♥ Chapter 69 ♥

Isabella Conti.

*Alessio, I love you.*

These words echoed in my mind as the darkness began to consume me. The hours dragged on, and the uncertainty left me increasingly distressed. The loneliness of the room felt suffocating, and I struggled with fear and hopelessness.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a sharp chill ran down my spine. It was Salvatore. My heart raced.

'' Why are you here? '' I asked, my voice shaking with fear.

'' I came to enjoy dessert. '' His response was accompanied by a malevolent smile.

An overwhelming sense of terror gripped me. Without thinking, I tried to run to the corner of the wall, but he was faster. In an instant, his firm hands pinned me to the bed. Terror filled my eyes with tears.

'' Please don't do anything… Please, I beg you… '' The words came out between sobs, but he ignored my plea, and desolation took over me.

He leaned over and forcibly kissed me. On a desperate impulse, I bit his lip with all the strength I could muster. The only image that crossed my mind was that of Alessio. The only man who can kiss me is him.

Then the brutality of the moment intensified when he slapped me across the face. The physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional shock.

'' If you don't cooperate, I'll kill you. ''The threat dripped from his mouth like poison.

But I couldn't surrender. Fear and adrenaline were boiling in my body, fueling my fight. With every touch he gave me, I felt more desperate. What did he want from me?

Finally, when he began to run his hand down my body, I felt a rush of resistance. I gathered all my strength and hit his member with one blow. He screamed in pain, and at that moment, I managed to push him aside. Without hesitation, I ran out of the room.

The place was huge and a little dark, and the feeling of being lost consumed me. I ran desperately, trying to find the exit. Suddenly, a shrill alarm sounded, making my heart race even more. What is happening?

But I kept running. Then a shot was fired in my direction. I screamed, but luckily, the bullet didn't hit me. My only thought was to save myself and protect the child within me. I need to get out of there.

'' You have nowhere to go, Isabella. This will be your end. ''I heard Salvatore's voice behind me.

Those words paralyzed me. I looked ahead and saw him approaching. His gaze was cold and threatening. Fear took over me, but there was no way I could give up now. When he took another step toward me, I turned and ran to the right. Another shot echoed behind me, but the bullet missed again. Desperation pushed me to run faster.

'' I'm going to kill you, Isabella! This will be the end of you! I should have stayed quiet! He shouted, and his words cut like blades.

After running tirelessly, with my lungs burning and my legs wobbling, I finally saw an exit. A heady relief washed over me as I ran outside, my heart beating wildly with the hope of freedom. I spot Alessio from afar, and the sight of him makes my heart race even faster, a mixture of fear and hope propelling me forward.

'' Alessio! '' I screamed with all the strength I had left, my voice filled with hope and despair.

Suddenly, a searing pain exploded in my waist. I was hit by a shot, and the impact threw me to the ground. The pain was unbearable, as if fire were burning my insides. The world around me began to crumble, becoming a blur of distant sounds and colors. The last thing I heard before I passed out was Alessio's desperate scream.

'' Isabella! Alessio's voice sounded like a distant echo but was filled with despair.

****

I woke up with a feeling of numbness and a sharp pain in my waist. I was lying in an unfamiliar bed, and the pain was like an unbearable weight that suffocated me, but the firm and comforting touch of Alessio holding my hand brought me invaluable relief. Furthermore, I knew it was him, I knew it was my Alessio, just from the warmth and firmness of his touch. I slowly opened my eyes, seeing his face marked by worry and relief.

'' Alessio… '' I called in a weak voice, almost a whisper. The desperation in his eyes made my heart sink even more.

'' I'm sorry. Because of me, you went through something like this. Forgive me, my love. It's all my fault. I should have come to save you as quickly as possible. I'm sorry I put you in danger. '' His voice was trembling and filled with pain.

'' Alessio… '' I called again.

He looked at me with guilt written all over his face. My tears began to flow uncontrollably, and the relief of knowing he was here and that he had come for me was so overwhelming it almost choked me.

'' I love you... Thank you for coming to save me.'' I declared, my heart racing with the intensity of what I was feeling.

He came for me. My Alessio, my savior, came for me.

The crying came out without control, the feeling of relief was too great, and the insecurity of never being able to tell him how much I loved him had been so suffocating. The pain and fear had taken over me in an almost unbearable way.

'' Thank you for coming... I thought you wouldn't come... I felt so scared, Alessio.

Furthermore, I was surprised to see that he was crying too. He leaned over me and kissed my forehead with a tenderness that felt like a balm for my wounded soul. His touch, soft and gentle, calmed me like medicine for despair.

'' I will never abandon you. I love you, Isabella. I love you so much. Likewise, I'm crazy about you. You are my wife and the mother of my son. '' He murmured, his voice soft.

My son! What happened to my son?

'' My son! Our son! Alessio, is our son okay? '' My voice shook with an almost palpable despair. I couldn't bear the thought of losing our son.

'' He is well. Both are fine. '' He responded to me with a firm and reassuring tone.

I let out a deep breath, feeling the fear dissipate like a fog as I knew our son was safe. Fatigue took over me, and the exhaustion was so great that my eyes began to close involuntarily. I quickly fell asleep, the relief of knowing I was safe and that my son was safe too enveloping me in a sense of peace.

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