My Angel

CHAPTER 32: WARM TO COLD

Alessio's pov~

      When Ayla brought the first aid kit, I didn't want her to see me like this- broken and in pain-so I ignored her. She saw enough already.

Emotions I never wanted to experience
were coursing through my body and self-l oathing took its place. Feelings were a sign of weakness. And I showed Ayla my weakness.

Whenever she was near, I couldn't think
straight. No matter how hard I tried to be
indifferent, she always knew how to break through the walls.When she played the piano, I saw my
mother sitting there.

The pain in my body reminded me of why I was in this position.
Alfredo. Whatever death he experienced, it wasn't enough. He shouldn't have died so easily.

The image of my mother's lifeless,
bloodied body flashed behind my closed eyes and the ache in my heart was almost unbearable.
All these years, I kept it in. I locked it inside of me, refusing to feel.

"What am l supposed to do now?" |
whispered to myself.
I had lived with one goal. To kill Alfredo, to end his family and his empire.

My revenge was on him. But the only thing left of him now was his family. By the time I was done, nothing would be left.

Every single Abandonato would be wiped
off the Eath. His allies. Everything would be mine.

That was my last thought before closing
my burning eyes. My restless sleep was
haunted by images of a black-haired, green-eyed angel, laughing and happy.

But far from my reach. No matter how hard I tried to catch up, she always slipped right through my fingers. Always leaving me feeling empty as
she faded away.

At some point, I heard the door open.
As the footsteps grew closer, my body
instantly warmed. I didn't have to open my eyes to know that Ayla stood in front of me.

Keeping my eyes closed, I feigned sleep as waited for her next move. I needed her far away from me. Her sweet smell. Her melodious voice.

She came so close that I could smell her
vanilla shampoo. Then she knelt down in front me and I found it hard to keep my eyes closed.

I wanted to see her. The total contradiction of what I wanted a few seconds ago.
My heart wanted her near while my brain
told me to push her far away.

Feeling conflicted, I kept my eyes closed
instead. And then her small hands were
holding mine. I resisted the urge to quickly pull away. She was so near. Touching me.
Control. Keep in control, I admonished
myself as Ayla rubbed her fingers over my bruised knuckles.

And then I felt something wet rubbing over the backs of my fingers. It stung and I bit down my lips to keep from
hissing in pain.When realization crasthed through me, my eyes snapped open.

I looked down at Ayla and saw her bent over my hand as she cleaned my
Wounds with an antiseptic wipe.
She took her time, slowly and gently
cleaning each knuckle, then the rest of my hand. She applied the bandage, then sighed and leaned away.

I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was so damn beautiful.
At the thought, my heart stuttered and I
swallowed hard.
Get a grip on yourself, Alessio.

And then she looked up, her eyes widened, and her lips fell open in shock. "Alessio." My name was a whisper on her lips.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed andit
made her even more beautiful. Moving my gaze away from her face, I looked at my bandaged hand.

"I.. saw that you didn't clean your hands,"
she stuttered. "I thought that maybe I could.clean them for you."
She had no idea what that did to me. She
cleaned my wounds. She still cared for me when I was harsh to her.