Two months later...

It was a sunny Sunday morning. The sun shone into the library and there was a gentle breeze through the open windows as I sat on the carpet playing with Stefano and Zacharias. Leo was out working but Max sat on the other side of the room with the twins on his lap reading to them as we listening to the crashing of Cato, Mathias, Silas and Lili playing in one of their bedrooms.

But even still it was peaceful.

I felt like myself again and I was happy. I could be a mother to my children again and just simply enjoy life. The nightmares were fading and every day the hugs and cuddles with Leo grew longer as the memories of Andrea being touched could trigger became less painful. My progress and recovery was slowly and predominantly made up of the occasionally little step but we'd both agreed there was no need to rush it.

Just then the doorbell rang. Max looked up and stopped reading.

"Don't stop the story," I said. "I'll get it."

I left Max and the kids upstairs before heading down to answer the door.

There was nobody stood on the doorstep, just a small white envelope. I picked it up to see my name written in an elaborate hand on the front.

Except it wasn't my name. Not the name I went by anyway.

Ella Martinez

I looked up into the forest. Everything was as still as ever. I then ripped open the envelope and tipped out the contents.

A silver ring fell out onto my palm with a large glistening diamond. It shone beautifully in the daylight yet I shuddered at the sight of it. It was a ring that had belonged to me that I had discarded into some Venezuelan jungle months ago, thinking I'd never have to set my eyes on it again.copy right hot novel pub