LOGINAbby's POV
As soon as the ambulance doors burst open, paramedics sprinted toward the emergency entrance, pushing the blood-soaked gurney.
"Stay with me, Lia! Please!" I screamed, running frantically beside the stretcher, my hands still completely covered in her warm blood. I refused to let go of her limp, freezing hand.
Matteo was a step ahead of us, his presence alone parting the sea of hospital staff like a dark, terrifying hurricane.
"Get the best fucking trauma
Abby's POVAs soon as the ambulance doors burst open, paramedics sprinted toward the emergency entrance, pushing the blood-soaked gurney."Stay with me, Lia! Please!" I screamed, running frantically beside the stretcher, my hands still completely covered in her warm blood. I refused to let go of her limp, freezing hand.Matteo was a step ahead of us, his presence alone parting the sea of hospital staff like a dark, terrifying hurricane."Get the best fucking trauma surgeons down here right now!" Matteo roared, "If she dies, I will burn this entire hospital to the ground! Do you hear me?!""We need you to let go, ma'am! We're losing her!" a frantic nurse yelled at me as we finally reached the heavy double doors of the surgical ICU."No! I'm not leaving her!" I sobbed, fighting weakly as the nurse tried to pry my fingers away from Lia's."Abby, let them work!" Matteo commanded gently but firmly, grabbing my waist and pulling me back aga
Abby's POV"You're staying here. It's too dangerous," Matteo ordered, already heading for the door."No, I'm coming with you," I fired back, grabbing his hand to stop him. "Lia is my best friend. I've faced death before, Matteo. I've faced more danger in my past life than you even realize. I am not letting you go into this alone, and I am not staying away from her."He looked at me, his jaw clenching as he debated arguing, before finally exhaling sharply."Okay," he conceded, his voice hard and uncompromising. "But you stay close to me, and you do not leave the car under any circumstances." He squeezed my hand tightly, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "I am the only one who steps out. I am the only one who talks to the kidnappers. Understood?"I nodded my head in agreement, but deep down, the truth was entirely different. If things went south, I fully intended to fight right alongside him—just as fiercely as he was fighting for me.He
Abby's POVI stared at him, my cheeks suddenly wet with fresh tears. I trembled into his gentle touch, throwing my arms around his neck and hugging him as tightly as I could.This time, I finally let out a painful, shattered sob—a sound of release that I hadn't allowed myself to make until now. All the stress, the fear, and the overwhelming relief crashed over me all at once. I felt his warmth, his unwavering presence, completely anchoring me."Thank you for being here," I cried softly against his chest.He wrapped his strong arms around my waist, pulling me flush against him."No," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I did it because you are my wife..."He leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my lips."Because..." he murmured against my mouth, kissing me again."Because I love..." Another tender, desperate kiss, completely stealing my breath away."I love you, Abby."I kissed him back,
Abby's POVFor the first time since we met, Matteo completely ignored my pleas. He gently but firmly removed my hand from his arm, walking out of the office without looking back.I grabbed my keys and sprinted to my own car, desperately trying to follow him. But the brutal city traffic trapped me at every intersection.When I finally pulled into the sprawling Hayes estate and burst through the grand double doors of the mansion, I was already too late.The luxurious foyer was an absolute war zone. My breath caught in my throat, my lungs freezing as I took in the scene before me.Great-uncle Antonio was sprawled on the marble floor, gasping for air and clutching his bruised, swelling jaw. My father, George, was on his knees next to him, blood dripping steadily from his busted lip onto the rug.Erina and Josefina were huddled together against the far wall, their eyes wide with horrified shock, too terrified to even scream.I couldn't bre
Abby's POV"You are a complete disgrace to the Sinclair name and to the Hayes!" George roared, his face red with fury. "An ungrateful, heartless snake! We gave you everything, and this is how you repay us?!""She has always been like this, George," Josefina spat, glaring at me with disgust. "She is a cold, arrogant bitch who destroys everything she touches. She has no heart!""You're a psycho, Abby!" Erina shrieked, tears of rage streaming down her face. "Matteo is going to realize how deranged you are! He's going to throw you in the garbage exactly where you belong!"But before I could even respond to their pathetic insults, Antonio stepped forward and viciously slapped me across the face.The sharp crack echoed through the massive office. I stumbled back a step, my hand instinctively flying up to hold my stinging cheek.They all stared at me, waiting for me to break. They really thought I would cry over this. Over a simple slap. I had lite
Abby's POVI sat back in my leather chair, crossing my arms as I stared at the pathetic, dramatic spectacle unfolding in the middle of my conference room.My entire toxic family—my father, my stepmother, and Erina—were standing in front of me, flanked by my great-uncle, Antonio.They had barged into my building demanding a meeting, and now, they were performing of a lifetime."This is all your fault!" Erina screamed, her face red and streaked with ruined makeup as she pointed a trembling finger at me. "You framed him! You planted that evidence because you're a bitter, jealous bitch! You couldn't stand the fact that Nicholas chose to marry me instead of you, so you set a trap to ruin my marriage!""I didn't force him to break into my office and strangle me, Erina," I replied coldly, not a single ounce of pity in my voice. "He did that all on his own.""You provoked him!" my father yelled, stepping forward to defend his favorite da







