My Blind Fiancée

“I think it’s time to define and clarify our situation once and for all. Now you’re going to sit down and listen to me,” she said with an authoritative tone.

Mateo opened his eyes wide; indeed, that girl had changed. He sat down, ready to listen. He was completely determined to do anything to not lose her. The content of that contract was unquestionably foolish, and he acknowledged his mistake. He hoped that she would give him the chance to make amends and wanted a new opportunity to love her.

They sat down next to each other, and Mateo observed Ava’s movements. How much he loved that woman!

“The day I decided to distance myself, it broke my heart. It wasn’t easy for me to know that I wouldn’t see you anymore. A few days before that, your grandfather talked to me, and I realized that what he was saying was true. I couldn’t tie you to a person like me. If we ever had children, it would be even worse. How could I take care of them? So, I made the decision to leave and try to regain my sight.”

“I could have done that by your side,” bitterness was evident in her voice.

“I had slim chances of regaining my sight. If the surgery failed, I wouldn’t have returned to you. I couldn’t have endured living in darkness forever, forcing you to suffer with me.”

“You know I fell in love with you no matter what.”

“I know, but it wouldn’t have been fair to you. On the day of the surgery, before going into the operating room, I almost asked them to call you. I wanted to have you by my side, feel your presence, but I was scared. Scared of waking up in the same darkness,” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Mateo felt his heart constrict as he saw her in that state.

“Ava, I want to apologize for how foolish I’ve been. All this time, I’ve lived in a hell not knowing how or where you were. A thousand thoughts crossed my mind. When you appeared as Grecia at the airport, I had many doubts. Later, Akiro and Ima thought the same. When I invited you to Monza, it was mostly to see if I could discover more about you. Ima would help me, but we ended up in the same place, still having doubts, until the day I overheard you say it.”

Mateo lowered his head, his expression filled with profound sadness. Ava approached and hugged him; both of them needed that sincere embrace, they needed each other.

“Forgive me for my reaction; I felt hurt, betrayed. I took it as mockery.”

“Forgive me as well, for what I’ve made you suffer,” Ava was determined to tell him about Matt, but she didn’t want to ruin this moment.

Mateo cupped Ava’s face in his hands and gazed at her for a few minutes. He loved seeing himself reflected in her beautiful eyes. Then, he kissed her tenderly. Finally, he was with the love of his life because that woman was and would always be his one and only love.

“Now, no one is going to separate us, my dear. I hope you can forgive my grandfather; he, in his own way, wants what’s best for me. My mother has been praying for you since the day you left. She would be thrilled to know you’re well.”

Mateo’s stomach made a strange noise, and he blushed, feeling embarrassed.

“Haha, I’ll prepare breakfast; from what I heard, you’re hungry.”

“I think so, haha. I’ll help you with that.”

They both headed to the kitchen, where Mateo turned out to be an expert cook. Amidst laughter and jokes, they prepared breakfast.

They enjoyed their meal in peace, and Mateo realized that this was where he belonged. The sense of peace he felt beside Ava was unmatched, and when they finished, she took his hand, and they returned to the living room.

“As you told me yesterday, I need to confront Teodoro now. I can’t allow him to grow stronger. He’s very interested in me as Grecia, and I plan to use that to my advantage to expose him.”

“No way am I going to let you expose yourself like that.”

“It’ll be easier if I’m close to him. There’s no room for discussion. I hope you’ll support me in this.”

Mateo took her hands and kissed them. “My love, I couldn’t bear to lose you again.”

“You won’t. I’ll be very careful.”

Ava kissed him, started to unbutton his shirt, and he smiled sexily as she eagerly kissed his neck. It was that half-smile that she loved.

The door of the apartment suddenly opened, it was Lola who had returned, carrying Matt in her arms. The nanny had thought that Mateo had already left and she stood frozen, seeing that scene. Ava seated on Mateo’s lap, who had his shirt unbuttoned.

“Buongiorno,” Lola didn’t know what to say. Mateo’s gaze shifted between her and the child.

“Buongiorno,” Mateo replied, getting up and buttoning his shirt.

“Buongiorno, Nana,” Ava lowered her gaze, offering a shy smile.

“I see you two had fun during my absence, Grecia.”

“Matteo already knows the truth, Nana.”

“Phew, thank goodness. I was already thinking about what to say to justify my presence in your apartment.”

“I’m sorry, Nana,” Ava was extremely nervous. She knew the time had come to reveal the whole truth.

“And who is this beautiful little one?” Mateo asked, upon closely examining the child’s face, he noticed familiar features.

“Matteo, please, sit down. I need to talk to you. I know what I’m about to say will be difficult, but I want you to understand.”

“Understand what? Speak, Ava,” Mateo felt his heart racing, sensing where this was going, yet he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the child.

“Matt is your son,” Ava blurted it out. There was no point in continuing to hide it. She could have made up a story, claiming the child was a neighbor’s, but Mateo had the right to know the truth.

Mateo felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. He couldn’t understand how Ava had dared to do this.

“My son? I don’t understand. How could she do this to me?” Mateo’s face reflected the pain and confusion he was feeling.

“I was so afraid, afraid that Guido would separate me from my son,” by this point, Ava was sobbing uncontrollably.

“Damn it, Ava! I would have protected you both. If only you had told me, you know how much time I’ve lost. I could have seen him grow, been by your side at his birth.”

“I called you on the day he was born, hoping to tell you everything, but I was scared. You have no idea how much I needed you at that moment.”

Mateo stood up to approach the young Matt. At that moment, he recalled receiving a call a while back through the phone, where only heavy breathing and the cry of a baby were audible before the call abruptly ended. It was the cry of his son. Thick tears rolled down his face.

Lola placed young Matt in his arms; the child looked at him in confusion, not recognizing the man.

“How old is he?” Mateo asked without taking his eyes off the child, finding him to be a beautiful boy.

“He’s a year and a half,” Ava answered with regret, knowing he was right. She had missed important moments in her son’s life.

“He’s precious; I can’t believe it,” Mateo hugged him tightly. The initial anger and pain were fading; he had a son, a son with the woman he loved. It was unbelievable.

“Please, Mateo, forgive me. I regret what I’ve done to you.”

“Shh, please, don’t interrupt this moment. God, I can’t believe it.”

Both Ava and Lola’s hearts were breaking as they watched him. He held his son as tightly as he could, as if he were afraid of losing him.

Mateo tried not to dwell on what Ava had done at that moment. Perhaps the fact that she had hidden his son from him was reason enough to hate her, but he couldn’t do it. He loved her too much. He got to know his little one and found that he resembled him; he couldn’t deny it. He held the child’s small hands, the color of his hair, his eyes-it was like seeing his own reflection as a child.

“Matt looks just like you,” Ava said softly, hoping he would remain calm.

Mateo felt a whirlwind of emotions inside him, but the strongest one was love, a profound love that was born the instant he learned that the little boy was his son.

“I have no words to describe what I’m feeling right now, Ava. I know I should be hating you, but I simply can’t. I know we’ll start a new life with our son. I never imagined this. God, I wish I could have held him in my arms from the moment he was born. Who cut the cord? I really would have liked to do it.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“The doctor did it. Nobody could have taken the place that rightfully belongs to you.”

“She wanted to be alone at the moment of his birth. I would have liked to be there with her,” the nanny knew that what Ava said was true.

The little one, who had initially been hesitant in the arms of a stranger, smiled at him at that moment while placing his tiny hands on Mateo’s face.

“He smiled at me. I think he likes me,” Mateo said, completely thrilled.

Ava smiled sweetly upon hearing him. She wished she could capture that moment. Fortunately, Mateo had reacted positively, and she felt relieved. The intense pressure that had weighed on her chest when she saw Lola open the door with the child in her arms disappeared at that moment.

“Please, allow me to take him home today so that my grandfather and mother can meet him. They have no idea they have a grandson. It will be a great joy for them.”