“I don’t believe her,” she whispered. “She doesn’t sound sorry. Make her say it louder, Vincenzo. I want to hear it.”
Vincenzo stood behind me like a shadow waiting to fall.
“Apologize,” he ordered. “Until she forgives you.”
My voice trembled as it came out.
“I’m sorry.”
It broke halfway.
“I’m sorry.”
Again.
“I’m sorry.”
Again and again until my throat burned raw and my chest felt hollowed out, like something inside me had finally given up trying to survive.
Then Lena suddenly stood.
She swayed slightly, one hand clutching her stomach.
“Vincenzo… something’s wrong,” she whispered, voice shaking perfectly. “My stomach… I think I’m bleeding…”
And just like that—
She collapsed straight into his arms.
Flawless.
Like she had practiced it.
Vincenzo caught her instantly, holding her like she was the only thing keeping the world intact.
“Lena… amor!” His voice cracked as he cupped her face. “Stay with me. Look at me. Don’t close your eyes. Breathe… just breathe.”
Her eyelids fluttered weakly, like she was fading away.
“Vincenzo… I’m scared…”
His head snapped toward the hallway.
“Get the car—NOW!” he roared, voice shaking the entire house.
I remained on my knees.
Blood slowly soaked through the fabric of my pants, warm and sticky against my skin. My hands were torn up, trembling, and somewhere deep inside my chest, Gabriel’s name kept echoing like a wound that refused to close.
Vincenzo lifted Lena effortlessly, like she weighed nothing at all—like she was something precious that could break if held wrong. She curled into him immediately, soft whimpers escaping her lips, one hand pressed over her stomach as if she were barely holding herself together.
Before stepping out, he paused.
He looked back at me.
Those eyes… they weren’t the same ones that once softened when they landed on me. Now they were sharp, distant—cold enough to cut.
“Don’t move from there,” he said flatly. “You don’t even deserve air, let alone anything else.”
I said nothing.
“You don’t even deserve a bed,” he added, voice low with disgust.
Then the door slammed shut, and the silence swallowed everything.
I don’t know how long I stayed there on the floor. My body felt like it had turned to stone. My mind buzzed faintly, and my throat burned raw, like I had been screaming without realizing it.
Then—
The door creaked open again.
Light footsteps approached slowly.
I didn’t lift my head until a shadow fell across me.