LUCIANO My chest ached as I stayed crouched by her bedside, my eyes fixed on her bruised face, her fragile body nearly swallowed by the sterile white sheets. She was too still, too pale. I didn’t realize my vision had blurred until a tear slipped free, trailing down my cheek. I blinked hard, swiping at my face with the back of my hand, only to feel the pressure build again. “Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, glancing away, ashamed of my weakness. The tears caught me off guard. They blurred my vision until the hospital room turned into a watery haze. I didn’t even notice them fall until one hit the back of my hand. I swiped at it quickly, frustrated with myself. But as I looked at her, I saw them—thin, glistening streaks slipping down her temples from her closed eyes. I froze. My throat tightened painfully. “Eloise,” I whispered, leaning closer. “Eloise no, don’t…” My hand trembled as I reached out, brushing her tears away gently with the pads of my fingers. Her skin w
LUCIANO“I’m telling you she woke up, stared me straight in the eye and asked me who I was,” I said, still unnerved. Leaning against the window casement in the sitting room of the hundred-year-old mansion where I'd grown up, I yanked at the collar of my shirt and glanced at my little sister. . “Well, thank goodness she’s had a breakthrough,” Laura said from her favorite high-backed chair. “I’ve been so worried, you don’t know. This has been a nightmare, Luci, an absolute nightmare.”“It’s not over yet.”“Oh, I know.” She shook her head and not one strand of brown hair moved.The phone jangled in another part of the house, but Laura didn’t budge, she just glanced toward me like she was expecting me to pick up the phone when she's even more closer to it and younger than me . What sort of disrespect is that?.I sighed and ignored her. The phone jangled sharply again, then became silent. “Why won't you pick it up Laura? ” I said, clenching my fist so tightly that they were almost
LUCIANOYep, it was quite a place. If you liked a house that seemed to have no soul.The front door opened and Alex strode inside... He dropped his briefcase on the lowest step of the staircase. Yanking off his gloves, he glared through the archway at his brother.“You said Eloise was awake,” he accused, his gray eyes harsh and disbelieving.“I said she woke up and stared at me, said a few words and fell asleep or whatever you want to call it again. Then and her eyes opened she couldn't speak . Just for a splitting seconds” I explained“Well, she never so much as moved while I was there and I stayed over an hour.” Alex unbuttoned his coat. “The doctor told me waiting around was futile. They’ll call if there’s any change.” Tossing his coat over the banister, he walked into the sitting room. “Hell of a thing, isn’t it?” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarette. “After over three months of nothing, not one solitary sign of life, Eloise opens her eyes, speak
ELOISEI opened one eye a crack but the shaft of piercing light forced me to shut it again. My headache was a low throb, and the pain in my jaw more pronounced.“Mrs. Kate?” a soft female voice said.That name again. Oh, God, why did it seem wrong? My eyelids fluttered open and I winced against the blaze of light, then realized the light has been turned down low, the blinds drawn, the room is now semidark.“Do you know where you are?”I nodded. seeing the ECG and the pungent smell I'm perceiving the IV and all. I couldn't be in a full body spa section receiving a body massage. My mouth tasted terrible, my skin itched from lying in bed and my hair felt stringy, my scalp gritty. Slowly, the blur that was the nurse’s face came into focus.“This is The Hospital, and I’m Jessica” The name tag on her pale blue jacket verified the information with an RN tacked on. Tall and blonde with crystal blue eyes, she offered a smile of straight white teeth. “Glad to have you with us.”I swa
ELOISE“Honey! You left your files on my bedside table. I guess they’re important to you.”I picked up the files and headed straight to the living room but didn’t find my husband there.“Ma'am, the boss left early today. He said something about the inauguration ceremony.”“Oh, dang! My miserable memory. I forgot about that.” Today was the inauguration ceremony, the day my husband would finally own the company. He’s been the acting CEO for the past few years. I should have been there for him too!I quickly took a bath and rushed over to GED, the biggest construction company in Italy.However, I was refused entrance to my own husband’s company.“Excuse me?” My brows drew up in confusion.“Sorry, ma’am, but only invited individuals are allowed in,” the security guard apologized.“I know that, but I’m the CEO’s wife. Won’t you be in trouble if the CEO finds out you kept his wife outside? Besides, I need to give him some documents he left at home.”“Don’t be like that, ma’am. The CEO came
EloiseNo matter how much I felt like unaliving myself, I wasn't going to die just yet. Not without making Damon regret it. Not without dragging every single bit of hair out of that homewrecker's head.I was the only family my father had. His only brother severed ties with him because of me, and I still haven’t figured out the reason.Leaving him alone in this world would break him.The issue with Damon wasn’t in any way because of my family's background. He loved me knowing we almost had nothing. His problem was me. If only I could conceive and give him an heir.The rain suddenly stopped soaking my skin, and when I looked up, Alex was holding an umbrella over my head. I immediately wiped my tears and stood up."How did you know I was here?" I asked, trying to hide the pain in my voice."The news. Your face was all over the television today, and trust me, I'm not the type to care about your fame, but your face didn't look quite happy on TV, and that pissed me off. Pookie, when you're
ELOISETwenty minutes later, a car pulled up in front of Alex's house. I was sitting outside, waiting beside Alex for Laura to arrive. The screeching sound cleared the rest of the alcohol from my system.I looked up to see Laura stepping out, her long black hair swinging as she hurried towards me. Her face was filled with concern, but there was a familiar hint of frustration in her eyes.When she saw how pale I was, she sighed, clearly feeling sorry for me, but it didn’t stop her from giving me a piece of her mind.“You’re still young and beautiful, Eloise! Damon is so going to regret doing this to you. I promise to make sure of that. It's better you divorce him.” She turned towards Alex and gave a fake giggle. "Hi, Alex. Thank you for not calling me. I've been going around town searching for her.""You are welcome," Alex replied with a smile.Those two never stayed a minute without fighting each other.I shook my head, my heart aching. It felt as if the pain in my heart worsened afte
ELOISE“What the hell?”“That’s for being a bitch,” she walked away with a grin. *Living daylight psycho!*“Can I help you?” A man offered, but immediately after I removed the strands of hair across my face and pulled back, he zoomed off.I looked around, confused. I wanted to find Laura to clear up my confusion, but she was nowhere to be found. Everyone around me was paired up. I was the only one alone.Shaking off the feeling of isolation, I grabbed another glass of wine. “This will be the last,” I promised myself. I obviously didn’t want to get drunk in this kind of atmosphere.As I sipped the wine slowly, the feeling of wanting to be with someone disappeared, but then came the staggering effect, and I managed not to bump into a man.“Hi, my name’s Lucius,” his voice whispered from behind me. His voice was deep and soothing.I slowly turned around. The man was also wearing a mask, so I couldn’t see his face, but he looked a lot like the guy I’d met earlier.“I don’t think I need yo
ELOISEI opened one eye a crack but the shaft of piercing light forced me to shut it again. My headache was a low throb, and the pain in my jaw more pronounced.“Mrs. Kate?” a soft female voice said.That name again. Oh, God, why did it seem wrong? My eyelids fluttered open and I winced against the blaze of light, then realized the light has been turned down low, the blinds drawn, the room is now semidark.“Do you know where you are?”I nodded. seeing the ECG and the pungent smell I'm perceiving the IV and all. I couldn't be in a full body spa section receiving a body massage. My mouth tasted terrible, my skin itched from lying in bed and my hair felt stringy, my scalp gritty. Slowly, the blur that was the nurse’s face came into focus.“This is The Hospital, and I’m Jessica” The name tag on her pale blue jacket verified the information with an RN tacked on. Tall and blonde with crystal blue eyes, she offered a smile of straight white teeth. “Glad to have you with us.”I swa
LUCIANOYep, it was quite a place. If you liked a house that seemed to have no soul.The front door opened and Alex strode inside... He dropped his briefcase on the lowest step of the staircase. Yanking off his gloves, he glared through the archway at his brother.“You said Eloise was awake,” he accused, his gray eyes harsh and disbelieving.“I said she woke up and stared at me, said a few words and fell asleep or whatever you want to call it again. Then and her eyes opened she couldn't speak . Just for a splitting seconds” I explained“Well, she never so much as moved while I was there and I stayed over an hour.” Alex unbuttoned his coat. “The doctor told me waiting around was futile. They’ll call if there’s any change.” Tossing his coat over the banister, he walked into the sitting room. “Hell of a thing, isn’t it?” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarette. “After over three months of nothing, not one solitary sign of life, Eloise opens her eyes, speak
LUCIANO“I’m telling you she woke up, stared me straight in the eye and asked me who I was,” I said, still unnerved. Leaning against the window casement in the sitting room of the hundred-year-old mansion where I'd grown up, I yanked at the collar of my shirt and glanced at my little sister. . “Well, thank goodness she’s had a breakthrough,” Laura said from her favorite high-backed chair. “I’ve been so worried, you don’t know. This has been a nightmare, Luci, an absolute nightmare.”“It’s not over yet.”“Oh, I know.” She shook her head and not one strand of brown hair moved.The phone jangled in another part of the house, but Laura didn’t budge, she just glanced toward me like she was expecting me to pick up the phone when she's even more closer to it and younger than me . What sort of disrespect is that?.I sighed and ignored her. The phone jangled sharply again, then became silent. “Why won't you pick it up Laura? ” I said, clenching my fist so tightly that they were almost
LUCIANO My chest ached as I stayed crouched by her bedside, my eyes fixed on her bruised face, her fragile body nearly swallowed by the sterile white sheets. She was too still, too pale. I didn’t realize my vision had blurred until a tear slipped free, trailing down my cheek. I blinked hard, swiping at my face with the back of my hand, only to feel the pressure build again. “Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, glancing away, ashamed of my weakness. The tears caught me off guard. They blurred my vision until the hospital room turned into a watery haze. I didn’t even notice them fall until one hit the back of my hand. I swiped at it quickly, frustrated with myself. But as I looked at her, I saw them—thin, glistening streaks slipping down her temples from her closed eyes. I froze. My throat tightened painfully. “Eloise,” I whispered, leaning closer. “Eloise no, don’t…” My hand trembled as I reached out, brushing her tears away gently with the pads of my fingers. Her skin w
LUCIANO“Damn it, Eloise, what the hell happened?” I gasped. Shaking my head in disbelief. it was as if her situation got worst or maybe because she hadn't got surgery done when I saw her last. No matter how wretched she looked right now, in a drab cotton gown that she would have disdained as a rag, I had to remember the woman within. “How the hell did you end up here?” I whispered but I got no response. Behind her lids, her eyes moved. Wasn’t she supposed to be in a coma? The hairs on the back of my neck rose. “Eloise?” I whispered, his throat nearly closing on her name. “El?”Slowly, as if with all the effort in the world, her eyes opened a crack and then wider. She stared straight at me. My heart jolted.She squinted, blinked, but continued to keep me in her line of vision.“I thought you . . . I’d better call a nurse or a doctor.” my knuckles turned white as I gripped her bedShe lifted a hand to touch mine and struggled to speak, but her lips moved over teeth that were lac
LUCIANO“Breaking news this morning,” the anchor began, her tone perfect “A video has surfaced showing Damon , the CEO of GED . Today, exactly five years ago, the grand inauguration of GED, the largest construction company in Italy took an unexpected turn when a dramatic altercation unfolded before cameras. What should have been a celebration of corporate achievement became a scandal that has left the media abuzz.As the ceremony began in GED’s grand event hall, an uninvited woman pushed her way through security, claiming to be the CEO’s wife. Witnesses say the woman, later identified as Eloise Huxley, was visibly distraught and holding what appeared to be important documents. Her arrival caused a stir among the distinguished guests, all of whom were gathered to honor the new ownership of the company.However, what happened next shocked everyone. The CEO, Mr. Damon publicly denied any connection to her, addressing her as his ex-wife and accusing her of clinging to an ‘illusion.’ In a
LucianoI spent the rest of the night staring out at the rain-drenched cityscape from my penthouse. The lights of Portland blurred behind the steady downpour, but I wasn’t seeing any of it. My mind was locked on Eloise, on the tubes and machines keeping her alive, on the bruises Alex said covered her delicate skin. I poured myself another glass of bourbon, the amber liquid burning my throat as it went down. Damon had always been a thorn in my side, a constant shadow that refused to disappear. When I came into Eloise’s life, she had just begun piecing herself back together after her divorce from him. She never spoke of him often, but I didn’t need her to spell it out for me. The way her shoulders tensed at the mention of his name said enough. He’d broken her, stripped her of her confidence, and left scars no one could see. And now, the man who had torn her apart once was keeping me from her. He was controlling access to her hospital room, spinning the narrative to make it look like
LUCIANO "she's going to be fine. I assure you. Eloise can't die easily" "That’s just one theory.” Alex took a drag “The police and insurance companies are looking into it. I had the highway shut down. they said The vehicles never hit each other, at least that’s what they think. Eloise's Benz ended up off one side of the road, then semi further down the hill on the opposite side. both ended up smashed into trees, but you know what I think? It wasn't an accident. The truck driver sacrificed himself. ”“Damn,” I muttered underbreath. “Poor bastard.Alex snorted his agreement. “There’ve been detectives all over the place, asking everyone questions, waiting for Eloise to wake up and tell her side of the story.” He scowled darkly at the waters lapping in the bay.“She could be charged with negligent homicide, I suppose, if... She does pull through and wakes —”“If, Alex? If? She’s the strongest, most determined woman I know. She’ll make it. For Christ sakes, don’t put her in the grav
ELOISE.“Will Mom remember me?” an impertinent girl’s voice demanded, and I strained to open my eyes. The pain had reduced probably due to some kind of medication, but I couldn’t move my mouth still. My tongue felt thick and tasted awful, my eyelids were too heavy to open and I had no sense of my sorrounding. The only thing I knew knew was that I'd floated in and out of this state of semiconsciousness with my mind a jumbled blur. However, I wanted to see my daughter. I fought to lift a lid but couldn’t.“Of course your mother will remember you,” a woman said softly, her sharp, staccato footsteps snapping loudly as she approached the bed, the soft chink of jewelry accompanying the scent of that same elusive perfume. It was probably my mother in-law. her cologne was familiar. “Don’t worry.”“But she looks terrible.” The girl said again—my daughter. “I thought she’d be better by now.”“She is, but it just takes time, Giana. We’re all going to have to be patient. Do you want