HIS

Chapter 21

Olivia's POV

Three months have passed since I moved in with Domenico to fully recover from what happened at the party. It's taken time for my nervous system to heal—those uncontrollable twitches the doctor warned me about lingered longer than I expected. Thankfully, they stopped about two weeks ago. Still, Domenico isn't ready for me to return home or resume my studies just yet.

I won't lie—every moment spent with Domenico has been a quiet kind of bliss. Just being near him, feeling seen and cherished, has brought me a peace I didn't know I needed. He's spoiled me every single day with his cooking, his attention, and all the little gestures that speak volumes. Sometimes, he'll just sit and look at me, completely unbothered by being caught. The way he looks at me stirs something so deep inside, it leaves my head spinning. A part of me is scared, though. I don't want this beautiful bubble we've created to burst. I fear that once I step back into the real world, this fairytale might fade into just a memory.

I wish things could stay this way forever, but I know I need to focus on my future—and that means returning to my studies. There's so much I need to catch up on, and I'm determined to succeed so I can stand on my own and take care of myself.

Domenico and I had a long conversation about how to handle the situation with Sophia. At first, I was completely against it, but he helped me see that if I didn't stand up to her, I could be putting my life at risk because she won't stop if she was willing to go to this extent. He reminded me again of how close I came to not surviving the party incident. I asked him to give me some time to think it over.

Sometimes I catch myself wondering if my dad ever thought about me. I know it's foolish to hold onto that kind of hope, but after being surrounded by the love and care of the Mancini's—Marco and his wife included—it feels strange that the man whose blood runs through my veins could live as though I don't exist. As if he never had a daughter at all.

There are moments when a deep hunger for revenge stirs within me, burning low in the pit of my stomach. But each time, I manage to quiet that flame with the compassion and love I still carry inside. I just don't know how much longer I can keep downplaying the gravity of what they did.

Dad, his wife, and their daughter have all lived comfortably off the legacy my grandparents left behind—a legacy my mother and I were never part of. Sometimes I think they need to learn a lesson: that taking what doesn't belong to you and treating others without dignity or respect, no matter who they are, is never justified.

I used to be afraid of my dad, always believing that if I behaved and tried to be the perfect daughter, he might finally see me—might want to be a father to me. I longed for his attention, his love, his acceptance. But that hope was nothing more than a dream that never came true. For the longest time, I thought I was the problem, that something about me made me unworthy of his love. Carrying that kind of self-blame is a cruel burden.

Meeting Marco changed the course of my life in ways I never imagined possible. To the outside world, they may be seen as cold or ruthless, but to me, they've shown nothing but warmth and kindness. With Domenico by my side, I feel safe—he's proven time and again that he would go to great lengths to protect me. If this isn't love, then I'm not sure I truly understand what love is.

Everything Domenico shared with me—from the moment he found me to when I finally opened my eyes—helped me see who my true family really is. It made me realize that family isn't defined by blood, and sometimes, blood means nothing if love and care aren't returned. His family came to visit me yesterday, and even though I drifted off into naps on the couch between conversations, they surrounded me with nothing but warmth and affection.

Domenico told me about the countless calls and messages from Mia and Tessa, but I haven't felt the urge to check my phone in the past three months. I don't hold any blame toward them. We're all adults, and they have their own lives to live. I can't expect others to put their fun on hold just to look out for me—they were simply enjoying life the way college students do. The real issue lies with Sophia, who deliberately set me up. I'll reach out to Mia and Tessa when I feel mentally and physically ready to face the world again.