Page 203 of The Devil's Fire

I went to lie next to her, pulling her closer to me and caressing her body. Her eyelashes were wet, letting me know she had been crying in her sleep, and my chest tightened at the sight.

She had barely stepped a foot into my world and had already become a target. This wasn’t a life for her. It never was. I now understood why her death had to be faked.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as I held her close, fearing she would disappear if I didn’t.

Two days had passed, and I had arranged a funeral for her mother. I looked at Althaia standing next to Cara and Michael as they watched the casket being lowered into the ground. She stared at it numbly.

Since the day she woke up at the hospital, she hadn’t shed a tear. It was as if every ounce of emotion within her had vanished, and I detested every moment of it. I could see and feel her, but she wasn’t truly present. Her once bright and lively green eyes had lost their spark.

She was like a ghost.

The tan that once graced her skin had faded, leaving her skin pale. She wasn’t eating anything either and was losing weight. Only sometimes I could persuade her to eat a spoonful or two of something.

Cara couldn’t stop crying and clung tightly to Althaia’s side, seeking comfort. However, Althaia barely reacted, her gaze fixed on the lowered casket as it was gradually covered in dirt.

I glanced around at the people present; her father, his men and people that knew her mother. They were informed that it was a car accident, and her death was instant to prevent any further questions.

I kept my gaze on Althaia, barely letting my eyes leave her. Her legs gave way after they finished burying the casket. I moved instinctively towards her but a hand stopped me. It was Lorenzo, shaking his head at me. I clenched my hands but remained still. I turned my gaze back to Althaia, only to see that blonde bastard’s arms wrapped around her.

She needs to be with her family, too.

I kept telling myself and watched her go to her father for comfort. It was killing me to see her like this, and it was destroying me that she wasn’t seeking me for comfort. But this wasn’t the time nor the place to be possessive and jealous.

Instead, I stayed put and watched her.

Althaia had gone straight up to the bedroom when we came back. She had barely uttered a word the whole day, walking around with her eyes down like a lost ghost. She avoided everyone, not wanting to look at anyone.

Especially me.

She couldn’t look me in the eyes and always tried to distance herself from me, just wrapping her arms around herself when I stepped too close to her. I wanted to give her the space she needed, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave her alone.

I opened the bedroom door, only to find her sitting on the floor by the balcony doors. I stepped closer to her and sat down on the floor as well on the opposite side.

“I get it now…” Althaia said quietly, continuing to look out of the window. I didn’t say anything, desperate to hear her voice. “It does fuck you up in a different way. How…could I lose everything like that?” Her voice went into a whisper. She sniffed when tears made their way down her cheeks.

“I see her face everywhere now. At first, it was only when I closed my eyes… but now, it feels like she’s everywhere, haunting me because I couldn’t do anything to help her. I can’t look up because I think it’s her among people. And when I look down, all I can see is blood on my hands.” Althaia let out a choked chuckle.

“I’m not a killer… he wanted to do unimaginable things to me. I shouldn’t feel guilty that I took his life because he deserved it… but I can’t. All I see is his blood on my hands, no matter how many times I wash them!” She broke down. I went to her, placing her on my lap and holding her tightly as she cried into my chest. It broke me with every single tear that she shed.

“I can’t do this anymore. I can barely stand being in my own skin, much less endure everyone’s looks of pity.”

My heart hammered in my chest at her words.

“I can’t… I just… I can’t stay here. I need to leave.” She cried out in desperation. My throat went dry, and I swallowed hard.

“I can’t…” I whispered. She looked at me with her tear-streaked face. Her eyes showed me how shattered she was.

“Damiano… please, don’t keep me here.” Her hands fisted my shirt while she kept crying to me.

“Are you leaving me?” I wanted to ask her, but the words died in my throat the more I looked at her. I couldn’t bear to watch her like this; broken and in so much pain. I had no idea how to ease her suffering.

“I’m begging you…” She whispered. I couldn’t bring myself to say anything and simply held her in my arms.

Maybe for the last time.

After the sleeping pill had kicked in and Althaia fell asleep, I made my way to the office. Pouring myself a drink, I downed it in one go before filling the glass again. I moved to my desk, only to feel my heart drop at the sight of the red baby shoes. I picked them up before angrily tossing them across the office.

“You wanted to see me?” Arianna walked in just as I downed another drink and slammed the glass down on the desk. Placing my hands on the desk with my back still facing her, I let out a breath before speaking.

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