Page 35 of And Back

Valerie reaches across the table and places her hand on mine. "I've got time, Zoe. And I’m a great listener."

The kindness in her voice breaks down the walls I've been holding up. I take a deep breath and start from the beginning. "I didn't know who Ettore really was at first," I continue, the memories flooding back with painful clarity. "He looked so different... scars and all. But then I found out Ettore was Virgilio, my first love."

Valerie knows this already, but she remains silent, encouraging me to continue with a gentle nod.

"As you know, when I was kidnapped," I say, the words feeling like lead on my tongue. "It was Benedetto Messina. He took me as bait to get to Virgilio."

"Dante– I mean, Cesare, came to rescue me, but Benedetto took Dante in my place, and he ordered him to kill Virgilio," I say, my voice trembling as I recall the terror of that moment. "He wanted Dante to prove his loyalty in the most twisted way possible."

Valerie nods, but she remains focused on me, waiting for more.

"The day you dropped me off at Dante's house," I say slowly, trying to steady my voice, "I made a deal with him. I agreed to stay with Dante to save Virgilio's life."

Tears blur my vision as I remember the weight of that decision. "I couldn't let him die," I whisper, my voice cracking under the emotional strain.

Valerie stands up and walks around the table to pull me into a tight embrace. Her warmth seeps into me, providing a sense of comfort I've been desperately craving.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, I know how difficult this all was" she says softly, her voice filled with genuine sorrow.

"I didn't know what else to do," I admit, burying my face in her shoulder.

"You did what you thought was right," Valerie reassures me, her hand gently stroking my hair. “That is why I helped you.”

I pull back from Valerie's comforting embrace, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "Last night, Dante let me go," I say, my voice still trembling but a bit stronger now. "He told me he couldn't keep me there any longer."

Valerie's eyes search mine, full of questions. "What happened?" she asks gently.

I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Dante... he told me about Virgilio's betrayal."

Valerie's brow furrows in confusion. "Virgilio? What do you mean?"

I look down at my hands, which are clasped tightly together on the table. "Virgilio and Dante had a plan," I explain, my voice barely above a whisper. "A plan to use me as part of their scheme against Benedetto. Virgilio never told me."

Valerie gasps softly, her hand flying to her mouth. "Zoe, I'm so sorry.”

"I thought Virgilio cared for me," I continue, my voice breaking with emotion. "I thought he was protecting me because he loved me. But now... now I don't know what to believe."

Valerie reaches out and takes my hands in hers again, squeezing them reassuringly. "It's understandable that you feel betrayed," she says softly. "But maybe there's more to the story than what Dante told you."

I shake my head, the confusion and hurt swirling inside me like a storm. "I don't know if I can trust anyone anymore," I admit, my voice cracking.

Valerie leans forward, her voice soft yet firm. “Would you have rather been locked up at Virgilio’s estate, or did you appreciate the freedom to make your own choices? Because Virgilio didn’t come to get you when you decided to leave.”

Her question catches me off guard. I stare at her. The image of being confined, even in the luxurious comfort of Virgilio's estate, sends a shiver down my spine. I think about the freedom Dante gave me, despite the twisted circumstances. The chance to negotiate my own terms, even if it was a façade of choice.

"I... I don't know," I stammer, but Valerie's gaze tells me she won't let me off that easily.

"Think about it, Zoe," she urges gently. "You had a choice with Dante. You had some semblance of control over your own life. "

I bite my lip, the realization slowly sinking in.

Valerie nods encouragingly. “Virgilio could have insisted on taking you back. So maybe he wasn’t entirely wrong in his actions. Maybe he wanted to give you the freedom to choose for yourself.”

Her words make sense, though they don't entirely ease the turmoil inside me. I take a deep breath, trying to process everything. "I guess you're right," I say reluctantly. "Both Dante and Virgilio did give me a choice. It's more than anyone else has done for me in a long time."

Valerie smiles softly, her eyes reflecting understanding and warmth. "You see? Sometimes it's not about what someone does, but why they do it."

"But..." I start, my voice wavering as the anger resurfaces. "I'm still mad at him for not fighting for me when I asked him to take me away."

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