A Thousand Ways To Say I Love You

CHAPTER LXXIII

Isabella slowly opened her eyes, the bright lights of the hospital room momentarily blinding her. Blinking away the haze, she focused on the familiar figure slumped beside her bed. It was Matteo, his head resting on the edge of the mattress, his dark hair tousled and a look of deep worry etched across his face.

Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. Memories flooded back—Carter, the struggle, the injection, the police sirens. A wave of anxiety washed over her as she tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in her head made her wince.

“Bella?” Matteo’s voice was hoarse as he stirred, lifting his head at the sound of her movement. His eyes widened with concern as he saw her awake. “You’re okay!”

She could see the relief in his expression, but confusion quickly followed. “What happened? How did I get here?” she asked, her voice weak.

Matteo quickly stood, moving to her side and gently taking her hand. “You passed out after Carter attacked you. Thank God that I arrive with the police just in time, and brought you here. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”

“Carter…” Isabella started, her voice trembling. “He tried to—”

“I know.” Matteo interrupted, his grip tightening around her hand. “But he’s in custody now. You’re safe.”

Tears pooled in Isabella's eyes as the weight of her experiences washed over her. “I didn’t want to be a burden to you, Matteo. I thought—”

“Don’t.” Matteo’s voice was firm yet gentle. “You’re never a burden to me. You’ve always been important to me, more than you know.” He brushed a stray hair from her face, his touch sending a shiver down her spine.

“I was scared,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Scared of what he would do and scared of not being able to meet you again.”

Matteo’s expression turned serious. “I’m sorry for everything, Isabella. For the secrets, for my past, our past. I never wanted to drag you but I couldn't contain it after meeting you I got hope Bella, you always give me hope,”

Isabella studied his face, searching for any sign of the truth he had hidden from her. “You could have told me,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “About your father…about everything.”

“I know, and I regret not being honest with you sooner. I thought I was protecting you from the truth, but I only ended up pushing you away.” Matteo looked down, guilt written all over his features.

“Matteo, I want to understand,” she said softly, her heart aching for the boy she once knew and the man he had become. “I want to know everything.”

He looked back up at her, determination in his eyes. “Then I’ll tell you. All of it. But first, you need to rest and heal.”

Isabella nodded, comforted by his presence. She felt safe with him, despite everything that had happened. In that moment, she realized that their connection was stronger than any secrets or misunderstandings.

“Promise?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“Promise,” he said, sealing it with a gentle squeeze of her hand. As she closed her eyes again, letting the exhaustion take over, she felt a flicker of hope—hope for healing, hope for understanding, and hope for the future they could still have together.

As Isabella lay back against her pillows, still processing everything that had happened, the door to her hospital room creaked open, and in walked Dr. Emily, her cheerful demeanor lighting up the room. Isabella felt a flush of embarrassment wash over her at the thought of Matteo bringing her to her own hospital. She mouthed him "You should have taken me to other hospitals, why here?" And he mouthed back "it was the closest one,"

“Hey there, sleepyhead! Looks like you finally decided to wake up,” Dr. Emily said with a smile, her eyes sparkling with warmth. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay,” Isabella replied, managing a weak smile. “Just a bit embarrassed that I’m here in my own hospital.”

Dr. Emily chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. “Oh, don’t be! This is actually a first for me—treating a doctor in the hospital. I should start charging you for my services!” She winked playfully, and Isabella couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in her chest easing a little.

Matteo, still standing by Isabella’s side, relaxed slightly at the friendly banter.

“Alright, let’s check you out,” Dr. Emily said, moving closer to Isabella’s bedside. She began her examination, carefully checking her vitals and asking questions about how she was feeling. “Everything seems to be looking good. Just a mild concussion from the stress and whatever that jerk injected you with, but we’ll monitor you for a bit longer to make sure you’re stable.”

Isabella nodded, still feeling a little shaken but grateful for the care. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done, Dr. Emily.”

“Of course! It’s my job, and I’m happy to help.” Dr. Emily stepped back, crossing her arms and looking thoughtful. “But I have to say, you have quite a handsome boyfriend, not like my fat husband, and it’s also nice to see you smiling again. I could see how much this situation was weighing on you. Uiii uiii take care of her or else... you know I could have inject you with 50 dose of chloroform” she pointed her index finger at Matteo

Isabella glanced at Matteo, who was watching her with a look of quiet admiration before replying to Dr Emily “I’m working on it, and I'll take good care of her.”

Dr. Emily’s expression shifted to one of professionalism. “Alright, based on your progress, I’m going to discharge you tommorow for now rest, but I want you to take it easy for a few days. No late nights at the hospital, no stress. Just rest and recover.”

“Thank you, Dr. Emily,” Isabella said, relief washing over her. “I’ll follow your orders.”

“Good! And I’ll make sure to check in on you to see how you’re doing,” Dr. Emily added with a smile, jotting down some notes in Isabella’s chart. “Just remember, if you feel any unusual symptoms, don’t hesitate to come back.”

Once the discharge paperwork was completed, Dr. Emily turned back to Isabella, her tone turning more serious. “And Isabella, if you ever need to talk or need support, I’m here for you, too. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

Isabella nodded, grateful for her friend’s support. “I really appreciate it, Emily. I might take you up on that.”

With a final smile, Dr. Emily stepped out of the room to finalize the paperwork, leaving Isabella and Matteo alone again.

As Isabella got up to change into her clothes, she felt a sudden wave of vulnerability wash over her. “I can’t believe I ended up in my own hospital,” she murmured, looking at Matteo, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a soft smile on his face.

“It just means you have a lot of people who care about you,” he replied gently. “And I’ll always be one of them.”

Feeling a mix of gratitude and warmth, Isabella finished dressing, her heart swelling with hope. She glanced at Matteo, ready to face whatever came next. With him by her side, she felt stronger than before, ready to tackle the challenges ahead.