"She’s okay... it was just shock," the doctor said gently, his voice softening when he glanced at Bella’s pale face. Leo nodded once, tight and controlled.
When the door closed, Lina sat beside Bella and smoothed a trembling hand over her forehead. Her eyes were already watery, her thumb brushing the little crease between Bella’s brows as if trying to wipe away every trace of fear.
"Anyone would get shocked after hearing sothing like that," Lina murmured, her voice heavy. "Finding out Jessica isn’t her mother... my poor baby girl." Her lip quivered, but she stayed calm.
Alessandro exhaled through his nose, his face grave. "It hurts, yes," he said quietly, "but at least she’s finally rid of that toxic woman. She can breathe again."
Lina nodded, but her eyes shifted toward the door, concern creeping in. "Speaking of which... where’s Mom? She’s been sleeping the whole ti. And not waking up once?" Her voice tightened, a small alarm ringing inside her.
"I’ll check," Alessandro said, suddenly alert. He squeezed Bella’s hand once, then stood and headed upstairs.
The first-floor hallway was quiet, the afternoon light spilling through the tall windows in soft golden streaks. When he reached his mother’s room, he was surprised to see Aunt Clara stepping out, tightening her shawl around her shoulders.
"Is Mom awake?" he asked.
Aunt Clara nodded. "Yes, she woke up a little while ago. She was complaining about back pain, so I helped her stretch." She gave a small, reassuring smile. "She’s resting now."
Relief loosened Alessandro’s chest.
He walked into Victoria’s room, and the mont he saw her sitting up against the pillows, pouting at her own discomfort, he exhaled deeply.
"Mom," he said, approaching her bed, "Clara told you’re having back pain?"
Victoria nodded dramatically. "Yes, my back is killing . But never mind that—what happened to my little Bella? Clara told she fainted. Oh, my heart..." She pressed a hand to her chest. "Don’t you think it’s strange? She seems... weaker lately. Sothing feels off."
Alessandro sat on the edge of her bed. "Mom," he said gently, "Bella just stepped out of her safe space after everything she’s gone through. Today’s truth hit her hard. Anyone would have fainted after hearing it."
Victoria stared at him, worry tugging the corners of her eyes. "Tell everything."
So he did—patiently, quietly—explaining everything from Jessica’s arrival to the confrontation, every detail of how Bella reacted.
When he finished, Victoria nodded slowly. Understanding settled into her features, replacing the panic with a deep, steady concern.
"Please take to see her," she said softly, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "I want to hold her. She must be frightened."
Alessandro shook his head gently. "No, Mom. Not now. You’re in pain, and if Bella finds out you forced yourself to walk just to check on her, she’ll be upset. Let her rest. Let you rest."
Victoria sighed, but she didn’t argue. She lay back against the pillows, her expression soft with love and worry.
"Alright," she whispered. "But the mont she wakes up, I want to know."
Alessandro squeezed her hand. "You will," he promised, getting up quietly.
·༻𐫱༺·
Bella stirred beneath the soft blanket, her eyelashes trembling before they slowly lifted. The world felt hazy at first, colours blending into soft shapes, and for a mont she wasn’t sure if she was still dreaming. But then the mories hit her all at once..the confrontation, the truth, Jessica’s lies and her stomach tightened painfully.
Her breath hitched.
She blinked a few tis, clearing the blur, and the first thing she saw was Leo sitting right beside her...still in the sa position he must have been in for hours. His hair was completely ssy, as if he had been running his hands through it again and again. The corners of his eyes looked a little red, not from sleeplessness alone, but from the kind of worry that digs into a person’s heart and refuses to let go.
"Leo...?" she whispered, her voice small and cracked.
At the sound of her voice, he lifted his head imdiately. A slow, soft smile tugged at his lips, the kind he only ever saved for her.
"You woke up?" he said gently, leaning closer. His hand reached out instinctively, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek. "How are you feeling, bunny?"
His voice was warm but strained, as if every word carried the leftover fear of nearly losing her, and Bella felt her chest swell with so many emotions she couldn’t na them all. She saw the exhaustion in his face, the faint shadows under his eyes, the way he searched her expression as if needing reassurance she was truly there.
"Leo..." she whispered again, her fingers lifting weakly to touch his wrist. "You look tired..."
He caught her hand softly, bringing it to his lips and pressing a slow kiss against her knuckles.
"I don’t care about tired," he murmured. "I only care about you."
Bella pushed herself upright so fast the blanket slipped from her shoulders, and for a heartbeat she simply stared at him, taking in his ruffled hair, his tired eyes, the faint strain along his jaw. And then her expression softened into sothing painfully tender.
"What’s the ti?" she whispered.
Leo blinked, glanced vaguely at the dim lamp, then shrugged as if it didn’t matter. "I don’t know... maybe midnight."
"Leo!!!"
Her voice burst out before she could control it. She sat up straighter, eyes widening in disbelief, hurt, and worry all tangled together. "It’s been... the whole day? Have you eaten? Have you even rested?!"
He opened his mouth, closed it, then tried again. "I... didn’t. And bunny, don’t hop around—lie down and rest—"
"You silly man," she breathed, her voice thick with emotion. "How can you sit here the entire day without eating anything?"
She swung her legs off the bed, still a little unsteady, but determination shone in her eyes. Before Leo could stop her, she reached for his wrist and tugged him gently but firmly.
"Bunny—Bella—wait—" he stamred, scrambling to hold her waist so she wouldn’t lose balance. "You’re weak."
"No," she said, staring up at him with that stubborn softness he could never resist. "You are the weak one right now. You didn’t eat. You didn’t rest. I’m taking you to get food. Otherwise you won’t eat at all."
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