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I blinked rapidly. “Yes?”
“Are you okay? You look pale.” My heart panged seeing his eyes still rimmed red. He hadn’t made a sound, but I felt his tears on my thigh last night.
“I…I have a headache,” I murmured.
He took my hand. “I’ll make sure you get some rest on the plane.”
I nodded.
“Thank you for last night.”
“Why are you thanking me?”
“Because you were there for me.”
I shook my head. “You don’t need to thank me for that.”
He exhaled deeply. “I believe I do. I left you in the house alone—”
“You went to help your family—”
“It still wasn’t right, and I’m sorry I did. I came as quick as I could,” he said, turning the engagement ring on my finger before gently squeezing my hand.
A lump lodged in my throat. He’d been considerate, though his family needed him just as much.
“You were there for me without question. It…meant a lot to me, Bella.” He leaned over, clasped the side of my face, and kissed me tenderly on the lips. They were so soft, and warm, I pressed in to linger. Rocco broke away first, with a soft smile that made my chest flutter, which I quickly admonished.
How could he behave as if nothing happened, knowing what Luca did to my family?No. That’s unfair.I don’t know anything yet, and now’s not the time or the place for questions.He was still my fiancé and in mourning. I need to act as if everything’s fine.
“Be careful pretending.”Luca’s warnings echoed in my head. I forced the thought away and leaned back against the cushions, closing my eyes.
Rocco kept my hand, rubbing the back of it soothingly, and I drifted….
“Adelina?” Rocco’s voice rose through my haze, and I blinked my eyes rapidly. His hands were on my shoulder, gently shaking me.
“What…what’s going on?” I mumbled.
He shot me a pointed look, frowning. “We’re at the airport.”
I wiped my eyes and sat up fully, turning my head towards the window. What seemed like only moments had been a jump in time. We had already parked on the airport tarmac beside his plane, which was open for us to board.
Without a moment to lose, Rocco took my hand to leave the car and we were instantly greeted by flashes of cameras from the press already on the tarmac. I quickly dug inside my bag and put on my sunglasses, while Rocco’s arm came around my waist, protectively tucking me into his side. A warmth spread inside of me at how he never failed to show me affection. Our steps quickened as reporters called out questions to our backs.
“Will you take over Marini Holdings?”
“Does this mean an end to your film production work?”
“Is the wedding off?”
Rocco didn’t answer any of the questions. However, the last one had my stomach taking a dive. What if the wedding’s off?If those documents are true, why wouldn’t I hope for it to end?
A surge of anger swelled inside me, fueled by all the trust I’d given Rocco. It would be cruel for him to cast me aside. But that wasn’t what was shown when I walked inside the plane. I had assumed my blank mask. And I was once again Adelina—ever present, ever resilient.
The woman I had to be.
Rocco’s mother, Olivia, rose from her seat, her eyes red and puffy. She kissed me on my cheek before placing her arms around Rocco.
“He was fine,” she kept mumbling repeatedly, as though trying to convince herself.