Adopted – Episode 45

ADOPTED – Episode 45

© Happy William

The Vino Vicinta (Victory Wine) Ball of The SVEW

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Anne

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As soon as we stepped out of the car a thousand flashes of camera lights threatened to blind me as reporters and newscasters and interviewers tried to get talk out of Emilio who held me close to his side.

*Mr Salvatore, how do you feel holding the first VV ball after the death of your father?*

*Is it good for your publicity that you’re holding the ball immediately after the court case with your brother and mother Mrs Portia Salvatore?*

*Give us a peek of what this year’s VV will be called?*

*The pretty lady by your side, is she the one?*

His bodyguards came and paved way.

He said, “Let’s just go in first. I’ll grant you every answer to every question you’ve asked.”

.

We walked in through the swing doors into the most exquisite hall I’ve ever seen!

The lights were low but illuminating and entrancing with a mixture of blue, purple, indigo and dark green casting a soft glow on the walls.

It was maturely decorated.

Men and women dressed in rich evening gowns mingled with or without aim.

“It’s so beautiful,” I said.

“Not as you are,” he replied.

I smiled in response and slipped my arm in the crook of his hand.

We met people here and there with Emilio exchanging pleasantries, some happily and others strained.

I guess that no matter what you do not everyone will acknowledge.

“And who’s this very beautiful lady you have on your arm, Emilio?” a man asked with a smile at me.

I smiled back.

“You’ll get to know soon,” Emilio replied.

“What will he get to know soon?” I asked in hushed tones tugging on his hand.

Chuckling, he made to answer but was interrupted when an elderly couple called him away.

“L8er,” he said.

I shook my head and lifted a glass of wine from a passing waiter with a tray.

I spotted Cosima and Sophia talking to a woman, and I joined them and greeted the woman.

“Yes Mrs Salphiano, this is the girl we’re telling you about. Anne.”

“Why Anne, it’s lovely to meet you. I must say you’ve had our dear boy smitten.”

I laughed nervously. “Uhm…thank you I guess?”

Mingling continued and Sophia and Cosima managed to whisk me over to different people.

We saw a girl whom Cosima claimed was familiar.

Dark black hair that stopped at her back, lightly tanned skin. She wore a black shimmering dress.

“U know, she kinda reminds of Emilia. Don’t you think so Sophi?”

“Yeah, you’re right. Should we approach her?”

“What? Nah. Lia’s dead. There’s no point in raising false hopes,” Cosima said.

The dance floor filled with couples waltzing to a soft tune. Felipe and Augusto came and took the girls, and I stood at a corner declining every offer to dance from men who were good looking but couldn’t measure up to Emilio.

I watched him now, talking with people. Probably discussing business or the Vino vicinta.

Sighing, I thought of the risk I took in telling him I loved him. Did he even hear, well he surely acted like he didn’t. Gosh.

When I looked up again, he was striding towards me.

“Let’s dance.”

And we were moving alongside others, staring into each other’s eyes like nothing else mattered except us.

His arms went around my waist where they loved to be and belonged. He pulled me closer to himself, just like we did the last time we danced during winepress.

….

“Okay everyone, your attention pls.”

The waltz was over.

All the attendees stood facing the podium on which Emilio stood.

“Once again you’re welcome to the biennial Salvatore’s Victory Wine….the only place you can get a taste of Salvatore wines for free.”

The audience chuckled.

He went on talking about this and that, which I didn’t hear because I was watching Sophia and Felipe talking with his parents, and at the same time glancing occasionally at the girl who might just be Emilia Salvatore because of her undeniable resemblance to Emilio.

I saw her face now.

She was also staring directly at me, I didn’t understand.

Her brows furrowed when Emilio said something, and I distinctly heard, “The victory wine of this year is dedicated to the one whom my heart had sought for all this years without me knowing. The one who, with just a quick glance and a simultaneous ducking of her head managed to ensnare me in the trap her big brown eyes set. The one whose smile escalates my heartbeat. The girl whom I’m madly in love with.”

He gave me a wink and a smile and my hands went over my mouth in surprise and… joy I guess. My heart was going to burst with love and # Happiness any moment from now.

The crowd erupted in oohs and rounds of applause.

“So I’m announcing two things tonight. The wine, and the woman.

Everyone give it up for the vino vicinta, Vino Annette!” he held up a bottle.

Doors burst open as waiters flooded in carrying trays of glasses of wine which was the Anne Wine.

Me.

Gosh, could things get any better?

I was already shaking in nervousness, anticipation and whatever as I watched Emilio received congratulatory remarks from renowned gurus in the vinification(winemaking) businesses.

Could it be me that he was referring to?

Well I had brown eyes and the habit of glancing and looking away at him and…..

Oh, if only my parents were here.

Out of nowhere Sophia and Cosima flanked me, nudging me with their elbows and waggling eyebrows.

“So what do you think, lover girl?” Cosima said smiling.

“And the wine tastes superb too. Vino Annette,” Sophia grinned.

“I —I don’t — it’s all like a….”

“Dream come true?” Soph offered.

I nodded.

The tears we falling now, tears of joy.

“And now.”

A calm hush flew over the hall when he took the mic again.

Cameras flashing, reporters recording.

“The woman who, in every way made it possible. Anne Sheridan.”

He held out his hand in my direction causing people to turn at me.

Sophia pushed me forward because I was going to keep standing there with my hand over my mouth And eyes wide opened.

On jelly legs I mounted the podium.

Emilio held my hand and pulled me in for a kiss to which everyone clapped and cheered.

I linked my fingers behind his neck to deepen the kiss, and we stopped for a breath of air.

”So people, she is the one as most of you’ve been asking! ”

Cheers!

“And guess what?”

“What!?”

“I’m gonna marry her!”

Cheers.

I gasped and turned to him as he took my hand and slipped a ring onto my fourth finger.

“I heard what u said last night,” he whispered for my hearing only, “And I love you too. So much. Will you marry me?”

I looked from the ring to his face to the ring to his face.

“Yes! Yes and yes, oh my god, Emilio I love you.”

I jumped on him in a hug, with my clutch bag falling open, and a paper fell out.

I picked it after we disengaged.

Oh, the letter.

I’ll have to read it soon.

I slipped it back into my purse and smiled as we took photos with Vittorio, Cosima Augusto, Sophia and Felipe.

And with other people I didn’t know who came to wish us well.

Even some ladies who sent me death glares on our entrance came to congratulate us.

I’ve never been happier.

While Emilio signed treaties and commissions, I took out the letter again.

“What’s that?” Felipe asked.

“I dunno. Twas mailed to me.”

“And you’re gonna open it on your engagement night?” Augusto asked.

“Well —”

“Don’t mind Augie Anne. It might be a felicitation message,” Cosima said.

I nodded. “I’ll look through it now.”

I ripped the envelope open, and took out a letter with cursive handwriting.

“What’s it say?” Sophia asked.

“Hmm. It says, “Anne, for that’s what you are. You’re not Anne Chucks or Matthews or Johnson or Davies….” ”

I trailed off.

This was no felicitating letter.

It’s like it’s a letter from my past.

They noticed my worried face and edged closer.

I continued reading in my mind now.

“You’re not even Anne Sheridan. You have never been.

You’re adopted by them, it was all a setup by Emilio Salvatore to get you to Italy and wed you for the his business.

Peter and Mary Sheridan aren’t your real parents. They’re just like every other foster parents you’ve passed through. And they know this.

Emilio knows this too.

Because he’s the mastermind.

You can ask for an unbiased blood test.

Or you can take a look at the details of their background which I’ve enclosed too.

It all boils down to one thing; you were lied too about the most important thing in your life… WHO YOU ARE!”

“Hey are you OK?”

I didn’t even realize that I was crying again.

It’s not true.

But I had to know.

“I wanna go back to the mansion,” I said.

“What’s wrong, what did the letter say?”

“Augusto I just want to go. Tell Emilio that we have something important to discuss when he arrives.”

And so saying I walked bleakly out of the hall into the cold night and into the car. Cosima and Sophia came along.

…

The House

···

My kicked shoes littered the room as I sat crying on my bed with the Letter in my hand.

It’s true.

I’m adopted.

The proof was here.

But I was going to confront Emilio.

Just then the car pulled up in the driveway.

Seconds later Emilio’s footfall echoed through the staircase and he knocked on my door.

“Anne?”

I got up and opened it.

His brows were furrowed in worry.

“Emilio is it true? That…. I’m adopted?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Please don’t play coy with me. Is it true that I’m adopted, and you know about it?”

He opened his mouth to say something then shut it again.

“Where did you get that idea from?”

“It says here that you know….. that you planned the whole thing….. that I….” I choked and looked up at him.

Then from somewhere in me something snapped.

“Tell me Emilio!!!”

“Anne will you let me explain? I was gonna tell you but —”

“So it’s true,” I whispered.

He tried to touch my shoulder.

”Don’t touch me! ” I screamed.

My screams got the others ambling up the stairs to my room.

“What’s going on?” Prudence enquired.

I ignored her. “Why Emilio! Why, after when you knew what my parents meant to me!”

”Anne—”

“I trusted you, Emilio. Even after you his the first truth of ur involvement in the mafia I still trusted you. I let myself fall in love with you because I couldn’t help it. You were The One for me.”

I sniffed.

I was beginning to hiccup.

And feel dizzy.

Bile rose up I’m my throat but I forced it down.

I felt sick, but nothing could surpass the betrayal.

“Why?” I asked.

“What else do you think? I knew and I wanted you to be happy. Don’t you get it? I love you.”

“No, Emilio. This is not love. You’ve ruined me. You lied about everything. How am I sure you’re not lying about your love?”

“Anne—”

” No, Emilio. I’m…. done.”

Yes.

I’m going to run away from it all.

This life that was full of lies.

The vomit rose up again, and I swallowed it down.

My world was spinning, darkening.

They called my name, but it sounded far away.

I fell to the floor.

Darkness took over.

Final episode coming next

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