Seven Days, Then Never Again

I gripped the edge of the blanket so hard my knuckles went white, and turned my face to the window.

Even with the window open, not a single breeze drifted in.

The doctor's words were still echoing in my ears.

"The crash did serious damage to your body. Getting pregnant again will be very difficult."

Every beat of my heart hurt.

The door opened behind me.

Matteo strode to the bedside and took my hand.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

He looked at the needle marks on the back of my hand, his brows knitting tight, then tucked the blanket around me.

"Does it still hurt, sweetheart?"

His palm was warm. My clenched fingers slowly loosened.

"About Chiara, I'm apologizing to you on her behalf. I promise it won't happen again."

He softened his voice.

"She was just being reckless. She never meant to hurt you."

I looked down at my belly, where a hollow ache sat.

Her so-called recklessness had taken the child we'd waited five years for.

Five years of marriage, and I'd never been able to get pregnant.

Then a week ago, two pink lines finally showed up on the test.

I'd wanted to surprise Matteo with the news.

Instead, the joy became a death knell.

"Matteo, there's something I need to tell you..."

His phone ringtone cut me off.

He answered, and his brows immediately pulled together.

"What is it?"

Chiara's sobbing came through the line.

"Don, someone's harassing me at the bar..."

Matteo shot to his feet.

"Stay there. Don't move. I'm on my way."

He hung up and leaned down to brush his lips against my forehead.

"Something came up with Chiara. I'll go check on it and be back soon."

The doctor stepped forward with the medical file.

"Mr. Moretti, regarding your wife's surgery—"

"Please take good care of her. Whatever it is, we'll talk when I get back."

He hurried off without asking what I'd wanted to say.

I pulled my hand back under the blanket and told the doctor,

"Let me rest for a while."

The door clicked shut.

The room went quiet, with only the monitor by the bed keeping me company.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Like the sound of tears hitting the floor.

A long while later, I braced myself on the edge of the bed, wanting a drink of water.

A sharp cramp tore through my abdomen, and my arm gave out.

My sleeve caught the cup and sent it shattering across the floor.

I stared blankly at the water spreading, and it took me a moment to remember to press the call button.

My fingertip had just touched the button when the door suddenly swung open.

Matteo walked in, Chiara trailing behind him, clutching his sleeve.

He carried the smell of alcohol and unfamiliar perfume, and my stomach lurched.

Seeing the shards everywhere, he frowned in mild exasperation.

"What? Still angry?"

Chiara peeked timidly from behind his shoulder.

"Donna, I really didn't mean it. I was just testing a new program and didn't expect a bug..."

"It was an accident," Matteo cut in. "No one wanted this. It's over now."

"Chiara got harassed at the bar just now and cried for ages, but she insisted on coming to the hospital to see you."

He took my hand, his voice gentle. "Only family cares about you this much."

I looked down at his hand.

The calluses from years of gripping a gun dug into my skin, hurting.

"Family?"

My voice came out hoarse. "Matteo, I almost died in that car."

His grip tightened a fraction.

"Don't throw a tantrum."

He glanced at the bodyguards posted outside the door, his voice dropping.

"My men are right outside. Don't let them hear a joke like this."

Chiara tugged lightly at his sleeve.

"Don," she said, rubbing her eyes, "it's my fault. I'll accept the family's judgment."

"Don't talk nonsense. With me here, who'd dare judge you?"

Matteo let go of my hand to wipe her tears.

I looked at my empty palm and said nothing more.

So his apology only went as far as not holding Chiara accountable.

Only when a smile returned to her face did he turn back to me.

"By the way, what was it you wanted to tell me?"

I looked at him.

The words I hadn't gotten to say, I suddenly didn't want to say anymore.

"Nothing."

He tucked the blanket around me.

"Then rest for now. I'll take Chiara home. She's had a fright and needs to rest properly."

With that, they left the room.

The door closed.

Once again, I was alone in the hospital room.

Outside the window, rain had started to fall at some point.

The rain was like gray bandages, wrapping around the whole city.

I opened my phone and added a note to the date seven days from now.

[Leave].