Page 138 of Toxic

Her eyes flutter open, and I stroke her hair. "Morning, dolcezza." I kiss her on the cheek.

She turns toward me. Her eyes are red from lack of sleep. Her face is gaunt, void of her usual color and fullness.

More worry fills me. I stroke her back, cringing inside. She's barely eaten the last week, and I can feel her bones. It's like watching her wilt away, but everything I do to try and make her eat hasn't worked.

"What time is it?" she asks.

"Early, but the kids already left for the day."

She furrows her eyebrows. "Why?"

I tighten my arms around her. "Fiona has a meeting for the yearbook. Massimo picked Sean up for a morning workout. Do you want me to have breakfast brought up, or should we go downstairs?"

She shakes her head. "I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat, dolcezza," I demand, trying to keep my voice soft but struggling.

She tries to turn away from me, but I hold her firmly to my body.

"You've lost too much weight. If you don't eat, I'm having the doctor come over with IVs."

Her eyes widen. She snaps, "You'll do no such thing!" She tries to roll away again.

I cage my body over hers so she can't escape me. "I'm not letting you do this."

She pushes my chest, but she's weak. I barely feel it. Tears well in her blue-green orbs. "Leave me alone."

I shake my head. "No, dolcezza. I'll never leave you alone, and you already know this. Now, choose where you want to eat, or I will."

"I can't," she whispers.

"Yes, you can," I insist.

The damn breaks, staining her cheeks. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I love you. You're the most important person in the world to me."

She squeezes her eyes shut, choking out, "I can't be."

My heart sinks. Ever since she told me what happened, she thinks I can't love her and that I'm going to run. It's like the truth being out in the open gave her the impression I won't think she's worthy of my love, or I somehow won't want her.

I lower my face another inch so my lips are touching hers. "Open your eyes, Bridge."

She slowly obeys, sniffling.

"I'm going to tell you this a thousand times if I need to. You're my everything. Nothing that happened will ever change my feelings for you. Get it out of your head."

Her face crumbles, and her chest heaves. "I-I can't."

I sigh, wishing I knew how to take away the pain. I slide my arms under her, roll on my back, and hold her head to my chest. "I can and always will." When she calms, I add, "I made an appointment with a therapist for you. She's coming to the house at ten."

Bridget's head snaps up. Fear fills her expression. "W-what are you talking about?"

My chest constricts. I knew this was going to be a fight, so I adamantly order, "You will eat and meet with the therapist. If you want me with you, I'll be by your side."

"I'm not seeing a therapist!"

"You are. I don't know how to help you with this."

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