He held the serious expression for a few seconds before it cracked, and he suddenly burst into laughter.I stared at him, speechless, as he clutched his stomach.
“For stamping on my poor feet,” he teased between laughs, “and then deciding to run away.”
I just blinked at him, still too dazed to respond.
Before I could say anything, his expression softened again.“Relax, Bella.I’m kidding,” he said, chuckling as he glanced down at his feet.“Trust me — they’re perfectly fine.”
“O-okay,” I mumbled, too drained to do more than look away.
The truth was, I felt terrible.My entire body ached, my head was pounding, and his energy — as kind as it was — was too much to handle.Ever since I’d arrived, all I could think about was leaving.But no matter how much I thought, I couldn’t figure out how.
Matt was useless — he was one of them.
And Alessandro...didn’t want to know me.
“Since you’re unwell, we have to do something about it,” Bruno said suddenly, pulling me out of my thoughts.His tone shifted, firm but not unkind.“You’ll have to come with me to the estate.Our family doctor will take a look at you.”
My stomach dropped.“No...”I shook my head, panic rising again.“Please.I just want to go home.”
Bruno frowned but knelt beside me, his expression gentling.Out of all of them, he was the only one who didn’t scare me — the only one who sometimes seemed to care.Maybe, just maybe, I could convince him.
“If I didn’t know who you were,” he said quietly, “I would’ve let you go.But that’s not the case.”
I stared at him, my throat tight, hope fading fast.
“One thing I can promise you, Bella, is that you’re safe here,” he added.
“Please,” I whispered, tears filling my eyes again.“I can’t stay here.You know I can’t.”
He sighed deeply, eyes softening with pity.“Ariana...you have to trust us.Trust me.”
That was it.The moment he said it, something inside me broke.My last ounce of hope just...vanished.I dropped my gaze as silent tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Come on,” he said gently, standing up and holding out his hand.“Let’s get you to the doctor.”
I hesitated, then took his hand — because what choice did I have?The moment I stood, the world spun violently.Bruno caught me, steadying me, then guided my arm around his so I could lean on him as we walked.
The short journey to the estate felt endless.My tears wouldn’t stop, no matter how hard I tried to hold them back.I knew Bruno didn’t like this either — having to drag me there.But I also knew Alessandro had ordered it.
By the time we reached the mansion, my body was trembling, my skin pale and clammy.My heart pounded as I stepped inside for the first time since that day.
The sight stole what little breath I had left.
Marble floors gleamed beneath soft golden lights.The walls were lined with dark wood and intricate carvings, elegant and cold.Every corner screamed wealth, power, control.
And pain.
Because I remembered this — the dream Alessandro and I once shared.He used to talk about the house we’d build together.The life we’d have.
And now...he’d done it.
Just without me.
“God...”I whispered, barely audible, as my tears fell harder.
We walked further into the mansion until we reached one of the rooms downstairs.By that point, my legs felt like they weren’t even touching the ground — just floating beneath me — so the moment I saw a seat, I took it.My grip on Bruno’s arm tightened as my balance faltered again.
“Ciao, Dr.Araldo.I have a patient here for you,” Bruno greeted, his voice echoing softly in the spacious room.Then he turned toward me.“Ariana, this is Dr.Araldo.Dr.Araldo, this is Ariana.”
