The sensation of a plane landing down on the ground could be felt when a loud bump was heard as the wheels of the plane hit the ground.

Laura touched her chest and could feel her heart beating unevenly.

The slowing sensation of the plane was making her heart beating worst, her stomach churned at the feeling.

As everyone started getting their way out of the plane, Laura remained rooted in her seat.

After a while, a stewardess approached her, and just then Laura came back to her senses and stood up to depart.

After going through the process of getting her luggage to all official requirements, she finally walked to the gate as her heart felt like dropping down with each step.

She had told her sister that she would live in a hotel, she refused immediately but after she tried to convince her she agreed with difficulty and took her promise that she would stay at her home for dinner and then at night she could leave for the hotel.

Lisa already knew that Laura will try to stay away from her as what happened in the past she still felt guilty and remorse about it.

As she stood at the gate, she held her coat tightly feeling cold although the sun was shining brightly on her face. She still felt cold, her hands felt frozen as she tried to keep them in her pockets to warm them.

Her eyes caught a man who had her name written on the board. "LAURA."

She walked toward him, "It's me" she told him plainly, he looks like a driver.

The young man smiled politely as he bowed to her. "Hello Miss Laura, Mrs. Carlos has sent this ride for you."

Laura felt uncomfortable after hearing the word, "Mrs. Carlos." She once wanted to get that title so desperately.

She forced a smile as the man took the suitcase from her hand and pulled it to his car while guiding her on the way out.

He opened the door respectfully as Laura seated inside. She leaned on the seat and closed her eyes, she has no interest in looking out at a beautiful city like Rome. Her mind was filled with worries but she tried to soothe her heart by saying, "It would be over soon."

Yes, she has planned that she would stay for less than a week, and then she would leave. After all, she is here to attend the reception of her sister as she promised her before.

The car stopped after a long time. Laura took a long breath as she inhaled the fresh wind filled with the scent of flowers calming her nerves a little.

But as she walked to the villa door, all her memories started flashing into her eyes.

She walked to that villa, the night before she left this place. The door opened and she saw Ms. Davis greeting her politely, she greeted her back as she walked inside.

It was 10 'o'clock and the house was quiet. She walked to the living room, the time she came here first there was nothing except Augustus lying on the floor lifelessly with the shattered pieces of wine bottles all over him.

And now, she could see the six-seater sofa, a huge dining table with sets of chairs, the living room was decorated so nicely it looked lively and pleasant to the eyes indicating the presence of people in the home.

She smiled bitterly as she stared at the spot Augustus was lying that night and she stood a little far from him wearing a sexy dress with heavy makeup on her face, Augustus opened his eyes slowly as he looked at her and then pounced at her hungrily.

THUMP

...

"Laura..." Lisa squealed with joy and Laura jerked back her head shaking away all the past memories and coming back to reality.

"Sis..." Laura opened her hands wide to hug her but stopped when she saw the small chubby baby in her sister's arms. "Little Tommaso..? Oh sis he is so cute.." Laura asked while grinning at the baby.

She then gave her sister a side hug as Tommaso was refusing to leave Lisa. Laura laughed when she saw Tommaso making face when he got a little squeezed by their hug.

She then clapped her hands and tried to make him happy as he left Lisa's embrace and went into Laura's arm.

Lisa was stunned to see this change as well as Ms. Davis, Tommaso never gets comfortable with any stranger so fast he even made faces when Augustus, Maria, or Simon tried to hold him from Lisa's embrace.

"Wow... it seems Tommaso really likes you, Laura.." Lisa told her as she gestured for her to sit and then asked Ms. Davis to bring tea and cakes for them.

"So how was your flight?" Lisa asked Laura as she sat beside her.

"It was okay sis." She told her while playing with Tommaso in her arms.

"And... Boston....? How was it? Are you okay there? Any problem with study or.... anything?" Lisa asked her in hesitation.

Laura turned to her and told her with a serious face, "Sis, I am not a child. I am 19 and I can handle myself alone."

"But Laura.." Lisa was still feeling sorry for her as Laura stopped her. "Sis, I am absolutely fine. Trust me." She squeezed her hand assuring her.

Lisa smiled softly as she held her hand.

"Where are Simon and Maria?" Laura asked to change the subject.

"Oh, they have gone to school. They would be back by 3 until then you should go and rest OK." She told her in concern.

"Yeah Sis, I will later. First I will play with this chubby man.." Laura chuckled as Lisa too laughed and told her happily, "haha well Augustus too called him a little man."

Laura's laugh was frozen as she heard his name but she still tried to keep her smile as she was feeling uncomfortable hearing "Augustus" name.

"Pa....rk...Pa.....rk..." Just when Laura was feeling distressed, Tommaso blabbering in her arms and she looked at Lisa to translate what he wants?

"He wants you to take him out to the back garden for a walk," Lisa told her with a smile.

Laura chuckled while kissing his chubby cheek. "Little fellow, I have just arrived and you have started ordering me hmm." She complained while mimicking a baby's voice and Tommaso laughed at it.

Laura held him up and took him out, while Lisa stayed inside as she was feeling cold.

Laura walked with Tommaso in the back garden as she looked around and Augustus's words were ringing in her arms, "That night he told her that he would arrange the back of home for his kids and indeed he has put a lot of effort to make it a good playground for them."

She then thought of something and peeked at the entrance of the villa, as expected she saw a huge swing there.

Augustus told her that night that he wanted to keep a swing and wanted to enjoy good weather with his wife, Lisa.

She sighed sadly, "What had got into me?" She murmured to herself as suddenly Tommaso's fat hands patted her cheek.

She looked down at him with a smile, "Tommaso I feel so guilty and sorry for my sister, Lisa, and brother-in-law Augustus. I had tried to separate them and create misunderstandings between them. I was so bad back then."

She sniffed as she tried to control her tears from falling.

The day of Laura spent well with the kids, thankfully Augustus didn't come home at lunchtime and Laura was trying her best to leave the villa before she will encounter him.

But who knows that Fate wasn't ready for her to leave yet as she was lost in playing with kids she heard a familiar male voice. A voice that had been ringing in her ears for a whole year.

The voice she always kept in her head, his all words that he told her before the night she left Rome.

"Hello everyone.” Augustus greeted happily as he took a look at Laura and soon turned his face to Lisa, as he hugged and kissed her.

Laura's eyes were on the floor, she was just staring at his shiny leather shoes that had turned into slippers now as Lisa helped him to change.

She didn't dare to look up into his beautiful deep blue eyes, she nervously held her clothes thinking Augustus would come over and talked to her.

But to her surprise, Augustus completely ignored her existence and went to his room to change.

"He didn't even greet me properly." Laura looked up and felt disappointed.

Her eyes saddened as she went up to find her sister to leave.

She walked up and stopped outside their door as she heard them talking, "Augustus it's been a year. Can't you forget it and move on?" It was her sister, Lisa's voice.

"Forget it. She literally tried to separate us, Lisa. Thankfully she got her senses back and made a wise decision to leave our life. Otherwise, who knows, where would be you now? And Tommaso. My little child, whom I would never be able to see.” Augustus said angrily as he was fuming in full rage.

"Augustus she was stupid to do this, but you are a wise man and as being an elder I think we should help her in improving instead of punishing her and making her feel terrible." Lisa tried to convince him.

"Lisa when I think of you going away from me and also how badly hurt you was. I just can't, I can't pretend that nothing happened. You can forgive her as she is your sister but I can't Lisa. I can't." Augustus said in frustration.

"Augustus she is here to attend our reception. I don't want her to feel wrong because of your behavior you better behave yourself otherwise I won't attend the reception." Lisa said stubbornly as Augustus sighed in helplessness.

"Lisa... you wanted to invite her but do not expect me to treat her with care and respect. Because I seriously don't. Respect and love should be earned you cannot force anyone. And if you don't want to attend the reception Fine I will go alone." Augustus said unhappily and then walked to the bathroom as a loud bang was heard from inside their room making Laura’s whole body shake.

BANG

She shook her head as a sad smile came to her lips. Her bottom lip shivered as her emotions got out of control and tears welled up in her eyes.

She covered her mouth after shedding some tears, she then went down and took her suitcase. She informed Ms. Davis before leaving the villa.

Laura went to the hotel and booked a room for two days. She was feeling heartbroken as she entered the room and lay on the soft bed, again her eyes filled with water as she remembered Augustus's harsh words.

"I thought leaving you made you love me or at least think about me as a good person. But you Augustus. You always misunderstand my love for you.” she looked at the ceiling and cried sadly.

Soon her eyes turned red from crying, just then suddenly her phone rang.

At first, she ignored it thinking that it was her sister but it kept ringing she had no choice but to look at her phone.

It was "Tina" she blinked her eyes in surprise and then picked up the call immediately.

"Laura..." Tina shouted in excitement. "Bloody hell, it's been more than 12 hours your flight had landed, why didn't you inform me, you careless woman.” Tina scolded her while pouting, but soon she changed her tone when she saw her face clearly.

"Shit... What's wrong Laura? You look miserable. Tell me did someone bully you? Tell me you're fine?" Her voice turned anxious.

Laura stared at her face on the screen, she felt like a lump was stuck in her mouth as she tried to open her mouth.

"He hates me.." she said, the person could feel the heartache in her voice.

"Ohh, Laura..." Tina immediately softened her tone when she heard her. She knew her friend is madly in love with her brother-in-law Augustus, but he always ignored her and hurt her in any way possible.

Like she has just landed in Rome after a whole year what he could do to make her look so terrible in just some hours?

She frowned as she looked at her pale face that was covered with tears, her eyes looked empty and her face looked lifeless.

"Laura... It's just one day. You attend the reception and come back as soon as you can. Do not let him affect you." She told sharply to Laura but Laura was completely numb as Augustus's words were still lingering in her mind and she soon started sobbing heavily.

"Ssshhhh... Laura don't cry for him. He doesn't deserve it." Tina tried to comfort her, she was nervous and angry at the same time.

"Hmm." Laura just nodded her head as she wiped her tears.

The whole night Laura spent crying and sobbing and Tina stayed with her all night on the video call. She cut the call when she heard her snoring lightly.

She sighed as she touched the screen and murmured. "I wish you find someone better than Augustus, Laura. You too deserve to be loved." She then gave her a fly kiss and ended the call in hope that her friend would find her happiness one day without Augustus.

Would that day be coming soon?

“Ahh..” The silent hotel room was filled with a young woman's moans as she was again lost in her dream.

..

“Nobody loves me.” Laura sniffed and tried to wipe her nose with her hand just then a gentleman offered her a handkerchief, she took it and wiped her nose as she threw it down and again started yelling sadly, “Nobody loves me.”

Soon, her body was lifted and carried away. She was then thrown on the soft bed, she still wept sadly just then the man tried to comfort her while giving her soft kisses on her neck that trailed down slowly, he removed everything from her body and held her tightly as he whispered the words in her ear.

“I AM HERE TO LOVE YOU.”

The woman opened her blurred eyes, the beard, the hazel eyes, that deep smile. She felt a jolt as she realized what that man is trying to do. But that instinct go away in a second as the man showered her face with kisses and soon pierced her entrance with his length.

She yelled in pain than pleasure as her body started shaking violently before she could reach her climax something started buzzing under her head.

She frowned and shook her head not wanting to wake up until she finally sees the man’s face but unfortunately like all the past time, this time also Laura woke up in annoyance as she slipped her hand under the pillow where she felt vibration.

It was her phone, she stared at the caller's name. It was her sister, Lisa.

She picked up the phone and placed it near her ear lazily, “Yes sis.”

“Laura.! Why did you leave last night without dinner? And where are you staying? The reception would start at 7 pm. Send me your address I will send a car to pick you up.” Lisa’s anxious voice came.

“Sis, I don’t need anything. Send me the address I will reach on time myself.” Laura said plainly and hung the call before Lisa could say anything. She then put her phone on silent and threw it feeling exasperated.

“Hawww... Can anyone let me complete my dream.?” She yelled as she pressed her face into a pillow in frustration.

Why did she keep dreaming about that man?

The beard?

The hazel eyes?

His deep smile?

His voice?

Laura felt too much frustrated, how did that man leave so much effect on her? Because he was her first that’s why?

After lying on the bed for a long time, lost in her thoughts. Laura’s stomach growled protesting for food that she had skipped last night. She finally made effort and went to the washroom to freshen up and then called the reception to order her food.

Her mood wasn’t good but she was starving as she gulped down the food in a quick manner. She then picked up her phone and saw her sister’s message. The reception was held in “The Grand Carlos Hotel” she had gone there once, she remembered as the memories flashed in her mind.

She then opened her suitcase and took out the dress she had brought with her for the reception. She ironed her dress and prepared the things she needed for the night. While doing this, Laura’s eyes fell to the stack of money that stranger gave her.

She felt distressed as she kept it back and then closed her suitcase to put it back in the cupboard.

…

THE GRAND CARLOS HOTEL

The entrance of the Hotel was filled with reporters, a long red carpet was laid on the floor that touched the road where the expensive cars stopped and dropped the high-end guests of the party. Laura stepped out of the taxi and felt completely embarrassed, “I should have listened to sis.” She murmured in embarrassment and tried to walk to the corner quickly.

She was wearing an off-shoulder red color silk dress, with a black fur shawl on it. She had put on black winged liner making her eyes more prominent and then the red-colored lips were complimenting her face as her hair was tied up in a high ponytail with side layers falling on her face.

Her look was simple yet adorable, as she tried to walk on the carpet quickly to avoid the people’s attention on her, still people were able to notice her as they started clicking her picture. She lowered her head and rushed inside with a flushed face.

At the entrance, she met Rheena and Monte Carlos (Augustus’s mother and stepfather) she greeted them both politely and they greeted her back. Laura then walked inside and looked at the stage where her sister, Lisa was standing alone.

Lisa was wearing a color block sequin dress in Moroccan blue and ashen roses. It was V-neck, cold shoulder design dress with short sleeves. She was wearing a large blue diamond on her neck with a pair of blue diamond earrings completing her look.

Her hair was tied in a side braided bun, she looked like a fairy in that dress. Laura smiled with genuine happiness when she saw her sister, when they were small Lisa used to act as her fairy mother, and today she does seem like a true fairy.

Laura walked to the stage with a wide smile, forgetting about her surroundings completely. Lisa hugged her in excitement when she saw her coming over, “Laura. You finally made it.”

Laura happily hugged her back as she said, “Sis, I promised you. Remember?”

Lisa nodded her head happily and then kissed her forehead just like a mother would do. Laura hugged her tightly as she felt overwhelmed.

“Lisa, Tommaso is….” Augustus walked on the stage but stopped as he saw Lisa hugging Laura. Laura immediately pulled herself away as she tried to run down from the stage but the next moment, Lisa held her hand and stopped her.

“Laura, you haven’t greeted your brother-in-law yet.” She reminded her.

Laura frowned as she looked up at her sister with surprised eyes. “Sis…” She pleaded but Lisa didn’t let her go easily she has to smooth things between them.

Laura took a deep breath and finally with courage she looked up to Augustus. “Congrats on your wedding.” She congratulated him as she stared right into his deep blue eyes and her heart started racing rapidly.

Before she could turn away and run from him, Lisa announced loudly. “You both should talk a bit, I will go and attend to the guest.” With that, without wasting a minute she was gone from the stage.

Augustus stared at Laura’s appearance she did look breathtaking today, Laura looked up and caught him staring at her as she smiled nervously at him, and then something hit her head as she widened her eyes and noticed his grown beard.

“Isn’t it similar to the man she used to see in her dream?”