Chapter 35. The Loneliness They Both Hid
564 Words
Late that night, silence filled the luxurious mansion Elena now owned in Milan.
Soft golden lights illuminated the massive bedroom while little Isabella slept peacefully beneath pink silk blankets hugging her favorite stuffed rabbit.
Elena sat quietly beside the bed watching her daughter sleep.
A gentle smile rested on her lips.
Bella was her peace.
Her reason for surviving.
Slowly, Elena brushed Isabella’s soft hair away from her forehead.
“You’re all I need,” she whispered softly.
But once the room became silent again…
The memories returned.
Adrian.
The gala.
The way he stared at Isabella.
And the dangerous feeling that fate was slowly pulling them toward each other again.
Elena closed her eyes briefly.
Five years ago, she almost died because of that family.
Because of him.
Yet seeing him again still shook her heart in ways she hated.
Meanwhile across Milan—
Adrian sat inside his private penthouse instead of the De Luca mansion.
He rarely stayed with Sofia anymore.
Their marriage had become nothing more than a public image.
Cold.
Empty.
Perfect in front of cameras.
Broken behind closed doors.
Inside the luxurious private lounge, Adrian quietly drank whiskey while his best friend Matteo relaxed nearby.
“You’ve been distracted since the gala,” Matteo smirked slightly.
Adrian remained expressionless.
“I’m fine.”
Matteo laughed softly.
“That Belléna CEO is dangerous.”
Adrian looked up coldly.
“What do you mean?”
“She’s beautiful, powerful, intelligent…” Matteo shrugged casually. “Honestly? I already like her.”
Adrian’s fingers tightened slightly around his glass.
“She’s a single mother,” Matteo added with amusement. “Makes her even more interesting.”
For some reason—
Those words irritated Adrian immediately.
“She’s not your type,” Adrian said coldly.
Matteo smirked knowingly.
“And how would you know my type?”
Adrian stayed silent.
Meanwhile back at the De Luca mansion, little Leonardo wandered through the massive hallways looking bored.
“Mama?”
Sofia barely looked away from her phone.
“What?”
“Can I sleep with Papa tonight?”
“I don’t know where your father is,” Sofia answered carelessly while examining expensive jewelry online.
Leonardo’s small face fell slightly.
He rarely saw Adrian these days.
And Sofia herself barely paid attention to him unless cameras were around.
But outside—
She acted like the perfect loving mother.
Leonardo slowly walked toward the servant area arrogantly.
“You!” he pointed rudely at one maid. “Bring me juice.”
The maids exchanged helpless looks before quickly obeying.
At only five years old, Leonardo already behaved proudly and coldly like Sofia.
Ordering workers around.
Throwing tantrums.
Looking down on others.
Only Adrian’s mother occasionally tried correcting him.
But Sofia always defended him.
“He’s the future heir,” she would proudly say. “Confidence is important.”
Meanwhile far away in another mansion—
Little Isabella quietly woke up from sleep and walked toward Elena sleepily.
“Mama…”
Elena immediately carried her lovingly into her arms.
“What is it, princess?”
Bella hugged her neck softly.
“I had a bad dream.”
Elena gently kissed her forehead.
“It’s okay. Mama is here.”
And in that moment—
The difference between both children became painfully clear.
One child grew with endless love.
The other grew surrounded by pride and emptiness.
- Writer
