dedicated to @poppy0228 <3

Chapter 44

"My darling"

Lorenzo's POV

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The third day had passed, and Ria was still unconscious. Every hour felt like a test of my patience, my endurance, and my will to hold it together. The faint, uneven rhythm of her breathing was both a relief and a torment. Relief because she was alive. Torment because every shallow breath reminded me how close I had come to losing her.

Matteo had become her shadow, refusing to leave her side. He was an enigma, this little boy who had appeared in our lives with no warning and no explanation. He clung to Ria as if she were his entire world, and maybe she was. She was certainly mine.

This morning, as the sunlight crept into the sickroom, I found myself sitting by her side again. I hadn't slept much, but I didn't care. Mamma was bustling around, checking vitals, her calm efficiency keeping me grounded.

"She's stable," Mamma said, her voice gentle as she adjusted the IV drip. "But she's not out of the woods yet. Her body needs time."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

Matteo stirred on the bed beside Ria, his little face scrunching in the way only a child's could. When he opened his eyes, they locked onto me. For a moment, he looked lost, like he was unsure of where he was. Then his gaze shifted to Ria, and his small shoulders relaxed.

"Good morning, buddy," I said softly.

He didn't respond, just scooted closer to Ria and rested his head on her arm.

Mamma looked at him, a mixture of concern and warmth in her eyes. "He's very attached to her," she murmured.

"Yeah," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. "She saved him. I don't know from what, but she did."

Mamma reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. "You're doing the right thing, Lorenzo. For both of them."

"Doesn't feel like enough," I admitted, my voice low.

She squeezed my shoulder. "Sometimes, just being here is enough."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

After leaving Matteo to finish his soup, I found Leo and Luca in the kitchen with Mamma. They were seated at the counter, their hands covered in flour and their faces scrunched up in concentration as they helped her roll out dough for cookies.

"Ren!" Luca called out when he saw me, his face lighting up. He waved his flour-dusted hands in the air, scattering a small cloud of white powder. "We're making cookies for Vee!"

"Cookies, huh?" I leaned against the doorframe, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Think she'll like them?"

"Of course!" Leo said confidently, though his expression softened as he added, "She needs something sweet to feel better."

Mamma chuckled, wiping her hands on her apron. "They insisted on helping. Said it was the least they could do for their sister."

I stepped into the kitchen, ruffling both of their hair and earning a pair of half-hearted protests. "You two are something else, you know that?"

Luca grinned up at me. "We just want her to be happy again."

The words hit me harder than I expected, a lump forming in my throat. "She'll be happy," I said, my voice steady. "Because she's got the best brothers in the world looking out for her."

Leo's face lit up with pride, but then he frowned, his brows knitting together. "Ren, do you think she's scared?"

The question caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to answer. "I think she's been through a lot," I said carefully. "But Vee's brave. She's stronger than anyone I know. And she knows we're all here for her."

Luca nodded, his small hands gripping the rolling pin tightly. "We're gonna make her smile again."

Mamma placed a gentle hand on my arm, her eyes soft with understanding. "These boys have her spirit," she said quietly.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Yeah, they do."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the room in a soft, golden glow, I carried a tray of soup, bread, and water back to the sickroom. Mamma had practically forced it into my hands, insisting I make sure Matteo ate something. The kid hadn't had more than a few bites in the past day, his worry for Ria keeping his appetite at bay.

When I pushed the door open, Matteo was exactly where I'd left him—perched beside Ria, his tiny frame curled protectively around hers. His small hand rested on her arm, fingers curled lightly as if afraid she might disappear if he let go.

"Hey, buddy," I said softly, careful not to startle him. "Brought you something to eat."

Matteo turned his wide eyes to me, his expression wary. "I'm not hungry," he mumbled, pulling his knees closer to his chest.

I set the tray down on the small table beside the bed and crouched to his level. "I get it," I said, my voice low and gentle. "But you've got to eat, Matteo. You need to keep your strength up—for her." I nodded toward Ria, who lay motionless beside him, her pale face a stark contrast to the dark sheets.

His lips trembled, and for a moment, I thought he might cry. But he didn't. Instead, he lifted his chin with a stubborn determination that reminded me so much of Ria it made my chest ache.

"She'd want you to take care of yourself," I added, leaning in closer. "She's gonna wake up, Matteo. And when she does, she's going to need you."

He hesitated, his small hands clenching the fabric of Ria's blanket. Finally, he nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Okay," he whispered.

I handed him the spoon, and he accepted it with a shaky hand. He dipped it into the bowl of soup, the steam curling up around his face, and took a small bite. His movements were hesitant, his gaze flicking back to Ria every few seconds as if to make sure she was still there.

"Good job," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed to keep him company. "You're doing great, Matteo. She'll be so proud of you when she wakes up."

"Do you really think she'll wake up soon?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, meeting his tear-filled eyes. "I do. She's the strongest person I know. And she's got you. That's a pretty good reason to fight, don't you think?"

He sniffled, a tiny smile breaking through the fear on his face. "Yeah."

I ruffled his curls gently. "That's the spirit, buddy."

As he continued eating, I leaned back, watching the way his small frame seemed to relax ever so slightly. There was something fierce about him, something that reminded me of Ria—the quiet strength, the determination. He wasn't just surviving; he was holding on, for her.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

That night, I stayed in the sickroom with Ria and Matteo. The boy had fallen asleep curled up beside her again, his small hand clutching her torn shirt like it was the only thing keeping him anchored to this world. His face, smudged with dirt and lined with exhaustion far too heavy for someone so young, was pressed into her side. He looked peaceful now, the kind of peace that came from sheer exhaustion, not comfort.

I sat in the chair by the bed, my body heavy with fatigue but my mind refusing to rest. The room was quiet except for the faint sound of their breathing, a fragile rhythm that both reassured and haunted me.

Ria's face was still pale, her breathing too shallow for my liking, her chest rising and falling in uneven gasps. Her lips were chapped, her cheeks hollow, and her fragile frame looked even smaller under the blanket we'd tucked around her. But there was a strength in her even now, a stubbornness etched into every feature that refused to let go. Even in this state, she was Ria. My Ria.

"Come on, Ria," I whispered, leaning forward in the chair. My voice cracked, raw with emotion. "I need you to wake up. I need to hear your voice, your sarcasm, your ridiculous laugh. I need you to look at me like I'm the biggest idiot on the planet and then call me out on it. I need you."

I reached out, my hand finding hers beneath the blanket. Her fingers were cold, too cold, and I held them gently, careful not to disturb her. The bruises on her knuckles told a story I wasn't ready to hear, one of fights fought and battles endured. I stroked her hand with my thumb, desperate to convey through touch what I couldn't say out loud.

"I don't care how long it takes," I murmured, my throat tightening with every word. "I'll be here. Every step of the way."

I glanced at Matteo, his small body still curled tightly into hers. His chest rose and fell with each breath, the sound oddly comforting in the quiet room. His tiny hand clung to her shirt as if letting go wasn't an option. The kid had been through hell, and yet he stayed. He hadn't cried once since we found them. Not even a whimper. His bravery gutted me.

"You know," I said softly, glancing between them, "she's stubborn as hell. But you probably already know that. She'll pull through. For you, for me, for everyone who loves her."

The words felt both like a promise and a prayer, one I wasn't sure I had the strength to fulfill.

I leaned back, the chair creaking softly beneath me as I ran a hand down my face. The fatigue was catching up to me, every muscle in my body screaming for rest, but I couldn't leave. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Matteo stirred slightly, his small hand tightening around Ria's shirt as he whimpered in his sleep. I froze, leaning forward to place a gentle hand on his back.

"Shh, buddy," I whispered. "It's okay. You're safe now. She's safe now."

His body relaxed under my touch, his breathing evening out again. My chest ached as I watched him settle back into sleep. He trusted her completely, and by some miracle, he trusted me too.

"You're something else, kid," I murmured, my voice barely audible. "You and her. The toughest people I've ever met."

I turned back to Ria, my free hand brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Her hair was dull and matted, so unlike the glossy strands I used to run my fingers through. The sight of her like this made me want to break something. Made me want to find every single person who had ever hurt her and make them regret the day they were born.

But that wasn't what she needed right now. She needed me to be here, to stay strong for her.

"Sleep well, my darling," I whispered, my voice trembling as I pressed a kiss to her hand. "I'll be here when you wake up. I'm not going anywhere."

The room was quiet again, save for the sound of their breathing and the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Time moved sluggishly, each second stretching into an eternity. But I stayed. I stayed because she would've stayed for me. Because there was no other place I could be.

And as I sat there, watching the two people who had become my entire world, I made a vow.

I would do whatever it took to bring her back. To give her the life she deserved. To show her that no matter how dark the world got, there was always a way back to the light.

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˗ˏˋ Author's note ˎˊ˗

Heyy (✿◡‿◡)

Frrst of all thank you so much for my 8 dedicated readers! You guys means the world to me 🥹💕I love youuuuu ✨

Please don't mind the irregular updating schedule >< 

I have EXAMS 🥲😭😭

And kinda lost the spark a bit because of the workload soooo, again kind of a filler chapter. Promise the plot will continue from the next chapter!! 

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Question of chapter:

What is you favorite barbie movie?

Charm School 🥹

You can do it <3

*hug*

Byeeee

Izel

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