THE DEVIL'S ANGEL

chapter 21

### Chapter Twenty-One: A Fragile ReunionThe door to Isabella's hospital room burst open with a sudden force that made her jump, her heart skipping a beat. She had been drifting in and out of sleep, the soft beeping of the heart monitor blending with the gentle hum of the hospital around her. The peaceful silence was shattered as Alessandro barged in, his imposing frame filling the doorway, his eyes wild with desperation."Isabella!" His voice cracked as he rushed toward her, his face etched with panic, as though he had been running on borrowed time. His hands trembled at his sides, the usual stoic mask he wore as the feared mafia don nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a man consumed by fear and regret, a man she barely recognized.Isabella's breath caught in her throat as she blinked, trying to make sense of the scene in front of her. Alessandro looked different—unshaven, dark circles under his eyes, his clothes rumpled as if he hadn't bothered to change or even rest in days. The sight of him brought back a flood of emotions, the pain of his betrayal, the terror she had endured under Dante's hands, and the deep ache of abandonment.For a moment, she couldn't speak. She didn't know what to say. How could she possibly confront the storm of emotions she felt for him—rage, heartbreak, and confusion—all swirling inside her like a tempest?"Isabella..." Alessandro's voice broke again as he approached the bed. His hand reached for hers, trembling as it hovered over her, uncertain. "I... I came as soon as I could. I—" His words stumbled, and for the first time since she had known him, Alessandro looked vulnerable, raw, stripped of the power and confidence that usually defined him.She recoiled slightly, instinctively pulling her hand away, the memory of Dante's belt and whip still fresh in her mind. Her body ached from the injuries, the scars still tender and healing. How could he think it was that simple? That he could walk in here, desperate and disheveled, and expect her to simply forgive him?"Three days," Isabella whispered, her voice weak but laced with bitterness. "It's been three days, Alessandro. Where were you?"Alessandro flinched as if she had slapped him. His eyes widened, and for a moment, he was speechless. He looked at her, his lips parted as though he was struggling to find the right words. But there was no excuse that could erase the fact that he had abandoned her to the pain and cruelty she had suffered."I..." He took a step back, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I didn't know how to face you. I didn't know how to fix this." His voice was hoarse, his guilt palpable. "I couldn't come... not until I could figure out how to make it right."Isabella's heart clenched at his words. Make it right? How could he even think that was possible after everything? She stared at him, incredulous, her emotions boiling over as she finally spoke the words that had been burning inside her."Make it right?" Isabella's voice trembled with anger and hurt. "You gave the order, Alessandro! You told Dante to punish me, and then you disappeared. You didn't even stay to see what he did to me. You let him hurt me, and you ran away."Her words struck Alessandro like a blow, and he visibly recoiled, his face contorted with anguish. He sank into the chair beside her bed, his head in his hands, his body trembling with the weight of his guilt. "I know," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I know, and I'll never forgive myself for that."The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable, but it wasn't enough. Not after what she had endured. She had been broken, left to suffer in silence while Alessandro hid from the truth of his actions."I trusted you," Isabella continued, her voice thick with emotion. "Even when things got hard, even when you believed the worst of me, I still thought... I thought you might see me. But you didn't. You saw what you wanted to see, and when I needed you the most, you were gone."Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wouldn't cry for him anymore. Alessandro looked up at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, and for the first time, she saw the depth of his remorse, the pain he had been carrying. But it didn't erase the fact that he had failed her. "I was scared," Alessandro admitted, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I was scared of what I'd done. Of what I let happen. I didn't know how to face you, how to look you in the eyes and tell you that I had been so horribly, horribly wrong.""Scared?" Isabella's voice was filled with disbelief. "You were scared? Do you have any idea how terrified I was? How much pain I was in? And you were hiding because you were scared?"Alessandro's face crumpled, and he dropped his head into his hands, his shoulders shaking as he tried to compose himself. He had always been the strong one, the one who commanded fear and respect, but now, in front of Isabella, he was unraveling."I didn't know how to fix it," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn't know how to undo what I'd done. And I couldn't bear to see you... like this."Isabella closed her eyes, her chest tightening with a mixture of anger and sorrow. She had once loved him deeply, had believed in the man behind the mask of the mafia don. But now, all she saw was a man who had let fear and pride destroy everything."Alessandro," she said softly, her voice steadier now. "You can't just walk in here and think that saying you're sorry is going to fix this. You can't erase the pain you've caused. I don't know if I can ever forgive you for what you did. You hurt me in ways I never thought possible."Alessandro lifted his head, his eyes filled with desperation. "I know. And I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't deserve it. But I need you to know that I'm here. That I'm not running anymore. I will stay by your side, no matter how long it takes, no matter what it takes. I'll do whatever I can to make things right."Isabella's heart ached as she listened to him, but she didn't know if she could believe him. Trust had been shattered, and even though she could see the remorse in his eyes, the damage had been done.The door to the room opened again, and the doctor entered, his expression serious as he glanced between the two of them. "Mrs. Falconi," he said, his voice calm and professional. "We need to discuss your condition."Isabella tore her gaze away from Alessandro, focusing on the doctor as he approached the bed."You've sustained significant injuries," the doctor continued. "The physical wounds will heal in time, but you've also suffered considerable emotional trauma. I'm recommending that you stay under our care for an extended period to monitor your recovery, both physically and mentally. You've been through a lot, and it's important that we address both aspects of your healing."Isabella nodded numbly, her mind still reeling from everything that had happened. Alessandro sat silently beside her, his expression filled with worry, as if he feared what the doctor might say next."We'll take it one step at a time," the doctor said gently. "And we'll make sure you have all the support you need."After the doctor left, silence settled over the room once more. Alessandro sat at Isabella's side, his hand reaching for hers again. This time, she didn't pull away, but she didn't hold his hand, either. She let his fingers rest on top of hers, feeling the warmth of his skin, but the connection that had once been so strong between them felt distant, fragile."I'm not asking for forgiveness," Alessandro whispered, his voice raw. "I'm just asking for a chance to prove that I can be the man you once believed in."Isabella's eyes filled with tears as she looked at him, her heart torn between love and the deep scars his actions had left on her soul."I don't know if I can believe in you again, Alessandro," she said softly, her voice filled with the weight of everything she had endured. "But I want to. I want to believe that you can change."Alessandro's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and for the first time in a long time, Isabella saw the man she had fallen in love with—the man who was trying, even now, to find his way back to her.But whether that was enough, only time would tell.---This chapter captures the emotional confrontation between Alessandro and Isabella, as he finally faces the reality of the pain he has caused her. It explores the complexity of their relationship, filled with guilt, regret, and the possibility of redemption, while acknowledging the deep wounds that may never fully heal.

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