Chapter Forty-Three
Inside Antonio’s room, he laid Evelyn down on the bed with great care. The room, adorned with luxurious furnishings, seemed a stark contrast to Evelyn’s disheveled and battered state. Antonio began to undress her, his hands trembling slightly as he removed her dirty and torn clothes. He carried her to the bathroom, filling the tub with hot water. As he bathed her, he was meticulous and gentle, ensuring that her wounds were cleaned and her body was soothed by the warmth. He dressed her in clean, soft clothes, and for a moment, he just stood there, watching over her as she slept. His heart ached for her, and he cursed himself for not being able to protect her sooner. He had never felt so vulnerable, so powerless. When Evelyn finally stirred and opened her eyes, Antonio’s face lit up with a hopeful smile. However, his joy was short-lived. As Evelyn’s eyes focused on him, her expression hardened into one of anger and betrayal. The memories of everything Reina had told her flooded back. She remembered how Reina had claimed that Antonio had been unfaithful, that he had used her disappearance as an opportunity to indulge in his own desires. Her mind, clouded by the trauma and confusion, couldn’t reconcile Antonio before her with the man Reina had described.Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.
She pushed Antonio away with surprising strength, her fists pounding against his chest. Her voice, though weak, carried the weight of her accusations. “How could you?” she cried. ” I thought you cared about me,” Reina told me. She said you were with her, that you didn’t care about me at all. Thank God for the man who saved me!” Antonio, caught off guard by her sudden outburst, felt a surge of anger and frustration. He had done everything in his power to save her, to bring her back safely, and yet here she was, accusing him of betrayal. He grabbed her wrists, not to hurt her but to stop her from hitting him. “Evelyn, listen to me! I didn’t do any of those things. Reina is lying to you. I’ve been trying to save you this entire time.” But Evelyn’s rage was uncontainable. She struggled against his grip, her emotions a chaotic whirlpool of anger, pain, and confusion. She screamed at him, her words a torrent of accusations and anguish. Antonio’s heart broke a little more with each word. He wanted to shake her, to make her understand, but he knew that now was not the time for force. Suddenly, Evelyn’s body began to tremble. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed into his arms once more. Panic surged through Antonio. He scooped her up and laid her back on the bed, calling out for the house doctor who was always on standby. Within minutes, the doctor arrived, and Antonio stepped back, his heart pounding, as the doctor examined Evelyn. Antonio watched anxiously, his mind racing with thoughts of what could be wrong. He felt helpless, a sensation he was not accustomed to. His usual confidence was replaced by a gnawing fear for Evelyn’s well-being. The doctor worked quickly, checking her vitals and administering what care he could. After what felt like an eternity, the doctor turned to Antonio with a reassuring nod. “She’s stable for now,” the doctor said. “Her body has been through a lot, and she needs rest. It’s not uncommon for someone in her condition to have episodes like this. Give her time, and she should recover.” Antonio let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. He nodded, thanking the doctor, and returned to Evelyn’s side. He sat there, holding her hand, willing her to wake up and see the truth in his eyes. He would stay by her side, no matter how long it took. He would prove to her that his feelings were genuine, that he had done everything he could to save her. As he sat there, the weight of the night’s events pressed down on him. He knew that this was just the beginning. He had saved Evelyn, but now he had to win back her trust by telling everything that happened . And he would do whatever it took to make that happen. Antonio Bernoti, the feared and respected mafia boss, had found his heart, and it lay with the woman sleeping before him. Later that night, Antonio sat by Evelyn’s bedside, his mind replaying the moment she had lashed out at him. Her anger and pain were seared into his memory, and he knew that Reina was the cause of it all. The rage simmering within him reached a boiling point. He vowed that Reina would pay dearly for what she had done. Antonio stood abruptly and took out his phone, dialing Jacob’s number with a steady hand, though his voice betrayed his fury. “Go to Ricardo’s house. I’ll send you the location right now. Bring me Reina. Don’t waste my time,” he commanded, each word dripping with anger. “Yes, boss,” Jacob replied, sensing the urgency in Antonio’s voice. Without hesitation, he gathered a few of Antonio’s most trusted men and set out to complete the task. Meanwhile, at Ricardo’s house, Reina began to stir from her drunken stupor. Her head throbbed painfully, and she groaned as she tried to sit up. The room spun around her, and she pressed her palms to her temples, attempting to steady herself. As her vision cleared, she noticed Ricardo standing nearby, a smug smile playing on his lips. “What’s happening?” she mumbled, her voice weak and confused. But before she could fully comprehend the situation, Jacob and his men burst into the room. The men moved swiftly, grabbing her roughly by the arms. Reina struggled, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. “Ricardo, what’s going on?” she demanded, her voice rising in panic. Ricardo’s smirk only widened. “Bye bye, sweet pussy,” he said sarcastically, watching as Jacob’s men restrained her. Reina screamed and thrashed, but it was no use. The men were too strong, and her resistance only seemed to amuse Ricardo further. She was dragged out of the house and shoved into a waiting vehicle. The ride to Antonio’s mansion was a blur of terror and confusion for Reina. She could hardly process what was happening, her mind racing with fear. When they arrived, she was unceremoniously hauled out of the car and brought inside. Her legs and hands were tied, and she was thrown into a dimly lit room. Antonio entered the room shortly after, his expression a mix of cruel satisfaction and simmering rage. The men flanking him stood silent and watchful, ready to act at a moment’s notice. Antonio’s face transformed from a wicked smile to a look of pure anger as he approached Reina. “Well, well, well, you idiot,” Antonio sneered, his voice cold and menacing. He grabbed her by the neck, his fingers digging into her flesh. Reina gasped, struggling to breathe, her eyes wide with terror. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she tried to speak, but no words came out. Antonio tightened his grip, his face inches from hers. “I almost forgot,” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. “I know that one of my men was working with you.” His fingers dug deeper into her neck, and Reina’s vision began to blur. She could feel the blood pounding in her head, and panic surged through her. Turning to his men, Antonio barked, “Two of you, get me Albert, immediately!” His voice was sharp and commanding. Two of the men nodded and rushed out of the room, leaving Antonio and the others to watch over Reina. Minutes later, the two men returned, dragging Albert between them. Albert, a once trusted member of Antonio’s inner circle, looked terrified. His eyes darted around the room, settling on Reina with a mix of fear and hatred. He knew that his betrayal had been discovered and that there would be no mercy. Antonio released Reina, letting her slump to the floor, gasping for breath. He turned his attention to Albert, his eyes blazing with fury. “So, you think I wouldn’t know ,” Antonio said softly, his voice a dangerous whisper. “You’ve been working with her.” Albert trembled, his knees buckling under Antonio’s gaze. “Boss, please, I can explain,” he stammered, but Antonio’s expression hardened. “Explain? There’s nothing to explain,” Antonio spat. He stepped forward and backhanded Albert across the face, the force of the blow sending him sprawling to the floor. “You betrayed me. You betrayed all of us. And for what? For her pussy? For this piece of trash?” He gestured to Reina, who was still gasping on the floor. Albert tried to scramble to his feet, but Antonio’s men held him down. Antonio crouched beside him, his voice low and menacing. “You know the penalty for betrayal,” he said. “And you will pay it in full.” He stood up and nodded to his men. They dragged Albert to his feet and forced him to his knees. Antonio walked over to a nearby table and picked up a knife, its blade gleaming in the dim light. He turned back to Albert, his expression cold and unfeeling.