CHAPTER FIVE: A DEBT TO PAY
639 Words
Chapter Five: A Debt to Pay
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and faint traces of lavender. Isla stood outside her grandmother’s room, her fingers trembling as she hesitated before stepping inside.
The sight of her frail Nonna lying in the hospital bed, her chest rising and falling steadily, nearly broke her. But she was alive. That was all that mattered.
She walked in quietly, taking a seat beside the bed.
Nonna stirred slightly, her tired eyes fluttering open. “Isla…”
A tear slipped down Isla’s cheek as she grabbed her grandmother’s hand. “I’m here, Nonna. You’re okay.”
Her grandmother’s fingers weakly curled around hers. “You did this?”
Isla hesitated. No, I didn’t. But saying that would bring too many questions.
She forced a smile. “I found a way.”
Nonna’s tired eyes studied her, as if she knew there was more to the story. But she was too weak to press further. Instead, she exhaled deeply, giving Isla’s hand a small squeeze before closing her eyes again.
A wave of guilt washed over Isla.
Because the truth was, she hadn’t found a way.
Alessio Moretti had.
And now, she belonged to him.
---
When she finally stepped out of the room, Alessio was waiting in the hallway.
He was leaning casually against the wall, one hand in his pocket, the other scrolling through his phone.
The moment she approached, he slid the device away. “She’s awake?”
Isla nodded. “She’s tired, but yes.”
“Good.”
His gaze flickered to her face, lingering for a second too long. Isla felt a strange tension settle between them, but she pushed it aside.
“You should go home and rest,” he said.
Isla scoffed. “I don’t have time to rest.”
Alessio smirked. “That’s right. You have a debt to pay.”
Her stomach twisted. “What exactly do you expect from me?”
He took a step closer, his voice dropping to something almost teasing. “Everything.”
Isla swallowed.
“Relax, dolcezza.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a keycard. “I’ve arranged a place for you to stay.”
Her brows furrowed. “What?”
“I assume you won’t be able to afford your rent after paying medical bills. Consider this part of our agreement.”
Isla bristled. “I never agreed to live under your roof.”
Alessio chuckled. “Who said anything about my roof? It’s an apartment—not my home.”
She eyed the key suspiciously. “And what’s the catch?”
He leaned in slightly, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. “The catch is that you’re mine for as long as I decide.”
A chill ran down her spine.
She snatched the keycard from his hand, scowling. “I hate you.”
Alessio grinned. “You’re adorable when you lie.”
With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Isla fuming in the middle of the hospital hallway.
---
That night, Isla stood outside her new apartment, staring at the sleek, modern building.
She didn’t know why she had expected something modest. This was Alessio Moretti—of course, the apartment would be in one of the most expensive complexes in Rome.
She sighed, pushing open the door.
The inside was even worse.
It was beautiful, luxurious, and completely not hers. The sleek leather furniture, the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city—it all screamed money. His money.
She dropped her bag by the couch, feeling suffocated.
This wasn’t her life.
She didn’t belong here.
And yet, here she was.
Trapped.
Her phone buzzed.
She hesitated before picking it up.
Alessio: Get some sleep. Tomorrow, your real work begins.
She gritted her teeth.
She should have known.
This was just the beginning.
- Writer
