HER REVENGE

54

Lucia burst into Luca's room, only to find him packing his things. "You're really leaving me? How dare you?"

Luca turned to face her, a look of confusion on his face. "What are you talking about."

Lucia's voice rose to a crescendo. "Don't play stupid with me! You're leaving me and going to the state, right? You're going to leave me here? How dare you!"

Luca's laughter caught her off guard. She looked at him in confusion, anger warring with curiosity. "What's so funny?"

"Come and sit down," Luca said, tapping the bed next to him.

But Lucia stood her ground, shaking her head. "No!" she said.

Luca took a deep breath,  "I'm not going to the state,"

Luica raised an eyebrow. "So why are you packing your clothes?"

"Oh, Chiara didn't tell you about the vacation?"

"No, she didn't," Lucia said, her arms crossed. "I had no idea."

"Oh, I get it,You're here to stop me from going to the state?"

Luica nodded, her expression grim. "That's right, You're not going anywhere."

Luca looked at her,  "And why is that?"

"Because I love you," Lucia blurted out, then clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.

Luca's eyebrows shot up, and a smile played at the corner of his mouth. "This isn't the first time you've said that," he said.

"But I'm serious this time, I'm in love with you. Really."

A moment of silence hung between them, broken only by the sound of their breathing. Luca sat up straight, looking Lucia in the eye. "I thought you were still mad at me,"

Luica shook her head. "No, I've forgiven you," she said.

She started to turn and walk away, but Luca reached out and gently took her arm, turning her back to face him. He looked deep into her eyes. "I love you, too," he said.

For a moment, they just stood there, gazing at each other. "You do?" Lucia asked. Luca nodded, his eyes fixed on hers. Then, without thinking, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.Luica's eyes fluttered closed as she returned the kiss.
★★★
As Gabriel knocked on the door, Paola opened it, her hand poised to close it again. But Gabriel stuck his foot in the door, stopping her.

"Wait!" he said

"What do you want? Hurry up."Paola said

"Please,can we talk? Can I come inside?"

"No, I won't let you in. Please just leave."

"Please, just hear me out," Gabriel said, his voice pleading. "I promise I won't stay long."

Paola hesitated, her expression torn. Finally, she stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. "All right, you have five minutes,Then I want you out of here."

Gabriel walked into the room"You're pregnant,"

"What did you want"

"I'm sorry,I was stupid and I made a mistake, and I know it's not an excuse, but I'm so sorry. Please, can you forgive me?"

"Is that all? Please leave."

Gabriel sighed and turned to go. But before he could take a step, Paola spoke again. "You jerk, You're really going to leave, huh? You bastard, you're going to leave me with your unborn child?"

Gabriel stopped and turned to face her. "But you told me to leave,I was just doing what you asked."

"I was expecting you to keep begging me," Paola said, tears streaming down her face.

Gabriel smiled and took a step closer to her, then pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry."

Paola stiffened in his arms, but after a moment, she relaxed and sank into his embrace. "It's okay," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "I forgive you."
★★★
"I know you  will come and visit me," Rosalba said

"How are you doing?" Claudia asked

"I'm not doing well, How do you expect me to be doing well here? I'm not doing well at all, and I need your help to get out of here."

"My help? What do you mean, my help? How could I possibly help you?"

"You need to get me out of here, I know you believe that I'm not mad, right? I'm not mad. You can just tell them that."

"No, I won't, I can't lie to the doctors and say that you're not mentally ill when you clearly are. It wouldn't be ethical, and it wouldn't be right."

"What do you mean? You're my friend. You need to help me. I'm not mad, I swear. I don't belong here."

"I'm sorry, but I can't help you, You did something terrible, and you need to be here. I can't lie and say that you're fine when you're not."

"But I'm not insane!" Rosalba cried. "I'm not! Please, you have to believe me."

Claudia shook her head " you are "

"Hey, wait, so tell why are you here ?" Rosalba yelled "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have shouted "

"Whatever And I'm here to share some good news with you. I'm getting married to Luciano."

"Which Luciano?" Rosalba asked

"The same Luciano you always know,"

Rosalba shot to her feet, her eyes blazing with anger. "You can't marry Luciano! He's mine!"

"He was never yours! He is your  sex mate  that's all!"

"You...you betrayed me! How could you do this to me?"

"You're the one who's shouting!  You are crazy" Claudia spat

"I'm not crazy, You're the one who's being unreasonable!"

"How dare you accuse me of being unreasonable! You're the one who's being irrational!"

"You bastard!" Rosalba yelled, charging at Claudia, her eyes blazing. But before she could reach her, the nurse rushed in and held her back, struggling to restrain her.

"Let go of me!" Rosalba cried, trying to break free from the nurse's grip. "I'm not crazy!"

"Please calm down,I'm only trying to help." the nurse said

"Get out of my way!" Rosalba yelled, thrashing about. "I'm going to kill her!"

"Don't leave me, please!" Rosalba pleaded, her voice cracking.

"You know what?" Claudia said, moving close to Rosalba. "You deserve to be here. You deserve to be locked up for everything you've done. You killed Lillian, you bitch!"

"It was a mistake!" Rosalba sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "I never meant to hurt her. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"No, it wasn't a mistake, It was a choice. A choice that will keep you locked up here until you die."With that, Claudia turned and walked away, leaving Rosalba sobbing on the floor. As the nurse held her down

"Please don't!" Rosalba cried out, her voice growing more and more desperate. "I'm sorry! I don't want  the pills I am not mad I am okay!"

But the nurse ignored her, gripping her tightly as she forced the pill into her mouth. Rosalba swallowed, tears streaming down her face. She felt the world begin to spin around her as the sleeping pill took effect. She tried to fight it, but it was no use. In a matter of moments, she was unconscious..........