Matteo
Two days.
The room was eerily quiet, except for the steady beer of the heart monitor, reminding me that she was still here – alive, but barely.
I sat beside her, watching every shallow rise and fall of her chest, waiting, hoping for her to open those eyes.
Let those grey eyes glare at me.
For days, I hadn’t left her side.
Jackson and his men manned the estate, checking every nook and cranny until they found one of the guys who almost took her.
“Hold him in the waiting cell till she wakes up,” I told Jackson the moment the message was relayed to me. “If anything happens to her, he’s going to wish for a quick death.”
Jackson nodded. “We’re really sorry. I’m… sorry for messing up.”
I nodded absentmindedly. It was hardly his fault since he wasn’t on shift at that hour.
Valentina had never been known for staying away from places that did not concern her.
Now, two days had passed, and she still lay on the bed. I couldn’t leave her side.
Every time I closed my eyes, all I saw were those grey eyes losing the life in them, slipping away from me.
The door creaked open, and a familiar voice broke the silence. “Still no change?” Sophia stepped into the room, her presence instantly grating on my nerves.
I didn’t look at her.
My gaze remained fixed on Valentina, her face pale, her form still. “What are you doing here?” My voice came out cold and distant.
Whatever affection I held in my heart for my half-sister had shrivelled up.
“I came to see her,” she replied, her voice soft, but I could head the weariness within it. “I heard what happened, and I’ve been worried. We had such a great time together the other day.”
“Worried?” I repeated, the word tasting like poison on my tongue. “Was it before or after you told her something that isn’t your business?”
Sophia stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she crossed her arms. “What are you talking about? I didn’t…”
“You and Luca,” I spat, finally turning to face her.
She looked like the twin of her mother. Dark hair, pale face, plain features. I couldn’t hide the disdain from showing on my face.
“I have no idea why both of you think it’s alright to interfere in my life. Every single time. You did it with Isabella, and now Valentina,” I spat. “If you weren’t pushing an agenda, Valentina wouldn’t be lying here, fighting for her life.”
I had a hand in it but putting the blame on someone else…..
She recoiled, her eyes widening with shock. “Matteo, that’s not fair. How am I supposed to know she had no idea?”
“Fair?” I laughed bitterly. “You think this is about fairness? This is about your selfishness. You wanted to have a chance to get back at me for something that happened so long ago.”
Sophia’s face got even paler, and for a moment, she looked genuinely hurt. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, Matteo. I truly didn’t know something like this would happen.”
“That’s because you don’t think,” I barked out another laugh. “You didn’t think back then, and you’re still not thinking.”
Before Sophia could respond, Luca entered the room, his expression dark and straight out murderous.
His eyes, so much like our father, glared at me. “What the hell is going on in here?”
“Sophia was just leaving. And so are you,” I said coldly, rising from my seat. “You do remember that this estate is off limits to both of you. Unless invited.”
Luca frowned, his gaze shifting to Sophia, then back to me. “This isn’t the time for this, Matteo.”
“No?” I stepped closer to him, my fists clenched at my sides. “When is the time, then? When she’s dead? When both of you are done filling her head with lies….”
“Matteo, stop,” Luca growled, his voice low but commanding. “This isn’t helping.”
My blood boiled.
The rage that had been simmering inside me for days finally reached its breaking point. “You think I care about what’s helping right now? You two played games with her life! With my wife’s life!”
“Matteo, enough!” Luca snapped, stepping forward, his eyes flashing with anger. “We’re all trying to fix this. Standing here and blaming us isn’t going to change what happened.”
“I should have never trusted either of you again,” I muttered, my voice shaking with barely contained fury. “This is almost like what happened last time. And no one believes me….”
“Get out.” I continued, pointing toward the door.
“Matteo…” Sophia began, but I cut her off.
“Get. Out.”
Sophia glanced at Luca, who nodded slightly, signalling her to leave. She hesitated for a moment before turning on her heel and walking out, her footsteps fading down the hall.
Luca remained, his gaze fixed on me. “You think I wanted this to happen?”
“I don’t care what you wanted,” I replied, my voice sharp. “What matters now is fixing this. And you – both of you – better stay the hell out of my way while I do.”
Luca didn’t respond. He stood there for a moment, his jaw tight, before he finally nodded and left the room without another word.
As soon as the door closed behind him, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate, leaving me alone with the sound of Valentina’s laboured breathing. I sank back into the chair beside her bed, my hands running through my hair as I tried to steady my own breathing.
For a long time, I just sat there, staring at her, willing her to open her eyes, to say something – anything.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I should have been here.”
I reached out, taking her hand in mine, careful not to disturb the IV line that snaked up her arm. Her fingers were cold, limp, and the sight of her like this – so weak, so vulnerable – made something inside me break.
No one had been able to tell me exactly what happened.
She had been through so much already. She didn’t deserve this. None of it.
I leaned forward, resting my forehead against her hand. “I should have told you the truth. I should have been honest.”
A soft rustle of fabric made me freeze. I lifted my head, staring at her, waiting.
Her eyelids fluttered, a faint movement that sent my heart racing. I stood up, leaning closer, my eyes never leaving her face.
“Valentina?” I whispered, my voice trembling.
Her lips parted, and for a moment, I thought I had imagined it. But then, a raspy, barely audible voice filled the air.
“Matteo…”
The sound of her voice, weak as it was, hit me like a punch to the gut. Relief, fear, guilt – all of it crashed into me at once.
“I’m here,” I said, my voice shaking as I squeezed her hand gently. “I’m here, Valentina.”
Her eyes fluttered open, just enough for me to see the faint gleam of recognition in them.
Those beautiful grey eyes.
She looked at me, her gaze heavy with exhaustion but filled with something else too – relief, maybe, or understanding.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered again, my throat tight with emotion. “I’m so sorry.”
She didn’t respond, but her hand tightened slightly around mine, a small gesture, but enough to send my heart soaring.
She was awake.
She was alive.
And no matter what it took, I would never let her be hurt again.