XIII

CHAPTER 13

"What happened to my daughter?" a man in black suit asked. He just arrived in the kitchen and heard her wife speak.

"What happened to Samantha?" He asked again, looking both at her wife and younger daughter.

Marcelina sighed, "We don't know. Dina texted us they are bringing Sammy to the hospital" she explained.

"Then let's go and find out" he said and they quickly went to their car. Good thing his driver is still in the car, so he ordered him to drive as quick as he can to the said address.

When Julia received the text from Dina, she just landed. She quickly pulled Paul away and told him to let their men pick up their stuff for them because there's an emergency.

Julia dialed her aunt's number as soon as the car drove their way to the hospital.

"Julia, darling" her aunt Gretta greeted her.

"Auntie please hurry up and go to the address I am sending you. Samantha was brought to the hospital." She quickly ended the call and sent the text to her aunt.

When Gretta heard it her heart pounded, her husband saw her looking a little bit pale making him worry.

"Are you alright?" He worriedly asked his wife.

"We need to go to the hospital" Gretta answered, making him confused why.

"Why?" he asked curiously.

"Alexis’ girlfriend, Sam" she answered shortly, making the man alerted.

He quickly picked up his keys and they left their home. He called the hospital about what room is her daughter's girlfriend is in. It's going to be a twenty minute drive before they get there. Gretta hopes that Samantha is okay.

Samantha has already been checked by the doctor telling the trio she is fine and they get there quickly. The good thing is the baby is safe but Samantha needed a two day bed rest.

"How is she?" Marcelina asked the three.

"She is safe and so is the baby" Rose answered, making her mom and sister sigh in relief.

"What baby are you talking about, Rose?" Samantha's dad asked, making her eyes wide, her father doesn't know about her pregnancy yet.

Marcelina holds her husband's arm and pulls him to the side and sits down. She is trying to calm her over protective husband. When she thinks she is calm she starts telling him about her daughter being pregnant.

"Alexis is the father?" He asked, surprised, making her wife nod, while Shane silently looked at her parents.

He didn't know Alexis can make someone pregnant, she was only told by his friend that she is his daughter.

"Donna, is Sam okay?" Julia asked panting, Paul running behind her.

"She is okay and the baby is safe. She needed to rest for awhile" Donna answered, making Julia feel relieved.

They both decided to get something to drink, her throat feels dry from running. It's a good thing her cousin's family is safe. She sent Paul home after knowing the news. While they were walking into the elevator they didn't notice her uncle and aunt walking out the other elevator door.

Gretta and Maximus quickly went to the door room number where Samantha is confined.

"Max" someone familiar called him. He looked behind him and saw his friend and his wife sitting.

Rose and Dina on the corner looking at them. They knew it was the right time they all met. While they waited for the doctor who said that they needed to wait for her before they could go in, she needed to hand them the results and check her vitals then they could visit her inside.

"Ricky?" Maximus said and smiled at his friend. "Why are you here?" He asked, walking his way. Gretta greeted the two and smiled at them letting the men talk.

"I'm here for my daughter" Ricardo, Samantha's father answered pointing at the door where his daughter is inside.

Maximus looked confused, looking at his friend and her wife who nodded.

"You are the parents of my daughter's girlfriend?" He asked surprised.

"No wonder we couldn't find any available information about her and her friends" Gretta said, making them look at her who only shrugged.

Rose and Dina who are listening only raised their brow. They understand a wealthy family will hire someone to investigate the people who have gotten closer to their heir.

The four laugh knowing the truth, they are glad to know their daughter's have fallen in love with each other, but still unhappy that Alexis is still missing, in which Ricardo and her wife Marcelina promised to keep helping and find Alexis.

Samantha woke up to people who were giggling and talking, making her groan and feel annoyed by the noises they made.

"Why are you so noisy?" She complained and opened her eyes.

The people around her went silent waiting for their patient to open her eyes. Samantha saw lots of people, her friends, parents and her sister. She also saw Julia and Alexis' mother Gretta but saw someone familiar to her.

"Alex?" She called out her tears running down her cheeks.

"Sam, it's Alexis' dad, my uncle Max" Julia explained she knew her uncle and her cousin looked alike but if you look deep, Maximus' eyes are amber while Alexis is blue like her mother. Also Alexis lips are thinner than her father, it is much like her mother, Gretta. They say Alexis is the younger version of his uncle.

"I am pleased to meet you, I am Maximus, Alexis's dad" he introduced to the blonde who shook his hand and smiled.

She is happy to see Alexis in the image of her father. It's like she is just in front of her but his voice is much deeper compared to her snail.

"Can I hug you?" Samantha asked, making the man nod and smile.

He can tell how she misses her daughter and is happy to see her with him. He is happy it is helping the girl her daughter loves. Everyone is catching up, getting close to one another.

Shane seated beside her sister giving her a warm hug. "I know you miss her so much Adelina, I miss her too." She said looking at her sister.

"I do. I Still can't believe we like the same person" Samantha said with a chuckle.

She isn't mad knowing her sister liked the person she loves. They just didn't know. Alexis didn't know they are also related. She is in Italy while her sister is in the US. Probably when Alexis finds out she will also be shocked.

Later that evening sent back home, her dad insisted to the hospital that they have their own doctor to look for his daughter at home, so they signed a waiver. Maximus, Gretta and Julia bid their goodbyes to the Herrera family and the trio, they promised to visit her.

"We will be staying at our rest house in San Francisco. You're all welcome to come and visit us there" Ricardo said, making Samantha groan.

"But dad, I will be fine here too," she complained.

"No. You are staying there, we are. You'll be away from stress, do you want to lose your baby?" Ricardo asked her, making her whip her head no.

She finally agreed with her father's decision, it is safer there and she could see her beautiful garden landscape again. She hadn't been there for so long, she wondered how her Jade Vines looked now.

"Sam, we will come and visit. We will bring you tons of cheese and honey too" Julia said, making Donna giggle that she earned a pinch from the pregnant blonde.

Samantha's family left L.A. that evening driving to their rest house in San Francisco. The trio left with them, they will be staying with their family once they get there, their hometown.

Days had passed when the blood samples came. Julia is with her family planning to meet Donna's parents next week. They asked Julia if she is sure to settle down with that girl and she answered yes. Her brother teases her that she is ot going to hangout with more hot women if she finally settled down with Donna.

"Come on Jules, how about those girls in bikinis?" Glenn teases her sister.

"I already made a decision. I will marry Donna, and for the first time I am contented" she explained smiling, making her parents happy seeing their daughter happy and content.

"Fine, more girls for me," Glenn said with a huge grin.

Everyone laughed at his antics. Julia is feeling great to have a discussion of her and Donna's relationship.

"Ma'am, one of Sir Paul's subordinates is looking for you," one of their servants said, making Julia stand up and excuse herself.

She came to a man wearing all black, holding a brown envelope making her think it is the DNA test results she has been waiting for. She let him in and they walked to their pool area.

"Is that the result of the blood samples Paul sent to the clinic?" She asked him, which he nodded.

He handed Julia the envelope. She opened and read it, to see the result which said it's negative, then there is a picture inside the envelope of the man who died.

"Contact his family and tell them what happened to him. Then give some cash to help them. You're dismissed" she instructed the man and thanked him for his service.

She called her uncle Max to finally tell him about it. She has been keeping this from her uncle, and she is relieved to know the result says negative.

"You should have told me about it, it's a heavy burden for you Julia" Maximus said with care to his niece.

"It's okay uncle. By the way, how was the investigation about the surveillance cameras?" She asked and heard her uncle sigh on the other line.

"About that..." He paused and she heard him gulping something, probably drinking whisky, "...we couldn't find anything, it's like it has been wiped out. I already hired excellent hackers to retrieve them but to no avail. We found nothing, even the hospital's videos are all clean" he explained with a sigh.

Julia sighed feeling defeated, she thought that it was probably her cousin and someone with a wealthy background took her away, but why.

Months had passed and they couldn't locate it still, her family was losing some hope of finding Alexis. Samantha on the other hand is still hopeful. She has grown more beautiful and her bump is much more noticeable.

Gretta has grown fond of Samantha, she finally sees and experiences why her daughter is in love with the blonde. Alejandra, their grandmother, has gotten closer to the blonde as well as the other family members. When they heard Samantha is the eldest daughter of family Herrera they were surprised, it is one of the wealthy families that focuses on industrial business. Alejandra is fond of knowing her granddaughter's girlfriend loves the history of artifacts, when she knew she was the one that introduced it in the auction, she made it her mission to know more about Samantha. She is a gem to her, someone who can identify fake and legit artifacts and artwork is so rare.

"How well are you now, Sam?" Julia asked her while they were in the fountain area of the Leone's mansion. She has been staying with Alexis' parents, every month she is either in their rest house in San Francisco or in Alexis' place in Los Angeles.

"I am actually doing quite well" she answered with a content smile and rubbed her baby bump.

"Are you excited to know the gender tomorrow?" Julia asked the pregnant blonde whose smile widened hearing about it.

"I am. I can't wait to know if it's a girl or a boy" she answered happily making Julia giggle at her.

"What if the baby is like my cousin?" She asked, which made the blonde look at her seriously.

"I don't care what gender our baby will be. It is part of me and part of Alexis. I will accept it no matter what" she seriously answered making Julia nod.

She is happy to know that she is still in love with her cousin even after many months have gone by.

In the next couple of weeks is Julia's birthday and at the same time their engagement party. Donna's family accepted and supported their daughter to marry Julia. They don't mind that their daughter is marrying another female, besides they know the background of Julia. She and Alexis are known in the business industry for accomplishing a lot at a young age. Alexis is known as Max in the business world, to the business ventures, investors and wealthy people she is known as Max Junior, her father's son. Only few knew she is female, because she is announced male in her birth certificate, they later found out she is intersex.

Tonight it is Julia's birthday. Julia is wearing a purple three piece pantsuit with a black four inch heels.

The birthday celebrant is walking to her fiancee, holding a bouquet of yellow daisy that she likes. When Donna sees how hot and classy Julia is looking at her, she smiles and blushes. Her twin sister didn't fail to notice it which made her tease her tomato red sister. Julia hands her the bouquet, reaches for her hand and kisses the back of it. Donna is wearing a purple dress to match Julia.

The couple walk down the stairs with everyone congratulating them and wishing Julia a happy birthday. They had a busy night and still haven't met Rose and Samantha. They thought it was hard for the pregnant blonde to move a lot, that's why they are late.

"Rose, where's Sam?" Julia asked when she saw her having a glass of white wine near the food area.

"I am also looking for her, I thought she'd be here where the food is placed" she joked earning a chuckle from the couple.

"Oh there she is,'' Rose pointed to where the pregnant blonde was picking some salad and red velvet cupcake on her plate and picking another. Now she picked a few slices of different cheeses.

Rose looks at Julia raising a brow who only shrugs at her.

"You made sure to serve a variety of cheeses for her, didn't you?" Donna asked her fiancee who nodded.

"Let's go and stop her from stealing more cheese," Rose said jokingly and the three left and walked where the blonde was.

Samantha is wearing a tulle blue long sleeve party dress. Looking at her she looks like a goddess. It matches her blonde hair with her baby bump looking cute.

A guy beat them and came to her first, which made the three halt. All they can see is his back, then they heard Samantha laughing at his jokes. He tried to help her fill her plate with whatever she thinks she'd like to.

"Should we interfere?" Donna asked two who doubted if they should or should not.

But then Julia decided that they should interfere. It is her cousin's girlfriend and they don't know what the guy's motive is, after all she is pregnant and prone to danger, what if he made a move that would put her in danger.

"Sammy" Donna called her friend out, which made her turn to look at her.

"You look beautiful, Donna" Samantha complimented her on seeing her friend in that lovely dress.

"And you look gorgeous in that tulle blue dress, Sammy" she returned the compliment back at her.

"Let's go back inside" Julia suggested and when the guy heard her voice he turned around and saw them.

"Oh Julia it's you. Happy birthday cousin" Stefano greeted her and gave her a hug, she was surprised to see him.

Donna and Rose stared at them, while Samantha smiled at the cousins.

"Mind to introduce me to the three ladies?" Stefano said with a confident smile.

"Um girls, this is my cousin from my mother's side, Stefano. Cousin, this is Rose, Donna my fiancee and Samantha, Alexis' girlfriend" she emphasized the word Alexis so that he knows where to stand.

She knows her own cousin, he and her brother are much alike. They are womanizers and love having fun and enjoying women's attention. She doesn't want him to play his tricks with her cousin's future family.

They left him out there and brought the three girls inside, meeting Dina who is sitting on the couch feeling bored. She has been looking for her friends inside the house and rested because her feet hurt from walking too much.

"Finally" she groaned when she saw her friends. She stood up and walked closer to them with sore feet but bearable.

"Your brother has been pestering me" Dina complained to Julia who only raised a brow learning about it.

"What did he do?" Julia curiously asked, the others waiting for her to gossip while Samantha is busy devouring her red velvet cupcake.

"Well he's been flirting and I said he is not my type. He touched my bum so I gave him a black eye" Dina explained with a smirk. She felt satisfied after he received a smack on the eye for touching her.

Julia laughs at that, her brother deserves it. He was probably a little drunk, he needed a lecture from her. It is her fiancee's twin sister. It is like he touches her girl too. Donna and Dina are fraternal twins, they look alike but act differently. Donna's eyes are light brown while Dina has hazel green eyes, which you can spot the difference right away and Donna's mole on the left side near her ear.

Everyone started leaving the party, the ones that are still there are Donna and Julia's family. Her uncle came to her and congratulated her again.

"I'm so happy for you Julia, if Alexis is here she'll do your toast for you." Maximus gave her a loving hug.

"Thank you uncle, I wish she was here too" Julia said with a sigh.

"We'll be heading home now. I'll see you on Monday" he bid goodbyes and went to his wife.

Gretta and Samantha are waiting for Maximus. Samantha is now the daughter of their home, it doesn't feel that cold anymore with her presence, Especially since they had a grandchild coming along.

"Sweetie, when is your next check up?" Gretta asked Samantha when they entered the house.

"In the next three days, on Wednesday. I'll be getting a vitamin refill as well" she replied suddenly feeling a little pain.

"What's wrong?" Gretta asked who then helped her sit down on the sofa. Maximus noticed and hurriedly walked to the two women worriedly.

"I think she is kicking. It's a little painful" Samantha described what she felt which made the couple smile knowing they can now feel their granddaughter.

Gretta put her hand on her stomach to feel her grandchild kicking which brought her to tears. Maximus followed and felt the little kicks making him smile wider and excited to finally see her born.

Samantha looked at Alexis' parents with joy, she would feel complete if only she was here with them. She reminded herself to be strong for her and her baby, no matter what happened she will be there for their child. She always looks at Alexis' picture in her phone, remembering the time they are enjoying the beach, stargazing, the lavender field and the food they tried together.

She sometimes goes and visits some beaches with her friends to feel the cold breeze and the cold water on her feet, while rubbing her bump and telling her father's dad eyes reminds her of the beach and wishing that she will inherit it.

"Hey, I met you again" someone familiar called her attention.

She whipped her head to the side and saw the man she just met last week.

"Stefano" the man smiled when she called his name.

"You can call me Stef or either way you want" the man smiled sweetly, she could tell he was being nice and wanted to get closer to her.

She doesn't mind having a new friend, which is Julia's cousin, but if he even wants more than that she will put boundaries and tell him to keep off.

He was holding a cup of coffee and a bag with pastries. He invited her to have some but she declined. She needed to stop eating lots of sweets because her insulin level is rising, the doctor said she needs to minimize it.

"I will be honest with you, Sam" Stefano paused looking at her in the eyes, "...I find you really attractive and that night I saw you for the first time I was so hooked by your beauty" he added making the blonde quiet still wanted to test the water.

Stefano sighs, he really likes the girl that her cousin's cousin is dating but she is gone. She is probably dead, it is not wrong to like the girl she likes.

"Let's just be friends. I can't let you expect that we can be more than friends. I still love Alex, friendship is all I can offer Stefano '' Samantha candidly spoke so he knows where to stand.

Stefano nodded and agreed, he is fine being her friend as well and thought that maybe on the right time she will like him back more than that. He accompanied the pregnant woman for half an hour until Rose came to see her at the cafe. She apologized the moment she saw Samantha, she was late and she knew the patience of the pregnant blonde is quite thin.

"It's alright, Stefano here accompanied me" she later noticed the man, she greeted and thanked him for staying with Samantha.

The man bid goodbye to them. The two went to a store to buy baby clothes, the twins will come by next time, they have been busy with the planning for Donna's wedding. Samantha was helping too, she is the one Donna picked to help her with what flowers she should choose for the reception area.

"What about this one?" Rose asked her, presenting a blue and pink set of baby clothes.

"What about we pick them together? I like the blue ones but my baby is a girl, I should choose pink too, right?" she said confusedly.

"She will absolutely look good in both. You're right let's pick two" Rose agreed putting the clothes in their basket.

In a couple of months Samantha is going to see her little baby girl. They will see the baby in less than twelve weeks and everyone is excited to see. Her aunt Merida will fly back next week. She was supposed to come by right after the four of them flew back to the US but there was an emergency in her aunt's farm and it needed her attention.

"What do you think of Stefano?" Dina asked her, they are face timing the twins.

Rose and her are currently having dinner and the twins called to check on their shopping spree.

"Yeah Sammy, he looks handsome" Donna complimented the man.

"I will definitely tell Julia you called someone handsome" Dina threatened her twin sister, they are now quarreling.

They heard their mother yelling "Shut it you two" which made Samantha and Rose laugh, and the twin apologizing to their mother.

"So?" Dina insisted on her question.

"I'm fine being friends with him. I told him earlier that we can be friends but just that. I am still in love with Alex" the three nodded and understood.

They didn't want to push her to like or date someone but only asked what she thinks of the man, but if they keep insisting to ask her questions about Stefano, she will probably be grumpy. Samantha's patience with everything is bad, loud noises annoys her a lot, the smell of Dina's perfume also still irritates her, Donna's frowning face makes her mood bad as well, only Rose doesn't annoy her that makes the twin feel so unfair.

"Are you two going to join us to pick Aunt Merida?" Rose asked the twins who nodded. They want to see Merida and can finally get an expensive bottle of wine they asked her a couple months ago.

A week has gone and it's time for them to pick Merida at the airport. They are riding a black Rolls-Royce, Alexis' dad insisted on letting them ride the car to pick her aunt. The trio enjoying the expensive car, they kept on pushing the buttons that are built in the custom made car.

"OMG there's a bottle of champagne in here" Donna excitedly said, taking the cold bottle from the compartment and pouring some on the glass she found as well.

The three enjoyed the expensive champagne making the pregnant woman groan. The champagne they are enjoying is the 2003 Krus Clos du Mesnil that cost more than $1500 and she had tasted it three times from her dads liquor cabinet.

She told them to shut up and stop moaning whenever they chug the champagne. She wanted to have a taste of that bottle as well but she couldn't because of her pregnancy.

They waited at the front for her aunt Merida to walk out. She spotted them and waved. The three helped her with her belongings, the driver patiently waiting for her young mistress to get in with her friends and aunt.

"Let's go" Samantha told the driver and he nodded.

"Did you bring us the wine auntie?" the twins asked while clapping their hands just like a little kid.

Merida nodded and showed them the box where the wine is inside. Their smiles went wider when they saw the box, Rose whipping her head embarrassed of her friends.

"You're blossoming Adelina," her aunt said, seeing how her skin was glowing. She puts one of her hands on Samantha's stomach feeling the bump then suddenly Samantha groans.

"What's wrong Sammy?" The three asked in unison.

"The baby kicked," she answered, making their eyes widen.

They have been trying to feel the kick or move for a while but the baby always refuses to when they put their hand on her mother's stomach. The three hurriedly put their hands on the remaining space of Samantha's stomach yet they didn't feel anything.

Samantha giggled at her friends, "She doesn't like you three" the three groaning and frowning.

Merida laughs at the four, the three really do want to feel the baby kick. "Don't worry she will be moving a lot now, you just need to be more aware" when the three heard it they felt excited.

Merida will be staying at Alexis parent's house just for a day. Samantha asked permission from Gretta that her aunt might stay at their house after they picked her up, which they didn't mind. Gretta tells her that her family and friends are always welcome in their abode.

The drive seems quick with them laughing and talking while driving back home. The car stopped indicating they finally arrived. They get out of the car and help Merida pick up her luggage, when the servant sees them they insist on carrying it for them.

"This place looks expensive," Merida said, eying her niece who only smiled.

"It is auntie," Donna said. The house is extravagant, everything inside costs a lot even though it may look simple but the cost is expensive.

The five made it inside the house, Samantha heard Gretta's voice and saw her talking on the phone. She let the three accompany her aunt and wait for her in the living area. She excused herself and went to where Gretta was standing, she waited until the call was done and decided to walk close to her.

"Oh you're back, sweetie" Gretta smiled at her.

"We just got back, they are at the living area for now. I would like to introduce you to my aunt" Samantha said and she nodded, intertwining their arms and walking inside, making it to the living room.

"Momma this is my aunt Merida, auntie please meet Alexis' mom” Samantha introduced, whereas the two gasped in surprise.

"Me-me?" "Gi-gi?"