Page 195 of The One
“I love you.” My voice is barely a whisper.
His eyes hold mine, endless depths of love and pain.
I can’t stand this anymore.
I press a trembling kiss to his forehead and flee the room.
I don’t look back. I can’t. If I do, I will break.
My vision tunnels as I run down the corridor, my breath ragged. I reach Romolo’s office and slam the door shut behind me.
I need a moment.
A moment to gather the shattered pieces of myself before I step out of this hospital as the new Don.
I let my head fall back, staring at the ceiling, my chest heaving.
I never wanted this.
But that doesn’t matter.
Because the role is mine now.
Chapter Seventy-Three
Mariella
I’ve been cooped up at Carloso while Mateo spends his days at the hospital. I wish I could be by his side to comfort him.
After spending every day and night with him in Tuscany, being apart now feels unnatural.
I almost pleaded with him to take me along, because I wanted to see Ella again, but I don’t want to add to his worries. And he is definitely worried about my safety after what happened.
Teo stays in touch as much as he can throughout the day, and I’m so relieved when he’s back in my arms each night. Except for the night he spent at his brother’s bedside, that was hard on him. I couldn’t sleep at all thinking about what he must be going through.
I spend my days helping Giulia in the kitchen, chatting and playing board games with Sofia, and talking to my sister for at least an hour. Everyone is on edge about what’s going to happen with Don De Marco, the tension like a brewing thunderstorm. But for me, it’s even worse. I know exactly what’s coming this morning.
It’s been kept quiet that Tiero wants to give his heart to Ella to save her life. For one, Mateo has been desperate to convince his brother otherwise, but also Tiero fears that Ella would be in danger again if the world knew.
God, I hope Teo can convince his brother to agree to his plan to save both him and Ella. It would devastate Teo to lose him. My stomach churns just thinking about it.
“I think you’ve been kneading that dough long enough,mia cara,” Giulia says, looking over my shoulder. She’d normally laugh about it, but even she’s feeling the strain today.
Dario enters the kitchen with a man in a suit holding a chauffeur hat under his arm.
“Sorry to interrupt, ladies. Signorina Accardi, your father sent a messenger for you.”
My trepidation since waking up multiplies tenfold.
Merda.
My father isn’t allowed to set foot in Carloso anymore after the last incident, and I’ve been ignoring Father’s phone, keeping it turned off in my bedside drawer. He would have tried to contact me, I’m sure of it, to find out exactly what’s going on. As if I’d ever betray Mateo like that.
So I guess he had to resort to this old-school method.
Father’s messenger hands me an envelope. Under the curious gazes of everyone in the kitchen, I tear it open and pull out the note.
My office, ten thirty sharp. Do not even think about disobeying me, or you can kiss your wedding to Mateo goodbye.
