Dante settled into the chair next to her, the room filled with a tense silence.
"Can I tell you something?" Her voice was hesitant, a whisper of vulnerability in the sterile hospital air. Dante gave a noncommittal hum, his attention hers.
She breathed deep, gathering the shards of her courage. "She might never tell you this, but Zoey... she's not unbreakable. She carries the weight of post-traumatic stress disorder. I don't understand it all, but I see its shadows in her eyes. As her mother, I feel I've let her down. She was just a child when she saw her father's fury unleashed upon me. Have you noticed? She flinches in the dark, trembles at the mere hint of violence, as if death itself is on her heels."
Dante's expression tightened, a knot forming in his brow. Realization dawned; her fear, her trembling-it was all making sense now.
"Her father, now a man of wealth, left us drowning in debt. In our small town, his abandonment was public, a spectacle. She was mocked, bullied by children who knew no kindness. So, she built walls, high and thick, to shield her heart. She may seem formidable, but inside, she's fragile, broken. We couldn't afford therapy, and when we could, she refused, too scared to let anyone in."
Her eyes pleaded with him, a mother's desperation laid bare. "Dante, her father will return for her, I'm certain. When he does, please, stand with her. I've kept a secret from my children-I'm dying. Stage 4 cancer, and the doctors say I have less than a month. My last wish... marry my daughter. Protect her, be her strength. Please."
Dante's response was a quiet hum, a promise whispered before Zoey returned. They left the hospital in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Dante directed the chauffeur to look after Zoey, while he departed with Trent.
As they drove, Dante's mind replayed the conversation. "Recently, Zoey came home with a swollen wrist. Find out who did it," he ordered Trent.
Trent, ever the loyal aide, replied without missing a beat, "You should keep her safe, away from your crazy ex. She's the one who hurt her"
Dante's frown deepened, his voice laced with a fury that boded ill for Selena. "Take me to her," he commanded, and the car veered off, heading towards an inevitable confrontation.
Hie my lovely readers. I apologize for the length of this story as it is quite long. I'm used to writing stories that are about 700 or more chapters on other platforms. Should I cut it short? Note cutting it short will mean leaving out the second volumes of skylar, mia and keegan. Or should i just finish it whole? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Xoxo
Chocalatie
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The Billionaire's Sweet Wife
RomanceZoe is a kind and simple woman who works as an assistant for Dante, a cold and powerful CEO who has a five-year-old daughter named Chloe. Dante needs a wife to improve his image and his daughter's happiness, so he makes Zoe a shocking offer: he want...
