"What exactly do you think you are doing?" Enzo asks as he pulls his specks on before facing his noisy mate

"If you have noticed that I'm alive then you can clearly see what I'm doing?" Erika replies as she locks her bag

"Guess, wrong question, then why are you packing these suitcases?" he asks again now fully awake

"I'm leaving, if you haven't concluded that much" she replies as she pulls her bags

"Wait, wait...what do you mean by you are leaving. Where do you even think you are going...at 4o'clock in the morning?" Enzo asks checking the time shocked

"Wow, you should have at least tried to stop me first before asking where I will go! Bravo, Enzo, seems like you never cease to amaze me...

As for where I'm going, don't worry wherever I'll be I know I will be much more happier than I am right now without you around" she explains walking down the stairs to the front door while Enzo follows her

"Stop, Erika what are you doing, you can't just up and leave. Listen, just don't go okay, we will talk about whatever this is we can talk and solve it, please don't just up and go" he pleads standing in front of her in hope of stopping her

"No Enzo you can't talk me out of this, it just seems these past few years I am not holding much of your attention and I'm tired of all this...

I think it is best that I leave, I should have done this all those years ago but I never had a chance...

I know this seems all of a sudden but I also know you will survive because you have been away from me for so long we both are used to it by now...

Don't stop now my mind is set, make sure sleeping beauty isn't all alone or better call Gio to look after her because I'm sick and tired of being her baby sitter when there are so many things out there for me to focus on" she informs pushing Enzo aside so she can walk out

"She is our daughter Erika; you can't just abandon everything and leave. You are not a child but have a child and a mate...

We need you here...Engel needs you. You are her mother and at times like this we should be understanding and support her" Enzo tries again to stop her but it seems she has her mind set

"No Enzo, she stopped needing me a long time ago and so did you. When was the last time she came seeking me for anything, when was the last time any one of you even said you loved me?

It seems I am just a mate and mother in name, she shuts me out every day, and you stopped wanting or even needing me...

I am so sick and tired of all secrets you keep, these entire negative feelings I have that one day you will all leave me and I will be all alone, broken...

It seems I have nothing more to give anyone of you to feel wanted or loved, so do not stop me now because I am out of this house....

Please, be understanding" she explains as she step close to him and pecks his cheek before stepping out of the house.

Enzo curses as he pushes his finger through his hair and watches his mate leave him; he knew that eventually she would do something stupid. He knows he has not been an attentive mate to her and was not there for her most of the time.

However, he wanted her to understand what they were going through. How will he explain to anyone about them loosing their daughter slowly?

He just wanted to find a cure for his daughter and save her; he did not want to loose any chance he had.

He also did not want to worry Erika, as he knows she already was suffering from the cold treatment of their daughter but now that she was gone, he does not know what he will do.

She is his strength, no matter what she feels she is the only one person from whom he gets the real power and strength to live and fight for something he believes but now she was gone from his side.

*******

"Dad" Engel's soft voice makes him turn to watch his daughter

"Hey" he tries to smile but fails

"Where did mom go?" she asks worried to see her father's face

"She left" Enzo informs her breathing heavily

"What?" Engel asks shocked at that

"Don't worry, I will talk to her and she will be back in no time" he tries to assure her but Engel knows that her mother went because of her

She just nods before turning back to her room with a heavy heart. She finally did it, her mother left and now just like her mother her father will hate her.

She tries to stop her tears as they collect in her eyes, she never meant to break her parents in this way. She never thought her mother would leave them, but now that she did Engel feels lost as, she does not know what to do.

She feels bad for pushing everyone away but it was for best if they hate her, they would not get more hurt when she leaves their side.

Now all she needs to do is push Gio away, her sweet, sweet mate who does not know the words giving up on her. However, she knows if she can make a woman like her mother leave them then she can make her stubborn mate leave her as well.

*******

Erika sighs as she keeps her bags inside the car and locks it before getting in the back seat of the car.

"Let's go," she commands closing her eyes

"Uh...what are you doing here?" Ace asks shocked to see their aunt get in their car

"What do you think? I'm going with you" she frowns when no one starts the car

"No, you can't. Who the fuck told you about our plans anyway," Aldrich demands looking around the car to each of his brothers who shrugs not knowing how their aunt knew they were going away on a vacation for a week

"I overheard when you were booking the private plane, so I called them and figured out where you all were going...

Now hurry up, I just had to fight with Enzo for no reason so he will not know where I am going. Do you know if he finds out, I am going on a trip with you all he would have never said yes...?

Can you believe that I woke up extra early and was thinking to sneak out but damn he woke so I had to fake a fight and leave" she throws her hands up in the air not believing her plans worked now she was going on a trip

"No, this is so not happening. We are not taking you with us, come on aunt how can we flirt and have rendezvous if you are with us?" Ace complains frustrated

The reason they booked the flight so early and planned all of this in secret was so their aunt will not find out about their trip and bump it but guess she found anyway

"Do you understand what I said? I cannot go back in there when I just fed my mate some bullshit and gave him a guilt trip...

Now, you want me to go back. Uh-uh not happening, I do not care how many girls you bang for all I care you can have an orgy, but I am going on this trip...

Damn being grown up sucks, do you know there was a time when I was the life of the party and the one who planned the trips? Ask your fathers I am the best wingman anyone can dream about...

Girls will flock around you if you take me, if not then I'll make sure you never set a foot out of the house" she threatens them folding her arms and daring them to protest

"Fuck, fuck, oh fuck, fine you win as always, but if I die having blue balls because of you on this trip. We are never taking you anywhere again" Aldrich grits out as all of his brothers, nod in agreement with him

"As I said I am the best wingman anyone can dream of. You won't die of blue balls on my watch...but just the opposite" she winks before she comfortably lies on the back seat making the boys groan, as they had to adjust with her.

*******

"What are you doing here?" Engel asks having had enough of his presence

"I am here to see you" Gio replies staring straight

She sighs, as she is tired of having the same discussion with him everyday, it is as if they are a pair of damaged CD players playing the same record repeatedly. She does not even know anymore how to tell him off so he can leave her alone.

"Which part of I don't want to see you and just leave me alone don't you understand. It is all I have been telling you and I'm sick and tired of repeating myself," she voices as she stares back at him wishing he would just leave

"As am I, I am too sick and tired of repeating myself that I will never leave your side, so it's better you stop arguing or pushing me around when we both know that's never going to happen" Gio argues back making her groan in frustration

"Then let me put it this way. Your entire existence makes me want to tear the whole world apart and I curse the day I met you...

I am so over you and I am so over this whole mate thing between us. I just wish that I was able to choose my own fate so I could change my mate and not have you as one because you make me sick each and every time I see you" she snaps wishing he would now leave before she says some more bitter things she doesn't want to

"Done with the tantrum or is there more?" Gio asks her calmly

"Actually no, I'm so not done with it but, I sure as hell am done with you. You know what I should have done this before but nevertheless...

I, Engel Antonio reject..." but before she finishes those fretful words Gio has her pinned on the wall clutching her jaw hard enough to cause her pain but not enough to break it

"Shut the fuck up, I have used every ounce of patience with you each and every day of my life because I know it's hard for you...

Moreover, it is hard for me as well; I did not ask to be mates with you. I did not choose you but you are mine, you were mine before you were even born and for that, I was thankful...

Not so much now, I have tried and tried baby, so hard to be there for you, to be understanding as you fought with this illness of yours you cannot seem to have control over...

No more, not even fucking one more time will I stand and take your cold indifference behavior towards me. You will respect me as your mate and you will come to love me as you used to...

I want my Engel back the one who could not seem to, even blink without me by her side and I swear to everything that was between us Engel...

If I hear one more word of you wanting, wishing and planning to reject me I will personally make you fall asleep so deep that you will not ever have to worry about opening your eyes even if it will kill me...

Besides, it seems that's the only way I can truly be yours," he warns her gritting through his teeth, as he cannot help to let slip some of his rage on her

"You are hurting me" Engel whispers as her tears drops off her eyes

"Well good that you are, because this hurt is nothing compared to the one I hold from you. You will pay for each hurtful word, scars you gave me through all these years, baby...

That is a promise, now be a good little girl and pack your bags before meeting me downstairs...

Five minutes, you have literally five minutes before I come back for you if you aren't down by then" he pushes her away in anger as he storms away from her room

Engel rubs her jaw lightly as she glares at his retreating back before getting up from the ground and pulling her bag out as she puts her clothes in.

She does not know where they are going but she knows after what he did just now, she cannot argue with him without him throwing a fit rage he never showed her and she never believed he held that one trait.

Her Gio, even if he looked intimidating was the calmest and caring person she has ever met until right this moment, it was as if he did not care how much he was hurting her.

*******

Gio harshly close the door of the car as he enters before starting the car without acknowledging her. Even though, he does not glance her way Engel cannot help but stare at his face.

"Where are we going?" she finally dares ask him but he completely ignores her and keeps on driving

"I hope you informed dad, where we are heading to else he would be worried for nothing" she states again but still no response from him

"Did you know mom left us?" she informs him just so she can get any reaction from him but fails miserably

"You..." she goes to start but stops as a yawn escapes her mouth before she lies down slowly on the car seat

Once she drops dead to the world as usual, Gio stops the car to check on her. He lightly brushes her hair away from her face and checks on the bruise formed because of him.

Kissing the bruise lightly, he apologizes to her before he slowly adjusts her posture so she can sleep more comfortably and not feel any strain when she wakes up.

"You hurt me baby; you hurt me gravely today," he whispers as he brushes his lips on hers ghostly before he resumes on his driving

*******

The moment Engel opens her eyes she knows that she was not in her bed and then realizes that they have reached the destination Gio demanded her to prepare for. Stretching, she gets off the bed in search of her mate.

"Oh you are awake" a woman smiles as soon as she is out of the room

"Umm...yes" she nods before looking at the hall

"Good, good now come on I need to feed you" the woman smiles before taking Engel's hand and dragging her inside the room once again

"Can you tell me where I am and where is Gio?" she asks quietly as the woman hustles around the room

"Oh you are in a house where you will be staying for few days and Gio isn't here," she informs making Engel frown

"What?" she asks but before she interrogates her, even more the woman passes a letter to her from Gio

She reads and re-reads the whole thing repeatedly not believing what she sees, according to the letter he had left her all alone in this place, in the hands of the Lady of the house.

She cannot believe that he would just up and ask her to pack just so he can leave her all alone in some deserted place she has no clue about moreover; he did not even explained why he brought her to that place or where he is.

Suddenly, Engel feels emotional, as she has no idea where she is at nor does she know why she was even here if he was not staying with her. However, before her tears spill someone enters the room.

"Oh you are awake wonderful" a tall beautiful woman smiles her way

Engel gets up from her seat to meet the woman who walks up to her and kisses both her cheeks in delight.

"You are so beautiful just like my Gio entails" she beams before asking Engel to sit back down.

When Engel does not say anything and keeps staring at the woman, the woman laughs wholeheartedly.

"You poor soul, you can speak and ask anything you want. I won't eat you," the woman laughs making Engel a bit uncomfortable

"You don't speak much, I see. Just like your father, anyway, you must be curious as to whom I am so without further ado...

My name is Rosaline; I am Gio's biological mother. You can call me Rose and I am sure both of us won't feel so comfortable if you call me mom" the woman smiles teasingly while Engel just watches the woman gob smacked

She never knew Gio had a different mother, but then again she never was ready to spend enough time for him to share things about him and his life. As she realizes that simple fact, Engel suddenly feels extremely sad.

"Where is he?" she asks wanting see him right now

"Sorry dear, but Gio isn't here, while you were having your beauty sleep he went back saying something about how he cannot handle seeing you right now...

He was quite furious when he came carrying you, in all my life I never seen my Gio so much in rage...

I guess perhaps it was a lover's tiff between you two but nonetheless, he wanted me to take care of you as it seems he is not available to do so" Rose smiles mischievously before she gets up

"Even if it's too late, welcome to my home, I will be your sole caretaker for now along with my maid Francesca over here who handles most of the household...

If you need anything just seek either one of us, so dear enjoy your meal. I will see you later" with that said Rose walks out of the room leaving Engel confused as to what was happening and why did Gio leave her here.