Annabeth's Return

Chapter 22: I'm Sorry Mom

A/N~ Chapters 20-26 were released at the same time make sure you didn't skip one <3

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Valentino's pov

"Mommy I think daddys going to love it" Mom smiles at me pressing a kiss to my cheek. "He is definitely going to love it" I hear the front door open and we run into the pantry hearing dad calling out for us. Rambo circles his legs pushing him into the kitchen.

His face lights up when he sees the cake along with the picture I made for him. Mom counts to three and we get out the pantry hugging him tightly. "Happy birthday daddy" He hugs us back with the biggest smile on his face. "Thank you guys" He picks me up and puts me on the island next to the cake.

"Look I drew you a picture" I give it to him he looks at it still smiling ear to ear. "Here is you and mommy in the pool and this is me and Rambo," I point to each one of us.

"I love it, Val, thank you. Come on, why don't you put it in my office?" Dad picks me up holding mom's hand while he takes us to his office. "Where do you want to put it?" I point to where he has a picture of mom hanging. He smiles, grabbing a push pin letting me put it in.

"Are you going to take it down?"

"I promise I won't ever take it down Valentino"

16 years later still has the same picture in his office. I turn off the video and put another one on. This one is of me and Anna playing in hawaii. Her blonde hair is a bun and she smiles at me. We play on the sand building a castle. She stands up to get shells from the side of the water when she trips on her feet.

Gosh Anna is so clumsy. I caught her before she fell smiling at her then the video cut off. She's had my heart since we were kids. She was my first everything including heartbreak. "Val are you okay you've locked yourself in here for hours?" Alice says coming inside.

I close my laptop letting out a deep breath "yeah Alice i'm fine I was just going over files. I have to watch a shipment at 3 in the morning" I carefully put the home videos away, locking them in my desk. Only I have the key to unlock it. I made sure the lock was unpickable. I don't want anyone to be here just looking at those. "Do you want me to watch it for you?"

"Thank you but no Alice. I don't want something to go wrong and you get hurt"

"I won't Val come on my training has gotten so much better"

"Not this time. How are you and Gio?"

"We're shaky but it's getting there. I just think the whole argument was wrong from both ends."

"I mean as long as you both see that then you'll be fine in no time. I'm going to get air before going to the warehouse. Do you need anything?"

"When you come back bring me ice cream"

"Alright" I grab my car key going downstairs. I want to see Mom before I have to watch this shipment. It's midnight but I find comfort in talking to my mom. She might not be able to respond but I know she's hearing me.

I walk to her grave sitting in front of it. This is the place where I know that I can let everything out.

"Hey mom I know you're probably yelling at me for not coming to see you. I'm sorry it's just been a lot. Brielle doesn't let me live. I am not living with her. I don't love her. Hell I don't even like her anymore. I can't leave though. She'll hurt Anna and it doesn't sit right with me. A lot of her threats are loose but this one is different. I have a bad feeling in my gut about it.

I might not be with her but I will always protect her.

She is still my everything. She will always be my everything no matter what. She is happy now with Marcello. She's going to get married. I can't believe it. Anna's getting married. I won't be at the end of the altar waiting for her, it'll be someone who can give her more than I can. He loves her so much and I am so happy she found love again.

I'm supposed to get married. I don't want to but like I said anything to protect Anna. I'll live a life of suffering before I see a tear fall down her face. I know you don't like Brielle. You would have probably knocked sense into me. I wish I would have listened to Dad. He kept telling me not to but I didn't listen. I was trying to get over Anna when in all reality I was trying to find Anna in her.

Dad is good. Him and Violet went on a little weekend getaway. She is so much like you. She makes really good cookies and has a warm heart. Dad really loves her and he got his smile back. You would love Violet. Alice is with Giovanni. Well they are having a rough patch but I think they will make it through. Alice is like my little sister. I call her my sister, she calls me her brother. We do everything like siblings. She calls dad her own dad because her bio dad is a piece of shit.

I know you guys tried to give me a sibling. I'm not mad at you because it didn't happen. I also know when you did have my sibling growing inside of you they didn't make it. I don't blame you, you lost a lot. I knew you couldn't have any more kids after that either, that's why I never brought it up. I knew you tried it just wasn't meant to be.

I hate what my life has become mom. I wish I could change it but I can't. I look ridiculous crying here but you are the only person that understands. This is the only place where I feel safe. I'm sorry for screwing up.

I'm sorry for breaking my promises"

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Hey guys

I'm crying aren't you

Q/A~ Are you scared to find out who dies?

1043 words

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Annabethmorelli

Valentinoxmarino

Until we meet again <3