Page 164 of Arianna

Colder than this fucking rain.

Not more than I hate myself right now.

Her eyes lose the beautiful light I’ve come to see shine bright in them the past couple of months, and I watch as the love of my life shuts down and covers herself with her armor.

The one that keeps her safe from the world.

The walls of steel she built around herself so no one could ever hurt her again.

You hurt her.

You’re just like her father.

No.

This is for her.

She deserves fucking everything, and she will accomplish all she wanted since she was a young girl.

I am not clipping her wings. I’d rather she hate me now than at the end of our road when she realizes she could’ve been more, could’ve been more than a child bride like the media is calling her. More than a mafia princess who was sold like she meant nothing.

She means everything, and she will realize it soon.

I hope that one day she comes back.

She finds her way back to us.

I owe her this.

And just like that, in the middle of a media storm, I lose myself. I lose my heart. There’s only one thing holding me above water, but I still feel like I’m drowning. The car speeds out of the gates, taking my heart and soul with it.

You failed her, Sebastian. Just like you failed your parents. You might not have killed her, but you broke her. You’re the same as me. Gabriele Parisi haunts me as I watch his daughter run from me.

Walk out of my life, taking my heart with her.

The grass under my feet is wet, and mud covers my shoes. The loud noises of the media outlets snap me out of it. I look up at the sky, close my eyes, and let the rain wash over me.

This is chaos.

This is hell.

This will be life without her.

I did say I would do anything for you, darling. Even let you go so you can be all you want in life, breaking my own heart in the process.

Find your way back, darling.

I will be here.