LOGINIsabella’s POVI gripped the cold metal of the IV pole so tightly my fingers cramped, but it was the only thing keeping my knees from completely buckling.My chest felt painfully tight, as if invisible claws were wrapping around my ribs, slowly suffocating me.I stared at the giant man standing in the center of the room. The man who had spent the last few days standing like a stone in the darkest corner of my bedroom. The man who had wrapped his arms around me when my brain felt like it was tearing itself apart, whispering that I was safe. The man who had looked me dead in the eyes and sworn he worshipped the ground his missing wife walked on.Yet here he was.The same hands I had clung to during my panic attack were wrapped around the waist of a beautiful brunette. He was holding her against his chest, absorbing her weight effortlessly. And she looked completely captivated. Her fingers were curled tightly into the fabric of his shirt. Her cheeks were painted with a deep flush as sh
Dante’s POVThree days had passed since Isabella’s mind had nearly torn itself apart trying to bridge the eight-year gap in her memory.Three agonizing, suffocating days.Under Romeo's strict orders, we had kept her environment completely stress-free. No more questions. No more puzzles.I had gone back to playing the shadow, playing the distant bodyguard whenever I was in her room, speaking only when spoken to. It was a torture unlike any other to be mere feet away from the woman I loved more than oxygen, and be entirely unable to touch her. To keep myself from losing my mind, I spent the afternoons in the private, sunlit lounge at the end of the south wing, watching the only other things that kept my heart beating."No, Zia Chiara! The blue pillow goes on the very top! It's the roof!" Elara’s bright giggle echoed off the high ceilings of the lounge.I sat in a leather armchair in the corner of the room with a cup of cold, black coffee resting on my knee. I was currently watching my
Isabella’s POVThe pain felt as if my brain were physically tearing itself apart, desperately trying to bridge a gap I couldn't even see.I curled in on myself, gasping for air that wouldn't come, pressing my hands against my temples to keep my head from shattering. The high-pitched beeping added to the nightmare of noise in my head.Then, suddenly, the world went silent.Dante who had stood like a stone wall in the corner completely encircled me.His arms wrapped around my shaking shoulders, effortlessly lifting my collapsing body and pulling me closely against his chest. One of his large hands cradled the back of my head, pressing my face into the crook of his neck, while his other arm banded around my waist.I should have fought him. I should have shoved him away, terrified of this lethal stranger touching me so intimately.But I didn't.The moment my cheek hit his solid chest, every single muscle in my body recognized him. My mind was screaming that he was a bodyguard, a hired
Dante’s POVI knew it the exact moment when realization hit her.Isabella’s wide, dark eyes dropped from my face down to her left hand resting on the silk sheets.The wedding band I had slid onto her finger was still here. It was a delicate, custom-forged band of brushed titanium interlaced with small, flawless diamonds, a perfect match to my own."This isn't my ring." Isabella whispered. The sound was so fragile it barely carried across the sunlit room. She lifted her trembling left hand, bringing the ring closer to the light. "Mateo gave me a princess cut. This is... this is different."At the foot of the bed, Irene froze. She slowly turned around, her tear-stained eyes going wide with panic as she realized the lie was rapidly unraveling. She looked at me, a silent, desperate plea for help, but I didn't move. I couldn't. I was completely paralyzed, trapped in my role as the stranger in the corner."Irene." Isabella muttered, her breathing beginning to hitch. Her eyes darted around
Isabella’s POVHearing Romeo’s words, Irene’s jaw tightened. She immediately looked away, her posture going entirely rigid. What the hell was he apologizing for? My mind went blank. She crossed her arms over her chest. "There is nothing to apologize for, Dr. Galante." Irene said. Her voice was ice-cold, so formal and distant that it completely opposed the devastating heartbreak pooling in her eyes. "You are just doing your job.""You know that is not what I mean," Romeo pushed gently, ignoring her icy tone. He took a half-step around the bed, completely ignoring the fact that I was sitting right there between them. “Don’t.” Irene warned.He nodded, respecting her. “You haven't slept in a real bed in days. Please, let me at least have one of the guest suites prepared for you down the hall. You need to rest, firecracker."Firecracker. He had called her that in the dark, and now he was saying it out loud.Irene’s lower lip trembled, just for a second, before she ruthlessly bit it down
A week later…Isabella’s POV"Your vitals are exceptionally strong today, Isabella. The internal bruising is healing beautifully, and your blood volume has finally stabilized."Romeo said as he unclipped the medical chart from the end of my bed. He offered me a warm, reassuring smile, though the dark circles under his eyes betrayed how many hours he had spent awake, keeping me alive."Which means…" Romeo continued, slipping his pen into the front pocket of his navy blue scrubs. "you have officially graduated from the intensive medical suite. We are moving you to the south wing today. The room has actual sunlight, a much softer bed, and significantly fewer machines that beep at you."A genuine wave of relief washed over me. I had been trapped in this windowless, shadowy room for what felt like an eternity. "Thank God." I breathed out, offering him a tired smile. "I think the heart monitor was starting to give me a migraine.""I will personally unplug it.” Romeo chuckled softly.The mov
Isabella’s POV My heart skipped. I knew that voice. Dante’s hand moved toward the small of his back. Romeo, on the other hand, looked toward the door with an amused grin. "Ah, that must be the firecracker I was going to inform you about just now." The double doors were shoved open. Two of Dante
Isabella’s POV After taking shower, I wore one of the few clean dresses I owned. It was a simple dark green wrap dress. Exactly at 8:00 PM, a knock sounded at the door. It was an older woman in maid uniform. She came in and smiled. "Signorina Moretti? I am Maria. Dinner is served in the forma
Isabella’s POV I could feel his gaze on my pale skin, the dark circles under my eyes, and the way my hands were still shaking near my midsection. I tried to summon my pride. I tried to stand tall, but my legs felt like water. "What are you doing here, Signore Galante? Did you drive two hours to
Isabella’s POV I hated that he had to call me out like this. I hated how he managed to offend me even though just now he literally admitted that he needed me. It was like he was respecting the line I had drawn, even while he was killing my defenses. "But be assured, Alessia. I don't care about the







