Page 50 of Velvet Chains

With so many things on my mind and the worry weighing me down, the flight seemed endless. I couldn't stop myself from tapping on the arm rest with my fingers and realized I had seen Isabelle do the same thing many times. She had rubbed off on me without me noticing, I realized with a wry smile.

I practically jumped out of my seat when the plane finally arrived at its destination. I left the plane and jogged through the airport, unwilling to let myself get trapped in the large crowd of people. Once I got out, I hailed a cab and urged the driver to speed to the hospital, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

“I don't want to get pulled over.” The driver said reluctantly.

“I'll give you this.” I said as I pulled out a hundred-dollar bill from my pocket. The money seemed to spur him because he peeled out.

The ride to the hospital felt like torture. I was already near her, but I still felt hundreds of miles apart from her. I could feel my fear growing the closer we got. All I could do was hope that she was okay.

Once I got to the hospital, I paid the driver and ran in. I went straight to the nurse at the nurse's station.

“I'm here to see Isabelle Mitchell my fiancée, she was brought in yesterday, she was in a car accident.” I said, my words came out jumbled because my brain felt the same way.

She looked up in confusion, before a flash of recognition showed in her eyes.

“Ah, yes. You are the father.” she said, simple words that turned my world upside down.

“The father…” I echoed numbly, growing dizzy at the information. I understood what it meant. Isabelle was pregnant. I was going to be a father. We were going to be a family.

The thought fueled my worry as the nurse led me to her room. Walking down the hall, I was reminded of why I hated hospitals, the sharp antiseptic smell that lingering at every corner.

When I reached Isabelle's room, I was met with a sight that took my breath away and made my blood boil. The woman I had been thinking about for the past few weeks lay pale and weak, tubes and wires surrounding her. A drip hung above her, feeding medicine into her. I had never seen her look so frail. I felt a lump form in my throat as I approached her.

“Isabelle.” I whispered, and her eyes widened as she spotted me.

“Vincenzo.” She said, but her voice sounded as weak as she looked. It made me want to pull her into my arms and never let her go.

I could see the question in her eyes. I knew she was wondering why I was here and how I knew about her accident.

I took her hand, and held it lightly. I had to be calm and strong for the both of us.

“I'm here now, I'm not going anywhere. Don't be afraid.” I said, and with that, I took a seat at her bedside. I didn't let go of her hand, I never wanted to let go again.

"You're here now." She repeated with a weak smile. Even in the weakness, I could hear relief in her voice.

My mind began racing now that I had a moment to gather my thoughts. Isabelle’s pregnancy had changed things. I was horrified thinking about how she must have felt, pregnant and alone.

One of her hands was placed on her belly, like she was cradling it. I couldn't stop myself from staring at her belly and thinking about the little life growing in it.

In that moment, I knew I would never let distance come between us again. I didn't know how we would do it, but I knew that I couldn't stay away from my family.

I also knew that I had to protect them. That was my main purpose now, to make sure Isabelle and our child would be safe.

As that thought echoed in my head, my phone rang. It was Pietro. I stepped out to take it.

“How's Isabelle?” He asked, and when I told him about the news of her pregnancy, he fell silent.

“Isabelle’s accident wasn't an accident. I found proof that Antonio ordered it,” he told me. His words were like water on hot oil, I felt anger bubbling up within me.

“Why?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“We think he wants to get you away from the city.” He responded, and if that was true, he had succeeded.

As we were talking, a message came in.

“That's exactly what he wanted. Antonio just sent me a challenge, a duel. It's tonight.” I told him.

“You can't go. It's a trap. That's why he got you there, so you would be far from home and without backup.” Pietro's voice sounded panicked. Maybe it was because he knew me and knew that I would not let go of any opportunity I had to get to Antonio.

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