Chapter7.
1301 Words
Lily's POV.
The sun has already warmed the room by the time I wake up. It casts a warm, comforting hue across the entire space. I stretch my arms out above my head and yawn. I must have been more exhausted than I thought. I did not expect to sleep so well. I sit up, rub the sleep from my eyes with the back of my hands and glance around the brightly lit room. A beautiful blue summer dress with a delicate white flower pattern hanging behind the door catches my eye. Isabella must have put it there while I was sleeping.
I tell myself that I'm only going to take a quick shower and get dressed, but the absolute luxury of the bathroom envelops me as soon as I walk in, and I simply can't resist the urge to take a leisurely bubble bath in the giant tub. I put on the dress once I'm finished and run my fingers through my wet hair before leaving the room. I follow the sound of Isabella's warm voice into the kitchen. She's bustling around while Alessio and Dante sit by the table. Alessio is reading the morning paper and drinking coffee. Dante looks to be lost on his phone. Alessio looks up as soon as I walk in. He has a strange look in his eyes. The left corner of his mouth curls up into a secret smile. I stand in the door, not really knowing what to do.
"Bambolina! You're finally awake. Come, come. Sit down. Eat." Luckily, Isabella turns around as well and scurries over to me. She takes me by my arm and ushers me over to the table. I take the chair next to Alessio.
"Thank you." I smile up at Isabella. She returns my gestures and walks away to fix me a plate.
"You smell nice." Alessio continues to sip his coffee casually. I didn't think that it was possible, but he looks even better today. I feel my cheeks flush.
"Thank you."
Isabella returns with a plate of eggs, bacon, crumpets, and fresh fruit. "Coffee?"
I nod my head eagerly. I'm starving, and my mouth begins to salivate at the smell of the food in front of me. I take a fork full of eggs and shove them into my mouth unceremoniously. "Thank you for the dress." I say through mouthfuls.
Isabella brings over a steaming cup of fresh coffee. "It was Alessio's idea." She gives me another warm smile and finally sits down at the table with us.
I look over at Alessio and realize that he's been staring at me this entire time. I almost choke on my last bite. It feels like every drop of blood in my body rushes to my face. I can feel my skin burning. He looks at me with that same softness in his eyes.
"You're welcome. It fits you like a glove."
Dante looks up at me for the first time since I entered the room. He gives a derisive snort and returns his attention to his phone. Alessio gives him the kind of look that could chill your blood, but he says nothing. Instead, he continues to read the paper. Isabella doesn't even look up from her plate, so I return to eating my breakfast as well.
The atmosphere is stiff and heavy. Alessio and Dante don't look at each other once, and no one says a single word. I finish my breakfast at the same time as Isabella. She stands up and takes our plates away.
It's now or never. I take a deep breath to steady my racing heart and shift uncomfortably in my chair. If I don't say it now, I know that I will lose the nerve to say it at all.
"I want to go back to my studio." I'm pleased to hear that my voice is so calm and steady.
Isabella almost drops the plate that she was holding. Dante looks up at me again. He has an amused look on his face. Alessio takes his time putting his cup down on the table and folding up his newspaper. I can't tell what the expression on his face means.
"Why?"
"Because I live there."
"You know that it isn't safe for you to be there right now, Lily."
"And when will it be safe again?"
"I don't know."
"How long do you expect me to stay here?"
"As long as it takes."
"I don't have anything I need, Alessio. All my stuff is back there."
"I can buy you new stuff."
"I don't want new stuff. I want my own stuff."
"Then I can send someone to fetch your stuff for you."
"Alessio."
"Lily."
I let out a sharp sigh and roll my eyes at him. He just stares at me. His expression remains unchanged. Isabella has gone back to cleaning up the kitchen, but I know that she's hanging onto every word. Dante is watching us like we're his favorite TV show.
Alessio is infuriating. I did not expect him to just agree with me and ask me what time I wanted to leave, but I also did not expect him to be so dismissive and stubborn.
"Alessio, please?" I'm beginning to feel a little desperate.
His expression softens slightly, but he still shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Lily. I can keep you safe here. You can't go."
I suddenly feel like I'm a teenager again, begging my own father to let me go to a party that some of the older kids are throwing. I hate the feeling. I despise it, actually. Alessio has no right to keep me here against my will. I am a grown woman. I make my own decisions. I am not his prisoner!
"I don't want to be here anymore!" I slam my palm down on the table with so much force that it stings. I ignore the pain. I push my chair back and stand up. It makes me feel bigger than Alessio. It makes me feel more in control.
"Lily!" Isabella exclaims in a reproachful tone.
I turn my upper body to face her. She looks a little disappointed in me. I don't like the idea of disappointing her, but I'm angry. This is not my home. I don't belong here.
"What? It's the truth. I'm sorry if it's not nice, but I don't belong here. I never should have come here in the first place." "I want to go back home!" I fold my arms across my chest in a show of defiance.
A long silence stretches out across the room as I wait for Alessio to say something, but Dante is the first one to speak. "I can take her back to her studio." Of course, he's eager to get rid of me. It doesn't even surprise me a little.
Alessio rises from his chair. He towers over me and makes me feel small. He looks at Dante. "You have better things to do today." Dante looks like a child that's just been told what to do, but he says nothing. He swipes his phone from the table and storms out of the kitchen. Then Alessio turns to look at me.
"You're not leaving. I don't want to hear about it anymore."
I open my mouth to object, but he raises a hand to silence me and walks out of the kitchen.
Angry tears sting the back of my eyes. I ball my fists and dig my nails into my palms.
Isabella puts her hands on my shoulders and pulls me into a hug. I let the tears roll down my cheeks.
"Why don't you help me to clean up? I'll show you the garden after. I think you'll like it. We'll have some tea. I'll talk to Alessio."
- Writer
