Chapter 4
I stayed in the hospital for a few days. Cesare never came to see me and only had his assistant send messages telling me to rest and fully recover before returning to work.
Meanwhile, the family chat was flooded with updates about him and Sofia.
He had rented a private Sicilian island to celebrate her birthday, with fireworks lasting three days. He brought her to the Family Council and gave her the heirloom ring. He even bought land to build a private ski resort, naming it after her.
I read every update without a flicker of emotion.
Once discharged, I returned to work as usual, meticulous and focused. Whenever something involved Cesare, I delegated it to other assistants. I did everything I could to avoid direct contact with him.
After a quiet week, he suddenly called and asked me to deliver encrypted files.
Once the delivery was complete and I was about to leave, he called me back. "I'm heading to a meeting with the Family. Sofia doesn't like eating alone. Stay and keep her company."
Sofia immediately issued orders. "I want steak. Cut it into small pieces and feed me."
Cesare shut the study door, and I swallowed my objections, moving to the table to cut the steak.
Once finished, she demanded walnuts and jackfruit. "I want some fruit after my meal. Peel them by hand."
The hard walnuts cut into my fingers and the jackfruit spikes pierced my skin. Blood ran between my fingers, but I endured and finished.
Then she sent me to the kitchen for the freshly cooked seafood chowder.
The steaming bowls burned my fingertips the moment I touched them. I couldn't hold it steady. My hand slipped, and the soup splashed down onto me. Several blisters formed instantly, and a wave of fiery pain tore through my hand.
Sofia laughed with delight at my misfortune, but as soon as the study door opened, she put on a fake scolding face. "Cesare said you're capable, but you can't even carry a bowl of soup without burning me."
Cesare rushed over, anxiously checking her reddened hands. Then he turned to me and berated me. "Sofia has been pampered her whole life and never hurt like this. How could you be so careless?"
When he noticed my injuries, he didn't say more. He scooped Sofia into his arms to get her treated and told me to follow them to the hospital.
Cesare drove hard and fast. Every time Sofia whimpered, he turned to check on her, his attention fixed on her alone.
Then suddenly, a speeding car slammed into us.
The impact slammed me against the car door, and a sharp pain tore through my side as blood soaked into my clothes.
Through the haze, I faintly heard the doctor's voice. "This lady just passed out from shock, but the passenger in the back is losing blood fast. If we don't treat her immediately, she may not survive."
"Take Sofia to the Family's private hospital first! I can't let anything happen to her. Nothing else matters!"
Cesare's urgent, furious roar was the last thing I heard before slipping back into darkness.
When I finally opened my eyes again, Luna was at my bedside, her eyes red and swollen.
"Elena, I just got back from Sicily when I heard what happened. The doctor said you were bleeding out. You almost didn't make it!"
She held me as she cried, and all the grief I'd kept bottled up finally spilled over. I clung to her, crying for what felt like forever.
Once my emotions had settled, she gave me water and started chatting. "Have the past few years been good? Did my brother ever bully you? What about your boyfriend? When will I meet him?"
I stiffened and replied softly, "Don Valeri separates business and personal matters. He never bullied me. My boyfriend... we've broken up."
Luna quickly comforted me. "It's okay. The next one will be better. I know plenty of reliable Capos in the Family. I'll introduce you!"
Just then, the hospital door opened, and Cesare walked in with a dark look. "Don't even think about introducing anyone to her. Every guy you know is a playboy. None of them are suitable."
"Cesare, stop talking nonsense!" Luna shot back. "You're hung up on Sofia, and you're trying to control who my best friend dates?"
Cesare's temper flared, and his voice came out sharp. "Feelings can't be forced. Stop trying to play matchmaker."
I tugged lightly on Luna's hand, then looked at Cesare calmly. "She was joking, Don Valeri. What brings you here?"
He looked at me, his tone softening a little. "Luna came straight to the hospital the moment she landed. I came to take her home and to check on you."
"Go already, will you?" Luna snapped at him. "Elena's seriously injured. Don't you dare dump any more work on her."
After Cesare left, Luna told me, "The nurses said yesterday you were hanging by a thread. My brother had people searching the whole city for blood to save you."
I froze for a moment before reality settled back in.
He did all that just so I wouldn't die.
If it ever came down to a choice between Sofia and me, he would never save me.
So, I was done fooling myself. I would never let myself hope anymore.
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