Our Second Time
1869 Words
*Vincenzo*
This morning, when I woke up on the couch in my bedroom, groaning with backache, memories of last night flooded my mind as I stirred.
Petal!
The name gleamed in my sleepy brain and my eyes darted towards the bed. Relief washed over me as I saw her sleeping peacefully. The soft sound of her snoring filled the room, calming my racing heart. It was a pleasant change from the previous occasions when she had left me alone after our passionate encounters. I was tired of her always pushing me away. That was it. I wouldn't let her do it anymore. I wouldn't let her run away from me any further.
I had never realized before just how essential someone could be, to the point where I felt incomplete without her. But with her absence, I was left feeling like a total mess adrift in chaos.
This wasn't a realization that came suddenly, but rather something I had felt over the years of being without her in my life. No one or nothing could fill the void she left behind. I didn't deny living a reckless life, but I couldn't help it because, without my petal in my life, I was heartbroken and not in my right state of mind. I just wanted to let go of the pain in my heart and forget about Bella, just like she had forgotten me. So, I tried everything that would get her out of my mind and heart: drugs, alcohol, meaningless s*x, scandals! But nothing and no one could replace her.
The first time she left, she broke my heart, but the second time, she shattered my soul and destroyed me completely.
Although she didn't remember our second time together, I could never forget it. I still vividly remember that day when Bella was supposed to get engaged to the famous doctor Santino De Luca. However, whether it was a coincidence or destiny, one of my scandalous tapes was leaked that day, making headlines everywhere.
As a result of the tape leak scandal, Santino's parents decided to cancel the engagement and call off the marriage because the Romano and Leonardi families were as close as one, my scandalous tape tainted Bella and her family's reputation as well, exacerbating the situation. Sometimes, I wondered if Santino’s parents were merely seeking an excuse to break off the engagement.
That night, after her engagement ceremony was canceled and her marriage was called off, Bella came to me in anger. She fought and shouted at me, blaming me for every disaster. Amidst our frustration and anger, our hidden desires ignited, and we forgot about everything else.
I still vividly recall the sensation of her soft body melting into mine, her responsiveness to my touch, the way she moaned my name when I was inside her, and how her eyes looked at me as if I were her entire world.
That was the best night of my life, and I was very happy to hold my petal in my arms. I thought everything was going to be right, and I was ready to fight the world for us.
But the following morning, I awoke to find myself alone in bed. Bella had disappeared like a beautiful dream, leaving a cold silence behind. When I went to talk to Bella, she once again refused to listen, cutting me off from her life just like that.
Adding to my torment, the subsequent news revealed she was set to marry in just two months. Despite our intense night together, she had agreed to marry that loser, Santino, when he asked for forgiveness.
Then, in a cruel twist of fate, she suffered an accident on her wedding day, erasing from her memory not only Santino and their unborn child but also our passionate night. Then happened the most unfortunate scandal that no one had anticipated and her parents, perhaps motivated by a desire to shield her from further pain, chose not to disclose these painful truths to her. It seemed as though nature itself conspired to spare her from the agony, granting her oblivion to those haunting memories.
But now, enough of fighting and running away from each other. I was determined to go to any length this time because after living what seemed almost a lifetime without her, I came to realize I couldn't be the same without her. I yearned for her presence in my life and my world, and I was prepared to pay any price. I wouldn't cease my efforts until she agreed to be with me. She belonged with me, and I wouldn't let her slip away.
“I am done!” Bella’s sweet voice broke my trance and brought me back to the present. She slowly pushed her breakfast plate away, having finished her meal, while mine remained untouched.
“I am getting late for work. But I need to go home first,” she whispered while her eyes remained fixed on the empty plate before her.
“Okay, we will stop at your place first before heading to the hospital,” I nodded while sipping my coffee.
“No!” she squealed. “I can manage. I will take a taxi,” she whispered, her beautiful green eyes fixed on me as she looked through her eyelashes.
“I am coming with you, petal,” I asserted firmly.
She huffed but didn't protest.
I got up and grabbed my jacket. “Let's go!”
“But you haven't finished your breakfast,” she worried.
“You care?!” I smirked.
She rolled her eyes as she strode toward the exit. I followed her to the parking lot and opened the car door for her. After she slid into the passenger seat, I closed the car door and rounded the car, heading toward the driver's seat.
After taking my seat behind the wheel, I started the ignition, and the car zoomed onto the road. Within a few minutes, we arrived at her apartment building.
"I'll go and get my stuff," she said, preparing to leave.
"Wait, petal!" I stopped her, quickly removing my safety belt and getting out of the car. "I'll come with you," I said.
"No, umm... Why would you bother?" she murmured hesitantly.
"I've told you before, and I'll tell you again. Coming with you and caring for you doesn't bother me," I declared, pleased to see her cheeks turn pink as she averted her eyes and moved toward the elevator.
In that small elevator, so many emotions ignited in my heart as I stood with her. I could feel her hesitating under my hungry gaze, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from her. I didn't want to. She appeared nervous, her heavy breathing and trembling fingers, parted lips, and wide eyes were all evidence of my effect on her. Despite every fiber of my being screaming to close the distance and take her in my arms, I fought against the urge.
I didn't realize when the elevator door slid open with a ding. She swiftly stepped out, hurrying toward her apartment. As I looked around, something seemed off. The CCTV camera in the corridor appeared to be malfunctioning, and there were some random shoe prints visible on the floor.
"Bella, wait!" I called out as I grabbed her arm and pulled her behind me, stopping her from opening her apartment door. She had already input the passcode and unlocked it.
I motioned for her to stay behind me while I opened her apartment and frowned when I saw signs of intrusion. I promptly pulled out my handgun and sent an SOS text to Micah, who was following us in another car and waiting downstairs in the building. I quietly scanned the house, finding it empty, indicating that whoever had broken in had left before we arrived.
Micah arrived with more of our guards. "What happened, boss?" he asked.
I glanced around quickly before speaking. "Someone entered Dr. Bella's house without her permission."
"Is there any sign of theft?" Micah inquired.
"Petal, please check your belongings," I requested.
She carefully examined her things before opening her cupboard and gasping. "Yes, all my cash, cards, and jewelry are missing."
Theft! But why only when she wasn't here? Who would have known about it and how to get into a high-security apartment? I gritted my teeth with the thought.
"Do you need me to report it to the police?" Micah asked.
"No," Bella almost blurted out. "No need and the stuff won't cost much. However, I will block the cards."
"But, Petal, it was very dangerous. I'm even scared to think about what if you were in the house last night. Thank God, you were at my house," I said, and she turned crimson red as her wide eyes snapped at me.
Then I realized she hesitated at the mention of the events of last night in the presence of Micah. I signalled him to stay outside. He nodded before taking all my men with him and closing the door behind him.
"I don't want more stress," she said before licking her full, red lips. "And… I've informed Dad, and he's coming here."
"You what?!" I snapped.
"Dad is coming," she repeated in a hushed voice.
Fuck! Uncle Matteo was coming?!
"Okay! Let's go to my place then,” I said, offering my hand to her.
"No, Dad instructed me to stay here, and don't worry, I told him you're with me, so he's not sending his men," she explained.
My heart pounded with unknown fear and my mind was anxious as we waited for Uncle Matteo to arrive. Bella made coffee for us while I made some calls to cancel all my appointments for the day.
In two hours, Uncle Matteo was at Bella's apartment and issued the order I had feared to hear.
"Bella, pack your things. I'm not letting you stay here alone," Uncle Matteo instructed.
"But Dad, I can't just leave like that. I have my job and life here," Bella protested, and a spark of hope arose in my heart.
"I don't give a damn about anything. You're not safe here," he said, glaring at me. I shrugged at him, clueless about what I had done wrong now.
I knew I didn't have a good reputation, but I had heard about Uncle Matteo, and he wasn't a saint before marrying Bella's mom, Aunt Anna. In fact, he was even more scandalous than me.
"The jet is waiting for us, and we're leaving for Florence right now," Uncle Matteo dictated.
Bella looked conflicted for a few minutes before disappearing into her room. She emerged within five minutes with a small trolley bag. So she was actually leaving. A man came and took Bella's luggage while Uncle Matteo nodded to her, caressing her head.
No! Someone, please tell me that this isn't true and she's not leaving me again.
I felt like hitting someone so hard in anger and frustration.
Why was my fate always so cruel, parting me from the only woman I wanted to be with?
I watched in despair as Uncle Matteo led Bella out, not even giving me a chance to talk to her.
- Writer
