Chapter 222 Chapter 222


    Two monthster...


    It was a sunny Sunday morning. The sun shone into the library and there was a gentle breeze through


    the open windows as I sat on the carpet ying with Stefano and Zacharias. Leo was out working but


    Max sat on the other side of the room with the twins on hisp reading to them as we listening to the


    crashing of Cato, Mathias, Ss and Lili ying in one of their bedrooms.


    But even still it was peaceful.


    I felt like myself again and I was happy. I could be a mother to my children again and just simply enjoy


    life. The nightmares were fading and every day the hugs and cuddles with Leo grew longer as the


    memories of Andrea being touched could trigger became less painful. My progress and recovery was


    slowly and predominantly made up of the asionally little step but we''d both agreed there was no


    need to rush it.


    Just then the doorbell rang. Max looked up and stopped reading.


    "Don''t stop the story," I said. "I''ll get it."


    I left Max and the kids upstairs before heading down to answer the door.


    There was nobody stood on the doorstep, just a small white envelope. I picked it up to see my name


    written in an borate hand on the front.


    Except it wasn''t my name. Not the name I went by anyway.


    E Martinez


    I looked up into the forest. Everything was as still as ever. I then ripped open the envelope and tipped


    out the contents.


    A silver ring fell out onto my palm with arge glistening diamond. It shone beautifully in the daylight yet


    I shuddered at the sight of it. It was a ring that had belonged to me that I had discarded into some


    Venezun jungle months ago, thinking I''d never have to set my eyes on it again.


    The apanying note read:


    We''ll be back together soon enough, nca.


    My hands began to shake and I mmed the door, locked it and ran upstairs.


    "Frannie, Marie, why don''t you go and y in your room. Max will finish the storyter," I said.


    He looked at me confused as there were a couple of disappointed wines from the twins but they soon


    left after a little encouragement and I thrust the letter towards Max.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "This was on the doorstep," I said.


    "E Martinez?" he questioned.


    "Read inside," I ordered.


    He did and his face dropped.


    "And this was with it," I added presenting the ring. "It''s the ring Andrea gave me when he proposed."


    "And it just showed up on the doorstep?"


    I nodded.


    He stood up and marched down to the front door where he looked out into the forest. There was still


    nothing.


    "I should search the area. Whoever it was can''t have gone far," he began. "But I can''t leave you alone


    in case they really haven''t gone far."


    So instead, he phoned Leo who on hearing the news was a terrible mix of angry because somebody


    had managed to get so close to me and into the pack, concerned about the sudden reappearance of


    Andrea''s threat and shocked at the news that he actually still does exist.


    "Are you okay, Ells?" Max asked me as we sat in the living room, awaiting Leo''s arrival home.


    I shook my head.


    "No," I replied. "I was beginning to believe he was gone. I was beginning to move on. Now this has


    brought it all back and it feels like poison in my veins."


    "It could be nothing," Max suggested.


    "You don''t know Andrea like I do," I replied. "He''s got something nned and it will be the most


    wless, clever and wicked scheme in existence. This was just the warning."


    Twenty minutester, Leo was home and staring motionlessly at the letter as he spun the ring in his


    fingers.


    "I don''t understand. How did he get it to our front doorstep without the border guards or anyone else


    noticing a thing?" he said.


    "I don''t know," Max replied. "But at least he did. We wouldn''t have had a warning otherwise."


    "You''re right. He''s sacrificed covertness for grandiose," Leo concluded. "Now we will see himing. I


    need to go and prepare my army. Max, stay here until I get back. I''ll send Luca too, just in case."


    "Leo, wait," I said. "Andrea wouldn''t have just blown his cover without meaning to. You know what he


    wants you to know, remember? He clearly wants you to know he''sing."


    "I don''t see how that could ever be a disadvantage to us," Leo replied.


    I sighed, "Neither do I but just be wary. Try not to fall into any of his traps, okay?"


    He nodded and pulled me into a hug.


    "I will protect you at all costs, E," he said, kissing my head. "I will not let him hurt you. Not again."