FATE AND DESIRE

Chapter 22

Do comment guys!! I updated after so long😭

Zara's POV

Mia and I talked so much that last night so I woke up later than usual today, feeling a strange absence beside me. The first thing I noticed was the empty, cold side of the bed, as I had seen last night, where Vittorio should have been by now, but there was no trace of him. The warmth I had grown accustomed to was not there, leaving me with an unsettling sense of confusion. Did he not come back last night? Where was he? What kind of work is taking all of his time? A hundred thoughts raced through my mind as I sat up, running my fingers through my slightly tangled hair.

The silence of the room made the usual cosy feeling evaporate, leaving me feeling unsettled. My heart raced as I thought about where he could be. Was something wrong? Had he been out all night? A sinking feeling gnawed at my insides as I began to worry, I don't know why. I shouldn't be feeling like that because he is gone for work, not something dangerous.

"Vittorio?" I called out, glancing towards the door that led to his study. I thought maybe he had been working late and fallen asleep in there, but the silence that greeted me only increased my unease.

I swung my legs off the bed, my bare feet pressing against the cool floor as I reached for my phone on the bedside table. My heart pounded slightly faster as I contemplated calling him. Was he okay? Had something happened? The anxious knot in my stomach tightened as I unlocked my phone, scrolling through my contacts,  ready to call him, my fingers hovering nervously over his contact. A thousand thoughts ran through my head. What if something had happened? What if he wasn't okay?

Just as I was about to press his name, the door creaked open.  My heart leapt in my chest, and I spun around. There he stood, my husband. The sight of him brought a wave of relief crashing over me as I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding and nearly sank back onto the bed. He stood there, looking utterly exhausted. His dark hair was tousled, his shirt wrinkled, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes, evidence of a sleepless night.

But Vittorio didn't seem to notice me at first. He walked straight to the sofa by the window, his shoulders slumped, and sat down heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. His silence sent another ripple of concern through me. I couldn't just stand by. I hurried toward him, worry coursing through my veins.

"Vittorio...where were you?" I asked, my voice soft but insistent. He looked up at me then, his expression softening as he smiled tiredly.

"Good morning, Zara," he said with a tired smile, his voice deep and hoarse from what seemed like hours without rest.

But I didn't return the greeting. Instead, I let out a frustrated huff and the words poured out of me. "Don't 'good morning' me!" my worry turning into an unstoppable flood. "Where were you? Did you even come back last night? Why didn't you wake me up? I was so worried! You look exhausted, Vittorio. What happened? Is everything alright?" I couldn't stop the flurry of words from pouring out, my concern taking over. "I was so worried."

He looked up at me with that signature smile and watched me with an amused look in his tired eyes as if my blabbering was the most entertaining thing he had seen all day. And then, in a swift motion, he tugged me toward him, pulling me onto his lap, his arms wrapping around me like I was the only thing grounding him in the moment.

My breath caught, my heart skipping a beat. I froze for a second, feeling the heat of his body against mine, but quickly recovered, my pulse calming in his embrace. I opened my mouth again to ask more questions, but before I could say a word, his deep voice cut through the air.

"Relax, Zara," he murmured into my hair, his hand running soothingly along my back. "I'm fine. I was just busy with some important work last night. There's nothing to worry about, I promise."