Even though I was all of the above, I didn’t want him to think that. Maybe he already did, but this truth would only make it worse.
Maddie soothed me gently. “I won’t say anything. It’s okay. Calm down. It’s okay.”
“Promise,” I whispered, my breathing harsh.
“I promise.”
Maddie rubbed my hands and then nodded toward the bathroom. “Why don’t you go take a hot bath? I have to go help Mom with lunch, and then I will come right back up.”
“Okay,” I agreed, realizing I needed that. She nodded and waited for me to get off the bed first before doing the same.
“I’ll see you later,” she said with a smile.
Nodding, I went into the bathroom. I closed the door behind me and opened the tap, letting the tub fill with water. I shrugged off my nightgown and twisted my hair up in a tight bun.
After the tub filled, I climbed in and let the water surround my cold body. I made sure my arms were on the edge and not submerged in the water. The doctor said I shouldn’t get my stitches soaked or they might get infected.
The warmth started to penetrate my pores and I relaxed and closed my eyes. It felt so good. I didn’t know how long I stayed like that, but when the water started to get cold, I washed up and stepped out, quickly wrapping the towel around my body, and keeping the cold air away.
I quickly got dressed and walked out of the bathroom. As I made my way toward my bed, something on it caught my eye. My steps faltered and I let out a gasp.
Alessio’s jacket. Running toward it, I stopped in front of my bed and grabbed the jacket, pulling it to my chest. My fingers were wrapped tightly around the fabric, my breathing hard as I tried to wrap my head around this.
I looked down at it, my mind, breathing, and body instinctively calming.
Maddie.
It must have been her. That was the only option. Happy tears blinded my vision, and I sent a silent thank you to her.
Thank you. Oh, thank you so much.
I couldn’t wait to see her so I could thank her in person. It felt like she had given me my life back. My peace. This was all I needed.
I was holding the jacket tightly to my chest when I heard a knock on the door. My body stiffened at the sound and I lurched forward, pulling my pillow up so that I could hide the jacket underneath. Straightening back up, I called out softly, “Come in.”
The door opened to reveal Alessio. My heart stuttered at the sight. He walked inside but didn’t close to the door, instead staying in the doorway.
“Are you busy right now?” he asked.
I shook my head and he nodded, looking satisfied with my response.
“Come. I want to show you something,” he ordered gently.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion and I didn’t move.
Alessio took a step forward. “Do you not trust me?”
I couldn’t believe he asked me that question. Wasn’t it obvious? Even though I shouldn’t trust him, I did. He was my enemy, yet I trusted him more than I had ever trusted anyone.
I walked toward him, my heart doing the same pitter-patter dance it always did whenever he was near. Stopping in front of Alessio, I peered up at him through my thick eyelashes and noticed a slight twist to his mouth and the faint indentation of the dimple on his cheek.
“I trust you,” I whispered.
“Good.” He nodded, the corner of his lips slowly turning up in a slight smile. It was barely there. So faint that I would have missed it if I wasn’t paying attention. “Let’s go,” Alessio said, turning around. He didn’t look back to see if I was following, but he knew I would. And so I did. Without any questions asked, I followed him.
We walked down the stairs silently, and when he led me outside to the back garden, my steps faltered. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“Just wait and see. I don’t want to ruin the surprise,” he muttered. A resigned sigh brushed across my lips and I nodded in agreement.
But I was curious. And a little giddy with excitement.
My excitement quickly evaporated when he led us into the woods behind the estate. As we walked further, I started to grow nervous. Leaves and twigs crushed under my feet as I followed Alessio silently. He appeared determined in his lead.
This wasn’t good. Not good at all.
My eyes went wide and I stopped walking. Alessio must have felt it because he turned around and stared at me expectantly.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, cocking his head to the side in question.
“Why…where…are we…going?” I stuttered in fear and panic.
“I told you, it’s a surprise. C’mon. We are almost there.” When I didn’t move, he sighed. “Ayla, trust me. Okay? I’m not going to hurt you.”
At his words, the fear slowly settled, but it was still there.
Stupidly, I followed him.
And when I finally found out what he wanted to show me, I was glad I followed him.
When the forest started to grow less dense, my eyes finally settled on an opening where light cascaded around the woodland, bringing life and beauty to trees that it touched. And faintly I could hear the sound of rushing water. It felt refreshing and I quickened my pace so that I was right behind Alessio.
Finally breaking free from the trees, Alessio came to a stop. I almost stumbled into his back, but quickly righted myself. “We are here,” he murmured softly.
My eyebrows lifted in question and I walked to the side, so that I was standing next to him. And when I finally saw what he wanted me to see, I gasped out loud. My hands came up to cover my mouth in shock, as I took the magnificent beauty in front of me.
“Oh my God,” I whispered in complete utter shock.
I took a hesitant step toward the stream that ran in the middle on the woods. The rocks glistened in multiple hues of brown, black, and red. The water running over them sparkled under the bright sunlight.
Beautiful and colorful wildflowers surrounded the edge of the stream. They were all different colors. Purples, yellow, red, white. They only intensified the breathtaking beauty in front of me. On the other side of the creek, there was a field filled with the same flowers.
The only sound I could hear was the water moving and the sweet singing of the birds. I was completely awestruck and speechless.
It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
My body felt light and free. My stomach twisted with butterflies and I smiled widely.
“This is so beautiful,” I breathed. I felt Alessio moving closer. He was so close that I felt his heat penetrate my body.
“It is,” he agreed softly.
We were silent for a few minutes, both of us basking in the beauty.
“I come here when I want to clear my mind,” he said. Tearing my eyes away from the stream and the field, I turned toward him. He was already looking down at me, his eyes glistening in the sunlight.
Keeping his gaze on mine, he continued gently, “I thought that maybe you would want to see it. You need it more than I do.”
“Thank you.”
This made me deliriously happy.