Chapter 55- A CHANCE

One week later

Leonardo gripped onto the steering wheel but even when he had his attention on the road, he could not help to steal glances at his wife. For the past week he had been occupied with work and due to this, he had to cancel her surprise but even as he was driving her to the spot, she was completely silent.

The connection between them during the day was plain and boring and the only time where she would come alive was when they were in bed together, wrapped in each other's embrace.

Leonardo no longer able to take the silence between them, he stopped the car on the side of the road and killed the engine. To his surprise, Aurora had not noticed. Her hand still on her neck, playing with her locket and looking into a far distance.

'Avena if you are mad that was busy the entire week then you can go ahead and tell me" Leonardo told her, his voice stern. Aurora turned her head around slowly and looked at Leonardo as though she was lost in her own world.

'Huh?"

'Did you even hear what I said?" he asked her, surprised that she had not heard a single thing that he had said to her. He ran his fingers through his hair, slightly frustrated that that once more Aurora was creating a distance between them.

'I am sorry, my mind was—"

'Elsewhere? Avena, if there is anything wrong with you, why don't tell me" Leonardo asked, concerned that once more their relationship would be on the rocks. Aurora nervously stared at Leonard as she contemplated telling him the truth or not.

'I just missed home that's all" She blurted out, shutting her eyes once more as she lied. In reality, she did not miss the Russo mansion one bit. Other than the workers and signora Meta, there was nothing that she missed about the place at all.

Leonardo looked away, ashamed that he had thought the worst of his wife when she in reality was just missing home.

'I am sorry, it was stupid of me to think the worst of you like that" he confessed. Aurora swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling guilty that Leonardo was feeling bad over her lies.

'No it's not your fault, I should have been more vocal about how I was feeling" Aurora told him, flashing a smile to soften the mood. Seeing Aurora smile pleased Leonardo so much that he placed a kiss on her forehead.

'Okay but I do not want you to worry because I will make sure that we find your parents. I promise" Leonardo's promise left a cold feeling running down Aurora's spine.

In essence, she did not want him to find both Signora Mia and signor Giovanni, if Leonardo were to find them, then her happiness would come to an abrupt end.

'Okay" she told him with a smile on her face, when deep in her heart she was truly unsettled.

'Let's get going, I am taking you to a special place" he smiled, knowing how much his wife would love where he was taking her.

'Where are you taking me?"

'Don't worry, you would love it" Leonardo informed her and started the car and just like that had drove off to their destination.

I will make sure that we find your parents. Leonardo's words replayed in her head as worry and fear gripped her.

The ride to their destination was long, so long that Aurora had fallen asleep. Leonardo could help but to steal glances at his beautiful wife, once in a while whilst also keeping his eyes on the road.

Leonardo parked his car into the parking lot and the feeling of home engulfed him. Looking at the old building filled with so much stories and memories of happy times. He turned his head and he smiled at the sleeping Aurora, surprised that the buzz from outside their car had not woken her up.

'Wake up my love, we're here" he leaned in and whispered into her ear. Without even opening her eyes, Aurora knew that it was Leonardo. His sweat fragrance tickled her nose and her eyes shot wide open.

'Where are we?" she asked, still tired from the long ride.

'Well look around" he moved away from her so that Aurora could see their surroundings. She looked around confused as she saw that there was a buzz of students walking around with backpacks. She turned to look at him, still confused at what he was trying to tell her.

Leonardo reached for something in the back seat of his car and handed her a brown paper envelope, which Aurora studied the exterior.

'I don't get what you are saying"

'I think it is best that you open it" he told her. Aurora took the envelope from Leonardo, opened it, to reveal a white piece of paper. She read through its content whilst Leonardo impatiently waited for her reaction.

He had been working on this surprise for the past few weeks and the longer he waited for Aurora's response, the more his nerves flared up. Aurora read through the letter and when she was done, she placed it onto her lap.
Looking up at Leonardo, his heart sank as he saw tears filling up in her eyes.

'My love, what is wrong?" he frantically reached for her, making sure that she was okay.

'How did you do this" she smiled even though tears filled her eyes and threatened to fall. Leonardo breathe out a sigh of relief when he realized that she was indeed shocked rather than sad.

'Well, I noticed that you were close one of your employee, I mean, you were always on the phone with her. I think her name is Meta, I believe" Leonardo's confession left Aurora lost for words.

'She helped you?"

'Yes, she filled your application form and two week ago, I received a letter that you had been accepted to study medicine as this prestigious university" Leonardo delivered the news to her. She covered her mouth with her hands, shocked that anyone would go the extra mile to make her happy.

'But—why?" her voice broke as she was filled with so many emotions that she could not describe it.

'Because you are a smart and intelligent woman and all you have ever wanted was to be a doctor and now you can. I know that your parents are against you studying medicine but now that you are married to me, you will follow your dreams" Aurora was stunned by how passionately Leonardo looked into her eyes and she could see that he was truly determined to make her the happiest woman in the world.

'Thank you" she managed to speak. Leonardo took her hands in his and kissed it whilst looking right into her eyes.

'No, thank you for making me the happiest man in the world. Now hurry up, we have to get you ready for school" he told her, removing his seatbelt and stepping out of the car to unlock her door.

'You're more excited than me about this"

'Why not? My wife is going to become a doctor soon and I needed to prepare myself for all the injuries I'll sustain"

'Why would you sustain injuries?" she asked, worried that something might have been wrong with Leonardo.

'Well you will obviously be treating sick patients and I need to up my injury game. Maybe give myself a few paper cuts or two" he joked, causing Aurora to laugh.

'Oh please stop it"

'Now let's go inside, your future awaits you"

**

'Hello, signora Meta is that you?" Aurora spoke through the phone, hoping that the silence will soon be filled with the sound of signora Meta's voice.

'Yes my dear" the older woman spoke, her voice bringing so much joy to Aurora that her mood improved more than it had an half an hour ago. She had left Leonardo in the Deans office while she ran back to the car to speak to the only woman other than her mother who loved and cared for her.

'How did you do it?" she asked, almost lost for words as she tried to gather her breath.

'How did I do what?"

'Signora Meta, Leonardo already told me that you were the one that registered me into the university so that I can study medicine" Aurora told her and there was silence once again. 'Hello?"

'Yes my dear, I am here. Yes, I helped him register you, now finally you would have achieved what your mother had wanted for you all along" Even without seeing her, Aurora knew that the older woman was almost in tears as emotions ran through both women.

Aurora remembered the times when she would speak to signora Meta about her dreams of perusing medicine and here she was, doing just that and making her mother proud.

'Thank you" was all that Aurora could squeeze out of her mouth. Lost for words could not come close to describing how she was feeling during that time.

'And you are welcome my dear. I can tell that your husband loves you very much and I want nothing more than for you to be the happiest woman in the world"

'Thank you signora Meta—for everything and I am sure that mom is looking down at us and smiling"

'You are welcome, I have to go now but be blessed my dear" Signora Meta wished her the best of luck and ended the call, just as Leonardo returned to the car. Aurora quickly wiped her tears away before Leonardo could see her.

'Where were you? I was looking—Wait are you crying? Who hurt you" Leonardo asked, going into defensive mode quicker than she had ever seen him.

'No I was speaking to Signora Meta and I guess I got a little emotional, that's all" Leonardo let out a sigh, relieved that no one had hurt Aurora. The thought of anyone hurting the woman he loved made his blood boil.

'You scared me" he told her, holding onto her hand as though it were his lifeline. His eyes glittered as he looked at his wife, there was more surprises left and he hoped that she loved it as much as he loved it.

'I'm sorry"

'No need to apologize, because we have to go to our next spot"

'Where are we going?" she asked, stunned that they had other engagements that Leonardo had not told her about.

'It's a surprise"

'Oh no please, I think I have had enough surprises to last me and entire life time"

'Nope, we have to go there and I will not take no for an answer" Leonardo told her, his smile grew wider as he told her this.

Without waiting for Aurora to say another word, he started the engine and they were off to Leonardo's next surprise.
The Italian's Runaway Bride
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