All Chapters of Betrayal and Devotion: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

"Go back to your room," he says in a disapproving tone. "We'll discuss this in the morning."I pause for a second, not knowing what to do. With my heart still pounding and my head reeling from what I've heard, I turn and walk away. Whatever Marco and Luca are up to, it's more ambitious than I had anticipated. And I'm not sure what Marco will do now that I've been apprehended.My thoughts are racing and my hands are shaking as I make my way back to my room. There's no turning back now, yet I can feel the weight of what just transpired bearing down on me. Marco is aware that I listened. He is aware that I shouldn't have heard it. And I'm certain that whatever happens next won't be good.The tension is too much to handle, and I'm terrified of what Marco will do next.Marco approaches me, his towering frame looming over the room as I stand motionless. As he examines me, his piercing eyes narrow. Breathing becomes difficult as my throat tightens and the air feels heavy as if it were thick

A Snip of HopeWhen I least expect it, a glimmer of optimism appears amid this gloom. I'm sitting in the living room one afternoon, trying to stop my mind from racing, when my phone buzzes with a message. The fact that it's from Aunt Emilia makes my heart skip a beat.My hands, shaking a little, I open the message fast.It says, I found an expert. He's open to seeing your dad. He's the best chance we have, but it's risky. Give me a call.I'm having trouble breathing for a while. It's overpowering as hope ignites inside of me. An expert. Someone who might be able to save my dad's life. Amid all this craziness, it feels like a lifeline, something firm to cling to. It's unbelievable. My heart thumping in my chest, I read the message again.But as soon as reality sets in, the thrill vanishes and is replaced by a thick knot of anxiety.How can I afford to buy this? If it wasn't something remarkable, something costly, Aunt Emilia wouldn't have brought it up. Such specialists are not inexpen

As I stand there, Marco's words reverberating in my head, my heart is pounding. He's not merely requesting compliance. He wants me to give up what little freedom I still have to get what he wants. It's a capitulation rather than merely an agreement.However, what options do I have? My thoughts turn to my father, who is struggling for his life while lying in that hospital bed. Marco is going to die if I don't accept his terms. I can't put up with that, either. The idea that I didn't try my hardest to save him is something I can't bear.With a terrible taste on my tongue, I say, "I'll do it." Even though I can hardly hear myself, I know Marco hears me. My skin crawls when I see the glimmer of victory in his eyes."All right," I say again, a little louder this time. "I'll carry it out."Now, there is no turning back. I must accept the decision I have made.Marco looks at me for a while, his face unreadable. Then he nods slowly. "Good," he responds in a tone that is as cool and collected

For a second, I stand there staring at him, my head spinning. What just took place? I had the fleeting impression that Marco was revealing to me a side of himself that he keeps hidden from the public. Now, though, it seems to have never occurred.I follow him back to the car, my chest tight with fury and confusion. When I believe I understand him a little better, he withdraws once again and hides behind barriers I can't figure out how to get past.The stillness between us is heavier than ever as we resume our journey. I feel more lost than ever when I gaze out the window. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to unravel the riddle that is Marco. He gives me glimpses of a man I never expected by being aloof and icy one minute and then vulnerable the next.However, those moments are fleeting. As the hours pass, I realize that Marco will not share anything with me, he has given up or the suffering he endures. Not entirely. Not quite yet.I can't get rid of the impression that something is chang

It doesn't seem like home when we get back to Marco's house. The tension between us seems to suffocate me as the walls close in around me. Unspoken words abound, yet I lack the energy to strike up a conversation. All I can think about is the uncertainty surrounding my father's situation. I can still hear the doctor say, "We won't know for a few days." Those words seem to go on forever.I try to ground myself as I enter the living room and leave my bag by the door. I collapse onto the couch, fatigue weighing heavily on my body. But despite my best efforts to calm down, my mind keeps racing. Marco is looking out into the night from the window. He seems to be holding something back because of his stiff stance. I feel his gaze on me, but I choose not to raise my head. We are so silent that it is nearly intolerable.Since we left the hospital, things have been silent and tense, as though we are both waiting for something to happen. I can feel the weight of his gaze as if he's watching me a