I watched the children happily playing at the garden of that orphanage with a smile on my face. They looked genuinely happy and it made me happy as well. I've been going to this orphanage for over six months now with the purpose of helping the children and make them feel that they're not alone.

"Thank you for always choosing our orphanage, Your Royal highness. Ever since you started coming here, I noticed that the children became cheerful. They even gained weights now because they can finally eat good food. Everyone of them adores you and when Saturday comes, they're so excited while waiting for you to arrive. You're like a big sister that they never had." Mrs. Cuesta said. She's the orphanage's director.

I smiled at her. "I'm glad to hear that. This is my main objective why I chose to help this orphanage. For years, Costavia has always been into helping the orphans but I noticed that this particular orphanage hasn't been getting any attention for so long and I knew that I had to do something."

"And we're very thankful for that, Your Royal Highness." I smiled at her and then nodded my head. After the program, I had to say my goodbye to the children and they became sad.

"Don't worry, guys. I'll be back again next week, okay?"

"Really, Your Royal Highness? Promise?"

"Of course. When did I ever break a promise?" I asked while chuckling and they finally smiled. I said my goodbye to everyone else who was there before exiting the orphanage. My bodyguards automatically alerted as we exited the place.

I have five bodyguards in total and they're very experience of what they do. It has been a year since nonna decided to employ additional bodyguards but until now, I still couldn't get use to it.

One of my bodyguards opened the car door for me and I was about to get in when I heard someone spoke.

"Your Royal Highness, Athena!" I looked at the one who spoke and my lips parted when I saw an older woman in a wheelchair. She was smiling at me while holding a bouquet of beautiful flowers in her hands. Next to her were many different kinds of flowers that she's obviously selling.

My bodyguards automatically blocked the way, preventing the woman from approaching me. I rolled my eyes and then huffed.

"Don't block my way. I want to hear what she's going to say." They obliged right away.

"Of course, Your Royal Highness." They then took a couple of steps away from us. I approached the older woman. I couldn't help but to remember the state I was in 1 year and 6 months ago. Just like her, I was bounded to a wheelchair. I really thought that I wouldn't have the chance to walk any more but someone came into my life and changed my perspective in life.

He made me realize how important life was and that I shouldn't give up just like that. He made me feel loved and I thought, everything about our relationship was endless; that we would have a happy ever after, but I was wrong.

My body stiffened upon realizing where my mind wander to. Don't go there, Athena! He's nothing but a liar!

"This is for you, Your Royal Highness." She handed me the bouquet of flowers. I was pulled out of my reverie upon hearing her voice. I looked at the bouquet of flowers and my body went still when I realized something.

Bleeding heart. Those flowers were my favorite and it was the same as the flower that he gave me before he disappeared into thin air. It has been more than a year since then but the pain was still there.

I've tried my best to forget everything but the pain in my heart that he inflicted was too deep for it to be able to heal in just a year.

"Thank you. How much is it?" I asked with a forced smile and she smiled back.

"No need to pay, Your Royal Highness. Someone already paid that and told me to give it to you." My forehead crinkled.

"Who?"

"I don't know his name, Your Royal Highness, but he's such a handsome man." For some reason, my heart started beating erratically. I looked around. I suddenly felt a presence around us but I couldn't pinpoint his/her exact location. It was so weird.

"Did he already leave?"

"Yes, Your Royal Highness." I nodded my head and then smiled again.

"Thank you for the flowers."

"You're welcome, Your Royal Highness. I'll relay your message to that man too if I see him again." I was about to go when I remembered something. I looked at the flowers that she was selling and an idea popped up in my head.

"Do you always sell flowers here?"

"Yes, Your Royal Highness." I brought out a business card and then handed it to her.

"You have beautiful and fresh flowers. If you're interested, you could contact this number. Tell them, I was the one who recommended you. They'll know what to do." Her lips parted in surprise as she looked at the business card.

"Are you sure, Your Royal Highness? Oh, my! This will be a very big help!" She sounded so enthusiastic. I smiled.

"Of course, I am."

"Thank you so much, Your Royal Highness."

I smiled.

"You're welcome. Anyway, I'll go on ahead." I then got inside the car. While we're on the road, I couldn't help but to wonder who gave the flowers to the old woman. For some reason, it was giving me weird feelings inside while staring at the bouquet.

"Maybe, it's just from the people at the orphanage." I mumbled to myself and then put the bouquet on the seat next to me. I then looked outside. We're on our way to Impero Romano. It's our family's multi-billion-dollar company that was established more than a hundred years ago.

Even though our family belongs to the Royal Family of Costavia, we still have our own businesses to run. My brother Antonius is currently the CEO while I on the other hand is the President.

Aris on the other hand is the CEO of Romano Belleza, another company that was own by the Romano family while Aria chose to work for the De Falco company as a president where our unnon is the CEO. Emilia is still studying in University but soon, she will help running our businesses as well aside from doing her own fair share of public serving.

Everyone of us has our own responsibilities in the country and in our own businesses that's why when I finally was able to walk on my own again almost a year ago, I decided to continue what I was doing before the accident happened.

After he disappeared, I thought I wouldn't have the strength to go on with my life. All the plans that I had in mind disappeared just like that and my willingness to live faded. All that controlled my emotions were anger, pain, hopelessness and so much other negative emotions that were mixed together.

But thankfully, my family supported me this time and made me realize that I shouldn't waste my life just because someone like him wanted to destroy it. I didn't tell them what really happened between me and Maximus; that we had a relationship. For me, there was nothing to tell because everything that he showed me were nothing but lies.

He faked everything, including his love for me, and not a part of him became true towards me. I didn't know if they already had an idea but they never asked me any question about it.

My relationship with them improved these past one year. After what happened to nonna and the explosion, Aria and I had a fight. She chided at me again and blamed me. That was when I exploded and we voiced out everything that we have been keeping inside; all the resentments and pain that we've been feeling ever since our mother died.

I told them everything. I thought, it would create a larger gap between us all but it was the opposite. They realized their mistake and now, bit by bit, everything's falling into place with our family. I couldn't believe that it could actually happen but I was glad, I decide to be honest with them about what I've been feeling ever since our mother died.

After that, I decided to continue my therapy and after 8 months of so much effort and perseverance, I finally gained the result that I was hoping for.

"We're here, Your Royal Highness." I heard the voice of Bastien, my driver. He then quickly got out of the car and opened the door for me. I then got out of the car and walked towards the elevator in the underground parking.

Upon reaching my office, all the employees who saw me greeted me politely with either bow or small curtsy. I greeted them back formally and then proceeded to my office. Dawn, my EA, followed me while telling me about my schedule for the day.

I then told her to inform the manager of Ristorante Romano about the flower vendor that I saw this morning. Ristorante Romano is owned by me. I just opened it six months ago. Even though it wasn't that long yet since I started the business, my restaurant was doing great already and I'm sure that it won't be long before I start planning my next branch.

Last week, the flower shop that was delivering flowers to my restaurant told me that they couldn't give local varieties of flowers to my restaurant anymore because they want to concentrate on importing flowers from different countries.

Their main reason was, local flowers doesn't sell that much anymore. I didn't have any problem to that before but now, I wanted to help the flower lady. Besides, using local flowers should be a must in order to support the local horticulturalist.

"Okay, Your Royal Highness. I'll call Mr. Esposito and inform him about that." I thanked her and when she left my office, I started my work for the day. Because there was a lot of work, I didn't even notice that it was already lunch time until I heard a series of knock on my door.

"Don't you have any plans to stand up there and eat lunch?" My lips parted in surprise before I smiled upon seeing my best friend, Daniella.

"Oh, gosh! What are you doing here? Since when did you arrive?" I asked enthusiastically and then approached her. We hugged each other happily. It has been a year since the last time we saw each other.

"What's with the questions? You sound like you don't want me here." She pouted and I rolled my eyes.

"I was just asking, silly." We both chuckled and then sat on the sitting area of my office. While drinking tea, we happily talked about random stuffs like what has been going on in our lives these past one year.

"So, how's Lucca doing right now? I haven't seen him for so long because he went back to Nuevo Imperio." I then inquired. Danielle sighed.

"Well, haven't you heard about it?" My forehead crinkled.

"About what?"

"Well, Lucca went back to Nuevo Imperio because he wanted to follow Greco there. According to him, Greco told him that he would stay in Nuevo for a couple of months and Lucca agreed but after about 6 months, he couldn't contact Greco anymore.

"Because of that, he decided to go there to look for him but until now, he hasn't returned to Costavia yet. I am not sure if he managed to find Greco." She said and I went silent. Yes, I knew about that but ever since Lucca went to Nuevo Imperio, I only managed to contact him once and that was almost three months ago.

"Yeah. I heard about that. It's just that I thought, it wasn't that serious. I mean, I'm sure that they finally got reunited by now, right?" I asked hesitantly and Daniella shook her head as a response.

"I just hope so, Ath. You know that best friend of ours when he's in love. He will do everything just to be with that guy."

I bit my lower lip. Somehow, I suddenly felt guilty. I didn't take Lucca's situation seriously because I was so busy these past few months. Busy with all the responsibilities I had not to mention that I was busy mending my broken heart too.

"Hey! What's with that sad look on your face? Don't worry. Lucca is a strong person. I'm sure, he will contact us if he needs our help." Daniella said as she held my hand. I forced a smile.

"I hope so. Just thinking that Lucca is sad right now is already making me sad as well." I admitted and she chuckled.

"Don't be too negative. I already told you. Lucca is surely fine so you don't have to think about any negative things." I finally smiled and then nodded my head.

"Anyway, I'm glad that you finally came back here to Santino. I missed you a lot, honestly." I admitted and she beamed.

"I missed you too. Anyway, I have something important to give it back to you." She said and then opened her bag. I furrowed, curious of what was that about.

"Hold out your hand." She instructed after that. Her fist was close while holding something inside her palm.

"Why? Don't tell me, you're going to hand me a bug?" I asked while chuckling and she laughed.

"Why would I do that? Besides, do you really think that I was keeping a bug inside my bag?" It was my turn to laugh.

"Well, whatever." I held out my hand and then she handed me a cold thing which made my forehead crinkled even more. I opened my lips and was about to ask what it was when she pulled back her hand and that was when I saw that very familiar necklace.

I gasped for air and my eyes widened as if I saw a snake.

My heart automatically throbbed and at the same time, the pain in my heart came back to me again.

"I'm sorry but this necklace belongs to you now so you can't just throw it away." Daniella said full of seriousness. My eyes watered but I tried my best not to cry in front of her. I suddenly felt mad at myself.

Why do I still feel affected of his memories? Just seeing his necklace made me feel those strange feelings once again.

"W-Where did you get this?" My throat was aching because of trying my best to prevent my emotions from going haywire.

"Someone gave it to me. He told me to give it back to you because it belongs to you now." That made me silent for a couple of seconds. I swallowed hard.

"And-who's this person?" My voice was almost inaudible.

"This is not the right time for you to know about him. For now, I suggest for you to keep it. Don't throw it away because you will surely regret it. Not everything that you throw away will have the chance to come back to you."

I gritted my teeth. "I don't cherish this thing anymore, Dan. It's better for you to keep it because I don't need it anymore." I was about to put in on her palm but she pulled her hand back.

"Ath, that's yours. C'mon, keep it. I'm sure, it's still important to you. If you really think that it is no longer has value to you, then throw it away for good and make sure that no one else could pick it up to bring it back to you."

"But-"

"-No buts, Ath." She stood up and then held my hand. "C'mon, let's eat lunch. I'm hungry already. I already missed all the delicacies here in the big city of Santino so let's eat out." I heaved a sigh and then nodded my head.

I clenched my hand that was holding the necklace tightly. I didn't' know what to think about the fact that it actually came back to me.

I really thought that I already threw it away and would never see it again but I was wrong. Why does fate have to meddle again?

We exited the building and went to a restaurant nearby. While we were eating, we were busy talking about different stuffs as well. I wanted to asked about who gave the necklace to her but she was obviously trying to avoid that topic.

After that, I had to go back to work while Daniella went home to her place here in Santino.

I spent the whole afternoon working my a*s off until it was time for to me go home. When I arrived home, I went straight to my room and freshened up. While waiting for the dinner to be served, I went to the terrace and looked outside.

The spectacular view of the city was something that I enjoy watching during night time because it relaxes my senses, but now, the turmoil within me didn't calm down after all my efforts not to think about what happened today.

I looked at the necklace that I was holding and a pained smile appeared on my face. A year ago, I went to the place where Maximus and I shared our first kiss. That was after I discovered about who the real Maximus was.

I was so heartbroken and hurt that I threw his necklace away. That moment on, I told myself to forget about him for good and erase all the moments that we spent together in my head. I was so mad and full of resentment that I kept on crying and crying until my tears finally stopped on their own.

"Why did you have to come back to me? I already threw you away, right? Why?" I asked full of bitterness as if the necklace would answer my questions. My fist clenched tightly.