“We have to go, Alessandro.” Alessandro slowly withdrew his hand from Mariana’s face, though his eyes lingered for a second longer. “Stay close to the baby. I’ll be back before dawn.” Mariana watched him leave, feeling an unexpected emptiness in her chest.
Hours later, in the dead of night, Mariana paced back and forth in her room. She couldn’t sleep. The silence in the mansion was unnatural. It was a heavy, tense silence that forced her to listen for every tiny sound from outside.
Alexio was fast asleep thanks to the food, as his body was finally regaining strength. Mariana monitored his breathing with absolute dedication. At 1:43 a.m., a sound in the hallway startled her.
Quick, urgent steps. Esteban knocked on the door. “Miss Torres, are you awake?” Mariana opened it just enough to see his face. Serious, but not alarmed. “Yes, did something happen?” “Mr. Manceli is back,” Esteban said.
Everything’s under control. Mariana let out a sigh she hadn’t known she was holding. It’s okay. Yes. Esteban nodded. But he needs to see her. Mariana’s heart skipped a beat. Why did she say it was important?
Mariana picked Alesio up in her arms. If Alesandro needed her, she wasn’t going to go alone. Upon reaching the main room, Mariana was met with a scene that left her speechless.
Alessandro stood with his sack draped over a chair, his shirt lightly stained with dust and traces of a fight. He didn’t appear injured, but he did look exhausted. When he saw her, his face softened.
Mariana. She approached with Alessio leaning against her chest. “What happened? Are you okay?” she asked, forgetting for a second everything around her, everything he represented. He looked at her with a mixture of weariness, relief, and something more.
“Yes, I’m fine, but I want to explain something to you, something I can no longer avoid.” Renzo locked the door from the inside. Esteban stood guard in a corner. Mariana felt she was about to hear something crucial.
Alessandro spoke slowly. The Vital people don’t want to negotiate. They don’t want an agreement. What they want is to hurt you. Mariana hugged the baby tightly. Why? I have nothing to do with their world.
“You’re completely involved,” Alessandro said seriously. “You saw me vulnerable. You nurtured the heir, and in our tradition that makes you a symbol, someone valuable and dangerous to my enemies.”
Mariana took a step back, but I didn’t ask for any of that. Alandro ran a hand through his hair. I know, but the world I grew up in depends on what you ask for.
Mariana stared at him. “What exactly do they want at the hospital?” Alessandro’s gaze turned to ice. “They want to use your life to force mine.” Mariana felt her heart stop.
“That’s not why,” Alessandro continued. “I need you to understand something. I can’t let you leave yet. If you leave this house unprotected, you won’t get very far.” Mariana felt a lump in her throat.
So, am I trapped here? Not trapped, he corrected, slowly approaching. Protected. I want you to be safe. I want you to be alive. Mariana felt a tingle run through her as he stopped just 1 cm away.
“And Alessio needs you,” Alessandro added in a whisper. The baby, as if he understood, made a small sound and snuggled closer to her chest. Mariana looked down at him.
“I need it too,” she admitted in a low voice, almost unintentionally. Alessandro looked at her intently. “Mariana, I can’t keep ignoring this. There’s something between you and me that goes beyond tradition.”
Something I didn’t expect, something I don’t want to lose. The words hit her hard. Mariana trembled. Alessandro. He slowly raised a hand to touch her cheek. He paused millimeters away, waiting for permission.
And Mariana didn’t move away. His fingers brushed against her skin. It was such a soft, gentle touch that she felt her heart melt. “I don’t want you to be afraid of me,” he whispered.
“I don’t want to be someone who locks you up. I want to be someone who takes care of you.” Mariana swallowed hard. I don’t know what’s happening, but I can’t lose another baby, and I can’t lose myself again.
Alessandro’s eyes shone with a mixture of determination and pain. “I’m not going to let you lose anything else,” he said firmly. “I swear.” For a second, Mariana thought he was going to kiss her, that he was going to cross that line that had been burning between them since the plane, but he didn’t.
He stopped, he held back. And that touched her more than any kiss. “Go rest,” he said, slowly withdrawing his hand. “We’ll talk tomorrow. I want to tell you everything from the beginning. Before you make any decisions about yourself and about us.” Mariana felt her knees tremble.
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