The day had barely begun when Chloé finally opened her eyes again after long hours of unconsciousness. Her gaze stayed fixed for a moment on the empty white ceiling, but very quickly, the memories came rushing back. The receptionist's words echoed in her mind like a thunderclap. Her breath caught, and suddenly, she jolted upright with a heartbreaking scream.
Chloé (screaming)
_ Dad!!!
Lorenzo, slumped on the couch with his head tilted from exhaustion, immediately startled awake. His eyes landed on her just as she ripped out the IV tubes the doctor had placed on her.
Lorenzo (frowning, shocked)
_ Chloé… you're awake? But—
He jumped to his feet and rushed toward her. But Chloé, trembling all over, had already sat up. Her legs weakened, her fingers shook, and tears flooded her face. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would explode.
Chloé (crying, voice broken)
_ Where is he? Where's my father? He's alive, right? I want to see him! I need to talk to him. Lorenzo, let me out, please. I'll do anything you want, but let me go to him!
She spoke in broken gasps, short of breath and suffocated by sobs. Her voice cracked under the weight of her pain. Lorenzo, jaw clenched, felt his heart shatter. Without thinking, he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, holding her as tightly as he could, as if trying to give her his own strength.
But Chloé, refusing to face the truth, shoved him away violently, her eyes red with rage and grief.
Chloé (in tears, devastated)
_ Take me to my father! I need to get out of here! He's waiting for me… I know he is.
She tried to run toward the door, but Lorenzo caught her wrist and pulled her back firmly. His arms wrapped around her once again. It was his way of holding her back, of protecting her, even from herself.
Chloé (struggling, sobbing)
_ Let me go! Why are you holding me like this? I want to see my father… I know he's alive! That woman was lying! Let me go, please… let me go to him!
Her screams turned into muffled sobs. Her throat tightened, her breathing cut short. Every tear rolling down her cheeks crashed against Lorenzo's chest, and he, the hard bad boy with the armored heart, felt completely destroyed. His arms tightened around her, and his voice, trembling but firm, whispered into her ear.
Lorenzo (calm but serious)
_ I'm sorry… but your father is gone.
Chloé (screaming, face drowned in tears)
_ NO!!! You're lying!
She tore herself free violently, shoving him with all her strength before pounding her fists against his chest. She hit him over and over, her tear-filled eyes locked onto his, crazed with rage and pain. Lorenzo stood frozen, unmoving. He took every blow without reacting, unable to raise a hand against her. His own eyes glistened with restrained pain.
Chloé (crying in rage)
_ You're a liar! My father can't die, I don't believe it! Your father promised… your father swore he'd pay for his surgery! That's why I agreed to marry you! Why didn't he keep his promise? Why?!
Lorenzo stayed silent. Words failed him. He wanted to scream that everything was wrong, that he had never wanted any of this… But faced with Chloé's raw pain, he had absolutely nothing to offer.
Broken, Chloé collapsed onto the floor. Her legs gave out, and she fell heavily, head lowered, hair messy. Her shoulders shook with uncontrollable sobs, and she looked like a lost little girl.
Chloé (voice trembling, fading)
_ He didn't deserve this… He was always there for me. And me? I wasn't there when he needed me… I should be by his side, not trapped here… I agreed to marry you because your father promised to save mine… But he lied to us. You let him die… Why? Why didn't he keep his word?
Every word felt like a blade stabbing into Lorenzo's chest. He remained standing there helplessly, fists clenched so tightly they hurt.
Chloé (screaming, face twisted with tears)
_ GET OUT! LEAVE! Leave me alone! I want to mourn my father alone… far away from you and all your lies!
Her words echoed through the room. They weren't words of hatred, but fragments of pure pain. Lorenzo stared at her for a moment, his heart heavy, then turned away. Without a word, he left the room and quietly closed the door behind him, leaving her alone with her grief.
Chloé remained by herself. She leaned against the bed and sat down, knees pulled tightly to her chest, curled up like a child who had just been abandoned. The world around her felt too large and empty. Her tears intensified, hot and heavy, and the hatred she felt toward herself grew stronger. She hated herself for finding out too late, for missing her father's final moments.
Chloé (inner voice)
I can't believe Dad is gone… No, I can't believe it. I'm not ready. Who's going to stay with me now? I have no one left. How am I supposed to live without him? When Lorenzo wasn't home last week, I went to see my father. He told me the surgery would be tomorrow, that everything would be okay… I was planning to be there for him, to support him. Why didn't he tell me from the beginning? I would've done anything to find the money… I got married for this, so he could get treatment… and now he left me. I can't bear this pain.
She lay down on the cold floor, curled into herself, shoulders shaking endlessly with sobs. Her hair stuck to her tear-soaked face, hiding her broken expression.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Lorenzo sat motionless. His red eyes stared blankly into space, filled with cold anger. A bottle of whiskey hung from his hand; he drank as though trying to drown the world. His body was there, but his mind wasn't. He kept replaying the image of Chloé crying, the broken voice of the girl he loved.
Lorenzo (murmuring, hoarse voice)
_ Forgive me, baby girl… Maybe if the surgery had happened, he'd still be here. But that psycho took him from us.
He took another gulp, rage rising inside him like fire. His fingers gripped the bottle so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Lorenzo (murmuring angrily)
_ He's going to pay. Oh yes, he'll pay. I'll make him understand what it costs to touch the people I care about. I'll break him.
The threat wasn't just in his words; it vibrated in his clenched jaw and the harsh tone of his voice. Lorenzo was that dangerous mix: a hard man ready to do anything.
Suddenly, the living room door burst open. Hurried footsteps echoed as his parents rushed inside. At the sight of Lorenzo, Carlo let out a sigh.
Carlo (worried, controlled)
_ Lorenzo, where's your wife? We heard the news. How is she?
Rosa (voice trembling)
_ I'm going upstairs to see her. Tell me where she is.
Lorenzo (calm, cold)
_ In my room.
Rosa didn't wait another second. She hurried upstairs and disappeared down the hallway. Carlo stayed downstairs, arms crossed, a father facing his son. His eyes searched for answers, and he didn't like the atmosphere hanging in the room.
Carlo (calm but serious)
_ Lorenzo, explain to me how Mr. Giovanni died.
Lorenzo didn't answer immediately. He swallowed another mouthful of alcohol, jaw tense, as though trying to hold back the storm inside him.
Carlo (firmly)
_ Stop drinking and answer me. Your father-in-law's death… does it have anything to do with you?
Lorenzo still said nothing; anger boiled inside him, cold and ready to explode.
Carlo (impatient)
_ Damn it, answer me, Lorenzo. How does Giovanni die like this when his surgery was scheduled for tomorrow? I made sure a nurse stayed beside him. He gave me his daughter's hand in marriage in exchange for the medical expenses. What happened? Why did he suddenly die? Can you answer me? Do you know something I don't?
Lorenzo (shouting)
_ ENOUGH!!!
Lorenzo exploded. He jumped up and hurled the whiskey bottle from his hand. The glass shattered violently against the floor, making his father flinch. Lorenzo stood before him, fists clenched, jaw carved from stone, his face burning with something dangerous.
Lorenzo (furious)
_ What do you want me to say, huh? That yes, my wife's father died because of me? That it's my fault? What answer do you want to hear, damn it?!
His voice cracked through the room like thunder. Carlo, already familiar with his son's temper, didn't flinch. He looked at him with a hard, curious stare.
Carlo (calm but firm)
_ Is that man threatening you again? Is he the one behind Chloé's father's death?
Lorenzo (eyes red)
_ I never asked you to make me marry. You did that, thinking responsibility would change me. Well, here's the result of your decisions. MY WIFE is upstairs crying in our room, and I don't even know how to comfort her. What am I supposed to tell her to ease her pain, knowing it's because of me that her dad is dead?
Carlo fell silent. He let out a faint sigh, his eyes fixed on his son. Lorenzo collapsed heavily back onto the couch, dark gaze lost in emptiness, hands still clenched.
Lorenzo (calm, bitter)
_ That son of a bitch keeps threatening me. But I'll deal with him. He's going to pay dearly.
His words were quiet, but they sounded like a cold promise, sharp as a blade. Carlo then sat on the couch opposite him, silently observing Lorenzo. A few heavy minutes passed before Carlo finally broke the silence.
Carlo (curious)
_ Do you love her?
Lorenzo frowned. His gaze landed on his father, hard and deep.
Lorenzo (calm)
_ I don't have to answer that when she's already mine.
Carlo (calm)
_ I know she's your wife, but do you love her the way you once loved "Her," or—
Lorenzo (firmly)
_ Don't talk to me about "Her." Don't drag me back to that time.
Carlo (sadly)
_ But it's because of me that "She" died. It's my fault that this unknown enemy is threatening you today.
Lorenzo (coldly)
_ I'm the only guilty one. I killed him, and I don't regret it. What did you expect me to do? Let him kill you instead?
Carlo remained speechless. Lorenzo suddenly stood up and, without waiting for a reply or even another glance at his father, stormed upstairs and disappeared down the hallway.
In the bedroom, Lorenzo's mother sat on the edge of the bed. Chloé, shattered, was crying while Rosa gently stroked her hair, trying to comfort her despite the sobs.
The door opened. Lorenzo walked in and stopped in front of them, his gaze fixed on Chloé, calm, hard, reassuring in his own way.
Lorenzo (calm but sharp voice)
_ Mom, you should go downstairs. Your husband's waiting for you. I'll take care of her.
Rosa didn't dare argue; she knew her son well, and obeying was easier than questioning him. She gently cupped Chloé's face and wiped away her tears with her fingertips. Exhausted, Chloé clutched the bedsheet tightly.
Rosa (comforting)
_ Sweetheart, calm down. Try to get some rest. I'll come back during the week. Don't worry, we'll be there for the funeral.
She kissed Chloé on the forehead, stood up, and left, leaving Lorenzo and Chloé alone. Lorenzo remained standing in front of her, motionless, almost protective despite the cold aura surrounding him.
Lorenzo (gently)
_ How do you feel?
Chloé lifted her eyes toward him, her trembling pupils caught between anger and curiosity.
Chloé (broken voice)
_ How did you know he was in the hospital? Why didn't you tell me anything back at the house? You knew, didn't you? You knew he was already dead?
Lorenzo stayed silent. His dark eyes fixed on her, heavy with unspoken pain. Slowly, he stepped closer, gently grabbed her arm, and pulled her to her feet. Without saying a word, he wrapped her tightly against him, holding her to his chest as though his only answer was this: keeping her close.
Surprised by the sudden embrace, Chloé stopped crying. Her hands tensed at first, but eventually, she melted against him, burying her face in his chest as though, despite everything, she still needed that shelter.
Lorenzo (low voice, softened by rare sincerity)
_ I would never hurt you, remember that. Yeah… I was harsh, wild with you at first. I raised my hand against you, and believe me, I hate myself for it every day. Forgive me… baby girl.
His voice broke for a moment. He tightened his embrace, lowered his gaze, and placed a soft kiss on her hair. His warm breath trembled against her, revealing the weakness he hid from the rest of the world.
Lorenzo (serious but fragile)
_ I didn't know your father was dead… If I didn't tell you he was in the hospital, it was only because I didn't want you to worry even more. I wanted to protect you. I promise I'll fix everything. I'm sorry, Chloé… truly sorry about your father.
A heavy silence fell between them. But this time, it wasn't crushing; it was filled with restrained tears, regrets, and a clumsy kind of love. Chloé said nothing. She stayed in his arms, and him—the bad boy everyone saw as cold and violent—did only one thing: hold her tighter, as though it were the only way to prove that she had become his weakness… and his reason to fight.
To be continued...