“See this, gattina?”he exhaled harshly.“All this happened...because of you.”
The words hit me like a knife to the chest.
Tears welled in my eyes instantly, blurring my vision as I watched him grimace and clutch his wound.I shook my head, trying to breathe, trying to form words, but all that came out was a broken whisper.
“Alessandro...how did this happen?”
He didn’t answer.He just scoffed, forcing himself upright with a groan.I stepped forward to help, but he pushed me away roughly, hissing as the motion jarred his arm.
“Let me help you, please,” I begged.
His glare snapped toward me so sharply I froze mid-step.My stomach twisted as his bloodshot eyes locked onto mine — filled not only with pain, but fury, tears, and something darker.The bruises shadowing his face made him look feral.
“Do you really want to help me?”he rasped.
“Yes,” I breathed.
“Then stay away from me.”
The words crushed me.
My heart cracked open right there in the middle of that room — humiliation, grief, and despair flooding in all at once.The way he spat those words at me made it clear: he didn’t just hate me being here — he hated me.
I felt my throat close up as tears streamed down my cheeks.My chest ached so hard it felt like I couldn’t breathe.Alessandro turned away, jaw clenched, pretending I wasn’t even there as he focused back on his wound.
And that was when it truly sank in.
It didn’t matter how kind Bruno was.Or how gentle Mia tried to be.Or how warm Leyla’s smile seemed.
Because none of it mattered if Alessandro didn’t want me here.
And he didn’t.
I stepped back slowly, the weight of it crushing me.My heart was breaking — breaking so completely I wasn’t sure I’d survive it this time.
The one person I thought would never say something like that to me had just done exactly that.
When Mia came back with Dr.Araldo, I didn’t even look at them.I turned and walked out.
The night air hit me cold and heavy as I made my way back to the small house.Mia called after me, insisting I shouldn’t go alone, but I didn’t listen.I couldn’t.
My body moved on its own — trembling, hollow — while my mind replayed his words over and over again.
Then stay away from me.
Each repetition was a blow.
He really did hate me.
And there was nothing I could do about it..
