Page 66 of Frayed Bonds

A deep pit pools in my stomach as I realise I have no way to get the supplies for this art piece now that I've spent the deposit.

One financial meltdown at a time. Right now, my main priority is the payment for my father’s physical therapy.

Financial issues aside, Fabio also handed me a single tulip and a note this morning.

Another black card.

Don’t play games with me Valerie, I’ll always win.

These notes are getting closer and closer. He now even knows where I work but I’m not surprised, it wasn’t hard to figure out after the CFP dinner. The note sent me spiralling as I started to wonder if Mattheo was in Tevici or if he maybe had someone following me around here on his behalf. Nevertheless, Mattheo has always made empty threats just like his empty promises.

When the driver drops me off at the hospital I have to swallow back tears and sheer exhaustion, to not project any of it onto my fragile father. His surgery ended a few hours ago, so I’m hoping to pop in before he falls asleep for the evening.

Thankfully, due to my father’s time at the hospital, I've gotten to know quite a few nurses who have been the absolute sweetest.

“Hi honey, he’s not awake yet,” the elderly nurse says as I enter his ward.

“Yet? I thought he got out of surgery hours ago?”

“There were some complications during surgery, so it took slightly longer than expected. He’s still sleeping off the anaesthetic.”

I nod, feeling completely defeated now. The small joy of getting to see my papá after the day I’d had was the only thing holding me together.

But now, it all slowly feels like it's crumbling apart. I thank the nurse quickly before bolting towards the parking lot.

Thankfully, Caden is a lot nicer than his boss. He gave me his number in case I was ever stuck somewhere without a ride. I’m not sure if it was his idea or Ambrose's, but I’ll choose to believe it was his.

I can barely get the words out when I call him, and by the time I hang up, the tears are running down my cheeks in a race to see which one will fall off my chin first.

Caden is back before I can even pull myself together, so I slip into the back of the car silently and try to wipe away the evidence of my slight breakdown.

“Is everything okay, Miss Farina?”

I sniffle and nod. “Yes, Caden. Thank you for coming back to fetch me.”

“No problem, Mr. Vitale will have my head on a stick if I don't,” he says.

“Caden.”

“Yes, Miss Farina?”

“Whose idea was it for you to give me your number for instances like this?”

His eyes meet my glassy ones in the mirror before he sighs. “Mr. Vitale’s.”

I nod while more tears threaten to spill, and I have to cover my mouth to prevent them from coming out. The fact that even right now when I’m pissed off with him, he manages to be the only one here for me.

His kindness and small gesture causes an ache to fill my chest. It digs up every delusional thought I had growing up where I was convinced Ambrose and I were destined to be together.

I was so foolish

Ambrose only cares about himself and Vitale Holdings–nothing more, nothing less.

I thank Caden silently and exit the car.

The small jog I do up to my door comes to a halt when I see a large bouquet of pink tulips sitting on my doorstep. I freeze midway in my front yard and stare at it, maybe if I blink enough times, the mirage in front of me will simply go away, but it doesn't.

“About time you got home, I've been waiting here for hours.” My front door rips open and Natalia stands in the doorway, staring at me.

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