Chapter 218 - Meaningless Without Her

"Her reports showed that she is a heart patient," Santiago told Emma in disbelief. He couldn't understand how Alicia had heart disease. It didn't make any sense to him. She had to be the most bubbly girl he had ever met. 

Then again, people with wide smiles often have the deepest scars. 

When the doctor enlightened them that they needed to see her medical reports to start the treatment, he had no other option but to contact Alicia's bodyguard Ace who didn't come with her here. He was the only person he could contact when Salvatore's number was unreachable. 

It wasn't only Santiago but Emma too was shocked beyond words. She glanced at Santiago and asked in a weak voice," What will we say to Killian?"

She couldn't tell Killian that she caused his sister a heart attack. Though it was not her intention to hurt Alicia yet it didn't change the fact that she was in the hospital because of her. 

Santiago rubbed his temple in frustration. He didn't know what to say to Killian or even how to tell him. 

"We will wait for the doctor to tell us about her condition before telling Killian," Santiago said. Even if they informed Killian just now, he still wouldn't be able to come here. Thus, it was better to wait before telling him. 

On the other hand, Persephone was sitting in the living room watching Santiago and Emy playing with each other. Although she appeared smiling, she wasn't her usual chirpy self. She tried standing up as she saw Valencia coming her way. 

"Val, did Santiago tell you what happened to Alicia? Why did she send Emy here?" Persephone immediately questioned her.

Valencia smiled to reassure Persephone. She was told that she wasn't allowed to tell Alicia's real condition to Persephone as the latter had the tendency of overthinking every single thing and stressing over it. Moreover, at thirty-two weeks pregnant, it wasn't fine for her to stress. 

"He said it's nothing serious but she may have to stay a night at the hospital, " Valencia lied. She was worried sick about Alicia but for Persephone's sake, she was trying to appear nonchalant but only if it was that easy after hearing the news. 

"Why?" Persephone looked horrified. "Why does she have to stay at the hospital? As much as I know, she hates the sight of the hospital." 

"She ate the wrong food on the flight and had good food poisoning," Valencia told another lie. " She has a weak immune system and gets sick easily." 

Alicia hated hospitals religiously. 

Persephone had a look of understanding on her face. She looked at the clock on the wall and it showed that it was time for the kids to go to bed. 

"Why don't you watch TV with Santiago?" Valencia asked her. "While I will put Emy to sleep." While taking Emy in her arms, she gestured to her son to sit with Persephone. 

Persephone nodded and sat back on the couch. She saw Junior taking the seat next to her after putting back all his toys in his room. 

"What happened?" She asked him. She could see that he was looking at her face as if he wanted to say something. 

The similarity between him and her husband was scary sometimes. 

"Uncle Cam said this country has a real Prince and a princess," Santiago said in a tone that implied he wasn't believing what his uncle Cameron had told him. "He was surfing the internet and found the information. But I don't believe him because mom says the internet is not always credible." 

Persephone chuckled, placing her hand on her tummy. "Cameron wasn't lying to you. And the internet is not always wrong. It is a pretty useful invention if you use it judiciously. Coming to the point, the country indeed has a prince and princess." 

"Really?" The boy inquired her in disbelief. His wide blue eyes were making him seem ridiculously adorable. 

Persephone nodded her head. "Princess Beatrice and Crown Prince Nero are twins. And they are very smart and beautiful," She told him about the royal twins. 

"Have you met the prince and the princess?" The boy was in awe. He didn't know that princes and princesses exist in real life. 

Persephone again nodded her head. She grabbed her phone and showed him the picture of the Royal twins. They were available on the internet. 

"Red, she has red hair too just like you, " He pointed at the similarity. 

Persephone shrugged. She had noticed it the first thing when she had met Princess Beatrice at the party. Maybe because Redheads are rare and whenever she saw one like her she would always notice. Princess Beatrice was a beautiful redhead too. But the princess' hair was curlier compared to her. 

Thinking of the royal twin, she found the princess more fascinating than the crown prince who acted more like an adult. He was fawned upon by everyone whereas the princess was sitting there like an accessory. 

But Persephone knew that there was more to the little princess than people were seeing. The princess was quiet but that arrogant posture couldn't be ignored. At such a young age, she had learnt the arrogance and elegance that no socialite would ever be able to pull off. Truth be told, it wasn't learnt but innate. 

"Would you baby be Princess?" Santiago questioned much to her horror. 

"No!!" Persephone immediately shrieked. 

If she had a daughter, her baby wouldn't be a princess as Santiago was no king. But the poor soul could be forced to marry the prince and become his princess. And that was not going to happen or one could say she wouldn't let it happen. 

"What happened?" Valencia asked immediately. She had just put Emy to sleep and when she entered the living room, she heard Persephone's shriek. 

Santiago, who too was confused, looked at his mom with a blank expression. "I don't know. I asked if her baby would be a princess like Princess Beatrice, she suddenly yelled. I swear mommy I didn't do anything else." 

"I'm sorry, Junior," Persephone apologized. "I was startled for a moment." 

Nobody knew how intimidated she was by the royal family. She didn't want her baby anywhere around them. 

She had been trying to shake off this bad feeling in her gut by talking to Valencia and Lara but with each passing second, it didn't lessen instead increased. She didn't know why but she felt as if something wasn't right. She didn't want to dwell on this negative feeling but she couldn't help her think about Alicia once again. 

And Santiago. He was still in the hospital. She wondered if it was really a food poisoning case or were they trying to make stories for her? 

… 

Salvatore was occupied with work as usual but these days had been a bit hectic than before. He wanted to call Alicia before leaving for lunch at Marino house. But then he rejected the idea as he remembered where she would be now. She must be tired of the long flight. 

He agreed with Santiago's idea because he knew that was safe for his family. If Alicia would be away from him, his enemies would not touch her. Or she wouldn't neglect her own health worrying for him. 

His Ali could be a bad worrywart! 

As he exited his den, he saw Ace standing there, cold faced. He patted his shoulder and asked in concern, "What happened? You don't look well." 

"Boss, Santiago Vitello called," Ace said. His eyes are painfully boring into Salvatore's. "Your wife has a heart attack and she is admitted to the hospital." 

Salvatore just stood there blank-faced. For a couple of moments, he didn't understand what Ace had said or perhaps he did hear but his mind wasn't able to decipher the meaning. When the intensity of the course hit him, he shook Ace. "What the hell are you saying?! I saw her this morning!! How is it even possible? Didn't the doctors say she was doing better than before?" 

Ace averted his eyes because he didn't know what to say. The reason why Salvatore would never complain about Alicia's pranks and antics was that he knew she was sick and needed to be happy and stress-free all the time. So, as long as she was happy, he would let her do anything. Since he could not spend much time with her, she would be travelling all over the world with him or her team of bodyguards, shopping to her heart's content. 

Another reason why she had no idea about him being a Marino was her weak and frail health too. He has been protecting her from all the dangers lurking over her head for as long as he had found her in his own way. 

Salvatore ran his hand through his hair like a mad man screeching. "I'm going to be with her. Get me a goddam jet or arrange anything. I need to be there." 

"Boss, you can't do that. Your father's men may get suspicious, " Ace said. "You waited for your goal all these years. Now you are just a step away from it, please don't do this." 

"Ace, what the fuck would I do with defeating him if the person I loved the most in this world is not with me?! It would be meaningless. I need to be there as soon as possible." 

…