XIV

CHAPTER 14

"Me-me?" "Gi-gi?" the two squeal, making the four look confused.

The two older women run in each other's arms, still squeezing. They haven't seen each other for a long time.

"It's been a long time my dearest friend," Merida said to Gretta.

"Says someone who moved away for years and has forgotten her best friend" Gretta replied with a little attitude, they both laugh at their antics.

The four staring at them, shrugging still surprised to see the two know each other. They later learn that Merida and Gretta are college besties. They both studied in Stanford University and later parted when they focused on their businesses. The four of them and the two older women are now enjoying a cup of tea and lemon cake in the garden.

"Adelina, don't drink too much tea it's not safe for the baby" Merida warned her niece

"It's okay, it's peppermint tea, it's safe," Gretta said, giving a sweet smile to the pregnant blonde.

"Can we now drink the wine auntie brought for us?" Donna asked, hinting about the expensive wine.

"Oh come on, you three already chug the expensive champagne on the way to the airport" Samantha groaned. She wanted to drink but couldn't.

Donna feeling embarrassed blushes. She is just excited to have a taste of it but Samantha was right she and the two girls really enjoyed the fine champagne in the car.

"Okay maybe we drink it the next day" she suggested while clapping her hands.

"Are you sure you're getting married?" Rose asked, obviously doubting her friend who is so childish.

"Of course I am. Julia and I have already chosen the date" she answered confidently.

The two older women only staring and listening to the young ones. Gretta invited her to walk inside to have a talk for themselves, leaving the four outside, the twins quarreling over the last slice of lemon cake.

"So she is your niece, that's why I find her face familiar when my daughter showed me her photos" Gretta said while fixing the flowers on her vase.

"A lot already said that my niece and I look alike" she replied while sipping the tea she brought with her inside the house. "I heard about your daughter still missing, I'm sorry, that's a terrible accident"

Gretta sighed, she got an album where the photos of Alexis with them are in and showed it to her best friend. Merida saw Alexis when she was little but doesn't know what she looked like when she grew up. When she saw the photos of Alexis in the album, she stated that Alexis and her dad Maximus look the same.

Gretta felt happy to see her best friend after nine years. She is happy she is now back and could have someone to collide her feelings other than her husband. She is still devastated that her daughter is still missing and couldn't do anything to help, and to only sit and wait, but for how long?

Merida stayed for a few days in Gretta's home, she left after three days of staying over. She is now with Samantha and on the way to their rest house in San Francisco. She is gonna stay over at her brother's place for the time being, she does miss her family.

"Rose, what are you doing here?" Samantha asked when she saw Rose talking to her sister in the kitchen.

"She is helping me bake red velvet cupcakes, look sister we made plenty" Shane explained and showed two dozen cupcakes laying on the countertops with frosting, some with sprinkles on and some still incomplete.

Samantha reached to grab one but Shane smacked her hand not to touch them.

"That's not yours, I have made yours and it's inside that box" Shane pointed to a white box.

Samantha walked over her desserts, she opened it and saw six red velvet cupcakes with white frosting and topped with raspberries, making her mouth water. She smiled at her sister and thanked the two of them and forgot to tell her that their aunt Merida is back. Her aunt wanted to surprise them so she only let Samantha know and she told Rose to zip her mouth.

"What took you so long, Adelina?" Merida suddenly appears in the kitchen, Shane, who is picking some more sprinkles, drops what she was holding when she saw her aunt standing there.

"Oops I forgot to tell you. The cupcakes fault" Samantha said making everyone laugh.

Samantha and Rose left Shane and her aunt to catch up, her mother and father are in Los Angeles doing some work and investigation. Samantha is now on her third cupcake and Rose is looking at her in concern.

"Sammy, aren't you supposed to not eat a lot of sweets?" She asked, the pregnant blonde stopped and stared at her with wide eyes, mouthing sorry. Rose giggled at her friend, she knew how much she loves sweets and all this pregnancy is making her eat so much.

Samantha obviously gained weight but she doesn look that fat, in fact she looks more beautiful, her bum and bust are bigger than before.

"I came here to hand you this" Rose showed her a black envelope with a bronze sticker cover, she waited for Samantha to open it first and read what's in it.

"We are invited to a gallery show and they are expecting your appearance there," Rose added.

"Tell them we're coming. It's been awhile since I've been in a gallery show, we held lots of auctions this year" she agreed to come to the gallery which made Rose happy.

Rose has been looking forward to being in the gallery show in Hong Kong. The country is also called "The Auction Heart of Asia". The four of them have traveled in Asia as well to look for artifacts and studied its history.

Samantha told her family and Alexis' parents about the invitation they received. Alexis' parents wanted to disagree but they let the blonde decide, besides it is her line of work and an opportunity. They made sure the blonde agreed to be accompanied by two female bodyguards just to make her safe and she agreed that they will use Leone's private jet and will stay at one of their hotels they operate in Hong Kong.

The pregnant blonde understands they want her safe and are traumatized by the accident that happened to their daughter when she rode a plane that wasn't theirs. Her parents also are worried for her, she is pregnant and is going to travel by plane for 24 hours. But she told them not to worry, she will have two bodyguards with her provided by Alexis' parents.

The day of the gallery show came. Four of them, including her bodyguards, attended the gallery. She is wearing a nude brown dress and will wear the black blazer when they are inside, for her to look more classy and formal in front of everyone.

People who recognized her in the art industry came to circle around her, pleased to see her coming to this event. The two female body guards try to shoo people away but she stops them, telling them it's safe here and Rose is with her.

"Why don't you two mingle over there. You can still keep an eye on us and can enjoy it at the same time" she suggested, to which the two of them agreed and took their leave.

The people around her now started asking her questions about her being pregnant and who is the father, Rose answered, "It's out of context to ask my friend about personal matters, why don't we talk about the artwork placed here..." Rose paused and pointed at one of the artwork in the wall, "...do you know that painting cost $200 million and is an artwork made by Jackson Pollock and called Number 17A made in year 1948" when Rose said that everyone was shocked to hear that the price of that abstract painting is a lot.

The people walk in front of the art work and study the painting closely, leaving the two behind, Samantha thanking her smart friend, she is starting to feel uncomfortable and frustrated with crowds.

Samantha and Rose walked all over the place looking at the set of art work displayed in the wall and some on its own table and covered with glass. Some of the people asked about the painting and sculptures and they explained it to them and helped them be enlightened that every artwork inside this gallery cost so much money.

The person who invited them to come to his gallery approaches them.

"Thank you for coming here to my gallery" he smiled at Rose and Samantha, handing them two glasses of champagne.

Rose accepted while Samantha declined and pointed at her baby bump.

"Oh my I didn't know. Congratulation" The man congratulates the blonde and tells her the baby will be as pretty or handsome because the mother is a gorgeous young lady.

Samantha excused herself and went to the toilet, she wanted to pee. The night is long and she has been peeing for the third time now. Rose wanted to come with her but she told her she would be fine. When she was done, she came to the sink and washes her hands, fixing her hair and clothes, then a reflection of a woman walking to the sink showed. She looks familiar to her, she is trying to remember where she has seen the woman.

"Meeting you again I see" the brunette said while washing her hands and not looking at her.

When the brunette finished drying her hands she faced Samantha looking her up and down, feeling inferior. Samantha stayed quiet but held her bump, making her baby safe.

"Relax, I won't hurt you geez" the brunette said and walked out but bump Samantha's shoulder while walking past her.

Samantha tried to balance herself and hold on to the sink making sure she and the baby were fine. She stayed inside there for a little more, Rose looking for her and decided to go inside the restroom.

"We've been looking for you, what's wrong?" Rose asked when she saw her friend holding her bump.

"She's here" she shortly replied, making her friend confused.

"Who?" Rose curiously asked.

"The brunette that bumped me and I almost fell from the stairs in Italy,” Samantha answered, making Rose fume in anger. She quickly went out and looked for that brunette, she looked in every direction to take a glimpse of that evil woman but she didn't see her. She probably has left the place, Rose thought.

She accompanied Samantha again asking her what exactly happened inside there. Samantha tells her every detail that she didn't say anything and just let the brunette talk and when she is about to leave she makes sure to bump her in the shoulder, luckily she keeps her balance and holds the sink.

"That woman!" Rose growls.

Suddenly everyone in the gallery clapping, someone is on the mini stage. The owner of this gallery and a girl standing beside him.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce you to the person behind the success of this gallery show, who funds the exquisite foods and drinks served to us tonight. Let's welcome Miss Rothenburg" everyone gave a round of applause to the brunette.

They listened to her give a short speech congratulating the owner of the gallery and thanking him for inviting her to this event. Rose and Samantha standing in the corner with her bodyguards guarding her. They learned about their young miss being threatened inside the toilet so they are now sticking beside her, in case someone tries to hurt her again.

The night is about to end and Samantha is safe, she kept feeling someone is staring at her from the crowd but shrugged it off. The brunette made her way in front of her and the others, "Fancy seeing you here tonight, I hope you enjoyed the event" she then left bumping into Rose's shoulder.

Rose wanted to grab her by the hair and slap her, but Samantha stopped her. Telling her that she just wanted to leave and rest, it's been a long and tiring night and her feet are sore. Rose agreed and left the place. The four of them went to their hotel suite, Alexis' parents provided for her.

She decided to bathe in the bathtub for her to think of what just happened this evening. She still wonders why that brunette despises her when she doesn't know her at all. Was she one of her competitors when she was still studying? She tried to think hard but she couldn't catch Rothenburg as one of her classmates, she never met someone like her before. Who is she?

"Sammy?" Rose called out when she noticed her friend had been bathing for an hour, she thought she probably had fallen asleep.

"You need to change, you'll catch a cold if you stay there longer," Rose said with worry.

She knew what happened tonight was making her friend stressed. It's the second time that brunette tried to harm Samantha. She needed to dig for information about that girl. She is in doubt if she needs to let Julia know about this or keep it, but it is not her story to tell. She decided to dig information on her own.

They stayed for another day there, Samantha wanted to visit some place before they left Hong Kong. She also went on a shopping spree with Rose and bought a lot of stuff to bring home. Samantha also bought stuff for her bodyguards, they first declined it but Rose told them to agree because the blonde wouldn't take no as an answer. The two female bodyguards then agreed and thankful to have served a kind and generous boss.

Weeks had passed and Rose digging for information about the family background of Rothenburg went to its end. She only found out where their family originated but the lineage is a blurr. She felt frustrated about it, she hated that woman who kept hurting her friend. She wanted to find out about her but failed to, she is rethinking if she will ask for Julia's help or not, but their wedding is coming and she doesn't want to bother them, everyone is busy. Samantha is also busy creating the nursery in the house of Alexis parents and another nursery in their house located also in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile in another country. A beeping monitor echoed around the room.

"When will she wake up? I am paying you five times your salary and yet she is still not awake" a fuming female complained to the doctors and nurses who are checking the vitals of the patient in coma.

"We are so sorry ma'am, but we are doing our best" one of the male doctors replied.

"Best? What if I put a hole in your head to make you look the best in my eyes" she threatened the doctor who shivered, and others cowering in fear.

"You over there" she pointed out to an older female doctor, "...stay here and all of you leave" she ordered, making everyone in the room scattered in fear.

The remaining doctor is shivering in fear, she knows how unpredictable the woman she is with now. She tried to make herself calm.

"I want to ask you something," the female asked the older woman, who only nodded. "...is it safe for me to have sex with her in that state?" when the older woman heard it her eyes widened.

The female noticed the doctor not answering her which made her annoyed.

"Fucking answer me!" she yelled at the doctor who jolted in shock.

"Yes ma'am. It is safe to have sex with a person who is in a comatose state" the doctor answered, which made the female smile in delight.

She thanked the doctor and told her to leave. She is planning to sleep with the patient and make herself pregnant. She has the power to do what she wants. First she wants to make sure she is healthy and can carry a baby inside her womb.

Back in the mansion of Leone, everyone is set for the coming of the little angel. Samantha is about to pop her baby soon, which made everyone excited to see the little angel and hold her.

"We'll see her before Julia's wedding, we're so excited" Gretta said her excitement laced in her voice.

"I can't wait to hold my great granddaughter," Alejandra said with happiness.

"I will be the greatest uncle" Glenn said, making everyone laugh, he is the only uncle the baby has in Leone's lineage and Herrera.

Suddenly they heard Samantha groaning, making them worry. She is yelping, making the people around her in panic.

"OMG her water broke" Francesca the mother of Glenn and Julia pointed.

Everyone was staring at the pool of liquid on the floor. Glenn lifted the blonde and walked long strides to reach the car. Gretta is in the backseat with Glenn, comforting the blonde who is going into labor, Francesca on the driver's seat ready to leave.

The other member will just follow to the hospital, Gretta calling her husband telling him to meet at the hospital, and telling him Samantha is going into labor, then ends the call.

"What's wrong uncle?" Julia asked her uncle Maximus whose mouth agape.

"Samantha is in labor" he answered and hurriedly pulled the sitting Ricardo up.

Ricardo and Maximus are having a drink, they just finished investigating some part of Europe in which Alexis could have been. They have been working to find Alexis non-stop for the past months.

The three of them are riding the car on the way to the hospital, Ricardo calling her wife to tell her about the news. While Julia called her fiancee and told her to be quick.

"Sam is in labor, let's meet up in the hospital soon and be safe" she reminded the shorter girl.

Samantha is now being handled by doctors and nurses, while everyone is waiting outside. They pray to have a safe delivery, and everything to go well.

"Julia" a panting man called out.

"Stef" Julia approaches her cousin, who is still trying to even his breathing.

"I heard Samantha is in labor, so I came here as quickly as I can," he said with worry. He really likes the blonde.

"Who told you?" Julia asked even though she knew who.

Stefano didn't answer but looked at his cousin, Glenn. Julia followed where he was staring and figured out she was right. Of course his brother is going to tell him everything he knew about Samantha, he supported their cousin to pursue the blonde. The two of them had argued about it before.

"I told you not to support him" Julia is pissed off his own brother.

"Why not? Alex is still missing, we don't know if she is alive or already dead" Glenn argued back, when Julia heard it he punched his older brother on the face, making his lips busted.

"Stop it! Both of you!" their father shouted, Raffaele the brother of Maximus.

Julia came to her father and told him about the situation and why the two of them are arguing, making her dad sigh.

"Glenn" he looked at his son whose lips were bleeding, "Don't meddle in between your cousins affairs. Respect Alexis with or without her presence, and stop helping Stefano get closer to Samantha. Let them sort out their feelings. They fall in love, so be it. If the girl doesn't give two shits at him, then be it. Now you two no more fighting" Raffaele talked them out, making Glenn agree with his father.

After an hour of waiting outside a female doctor came out, making everyone silent, waiting for her to say something.

"The mother had a safe delivery. They are both safe. We will transfer her to her room now and the baby needs to be cleaned up and set to be in the nursery" she explained, making everyone feel relieved.

When everything was done, they visited Samantha in a group. First who came inside are Alexis' parents and Alejandra together with Samantha's parents and sister. When they came inside Samantha was stirring awake, her mother asking her if she wanted to drink some water and she nodded.

She then remembered her baby.

"My baby?" She asked, staring at everyone in the room.

"The doctor said she will be here soon, oh here they come" Gretta said and suddenly the door opened revealing a nurse pushing where the baby is placed.

Samantha gasped seeing her baby, tears falling down her cheeks.

"She's beautiful" she mouthed with pure joy.

The nurse let her hold her baby, telling her to feed her and then left the room to let the family spend time with the little angel in the room.

"She has your hair, she looks like you when you were a baby" Marcellina stated after she studied her granddaughter closely.

The baby opened her eyes, making Gretta gasped and smiled at Samantha.

"She has Alexis' eye color, like mine" she said with joy seeing the little bundle of joy staring at them, who suddenly smiled, making everyone in the room in awe.

"She also has my daughter's nose, so are the eyebrows, oh she also has a V-shaped birthmark on her foot" Maximus said, making Samantha look at the foot of her baby girl.

"Yes she has. But Alexis' mark is on the left foot while hers is on the right foot" Samantha felt pure joy seeing the resemblance of Alexis in her daughter and having the same birthmarks.

After the first group who visited her, it's now her three friends, with Julia, her brother Glenn and Stefano.

Stefano is looking at the woman who just gave birth to a little girl, he looked at her with adoration, she is looking more beautiful the longer you stare at her. Glenn hit him with his elbow to stop him from drooling.

"Go and talk to her," Glenn said, pushing Stefano to approach the girl.

They are in the corner listening and looking at a group of girls gawking at the cute baby, and listening to the twins who are quarreling that the baby looks like them.

"You both stop that, see she is crying" Rose pinched both Dina and Donna for being loud.

Samantha shushed the baby who obeyed, which made the girls impressed. Usually the babies love to cry and they are glad to see the little angel is a good girl. The girls left, leaving Julia with the two guys. She looks at her cousin, giving him a signal to behave. Glenn congratulates Samantha and then leaves with Julia, leaving Stefano and Samantha alone with the baby.

"She looks more like you" he stated making the blonde disagree.

"No. She is a combination of me and Alex. You fail to notice the resemblance she has with her father" Samantha said straight forward, she knew how much the man wanted her.

"Yeah you're right. I see Alexis' eyes in her" he said, choosing the right words to say not wanting to make the blonde uncomfortable.

They talked for a little while until the baby cried telling that she wanted to be fed. Stefano excused himself and left Samantha to take care of her baby. Glenn and Julia waiting in the corner of the corridor. When he left Samantha's mother and sister came back in.

"So how was it?" Glenn asked his cousin.

"It was okay," Stefano replied with a sigh.

"Don't keep your hopes up, Stef" Julia added the pain on his wounded feelings.

"Oh come on Juliana, in the future she will like our cousin back" Glenn uttered, trying to give his support to his buddy.

"What if Alexis came back? You want our cousins to fight?" Julia reasoned, making Glenn whip his head.

"She's dead, accept it. Eight months had passed and no Alex came back. Better accept it now and grieve" Glenn said, Julia's fist is ready to pounder someone. She knew her cousin is still alive somewhere, his brother is someone who always gives up on something when he can't achieve it.

"You both stop it" Stefano spoked not wanting the siblings to fight because of him. "Samantha and I are friends, it doesn't matter if she reciprocated my feelings or not, I am happy to stay as her friend" he said, making Julia relax and Glenn sighed.

Julia left walking to her fiancee and her twin sister with Rose waiting for her outside. The four of them will have dinner outside to talk more about the incoming wedding. They are glad that Samantha safely delivered the baby safely, now they can focus on finalizing the wedding preparation.

"I heard your uncle and Sammy's dad are planning to investigate the entire Australia to find Alex, is that true?" Rose asked Julia who was drinking her grape juice.

"That's true. They finished America, then Europe and now it's gonna be Australia and after that Africa and so on..." she paused and sip on her grape juice once again, "...last will be Asia, it's a big scope to look at so they'll investigate it last" Julia continued to explain making the others nod in acknowledgement.

"What if Alex is there? The last place you think she isn't there, is probably the right place to look over first?" Dina guessed making Rose wonder, she is probably right but it depends on the fathers of their friends to decide.

"Let's see," Julia answered shortly after, also wondering.