Page 47 of Shattered Choices

I can’t leave again. How can I leave after I accepted who I am and where I belong? This is my home. And I got what I wanted from Salvatore.

Signed divorced papers.

I can now go through with my plan, only I don’t feel like it’s the right thing to do anymore.

I exhale and look through the window in my room; I look at the rose garden sans roses since it’s winter. Even so, the place is beautiful and full of happy memories.

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door. I don’t have to tell the person to enter because my father opens the door and peeks inside.

“You weren’t at breakfast.” His worried eyes search my face.

I wasn’t. I haven’t left the room since Salvatore left me. I distracted myself by showering and changing the sheets, getting rid of his smell, pretending it’s just another normal day. Like nothing happened.

But after the adrenaline rush caused by anger disappeared, I was left empty and lost, standing by my window, staring across at the rose garden that only ever meant infinite love.

“I’m not hungry.” I avoid looking at my father and look through the window.

“And are you going with Pino to the meeting today?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. I don’t feel good. I think I caught something.”

He doesn’t say anything as he approaches and stops near me. “I would have given up everything if only she gave me the choice. I would have given up my position, my wealth, everything I built just to have her by my side.”

“I’m sorry, Papa.”

“This world eats you alive. Takes away everything you really want. There is no money or power that is stronger than love. Love is the only thing in this world that is worth fighting for.”

“Not everyone finds love, Papa. What you and Mama had was special.”

“It was special. It still is. One day not far from today, I will meet her again.”

I smile. “You still have a long time before that, Papa.”

“Maybe,” he says, his voice distant. “I need to be sure you’re happy before I can think of leaving this world.”

I turn to him and smile. “I am happy.”

He tilts his head to the side, his eyes inspecting my face. “Are you? Is that why you didn’t come to breakfast and decided to hide in your room? Even if you didn’t sleep the whole night.”

My brows furrow. How does he know? Did he hear us?

“And why you are fisting those papers in your hand?” My eyes follow his at how tightly I’m crumpling the documents. “I want you to be happy, and from the state you’re in, I see that’s not the case. Salvatore gave you a choice.” My heart skips at his name, and heat rises from my stomach to my chest. “This time, it’s up to you. What will you choose?” He takes my hands in his. “My darling Bella, that man loves you. He was ready to be killed by Pino if that was what would have made you happy. Sneaking in here every night and risking his life, learning how to accept your choices and what you want are things only a man in love would do.”

My vision blurs and I blink my tears away. “How did you know?” I whisper.

He chuckles. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I want you to be happy, and that is why you need to go. You will always have a home here, but you belong where your heart is, and that'snothere.”

“But I…”

He shakes his head. “There is no but in love. We get hurt sometimes, but we grow from that. We learn, and you both have grown and learned from your mistakes. Now you need to live with those mistakes and move forward. Life is short. One day, you’re young and you learn to dance, and the next, you’re burying the love of your life six feet under.”

My head is spinning with thoughts about what the right thing to do is. Can I start over? But if so, how can I leave this place again?

“Isabella?” My father’s voice gets my attention. “You have one hour before that plane departures.”

I furrow my brows. “Are you telling me to go with Salvatore?”

He smiles. “I’m telling you to be happy.” He takes a step back, turning to leave. “I’ll be waiting in the car with Pino.”

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