Chapter TWENTY three

Luciano's POV
It's been days since I've spoken to Lotus,I thought the last time we would meet at the hospital she would at least talk to me. At first I was a little worried when Troy told me he and his wife wanted to hand over guardianship of Liam to me. I know how much Lotus loves her kids but the thought of getting at least a reaction out of her where she would be forced to talk to me made me happy.
I never thought she would break up our engagement, and after walking out of the hospital I thought she would at least run after me or even call me,to try and work things out but she did none of that. I understand she's stressed out and just wants what's best for Mari but I can't let her carry that punk Nick's child.
So today I'm planning on surprising her and taking her out to breakfast so we can talk and work things out. She loves tulips so I sent Enzo to get her some ,while Liam helped me get dressed.
I head out and Katherine,Liam and Enzo send me off. On the way I called Troy who's at the hospital with Mari so I can talk to my little principessa. Now I'm going to see my other principessa, I'll fight for her. Besides Nick is in my tuff,I won't let him steal my woman compared to me Nick is a little amateur, I'm five times richer than him,I know they say never tott your own horn but I'm way handsome.
I pull into the manor and see her Rolls Royce she must be home, I'm a little nervous so I double check myself, I'm wearing my burgundy Armani suit that she got me,I carry the tulips and the engagement ring in one hand while my other hand holds the chocolate and pink teddy bear.
Okay here goes nothing,I walk to the front door and ring the bell,I don't want to startle her,so I wait and ring the bell a few times.
I finally hear footsteps and the door unlocks, and there standing before me is the love of my life,Lotus.
"Luciano what are you doing here",she looked at me surprised.
" What do you mean,what am I doing here,I came to see the woman I love", I say and smile awkwardly, I then take a moment to assess her and she's wearing a man's dress shirt but it's not mine. I look at her again and hear.
"Who is it Babe",I hear Nick say, who then walks to us with a towel wrapped around his waist with water dripping from his hair.
"I'm so sorry Luciano",she whispers as tears roll down her face.
I drop the things in my hand and punch the smug smirk off of Nick's face,I continue punching and kicking him even after he stops moving.
I then turn to Lotus who's standing by the wall,I walk to her and punch the wall.
"I'm sorry Luciano,I was drunk,I seriously didn't mean to",she sobs" please forgive me".
" Did you ever love me?",I whisper,I don't realize that I'm crying till I feel the tears roll down my face.
"Yes I did, I still do",she says and holds my face in both her hands" you're an amazing person,who wouldn't love you?".
" You", I say and caress her face,the face that I dream of every night,the face I wish to wake up to for the rest of my life.
"My grandmother once told me,If you love something badly",she doesn't let me finish and puts her finger on my lips.
"Don't please, don't say that Luciano, don't finish whatever you're about to say",she whispers and I kiss her finger.
" Set it free",I continue" if it comes back to you,it will be yours forever,if it doesn't it was never yours to begin with",I say quietly,I don't know where I'm getting the energy to say this is coming from.
I take a deep breath and hold her close to me"I love you,you know. But I have to let you go,you have to let me let you go, you're perfect for me Lotus you've all I've wanted,if I chose to be blind I'd believe we are meant to be".
" Don't say that Luciano we can work things out, please I'm begging you",she pleads,but there was nothing in the first place that was there to work out, I'm not the Man she loves.
"Falling in love with someone you can never be with,is the biggest fuck up in life,you want to be with Nick,be with him, This is the last time you and the Kids will ever see me Lotus, you're no good for me and I'm not good for you, it's hurts knowing that you've never felt the same way I've felt about you", she looks at me pleadingly, I see the tears in her eyes in and my heart squeezes painfully,I can't bare to see her like this.
She looks at me and wipes my tears"please Luciano, think of our kids, they love you so much, you're their dad, I'll never forgive myself".
" Be happy Lotus, that's all I want for you,it hurts like hell knowing you love someone else to know that you've been in love with someone else this whole time,it hurts "I say and slowly peck her lips.
" Please don't Luciano, I'll die without you, we're a family,you just can't leave,No!",she holds my shirt and sobs.
" I love you principessa",I whisper to her lips and kiss her forehead," you should probably call a doctor for him",I say and look at the son of a bitch laying on the floor.
I turn away but I'm stopped by Lotus holding to my hand,I slowly loosen her fingers one by one"let go Lotus' ',I say and walk out the door.
And it suddenly started raining, suiting the way I feel deep within my soul. I prayed that this day would never come,but I guess just like when I prayed for a miracle to save my grandmother God didn't hear me. She's the one I love and it hurts to let go and say goodbye. But it's too late for regrets.
I start the engine and scream all my frustration out but it doesn't help relieve the pain I feel so I hit the steering wheel a few times before starting the engine.
I hear a series of taps on the window and see Lotus trying to open the door telling me not to leave. More tears stream down my face. Why is she making it difficult for both of us?
So I step on the gas pedal and speed out of there. I stop and look behind me to see the woman I love stand in the rain and look helplessly at my car. But I harden my resolve even though I want nothing but to run into her hands and forget about everything, it's what's best,I know she feels sorry she broke my heart that's why she's like this, it's all pity she doesn't love me.
So I drove out of the manor and drove to the hospital.
Everyone looks at me weirdly because of my drenched clothes. I slowly make my way to Mari's room with a big unicorn that I bought on my way here.
I softly knock then enter and everyone turns to me,Enzo,Liam , Katherine and Troy and his wife Bianca look at me. They can see my reddened eyes and my sorry state but don't say anything.
Liam runs to me and I hug and give him a kiss and just hold him for a few minutes. When I let go of him ,he complains about me getting him wet. I then walk to my princess laying in bed. The chemotherapy is making her weak and lost pale.
"Oh my gosh daddy is the unicorn for me!",she excitedly says and draws out her hands for a hug. She is my sunshine despite being sick, she knows how to keep everyone's spirit's up.
I hug and hold her for some minutes as well"you played in the rain without me",she pouts and complains" mommy will be mad if she finds out,where is mommy why didn't you come with her?",she innocently asks. And I just kiss her forehead and she smiles at me.
I removed the necklace with the ballerina and a little pink diamond in her hands from my pocket and put it around her neck."You look pretty Principessa".
"Thank you Daddy it's so pretty",she says and beams at me I hug her and quickly wipe the tear that rolled down my face."whenever you feel alone just look at the necklace and know daddy is always here for you and that he loves you to the moon and back",she says the last part with me.
I beckon Liam to us and hand him my father's watch and a little pocket knife"you're a man now so it's your duty to look after your mom and sister okay",he looks at me confused but nods his head anyway. I tell him to stay with his sister and walk out the room.
I'm later followed by Enzo,Troy , Bianca and Katherine. Bianca offers me a sad smile and gives me a hug and a kiss on the neck, Katherine does the same then they both walk back to the room to watch the kids.
Troy sighs and hugs me"I'm so sorry son, you're a great man, I'll always be grateful for being there for my grandkids and daughter",he says and walks into the room. And it's just me and Enzo.
Suddenly a little voice draws our attention"don't go dad , don't leave me", Liam runs into my arms,he look up to me as tears roll down his cute face."you promised not to be like Nick,did I do something wrong?,you can't go!,you promised!you promised me!a true gentleman keeps his word!men from the Ricci family always keep their word!you promised daddy!you promised me!,he screams and hits me over and over again.
Katherine comes and drags him away while he keeps shouting that I promised him. "Don't worry I'll look after the kids, I'm here for them",Enzo says and taps my shoulder. I give him a nod , and walk out of the hospital. I can still hear Liam's screams but I continue walking. I get into my car and drive away I don't know where I'm going but I continue driving, the only time I cried so much was when my grandmother died and I did it in private, I'm Luciano Ricci I couldn't let people see me cry but right now I don't care who sees and I cry and pour my heart out.
My phone continues to ring and it's Lotus she's been calling since I left ,I throw my phone out the window. I don't know how long I drove. I know that no matter how hard I try,I won't be able to forget Lotus. I just love her so much. Why isn't there a cure for this? I'm a billionaire,the fourth richest man on Earth but I'm here crying over a woman when I could have any type I want,but I don't want them if it's not her.
Love hurts so much,and knowing that the person who put me here is the person who was supposed to love me most,the person I'd give my life for is the worst part of all. I won't beg for love, I'll never beg for love.
I wish there was something that could make it stop hurting.