Isabella's POV:

Days blurred together, each one dragging on with the weight of my captivity. Although the Bianchi estate was beautiful, it felt like a luxurious prison. The gardens I once found solace in now felt like a gilded cage. Every encounter with Antonio was tinged with tension, and despite his attempts to bridge the gap between us, my anger and resentment only grew stronger.

One afternoon, I was sitting in the garden, trying to lose myself in the book I was reading. The sun was warm on my face, and the fragrance of the flowers around me was soothing, but it did little to ease my restless mind. I looked up to see a woman approaching, her confident stride and familiar green eyes instantly catching my attention.

"Hello, Isabella," she greeted me with a warm smile. "I'm Maria, Antonio's sister. I've been wanting to meet you properly."

I nodded, my curiosity piqued. "Hi, Maria. It's nice to meet you."

Maria sat down beside me, her demeanor kind but observant. "I've heard so much about you. Antonio speaks of you often."

I couldn't help the bitterness that crept into my voice. "I'm sure he does."

She sighed, her eyes softening. "I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. But there are things you need to understand about Antonio."

"Understand?" I scoffed. "What's there to understand? He kidnapped me, Maria. He took me away from my family, from my life."

Maria reached out and gently touched my hand. "I know. And believe me, I understand how you feel. But there's more to Antonio than you might realize. He's been through a lot, and his actions, while misguided, come from a place of love and protection."

"Love?" I repeated incredulously. "Is that what he calls this? Holding me against my will?"

Maria looked at me earnestly. "Yes, love. Isabella, Antonio is in love with you. I've seen the way he looks at you, the way he talks about you. He's changed since you came into his life."

I shook my head, trying to process her words. "How can he be in love with me after everything he's done?"

She squeezed my hand gently. "Antonio has always been focused on duty and power. He's had to be strong for the family. But you... you've brought out a side of him that I haven't seen in years. A side that's capable of love and tenderness."

Her words left me stunned and speechless. Could it be true? Could Antonio really be in love with me? And if so, what did that mean for us? My mind was a whirl of confusion and doubt.

"Thank you, Maria," I said quietly. "I'll think about what you've said."

She smiled, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Take your time, Isabella. And remember, I'm here if you need to talk."

As Maria walked away, I felt a strange mix of emotions. Her revelation had shaken me to my core, leaving me with more questions than answers. I knew I needed to confront Antonio, to hear his side of the story and understand his feelings.

That evening, I found myself pacing in my room, my thoughts a tangled mess. I needed clarity, and there was only one person who could give it to me. Taking a deep breath, I made my way to Antonio's study, my heart pounding with anticipation and dread.

I knocked on the door, and his deep voice called out, "Come in."

I entered the room, my eyes meeting his as he looked up from his desk. "Isabella," he said, surprise and concern in his voice. "Is everything alright?"

I took a step forward, my resolve firm. "We need to talk, Antonio. I need to understand why you did what you did, and I need to know if what Maria said is true."

He stood up, his expression serious. "What did Maria tell you?"

"She told me that you're in love with me," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "Is it true?"

Antonio's eyes darkened with a mix of frustration and vulnerability. "Yes, Isabella. It's true. I am in love with you."

I felt a surge of conflicting emotions. "But how can you love me when you've caused me so much pain? How can you expect me to believe that after everything you've done?"

His fists clenched at his sides, and his voice rose with a raw intensity. "Because it's the truth! I know I've made mistakes, but I did it all because I care about you. Because I love you, damn it!"

His anger took me by surprise, but it also revealed a depth of emotion that I hadn't seen before. "Antonio, you don't understand. You don't get to decide what's best for me. You took away my choice."

"I know," he said, his voice dropping to a quieter, yet no less intense tone. "And I hate myself for it. But you have to understand, I did it to protect you. My world is dangerous, Isabella. If anything happened to you..."

"You could have found another way," I interrupted, my voice trembling. "You could have talked to me, explained the situation. Instead, you chose to control me."

His eyes softened, and he took a step closer, his anger giving way to a desperate plea. "I was afraid. Afraid of losing you. I've lived my life in shadows and blood, but you... you brought light into it. I can't lose that. I can't lose you."

Tears filled my eyes as I listened to his confession. "You say you love me, but love isn't about control. It's about trust, and you never gave me that chance."

He reached out, his hand gently touching my face. "I know. And I'm asking for your forgiveness, for a chance to make things right. I want to protect you, but I also want to be with you. Truly be with you, without lies or secrets."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words. "It's going to take time, Antonio. I don't know if I can forgive you, but I'm willing to try. For both of us."

He nodded, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "That's all I ask, Isabella. Thank you."

As I stood there, my heart still heavy with doubt but also with a newfound sense of possibility, I realized that this was the beginning of a new chapter. Maybe I could talk more often to Antonio and get to know him. And maybe learn more about his past and help him face every difficulties. 

But in the mafia, not every thing is as it seems and each day grew in me a feeling I couldn't shake. You can call it  paranoia but I felt that something bad was going to happen sooner or later to us.

What a confession !