The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 151: Come with us

Chapter 151: Come with us

Matteo glanced around the room, noticing the tension thick in the air. He stepped forward and just on cue the door burst opened again and caught their attention; and she looked to it to see...balloons?

Behind the mountain of balloons covered in large writing, comes Stella’s bright face, followed by a sympathetic looking Ares holding flowers.

Damien and her father also entered right after them. Damien and Rhys had both left earlier and had told her they were going to bring her a surprise. She guessed her family and best friend was the surprise they were talking about.

"Bear!" Stella shouted, making her jump from the volume of her voice and Remo sighed, rubbing the nape of his neck as if he was tired of her friend.

As they all walked over to the bed Beatrix looked at the obnoxious amount of coloured round balloons on sticks Stella was holding and creased her brows in confusion as she read them.

"Happy Birthday"

"It’s a boy!"

"Congratulations"

"It’s a girl!"

"Beautiful mommy"

"Stella, why are you holding these?" She questioned. She knew her friend was a little crazy but she wasn’t expecting this.

"Uh...some guy was selling downstairs. They wouldn’t tell me why you’re at the hospital so I assumed they wanted to surprise me with my godchild? Why haven’t you given birth?"

She blinked in confusion as she stared at Beatrix.

Beatrix blushed deeply at her friend’s words.

"No."

"Oh my God! You haven’t?! What has Damien been doing all this while? He can’t.....?"

She trailed off but everyone could hear what she was insinuating.

Everyone turned to look at Damien and he let out an awkward cough.

Beatrix’s brothers and father shifted uncomfortably, while Beatrix herself felt her face grow even hotter.

"Stella, it’s not like that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Stella continued to stare at her, her eyes wide and unblinking. "Then why are you here, Bea? What happened?"

Beatrix hesitated, unsure of how to answer. But then she saw the concern in her friend’s eyes and knew she couldn’t keep it a secret any longer.

"I got shot," she said, her voice shaking slightly.

Stella’s mouth fell open in shock, and for a moment, no one spoke.

"What the hell?! What happened? Oh my God. Are you okay?"

Stella turned to Matteo, "Why didn’t you all tell me? I thought—-Oh my God."

Stella ran towards her bed and sat beside her on the bed and the rest moved towards her bed, their father following close behind.

Beatrix tried to smile as they approached, but the pain in her chest made it difficult. Stella hugged her tightly.

"I can’t believe I nearly lost you and I didn’t even know about it. Looking at Damien’s face too I know something bad happened too?" Stella sighed.

Beatrix looked back to Stella, now feeling guilty and her emotions have felt like they were on a damn rollercoaster since she woke up.

"I’m sorry that I kept all that from you, I wanted to tell you - I just -"

"Babe. Stop. It’s okay, I’m not upset with you. I know you would’ve had a good reason, if anything I feel like shit that I didn’t know and couldn’t be there for you while all this shit has been going on.

We’ll talk about all of it, just don’t worry about it right now she said, giving Beatrix a reassuring look.

"Bear!"

Beatrix couldn’t reply because next thing she knew Ares was engulfing her from the other side of the bed, wrapping her up in a bear hug that nearly choked the air out of her.

She heard a thud, and felt Ares pull back cursing under his breath and hear Remo snapped at him.

"Be gentle with her, you ass!"

Ares glared at Remo who was scowling at him, but then looked back at her and gave her a giant grin.

"I was so worried about you lil sis. Now I have to study hard to be a doctor. Can’t lose you.We’d all be fucked without you. Especially him" he nodded his head at Damien, who was just staring at her."

Her father, however, stood a few feet away, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. Beatrix could see the pain and sadness etched deep in his face. She could tell he was blaming himself for what had happened to her.

"Hey, little sis," Matteo said, his voice soft and soothing. "How are you feeling?"

Beatrix couldn’t help the guilt coursing through her. Nerves fluttered in her belly.

"I’m alright," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ares handed her the bouquet of flowers. "We brought you these," he said, smiling warmly.

"Thought they might brighten up the place a bit."

Remo snorted but he surprised her by pulling her into a hug.

He was the least person she was expecting for him to show emotions. She guessed she might have scared them when they heard the news. Her heart swelled with warmth seeing all these people she loved so much in the same room.

After a lengthy tight hug; Remo moved away only for Matteo to step in and wrapped his arms around her, embracing her in a hug that felt like being cuddled by a damn gorilla.

"Happy you’re safe pumpkin, we’ve all been a mess. Gave us all a bloody fright" Matteo said, unwrapping his arms from around her to grasp her face and pressed a kiss to her forehead as if she was a child.

Beatrix stiffened at first but she relaxed and broke into a huge smile. She thought Matteo was still angry with her. It seems he had forgiven her.

"I’m alright now, hate that I worried all of you" Beatrix said, her voice thicker with emotions while Matteo let go and moved to stand next to their dad.

Ares stood at the foot of the bed, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. "We’re all so glad you’re going to be okay," he said, his voice choked with emotion.

Beatrix’s father finally stepped forward, his face twisted with worry. "I’m so sorry, baby girl," he said, his voice cracking. "I should have been there to protect you."

Beatrix reached out and took his hand, squeezing it tightly. "It’s not your fault, Dad," she said, her voice steady. "I’m going to be okay."

The family stood there in silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts and emotions.

"So who is this beautiful woman? You haven’t introduced her to me, Beatrix. I’m hurt." Remo said with a smirk as he stared at Ava

Beatrix blushed, her heart full of gratitude for her brother’s lightheartedness in such a heavy moment. She turned to Ava and said, "This is Ava, my friend. She’s been taking care of me and helping me through everything."

Ava smiled and stepped forward to shake Remo’s hand. "It’s nice to meet you," she said.

Remo’s eyes sparkled mischievously as he took Ava’s hand. "Likewise, Ava. But be warned, my sister has a habit of getting into trouble, so you better be ready for some wild adventures."

Ava laughed, feeling relieved that the family could still find joy in a moment like this. "I think I can handle it," she said, winking at Beatrix.

"What about me? Do you think you can handle me?"

Ava blushed and Beatrix rolled her eyes.

"Stop flirting with my friend, Remo." Beatrix snapped at him.

Remo chuckled, "What? She is beautiful and I like beautiful things."

"So that you can soiled them with your uglyness?" Stella spat bitterly, a bit of jealousy in her voice.

Beatrix raised her brows but said nothing.

"No darling the only thing I be soiling is your sheets with you coming all on it."

Color spread across Stella’s cheeks.

"Eww. Don’t you have any shame? Saying this in front of our little sister."

Ares snapped at Remo. Remo shrugged and gave her a sly smirk.

"Sorry sis."

Beatrix rolled her eyes, ignoring him.

Okay what was going on between Remo and Stella?

She knew there was something more going on between them and once she got the chance she was going to ask her friend.

"So when are they discharging you?" Her father asked her, breaking the awkward silence that followed after Reno’s remark.

Damien stepped forward, "Well they want to monitor her for a day or two then they can decided on when to let her go home."

Her father nodded, "Good. You would be coming home with us."

Beatrix’s eyes widened in shock, "What?"

Her father sighed, "I can’t risk your safety anymore. Ever since he came for you your life is always in danger I can’t lose you too."

Beatrix let out a mirthless chuckle, "What were you expecting when you married me off to a mafia leader? A comfortable life? Please dad, I’m not going anywhere."

Her father sighed, " Our decision is final Bea, you’re coming with us. Don’t make this difficult."