Hey lovies!! I am back!! Check the last authors note I posted, the one before the chapter before this one. You will find out why I had been away for so long!! But here is the new chapter.... This is where everything starts. It's going to be short upload because I am starting a new book that I hope you guys will enjoy as well!! The song I chose because I can't wait until the movie comes out and I just love how John Legend and Ariana Grande sound together!!! Happy Reading LOVIES!!

XXIII

  Today is the day, the day that everyone's life changes forever. The day the truth is set free. To say that her nerves and anxiety weren't going haywire would be a total lie. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and sighed. What would her family think? Would they believe her? Would they understand why she had to leave? Would he be there? Would he forgive her and take her back? The questions kept running through her head, but she knew she shouldn't focus on that. She needed to focus on the task at hand, telling the truth about everything. Diego saw her looking at her reflection. He sighed and rubbed her shoulders.

  "Hermanita, no temas mas. Everything will be alright, they will understand. Niko is smart, I think he understands what is going on. Remember, we both have a little sobrino we have to meet. We have to do this for him."

   She nods and then gets the rest of her things, she grabs her purse and her keys. They both head towards the door and went to the meeting location. When they arrived to Alexia's father's building, she sighed and looked at Diego. He nodded and gave her an encouraging smile. She smiled back and they both headed into the building. The receptionist gasped at who she saw entering the building, she immediately picked up the phone.

  "Mister Gabrielli? I have your daughter down here in the lobby."

  There had been a pause and then she nodded.

  "No sir, it isn't Clara, it's Alexia and she isn't alone. A young man is with her."

  Then she nodded again.

  "Right away sir."

  She hung up and looked up at Alexia.

  "He said to head right up, you remember how to get to his office correct?"

  Alexia nods and smiles.

  "Okay good, head on up. Oh and Alexia? Welcome home."

  Alexia looked at the woman and smiled.

  "It's good to be home."

  She and Diego turned and walked up to the elevators that lead to her father's office. When they got to his floor, her anxiety skyrocketed even more. She turned to her older brother and shook her head.

  "I can't do this, let's turn back. I can't do this right now."

  But Diego shook his head right back at her. He pushed her into the offices and lead her to her father's office door. His personal assistant had let them in right away. Once Alexia saw her father, her nerves left. Tears came out of her eyes as she saw her father sitting in his chair looking at her with the same amount of love he had for her the day she had come into this world.

  "Lexa.."

  "Daddy.."

  He got up from his chair and walked around his desk. He opened his arms and she ran into them just how she used to when she was scared or hurt or just wanted to be hugged by her father. He embraced her with all the love her could muster. He had his little girl back in his arms.

  "Where have you been? Why did you leave?"

  She pulled away from the hug and looked up at her father.

  "I'll explain everything to you in time. Can you ask Clara, Niko, and the Beverly's to come over to your place for dinner tonight? I want to explain everything to everyone together. By the way daddy, this is Diego Salazar..."

  "Your boyfriend.."

   She giggled and shook her head.

  "No daddy, this is my older brother.. Mother gave him up before she had me. I'll explain everything in due time, just ask everyone to the house tonight. Invite mom too, she needs to hear this."

  He nods and looks towards Diego. He held his hand out.

  "Nice to meet you son."

  Diego smiled and nodded as he shook his hand.

  "The pleasure is mine sir."

  "Call me Gregori."

  Diego nods and Gregori goes back to his desk and picks up his phone.

  "Clara sweet heart? Can you come over to my place to have dinner with me? Your sister is back in town."

  Clara immediately agreed. They set up a time and the call ended. He then called Natalia since he knew that Nikolai had been with Beverly's so he will call them later.

  "Natalia, I am only calling you to invite you over to the house for a family dinner, Alexia is in town and wants the family to meet for a sit down meal."

  Natalia agreed and hung up. He then called Vincent Beverly at the house phone.

  "Hello?"

  "Vince, it's me Gregori. I am calling to let you know that you and the family are invited over to my house tonight for dinner. Please plan to stay the night as well for there will be a long awaited talk."

  Vincent agreed. He said that Nikolai, Camden, Mickey, Conrad, Natalie , Susan, and a special guest will be joining them tonight. Alexia was sad that he hadn't been part of the list. She asked her father why hadn't Ethan coming.

  "Sweetie, he left soon after you did. He hasn't come home, he's made a name for himself though. He had been really hurt after you left, he thought it had been his fault."

  She shook her head.

  "It had nothing to do with him, I loved him and I still do, it was all mother. That is what I wanted to talk about with everyone. I wanted them to see what a villainous woman she had become. I only saw what she had become after I met Diego. I had been lost and alone when he came to my aid. He knew who I was and decided to help me. Without knowing me, he helped me see the truth, he could of thought that I was also part of mother's plans but he didn't. He knew I had nothing to do with what mother did to him, he just wanted to see his sister happy. When we heard what she had done to Niko we decided to stop her, especially when we found out about little Michelangelo. But everything will explained when we are together."

  Gregori kissed his daughter's forehead and held her close. He had been happy when he heard that his daughter had come back to see him, he had missed her. She had always been a daddy's girl, both of his daughters had been. His son was always a mother's boy but lately he has seen who his mother truly is and had started seeing his father more as his favorite. He just hoped that this dinner turned out the way he wanted it to. He knew that there will be tears and there will be words said that would hurt but they need to be said.