I turn around, and it's dark. Where's everyone? "Marco? Please, someone, anyone!" I scream to the void. There's no response. One minute it was all happy smiles and beautiful kisses. Papa cracked a joke, and Mama laughed heartily. Marco rolled his eyes, sick of the dad jokes. He grabs his AirPods and blocks the sound of the laughter.

There's instant peace in his face. I smile at his arrogance. He thought himself too old for the family's cringe shenanigans. However, it all changed barely two seconds later. It happened so fast.

There was a stillness in the air in that one second. Then this disgusting smell I later discovered was death as I grew older. Mum and dad dashed towards us. Maybe they thought they could protect us, but it was too late.

The calmness passed, and then came the crash. I can't feel my body. It feels like I've been suspended in the air and can't breathe. I'm trapped. There's no escape. Where's my grace? Where's the Mercy Lord? Where's Mama, Papa and Marco? How could I have survived? I shouldn't have stayed. I can't feel anything.

It hurts so bad. I want to end it. I have walked the valley of perdition and have tasted fear. I want to give myself to the abyss. Mama, Papa Marco. Mama, Papa, Marco...

"Maria!" I heard someone tap me, and I jerked up.

"Come here, and my child," Zia Benedetta said, enveloping me in a hug. I held her tightly, still trembling.

"It's okay, amore," she whispered, gently rocking me. "You're safe now. You survived. You're a survivor, my child," she repeated gently.

I felt a second hand holding me and turned to see Ursula. At that tiny moment, I wasn't afraid. I had these beautiful women by my side. They were ready to fight for me through thick and thin. In that tiny moment, I was grateful.

"You're the absolute best, Zia Benedetta!" Ursula said, taking a bite from her veggie wrap with turkey filings. I looked at her and smiled.

"Do that again, and I might just fall in love with you," she said playfully.

"Wait, what?" I asked, confused.

"I saw how you were looking all flirty with me. Do you want me that bad, Marie?" She asked in-between bites.

Ursula's mouth was filled with turkey, and she looked ridiculous. I didn't know when I began to laugh. She dropped her food and faced me.

"What do you mean by that laughter?" She raised her brows.

"I mean, you're not exactly my type," I replied.

"What do you mean by that?" She got up and took a dramatic pose."Zia?" She suddenly called out.

"What is it, princess," the ever-gracious woman asked, bursting into the scene.

"How do I look?" She asked, switching poses.

"You look like those Superstars in my telenovelas, dear," Zia replied cheerfully. I rolled my eyes at their silly display.

"Ha! You heard that, right?" Ursula asked victoriously.

"Still doesn't change my mind," I mumbled.

"What did you say?"

"I said Zia is right" I didn't want to stretch the matter anymore. Knowing Ursula as well as I did, we could go on and on about this same issue.

"I'm glad you two are here. This house was so lonely, but your arrival brought laughter and light," Zia said, tearing up.

"Oh, don't do that, dear Zia. You'll get wrinkles," Ursula said, soothing the older woman.

"I'm old already, princess. At this point, wrinkles are an adornment?" We all laughed at Zia's attempt at humor.

I felt better already. The day had begun with me having a terrible nightmare. It had been forever since I had one, so I thought I was finally healing. This time around, it was more graphic and vivid. Ursula said it was probably because I was back in the house and the stress of the whole prototype saga.

My mind slowly drifted to Vincenzo. I didn't expect to be as impressed with his ideas. His brilliance was not to be questioned. I tried to conjure up an image of what he would look like now. I purposely refused to see pictures of him. It was only going to fuel my anger.

I knew that sooner or later, we were bound to meet. I had thrown in the first punch. I was curious to see if he was smart enough to know who his nemesis was. If he did know, then there was no doubt I had entered the battleground with a worthy opponent.

The sound of my phone beeping drew me out of my head. "Pick that up, Marie," Ursula said irritatedly.

She was in the middle of a hot gossip session with Zia, and I had interrupted them.

"Yes, this is her," I replied in a strange voice. It was an unknown number at the other end of the line. I wondered what they wanted.

"Sorry If I may have intruded on your busy schedule, miss. I got your number from your secretary in Germany. She only gave it to me after I fully convinced her that it was for official purposes. May I proceed?" The voice asked.

If my secretary had given out my number without my consent, whoever is on the line could be trusted.

"Sure," I replied, wondering what this was all about.

"I don't know if the name Marcella Alvaro means anything to you?" The name sounded oddly

familiar, but I couldn't for the life of me recall where I had heard it.

"It is a bit familiar, but I honestly do not recall her face."

"Well, You may not remember as she died many years ago. However, she was an excellent friend to the duchess and even visited her on a regular"

That description finally triggered my memory. Of course, I knew Madame Marcella. She used to visit us all the time and never came empty-handed. Last I heard, she died peacefully in her sleep years ago. I had a lot on my plate that time, so I couldn't make it to her burial.

"I remember her now. Is there any problem?" Ursula and Zia Benedetta noticed the tension in my voice and stopped their conversation.

"Is everything okay?" Ursula mouthed to me, and I nodded in response.

"Signora, there'll be a fundraiser in honor of the tenth anniversary of her death. As you well know, Madame Marcella had the biggest charities in the country. Before she died, she put out a guest list of people she would be honored to have in one of these fundraising events in her demise. Your name is on the guest list. We've been trying to get a hold of you for the past ten years, but our efforts have been futile. If it's not too much trouble, miss, we would be stoked to see you Grace our event?"

"But of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Just send me the official invite, and I'll clear my schedule."

"Yes, miss"

"One more question, will Vincenzo Santoro be there?" Ursula's eyes met mine, and I willed her to calm down.

"I cannot disclose such information due to our organization's privacy. However, I can only tell you that the Elite's of the country and beyond will be present."

"Good. It's okay then." I smiled.

"Ciao signora, and thanks for honoring our invitation." The lady voiced out from her end of the line.

"My day has taken a rather interesting turn," I said after dropping the call.

"What do you mean, Tesoro?" Zia asked.

"I've just been invited for a fundraiser event," I replied, sipping from my water. "Do you remember Madame Marcella?" I asked Ursula.

"Gorgeous woman. Bright coats and Chanel bags. How can I forget such a diva? She rocks designers!" Ursula chuckled.

"Well, her foundation is holding a fundraiser to celebrate her tenth death anniversary, and I've been invited.

"Well, are you going?" Zia Benedetta asked, nervous.

"Of course," I nod.

"Are you sure?" She insisted.

"Why not? Is something wrong?" I asked, wondering why Zia Benedetta was suddenly so nervous.

"It will be your first time stepping out and showing people that you're in the country. Are you sure you're ready for all that attention?"

"What if they notice the uncanny resemblance you have with your real mother? Are you ready for that?" Ursula added.

I looked at them, grateful for their concerns but insulted by their belittling of my capabilities.

"Maria Caruso died on a plane many years ago. I am Maria C. Delvey. I don't know or care what anyone says about a resemblance. I am the daughter of a German duchess who will be going to celebrate her late mother's best friend's death anniversary. If anyone has a problem with that, they'll have me to contend with."

"And what about Vincenzo? Are you ready to face him?" Ursula asked.

"The real question is, are Vincenzo and the whole Santoro clan ready for what is about to hit them?" I said. I felt rage and fury like never before.

I was going to make sure they felt the same pain I felt half of my life. Ursula walked up to me. Taking my hands, she kissed them.

"You have my blessings then," Ursula mouthed with a smile.

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