All Chapters of The Auctioned Bride: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

I watched Valerio through the glass door. His eyes were closed, his face still pale. He’d been wheeled out an hour ago, and even in his sleep, he looked like he was fighting demons.I pushed the door open quietly. His eyes snapped open almost instantly.“Do you even sleep at all?” I asked, walking over to sit on the edge of his bed.“Are you supposed to be here? You need to rest, Althea.” He tried to sit up, but I pressed him gently back down.“I’m fine, Valerio. You’re the one who got shot.”“And you lost a baby, Althea,” he said softly, eyes fixed on me.The room fell quiet for a few moments. The silence felt too heavy.“I guess it all happened for a reason,” I said, forcing a small smile.“Althea…”“You didn’t answer my question,” I cut in, changing the subject before the grief could swallow me again.“What question?”“Do you sleep?”He gave a short, dry laugh. “I have too many worries, too many enemies. What do you think would happen if I let my guard down?”“And that’s why you ha

Days in the hospital passed in a blur, but they were unforgettable. I saw a different side of Valerio…gentle, unguarded, almost human in his quiet gestures. Sometimes he’d brush my hair behind my ear, or adjust the blanket when I fell asleep. He never said much, but he didn’t need to. Still, deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being kind because he pitied me. Because I’d lost the baby. Because he blamed himself. But I didn’t care. Whether it was real or guilt-driven, I wanted to hold on to it. To him. The drive back home was silent except for the soft hum of the tires and the occasional look we shared. Every time he caught me smiling at him, he’d smile back…small, restrained, but real. When the tall iron gates of the mansion came into view, my chest tightened. I never thought I’d miss this place… the cold walls, the echoing silence…but I did. It felt strange calling it home, yet a part of me wanted to. After the usual security checks and greetings, the car ro

“Hey… are you okay?” Rico asked softly, guiding me to sit down. His voice was low, careful, like he was scared I might shatter.“Ow,” I whispered as pain shot through my stomach.“Careful,” he murmured, steadying me. His hand hovered over mine, unsure if he was allowed to touch. I clutched my belly instinctively, that same ache lingering…not just from the fall, but from everything that had already been taken from me.“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked again.“Yes… I’m good,” I said quietly, forcing a small smile that didn’t reach my eyes.When I finally looked at him, I saw the damage Valerio had done… his lip was split, a bruise already forming under his eye, blood drying near his temple. He looked wrecked, and yet still managed to look young. Softer somehow.I sighed and got to my feet.“Hey, don’t move like that,” Rico said quickly, trying to pull me back down. “You need to rest.”“I said I’m fine,” I replied, walking toward the cabinet. “You’re hurt. I can’t just sit here and wa

The day felt longer than it should have. After Valerio’s apology, the silence between us had grown heavy again…like something unfinished, like a promise that refused to settle. He’d walked away first, disappearing into his study. I stood by the fountain long after, listening to the soft trickle of water and the ache that came with it.When I finally went inside, the house was quiet. The kind of quiet that made your thoughts louder. I made my way to the living room.Rico was there, lounging on the couch with a glass of wine in his hand, his shirt unbuttoned at the top. “You should rest,” he said, noticing me in the doorway. His tone wasn’t teasing this time. It was gentle.“I could say the same to you,” I replied, walking in. “You look like you’ve been through hell.”He smiled faintly. “If that’s what you call living under Valerio’s roof, then yes.”I almost smiled back, but it faded quickly. The mention of Valerio always did that. I sat on the other end of the couch, the silence str

At this point… I feared whatever lingering thing I was feeling.The distance between Valerio and me no longer burned like it used to. It didn’t ache in that unbearable way. It just… existed like an old scar you stop noticing until something brushes against it.Yes, I missed him. Hell, I fucking wanted him. But… Rico was warmth where Valerio was heat. And warmth stays longer.I needed someone. And Rico…he was just there, every time I reached into the empty space beside me.From the little ways... The way he lingered in the doorway when I passed. The way he helped me reach for things I could’ve easily taken myself. The soft laughter when I said something unfunny just to break the silence. The unspoken words in his eyes when he thought i wasn’t looking. Unspoken words i’d like to remain unspoken but i’d gnash my teeth to say, i felt something.. i didn’t know what it was but something.. something dull was right there.But all that screamed in my head was “dangerous”. It was too dangerous