The Italian Billionaire's Lover

CHAPTER 4

‘What do you need?’ Alina reached for the envelope Caroline handed her, thinking her sister needed medication.

‘Open it,’ Caroline instructed.

Alina looked at her sister. She lowered herself on the only two seater sofa in the lounge and slid the envelope open. ‘What is this?’

‘I want you to have it.’

Alina stared at the check made out in her name. It was a whopping amount. It seemed Caroline had emptied her Savings Account.

‘Caroline---I don’t understand.’

‘I want you to open your own restaurant---.’

‘No! I can’t accept this,’ Alina shook her head. ‘This,’ Alina waved the check, ‘is for you and Emily. This is for your future,’ tears rolled down Alina’s face. ‘I won’t allow you to be foolish Caroline.’

‘What’s the matter? Did daddy waste his money sending you to college?’

‘No!’

‘So why are you hiding in the Reference Section of a public library?’

‘I’m not,’ Alina denied.

‘Alina you’ve wanted to be a chef since you were twelve years old. You were so passionate about Italian cuisine. Now you’re wasting away---.’

‘A person can change their mind, can’t they?’

‘Yeah sure, like the pope can change his religion.’

‘I don’t want to talk about this,’ she shoved the envelope back to Caroline.

‘What are you hiding from Alina?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Don’t you have faith in yourself, because I have the greatest faith in you,’ Caroline spoke quietly.

‘I can’t take your money sis,’ Alina swiped her tears away. ‘I can’t do that to you.’

‘You’ve been taking care of Emily and I since Matthew died.

‘Matt would expect me---to be here for his wife and child,’ Alina cried openly.

‘You’ve stopped living in the last two years.’

‘How can I live, be happy, when you are in a wheelchair?’ Alina shook her head angrily.

‘I’ve come to terms with it Alina. It happened. I’m thankful Emily still has one parent and a loving aunt.’

‘It’s not fair. It’s cruel,’ Alina sobbed. ‘You wanted to be a chartered accountant.’

Caroline smiled and gently nodded in agreement.

‘Now you’re in a wheelchair at the age of thirty two. You lose your husband of the same age as you. My niece loses her father at the age of six.’

‘Life is not fair,’ Caroline wheeled her chair to where Alina sat. ‘Moping does not solve any problems,’ she took Alina’s hands in hers. ‘We cannot camp where we fall, we need to get up and keep moving. Life’s journey is always onwards.’

‘You always were the sensible, philosophical one,’ Alina laughed through her tears.

‘That’s why I was born first and you have to listen to me,’ Caroline teased. ‘Do it.’ Caroline pressed the envelope in Alina’s hand again. ‘For Emily and I, make us proud,’ Caroline whispered.

Alina accepted the envelope. She shut her eyes and prayed she would never let her sister down. They only had each other and little Emily only had them.’