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My stomach lurched, and I rushed into the bathroom. To my surprise, Patricia was inside.
She glanced up at me, and dropped her head. “I’m sorry, Adelina. I was told to…”
I walked over to the double sinks. “What are you doing?”
Her hand trembled as she held out a smashed box in her hand.
I rushed forward and clasped it. It was my birth control pills. “What are you doing?”
Her expression turned sympathetic. “WhatMrs. Belfiore asked. I’m sorry.”
“I see. Please leave,” I said to her and kept the broken box in my hand.
I didn’t blame Patricia. She worked for them. But how dare my grandmother send her in to destroy my birth control. What could possibly be gained by this? Did they honestly think if I was pregnant Percy would keep Rocco’s child?
Or was it to make Rocco stay with me?
Rocco. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to block him from my mind. But all I could see was him holding me. Had he really used me? After all we shared together, could he truly be this cruel? My heart ached, and my stomach churned. Being away from him did give me some much-need but unwanted clarity—he’d pretended well, but our match never made sense.He’s a billionaire celebrity heir.He’ll marry an heiress with more money and a better name.
I swiped my wet cheek.
He has already let you go, Adelina.Guard your heart and move forward.
My birth control only had the placebos, and I grimaced as fear choked my throat. Had I taken one of them since I left Italy?
My mind was scrambled with arriving here and Cassidy’s visit.I saw myself taking them regularly. Or am I thinking I have?
I returned to the bedroom and did a quick search online. My stomach sank.Semen can live in a woman’s body up to seven days.I took a deep breath.Perhaps I’m paranoid. Yet, I needed to replace them.
But how? I had no way of getting out of here unseen, and I’d need my prescription…that Isla has.Shit. Isla. In losing Rocco, I no longer had access to her.But should I try her anyway? Would she help me, or would she have thrown me away too?All I could do was try.
I picked up my phone to text Isla.
Adelina: Hi, Isla. Can you pick me up something after the funeral?
Perhaps she wouldn’t mind doing one favor for me before I left. A few seconds later she texted back.
Isla: Of course
I took a few deep breaths and calmed down.I’ll be okay.But what if she tells Rocco?He’d think I was irresponsible or even worse trying to have a baby to keep him. I couldn’t care.It’s my problem now.
Despite everything, I would go to the funeral and say goodbye to Luca Marini. Whatever his reasons were, he’d been a friend when I needed one. That would never change.
At least I know Percy doesn’t like me.It’s better this way.We work as partners with a common goal and not get caught up in our feelings.But the thought of his family all smiling and laughing, all the time thinking of me as trash.I can’t bear it.But I knew I would endure. Resilience was still my superpower. Jacob and I would survive.That’s what matters.
I found a bottle of sleeping pills and took two. I needed rest to find a way to face all that was ahead. If I’d known the threat, I’d never have gone away or slept with Rocco. I’d fallen under his spell and gave him much more than my body. How could he throw me away?I never knew him.
Chime,my phone rang.
I let it go to voicemail, and two seconds later, it started ringing again. Someone was persistent.
I picked it up and answered without looking.
“Hello? Who is it?” My tone coarse.
“It’s Rocco.”
I closed my eyes, my heart pounding so hard it filled my ears. His voice took me to that distant place where a different future lived. But now, reality had shattered those dreams. It was a painful realization that I had to accept.