His Perspective

2- Maria's Return

Alexander's POV

I slowly trudged back and forth in the room. It was hard deciding what I needed to do to keep the company going. Recently, I had learned that the nice investment we made into a huge company in Italy had backfired completely. 

I was certain that it had to do with all the recent chaos that our company went through. Even though our main station in Italy wasn't targeted directly, we were noticing significant drops in customers and support over there. 

I dropped down at my desk. This was all giving me such a headache. Ever since...

I shook my head. There was no use thinking about the day Maria was gone. It was better to continue working and if and when she ever came, I'd deal with that then. No use wasting brain energy on that. 

So far, with the help of Jordan and other wonderful businessmen, I was able to keep the company together. It was no longer as successful as I needed it to be, and I doubt I would ever be able to get it back up to that place again. Either way, I was going to do everything in my power to get the company into a better place. 

So far the only plan I had was to visit Italy for myself and see if I can find some support within the people and the local businesses. I needed to win over the hearts of each individual instead of focusing on the country as a whole. 

A knock sounded at the door. 

Great. I was just starting to get a good idea when someone had to interrupt. 

"Come in."

The door opened. 

What in the... Maria stood in the doorway, her golden hair falling at her shoulders, her skin tanned and a nervous resemblance of a smile painted on her face. However, what surprised me most was that ridiculous outfit that I had never seen her wear, and the clearly very pregnant belly. 

There was a block of memories in my brain that surrounded my wife and seeing her... well, I was thrilled. But I also felt very shameful of the deeds I did while she was gone. 

I pushed it all aside. I could get away with it all if I tried. I needed to start over with her. 

"Maria," I whispered, and at that moment I realized just how much I did miss her and wanted to hold her in my arms. 

Her smile widened and her eyes lit up as I said her name. I stood up and opened my arms and we both ran up to each other. I wrapped my arms around her, very aware that this felt so much different. Hugging her was different, her scent was different, even her presence and aura felt... different. Something clearly happened while she was gone and I wanted to find out what it was.

Careful, Alexander. You just now got her back, you can't scare her off right away. 

"Oh, Maria, how I've missed you!" I whispered, tightening my grip on her. 

Indeed, no matter how different she now seemed, how foreign, I still saw my wife, my Maria standing before me. I still loved her. 

"I've missed you too, Alexander," She whispered back. Even her voice sounded slightly different but I pushed that thought aside. 

She certainly lived a different life when she was gone, and she was entitled to do whatever she wanted while she was gone, just like I was entitled to living a different life while she was gone. I wasn't going to stir up our differences in these past few months just quite yet. 

I broke away from the hug and gave a stare at her belly. It bothered me... a lot. But I tried to tear my mind away from that and instead I smiled at my wife and took her face in my hands.