Page 63 of Anastasia

I gasped at his words as my frown slumped deeper at the sight of hurt flashing in Valentino’s eyes. He didn’t say another word to his brother before walking off. Then, he paused when he saw me.

“Val?”

“Just shut the hell up! I know, already. I know I’m a monster, and I don’t give a fuck about it. Just like I don’t give a fuck about you or your opinions!” he growled.

Without another word, he walked away from me.

I ran past the room, down the hall, and out to the parking lot. I needed to take a shower and wipe all of the blood off of me before Valentino could see it. I didn’t want to make him sad or feel the loss of the child he had always wanted. It was completely my fault. I lost our baby. There was no way I could face his disappointment.

He walked right past me as if I meant nothing.

As I leaned against my car, I broke down. Sobs were bubbling out of me, and my tears were falling nonstop. Suddenly, a hand gripped my shoulder, shocking me to turn around. Seeing that it was Vincenzo, surprise stirred in me

“Are you okay?” he asked. I hiccupped as I nodded with a small smile. My tears still wouldn’t stop falling.

“Orabella is going to be fine. They have her sedated to make things less painful for her, but they said she will be awake by tomorrow,” he informed me. I was glad she would be okay, it felt nice to finally receive some good news. “I feel bad for the way I spoke to my brother. He may not be the best person in the world, but he’s done a lot for me and so little for himself. Even if he almost killed my girlfriend, I know he’s beating himself up for it more than anyone else could. I know my brother enough to say that he didn’t mean anything he just said to you. He gets like that sometimes, where he pushes people away. Don’t let him do it to you.”

Wiping away my tears, I nodded my head.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

* * *

Decidingto take Vincenzo’s advice, I drove all the way to the mansion. Determined, I made my way to Valentino’s bedroom, where I gently pushed open the door. All of the lights were off, but I was able to make him out on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling. I walked over to the mattress and crawled in until I was beside him. Before I could say or do anything, his arm wrapped around me and pulled me into his warmth.

Instantly, I broke down crying once again. I felt so lost and alone just being without him for two seconds. My head hurt from crying so much, and as his hand glided down my back, my crying only increased. His arms were around me as I wept. None of us said a word, he just allowed me to lay in his arms and let everything out.

I wish I knew how to tell him that so much happened in such a short amount of time. Nothing felt fair, someone was punishing me for something, but I just couldn’t figure out what for.

“I lost the baby,” I whispered as tears soaked into the pillow. His eyes met mine and he could see all of the pain I held. I was crying more than I had ever cried in my life.

“You were pregnant?” he asked.

“I didn’t know I was, but I never want to be pregnant again. Everyone dies. My sister died, my baby died,” I sobbed.

My head rested in the crook of his neck as he held me. I could feel my body shaking as shock surrounded my heart in an attempt to protect me with numbness. Nothing felt real anymore.

“Shh,” he cooed while lifting up my shirt and rubbing my bare skin up and down. I took that time to try my best to calm down. My body was still shaking and I could feel hiccups escaping me as I tried my best to stop crying. Tears never brought anyone or anything back.

“I…I…” I tried to speak, but my words wouldn’t even form.

“Breathe,” he said softly to me.

I listened to his words and slowed my breathing as much as I could. Making sure I focused on a deep breath in and a deep breath out, the world seemed to ease around me. I was feeling as though I was suffocating, but slowly everything seemed to calm.

“What’s wrong with me?” I asked, my voice finally relaxed.

My sadness didn’t allow my voice to sound like it normally did. It left me sounding like a disappointed child trying their best to no longer be broken.

“It’s my fault. I’m sorry for everything. You were right,” he explained.

My breathing was beginning to pick up, and his hand on my back ran up to my hair as he soothed me by simply caressing me.

“I know you didn’t mean to hurt her, and I know that Orabella’s father had hurt you. I told you I would be there for you no matter what,” I whispered.

The feeling of wanting to cry again was quick to wash through my emotions.

At first, a baby had never crossed my mind, now it was all I could think about. My heart broke a little more as I thought about my entire family—Mum, Alex, the baby, and I—all just at the park and running around the swing-set.

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