Ever's gaze locked onto his, her expression frozen in shock, then, without thinking twice, she turned and walked away.
Alessandro's smile disappeared; no one had ever denied him, but today the girl who he thought was weak refused him. He stood there still, his hand extended as the music laughter swirled around him.
"So, what's happening here?" someone quietly asked. "Did you catch that?" another person jumped in. "Isn't this the great Allesandro Wales we're talking about?
Looks like he might've slipped a bit," Ethan commented, with a tone full of amusement. "He can't even keep pace with her," one voice noted.
"In some respects, she's way beyond his league," someone else chuckled. The murmurs get louder, an orchestra of teasing remarks and guesses about Ever and Allesandro's meeting. "I heard she's been playing hard to get throughout the night," a woman shared softly.
"Yeah,well, it seems like Allesandro finally figured it out," a man said while laughing slightly. Apparently, the room was enjoying itself at Allesandro's expense ,everyone caught up in the drama and interest around him.Alessandroo's eyes narrowed ever so slightly; his jaw tightened with frustration.
But rather than respond directly, he stood up calmly and turned away from everyone, slipping into the crowd with ... It was a reminder that no matter what everyone thought, Allesandro was still the one who held power in this city.
Ever quickened her pace, her heels clicking on the marble floor as she desperately sought escape from the suffocating memories that threatened to consume her. But no matter how fast she ran, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Allesandro's eyes were still on her, watching, waiting for her to crack.
As Alessandro turned into the deserted hallway, he spotted Ever's figure disappearing around the corner. Without hesitation, he quickened his pace, his footsteps echoing off the marble walls.
Ever's heels clicked ahead of him, the sound growing fainter, but Allesandro caught up.
Her voice cracked as tears spilled freely down her cheeks, her body trembling with a mix of heartbreak and anger.
"Why, Allesandro? Why are you pretending like nothing happened? Did you think I'd forgotten how you destroyed me?
How you denied our children, our love?" Her voice rose, her anguish clear in every word. "Is this sudden interest because I gave birth to your children?
Is that it? Because I did the one thing you were too blind to believe in? You don't get to waltz back into my life like the past didn't happen!
Her tear-streaked face twisted in disbelief as she looked at the elegant dress she's wearing. "And what's this supposed to mean, Ethan? Did you think a gift could erase everything?
That you could just buy your way back into my life with a dress?" Her voice faltered, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.
"Did you think I'd forget how you crushed me, how you threw me away with nothing like I meant nothing? You think you can just walk in here with pretty things, pretending the past didn't happen? That I'll smile and act like none of it ever broke me?"
Alessandro's chest tightened as her words cut through him like a knife, each accusation sinking deeper into his heart. He clenched his fists, his jaw trembling as tears pooled in his eyes.
FuckDooyouu think this is easy for me?" His voice cracked, raw with emotion.
"Do you know how many nights I stayed up thinking of you? Of us? Of what I destroyed because of my stupidity?"
He took a shaky breath, his voice rising, desperate. "I missed you, Ever. I missed you so much it drove me mad. Every moment without you felt like punishment, like a knife twisting in my chest. I know I can't undo what I've done, but don't think for a second that I didn't suffer too. I regret everything, every word, every action that pushed you away."
His teary eyes searched hers, pleading. "I'm not here because of guilt or because of our twins, though I love them with all my heart. I'm here because I love you, because I never stopped loving you, and I'm willing to spend the rest of my life proving it if you let me."
Ever's voice trembled with anger and heartbreak as she stepped back. "You love me?" she imitated, her voice shaking with fury. "You love me?"
She laughed, a savage, mocking sound that echoed off the walls. "You're unbelievable," she spat, her eyes glaring with disdain. "You think you can just walk back into my life and declare your love? After everything you've done?"
"So, she said again, and it seemed like her voice was shaky from anger. "You care about me?" She chuckled then, but it was kind of a harsh laugh that sort of bounced around the room.
"You're really something else," she shot back, and you could tell her eyes were pretty much burning with scorn.
"Do you actually think it's okay to just stroll back into my world and claim your affection? Especially after all that's happened?" And by the way, she asked fiercely with tears not quite falling yet in her eyes, "Is love as simple as saying those words, 'I care for you,' expecting everything will magically fix itself?"
"Love's more about trust, Alessandro; yours crumbled mine into countless pieces," she stated plainly. "In some respects," continuing in an upset tone that made it obvious how deep this went for her, practically screamed at him! She declared passionately, now...Her voice wavered, yet she stood her ground.
"Alright, don't show up here unloading your remorse and assuming I can just let it all go. If you're so keen to shout about your feelings, well then do that with the woman you picked instead of me, ok?
Your mom!" With emotions like a storm inside her chest rising and falling with every breath, she turned away from him. "Because really, whatever this is, Alessandro? It's almost like it's just not enough now."