Aurora’s POV
Shrill voices resounded in my head, making me uncomfortable while I stirred on top of a soft material. As my eyes fluttered open, I realised that it was a bed, a soft one.
My eyes scanned the light blue walls that surrounded me, and when I tried to move I felt a restriction. Then I saw the syringe and a tube which was connected to a secondary IV bag.
I racked my head to remember what brought me to this place that smelt of antiseptic and air fresheners, then the memories from the park replayed in my mind like a movie. The quick stroll at the park, then the gunshot on my stomach.
A gasp escaped my lips as I lowered my eyes to my stomach. I didn’t feel anything in it which caused my heart to skip a beat.
“My baby! Where’s… Where… My baby?” Tears surged out from my eyes as my lips formed uncoordinated words.
A familiar scent wafted into my nose with Giselle smiling broadly at me. Her smile put me at ease immediately, but it didn’t take away the curiosity to know what happened to my child.
“You are a survivor, Aurora. Don’t be scared, your daughter is safe.” She informed me, placing her hand on my arm with her blue eyes peering at me sweetly. “You’ve been out for three days, you know.” She added.
“Where is she?” I whispered, my heart nearly bursting in excitement as I was unable to make audible sounds yet.
“In the incubator. She’s premature so she has to be kept there until she is strong enough to live on her own.” Giselle explained and my eyes watered immediately.
I had a daughter?
It was hard to understand that three days ago I was checking the size of my stomach and today it’s empty except for my organs that were in it. I imagined what she would look like and whose features she took.
“Where is Matteo?” I asked drily, still hurt from what he did to me.
“He’s out but I don’t know where. He nearly killed doctor Luca when he said that it was either you or the baby.”
“Huh?” I shrieked in fear.
“Relax,” She said with that gentle smile of hers, “You are safe now.”
“I really don’t know what to feel about him. I was shot because of him and he didn’t even blink twice before sending me out of the house.” Sadness doused the excitement I’d been feeling about my daughter.
Matteo and I decided not to ask about the gender of our child since we wanted it to come as a surprise.
“He’s really sorry for hurting you, Aurora. I think you should forgive him.”
I tilted my head to the side. “That will be really difficult because he hurt me several times and our relationship has been without trust. How do I stay with a man who throws reasoning into the wind once he sees me in a compromised situation? Why can’t he give me the benefit of the doubt?” I lamented.
“Don’t worry, darling. Everything will be sorted out soon.” She assured me.
I nodded, hoping that everything would be fine as she said. The door opened drawing my attention to Angelo who came in with guilt resting boldly on his face.
My eyes darted to Giselle who moved away from me.”I’ll be outside.”
Angelo tried to hold her but she swatted his hands away and walked out briskly without giving him a glance. Something was definitely wrong and I could tell that it wasn’t just about what Angelo did earlier.
“What do you want and why are you here?” I asked coldly, the memories of how he tried to hurt me coming to play.
His eyes bore distress, showing that he had been through a lot recently. I didn’t care because he deserved whatever he got. “I’m sorry for everything, Aurora. I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did.”
I sighed but clamped my lips shut since I had nothing to say to him. I peered at him and noticed the dark patches that formed under his eyes, his pale face and ruffled hair. His beards were more grown than I knew it to be and cheek bones were more visible.
He swallowed then continued when he noticed that I wouldn’t say anything as I looked at the other side of the room. “I nearly killed you yesterday but I couldn’t go ahead with it because I got to understand that I’d have done the same thing if I was in the same situation.” His voice was firmer now but his words caused a chaos in my head.
I couldn’t blame him though, I thought I was cold enough to kill but life with Angelo showed me that I had a pure heart that couldn’t be messed with.
“Say something, Aurora.” He urged, his tone almost demanding while I licked my lips which were dry and cracked.
“I don’t have anything to say to you, and it will be hard to say I’ve forgiven you so easily but it isn’t really your fault. You wanted to hurt me and make my uncle feel the same pain you felt but you chose the wrong strategy because I’m no longer a part of them.” The last words I said tasted like gall in my mouth but it was the sad truth.
To uncle Lorenzo and Erizo, I was dead so anything that happened to me wasn’t their business.
“I should have remembered that.” He said and flashed a glance of remorse at me.
The anger I felt disappeared as my lips stretched into a smile. I remembered how I promised not to kill him quickly because he was more friendly with me than Matteo.
“It’s fine. You are my favorite person in the house anyways.” I giggled, not knowing when the door opened.
“Wow, it’s not nice to know that I’ve been replaced by my brother.” Matteo’s deep but feathery voice resonated in the room causing butterflies which I thought I no longer had to flutter in my belly.
Though my heart leaped for joy at the sound of his voice, I schooled my expression into a mask of nonchalance. He wouldn’t get me back so easily if that was his aim.
Angelo ruffled my hair then walked away without exchanging any greetings with him. Matteo’s presence became more visible as Angelo’s intimidating stature hovered over me earlier, blocking me from seeing anyone who came into the room.
He advanced towards me with his usual fluid and confident manner, but I could see that he had been through a lot these past few days.
A bouquet of pink carnations was sitting in his hands, then a lazy smile which I didn’t return even though I badly wanted to kiss him.
“How do you feel?” He asked with concern as he bent over me, some strands of his hair covering his eyes.
“I feel caged and I want to see our.. my daughter.” I replied flatly, averting my gaze and lowering my lashes so that he wouldn’t notice how much his presence affected me.
“She’s my daughter too, and I’ll be eternally grateful to you for giving me someone as beautiful and peaceful as her.” He said softly as his big strong hands covered mine. “Look at me, Aurora.” He drawled, his smooth voice awakening feelings that had been buried for months.
Like a magnet was attached to my face, I slowly tilted my face to look at him. His warm chocolate amber eyes ogled at me in an alluring manner, and gradually I felt my anger leaving.
I shut my eyes immediately and held onto the tiniest strand of resentment I felt, then I decided to break the silence. “Why do you act like you care when it’s obvious that you don’t?”
My eyes flickered open and when I stared at him I saw guilt oozing from his eyes. “It’s not an act, Aurora, it’s a feeling. Whatever I feel for you is real and I admit that I was stupid enough to let anger and bitterness come in between us. Can you forgive me?”
A sigh breezed out of my lips. “It’s not that easy.”
“I know and I don’t expect you to forgive me that easily, but I’ll be here waiting till there’s no more anger in your heart for me.” He stated then got up, dropping the roses beside me.
He turned around and was about to leave when I stopped him. I knew that what I was about to do was crazy but hell! I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Don’t leave, yet.”
“Why?”
“I want you to kiss me till I forget everything that happened.” I demanded, using a harsh tone.
He smirked as he bent and hovered over me. “With all pleasure, principessa.”