His Fake Amnesia, My Real Goodbye

Enzo paced anxiously outside the emergency room, his agitation radiating off him like a heat wave.

After a long moment, his voice cut through the air, sharp and unforgiving.

"Alessia! Is this really the time to argue? We were together for six years, and Sophia is your cousin! Are you just going to stand there and watch her die?"

I remained silent. What about me?

I felt like I was about to collapse.

I had just undergone an abortion.

I was still bleeding.

And here he was, demanding I use my family's resources to save his mistress.

The Swiss specialist the Rossi family has on retainer is a world-renowned surgical authority who rarely makes public appearances.

Even at my best, calling in that favor was a monumental decision, not one to be taken lightly.

Besides, why should I use my family's most important asset for a man like him?

Did Enzo not consider the consequences when he brought his mistress to a hospital controlled by the Rossi family?

Everyone knew that the best trauma center in the city was funded by the Rossi family.

Everyone knew we were engaged.

The marriage of a Rossi and a De Luca was supposed to reshape the power dynamics of Chicago.

But for the sake of my cousin, he had dragged the honor of both our families through the mud.

"I just had surgery," I said calmly.

"I don't have the strength to deal with this. You'll have to find another way."

Enzo's fury ignited, his words scalding.

"Alessia! You always claimed to love me. Now I'm just asking you to make one phone call, and you invent some surgery as an excuse?"

"So this is who you really are. You'd rather let Sophia die than lift a finger. I can't believe I ever loved someone so cold and heartless."

His accusation was baseless, yet it landed like a silent, crushing blow.

Perhaps he was right.

He had never truly loved me.

Otherwise, he would never have faked amnesia to deceive me.

He wouldn't have ignored my obvious paleness and weakness while trying to force me to save his mistress.

And he certainly wouldn't have slept with my cousin.

The tense standoff was broken by the shrill alarm of a nearby monitor as emergency doctors rushed Sophia into the operating room.

Unable to contain his rage any longer, Enzo slammed me against the wall and snatched my phone.

"Alessia, whether you like it or not, I'll owe you for this one," he said gruffly.

"Damn it, if you insist, I'll even marry you on the original date."

This was the future Don of the De Luca family—reckless, treacherous, and willing to do anything to get what he wanted.

I stopped resisting.

Perhaps this was my way of settling an old debt.

Once, he had risked his life to save me during an ambush by a rival family.

Now, this would make us even.

When the call connected, I asked for help from my family's Consigliere in a weak voice.

Every word felt like it was draining the life from me.

After the call, Enzo rushed after the doctors toward the operating room, never once looking back at me.

As his back disappeared down the hall, I whispered to the empty space, "Now, we're even, Enzo."

I woke up in a hospital bed, exhaustion washing over me.

"You'll feel this weakness for at least six months," the doctor said gravely. "You must rest. Any more stress could trigger a severe relapse."

I nodded weakly, too drained to reply.

After the doctor left, I checked my phone.

The hospital had made over a dozen calls to Enzo's emergency contact number.

Not a single one was answered.

Instead, there was a text from him.

Enzo: Alessia, don't be so fucking dramatic. Know your place.

I stared at the screen for what felt like an eternity.

The last shred of illusion I held for him was utterly shattered.

I couldn't reconcile the man who had written these words with the one who had once loved me so deeply.

I didn't reply.

For the next few days, I focused on quietly recovering.

The sun was bright, and I felt its warmth seeping into me, making me feel a little stronger.

I slowly made my way to the hospital garden, hoping to soak in some sun.

However, my path was blocked by a group of Enzo's Soldato.

Each of them was holding an expensive gift.

For a foolish moment, I thought they were from Enzo, for me.

Don't be so sentimental.

I dismissed the ridiculous thought, shaking my head and turning to leave, but they blocked my way.

"Well, well, look who it is. The great Rossi Principessa. Enzo's with his new flame, and you're still here playing the patient? How pathetic."

"Isn't this a bit much? Just for making a phone call, you're acting this weak."

"Looks like even a Principessa can't hold onto her man. Lost him to her own cousin. Fucking hilarious."

Their taunts were relentless, but I steadied myself and glared back at them.

"Hilarious. Since when do the dogs of the De Luca family get to judge a Rossi?"

"Say one more word, and I'll have you and your boss, Enzo, thrown out."

They were stunned into silence.

Before they could retort, Enzo emerged from the stairwell.

His eyes landed on me, his brow furrowed in annoyance.

"Alessia, do you have any dignity left as a Principessa? Must you argue with my men?"

His tone grew colder, each word suffocating.

"I already said I'd marry you. What the hell else do you want? Stop faking sickness and stalking me. If you pull these stunts after we're married, it'll be bad for business between our families."