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I groaned when I tried to open my eyes but couldn't. My eyelids felt very heavy with unbearable pain. Especially the left one.

"Hnngh.." I moaned slowly as I tried to touch my eye with my hand. My hand also felt a little heavy as something seemed to be attached with my hand.

"È sveglia!" I could hear some faint voices. It sounded like Robert.

"Chiama il dottore! Affrettarsi!"

It was Alex's voice.

I used all my strength and opened one eye and opened half the other one. I couldn't open it fully no matter how hard I tried. It was numbed in pain. So I just looked around with my one eye.

I was in a hospital room. My surroundings were very silent. As if I was the only patient in that room.

RUSTLE.

I looked at my right side when I heard a stifle sound of moving and my eyes met with Alex's. He was standing at the corner of the room, staring at me intensely with a mixed expression of anger and worryness which were covered by a calmness on his face.

"Alex, I..." I tried to speak but got interrupted when Robert bursted open the door, along with two doctors and a few nurses.

"Eccola qui. Per favore, sbrigati e controllala." Robert looked worried and excited at the same time. Soon those doctors and nurses started to flock around me. They poked here and here on my body and started to ask lot's of questions. I saw that Alex slowly left the room.

"Signorina, mi sente?" The doctor asked me. I just blinked at him a few times.

"Doctor, she doesn't understand english." One of those nurses corrected him as she pointed at a particular area of the documents she was holding.

"Oh, right." The doctor raised his brows as he seemed to remember the fact. "Miss, can you hear me?"

"Yes." I answered.

The doctor lit a tiny torch and focused it on my eyes. I blinked hard because of that sudden action then opened my eyes slowly. The doctor placed his index finger in front of my eyes.

"Please follow my finger." He started to move his finger and I followed.

"Everything looks fine to me." After some checkups the doctor looked at Robert. "But we still need to wait for the C.T scan results."

"But you just check her. So, can we hope that the result will be okay?"

The doctor looked with slightly scrunched brows.

"Hmm, I think we can hope for the best." The doctor looked back at Robert. "We should always hope for the best." He smiled slightly. "And if everything is okay, you can take her home."

"Grande." Robert shook his head in satisfiction. The doctor and those nurses took their leave. Robert looked at me with a wide smile on his face.

"Don't worry, the report will be okay."

"Forget about it." I closed my eyes because of the pain and shook my head lightly. "Where's Bella? Is she alright? Please tell me she is alright!" I was very afraid and very ashamed to look into his eyes.

"Don't worry...she is alright." There was a little pause in his tone. I opened my eyes to look at him. "She just got some injury on her arms and legs." He was scratching the back side of his head

"Really?" I let go a relieved sigh. "Can I see her now?"

Robert looked up at me without moving his body.

"Umm, now?" I nodded my head. Robert. He started to scratch the back side of his head.

"Now is n,ot a good time." He forced out a big smile. "Maybe later." My heart dropped a little.

"She is really fine, right?" My fingers fisted on the bed sheet tightly. "Be honest with me." Robert looked straight into my eyes. "Please." I pleaded again. Robert sighed.

"Doctor had to put her under sedation." A layer of sadness slowly covered Robert's eyes. "She...had a severe panic attack from that last incident." My whole existence shrank into a puddle.

"It's my fault." I lowered my head and pressed my nails on my palms until they formed some crescent marks. "It's all my fault!" I shook my head as I felt numb all over. "I should've been more careful when I was driving! I can't believe how careless I was...

"It wasn't your fault." Robert stopped me. I looked at him straight with guilt filled in my eyes. He was always nice to me no matter what. I wouldn't be surprise, if I found out that he was my brother in my past life.

"I know you are trying to console me, but..."

"Bella is not well." He leaned back on his seat and sighed deeply. He looked hesitant as his eyes were roaming everywhere in the room as if they were trying to find some kind of support. His fists were clenching and unclenching

"What do you mean?" I was very confused. His eyes finally landed on mine. He pouted his lips a little and started to nod his head with a very serious expression.

"Fine," Looked like he finally made up something in his mind. "I think I can tell you a little about Bella's condition."

"I don't understand what youre talking about." I was still confused but from inside of my mind I could sense something very serious.

"Bella has.." Robert started to talk but paused and looked at the door. "Should we wait for your result first." He pointed his thumb to the outside with a unsure expression on his face. "Just in case, you know."

"Tsk. I am fine!" I shook him off impatiently. "Just tell me already, what is it! My tummy is hurting because of all this suspense." I pressed the left side of my stomach.

"Bella has Agoraphobia."

"What's that?"

"It has a big medical definition. But in short it is something about people who only want to stay in a safe place with their closed ones. It's something like being afraid to go outside of their comfort zone."

"How long?" My chest felt tight.

"How long?" Robert laughed sadly. "It has been so long that I forgot for how long. I think it was around when she finished highschool."

"What...happened?" I asked carefully.

Robert pursed his lips and stared at me deeply. I could sense the inner battle again in his eyes.

"We decided not to talk about it. But...," he was still staring at me. "Can I really trust you?"

"You guys did a background check on me. Right now, you guys know about me more than I know about myself." The way he was hesitating looked like it was something bigger and serious than what I thought.

"Then we need to go a little behind." Robert started talking. "Alex's grandfather...

"That's way too behind." I couldn't hide the impatience in my voice.

"I am not a good storyteller." Robert gave me a shy look. "Just bear with me a little."

"Bella's mother was Alex's grandfather's illegitimate child. A daughter from wedlock. But he was not a womaniser or something." Robert quickly said the last part maybe because he was able to detect the ridiculousness in my eyes. "Martina was Lorenzo's lover. They were high school sweethearts."

"Then he should've married her." I gave him a scornful look. "Sorry, no matter how many excuses you give me I won't be able to normalise an extra marital affair."

"It was not that easy. Lorenzo was next in line to take over his father's business. He couldn't marry a girl simply because they love each other. In our line of business you have to marry just to strengthen your power."

"That just sounds like a crap excuse." Robert sighed.

"If he married her instead of Alex's grandmother, They would kill Martina." I choked. "It was and is very normal in our line of businesses."

I started to feel pity towards Alex's grandmother. Because of their parents selfishness she had to tangle in a marriage with no love or affection. Somehow she reminded me of princess Diana and her painful marriage. She must've felt like her. Then I realised I didn't know her name yet.

"What's her name?" I asked Robert. "Alex's grandmother."

"Sophia."

"Sophia." I repeated it. It was such a sweet name. "What about her? Was she okay with it?"

"What do you think?" Robert sighed. "I don't think any woman could tolerate the presence of any other woman in their partner's mind. So even though she didn't like Martina, she couldn't do anything but endure."

"But when are we going to talk about Bella?" I became a little impatient.

"Patient." Robert raised his brows at me. "I told you I am very bad at telling story."

"Fine..." I laid back on my bed. At that we might catch up with Bella's part at the end of the day. "Go on."

"Right, then..." Robert started again and paused. Then he looked at me like a lost puppy. "Where were we?"

"We are still with Alex's grandparents."

"Oh yeah." Robert scratched his head awkwardly. "When Alex's father, Leonardo, was six years old, Bella's mother was born. Aurora. But in the process of giving birth...Martina died."

'Oh no!' A soft gasp let out from my heart.

"After Martina's death Lorenzo brought Aurora with him to the main house. And I hope I don't need to tell you how Sophia would feel about it." I slightly nodded my head. She didn't oppose the idea but she didn't like it at all. Aurora grew up under Sophia's hatred and ignorance."

"What about Lorenzo?" I couldn't suppress the angry tone in my voice. "Shouldn't he be responsible for her daughter? And top of that he got her from the person she loved."

"After Martina's death Lorenzo was very heartbroken so he..."

"That's the most crap excuse I hate in this world, about the parents who use it after abandoning their own children." I cut him off rudely. Robert didn't know what to say, so he just forced out a smile.

"I don't think we should judge other people's emotions. Especially the sad one."

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes lightly. "What;s happen then?"

"Despite Martina'a hate, Lorenzo and Aurora shared a very strong bond. Alex was very close to his aunt. And then Aurora made the biggest mistake of her life." Robert looked out of the hospital window with a very distant look in his eyes.

"When Alex was eight years old Aurora eloped from home with one of our gang members. Leonardo protected her while he was still alive. Alex was also quite close with his aunt. After Leonardo's death It came to Alex's duty to look after her and her family." Robert kept telling the rest of the story with a lost sad look in his eyes. As the story continued my body slowly became numb and I felt like the warm blood in my body slowly froze on my veins.

Although Alex took care of Aurora and her family he never went in front of them. Aurora eloped with the person she loved to find happiness which his family failed to provide to her. That's why Alex couldn't face Aurora. But two years later Alex rushed to see Aurora when he got a call from the hospital. Aurora was dying. Turns out the person she went with to find happiness, was a real bustard. He spent all the money in gambling, drinking and hookers, Alex used to send Aurora. Not only did he live a despicable life but sometimes he forced Aurora to prostitute herself to earn money for him. And if Aurora refused he beat her up brutally.

Because of that type of lifestyle soon Aurora caught some nasty diseases. When she needed treatment he just called an emergency and fled. He didn't even wait for the medical team to come.

When Alex reached the hospital Aurora didn't have much time left. She was lying on the hospital bed, alone. Only her daughter was with her, Bella. Bella was only thirteen years old and didn't have any idea what to do.

Before dying Aurora asked Alex to take care of Bella. But that time Alex was only sixteen years old himself. Same age as Robert.

At that point my heart broke when I heard Alex's age. Only sixteen! That means his father died when he was only fourteen years old. I wanted to hug that fourteen years old kid so badly who took over a whole big organisation and so many big responsibilities, instead of going out with his friends and having fun.

Because of age related legal issues he couldn't adopt Bella at that moment. And also as Bella's father was still alive the legal procedure had to wait for three years. Until then she needed to stay under some foster care.

The whole three years Alex went to meet Bella every weekend. He never missed a single weekend. With the passing time and Alex's affection Bella overcame her mother's death and was very lively and cheerful. Alex contacted the best private school in London for her high school education.

When it was finally the day Bella was going to enter this family Alex went to the adoption centre only to find that Bella's father showed up before him and took Bella away. Alex was very angry with Bella's father, but he thought Bella's father might come to his senses So he decided to leave them be. But a few days later he started to feel a little bad as he couldn't say goodbye to her. So he decided to meet her and also handed over her school papers to her father. As for the money he already paid for three years.

The next part of the story was bone chilling.

The way Robert was describing that part of the story as if he was rewatching it in front of his eyes.

"Bella and father were living in an apartment in the worst part of the town. I went with Alex at that time. When we were about to enter the room a junkie came out. That piece of shit looked us up and down and spat on the side.

'Wow, even suited guys are coming for her. Well she is indeed worth of every penny.'

That swine said and left."

I could feel the wavering in Robert's voice.

"When we entered the room, Bella's father...I mean that fuckhead bastard was playing some game on his mobile. He didn't even look up at us and said..."

Robert paused and started to breath heavily as he was having difficulty to find words.

"'You guys have to wait for a bit more. The one she is with right now is still fucking her.'

I took a few seconds to understand what that bastard was saying. And before my brain could process everything Alex already jumped on that bastard and started to beat shit out of him. Because of that loud noise, the person from inside came out while zipping his pants. Alex let go of that bastard and pounced on that person and beat him into a pulp in just two seconds.

Bella's father took the chance and ran off. And I...I failed to catch him. Argh, dannazione!" Robert got up and kicked my bed's foot out of frustration. He ran his fingers through his hairs a few times then rubbed his face roughly. His eyes turned red in anger and the blue veins on his neck became visible. He pointed his index finger at me.

"Believe me, next time I am going to see him I will break his arms then throw him alive to the wolves in the woods."

I flinched a little. Robert came to his senses when he saw my pale expression. He tilted his head and rubbed his neck to calm himself down. He bit his bottom lip and looked at me apologetically.

"Sorry, whenever I think about it my blood starts to boil and reach my head."

"When we rescued Bella she was just like a dead body who can only breathe. It took us a few months to make her talk again. But she still stayed in her room, all the time. Alex got to know from somewhere that planting and gardening can help people who have some mental trauma. So he started to buy flowers and indoor plants to fill her room. And surprisingly it worked. Bella started to come out from her room. The Bella you saw, you have no idea how bad condition she was in."

"I am sure there is some treatment for her condition." I spoke up as I overcame my shock-state after knowing Bella's condition. "There are so many good doctors in the world."

"She still had seizures in front of strangers." He sighed. He walked back to his chair and sat down slowly. "You are the first, whom she talked to comfortably. That's why we thought about hiring you as her friend. Because I had a feeling, you are the one she needs the most. " He smiled a little. "And I am glad I took that call."

"Thanks." I smiled with gratitude. "And I am sorry, I messed up everything."

"Well, it wasn't your entire fault." Robert pursed his lip. "We should've let you know everything about Bella." He got out his phone when he received an email.

"I need to go." He got up. "Alex wants me." He put back his phone in his pocket and smiled at me. "I will talk to the doctor on my way out. You take some rest." He turned and was about to leave.

"Wait." He halted when I called him out. "How is Alex?" He started to scratch his eyebrows.

"He...he will be alright." then he forced out a smile at me.

"He is angry with me. Isn't he?" I started to pick the corner of my left nail.

Robert stared at me for a few seconds then walked back to me. He tapped on my right shoulder lightly. "No, he is not. Don't worry about that too much. Get well first, we will have plenty of chances to talk about that."

After Robert I tried to sleep, but couldn't. All I could think about was Bella and started to sob.

Oh poor little her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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