Chapter 8 – Old Wounds Resurfacing
1312 Words
The atmosphere in the restaurant suddenly turned tense. Selena could feel goosebumps rise just from the stare of the woman in the red dress. The crystal lights that once looked warm now seemed too bright, shining directly on her as she sat beside Leonardo. Her fingers shook as she held the fork, her back stiff.
“Leonardo…” the woman’s voice was sweet, almost like singing. “I didn’t expect you to have dinner… with your secretary.”
The way she said your secretary was full of sarcasm, stabbing Selena right in the chest. She swallowed hard, her mind racing. Secretary? Why did she say it like that? Do I look so low sitting here?
Leonardo slowly looked up, his eyes turning sharp. “Isabella.”
The name fell heavy from his lips. Selena could feel the shift—an icy, tense air. Isabella’s smile was faint, but her gaze traveled up and down Selena as if examining her like merchandise.
“Oh, so this is the one you always bring along now?” Isabella stepped closer, her heels clicking on the marble floor, sharp and cold. “Pretty… but too plain. You always liked this type, didn’t you?”
Selena almost choked, trying to speak. “E-excuse me, ma’am, I only—”
“No need to talk,” Isabella cut her off quickly, her eyes full of superiority. “I’m talking to Leonardo.”
Leonardo stood up, his tall figure towering over them, his dominant aura filling the room. “Isabella, it’s none of your business who sits with me.”
Isabella gave a bitter laugh. “Of course, it’s not my business.” She crossed her arms, smirking. “I’m just worried you’ll repeat the same history… like your father did.”
Selena froze. His father? What does that mean? She turned, seeing Leonardo’s expression suddenly stiffen, his jaw locked tight.
Isabella leaned closer, her voice dropping like poison. “Be careful, Leo. This secretary of yours might act sweet now. Remember, your mother once trusted someone too. And look what she got.”
Leonardo closed his eyes briefly, his breath heavy. Old memories flashed—his mother’s cries, shattered plates, nights of endless fights, his father’s face with another woman beside him. The wounds he had buried deep suddenly ripped open.
“Enough, Isabella.” His voice was low, commanding. “Leave.”
Isabella smiled, satisfied, as if she had successfully stabbed him. “I’ve warned you.” With that, she turned, her gown glittering under the crystal lights, leaving only the trail of her expensive perfume behind.
Silence. But it was the kind that suffocated. Selena looked at Leonardo, but the warmth she saw earlier was gone. His aura turned to solid ice.
“M-Mr. Leonardo?” her voice was small, careful. “Did I… do something wrong?”
Leonardo glanced at her. His gaze was not just cold, but completely shut off, like a wall she couldn’t break. “No.”
One word. Frozen.
Selena bit her lip, bowing her head low. What happened? Just a while ago, things were fine. Why did it suddenly change like this? Was it because of that woman’s words? Did I make him angry? Her mind filled with questions, but no answers came.
The waiter cleared their plates. Trying to ease the mood, Selena whispered nervously, “The risotto was really delicious, wasn’t it, sir? I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
Leonardo stayed silent, staring blankly at his wine glass.
She tried again, her hands gripping tightly on her lap. “If… if you don’t like the atmosphere, we can go home early. It’s fine, I understand. Maybe… you’re tired.”
This time, Leonardo turned to her slowly. His sharp gaze pierced through her, making her breath hitch. “You talk too much.”
Selena froze, her face burning. “S-sorry, sir. I was just—”
“Quiet.”
That single word cut like a whip. Selena’s chest tightened, her eyes stung with tears she tried to hold back. The warmth she felt earlier was gone, replaced by unbearable coldness.
The rest of dinner passed in silence. Selena barely touched her food, her head down, while Leonardo sat stiff, his thoughts trapped in the past Isabella had forced open.
The car ride home was heavy. The city lights of Milan blurred outside the window, but inside, the air was frozen. Leonardo drove in silence, his jaw tight. Selena sat in the passenger seat, clutching the hem of her dress so hard the fabric wrinkled.
She glanced at him, heart pounding, then finally whispered, “Sir… if I may ask… who was that woman?”
For a few seconds, there was only the sound of the engine. Then Leonardo answered curtly, eyes still on the road. “Not your business.”
Selena bit her lip, her chest tightening. “But… she seemed angry because of me. I don’t want you to get into trouble because of me.”
“You don’t need to care.” His voice was sharp, shutting her out completely. “Just do your job. Don’t cross the line.”
The words struck her harder than expected. Cross the line? What does he mean? She felt as if she was being punished for something she never did. Just last night, he had laughed at her silly words. But now, only hours after that woman appeared, his tone had changed—cold, suspicious, cruel.
Her hands trembled in her lap. She whispered again, almost begging, “Sir… I don’t know what she told you. But I swear, I don’t mean any harm. I only did what you asked me to do.”
Leonardo’s grip on the wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white. “I don’t need excuses.”
Selena’s eyes stung. “But… if I’ve done something wrong, please tell me. So I can fix it.”
He glanced at her, cold and sharp, then looked back at the road. “You don’t understand. And don’t try to. Just work. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Her throat closed, her chest aching. Why does he sound like I’m some kind of trickster? Does he really believe that woman?
Silence drowned the car again. Selena wanted to speak, to clear her name, but every time she opened her mouth, his cold glance made her swallow the words back down. She held her tears in, her body trembling.
Meanwhile, Leonardo’s eyes stayed on the road, but his mind was far away. Isabella’s words echoed, reopening scars he thought he had buried. He knew Selena wasn’t his mother, nor the woman who had betrayed his family. But fear, distrust—those things had taken root so deep inside him, they made him push her away.
The car drove on through the night, carrying two people side by side—yet worlds apart, both drowning in silence and unspoken pain.
The next morning at the office.
Selena came in early, hoping she could explain herself, though she didn’t even know what mistake she had made. But as soon as she entered, she was greeted by Leonardo’s cold stare.
“Selena.” His voice was heavy, almost like a growl.
She flinched. “Yes, sir?”
He placed a file on the desk and looked at her sharply. “I don’t like games.”
“Games?” Selena blinked, confused. “What do you mean, sir?”
“Don’t pretend to be innocent. I’ve seen enough tricks like that.”
Her heart pounded. “I… I truly don’t understand.”
Leonardo stepped closer, standing right in front of her. His eyes pierced into hers, cold, full of pain she couldn’t understand.
“Listen carefully.” His voice was low, alm
ost a whisper, but it made her whole body shake. “Don’t ever think I will fall for your cheap tricks.”
- Writer
