~ELENA

The moment I opened the front door, the first person I set my eyes on was my daughter.

Allegra beamed as she saw me, and my heart leapt into my throat at the sight of my precious baby girl. I had not seen her in months, and the guilt of leaving her all alone threatened to choke me.

"Oh, my darling. I have missed you so much," I whispered as I held her, and she held me back, as much as her tiny hands could.

I was so lost in my precious baby, that I didn't register the fact that the ...