In the heart of a modern city, two rival families hold the power. Valentina, a fiercely loyal daughter, and Matteo, a cunning and determined son, find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous feud. But when their paths unexpectedly intertwine, th...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I couldn't believe how easily I folded. After everything Matteo had done, my brain was screaming at me to slap him, to tell him to get lost and never come near me again.
But as soon as he apologized, my heart overruled my mind, insisting I give him another chance. It was like my heart was winning this battle against my rational thoughts, and I hated how weak that made me feel.
As we drove to Matteo's house, I tried to push my concerns aside. He suggested we chill and watch Netflix, something simple and comforting. But of course, things were never that straightforward with him.
As we stepped into the living room, I was immediately struck by the sight, seated on the couch was a blonde girl, looking effortlessly pretty, her legs casually crossed, flipping through a magazine.
She looked up, her eyes locking onto Matteo's with an expression of surprise mixed with something else I couldn't quite place.
"Matteo," she said, her voice smooth and confident. "Surprised to see me?"
Matteo's reaction was immediate. "Camilla?" he said, his voice filled with shock. "What are you doing here?"
The woman—Camilla—gave a small, almost amused smile. "I thought I'd drop by. You know, catch up on old times."
I felt a wave of discomfort wash over me. The way they looked at each other, the familiarity in their exchange, made me feel like an intruder in my own life. Who was she? And why did she seem so at home in Matteo's house?
"Matteo," I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady, "I think I should go."
Matteo turned to me, concern etched on his face. "No, Valentina, stay. It's fine."
I shook my head, forcing a smile that I didn't really feel. "I really need to go home and shower anyway. I'll see you later."
Without waiting for his response, I turned and headed for the door, my heart pounding in my chest. As I walked away from the house, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over me.
Questions swirled in my mind. Who was Camilla, and why hadn't Matteo mentioned her before? Why was she here now? The familiarity and tension between them left me feeling insecure and out of place.
I reached my door, feeling a heavy weight in my chest. I knew I needed to talk to Matteo, to understand who Camilla was and why she was in his house. But for now, all I wanted was a hot shower and a moment to collect my thoughts.
I didn't want to be in a place where I felt so out of place and unwanted. As I was outside, I let the tears fall freely.
I was angry with myself for letting my heart overrule my mind, and I was hurt by the way things had turned out. I needed space, time to think, and to figure out what I wanted moving forward.
God, Val you're so dramatic.
As the water ran over me, I tried to shake off the insecurity and confusion, but the image of Camilla sitting on Matteo's couch, so at ease and familiar, wouldn't leave my mind. It felt like a shadow, casting doubt over everything I thought I knew about Matteo.
I needed answers, and I hoped Matteo would be willing to give them. But until then, all I could do was wait and wonder about the woman who had unexpectedly walked into our lives.
I changed into white sweat shorts and a dark blue crop top, trying to shake off the unease from meeting Camilla. I needed to clear my head, and there was something I had to do. Logan had been on my mind constantly, and I needed to make sure he wasn't mad at me.
Grabbing my bag, I headed out to my car and drove to the hospital. The drive felt longer than usual, my thoughts swirling with guilt and worry. When I arrived, I checked in at the front counter and made my way to Logan's room.
He was alone, lying in the hospital bed, still looking bruised and battered. Seeing him like that broke my heart all over again. I walked over and sat beside him, feeling the weight of my actions pressing down on me.
"Logan," I began, my voice trembling, "I'm so sorry. I... I never meant for any of this to happen. Do you hate me?"
He looked at me, his eyes tired and filled with pain. "I don't hate you, Valentina. I hate what you did to me."
His words shattered my heart. So he did blame me. I knew it. Tears welled up in my eyes. "Do you know how badly I wish it was me, Logan?" I grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly.
Logan sighed. "But it's not you, Val. It's me. And there's nothing we can do about it now."
Tears began to fall from my eyes, and I couldn't hold them back. I felt like I had ruined him. He noticed and gently told me not to cry. "You still protected me," he said softly. "You took the punch for me. You didn't have to, but you did."
I nodded, wiping away my tears, trying to regain my composure.
"I just want you to know that I'm here for you, Logan. No matter what happens."
He smiled faintly. "Thanks, Val. That means a lot."
For a moment, we sat in silence, the weight of everything hanging between us. Finally, I spoke again. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Just being here helps," he said softly. "Knowing you care means more than you realize."
I nodded, feeling a little bit of the weight lift off my shoulders. "I'll always care, Logan."
He looked at me with a seriousness that made my heart ache. "And I'll always care about you too, Val."
As I sat there, holding his hand, I realized that despite everything, we still had each other. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
AUTHORS NOTEE Who is Camilla? hmm make guesses guys!! Valentina and logan have a cute friendship Please follow my TikTok @heartss4bookss for more updates and content!!
