My Blind Fiancée

“Despite being tempted to tell him what had happened with her grandfather, she stopped herself, remembering that the man hadn’t said anything that wasn’t true. Besides, she had already decided to distance herself, and that’s what she would do, no matter how much it felt like her heart was breaking inside.

“No, it’s just that the detective hasn’t contacted me, and I’m worried about the progress of the investigation.”

“If you want, we can go talk to him tomorrow.”

“Let’s wait a few days instead. Give him more time.”

“Alright,” he agreed, not entirely convinced, feeling like there was something more to it. He would try to find out.

The next morning, before leaving, Mateo kissed her on the forehead.”

“Remember that I love you. I’d like us to go out for dinner sometime, but until we resolve the issue with your uncle, it’s better if we don’t. Being in the same city, we might run into him.”

“Don’t worry, I understand. Also, always remember that I love you, no matter what happens, please,” Mateo felt a strange sensation as he heard her. He couldn’t guess what was going on, but her sadness was very evident.

“I know, how can I not love myself when even I love me, haha,” he joked to lighten the mood a bit.

“Haha, clown,” Ava said, tossing a pillow at him. He dodged it and then pretended to hit her with it.

“Shhh, they might hear us. Lola will come in here to shoot me,” he said playfully, remembering that if they were discovered, they would be in serious trouble.

After he left, Lola entered the room shortly afterward. Ava was grateful that he always left through the balcony.

“Good morning, my dear. Are you sure about what you’re going to do?” Lola asked, hoping she had changed her mind. She felt that Ava was safer with Mateo.

“Yes, it’s for the best, Nana.”

“How will we ensure that the guards don’t notice?”

“Just like when we escaped from my uncle. We’ll exit through the back; it’s the least guarded area. It’s daytime, so it should be easy. They’re watching to prevent anyone from entering, not leaving.”

“You’re right about that, my dear.”

Meanwhile, Mateo met Akiro at a nearby café before heading to his office.

“Fratello, I came as soon as you called.”

“Thank you for coming. I need your help with something.”

“Anything, what’s it about?”

“I’ll choose an engagement ring for Ava, but I’m completely lost on that.”

“Haha, I knew that sooner or later, someone would capture your heart, even though you always said you’d never fall in love.”

“Well, you see, I fell head over heels,” Mateo exclaimed with a smile.

He had planned a romantic dinner with Ava that night. He explained to some of the household staff how they should set up the terrace. Akiro took him to the place where he bought the engagement ring that he handed to Ima, the girl who attended the store. She was well aware that they were billionaires, and if she managed to sell them something, her commission would be substantial. She showed them several rings, trying to get him to choose one of the most expensive ones.

Mateo looked at all of them but couldn’t make up his mind. Finally, a set of rings on a small illuminated rotating shelf caught his attention. The price of these rings was exorbitantly high. Mateo carefully examined them and chose a beautiful ring with a large heart-shaped diamond. He asked them to engrave their intertwined initials on the inside.

A little before noon, Ava asked Lola to hide a bag with her important documents and belongings in the garden. That way, when they left, they could pretend to be going for a walk.

That’s exactly what they did. Fortunately, there was little surveillance at that time, as the bodyguards were more focused on the front of the house. By noon, Ava had contacted the detective who was waiting for them at the agreed-upon location.

Tadeo watched Ava approach with Lola by her side. He remembered when he had first met her, back when she could still see. A lump formed in his throat. She didn’t deserve to be in this situation. As she got into the car, Ava began to cry silently, trying not to, but unable to hold back. The detective saw her through the rearview mirror, and it was clear that something had happened between her and Licciardi.

That night, Mateo arrived home and went straight to prepare. He double-checked that everything was ready for dinner. He asked for the terrace to be decorated with roses and peonies, as he had overheard Lola mention that they were Ava’s favorites. He hired a violinist, wanting the night to be perfect. He was feeling happy and excited. If Ava accepted, she would soon be his wife. He went to find her. He knew he should have given her some notice to get ready, but he wanted it to be a surprise.

He knocked on Ava’s bedroom door but received no response. After knocking insistently, he became frustrated and decided to enter. The room was dark, so he turned on the lights, looking for her. She wasn’t there. Her clothes and belongings were in place. He turned around to leave, thinking she might be with Aurora or Lola, but then he noticed an envelope on the bed. He opened the letter; it was from Ava.

“Mateo, I’m deeply sorry to say goodbye like this. You don’t deserve it, but I couldn’t do it face-to-face. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I love you, and that’s precisely why I can’t tie you down to someone like me. Sooner or later, you’ll realize that you would have made a big mistake with me. Look for someone who won’t become a burden to you, someone you can share everything with that you couldn’t with me. Don’t look for me; the decision is final, and there’s no turning back. Thank you for everything. I hope that in our next life, we can meet again, and I’ll be someone normal, not a poor blind person. I’ll love you forever. Be happy.”

Mateo felt like the world was crumbling beneath his feet. He crumpled the letter and threw it away from him, as if it were burning in his hands. He returned to the terrace, in the midst of tears and screams of frustration, he destroyed everything that he had eagerly prepared. The waiters and the violinist, seeing this, quickly distanced themselves; they didn’t know what was happening, and they didn’t want to find out.

He couldn’t believe she had left him. Something must have happened for her to react this way. He was sure Ava shared his feelings, and he was not willing to lose her. If there was one thing he was sure of, it was that he would find her eventually. He would search for her if necessary, all over the world.

Guido and Aurora rushed to him upon hearing his screams. They found him sitting on the floor with his hands covering his face.

“My God, son! What’s happening?” Aurora was frightened by his state.

“She’s gone. She’s left me, and I… I love her too much.” Aurora knelt to hug him, knowing her son was suffering greatly.

Guido felt a pang of guilt. He knew he was partly responsible for what was happening, but he hoped that later on, his grandson would thank him for what he had done. That girl would be a burden in his life. He was a young and handsome man; he could have any woman he wanted at his feet. He didn’t think that Ava leaving would be a big problem for his grandson; the infatuation would pass soon.

How wrong he was. In just one day, Mateo seemed to be wasting away. He hadn’t stopped drinking for a single moment. Dark circles had formed under his eyes.

Ava was already settled in the apartment. Like every time she was in an unfamiliar place, she felt insecure. Fortunately, the apartment was very spacious and well-organized. It would just be a matter of time to get used to it. Tadeo came to see her in the morning.

“Ciao, Ava.”

“Hello, Tadeo.” The man saw her entranced. Her beauty was such that she didn’t need makeup; she was naturally, simply beautiful.

“Do you need anything? Anything you need, you can call me with confidence, and I’ll get it for you right away.” The detective didn’t know what to do to get her attention; he wanted to win her heart.

“We’ve already received the groceries we ordered. It’s just that we can’t go out until the matter with my uncle is resolved, and we didn’t bring any clothes.” She expressed with concern.

“Uhmmm, that’s true. You can’t go out for safety reasons. I’ve arranged for two guards outside your apartment. It’s better to be safe, even though it’s a very secure building. There’s always security at the entrance, and they don’t let just anyone in. As for clothes, I have a friend who owns a boutique. I’ll ask her as a special favor to bring some clothes for you to try on.”

“Thank you very much. Luckily, a day before leaving the Licciardi mansion, Mateo had passed by the bank and the credit cards. I wouldn’t have been able to pick them up because he might have found me.”

“If you need anything, anything at all, seriously, just tell me.”

“Thank you.” She said with a smile that seemed very tender to the young man. Was there a more beautiful smile than that?