IN THE DARK.

10

"Nonno." Mia cried into the phone overwhelmed by the sudden emotions.

Her beautiful grandmother's voice.

After all these years.

"Come sei stato, amore mio ?" The old woman's voice was weak. Very weak.
(How have you been, my love)

"Come stai nonno ?" Mia wiped her tears and asked her grandma and heard the older woman's coughing on the other side.
"Are you sick ? Nonno you're not sick right ?" Mia heard the old woman laugh meekly.

"I'm alive, tesoro. I'm alive. Alive in the hope that i could see you one day." Grandmother answered, Mia could hear the shuffling on the other side and then another voice spoke from the other side.

"Mia, It's me Zio Martino." Mia took a deep breathe.
Martino was was one of the men who worked very closely for her father. She could remember the faint details about her father and Martino's fond interactions during her childhood. In almost all of her memories, Martino was always there.

"Zio." Mia sobbed.

"Mia figlia. Non sai quanto ho cercato di contattarti. Are you fine ?" Martino spoke.
(My daughter, you don't know how hard i've tried to reach you.)

"Zio i'm fine...... is my nonno sick ? What happened to her ?" Mia asked Frantically

"Mia.... Your nonno is not fine.. she hasn't been for a while now.. which is the partial reason why tried to find you so much, figlia." Martino said.

Mia waited for Martino to continue.

"She has chronic obstructive pulmonary lung disease, Mia. I've contacted every capable doctor in the field in Italia but her condition isn't getting better... She talks about you every single day. She says she'll get better once she sees your face and if she can't get better it's her last wish to see your face." Martino finished as Mia's heart raced... her nonno. Her precious nonno was dying. She was in constant pain and Mia couldn't be with her.

Mia was about to speak when Charlotte's crying voice diverted her attention.

She was about to put the phone down and Maria signalled her to continue and went towards Charlotte's cot to pick her up.

"What happened to my baby zebra?" Maria cooed as she held Charlotte close to her heart.

"Whose baby is that, Mia ? Is that your... ?" Martino questioned.

"Si, Zio. Questa è la mia bambina." Mia answered with a smile.

"When... who..." Martino was speaking when Mia stopped him.

"I'll tell you everything about it Zio, What is the reason you called me ? It isn't just to talk..."

"You've to fly to Italy, Mia." Martino said.

"Wha... What ? How ? I can't..." Mia didn't know what to say. She wasn't even allowed to leave the house. She didn't leave the Estate in years except going to Greece with Emiliano and suddenly she was supposed to fly to Italy ?

"Everything is under control, Mia. You just have to leave that place.. the moment you get outside my people will meet you, give you everything you need and take you to the airport... I didn't know about your baby and it wouldn't be safe to leave with the baby... do you have anyone you trust who could keep your child safe for a time being, Mia figlia ?" Martino explained and asked Mia.

She wasn't going to leave without her child.

She wasn't going to survive without her Charlotte.

"I won't leave without my child, Zio." Mia told him.

"Mia..." Martino took a deep breathe.
"I've your father's will. Everything that is your right but you were deprived off for years. Alessa has your assets her under control. I need you here so we could proceed with legal work, Mia figlia. We can't do it while you're locked up as a prisoner. It's my responsibility to fight for your rights.. if I don't do it right now I won't be able to be at peace even after i die.. your father was my brother.... he was dearer than blood to me.. I can't let his only child live in misery now that i can change the situation and your grandmother needs you very much more than ever, Mia."

Mia's mind was conflicted.

Her father's money was her right.

His wealth wasn't Alessa's.

Alessa didn't deserve to take a penny from his will.

Her grandmother needed her.

But what about Charlotte ?

How was her baby going to survive in the cruel Estate without her ?

Maria could only do too much.

"Wh... when will i have to leave ?" Mia managed speak.

"On Sunday night, Mia figlia. Right after 3 days. Keep this phone close to you. I'll send you all the details." And with that they ended the call.

In one phone call, Mia felt like her world turned upside down.

She didn't know what to think.

"You don't have to worry about Charlotte one bit. You know i'll protect her with my life. Please do whatever you need to do right now, Mia. Please. This might be your only chance.. think about your baby. Charlotte deserves a better life." Maria said as Mia looked at her baby chewing a teething biscuit.

"You don't know Alessa the way i do, Maria.. the woman will try everything to hurt me and she'll try to hurt Charlotte... I can't even bear the thought of my child being in pain." Mia sighed.

"Nothing will happen to Charlotte... I'm here.. please take chance Mia.. please." Maria said in a pleading tone.