27. Don't be angry

POV HUGO

Alexandra had left half an hour ago, and to be honest, I have no idea where, I just hope she was okay, because if something happened to her, I wouldn't forgive me in life. 

After another half hour, Megan, Diego and that guy come out, the latter rubbing his wrists. Megan starts looking everywhere, I guess looking for her sister and ends up looking at me. 

"Do you even know where she has gone?" Megan asked and I shrugged because I have no idea where she had gone. "I have no idea; I just hope nothing happens to her." I said thinking about where she could be "Trust me, at this moment nobody lays a hand on her. She's too angry to let them touch her. I'm sorry I caused Alexandra to get mad at you." 

"Don't worry, it was better to let her clear up her mind." I assured. I had never seen Alexandra so angry and now I could understand when they said it would be impossible for something to happen to her when she was angry. "I'm sure of that." 

"At least tell me it's worth Alexandra gets mad at everyone." I asked turning in her direction "Yes it does, I know him before, and I understand why he lied to me." Megan said and I nodded "Now we must find a way to convince her what he says is true. Knowing her, it's not going to be easy to get the idea into her head." Diego said next to Megan. 

"Don't worry about me, with time Alexandra will realize what I say is true." The guy said, but if this guy didn't have the slightest idea about something, it's Alexandra was stubborn "As you can tell you don't know my sister. Let's go home and see if she's there. See you tomorrow, Car… I mean Nikolai?" 

"See you, anything you need from me, don't hesitate to call me." He said turning around and going to who knows where "We will." Megan gave him a kiss on the cheek, which I was quite surprised I must say, and Nikolai left. We got in the car and the whole way it was quiet and peaceful. As soon as we get home, everyone goes to their room and I go to ours, to see if she was there, but she wasn't, so I go to Alison's, where I find them asleep and cuddling which makes me relax a bit. Now what I had to do was find a way to stop her from being angry, which would give me all night to think about. 

POV ALEXANDRA

This morning I'm in a bad mood. I hadn't slept well, and I was mad at everyone, so before I woke Alison up, I decided I'd better go out for a walk to at least see if my anger would cool off, at least a little. 

As I was walking down the street, I was thinking about everything that had happened last night, and I couldn't help but get angrier with all of it. I couldn't understand how it is after all, they trust that guy like it was nothing. 

"Maria?" At that moment I turned around, because it was only me on the street, but above all because in my entire life, there was only one person who called me like that, and as far as I know, he had disappeared. 

I turned to see if it was really him, and when I see a man in a wheelchair with tears in his eyes and whom I would meet anywhere I stand there, not knowing what to do. "Maria, is it really you?" asked my father with tears in his eyes "Dad?" I asked confused "Oh my gosh, I thought they killed you in there." 

"I thought you were missing. Why are you in a chair?" I asked confused for a moment "It's a very long story." He said "I have time. Why don't we go get a coffee or something?" 

"I would love that... I still can't believe you're alive." He said wiping away tears, "I am. Do you want me to help you?" I asked him and he denied "No, but thanks anyway." 

We headed to the nearest coffee shop, and I must say my bad mood from a while ago had improved a bit. I was glad I had found the one I had believed my whole life to be my biological father. Some time ago I was investigating where he was, because all I remembered when I was little when I lived with my parents, my dad always played with me when he came home from work, no matter how tired he was. Even after he lost his job and started using drugs, he always treated me well and with love. 

Along the way he was telling me a couple of things about what happened to him during these years, and how he ended up in that wheelchair. If I already wanted to kill Stefan for everything, he'd done to me and Megan, I want to do it much more now. That son of a bitch had dared to try to kill the only person who showed me affection besides my aunt. We sat at a table and waited for our coffees to arrive while we were kind of deep in thought. I also sent a message to Luke to investigate my father and send whatever he finds. 

"María... I'm sorry I allowed your mother..." he began, but I denied, because one, that woman wasn't my mother, and two, I know the circumstances at home for him to start blaming himself "That lady isn't my mother …" I assured him "But…" 

"Dad, she's nothing more than the person who gave birth to me. She's nothing to me. She never earned that privilege." I said and he nodded "Okay, but I'm sorry I…" he started, and I denied again "Dad, I understand you weren't well at that time. At first you tried to hide it, I know, but despite being high for most of the day, you cared about me, and that's what matters to me." 

"You should be mad at me too." He said looking at his hands "I'm not. According to Fabio, I have to begin to understand my past and not martyr myself for it." He looked up and stared at me without understanding what I am talking about "Fabio?" 

"My psychologist." I told him and he nodded "Tell me at least he's helping you with it." He said and I nodded, because in some things he was doing it "The only psychologist of all the ones I had. But not only him." I said with a small smile on my face "Well thank goodness, because there's some psychologist out there..." he said denying and I agreed with him "Tell me about it." I snorted rolling my eyes "Maria, before you tell me something about your life, do you think we could see each other once in a while?" 

"I was thinking better of you coming with me. After all, the moment Stefan realizes you're alive, he's going to want to kill you." I said, "If it had been at another time, I wouldn't have minded, but now that I know you're alive and there seems to be a chance I'll get out of this chair, I don't want to die, but I don't want to be a burden to you either." 

"You're not, seriously. Also, you have to meet a lot of people. And of course, you will get out of that chair. I will take care of finding the best therapist in the world myself if necessary." I assured him "That must be expensive." I shrugged my shoulders, because one of the things I had, the least mattered to me, was the money. "But I don't care, money isn't what matters most to me in life." 

"Seriously Maria…" I put my hand on his and he instantly shut up "Dad, please. I've been thinking for a long time you were dead, just do me a favour." I asked him "Okay, but for the record I do it because you are the apple of my eye." 

"That will probably change once we arrive at the house." I said with a big smile thinking of Alison "Nothing can change it. Better, why don't you tell me what is your life? At what point did you get out of that hell?" he asked curiously. "It's going to be seven years, and my life right now is fine." 

"Some guy I have to threaten to take care of my girl?" he asked seriously, and I couldn't help but laugh "Dad, I'm not six years old, and I already told you, you don't have to threaten anyone." If Hugo didn't need something, it was for someone else to threaten him, he already has Megan "So there is someone?" he asked with a small smile, and I nodded "I hope he's treating my queen well." 

"He does it, better than anyone has ever done." I said with a big smile on my face "And where have you been all this time?" he asked confused this time, but curious at the same time "In Italy." 

His eyebrows rose in surprise. I guess he didn't expect me to be on the other side of the ocean. "Italy?" he asked "Yeah, let's just say after Megan and I escaped from there…" I started, but it didn't take long for him to cut me off. From what I could see, his curiosity was still the same and reminded me of Alison "Megan?" he asked, and I smiled "Are you going to let me talk?" 

"Sorry, you know I'm curious." He said with a shrug, "Well let me talk." I said and he nodded "Okay, sorry. I'll try not to interrupt you." He assured "Well, the point is, when we left there, Megan and I were happy down the street. Happier than we had been in the last twelve years in there. We became best friends fast, and now we're like sisters. Thing is, everyone was giving us weird looks, but we didn't care, until Analissa stopped us and offered to help us. At first, we didn't trust her, but she ended up helping us and we went with her to Italy with her husband. Since then, they have been our parents and grandparents of Alison." 

"Who is Alison?" he asked and I smiled "Your granddaughter." I told him and his eyes increased in size by two "My grand…? Are you going to tell me you and that boy have…?" I denied, because even though I would have loved Alison to be his biological daughter, it was Dimitri "Hugo's not Alison's father unfortunately, but she loves him as if he were her father and I'm fine with that." 

"Then who is the father?" he asked again, his curiosity killing him. "Dimitri." I said with a shrug, "Your uncle? Are you going to tell me your father let that bastard rape you?" 

Now it was my turn to get confused. Did he know and hadn't told me? "Wait, did you know?" I asked in a whisper and noticing how my blood froze in my veins "I knew it from the beginning. I know I'm not your biological father, Maria." 

"Then why did you treat me so nice?" I asked even more confused "Because despite not being my daughter, I love you as if you were. I held you in my arms and you stayed in my heart. I know full well that your mo…" he started, but I stopped him before that word came out of his mouth again "Woman." 

"That woman cheated on me with Stefan. I worked as an accountant for them, so I know everything that happened. And I would have left your mother if it wasn't for you. Your mother hated you from the start, and I know that man wasn't going to be the father you deserved." He said with a shrug like it was no big deal "Did you stay for me?" I asked surprised in a whisper "Yes. You're the only person I care about in life Maria, really. I love you as if you were my daughter." 

"And I as if you were my father, although there's also Francesco." I said "D'angelo?" he asked surprised, and I nodded "At least tell me he didn't get you involved in the mafias... No, he wouldn't do something like that... David was killed because of one..." he started, but I denied it. Francesco never wanted that for us "And believe me, he did everything in his power to keep us out of it, but he couldn't do anything." I said with a shrug, "Are you the boss of the Italian mafia?" 

"At this moment in the shadows since we are dead to the world, but yes, I am, Megan and I" I said and he stared at me surprised and could say something angry "Why do you need a mob for, Maria?" 

"One is to kill Stefan..." I started "María, you don't need a mafia to kill that bastard... He'll go to jail soon..." he said, but I refused, because I didn't want him to rot in jail "Dad, the last thing I want is he rots in jail... I want to kill him with my own hands. It's the only way to somehow regain a peace of mind I never had... but the reason we really have the mob, Megan and I, is to help girls who are in our situation, families where someone is dealing with addiction, especially about drugs... With the mafia I can help a lot of people… I can make Italy safer for Alison…" I said and he stared at me surprised, I get the feeling. 

"All you want to do is very noble, I don't argue with you, but facing Stefan is dangerous... why don't you leave it as it is right now?" he asked, and I took a deep breath trying to keep my anger at bay. 

"You can't be asking me for that... We must kill that guy, dad... It was twelve years of rape, torture... He wanted to take Alison with him to prepare her to run the mafia one day... I'm not going to let Alison go through anything I had to go through… Besides, he almost killed my boyfriend and you… That's not something I can take lightly." I said seriously, "It's times like this I realize you really are one of them." 

"I don't look like them at all... No way." I assured him denying "Don't get me wrong, you don't look like the degenerate brothers at all, but you do look like your other uncle and your grandparents." He said and now she was confused "They can't be good." 

"They are." He assured and I kept looking at him. Did he know them? "Do you know them?" I asked him and he nodded "I had the pleasure of doing it, and I tell you, they are nothing like those two. That's why they were kicked out of the house and told the Russian police…" 

"Oh really?" I wasn't understanding anything, was it possible Nikolai was telling the truth? I didn't believe that, despite what my father said "Seriously. They can't see them at all." 

"One of them I highly doubt they will ever see again." I said with a small smile and a shrug "What are you talking about?" he asked. "They won't see Dimitri anymore." I said my smile bigger than a couple of seconds ago "Why?" 

"He's dead, but that's the least of it. Why don't you come home with me and I'll introduce you to your granddaughter and the rest of the family? Even Aunt Amber and Melani come over from time to time." I assured him and his eyes widened by two. "Are they alive?" he asked surprised, and I nodded "Shall we go?" 

"Okay, I have to meet my granddaughter. By the way, you are beautiful." He said with a big smile, and I returned it "Thanks dad, now let's go before World War III breaks out at home." At this point it was most likely Megan would be about to send practically all the bodyguards with her in the lead to search for me all over the United States if necessary. "What are you talking about?" he asked curiously starting to roll towards the exit with me behind "You'll see by the time we get home." 

POV HUGO

I was a little worried, because I haven't seen Alexandra since I got up, and from what her mother had told me, she had left the house early. It was already ten in the morning when I was going to go get Alison up when I hear how the front door opens and a man enters whom I hadn't seen in my entire life. 

It doesn't take long for both Megan and Diego to appear next to me with a gun each pointed at the man, who raises his hands and turns his head a little, looking out of the house. "Wow... this didn't even happen to me with the Skolovs when I entered the house... Maria... Can we do this another day and in another place?" he asked turning slightly back "What? No way you're going to leave the house, it's not safe for you." 

As soon as we see Alexandra, we relax a bit, but both Diego and Megan keep their guns up, and I was standing there. Had he said Maria? Who the hell was Maria and what was this guy doing here? "Put down your weapons and stop being stupid, he's with me." She said crossing her arms and angry I guess "But what the hell, Ale? Why the hell are you bringing a stranger into the house? Did you forget we're not here on vacation?" 

"Oh, so now you mind not knowing someone? Do you know that stupid guy?" Alexandra raised an eyebrow for Megan to say otherwise, but in she was right, the guy had lied to her and for she didn't really know him "Of course I know him, contrary to what I do with this man." 

"Well, I know him, so you shut your mouth and mind your own business." My girlfriend said, entering the house "María, I'll be fine in my apartment, really." The man insisted, but Alexandra denied "I told you; you're not going to leave here dad. They already tried to kill you once, I'm not going to let them do it again, I'm not going to take the risk." 

Dad? Had I heard correctly? At this moment I couldn't be more confused. Where did this guy come from? Why does he call her Maria? "What is all this scandal? You're going to wake up … Sergio?" Analissa said surprised and from the looks of it, it was also a surprise for the man. "Roselin?" he asked, and Alexandra looked at both of them. "Do you know each other?" she asked, looking between Analissa and the man, which apparently is called Sergio, nodded. 

"She's my therapist, what is she doing at your house?" he asked curiously "It's my mother. Mom, this is the father I was with when I was little. This is Hugo, my boyfriend, Megan, my sister, and Diego, one of the bodyguards." Alexandra said pointing at each of us and with a small smile on her face "Nice to meet you. So, you are the Titano's wife? Where is he? I haven't heard of him on the streets for a long time." 

"He died a couple of months ago." Analissa said with a shrug. "Oh shit, I'm sorry." he said and Analissa denied "Don't worry, we both knew that could happen at any time." Megan and I were standing around trying to figure out what was going on, and I guess Diego was the same as us "Okay dad, I'll leave you with Analissa while I go wake up Alison. You have to meet her, she's wonderful." 

"If it's like the mother I'm sure she is." With that, she headed upstairs, leaving the three of us in the hall without understanding anything about what had just happened. "Do you want to put away the guns? If Alison had been awake and walking around the house, Alexandra would have cut off your heads, and you know I don't like you guys being home with your guns." Analissa said leaving her hands on her waist. 

Both Megan and Diego put their weapons away. Analissa and this Sergio man went to the kitchen where my mother would be and meanwhile, I was standing there without understanding anything or having the slightest idea of what to do. 

"I get the feeling your girlfriend is still upset about yesterday." Diego said, looking in the direction of the stairs Alexandra had gone up, "I'm sure she is." Megan said next to us "Did you know anything about her father?" Megan asked me, looking confused at this point. "I had no idea. At least this one. Why does he call her Maria? I asked trying to understand what had happened in the last few minutes. 

"I have no idea; I just know she doesn't like to be called that. Analissa does it when she scolds her, but after that, she doesn't let anyone use it." Megan assured with a shrug. "I still don't understand." 

"It's Alexandra's second name, and from your face I understand you had no idea she had a second name." She said denying "No. I don't know much about her." I would never have imagined Alexandra had a second name, let alone she appreciated the man who throughout her life she thought was her father "Don't worry, it's normal. She doesn't tell anything beyond the last six years, and that implies her second name. She hates it. And I think you should go with them in case they decide it's the right time to kill themselves." Said Diego looking at the stairs and is in that moment I see Megan is nowhere in sight. 

"I don't think Alexandra…" I started, but Diego's laughter stopped me "The Alexandra you know, and the angry Alexandra are two completely different people." He said denying, but with a big smile on his face "Okay, I'll go see." 

"If you need help you just have to call me, and I will come to your rescue." He said and I nodded "Thanks, I hope I don't need it." I don't want to make Alexandra angry again and I don't want to have to decide something between the two of them. "I'll let you know. " 

With that, I headed upstairs to meet Megan at Alison's door and she wasn't pounding on her because I'm pretty sure she knows full well Alexandra doesn't tolerate something like that where Alison is concerned. 

"Do you intend to kill each other?" I asked Megan who was standing with her arms crossed in front of Alison's door. "This isn't the time for bullshit Hugo, I'm serious." She said seriously and with a frown, "I know, but you should calm down a bit…" 

That made her turn in my direction with her furious look, I guess it hadn't been the best I could say "Calm down? Seriously? Do you really want me to calm down considering my sister has just brought someone into the house no one knows more than her and my mother? And you must consider he worked for the Skolovs. What the fuck is going through Alexandra's head?" she asked ironically, because I'm sure at this point, Megan think's her sister is crazy, that's for sure. 

"If your mother trusts him, we should do the same." I said with a shrug, "Are you going to tell me you don't trust Alexandra?" she asked in disbelief and surprised "I trust her the most, but I know Alexandra's opinion doesn't matter to you right now." 

"It's because he worked for them, Hugo!!!! Don't you understand?" She said exasperated and angrier if possible "I understand, believe me I do, but if Alexandra trusts him, I trust him." I said again trying to find a way to reassure her "You are both crazy." She snorted and turned her focus back to Alison's door. 

"Wow, I guess I don't want to get in your way Megan." Said Luke with his hands in his pocket and a big smile on his face "You shut your mouth, or I'll kill you, Luke and get out before I think about it." Megan said seriously "Uh huh, huh, I'm here because your sister sent me a message telling me to come here, so if you'll excuse me, I'd like to come in." 

He didn't even have to go into the room anymore, because Alexandra came out with our little girl in her arms and laughing with her, but from her look I know it wasn't real, she was still angry about everything had happened in the last few hours, and it bothers me she's angry, because I had promised her, I would do everything in my power to make her happy. 

"So, for what I 'm good?" Luke asked, coming to stand beside her. "Do whatever it says on that piece of paper." Alexandra said passing him a piece of paper "Should I hurry up or not?" he asked, and Alexandra nodded "Okay, then I'll get to it right now." 

"You let me know anything, understand?" Luke nodded, gave Alison a kiss on the cheek and left us behind, but Alexandra didn't stop for a moment and kept walking without paying us the slightest attention, making it more than clear she was still angry. I could see how she was talking to Alison, and she was laughing at what her mother was saying. 

"Agh, really, it's impossible when she is this stubborn." Megan said and I turned in her direction. "I understand her." I said with a shrug, "But that's because you love her, that's why you understand her." Megan assured denying "Not only for that. Is it you don't like the man she brought to the house with her?" 

"No, I don't trust people I don't know. Also, he worked for the Skolovs." Megan said stubbornly and had to find a way to make her understand, for Alexandra, it was the same as with the Skolov "Well now look at it from Alexandra's side. She doesn't know the man who was following us and he's also a Skolov through and through." I said "But I know him!!!!" said an exasperated Megan. 

"And she knows that man." If I did something, it was understanding Alexandra in that, I didn't even trust that guy myself "I think I see where you're going, and I don't like you're right." Megan said frowning and I laughed "It wasn't that difficult to understand her side, right?" 

"Now don't think you're the fucking master because you're not, brother-in-law." Her finger was practically in my face, but I couldn't help but laugh anyway, "Why do you have the habit of calling me brother-in-law?" I asked curiously, because it was strange, I heard her call my name "Because it is what you are and I doubt very much Alexandra will let you go, she loves you, although at times like this she doesn't show it. Or are you planning on leaving my sister?" she asked ready to kill me and I denied, because that was the biggest stupidity in the world "What? NO, I wouldn't even be crazy to leave your sister." 

"I hope so, Hugo, for everyone's sake." Megan went somewhere, leaving me alone in the hallway and it wasn't until a few minutes later I decided it was better to go where my mother, Alexandra and Alison were, at least see her happy for a while and think about what I could do so, she wouldn't be mad at me, because I didn't like the situation, so she would have to do it somehow. 

POV ALEXANDRA

I know I was being a bitch with Hugo, especially considering he said he supported me and no one else. I loved him because even though I could screw up a thousand times, he would continue to support me. 

After I leave them behind upstairs, not long after he comes downstairs and sits on the couch watching my dad, Alison, and me. I could see he didn't take his eyes off us, and it seemed like he wanted to say something, so I decided it was better to get closer to him for a moment, because I didn't like seeing him like that. 

"Be good to the man, Alison." I said to Alison, who stares at me with her larger than normal eyes, "Are you going to go?" she asked, and I denied, because I wouldn't let her out of my sight for a single second "No, don't worry, I'll be with your father." 

"Ok." I got up from the floor where Alison was and I went to the sofa where Hugo was, I sat next to him and intertwined our fingers, making him look at me and a smile appear on his face. 

"Don't put that face, I don't like to see you down." I said holding Hugo's hand, but focusing my gaze on Alison and my father "But I am." He whispered "Why?" I asked this time yes, turning to see him "Because you're mad at me, that's why." He said with a shrug, and I shook my head because I wasn't mad at him. 

"I'm not…I'm just upset about yesterday…I'm sorry to make you think I'm mad and be a bitch to you." I said, focusing my gaze on Alison again, because in a way, I know I had been doing it, but I'm not one of the people who talks the most, and less when I'm angry like I was yesterday "You're not, I love you." 

"But…" I started, but he stopped me before I could say anything else "I'm telling you, Alexandra, you're not. Better let me do something for you." He said and I looked in his direction again "The what?" I asked, but I already knew what he was going to say "A surprise." 

"But you said you weren't going to do…" I started to protest "I know what I said, but let me tell you in advance, if you want, of course, tonight we'll go out for a romantic dinner, yes, I won't tell you where because otherwise it will ruin it all." 

"At least tell me it won't be in a public place." I said, because the last thing I wanted right now was to be surrounded by people "It won't be, don't worry about it and we'll leave after putting Alison to bed." Hugo kissed me on the temple and then I ended up letting my head rest on his shoulder contentedly, "Thank you for considering." 

"I know you don't feel comfortable if you don't put Alison to bed, and I must say I love seeing you with her." He said with a shrug, "Thank you." I told him, giving him a small kiss on his neck and focusing my gaze back on Alison and my father "So, your father? I thought you didn't know about him." 

"And I didn't know, I ran into him this morning on the street." I said with a small smile on my face "And why does he call you Maria?" he asked, and I could hear the curiosity in his voice "Well, I don't know the truth, but since I remember he calls me that." 

"I never heard anyone call you Maria, before." He said and I agreed, because I didn't like it and because it was a connection to my father "Because I don't like being called Maria, he's the only one who does." 

"Did you never tell him to stop calling you that?" he asked, and I nodded, because I didn't remember how many times, I had told him "More times than I can remember, but he didn't listen to me and there came a time when I passed." 

"I understood you didn't like your father." He said and I denied, I was a little upset about everything my father had let that woman do after he lost his job, but that didn't mean I was angry "I like him, but I was a little angry with him. I spent a lot of time angry with him being locked up for everything he had let the bitch who gave me life do, but deep down I always knew he wasn't right when he got into drugs." 

"Do you trust him?" he asked, and I stepped away so I could see him. "Can we talk about that later?" I asked him, because I didn't want to talk about telling Luke to investigate his life with him in front "As you wish." 

He put an arm around my shoulders, pulled me closer to him, and kissed me on the forehead. We stayed like that for I don't know how long, only breaking apart when Analissa said it was time for dinner. Hugo went to the kitchen to help my mother and his, while my father had gone to the bathroom I think, and I stayed with Alison who was sitting at the table collecting the colours. 

"So, you won't have dinner at home?" Megan asked next to me. "Do you even care?" I answered her, because I was still angry with her "Come on... I'm sorry, okay?... I understand why you don't like him and if there were other circumstances, I wouldn't trust him myself, but I know him and I know he won't do anything to us." 

"He lied to you for a long time, Megan." I said turning in her direction once I finished collecting the crayons Alison Left behind "But because he was infiltrated in there." She tried to defend him, but I denied it, because I still didn't believe him. "And if so, don't you think his own brothers would have recognized him?" 

"He was eight years old when they left. He changed a lot in that time and with a couple of things he changed a little in case they knew who he was, they wouldn't recognize him." I still didn't believe it, because I was stupid. "Do you trust him that much?" I asked, "A lot." 

"Well, do what you want, but don't let him get close to Alison or Hugo, let alone me, because then this time I'll blow his head, understood?" I told her, I was sick of discussing this topic with her, I wasn't used to arguing for a long time with her "I'll tell him, but I think you should give yourself a chance to meet him." 

"No way." That really wasn't going to happen, did you think I would trust that guy like it was nothing? She was very wrong if she thought she was going to do it "And do you trust that man you brought into the house?" she asked crossing her arms. "It's not your business, but if I didn't, he wouldn't be home." 

"If because of him we got into a problem..." she began and I didn't like she threatened me, I wasn't crazy enough to bring someone in without having information about that person, all I needed now is for Luke to investigate everything about my father of the last few years "What? Because I'm already telling you, don't even think about threatening me, Megan, because then we'll have a problem." 

"I only warn you, then I don't want you to come and complain." She snorted "I should tell you that, after all, you trust a Skolov. If it weren't for the fact your whole face lights up with that other guy you told me about, I'd say you feel SOMETHING for a SKOLOV" I said, crossing my arms. "What? That's not… you know what? Fuck you Alexandra…" 

With that, she took off to the kitchen where the others were, leaving me alone in the dining room. At this moment, I was sick of everything. Since we arrived in Los Angeles, everything was arguments between us, the feeling Stefan was following us increased with the passing of the days even though the data indicated he still didn't know we were alive, I'm stressed 

"Maria, are you okay?" my father asked from behind me, so I turn around to look at him. The moment he gets to my side, he puts his hand on my hand and stares at me as if waiting for me to say something, but I'm not going to, I don't want to bother him with my shit. It already comes to me with worrying Hugo, enough to worry him too. 

"If I'm the one causing you to argue with your sister, I can go, seriously." He said and I denied, because that wasn't what Megan and I were arguing about, "You're not, don't worry. It's other things." I assured him "And one of them is me." 

"Don't worry about her, she'll get over it." I said "I don't like seeing you like this, it reminds me of when you were so scared you didn't want to get out from under the bed, but this time instead of being fear, it feels like anxiety." He said and although I am more than clear I had anxiety, at this moment that wasn't what was happening to me "Don't worry about me dad, I'm fine." 

"You're still just as stubborn." He said with a big smile on his face "It's all I have left of the Alexandra you know." I shrugged and looked up the stairs where Megan was going who knows where. 

"I already tell you it's not the only thing you have left of the María I know. The Maria I know is hidden behind the Maria you are right now. But I'll give you some advice, sweetheart, if I've learned anything in this life it's being afraid is good and traumas are there to make us strong. It may be at this moment you don't see it and it's very difficult for you to get everything that happened in there out of your mind, but the moment you realize everything that happened to you in there taught you everything you know today, it will be the moment in which you can clear it from your head." 

I was going to say something else, but at that moment, they all come in laughing about who knows what and leave the food on the table. It doesn't take long for Hugo to realize something is wrong with me and while we wait for Alison to finish dinner so we can put her to bed, Hugo sits next to me at the table, takes my hand and starts stroking the back of it, because he knows very well this helps me clear my mind. 

An hour later, Alison finishes eating, and despite the fact during dinner, my mother had insisted she herself could put Alison to bed as soon as she finished, Hugo refused, because he knows full well it's a way of mine to be calmer, and more than anything, because Alison always ended up convincing my mother or anyone in this house so she could go to bed later, so I preferred to do it. 

When Alison finally fell asleep, both Hugo and I kissed her on the forehead and left the room quietly, even though she wouldn't wake up. 

"Should I change?" I asked him trying to figure out where the surprise would be "If you don't want, you don't have to." He said with a shrug, "Did you planned the dinner?" I asked him, because I didn't want to go in jeans and a T-shirt if he had worked it "That's the least of it." 

That confirmed to me he had done it, and despite the fact the last thing I wanted now was to change, I wasn't going to ruin whatever Hugo has prepared "Then I'm going to change." 

"You don't have to…" he started, but I gave him a little kiss that silenced him instantly "I know I don't have to, but you've set up a romantic dinner and I'm not going to blowing it away." I said with a small smile, "Can't I change your mind?" I denied, because he wasn't going to do it "Okay. Let me get something to change first." 

"And where are you going to change?" I asked confused for a moment "In the bathroom next door." He said and we started walking towards the room "I can change myself in the bathroom of the room, or you if you want. You don't have to go to that bathroom." 

"Don't worry, I want to take the surprise downstairs." He said with a big smile on his face "Are you sure?" I asked him "Yes, I love you" he said and kissed me "I love you too, Hugo" 

We went into the room, him to get the clothes and went to the bathroom next door and me for change clothes. I entered the room and began to look for something to wear. It's not that I wanted to dress myself up, but Hugo had taken great care in this, and I wasn't going to ruin it in any way, and, besides, since we've known each other, he's never seen me dressed up, and at least I wanted to give him that. 

After about half an hour, I finished changing. I left the room and headed downstairs. I could hear they were talking, and as soon as my mother sees me, she stares at me, I would say surprised, which makes the others turn to see what my mother was looking at. 

"Maria?" My father asked, and everyone the same face my father has, staring at me like I'm a completely different person than I really am "Do I not look alike or what?" I asked trying to mask the stress they were staring at me. "It's not that... you're beautiful." 

"Thanks Dad." I said with a small smile on my face, it was rare I surprised someone with how I was dressed "Sergio is right, darling, you look beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen you so dressed up in these last seven years." 

"I didn't dress up that much." I said looking at what I had put "Well if not. No wonder they all stare at you at college." Megan said with a big smile from the other sofa, and she knew everything would be fine between the two of them. "For you too, so I don't know what you're talking about." 

"But of the two, you are the one they looked the most." My sister said and I rolled my eyes, because it wasn't true "Drama queen." I told her and she just laughed "I'm not, just look at the face my brother-in-law has here and then we'll talk." 

I turned to look at Hugo, and I could see he was eyeing me. I think it's the first time in my life it doesn't bother me someone does that, I felt comfortable. What's more, I felt weird, out of nowhere I was hot. 

"Megan, don't bother them anymore and let them go." Analissa scolded her and my sister did nothing but throw up her hands and joke about it "I'm not stopping them mom." She said innocently "Shut up. Have a good time guys." Hugo got up from the sofa, and I couldn't help but stare at him. I had never seen him in a suit, and this one was a little tight on him, but I can't lie, I like what I see. 

When we left the house, we intertwined our fingers and headed to the car. First, we went to the passenger side, he opened the door for me, but I just stood there looking at him. I know full well he wanted me to get in the car, but today I wanted to drive more than sit next to it doing nothing. 

"You want to drive, don't you?" he asked with a smile on his face which made it grow larger on mine "I don't have to tell you if you already know." He closed the door, and we went to the other side of the car, he opened the door for me again passing me the car keys. 

"I think it's better if you drive." He said seriously and I didn't understand why he was saying it at this moment "Why?" I asked, "Because so I can see you and admire the beauty of my beloved girlfriend." He said with his smile back on his face "At least now you won't have anyone to embarrass you." 

"I'm not ashamed to stare at you like I did inside the house, what's more, I'm proud to be able to admire your beauty every day." He said and I could hear the pride in his voice, which made me laugh, "You're exaggerating, you know." 

"I'm not, that's what you think." He said leaning against the car. I got in the car and waited for him to do the same. Along the way we talked, and from time to time he would tell me where I had to go, because yes, he had refused to tell me where we were going. 

"Why are we going to the port?" I asked turning my gaze slightly "You can't miss anything, right?" he asked laughing and I denied, because it wasn't in my nature "I can't do it. Now better tell me what we do why we go to the port." 

"Well, since I know you adore the sea and you want no one there, I thought it was better to come to the boat and go out for a while." The next few minutes were silent. I could feel his gaze, and once again, I had that feeling of heat, everything was weird, but I decided to put the thoughts out of my head. Tonight, I wanted to clear my head and be with Hugo. 

Once we got to the boat, we got out of the car and went to the boat, he helped me get on, even though I didn't need it, and we headed towards the helm to leave the port. After a while, me sitting looking at nothing and Hugo browsing, he turns around with a big smile that makes me pay attention to what is happening around me again. 

"At least you're calmer now. I knew by coming here we would achieve that." He said, "I don't need to tell you anything if you already know." I smiled at him. It's been a long time since I've been so calm and without any plans or worries on my mind, it was good from time to time "I asked you if you were hungry." He said and I frowned, because I haven't heard him speak since we left port. 

"When?" I asked looking at him "At the time you were in your world apparently." He said with a big smile "Well, a little to be honest, and sorry for not having listened to you." I apologized and Hugo denied "You have nothing to apologize for. What was it that kept you so thoughtful? 

"The thing is, I wasn't thinking about anything." I said with a big smile on my face "Then better, that means right now you have no worries." I nodded and relaxed again looking towards the sea "Right, and it feels good." 

"You'll get used to the feeling. Shall we have dinner?" he asked, and I nodded, getting up from the chair, we held hands and intertwined our fingers. During the whole dinner it was all laughs, and for once in as long as I can remember, I didn't have major worries in my head like the feeling Stefan was on our heels, or I'm fed up with being in Los Angeles. 

When we finished eating, I got up from my chair and went behind him to give him a massage. I know from his face he didn't understand why, but after I started, he completely relaxed and leaned back in his chair. 

"Does your arm hurt?" I asked him "No, only when the weather changes, and it's not really hurting, it's annoying." He assured me "Diego could give you something for the inconvenience." I said and he shook his head "No need, but thanks for caring, love." He said giving me a kiss on the cheek "It's the least I can do after all you worry about me." 

In that, he passes his arms around my hips and with a movement of his, I end up sitting on his lap. Whenever I was near him, it was impossible not to lose myself in his green eyes. We kissed and then, I put my head on his shoulder. 

"Should I confess something to you, love?" he said, and I nodded "I love it when you're this affectionate." I frowned and moved away from him because I didn't understand what he meant exactly "Are you telling me I'm not affectionate?" I asked, "I'm not saying that, you are in your own way, and I love it, but you're not always this calm." He assured and I knew that "That's true. You know I love you, right?" 

"I know, I hope you know too." I agreed, because he made it clear to me every day by being with me despite my temper and nightmares. We stared at each other for a couple of minutes, and I really liked his eyes. Slowly, we began to get closer until our lips touched. The kiss started slowly, but in which we transmitted everything we felt. 

When we run out of air, we separate, but keeping our heads united. From time to time, he gave me small kisses in the first place he caught, and I couldn't help but laugh. "Hugo..." I had no idea how to tell him the truth, and I don't know how he would react either, which made me a little nervous "What?" 

"What if I told you I want to try something?" I asked him and he turned away from me to see my face "You tell me, and we'll try it together." He said with a big smile on his face "Would it be weird if I told you I want to know what it feels like to make love?" 

With that question, he separated from me with a surprised face. For a long time, I had been thinking of giving Hugo that opportunity. We had been together for practically a year and in all this time he hadn't said anything to me or pressured me. I felt lucky to have him in my life, because I'm sure anyone else would have sent me to hell, and he was still there by my side without changing his way of being. 

"That's weird... Not that you tell me what it feels like to make love, but you bringing up the subject." He said surprised "Is it so weird?" I asked, because the truth is I had no idea what was weird and what wasn't "The word is not weird, but unexpected. I didn't expect you to ask me." 

"I shouldn't have done it." I said trying to get off his lap and go to my chair, but Hugo prevents me from getting up "No, on the contrary, I'm glad you did. I understand why in all this time we haven't reached that point; I really do. I'm the first one who would offer me anything you ask me for, but I don't want to pressure you either. We'll get to that point by the time you're ready." 

"What if I tell you I want it right now?" I asked him practically in a whisper and without taking my eyes off his "I won't do anything you don't want, and if you really want it, we can try it, we won't go beyond what you want and if at any time you feel you don't want to continue, we will stop." 

We started kissing and for the first time in all the time we've been together, his hands were lower down my back, and it didn't feel bad at all I must admit. I ran my hands behind his neck so there was no space between us. 

After a few minutes of kissing, I could feel Hugo's little friend on my thigh, but before we could get to anything else, he pulls away from me and stares at me for a couple of seconds. 

"Are you sure you want to continue? We can stop if you want." He assured me, but I denied, because I really wanted to try it "I have never felt so good in my life at moments like this." I said, "Are you sure?" he asked, and I nodded "Yes Hugo, I'm sure. I want you to make love to me." 

"Then whatever you want, but as I said before, if you want to stop, we will." He said and even though I knew it I nodded to calm him down. We started kissing again and I could tell how he got up after a couple of minutes. I don't know where we were going, but I didn't care, I just wanted to be with Hugo. 

After some stumbling and I couldn't help but laugh, we got to the cabin. He closed the door carefully and after closing it, he leans me against it. 

"I've always wanted to do this." He said with a smile on his face, and I couldn't help but laugh "Weird you haven't done it before." I thought out loud "Maybe, but I was waiting for the woman to steal my heart." He said with a big smile on his face "I love you, Hugo." I told him giving him a kiss which he accepts and then pulls away from me long enough for our lips to touch "I love you, Alexandra D'angelo." 

With that, we kissed again, and he led me to the bed where I must say I had the best night of my life. I expected everything except it felt as well as it had, I suppose it had to be with the right person and if before it was clear I loved Hugo, now I knew I didn't want him to leave my side, so I will do everything in my power so this doesn't happen, before they will have to pass over my corpse.